Trent Lott: “I want this legislation so bad, I would even stop talking myself. That would be a major sacrifice, but yes, I would be…”

“I want this legislation so bad, I would even stop talking myself. That would be a major sacrifice, but yes, I would be glad to yield. But since the opportunity presents itself and I missed the opportunity to engage in the discussion an hour or so ago--not that it was needed--I have had very little to say on the floor of the Senate about the discussion about judges. There are a lot of different viewpoints. I am not going to refer to what others have said and I am not going to suggest I am a great constitutional scholar or that I am so steeped in all of the rules and traditions of the Senate. But I have studied this issue. I have been in the Congress for now going on 33 years. I have read the Constitution over and over again, particularly on this subject, article II, section 2. I am somewhat familiar with the traditions and rules of the Senate. I am chairman of the Rules Committee. I have been in leadership roles. I must say that while we have had our disagreements and while I have seen us make mistakes and while I have seen injustices heaped on each other, on the people who are affected by issues we deal with, I don't believe I have ever seen anything as unfair and wrong as what I have seen happening to these circuit court nominees over the past 4 years. This has been going on for 4 years. I was stunned when it started happening with Judge Charles Pickering of Mississippi and Justice Priscilla Owen of Texas.…”