John Cornyn: “I want to focus on a chart that was displayed earlier by the Senator from New York where he proudly displayed the…”

“I want to focus on a chart that was displayed earlier by the Senator from New York where he proudly displayed the numbers 168 to 4. I think it is important we ask the question: what is that chart designed to prove? On one hand, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in the Judiciary Committee and here in the Chamber rail against the President's judicial nominees, calling them out of the mainstream and, even worse, mean-spirited, right wing. But if, in fact, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have voted to confirm 168 of President Bush's nominees, it refutes that allegation because they have to agree that at least 168 of those nominees met their definition of mainstream. I would like to associate myself with the outstanding comments of the Senator from Kentucky, the assistant majority leader, Mr. McConnell. I wonder what their definition of mainstream truly is. The second number of 4 is a number they want to be congratulated for blocking. I submit that just because you observe a stop sign 168 times and comply with the law, you are not to be rewarded for running that stop sign four times. It is still a violation of law, and you are still likely to get a ticket from the police officer. This is more than just about breaking the law. This is about violating our Constitution, the fundamental law of this Nation. We know really, rather than 168 to 4, the true number we ought to be focusing on is 0 to 4, and let me explain.…”