But we should not underestimate the value of what one average American--what the impression of one average American makes--can make on a first-time visitor to this country or a repeat visitor, for that matter.

We need to, as a country, both parties, all of our leaders need to work together to try to reverse this image.

Well, without a doubt, last year's Intelligence Reform Legislation was an important milestone in beginning to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

That is a great point, because I think we missed that.

So it is a very, very good point, and one that we should think about.

I think our strength as a country relies on us as being an attractive model, and that has been diminished.

As fewer and fewer people visit our great country, I think our economy is going to be hurt by that.

And it is essential that we act, in my view, responsibly to tighten our borders to protect America and its citizens.

I do not think that was really smart to have Minnesota having fewer dots up there than Connecticut.

decide each case on the facts and the merits alone. That is what our Founders intended. Judicial decisions ultimately have to be based on evidence and on facts. They have to be based on precedent and on law.

Now the test for a qualified judicial nominee is not simply whether they are intelligent.

Competition helps to lower costs and improve quality, in health care as in the rest of the economy.

There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda than the current administration.

We can't ever, ever give in to the Republican agenda.

The conversation in Washington is taking place in some parallel universe.

Speaker Gingrich and I have been talking about health care and national security actually now for several years. And I find that he and I have a lot in common.

Not with that kind of rhetoric. He doesn't speak for me with that kind of rhetoric. And I don't think he speaks for the majority of Democrats.

Counterfeiting, because it's extremely lucrative and easy to get into, is the mechanism that terrorist groups have discovered and are exploiting.