After 6 years of efforts by the United States and Pakistani Governments, al-Qaeda had regenerated its ability to attack the United States.

I do believe that the past is prologue, unless we change it.

I'll tell you, that's a great candy-coated way of describing a terrible economy.

That alone is disturbing, because we keep hearing these commentators talking about the fact that there may be parts of the economy that are improving.

The interest that has been generated by this confirmation proceeding, encouraged by the television, shows the enormous interest that people have in what the court does.

The court, I would suggest, has time for more cases.

But the court decides all the cutting-edge questions of the day. The Senate is televised, the House is televised.

I think it was wrong for America to wait until 1967 to have an African-American, Justice Thurgood Marshall, on the court.

We Senators would like to know what the standards are so we know what to do when we undertake legislation.

I compliment the President for nominating an Hispanic woman.

The Federal District Court in Detroit said that the Terrorist Surveillance Program was unconstitutional.

I think your record is exemplary, Judge Sotomayor. Exemplary.

I am going to move on--go ahead.

Do I hear you saying there would be at least a little bit of--let me move on.

I am not asking you how you would decide the case, but wouldn't you agree that the Supreme Court should have taken that kind of a major conflict on separation of powers?

There has been a lot of talk about a wise Latina woman, and I think that this proceeding has tended to make a mountain out of a molehill.

I think beyond doing very well on stamina, you have shown intellect and humor and charm and pride and also modesty.

Well, wouldn't 38 cases lend a little extra support to the impact of Roe and Casey where the Court had the issue before it, could have overruled it?