Senate Proceeding on Dec 7th, 2006 :: 7:15:35 to 7:51:00
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7:13:16 to 7:15:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Ensign

7:15:20 to 7:15:35( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from pennsylvania. mr. santorum: i now think i shouldn't have yielded to him. thank you, mr. president. let me thank my great friend and colleague from

7:15:35 to 7:15:55( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: nevada and thank him for his very kind words, thank him for coming to -- to hear my last speech on the floor of the united states senate. i know that there are many ears that are listening that are applauding

7:15:35 to 7:51:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum's last speech as PA's senator.

7:15:55 to 7:16:09( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: at this moment for that, but it is -- i come here with a -- with a wonderful spirit. i have written on the top of the page the same word that i wrote the night of the election and that was the word

7:16:09 to 7:16:35( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: "gratitude." because that's all i feel. an incredible sense of gratitude. mark rogers, who's my long-time friend and chief of staff and now head of the conference and i were talking again this morning about

7:16:35 to 7:16:52( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: coming to work every day and walking up to the capitol building every day. for 16 years now. and still feeling the "wow, i work here." every day. for 16 years. it was such a gift, such an incredible

7:16:52 to 7:17:08( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: gift. to be blessed to serve the people of the 18th district and the congress, out in southwestern pennsylvania, in allegheny county, and then for 12 years, 12 incredible years, to be able to serve

7:17:08 to 7:17:27( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: the people of pennsylvania. and so first and foremost, i just want to thank the person most responsible, the person most responsible for that, and that is god, for this great gift that he has bestowed

7:17:27 to 7:17:44( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: upon me and my family. to be able to serve the greatest country in the history of the world. the greatest country in the history of the world, and to serve in a body that is and hopefully will

7:17:44 to 7:18:00( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: be the greatest deliberative body in the worldment -- world. i think back and my dad who was an immigrant of this country and my mom, just a second generation and think of how i grew up. just amazing

7:18:00 to 7:18:14( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: what a great country this is and how god has bestowed upon me and my family tremendous blessings. so i thank him for the opportunity he's given me to serve. we're all called to serve. and i know some

7:18:14 to 7:18:41( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: are frustrated because they don't think they're in a job or in a position in life where they're serving or doing what god has called them to do. god has blessed me with the opportunity to do and to

7:18:41 to 7:19:04( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: serve in a way that at least i hope he has called me to serve. second, i would just say that i have to say thank you to my family. i know karen and the kids are watching. they've suffered a lot, sacrificed

7:19:04 to 7:19:19( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: a lot in 16 years. i was telling john the other day that it's amazing how you think you're doing certain things well and then you have the opportunity to spend a little more time doing those things and

7:19:19 to 7:19:38( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: you realize how insufficiently well you did them in the past. the phrase from the bible that just is ringing in my ears is the scales falling off of the eyes. and over the last month or so, i've had

7:19:38 to 7:20:04( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: a lot of scales fall from my eyes to see not just what the two years have been to my family, which have been a tough two years -- tough three years, but what the accumulation of 16 years and a very difficult

7:20:04 to 7:20:22( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: life. i know everybody here recognizes because you live it how difficult this life is, how public everything we do and say and are or are accused of being is. and i think we understand how difficult that

7:20:22 to 7:20:43( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: is for our family family, but then again i don't think we do. so i just want to say thank you to them. for karen, who -- this picture in my mind of this t-shirt dress that she wore -- she had two of

7:20:43 to 7:20:59( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: them we bought -- with stencils on them: "santorum for congress." i went knocking on doors back in 1990 when no one gave us a chance. and we did the impossible. we were able to geet a 14-year incumbent

7:20:59 to 7:21:11( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: who no one thought could be beaten. i would not have had -- not even come close to winning that election but for her. in 1994, same thing. she went out, two children at home, elizabeth and john, and

7:21:11 to 7:21:24( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: she spent day after day after day not traveling with me. no, she was giving speeches in her own right and traveling all over the commonwealth of pennsylvania. sacrificing. and she continued to

7:21:24 to 7:21:41( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: do that day after day, year after year. because i was a united states senator and i had important things to do. i tell stories all the time about debates that were held here on the floor of the senate

