Senator McCain Addresses Senate, Following Cancer Diagnosis (Full)

2 OF THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017.
>> THE SENIOR SENATOR FOR ARIZONA IS RECOGNIZED.
>> I THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE STOOD IN THIS PLACE MANY
TIMES AND ADDRESSED PRESIDENTS AND MANY PRESIDING OFFICERS, I
HAVE BEEN SO ADDRESSED WHEN I SAT IN THAT CHAIR AND THAT'S AS
CLOSE AS I'LL EVER GET TO PRESIDENT.
PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE CAN BE A NUISANCE, A BIT OF A CEREMONY
M BORE AND IS USUALLY REGULATED TO THE USUAL MEMBERS OF THE
MAJORITY. I STAND HERE TODAY, LOOKING A
LITTLE WORSE FOR WEAR, I'M SURE, I HAVE A REFRESHED APPRECIATION
FOR THE PROTOCOLS OF THIS BOTH AND THE OTHER 99 PRIVILEGED
SOULS WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE SENATE FOR 30 YEARS, I HAD A LONG, IF NOT AS
LONG CAREER BEFORE I ARRIVED HERE, ANOTHER PROFESSION WHICH
WAS JUST AS REWARDING, AND I HAVE MADE FRIENDSHIPS WHICH I

THIS JOB I HAVE HERE, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB I HAVE HAD IN
MY LIFE. I THANK THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT
STATE OF ARIZONA FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE HERE, AND IT PLAYS A
SMALL ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY THAT I LOVE.
I HAVE KNOWN AND ADMIRED MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SENATE WHO HAVE
PLAYED SUCH A LARGE ROLE IN OUR HISTORY.
STATESMEN, GIANTS IN POLITICS, THEY COME FROM BOTH PARTIES AND
VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS, THEY HELD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE ISSUES OF
THE DAY AND THEY OFTEN HAD VER SERIOUS DISAGREEMENTS ON HOW
BEST TO SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST, BUT THEY KNEW HOWEVER
SHARP AND HEART FELT THEIR DISPUTES, HOWEVER KEEN THEIR --
THEY COLLABORATIVELY WORKED TO -- OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE
IMPORTANT, VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR
REPUBLIC, AND OUR ARCAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO
FUNCTION WELL AT ALL. THE MOST REVERED MEMBERS OF THIS
INSTITUTIONS, ACCEPTED THE NECESSITY OF COMPROMISE IN ORDER
TO MAKE INCLEMENTAL -- THAT PRINCIPAL MIND SET AND THE
SERVICE OF OUR PREDECESSORS WHO POSSESSED IT COME TO MIND WHEN I
HEAR THE SENATOR REFERRED TO AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST DDELIBIVE
BODY. I'M SURE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT
WAS AND I WAS PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS SOME OF THOSE OCCASIONS,
OUR DELIBERATIONS TODAY, NOT JUST OUR DEBATES, AUTHORIZING
GOVERNMENT POLICIES, APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS TO

