Judd Gregg: “I want to talk today a little bit about the progress we are making relative to securing our borders in the United States…”

“I want to talk today a little bit about the progress we are making relative to securing our borders in the United States as a result of efforts made by this Congress and the administration. Before I do, I want to comment briefly on the presentation of the Senator from Illinois relative to the actions of this Congress and its passage of legislation or its investigative activity. It is truly disingenuous when the assistant leader of the Democratic side comes to the floor and says we have done nothing as a Congress when almost every major piece of legislation that has been brought to the floor of this Senate has been filibustered by the other side of the aisle. Bill after bill after bill has been stymied, stopped and, in fact--it is no secret--there is an open understanding around here that the purpose of the Democratic leadership has been to make it virtually impossible to pass legislation in the Senate in order that the Senate appear to be an ineffective body--their feeling being that if they can obstruct enough things, they can make an argument that Congress isn't functioning and they should be put in charge. It is an ironic position, of course, and has been on a number of times characterized as being similar to the situation when a man who shot both his parents, when brought before the court, asked for mercy because he declared himself an orphan.…”