7:21:41 to 7:22:00( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: when i would call karen and say, i just had to come back to this very place and say more. and there was never a hesitation hesitation. she served more than i did. and my children, none of them have known

7:22:00 to 7:22:16( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: their father without being in politics. i got married back in 1990 with karen, and elizabeth came along 11 months later. and their life has been their father in politics in the public circle, the

7:22:16 to 7:22:34( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: public arena. and they've had to do with that in the pleasurable ways and some very painful ways. and so i thank them for being without their dad far too often. and even when they're with their dad, sometimes

7:22:34 to 7:22:57( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: not as attentive as he should be. but i think they know and they shared in the endeavor because they knew it was important for them and for our country. and so hopefully out of this experience, they've

7:22:57 to 7:23:11( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: been given a sense of purpose of what life can and should be all about. and that is to serve. to serve god, to serve your family, to serve your community, and to serve your country. it's a great

7:23:11 to 7:23:27( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: blessing. and i thank them for the opportunity they've given me through their sacrifice to do that for the last 16 years. i want to thank my mom and dad and karen's mom and dad, for all of our

7:23:27 to 7:23:52( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: families who have been supportive. every step of the way. sometimes wondering why i was doing this. sometimes unable to walk to the end of the driveway and pick up the paper for fear of what next

7:23:52 to 7:24:06( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: was going to be said about their son-in-law or son. but they stood with us and they thought with us. and they comforted us. and i thank them. i mentioned the people who are here in this room, my staff.

7:24:06 to 7:24:22( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: i ask unanimous consent at this point if i can submit a list of all the folks who worked for us over the last 12 years here in the united states senate to be made a part of the record at the end

7:24:22 to 7:24:35( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: of my remarks. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. santorum: i wish i could do what jim talent did and read all these names but there are -- there are a lot of names. and these are people who

7:24:35 to 7:24:48( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: work for me in my personal office here in washington and my office across the state and the people who worked in washington and the leadership office at the senate republican conference. john, you

7:24:48 to 7:25:10( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: said it so well. these are incredible people. i've had the opportunity now in the last few days just to sit and talk with each and every one of my staff members just to find out what they're doing and

7:25:10 to 7:25:31( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: any final thoughts that they would have. and one after another, i'm just amazed at the -- at the dedication and the intelligence, the caring and the commitment of service that they have to the people

7:25:31 to 7:25:43( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: of pennsylvania or to this cause and the causes that i attempted to do my best to fight for here in the united states senate. these are incredibly talented people who i've been so blessed to be --

7:25:43 to 7:25:58( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: to be associated with and to work with. and i look at the list -- zack moore my legislative director prepared just a brief list of legislative accomplishments and i just go down that list and i say,

7:25:58 to 7:26:12( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: yeah, i worked on that. but, you know, combatting autism, jen vezie, she wrote impact autism. that wasn't me. she spent 16 months working with 15 autism groups. in fact, while i'm at that moment, let me

7:26:12 to 7:26:22( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: just do something here. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the chair for you lay before the united states senate the house message to accompany s. 843, the impact autism bill. the presiding

7:26:22 to 7:26:36( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: resolved that the bill from the senate, s. 843, entitled "an act to amend the public health service act to combat autism through research, screening, intervention,

7:26:36 to 7:26:47( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: and education," do pass with an amendment. mr. santorum: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate concur in the house amendment, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statement

7:26:47 to 7:27:01( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: relating to the bill be placed in the record at this point. in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. santorum: mr. president, we just passed the combatting autism bill that we've

7:27:01 to 7:27:16( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: been working on for 16 months. i want to thank senator dodd for his tremendous work on that. i want to thank all the autism groups. but i want to thank jen vezie for the tremendous work that she did

7:27:16 to 7:27:30( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: and the hours and hours and the patience that it takes to put together complex and important pieces of legislation. later today or tomorrow we're going to pass the abandoned mine lands bill. i'd love to stand

7:27:30 to 7:27:38( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: up and say, boy, that was rick santorum. what a great job i did. and then i'd have to say really, it was ashley horning that did it. it wasn't rick santorum that did that. i pretty much knew what

