Political Quotes

“briefly in response to my friend from Kentucky, the distinguished majority whip, I agree with him. We should have a civil debate on the Supreme Court nominee. That is going to happen based on what the President has done to this point. He met with me in a one-on-one meeting prior to the resignation of Sandra Day O'Connor. He called me the day she resigned. There was a meeting this past Monday in the White House with Senator Frist, this Senator, and the two leaders of our Judiciary Committee. I thought it was a very good meeting. What happens regarding a Supreme Court nominee is dependent on the President. From all the indications I have gotten, he does not want a big battle, nor do we. I am hopeful and confident that will be the case. However, I say directly to my friend from Kentucky, there is no reason we can't make the October 1 date if the President selects someone next week or the week after or the week after that. We can have the FBI working. We can have the Judiciary Committee staffs working. The first or second week in September, there can be hearings that last a week. Everyone can ask all the questions they want. Especially if it is a Supreme Court Justice who is one the President thinks, and he indicated he would allow us to--certainly I would like to conominate, but I know that is not our purpose in the Senate.…”