    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 46 (Monday, November 20, 2006)]
    [Page 2042]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting With Senators Harry Reid and Richard J.
    Durbin

    November 10, 2006

        The President. I want to thank Senator Reid and Senator Durbin. Dick
    and I have had a really good discussion with them. The elections are
    over; the problems haven't gone away. And I assured the Senators that we
    will cooperate as closely as we can to solve common problems. I, of
    course, said this after I congratulated them on great victories. I know
    they were proud of their team's efforts, and they ran good campaigns,
    and they talked about issues that the people care about, and they won.
        My attitude about this is that there is a great opportunity for us
    to show the country that Republicans and Democrats are equally as
    patriotic and equally concerned about the future and that we can work
    together. Senator Reid and I are both from the West. I'm from west
    Texas; he's from Nevada. And we tend to speak the same language, pretty
    plain-spoken people, which should bode well for our relationship.
        So I appreciate you all coming. I'm really looking forward to
    working with you.

    [At this point, Senator Reid made brief remarks.]

        The President. Thank you, sir. Dick, do you want to say something?

    [Senator Durbin made brief remarks.]

        The President. I was hoping you would notice that. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:18 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also
    included the remarks of Senators Reid and Durbin.