All Night Session...Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey)

Senator Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey)

Menendez was in the House in 2002 when the war was voted on. He opposed it. He was appointed to the Senate by his predecessor, Governor Jon Corzine (D-New Jersey) 18 months ago and won a larger than expected election victory for a full term last November against State Senator Tom Kean Jr (R-Summit), the son of former Governor and 9/11 Commission chairman Tom Kean (R-New Jersey)

There's that Let It Vote visual again.

Menendez comes out in favor of a date certain immediately.

"Those of us who opposed the war against popular opinion have been vidicated." This is definitely a major point.

Menendez reminds everyone that 51 votes doesn't necessarily constitute a majority in the Senate...this is important, most people don't realize that just being the majority party doesn't mean you get what you want in the Senate.

If there was perhaps a way to beat te Republicans on this issue, it's to remind Americans of how much money has been burned in Iraq. Menendez is backing away from this. Show the hypocrisy of the fiscal "conservatives."

The Iraqi government is a complete failure and total disappointment to the junior Senator from New Jersey.

Bringing up the Pakistan issue...why hasn't anyone made a bigger issue about how lenient Pakistan has been to terrorists living on the border with Afghanistan. I don't care if it's tribal areas...take charge of your country. If there were terrorists on a Hopi reservation, you'd better believe our military would be there rooting them out.

Menendez reminds us of how the Democrats have supported the troops even while opposing the war. Yes, it's true despite what the necons say, you can support the troops without blindly backing the war plan.

"No one has a greater right to question their government [than Iraqi war veterans]"

Menendez: Go back and fight in Afghanistan. You think Iraq is a problem, look at Afghanistan...and that's because we kinda gave up there and went after Iraq.

The World War II comparison;

"When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt didn't run off and invade China."

"Tyranny of a minority" that was rough, but excellent