mr. mccain -- mr. mccain: i ask that the reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: as modified. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: the senator from kentucky i believe is here to speak on the amendment. mr. paul: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from kentucky. mr. paul: the amendment before us requires that the president submit a plan for a no-fly zone over syria. i want to compliment the authors for including in this amendment a clause that says that nothing in this amendment is to be construed as a declaration of war or a use of authorization of force. i think that's very important. i think it's very important in our nation today that we are not saying that we are starting or beginning or getting involved in a new war. i do think, however, though, that this amendment is ill-advised for two reasons -- number one, i don't think i know with certainty whether the syrian rebels will be freedom loving, tolerant, constitution toting believers in a republican form of government or w

mr. mccain proposes amendment number 3371 -- mr. coburn: i ask unanimous consent the amendment be considered as read. the presiding officer: without objection. the majority leader. mr. reid: i would also say to my friend, the junior senator from oklahoma, the managers are going to be here bright and early in the morning and i'm confident -- in fact, i'll call one of them right now and if you could be here. mr. coburn: i have no choice but to accede to your wishes, so i i'd make a final point -- ms. mikulski: will the senator r from oklahoma yield for a question? i have a question, i wonder if it's rolled into my bill, i might extend some courtesy here. mr. coburn: this is updating the damage, oklahoma has had more declarations declared but we haven't updated the per capita indicator in a long time so we've had no increase in that, so what is happening, it's too easy to get a declaration declared. i'm trying to have them update that to where it's more reflective of the true cost. ms. mikulski: i appreciate the senator's advocacy for

mr. mccain: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: we continue after a few hours pause today because of the objection of one senator by long distance, but i am very confident with the cooperation of our colleagues we can finish this amendment tomorrow, and i hope that we can have the cooperation of all of our colleagues. we have tried very hard to make sure that every amendment that's that's -- that consideration is brought up. we have now approved of well over 100 amendments, and i think that most members have had at least one amendment approved so far. i hope that we can continue the cooperation and we can finish this bill tomorrow. mr. mccain: i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: the presiding officer: the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: i ask that further proceedings under the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: tomorrow a vote is scheduled on the treaty on the persons with rights wi

mr. mccain: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that i be allowed to follow the senator, senator mikulski. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. mikulski: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. ms. mikulski: mr. president, i rise to speak on behalf of what's going on here today as the new chair of the senate full committee on the appropriations committee. that means we're the committee that actually puts money in the federal checkbook. and i'd like to talk about that because, you see, mr. president, today here we are, new year's eve, doing what we should have done right after labor day. we're behind. we're behind the clock, and actually we're behind the thinking of the american people. they want us to come together and have sensible fiscal policies that promote both growth and at the same time balance it with a new sense of frugality. the fact that we have come here to this point with this culture of delay in this institution i think is really unacceptable. but i

mr. mccain: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: i thank the majority leader. today the senate lost -- and america and especially his beloved citizens of hawaii lost a unique, brave, wonderful legislator today. a man who brought to this institution the most unique credentials that i would argue probably of anyone who's ever served in this pretty diverse body. dan inouye who was born of japanese parents, who came to hawaii as many japanese did in that period of time in the turn of the century to work in the pineapple fields and in the agriculture at that time that was a fundamental of the economy of the state of hawaii. their conditions were not good. they worked hard. but they raised their families with pride, with dignity and honor and were proud to call themselves americans. dan inouye was as proud as any. as we know, one of the most shameful chapters of american history took place during world war ii, an incredible act of injustice, the united states of america decided to intern japanese americans who lived in california.

mr. mccain: mr. president, could i ask my friend from maryland if he has spoken yet on the magnitsky portion of this bill? the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: we have not yet gotten to the bill. i believe that we're prepared now to go to h.r. 6156. i know that the senator from connecticut would like to speak for five minutes. and i was hoping that we could get some time where we could go back and forth and talk about the magnitsky aspects of that legislation now. am i correct, mr. president, the bill has not yet been -- going to be reported now? perhaps we could enter into a consent as to the next 30 or 40 minutes. the presiding officer: morning business is closed. under the previous order the senate will proceed to consideration of h.r. 6156, which the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number -- mr. mccain: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent further reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: mr. president, i also note note the

