mr. patterson i loved blah, blah. come on in or did they -- were they even in a sense a little bit weary of having this novelist come in? >> well, you know, it's funny you sometimes to have jump through a few hoops. but when i was talking to the palestinians for exile, and when i was talking, you know, to the ayatollah fa-lalla. one thing that you're aware of is that they don't feel their point of view is very well circulated in the western press. so to the extent that you show up and you can write and some day something you say will get in print, they're more keen to talk to you than other people might 'cause they have a feeling they aren't understood. that they are basically satteriz satterized and cast in terrorism is a one size fits all kind of way. and they're quite fine on talking to you for the most part. there is a priceless picture of me giving him a copy of "exile" and him giving me a dialog in the western world. i don't think he was a fan before i showed up i'll say that. [laughter] >> let me turn to somebo

mr. chairman, i join you and welcoming embassador patterson.merica was moved by the jazzmen revolution. we celebrated the calls for greater political participation, for the protection of basic human rights, and the more inclusive and economy. we are heartened at protests in tunisia, having an impact in some parts of the middle east. it is also clear that decisive improvement and governance in the middle east will not be simple or automatic. the past few months have demonstrated that the countries of the region are all on very different paths and time lines. we cannot over-generalized about what is occurring in middle eastern societies, or expect changing attitudes to solve american national security problems in the region. we should recognize that this is a genuine opportunity in the long run for the advancement of democratic values. it broadens prosperity accompanied by short-term risks and dangers uncertainties. we are witnessing civil war in libya. ongoing suppression of popular people in syria. in yemen, we have seen highly fractured societ

mr. president, i want to yield the floor. and again i notice the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: y: i ask unanimous consent that nicholas patterson a detailee on the staff of crime and terrorism on the committee of the judiciary be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the 112th congress. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: madam president, i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. hatch: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from utah. mr. hatch: i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be rescinded. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hatch: madam president, our economic situation grows more dire by the day. our unemployment rate has gone back up to 9.1%. last month only 54,000 jobs were created. you've got to create over 145,000 to just stay even. housing prices remain in free fall. since 2007, home values declined by more than they did during the great depression. in large part due to qe-2 americans are facing higher gas prices and higher food prices that are cutting into their family budgets. now there is incre