7:27:38 to 7:27:53( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: was in there and we negotiated the parts that were in disagreement. that's what we all do. but the 90% of the bill that most of us we know about but we didn't negotiate and hammer out the details. it

7:27:53 to 7:28:11( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: was done by folks who have the commitment and vision and effort and work the long hours here to make legislation possible. it's important that pennsylvania now will get a billion dollars to clean

7:28:11 to 7:28:27( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: up abandoned mines. in our state. tremendous contribution to the environment. orphan miners will now have their health care coverage paid because, in part, i had a terrific staff person. and i can

7:28:27 to 7:28:40( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: go down through issue after issue and look at these accomplishments that would be great to stand up and say that i did but i had a tremendous amount of help. i had incredibly stahlent, gifted people who worked

7:28:40 to 7:28:56( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: incredible hours. i think the thing that probably most people across america don't realize is how hard all the people around here work. and they don't work because they do it for the money. they don't

7:28:56 to 7:29:09( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: work because they have some agenda to accomplish. they do it because they want to improve america. they want to make america a better place. they want to leave the place better than how they found it.

7:29:09 to 7:29:23( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: they want to serve because they love this country. and they believe in things that will make this country better. and they work long hours. and they don't get paid as much as they can make if they

7:29:23 to 7:29:41( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: wander off the hill. no, i've -- i'll put up my folks who have work for me both in washington and across the state with anybody. they're sitting up there in the gallery and they're sitting behind

7:29:41 to 7:29:58( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: me here along the railing railing, and they have given their all and i thank them. they've served the people of pennsylvania. i was looking at kevin roy over there and all of the earmarks -- that's

7:29:58 to 7:30:15( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: a dirty word -- that we were able to get to help the people of pennsylvania in so many ways.~ but look at the work we did for the nonprofit community and on welfare and on family issues that melanie lune

7:30:15 to 7:30:28( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: why y worked on and on her team. it's just been an incredible group, the confidence. the message folks, it was awfully hard -- you know, republicans are not really good on the old message issue. we don't

7:30:28 to 7:30:44( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: follow our talking points very well. we try. we try, but you know, we've got a lot of independent thinkers on our side, god bless them, and they always have a better way of saying things than what we

7:30:44 to 7:30:57( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: suggest or actually not even saying things, actually thinking things that we suggest. but that's the beauty of our party. we have a lot of diversity within our party. we have some talented people who

7:30:57 to 7:31:12( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: work very hard. not just to drive message, to spin, but to try to move the debate, try to get our causes articulated in a way that communicate effectively to the people across america. and they worked

7:31:12 to 7:31:24( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: hard, they built coalitions, and they did our best. and i want to thank them for their effort and for the tremendous service that they've given our conference. i want to thank the folks in my district

7:31:24 to 7:31:38( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: offices. most of those folks have been with me 16 years. very few -- we don't have a whole lot of turnover in our office. a lot of folks who -- in pittsburgh have been with me 16 and then the others

7:31:38 to 7:31:56( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: around the state have been with me 12 years. dedicated people who go out and do those social security checks and veterans' benefits and medals. i always remember one story just happened this past

7:31:56 to 7:32:09( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: year. a man was a world war ii vet named patrick. i was at a ribbon cutting for a facility in -- a v.a. facility at the v.a. in oakland, in pittsburgh. and while i was there, we arranged a little medal

7:32:09 to 7:32:26( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: presentation to a veteran who had sought a medal and was never given that medal. and that's all i knew about him. i showed up and there was this older gentleman sitting in the front row and his name was

7:32:26 to 7:32:39( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: patrick. and patrick was a world war ii veteran who served in patton's army and was sent on a secret mission to try to liberate a p.o.w. camp. and in that mission, he was captured and he was in prison

7:32:39 to 7:32:58( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: for several weeks -- several months, i believe, in a german p.o.w. camp. when he got out of the army, he requested a p.o.w. medal, but the paperwork didn't show that he'd been captured. it was a

7:32:58 to 7:33:14( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: secret mission and it never appeared in his military record. for 60 years, patrick fought to get his designation as a p.o.w., never married. in fact, later in his life after he retired from work,

