herb kohl gave his farewell speech in 2012. objection. mr. kohl: thank you, mr. president.time to address the senate. my remarks will be brief and actually i just want to say one thing -- thank you. i wish i could say it with the eloquence of one of my first friends in the senate, senator dale bumpers, who told his stories and always made his case, pacing these aisles like a lion tethered to a specially made extra-long microphone cord. or with the breadth of vision of the late senator robert c. byrd who sprinkled his classic mother's day or fourth of july speeches with memorized poetry and his vast command of history. or with the fire of my dear friend, the late senator ted kennedy, who would bell owe to the -- bellow to the rafters his passion for the america that could be and then call on the senate to make it so. what a privilege it has been to serve with such men, and so many other men and women who have made up this body over the last 24 years. you have been my friends, advisors, sometimes adversaries and always worthy and my inspiration, and i thank you. my colleagues