Political Quotes

“I support the nomination of John Thomas Fowlkes, to be U.S. district judge for the Western District of Tennessee. Although it is the practice and tradition of the Senate to not confirm circuit nominees in the closing months of a Presidential election year, we continue to confirm consensus district judge nominees. Today's vote will be the 152nd nominee of this President confirmed to the district and circuit courts. We also have confirmed two Supreme Court nominees during President Obama's term. I continue to hear some Members repeatedly ask the question, ``What is different about this President that he has to be treated differently than all these other Presidents?'' I won't speculate as to any inference that might be intended by that question, but I can tell you that this President is not being treated differently than previous Presidents. By any objective measure, this President has been treated fairly and consistent with past Senate practices. For example, with regard to the number of confirmations, let me put that in perspective for my colleagues with an apples-to-apples comparison. The last time the Senate confirmed two Supreme Court nominees was during President Bush's second term. And during President Bush's entire second term the Senate confirmed a total of only 119 district and circuit court nominees.…”