Arlen Specter: “I have been asked by the majority leader to come to the floor, as manager of the proceedings, in my capacity as chairman…”

“I have been asked by the majority leader to come to the floor, as manager of the proceedings, in my capacity as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to see if we can have a vote on Judge Alito. We have informed the Democrats of our interest in having a unanimous consent, but we will not ask for one until their leader is here. He is on his way, and I will await his arrival. In the interim, the acting leader, Senator Salazar, is on the floor, so he can always protect their interests. But I shall not move in a way precipitously until Senator Reid arrives. I am advised we do not have any speakers for the Democrats tomorrow. We are now in the second full day of our discussion. The rules of the Senate require either that we speak or we vote. If there are no further speakers for the proceedings, then it would be my inclination we ought to follow regular order, we ought to vote. Either we speak or we vote. So long as there is somebody to speak, there is the right of unlimited debate, as we all know, and we respect that. This is a lifetime appointment, and it is a controversial appointment. There is no doubt about that. But if we are not going to have debate, then, in my capacity as manager, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, it seems to me we ought to vote. We have a lot of other pressing business for the Senate.…”