THEY CAN BE SINCERE IN PRINCIPLE, BUT THEY'RE MORE
PARTISAN, MORE TRIBAL MORE OF THE TIME THAN AT ANY TIME I CAN
REMEMBER. OUR DELIBERATIONS CAN STILL BE
IMPORTANT AND USEFUL. BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE,
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OVERBURDENED BY SERVICE GREATLY.
AND RIGHT NOW THEY AREN'T PRODUCING MUCH FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE. BOTH SIDES HAVE LET THIS HAPPEN.
LET'S LET THE HISTORY OF WHO SHOT FIRST TO THE HISTORIANS.
I SUSPECT THEY'LL FIND WE ALL -- WE HAVE ALL PLAYED SOME ROLE IN
IT. CERTAINLY I HAVE.
SOMETIMES I HAVE LET MY PASSION RULE MY REASON.
SOMETIMES I MADE IT HARDER TO FIND COMMON GROUND BECAUSE OF
SOMETHING HARSH I SAID TO A COLLEAGUE.
SOMETIMES I WANTED TO WIN MORE FOR THE SAKE OF WINNING THAN TO
ACHIEVE A POLICY. EACH SIDE CAN CRITICIZE BUT ALSO
ACCEPT. JUST PLAIN MUDDLING THROUGH TO
CHIP AWAY AT PROBLEMS AND KEEP OUR ENEMIES FROM DOING THEIR
WORST ISN'T GLAMOROUS OR EXCITING.
IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A POLITICAL TRIUMPH.
BUT IT'S USUALLY THE MOST WE CAN EXPECT FROM OUR SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT. OPERATING IN A COUNTRY AS
DIVERSE AND QUARRELSOME AND FREE AS OURS.
CONSIDERING THE INJUSTICE AND CRUELTIES INFLICTED BY
AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS AND OW CORRUPTIBLE HUMAN NATURE CAN BE.
THE PROBLEM SOLVING OF OUR COUNTRY DOES MAKE POSSIBLE THE
FITFUL PROCESS IT PRODUCES AND THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE IT
PRESERVES IS A MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT.
OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T DEPEND ON OUR NOBILITY, IT ACCOUNTS FOR OUR
IMPERFECTIONS AND GIVES US AN ORDER TO OUR INDIVIDUAL
STRIVINGS THAT HAS HELPED MAKE OURS THE MOST POWERFUL AND
PROSPEROUS SOCIETY ON EARTH. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PRESERVE THAT. AND EVEN WHEN IT REQUIRES US TO
DO SOMETHING LESS SATISFYING THAN WINNING.
EVEN WHEN WE MUST GIVE A LITTLE TO GET A LITTLE.
EVEN WHEN OUR EFFORTS MANAGED JUST THREE YARDS AND A CLOUD OF
DUST WHILE CRITICS ON BOTH SIDES DENOUNCE US FOR OUR FAILURE TO
TRIUMPH. I HOPE WE CAN AGAIN RELY ON
HUMILITY ON OUR NEED TO COOPERATE, ON OUR DEPENDENCE ON
EACH OTHER, TO LEARN HOW TO TRUST EACH OTHER AGAIN, AND BY
SO DOING, BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US.
STOP LISTENING TO THE BOMBASTIC LOUD MOUTHS ON THE RADIO,
TELEVISION AND THE INTERNET. TO HELL WITH THEM.
[ APPLAUSE ] THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING DONE
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. OUR INCAPACITY IS THEIR
LIVELIHOOD. LET'S TRUST EACH OTHER.
LET'S RETURN TO REGULAR ORDER. WE HAVE BEEN SPINNING OUR WHEELS
ON TOO MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES BECAUSE WE KEEP TRYING TO FIND A
WAY TO WIN WITHOUT HELP FROM ACROSS THE AISLE.
THAT'S AN APPROACH THAT'S BEEN EMPLOYED BY BOTH SIDES,
MANDATING LEGISLATION FROM THE TOP DOWN WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT
FROM THE OTHER SIDE WITH ALL THE PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVERS THAT
REQUIRES. WE'RE GETTING NOTHING DONE, MY
FRIENDS, WE'RE GETTING NOTHING DONE.
AND ALL WE HAVE REALLY DONE THIS YEAR IS CONFIRM NEIL GORSUCH TO
THE SUPREME COURT. OUR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE SYSTEM
IS A MESS. WE ALL KNOW IT.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT OBAMACARE AND THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT.
SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. WE REPUBLICANS HAVE LOOKED FOR A
WAY TO END IT AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE WITHOUT
PAYING A TERRIBLE POLITICAL PRICE.
WE HAVEN'T FOUND IT YET. AND I'M NOT SURE WE WILL.
ALL WE HAVE MANAGED TO DO IS MAKE MORE POPULAR A POLICY THAT
WASN'T VERY POPULAR WHEN WE STARTED TRYING TO GET RID OF IT.
I VOTED FOR THE MOTION TO PROCEEDS TO ALLOW DEBATE TO
CONTINUE AND AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED.
I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THIS BILL AS IT IS TODAY.
IT'S A SHELL OF A BILL RIGHT NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT, I HAVE
CHANGES URGED BY MY STATE'S GOVERNOR THAT WILL NEED TO BE
MADE BEFORE I SUPPORT ANY BILL. I KNOW THE BILL HAS TO CHANGE
SUBSTANTIALLY BEFORE YOU WILL SUPPORT IT.
WE TRIED TO DO THIS BY COMING UP WITH A PROPOSAL BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THEN
SPRINGING IT ON SKEPTICAL MEMBERS, TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM
THAT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING, THAT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING?
ASKING US TO SWALLOW OUR DOUBTS AND FORCE IT PAST A UNIFIED
OPPOSITION. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO
WORK IN THE END AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS
SHOULDN'T HAVE FORCED THROUGHHR CONGRESS ANY NATIONAL CHANGE AS
MONUMENTED AS OBAMACARE. AND WE SHOULDN'T DO THE SAME
WITH OURS, WHY DON'T WE TRY THE OLD WAY OF LEGISLATING IN THE
SENATE. THE WAY OUR RULES AND CUSTOMS
ENCOURAGE US TO ACT. IF THIS PROCESS ENDS IN FAILURE,
WHICH SEEMS LIKELY, THEN LET'S RETURN TO REGULAR ORDER.
LET THE HEALTH AND LABOR COMMITTEE UNDER CHAIRMAN
ALEXANDER, HOLD HEARINGS, TRY TO GET A BILL OUT OF BOTH
COMMITTEES WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BOTH SIDES.
[ APPLAUSE ] SOMETHING THAT MY DEAR FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE DIDN'T ALLOW TO HAPPEN NINE
YEARS AGO. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN PASS
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE IMPERFECT, FULL OF COMPROMISES
AND NOT TOO PLEASING TO EITHER SIDE.
BUT THAT MIGHT PROVIDE WORKABLE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AMERICANS
ARE STRUGGLING WITH TODAY. WHAT HAVE WE TO LOSE TO WORK
TOGETHER TO FIND THOSE SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE NOT GETTING DONE MUCH APART.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US FEELS VERY PROUD OF OUR INCAPACITY.
MERELY PREVENTING YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS FROM DOING WHAT THEY
WANT ISN'T THE MOST INSPIRING WORK.
THERE'S GREATER SATISFACTION IN RESPECTING OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT
NOT LETTING THEM REQUIRE ABANDONING OUR CORE PRINCIPLES,
THAT HELP IMPROVE LIVES AND PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE SENATE IS CAPABLE OF THAT, WE KNOW THAT, WE HAVE SEEN IT
BEFORE. I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN MANY

