I have read, it's safe to say, more of Max Baucus's opening statements than the average American. And as a relative Baucus-ologist, I feel comfortable reporting this finding: Max Baucus is a man who loves his quotebook.My favorite might be the hearing on "Improving Health Care Quality" which began with the chairman echoing Aldous Huxley's cynical observation, "The quality of moral behavior varies in inverse ratio to the number of human beings involved."Or maybe it was the hearing "Regarding International Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights" that began with Thomas Edison's observation, “Genius is one percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” Actually, that's not right. It was definitely the hearing "Regarding Transportation Infrastructure" where Baucus opened by quoting the Prophet Isaiah, who said, “Build up, build up the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”You got a hearing? Max Baucus has a quote.Today's quote, on the occasion of Kathleen Sebelius's appearance before the Finance Committee, comes from Teddy White's 1961 The Making of the President. “Whether [one] is burdened by power or enjoys power; whether [one] is trapped by responsibility or made free by it . . . — this is of the essence of leadership.” And it presages a conclusion that reads like a little prayer for Kathleen Sebelius: "And so, Governor Sebelius, here’s hoping that you will not be burdened by your new powers, but will enjoy them. Here’s hoping that you will not be trapped by your HHS responsibilities, but will be made free by them. And as Secretary of HHS, here’s hoping that you will make the most of your opportunity for leadership."All of which is to say that it looks like the Chairman of the Finance Committee supports President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. That's a powerful friend for Sebelius to have. In fact, it brings to mind an old line from Charles Caleb Cotton. "True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."Baucus's full statement follows the jump. MAX BAUCUS'S QUOTEBOOK.
I have read, it's safe to say, more of Max Baucus's opening statements than the average American. And as a relative Baucus-ologist, I feel comfortable reporting this finding: Max Baucus is a man who loves his quotebook.My favorite might be the hearing on "Improving Health Care Quality" which began with the chairman echoing Aldous Huxley's cynical observation, "The quality of moral behavior varies in inverse ratio to the number of human beings involved."Or maybe it was the hearing "Regarding International Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights" that began with Thomas Edison's observation, “Genius is one percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” Actually, that's not right. It was definitely the hearing "Regarding Transportation Infrastructure" where Baucus opened by quoting the Prophet Isaiah, who said, “Build up, build up the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”You got a hearing? Max Baucus has a quote.Today's quote, on the occasion of Kathleen Sebelius's appearance before the Finance Committee, comes from Teddy White's 1961 The Making of the President. “Whether [one] is burdened by power or enjoys power; whether [one] is trapped by responsibility or made free by it . . . — this is of the essence of leadership.” And it presages a conclusion that reads like a little prayer for Kathleen Sebelius: "And so, Governor Sebelius, here’s hoping that you will not be burdened by your new powers, but will enjoy them. Here’s hoping that you will not be trapped by your HHS responsibilities, but will be made free by them. And as Secretary of HHS, here’s hoping that you will make the most of your opportunity for leadership."All of which is to say that it looks like the Chairman of the Finance Committee supports President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. That's a powerful friend for Sebelius to have. In fact, it brings to mind an old line from Charles Caleb Cotton. "True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."Baucus's full statement follows the jump. 