mr. mccain: mr. president, i come to the floor with a bit of a heavy heart today because i think the senate may not act to approve the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. i would say the issue is not going away. i think the there are too many americans and too many veterans organizations, too many people who are committed to this cause that over time we may have every chance, every opportunity to succeed. i would remind my colleagues that virtually every major veterans organization in america, people who represent those men and women who have fought, and particularly tried to assist those with disabilities that are the result of combat, they are the amvets, air force sargeants association, air force women officers association, american g.i. forum, association of the united states navy, blind veterans association, disabled american veterans, iraq and afghanistan veterans of america, jewish war veterans, military officers, association of america, national association of black veteran

mr. mccain: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: mr. president, i want to thank the senator from west virginia for his deeply moving and heartfelt sentiments concerning our dear and departed comrade, no senator inouye, a mn so unique that never again will the senate of the united states of america see his like again. i thank the senator from west virginia for his very important and moving tribute. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent to pull amendment number 3355. -- to call up amendment number 3355. the presiding officer: without objection, the clerk will report. the clerk: mr. mccain proposes amendment numbered 3355. the presiding officer: under the previous order, there will be eight minutes of debate equally divided on amendment number 3355 offered by the senator from arizona. the senator from arizona is recognized. cane can i thank the chair, and -- mr. mccain: i thank the chair, and i'd like it thank the manager of the bill for her patience during this difficult time of many amendments and other priorities, and i thank her for h

mr. mccain: mr. at -- i guess it was the executive office building. and i'm not sure yet as i sort out my impressions of the president's remarks as to whether to be angry or to be saddened. i've been around this town for a number of years, and as is well known, i had an interest in the presidency more than academic and i've watched a lot of presidents, going back to president reagan from the standpoint of a member of congress. and i've watched these other crises as we go through them, whether it be the potential shutdown of the government when newt gingrich was speaker of the house, we've seen these other crises as the debt limit expired and a number of others. and it's sometimes unfortunately a way -- the way we do business here. but i must say at a time of crisis, on new year's eve when at midnight at least certain actions take place or have to be planned to take place, we have the president of the united states go over and have a cheerleading, ridiculing of republicans' exercise in speaking to the

mr. mccain: i thank the -- the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: i would like to thank the majority leader for his patience in allowing this legislation to be completed. i would note that there was 145 amendments, and many recorded votes and good debate and discussion over very important issues, and i thank the majority leader for allowing this process to go forward. i also would like to say "thank you" to the majority leader. i would not -- i would like to note the good work of the staff, showing again that work release programs can be successful. mr. reid: if i could just say a word -- the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid:. mr. reid: i will be brief. i was looking for an opportunity to express my appreciation to the two managers of this bill. this has been hard, but they've done an excellent job, and there's nothing more important that we do here than make sure that our fighting men and women have the resources to do what they need to do for our country. and there are no two better managers that we can have on this bill tha

massachusetts, but senator mccain has referred to me way title prospectus, mr. secretary, references senator mccain's obstinnence with regard to susan rice, which may result in my ascension to the cabinet position held by such luminaries throughout history as siewrd, achison, vance, and, of course, others, including but not--" ( laughter ) isn't that how you hammed that there, senator kerry. >> thank you very much, mr. president. ( cheers and applause ) >> jon: bam! ba-bam! laugh latch ( laughte( laughter )two things. one, solid, concise joke. two, a little disproportionate ( laughter ) mccain teased you about a job you might get. and you hit him with the failure of his life. ( laughter ) ( applause ) it's like-- it's like mccain nudged him in the ribs. makin nudged kerry in the ribs. mr. secretary-- kerry turned around and stabbed him in the face. i can see why that guide gooi would make a great chief diplomat. you know what, finally, a righteous mission of worldwide equal rights for the disabled with the support of war heroes and senate elder state men in a wor

mr. mccain, proposes an amendment numbered 3370, as modified. mr. coburn: i'd ask unanimous consent the amendment be considered as read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. coburn: and per the request of senator schumer, i put a division in this amendment so we would have two votes on it separating out the fisheries because he thought that was important. i was glad to accommodate his needs. the main -- mr. schumer: will the gentleman yield? mr. coburn: i would be happy to. mr. schumer: i just want to thank him, he was gracious. there are two separate issues here, one of them i think most of us on this side would accept. the other we couldn't. and to lump them together would have tied two issues together that were unfair. the gentleman from oklahoma was extremely gracious and said right away, we'll them. he didn't have to do that and we appreciate that. mr. coburn: i'm happy to do that, senator schumer. let me tell you what the crux of this amendment is. when we have disasters, we have real, legitimate needs. we have families that are hurti

