I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying.

When the Senate ceases to engage nominees in meaningful discussion of legal issues the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce and the Senate becomes incapable of either properly evaluating nominees or appropriately educating the public.

Now for this book I had to learn the world of the Senate which is really for all that's written about the Senate an unknowing world and its mores and the way things work with subcommittees and all. I loved learning about that.

I think that if Republicans are given the reins of leadership in the House or Senate or both we will have to govern in a way - at least put forward solutions whether or not the president goes along with them or not that deal with these long-term challenges.

I think national issues play into gubernatorial races less than obviously in Senate and Congressional races. Much less. They tend to be more decided by personality leadership qualities and by state or local issues. They still have some effect no question about it but not as much as Senate and Congressional races.

When President Obama was in the Senate when he was a U.S. senator he voted against raising the debt ceiling. And he said it was a lack of leadership that had brought us to this point.

First I have the privilege of being Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. It is not an oxymoron I assure you.

House and Senate Republicans are now united in adopting earmark bans. We hope President Obama will follow through on his support for an earmark ban by pressing Democratic leaders to join House and Senate Republicans in taking this critical step to restore public trust.

I hope that as the Senate and American people learn more about me they will see that I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.

Look all this is about is utilizing the rules of the Senate using a majority of the senators to make sure that we get health reform done. We cannot wait another day.