Heidi Alexander: “I see the Senator from Maryland is waiting, and I wonder, if we are through with our colloquy, if the Senator would…”

“I see the Senator from Maryland is waiting, and I wonder, if we are through with our colloquy, if the Senator would allow me 2 or 3 minutes to correct a mistake I made on the floor of the Senate last week. Confessing error: I came to the floor following the vote on the Hagel nomination to point out the difference between a vote against a premature motion to cut off debate--which I thought the majority leader made--and an effort to kill a nomination with a filibuster, which are two different things. I pointed out--correctly--that in the history of the Senate, we have never denied to a district judge nominee his or her seat because of a failed cloture vote, and I don't believe we should. I pointed out we have never denied a Cabinet nominee his or her seat because of a filibuster, with the possible exception of John Bolton, whom the Democrats filibustered. Some Presidents count that nomination to the U.N. in their Cabinet and some don't. I then went on to say--incorrectly--that on appellate judges, the Democratic majority had filibustered and killed 10 of President Bush's nominations, and Republicans had in response denied two appellate judge seats by filibuster. Senator Schumer of New York--ever wary of what I might say--corrected me and said it was less than that. So I have consulted with him and his staff, and the score is actually 5 to 2. The correct result is that before George W.…”