mccain. thank you very much, mr. y. >> senator john mccain jokingly gave the cabinet post nod to democrat john kerry, the senate foreign relations committee chairman. >> i think john kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues. >> kerry is also listed as a potential defense secretary to replace leon panetta. it's a list that includes michele flournoy, who held what's considered the number three job at the pentagon. senior democrats say deputy defense secretary ashton carter is on the list, and former nebraska senator chuck hagel--- a republican-- could represent a reach across the aisle. >> we're in a much stronger position today as a country than we were in '07. >> treasury secretary tim geithner has said he will stay at his post until at least inauguration. president obama's chief of staff jack lew is often named as a potential replacement. emily shred, kron 4 news. shre schmidt >> some nice weather for this weekend and certainly nice and the union the square. for the firs

mr. mccain: i ask that further proceedings under the quorum call be suspended and that i be recognized to address the senate as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: one of the most overused quotes about this town is harry truman's observation years ago that if you want a friend in washington, go out and get a dog. i spent a good many years here now, and i suppose there is a little truth in that advice. some washington friendships can be a little like temporary alliances between nations that for a brief period of time have mutual interests or enemies, but not all friendships here are like that. not all of them. today i say a former fond farewell to a departing colleague whose friendship has been and will always be one of the greatest treasures of my life. my friend senator joe lieberman is retiring from the senate after 24 years of service. of course, he is not leaving nor will he ever leave the affections of those of us who have come to value him so highly as a statesman and as a friend. but we won't see him around the pla

mr. mccain: i would request we do as usual in morning business, back and forth, if that's all right. if i could follow the senator from louisiana? the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: and if the senator would yield, the senators here, the senators from oregon and michigan, just wanted one minute to get their amendment in, and then i would speak for a few minutes and then senator mccain. would that be okay? the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: madam president? mr. leahy: madam president, i see the distinguished senators from arizona and others who may wish to be speaking in morning business. may i suggest that we close morning business, go back on the bill, and if somebody wishes to speak, as many do to our departed colleague, they could always ask consent and go back as if in morning business. i would ask the morning business be closed and we go back to h.r. 1. the presiding officer: morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h.r. 1 which the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 14, h.r.

mccain nudged kerry in the ribs. uh-huh, mr. secretary.>> became an auentrepreneur at 14. daniel ek. listen to music, share it for free. more than 15 million users and 18 million songs. daniel ek joins us now. welcome. >> thank you very much. >> how do you characterize the musical application? social media? what is it? >> it's really a music app, but music, we think music is the most social thing there is. so it's probably a bit of both. >> you need to tell that to anderson cooper. >> yeah. >> but you know, you have been described, daniel ek, as the music man. named one of the top 100s most influential, one of the most important men in music. what daniel recognized best is that if you make paying for songs easier than stealing them, people will pay, this by ashton kutcher. >> one of the most precious commodities we have is our time. if we make it convenient for people to do things i think there's a huge market in that for pretty much everything. >> the thing that's cool, you can share it with your friends. i hear that's one of the best thi

mccain? >> thank you very much, mr. cretary. >> senator john mccain jokingly gave the cabinet post nod to democrat john kerry, the senate foreign relations committee chairman. >> i think john kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues. >> kerry is also list as a potential defense secretary to replace leon panetta. it's a list that includes michelle flornoy. and former nebraska senator, chuck hagel, a republican, could represent a teach across the aisle. >> we are in a stronger position today as a country than we were in '08. >> reporter: treasury secretary tim geithner said he will stay at his post at least until inauguration. and the chief of staff is often named as a potential replacement. a poll asked if he thought president obama would pick good cabinet members. 58% said they thought he would. 42% said he would not. emily schmidt, cnn, washington. >> the u.s. military wants its people to be invisible, literally. and somebody will pocket a lot of money if they can come up w

mccain? >> thank you very much, mr. >> senator john mccain jokingly gave the nomination to john kerry. >> i think john kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues. >> he is listed also to replace leon pennetta. senior democrats say ashton carter is on the list and former nebraska senator, a republican, could represent a reach across the aisle. >> we are in a stronger position today as a country than we were in '08. >> tim geithner said he will stay at his post until inauguration. and the chief of staff is often named as a potential replacement. a poll asked if he thought president obama would pick good cabinet members. 58% said they thought he would. >> the u.s. military wants its people to be invisible. and we're not talking about leaves and sticks here, and chris lawrence reports on one scientists that can make soldiers disappear. >> camouflage could mean the difference between a soldier getting shot, and going home. so a lot is riding on the next generation designed to outf

