Political Quotes

“Madam President, I stated on the floor earlier today that I think the conduct of the chairman and ranking member on this nomination has been exemplary. I said that already. But if my friend from Alabama would listen just for a minute, I have so many things I am trying to work through procedurally so we can leave here at a reasonable time this week. I just do not want someone who gets mad because I have done something they do not like saying: I am not going to let you have a vote on this judge until I get what I want. I want to make sure everyone who wants to has the opportunity to speak on Kagan. No one on the Republican side has even suggested a filibuster. OK. And I understand that. But this is to make sure one Senator in this body--not on the nomination of Kagan but on anything-- they get their dander up a little bit, and he or she can cause the whole Senate to come to a standstill. So I repeat, if there is more time needed, there will be ample time. When the time for voting comes up, I will give whatever time is necessary. What I have been trying to get--and I am sure it is too early to have done that--is a time certain to vote on Elena Kagan. But I think my friends on the other side of the aisle have told me it is too early to do that. But I say to my friend, there is no direction to prevent anyone from speaking on this nomination for however long they want.”