INVOLVED EVEN IN A PARTISAN WAY ARE THE PROUDEST MOMENTS OF MY
CAREER ARE BY FAR THE MOST SATISFYING.
THE WORK WE DO IS IMPORTANT, OUR STRANGE RULINGS AND SEEMINGLY
ECCENTRIC PRACTICES THAT SLOW OUR PROCEEDINGS AND INSIST UPON
OUR COOPERATION ARE IMPORTANT, OUR FOUNDERS ENVISION THE SENATE
AS THE MORE DELIBERATIVE CAREFUL BODY THAT OPERATES AT A GREATER
DISTANCE THAN THE OTHER BODY FROM THE PUBLIC PASSIONS OF THE
HOUR. WE ARE AN IMPORTANT CHECK ON THE
POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE. OUR CONSENT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO APPOINT -- WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE OF THE SAME PARTY,
WE ARE NOT THE PRESIDENT'S SUBORDINATES, WE ARE HIS EQUAL.
AS THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE UPON US, WE PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN
SHAPING THE JUDICIARY, THE MILITARY AND THE CAB THREAT AND
PLANNING AND SUPPORTING DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICIES AND MEETING
ALL THESE CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS DEPENDS UPON
COOPERATION AMONG OURSELVES. THE SUCCESS OF THE SENATE IS
IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF AMERICA.
THIS COUNTRY, THIS BIG, BOISTEROUS, BRAWLING, BEAUTIFUL,
BOUNTIFUL, BRAVE, GOOD AND MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY NEEDS US TO
HELP IT THRIVE. THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF OUR PERSONAL INTERESTS OR POLITICAL
AFFILIATION, WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF A GREAT NATION.
A NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION
THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. MORE PEOPLE ARE FREE, HAVE LIVED
FREE AND PROSPEROUS LIVES THAN IN ANY OTHER NATION.
WE HAVE ACQUIRED UNPRECEDENTED WEALTH AND POWER BECAUSE OF OUR
GOVERNING PRINCIPLES AND BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT DEFENDED THOSE
PRINCIPLES. AMERICA HAS MADE A GREATER
CONTRIBUTION THAN ANY OTHER NATION TO AN INTERNATIONAL
ORDER. THAT HAS LIBERATED MORE PEOPLE
FROM TYRANNY AND POVERTY THAN EVER BEFORE IN HISTORY.
WE HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST EXAMPLE, THE GREATEST SUPPORTER
AND THE GREATEST DEFENDER OF THAT ORDER.
WE ARE NOT AFRAID. WE DON'T COVET OTHER PEOPLE'S
LAND AND WEALTH. WE DON'T HIDE BEHIND WALLS, WE
BREACH THEM, WE ARE A BLESSING TO HUMANITY.
WHAT GREATER CAUSE COULD WE HOPE TO SERVE THAN HELPING KEEP
AMERICA THE STRONG, ASPIRING, INSPIRATIONAL BEACON OF LIBERTY
AND THE DEFENDER OF DIGNITY OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND THEIR RIGHT
TO FREEDOM AND EQUAL JUSTICE,
THAT IS THE CAUSE THAT BINDS US AND IT'S SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL
AND WORTHY THAT THE SMALL DIFFERENCES THAT DIVIDE US.
WHAT A GREAT HONOR AND EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY IT IS
TO SERVE IN THIS BODY, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH ALL OF
YOU. I MEAN IT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE REACHED OUT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS WITH YOUR
CONCERN AND YOUR PRAYERS. AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, IT
REALLY DOES. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE SAY
SUCH NICE THINGS ABOUT ME RECENTLY, THAT I HAVE SOME OF
YOU MUST HAVE ME CONFUSED WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
I APPRECIATE IT, THOUGH, EVERY WORD, EVEN IF MUCH OF IT ISN'T
DESERVED. I'LL BE HERE FOR A FEW DAYS, I
HOPE MANAGING THE FLOOR DEBATE ON THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZIZATION
BILL WHICH I'M PROUD TO SAY IS A PRODUCT OF BIPARTISAN
COOPERATION AND TRUST AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE. AFTER THAT, I'M GOING HOME FOR A
WHILE TO TREAT MY ILLNESS. I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF
RETURNING HERE AND GIVING MANY OF YOU CAUSE TO REGRET ALL THE
NICE THINGS YOU SAID ABOUT ME. AND I HOPE TO IMPRESS ON YOU
AGAIN, THAT IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN
YOUR COMPANY. THANK YOU.
FELLOW SENATORS. MR.

Senator McCain Addresses Senate, Following Cancer Diagnosis (Full) | MSNBC

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