mccain. >> thank you very much, mr. ary. >> kerry stepped up again after mccain but refused to bite on that one. >> thank you very much, mr. president. this is what happens when you get two losers up here, folks. >> that was a good line. kerry has been careful to stay clear of the public speculation about whom the president will actually pick to replace hillary clinton. >>> also, arizona governor jan brewer, she's a heavyweight, in a comment about global warming. she doesn't think it's manmade, but her own explanation for climate change is rather lacking. here is what she told a local reporter. >> everybody has an opinion on it, you know, and i probably don't believe it's manmade. i believe that, you know, weather and certain elements are controlled maybe by different things. >> another pathetic comment by an enemy of science. >>> up next, it sure looks like hillary clinton is running for president. we have the latest signs next. >>> and you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. >>> we're back. hillary clinton

mccain. >> thank you very much, mr. secretary. >> thank you very much, mr. president. this is what happens when you get two losers up here. [laughter] chris: is it this from ron paul, putting down newt gingrich for his out-there views on space exploration. >> i don't think we shou go to the moon. i think we should send some politicians up there. chris: or the president's sharp comeback to a romney charge in the third debate. >> you mentioned the navy for example and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1915. horses ander bayonets. chris: was it this zinger in the vice presidential debate. >> jack kennedy. >> now you're jack kennedy. chris: these aren't the best of all time. >> i like the navy one and i know -- chris: the bayonets and horses. >> the white house had been prepared for that one because mechanism was using the line about the navy being smaller now. chris: one of his biggest advisers, former secretary of the navy, 600-ship navy. >> so they were prepared for it and put that line in there just waiting and it was so funny, i was there for that debate and the

mccain. >> thank you very much, mr.>> senator jokingly gave the post to senator john kerry. >> i think john kerry would be an excellent appointment and easily confirmed by his colleagues. >> he's also listed as a potential defense tair th secretary. ashton carter is on the list and former nebraska senator chuck hagel, a republican, could reach across the aisle. >> we're in a much stronger position today as a country than we were in '07. >> reporter: treasury secretary tim geithner says he'll stay. jack lew is an eventual replacement. people wondering if he would pick good cabinet members. 58% thought he would. 42% said he would not. emily schmidt, cnn, washington. >> emily, thank you. >>> also in washington, bo is back. front and center on the white house holiday card. michelle obama picked a personal could. it shows bo running across the snowy lawn. she called the moment very surreal. >>> she was married to peter jennings and the late ambassador peter holbrook and now she's written a memoir about her own amazing life.

mr. mccain: i will have a lot more to say about my friend from connecticut in the next few days, but in the meantime, i want to thank him for a very important and a very visionary and a very wonderful statement. we thank him for it. i yield. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from connecticut. mr. blumenthal: mr. president, i want to thank my colleague and friend from connecticut on behalf of all the people of our state for his lifetime of public service. our lives have been intertwined personally and professionally for almost 40 years and i had the privilege of coming to know senator lieberman's family, his parents, who gave him the values and ideals that he has expressed so eloquently and powerfully repeatedly throughout america as he did today on the floor of the united states senate, and that dream, which they inspired, is indeed a uniquely american dream. but it is rooted also in the stamford and connecticut community that we share, the ideals of faith, education, intellect that he has exemplified and those -- and those qualities of independence and courage an

mccain? >> thank you very much, mr. secretary. >> a little good natured ripping.ome back. >> thank you very much, mr. president. bam! ba-bam! two things -- one, solid, concise joke. two, little disproportionate. >> all right. it's time for some entertainment news. one song is apparently all it takes to become a millionaire. let's start thinking of one, bill. "gangnam style" has made over $8 million for that one song. >> for the dancing or song? >> both. >> the world will have to wait to see if he'll become a one hit wonder. the nominees for the 55th annual grammy awards are revealed. the top contenders includes kanye west, frank ocean and jay z. the black peas and jack white. you can google and find out who they are. >> i know who jack white is. >> jazz pianist dave brubeck died at the age of 91. they put out "take five" one of the best-selling jazz songs of all time. les munves weighed in on that angust. jones comment. he says compared to charlie sheen this is a piece of cake. he added, by the way, jones is still collecting his $300,000 a week paycheck. >> it's d

mccain? >> thank you very much, mr. secretary. >> thank you very much, mr. president. this is what happens when you get two losers up here, folks. >> meanwhile, reports say the president is considering anna wintor, the editor in chief to "vogue" to be the ambassador to the uk or france. she was the biggest bundlers raising more than $500,000 for the obama campaign. >>> that's now your top news. you know what? >> i'm trying to breathe in and absorb the last story. all right. there is a new voice joining the immigration debate with hispanic voters overwhelmingly siding with president obama for the second straight election. the trio of latino mega donors including eva longoria are launching a new group aimed at mobilizing that energy and enthusiasm. the primary focus is to grow a strong social media presence and help the white house in passing comprehensive immigration reform. they see this has a chance to work with republicans who may be wobbling after losing a second straight presidential loss. >>> the secretary of state is denying she is running for president for 2016

