Sheldon Whitehouse actually said...

"Your nomination to the Supreme Court has to be among the least surprising ever made."

"And since it would be inappropriate, the worst possible thing, is it likely that such a judge would disclose that agenda or motivation, would make it a part of a written opinion, would admit it?"

"I think the window onto Elena Kagan that America is getting in these hearings is one of a very bright, very good-humored, very well-intentioned, and very able future Supreme Court justice."

"So if a judge or judges had a particular agenda or motivation, say to serve the interests and reflect the values of a particular political party, that would be inappropriate?"