Mr. Isakson madam president. The presiding officer the senator from georgia. Mr. Isakson madam president , i ask unanimous consent to be able to address the senate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Isakson thank you, madam president. Its an honor to be here today on whats not my last day but everybody is acting like it. A few months ago i had to an announce that after much consideration to be able to serve the people of georgia, when i knew i couldnt do the job i was going to quit and let somebody do it who wouldnt be hampered. Im not hampered yet. Im pretty tough. But its getting close. In august i decided to tell my wife about it, and we decided to go ahead and retire at the end of december, which ive announced and said i was going to do. The governor of georgia is making an appointment to take my place and you might look in the history books, current history and it might have an isakson in the glossary, but i doubt it. I have been here for 15 years. This is the most enjo
Because i think of the people who have spoken on this floor since 1859, and im always measured in what i try to bring in terms of thought or whatever, but today is a special sense of responsibility. Senator coons and i have been chosen to lead our colleagues in honoring Johnny Isakson today. What we heard is historic, i believe. Its not the first time that weve had a speech on this floor that addressed that topic, nor will it be the last, i would predict. But we just heard johnny admonish us to judge with our conscience and our heart. And, with that, i feel somewhat unworthy to try to address what i feel and what he also talked about is his heart. Today is truly a bittersweet occasion. Its bitter because my friend, my mentor and partner in the United States senate, Johnny Isakson, is stepping down at the end of this month. For those of us who know this man, this is tough to come to grips with. Ill dearly miss him on many levels. Ill miss having him here in the United States senate alon