Max Baucus: “the great British Prime Minister William Gladstone called the U.S. Senate ``the most remarkable of all the inventions of…”

“the great British Prime Minister William Gladstone called the U.S. Senate ``the most remarkable of all the inventions of modern politics.'' If you stop and think about that a little bit, in the political process there is probably no greater truth. The Senate is a remarkable institution. It is unique. There is no other body, no other political body, no other democratic legislature in the world quite like the U.S. Senate. We have our unique rules and our unique procedures, which I think make it special, and which have stood the test of time and made this body the institution it is. I think it has added significantly to our country's well-being and has helped make the United States the best country in the world. What are some of those distinctions? What are some of those qualities? One, clearly, is the right to debate. Once the Chair recognizes a Senator, that Senator can stand and talk as long as he or she wants, as long as he or she is physically able.”