7:33:14 to 7:33:33( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: he became somewhat of a recluse because he was kidded by some of his buddies about him being a p.o.w. it affected him dramatically, so much so that one of his friends and relatives contacted us and

7:33:33 to 7:33:44( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: said, is there anything you can do, i mean could it possibly be true. marianne blocksage from my office in pittsburgh, the wizard that she is whose been working on these things for 16 years, she

7:33:44 to 7:33:58( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: knew the places to call to put the records together and we found out yes, he was, and that was in one place in one record and not in the same place in another record and a didn't talk to b. and

7:33:58 to 7:34:22( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: so we were able to get him his p.o.w. medal. i remember pinning it on him, this older man, walked up to the microphone and said, there's one thing i want to say. he said, i finally feel welcomed

7:34:22 to 7:34:39( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: home. i told that story not because -- i mean it's a great story, but the folks in my office and in offices all over this capital do this every day because they care care, because people call with

7:34:39 to 7:34:51( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: impossible things and our folks do impossible things to help them. and i want to thank all of them for all the service they've done, for doing what i asked them to do when they come into the office,

7:34:51 to 7:35:15( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: treat every call as if it's grandmother calling. if you treat every caller like it's your grandmother, hopefully they get along with their grandmother, then things will be just fine. i want to thank

7:35:15 to 7:35:33( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: my colleagues. this place gets a lot of ridicule. it's very easy to criticize people in the fish bowl. it's very easy to take shots at people for not living up to their expectations. and certainly

7:35:33 to 7:35:52( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: we all do not live up to expectations. but i think i can say without any reservation that the men and women in this body are good and decent people who are doing what they believe is the best for this

7:35:52 to 7:36:06( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: country. i know that many people find that hard to believe because you look at people and you have believe beliefs so indictment trickicly opposed to -- diametrically opposed to people in this chamber. i

7:36:06 to 7:36:17( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: certainly have demonstrated that on many occasions on the floor of this senate, that i have views diametrically opposed to those in this chamber. but in my heart i never questioned the sincerity

7:36:17 to 7:36:35( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: of the people who articulate ed their opinions that they were not sincere. i believed them to be sincere and i believed them to believe that that was in the best interests of the country. that's what's

7:36:35 to 7:36:49( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: supposed to happen here. ideas are to be debated, points of views are to be discussed, and the prevailing thought of the day will move the country in that direction. there are very good people here.

7:36:49 to 7:37:03( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: i just want to tell the people of america, there are very good people here. there are people here who pray every single day for god's guidance on both sides of the aisle. there are people here today

7:37:03 to 7:37:18( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: that while they -- we fight and argue, do so out of a apassion for doing what's right. i want to thank my colleagues for the courtesies that they've shown me, and particularly, my republican colleagues

7:37:18 to 7:37:33( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: for the honor that they've given me to serve in leadership for six years. i know that was not an easy decision back in 2001 to elect someone who had a reputation of being somewhat of a bomb thrower

7:37:33 to 7:37:56( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: from my house and early senate days to a position of leadership in the senate. they took a risk. they took a risk. i hope they feel it's paid off and it's certainly been a great blessing to me to

7:37:56 to 7:38:12( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: be able to serve my colleagues in the capacity as a conference chairman.~ you know, it's an incredible group of people. i think of john, who is my tennis partner. played our first match after the election

7:38:12 to 7:38:28( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: after i was defeated. he beat me-0, 6-1. he thinks it's because he played better but i'm just preparing for other employment. we have prayer groups here, one of the most important things in my

7:38:28 to 7:38:48( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: life over the past 12 years have been the senate prayer group, the senate bible study and prayer breakfasts here and the small prayer group that i've been involved with.~ i don't know how people do

7:38:48 to 7:39:06( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: it. i don't know how people do this business without prayer, without an understanding that there's something bigger than just us here, something that will help us, guide us, lift us up at times when

7:39:06 to 7:39:17( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: there seems to be no other reason to be lifted up. so i want to thank all of those who prayed with me and prayed for me, lloyd ogle very, the chaplain -- lloyd oglevie, the chaplain here for many

7:39:17 to 7:39:32( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: years, they are back, our chaplain now. they're prayer warriors, our chaplains. i know they pray for us every day, i know lloyd still praise for us every day. and i know millions of americans pray for

