Watson Coleman

She also said, I believe the only way filibusters survive is the truth--truth. I have only been in this body for less than a year. I know there is history in this body. The history is not always the greatest history when it comes to…

Would it be the truth in regard to these nominees, in regard to Owens and Kuhl and Pickering and Estrada, who we haven't talked about, that in each and every case the measures of their competence, be it the bar association, the gold…

You have to ask yourself, 214 years and the Senate has not done this, has not stopped a judicial circuit court nominee by filibuster. That is a fact. My colleagues on the other side can argue with charts but that is the reality. You have…

I will continue the Pickering story because I think it is important. My colleague, Senator Graham, has done a tremendous job of laying it out. I don't know Judge Pickering's son as well as Senator Graham does, but I have met him. I have to…

Today, I had an opportunity to meet with Ambassador Tobias. We talked about this issue of capacity. He said he was in a warehouse--either in Botswana or South Africa--but he was in a warehouse. The warehouse was full of antiretroviral…

I wish to talk about jobs. I am a former mayor. As mayor, I learned a long time ago that the best welfare program is a job; the best housing program is a job; access to health care comes through a job. With jobs and with work, there is a…

the Pentagon has rolled out a program to bring home troops who have served in Iraq for over a year. It is a good program. Under the Rest and Recuperation Leave Program, these service men and women will get a much deserved 2 weeks of R&R…

I rise to talk about the men and women on the front line in Iraq defending America in the fight against terrorism. We cannot forget them. There are a lot of other things going on in Washington--including, by the way, the discussion of who…

I speak today as a former mayor. I have been listening to the debate about the President's request for $87 billion supplemental appropriations to support what our troops need in Iraq. Yet there are some, who want to divide that, who say…

In the time remaining, I raise one other issue, the issue of opportunity scholarships, of expanded choice for students, the issue of the debate we are having over the opportunity for the children of the District of Columbia to take…

I wish to first associate myself with the comments of my friend and colleague, the Senator from Florida, with regard to concerns he raised about all the stress on the National Guard and Reserve. I have been to a number of deployments of…

As a former mayor, I understand how difficult it is to have cities function--electricity, water, and other challenges, kind of the basics. I marvel at the challenge that Ambassador Bremer is facing. The good news is that we are making…

I am proud to mark this extraordinary day by coming to the floor of the Senate to celebrate the imminent passage of a prescription drug benefit for Medicare. This is a triumph not for a party or a President, but for America's seniors and…

Today I am engaging in my own version of 'Bring Your Daughter to Work Day.' As we all know, this day does not fall on May 14, nor does it involve the daughter bringing along 40 of her friends, but this was the unique situation I faced…

I wish to talk about a young man I read about in the Minneapolis Star Tribune last Friday. It was the story of Tchisou Tho, an 18-year-old currently facing two situations: in three weeks, high school graduation and, in one day, the threat…

what a glorious day yesterday was. I am privileged to follow my distinguished colleague from Texas who, as she reflects upon the joy that we all felt, expressed a real sense of pride in the incredible work done by our fighting men and…

on a final note, as the conferees to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill do their work, I hope they will include the unemployment benefits to laid-off airline workers that Senator Murray, I, and others worked so hard with…

as I stand on the floor of the Senate, it is crystal clear that the reign of the dictator of Iraq is quickly coming to an end. In fact, he may already have fallen as a result of yesterday's bombings. There is no question that his death…

this is a profound moment in all our lives. Words are inadequate, so I will be brief. It is an honor to speak right after my friend and colleague, the distinguished senior Senator from Minnesota, and to join with him in support of our men…

I do not know if there is an issue we face in this Senate that is as charged and certain to elicit a whole range of emotional responses as the issue of abortion. A lot of us bring very passionate perspectives to this. My wife Laurie and I…

many years ago when the Senate was the Supreme Court's upstairs neighbor in this building, a significant event took place which provides us with a warning. A young Architect of the Capitol wanted to improve the sight lines in the Supreme…

I thought this was an important maiden speech. This was the first of the speeches of the new Senators of the 108th, and I think it was the right speech. We are going to discuss a lot of issues in these very challenging times--a time when…

I ask the distinguished colleague from California again, in both instances is it not true that cloture was filed--we are talking about filibuster, not 4 years but filibuster debate on this floor--and both nominees were confirmed after…

I have been a Senator for a little less than 2 months. The same is true for the Presiding Officer. And we ran at a time when I believe the message from the people--and not just of Minnesota but I believe the people in America--was one that…

Is it not true the Republicans filed cloture for both of the distinguished judges my colleague from California has mentioned, both Judge Paez and Judge Berzon? Secondly, if that is true, I ask my distinguished colleague from California if…