mccain. >> thank you very much, mr. ckingly gave the cabinet post nod to democrat john kerry. >> i think jeong kerry would be an excellent appointment and would be easily confirmed by his colleagues. >> kerry is also listed as a potential defense secretary to replace leon panetta. it's a list that includes michelle fornoy with the number three job at the pentagon. ashton carter is on the list and former nebraska senator chuck hagel on a republican could represent a reach across the aisle. >> we're in a much stronger position today as a country than we were in '07. >> treasury secretary tim geithner has said he will stay at his post until at least inauguration. his chief of stat jack lieu is named as an replace am. they skwed if people thought president obama would pick good cabinet members. 58% said they thought he would, 42% said he would not. emily schmidt, cnn, washington. >>> one cabinet member on the president teems of advisers since the very beginning, epa administrator lisa jack sorn had a chance to talk with her

mr. mccain comes out. there was an event outside earlier, senator tom harkin from iowa, the democrat, gathered some folks to do a press conference talking about the fiscal cliff and the impact of those spending cuts. let's look at that now and we will wait for senator mccain. >> ok. are we ready? good morning. welcome to the cold morning press conference outside of the senate office building. i'm the executive director and i am one of the nuns on the bus. [laughter] we are here to continue the message that our congress needs to find a solution to the facing. we gather today as a broad coalition of all sorts of members from the washington advocacy community and people from all around the country to stand here together to say we need a conagra's that governs. problems. we are especially concerned today about lifting up middle- class families who were so apprehensive about the future and the working poor who get keep -- keep getting pushed far. it is my great honor to introduce one of the members of the senat

he and john mccain are best friends again. he called him mr. president the other day.d he call him, mr. secretary. >> mr. secretary and mr. president. >> anyway, yes. >> karen, does the president lose face if he backs down on susan rice? >> he does. so i think the president's condition is going to continue to be bring it on. i do. >> bring it on, she says. thank you to my friends here for bringing it on. that is all for now. i will see you back here tomorrow at noon eastern 9:00 a.m. pacific when i am joined bibi panel. be sure to catch me on the last word tonight at 10:00 p.m. when i do my best impersonation of lawrence o'donnell in the anchor's chair. fine us at facebook.com. andrea mitchell reports is coming up next. >>> thanks to you, alex. coming up here, michigan governor rick snyder joins me from the state capitol as he prepares to sign laws curbing union clout in the state that's been home to the autoworkers since the beginning. we'll also be joined by the uaw president and by the reverend jesse jackson leading the protests there. senator kent conrad is here to

hit right back atd the gentleman from kentucky and referenced this comment senator john mccain made on monday. >> mr. chairman, i again apologized for what seems to have happened and much to my dismay it lends some credence to the argument that we ought not to do business the way that we are doing here in the the united states senate. >> senator john mccain was blaming rand paul of kentucky for holding up amendments on the defense authorization bill. in the process, mccain gave credence to filibuster reform. his comments step all over mitch mcconnell's claim. it's not an effort to marginalize the minority party. with 386 filibusters from republicans, these rule changes are simply a way to make the senate work again. that's what you pay them for. let's turn now to senator debbie stabenow of michigan. there's been a lot of conversation in the liberal community in this country about this. and democrats seem to be chomping at the bit. is this going to happen? are we going to see change? >> yes, i believe that we are going to see change. we have the support to make the changes and i think it's clear the

mccain started it off. >> thank you very much, mr. secretary. [ laughter ] >> thank you very much, mr. president. [ laughter ] this is what happens when you get too loose. >> kerry and mccain are working together on the effort to persuade their senate colleagues to ratify the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. as we discussed in the show yesterday, the treaty has run into opposition from more conservative members of the republican party. think of it as two wings of the party inside their isolationists and those who are just anti-u.n. even as they are internationalists. simply others that don't believe the u.n. should sign on as party to any united nations convention and because a two-thirds super majority is rard to ratify a treaty, that opposition means it will be close and they may lose. yesterday kerry told reporters he is about four votes short but thinks a handful of senators might still be willing to sign on. in an effort to win those 11th hour votes, former senator bob dole who was there when the ada, americans for disability act, was negotiated and signed in