7:39:32 to 7:39:52( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: us every day. i want to thank all of them for helping me through and helping us and helping our country through a -- these difficult times. i want to thank our leader, bill frist, my first leader i

7:39:52 to 7:40:06( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: served under as a member of leadership, trent lott, and the leader that i served under when i came to the united states senate, bob dole. each and every one of them in their own way, they led differently,

7:40:06 to 7:40:20( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: but in the case of senator dole, he was a larger than life figure to me coming over here to the united states senate as a 36-year-old senator, and he was on his way to run for the presidency. he took

7:40:20 to 7:40:32( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: the time to -- to be concerned about the things that were important to me, put me on the committees that i wanted -- i needed to be on, and gave me the opportunity that i'll never forget and certainly

7:40:32 to 7:40:47( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: will always be thankful, to manage and work on the welfare reform bill back in 1996. of all the things that i've accomplished here in the united states senate, there's probably nothing i'm more proud

7:40:47 to 7:41:00( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: of than the work we did back in 1996 to reform the welfare system and transition it so millions and millions of people would fall off the rolls and find gainful employment for themselves and their

7:41:00 to 7:41:15( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: families. and i owe that to bob dole who gave me the opportunity to stand at that manager's chair for months, i was in my second year in the united states senate and taking on what i would argue

7:41:15 to 7:41:33( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: is the most important piece of legislation in that session of the congress and the republican revolution. i want to thank trent lott not only for his tutelage and mentoring of me in the time that i've

7:41:33 to 7:41:48( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: been here as a leader, but for helping me in gaining leadership and being involved in the leadership here in the united states senate. and i want to thank bill frist for his friendship, for -- as coming

7:41:48 to 7:42:04( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: in as a leader, when i was already in the leadership, it was a little different. and he didn't come in and sort of point the finger and boss around, but he came in to learn. he came in to engage and to

7:42:04 to 7:42:27( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: try to take the knowledge that was in the leadership group and use it to build a stronger group. i appreciate that. there's a humility in bill frist frist, and it's a very attractive quality, i might

7:42:27 to 7:42:43( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: also add a rather rare quality here in the united states senate, but a very attractive one and a very important one in senators and in leaders. i want to thank, i guess finally, the people of pennsylvania.

7:42:43 to 7:42:56( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: i was talking to jim tooey, jim is the new president of st. vincent's college in la troab, pennsylvania. he was the director of the faith-based office for the president, and i called him the other day. and he

7:42:56 to 7:43:11( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: said, you know, rick, i've been here, i think he said six months, he says, i really like the state, like the area, good people, he said, but the more and more i study the state and the more and more

7:43:11 to 7:43:29( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: i get a feel of pennsylvania, i have one question. it's not how did you lose the election, but how did you get elected here twice? i got elected here twice because i had a lot of wonderful people

7:43:29 to 7:43:44( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: who campaigned hard and worked hard and believed in me and were maybe able to see past the differences with me to give me an opportunity to serve here. and i am eternally grateful. it is an incredible

7:43:44 to 7:44:02( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: state. it's one i got to know very, very well and obviously got to know thousands of people, had the opportunity to serve them and had the opportunity to be scolded by them, reprimanded by them,

7:44:02 to 7:44:14( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: but always -- you know, i always understood that they were my employers. i work for them. and when you work for somebody sometimes they're going to tell you they don't like the job you're doing. and you

7:44:14 to 7:44:29( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: better act like someone who is an employee instead of as an employer or you're not going to find yourself being an employee very much longer. well, i tried to act like an employee, but that didn't mean

7:44:29 to 7:44:43( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: i always had to agree with my employer. and a lot of times i didn't. and maybe i spoke up too often, too loudly, too bold boldly on some of the things that my employer didn't agree with me. i hope they

7:44:43 to 7:44:56( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: respect the fact that i felt heartfelt -- it was a heartfelt disagreement and that i did what i did and i said what i said because i believed it was in their best interests even though they may not have thought

7:44:56 to 7:45:08( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: so.~ i respect the faght that i didn't win this election and that the people of pennsylvania made a different decision. i had an opportunity to meet with my u.s. is successor today in my office and get a chance

