Political Quotes

“I rise in morning business for a moment to speak about the nomination of Priscilla Owen of Texas to the Federal bench. This is really an extraordinary nomination. It is very troubling to me that it appears most of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are willing to keep Justice Owen from getting a vote. In the past, even with very controversial votes on Justices to the Supreme Court--and I have, for example, Justice Clarence Thomas in mind, and there was significant opposition to the confirming of Justice Thomas, primarily by Members of the other side of the aisle--the leaders of the Democratic Party understood that tradition called for a vote--probably knowing they would lose the vote. They, nevertheless, refused to support any kind of filibuster and they voted against Justice Thomas's confirmation. But he was confirmed 52-48. I always respected the things they said at or about the time of that confirmation--that they would not ever support a filibuster, regardless of their particular feelings about the nominee. I thought that took courage, and I respected it, coming, as it did, from some of the key leaders of the Democratic side of the Senate.”