We're no longer staring into the abyss of defeat and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success. - John McCain

I don't know if you could ever say, quote "mission accomplished," as much as you could say "Americans are out of harm's way."

When we were agreed on an issue, and worked together to make a little progress for the country on an important issue, he was the best ally you could have. You never had even a small doubt that once his word was given and a course of action decided, he would honor the letter and spirit of the agreement. When we worked together on the immigration issue, we had a daily morning meeting with other interested senators. He and I would meet for a few minutes in advance, and decide between us which members of our respective caucuses needed a little special encouragement or on occasion a little straight talk. If a member tried to back out of a previous commitment, Ted made certain they understood the consequences of their action. It didn't matter to him that the offender was a member of his own caucus. He was the most reliable, the most prepared, and the most persistent member of the Senate. He took the long view. He never gave up. And though on most issues I very much wished he would give up, he taught me to be a better senator.

While our Party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us.