Political Quotes

“today's third cloture vote on Miguel Estrada's confirmation breaks through a new barrier--not the barrier that some may have hoped for with this exceptional nominee. It is unprecedented that a circuit court nominee be subjected to a third cloture vote. A no vote today remains unfair to this nominee who has been pending over 700 days, it is unfair to the bipartisan majority that wants to end this debate and have a vote, and it is unfair to the President, who deserves better from this Senate. Eighteen times the majority has requested unanimous consent to vote on the Estrada confirmation. Eighteen requests have been denied, even though Senators have debated this confirmation for over 100 hours. Twice before today, a bipartisan majority has likewise requested to end debate by voting for cloture. Others, too, have expressed their desire that we end this debate. Over 113 editorials in 31 States have called for an end to this filibuster and expressed their support for this nominee. Only 11 have expressed the opposite. The filibuster to this nomination continues despite the unprecedented accommodations that have been offered: Repeatedly, the White House has offered the nominee up to answer more written questions; only one Senator took them up on it. Repeatedly, the White House has offered the nominee up to meet privately to answer more questions; only one Senator took them up on it. I have offered the nominee up for a second hearing. The offer was rejected.”