She came to our cases without any apparent bias, probed counsel actively with insightful and at times tough questions and demonstrated time and again that she not only listens, but is often persuaded by counsel.

This trend threatens to undermine the greatest engine of free speech and commerce since the printing press.

Isn't there a compelling, overriding First Amendment right here for Americans to have access to the Internet?

It's an incredible honor to be here, less than week into my term as a United States Senator.

I plan to follow the example of my good friend and predecessor, Paul Wellstone, who was willing and ready to partner with his colleagues across the aisle to do the work of the American people.

I have admired your strength and integrity in leading this Committee.

I take this oath very seriously as we consider your nomination, Judge Sotomayor.

A lot of this economic recovery was actually replacing jobs that were lost or have been lost.

The thought that they're coming back and the job isn't there anymore makes them so disadvantaged.

That group that is so hard for people to get their arms around, the group I was talking about like the Johnsons of Blaine, Minnesota, who would like to work more hours but are discouraged.

We've seen an increase in consumer confidence, which is pretty marked.

Thank you very much.

How about for parts of the country?

You can see why the President is devoted to trying to make sure that people get some college.

These are remarkable figures in the unemployment rate, depending on people who don't finish high school are at 14.8 percent; with high school, 9.3 percent; with some college, 7.4 percent; college degree, 4.4 percent.

I was actually just talking to Senator McCain about Asia, China, Japan and Vietnam.

I always like to bring this up, because I don't think people think about this as much as they should.

There are reasons for some optimism regarding the state of our economy.