James M. Talent: “I rise first of all in support of the Estrada nomination and to say a word or two about it. Mr. Estrada's qualifications…”

“I rise first of all in support of the Estrada nomination and to say a word or two about it. Mr. Estrada's qualifications are excellent. I reviewed them the other day and it struck me that the man is so smart it is almost scary: Harvard Law School, Phi Beta Kappa graduate, clerk of the court of appeals, clerked on the Supreme Court, argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court. I clerked on a court of appeals, and I mean no disrespect to the members of the Federal judiciary when I say I wish every Judge had Mr. Estrada's qualifications when he or she went on the bench. Mr. Estrada is competent, qualified, honest, and he deserves to be on the court of appeals. I regret the filibuster that is currently underway to prevent his confirmation. It is unfair to him. It is bad for the country. Worst of all, it introduces a note of discord into the Senate that makes me discouraged about our ability to do the other things we need to do for this country--to pull together behind a prescription drug plan, behind a jobs bill, behind a strong defense that will protect our men and women in uniform, protect our country, create jobs in Missouri and around the country. It will also inhibit our ability to accomplish what we need to do in health care for small business.”