7:45:08 to 7:45:22( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: to talk with him about some of the ins and outs of the senate. he is a good man and he will do a good job here. and i hope that you -- the people of pennsylvania will give him and extend to him the

7:45:22 to 7:45:36( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: same courtesies and trust and cooperation that so many pennsylvanians who didn't agree with me on a lot of things but knew that it was important to work together -- like our goafn, ed rendell, who i

7:45:36 to 7:45:50( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: worked with as mayor and governor, as well as did i with any republican that i know. i hope that republican officeholders in pennsylvania treat my opponent with the same kind of respect that -- and the

7:45:50 to 7:46:03( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: same kind of cooperation that governor rendell and i have had over the years. that brings me to my colleague, senator specter. it was very kind of arlen to come here and say a few words. and i -- he

7:46:03 to 7:46:16( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: said that we are not only colleagues in the united states senate but -- and obviously colleagues from pennsylvania -- but we are friends. and i got to tell you, when i first came to the united

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Rick Santorum: states senate, i thought that was a very long shot, that i would be friends with arlen specter. all i'd heard about arlen specter is just how prickly a character he is and how difficult he is and

7:46:39 to 7:46:58( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Santorum: sort of cold and tough. but he's -- he's really a pretty soft guy. he really is. gets those granddaughters around him and he just melts. nah, he's a good man. i don't agree with arlen a lot, and of course

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Rick Santorum: everybody knows that. but arlen has been a good pattern partner. we've worked on a lot of things together. and even when we disagreed, we either rrp respected the disagreement disagreement and if it

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Rick Santorum: was important enough to us and the state and the country, we worked hard to try to bridge those differences. i think that's a good -- it's a good model. i recommend it to my successor. i recommend it

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Rick Santorum: to all my colleagues. this place doesn't have to be as personally confrontational as it is. i say that as someone who was pretty personally combative when i first came here. i know that i've had some pretty

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Rick Santorum: strident debates here on the floor of the united states senate. but i will tell you that in my heart it was never personal. it was always about what the issue was about. and that's hard for a lot

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Rick Santorum: of people in america to look at in a culture that takes everything personally. people have asked me why i haven't felt -- why i've been so comfortable and at ease with what's happened. is because

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Rick Santorum: i don't take it personally. people disagree with where i wanted to take it country and that's fine. they'll have an opportunity to take it someplace else -- for now. but i don't take it personally.

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Rick Santorum: and i look at the empty desks of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and i look at eve and every one, and i can -- and i look at each and every one, and i can see them all sitting there.

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Rick Santorum: and i've had disagreements with virtually every one. but all of them i've disagreed hopefully without being personal personally disagreeable. that's how this place works. that's the only way it

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Rick Santorum: can work and be successful for worker america. in closing, mr. president,/ i just want to say that -- i just come back to the word "gratitude "gratitude," to god to my family family, to my colleagues,

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Rick Santorum: to the wonderful people that have work worked for me and with me over the years, to the people of the 18th congressional district and the people of pennsylvania "thank you." thank you. i don't know

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Rick Santorum: what i'll be doing next. but i cannot imagine that anything that i do in the future will rival the kind of blessings that i've felt from all the folks that i've just mentioned, the relationships and

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Rick Santorum: the wonderful accomplishments and the great spirit that i've experience ed over these last 16 years is something that i'm just eternally grateful for all those involved. it has been a great blessing. and

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Rick Santorum: i want to thank my colleagues. i want to thank those who came and listened, those who might be listening other ways. i want to thank them personally for, again, the great kindness they have shown me

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Rick Santorum: here and i leave a very happy and contented former united states senator from pennsylvania who feels very very, very blessed. thank you, mr. president. mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding

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Rick Santorum: officer: the senator from kentucky. mr. mcconnell: mr. president, if i could say to my good friend from pennsylvania before he leaves the floor what an extraordinary 16 years he's had representing the

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Mitch McConnell: people of his state, what a truly outstanding member of the senator he's been and what a moving farewell address i just had an opportunity to witness. good luck, good friend, and god godspeed. mr. president?

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Speech By: Mitch McConnell