Byron Dorgan: “it has always been a great privilege for me to come to the floor of the Senate and engage in debate. I graduated from a…”

“it has always been a great privilege for me to come to the floor of the Senate and engage in debate. I graduated from a high school senior class of nine students--in the top five, by the way. I come from a town of 350 people in the southwest ranching corner of North Dakota. I think it is a great privilege to be here, and a wonderful opportunity. The reason the Senate is such an extraordinary opportunity--and I have had the privilege to serve in both the House and the Senate--is that the Senate is the place of debate, unlimited debate. Yes, there is the opportunity for a filibuster in the Senate, but that is what forces compromise in the Senate. Unlike the House, there is a forcing of compromise, which is what makes Government work. I have been listening to this discussion. It is quite remarkable. This is a big issue. This is a serious issue. I have been listening attentively to the speakers. Our former colleague, the late Senator Moynihan, once said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they are not entitled to their own set of facts. What is happening here is the continuation of the development of a book of fiction by the majority side. They come to us and say the filibuster with respect to judicial nominations is very unusual, it is unprecedented, it is unconstitutional. Total fiction. How can they say that with a straight face? At least you would think they would laugh from time to time about what they are trying to pull over the American people.…”