Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise to speak in morning business on an issue before the American people, and that is the Supreme Court vacancy. I rise today to express my very deep, deep disappointment in my Republican colleagues for vowing to block President Obama's nomination--vowing to block President Obama's nominee for filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Each and every Senator serving in this Chamber was elected by the American people, and we took an oath to uphold the Constitution. In this matter, the Constitution is very clear. Article II, section 2 says the President ``shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint . . . Judges of the supreme Court.'' It doesn't say the President only has an hour and a half left. It doesn't give a time limit to the President. If you are a President and you have a 4-year term, you have the authority and duty to exercise your obligations under the Constitution for a full 4 years, and the Senate has a duty to provide advice and consent. There are no waivers for election years. I urge my colleagues: Do your job. Follow the Constitution and live up to the Constitution. The Constitution doesn't say: In an election year, delay, delay, delay. The word ``delay'' doesn't even appear in the Constitution, in the hope that one day you will get your way. Republicans have said that the Senate must wait until the people have spoken by electing a new President in November. The American people have spoken.…”