Orrin Hatch: “It appears the real reason for the filibuster is the threat of a Justice Estrada on the Supreme Court. Of course, I take…”

“It appears the real reason for the filibuster is the threat of a Justice Estrada on the Supreme Court. Of course, I take issue with the assertion that Mr. Estrada would do any so-called damage on any court. In fact, I am confident that he would be a fair and unbiased judge who would follow the law. He would not be an activist, which is probably what this staffer meant when he said that Mr. Estrada would do a lot of damage. But I find it ironic that this staffer knew enough about Miguel Estrada last September to proclaim that he must be stopped at all costs, when some of my Democratic friends insist on continuing this filibuster because they allegedly do not know enough about his views. Read the Nation magazine. I think the real reason for this filibuster lies in the rest of the staffer's quote: That Mr. Estrada is a Supreme Court caliber attorney whose ascension to the Federal bench must be stopped now. This unparalleled filibuster is one of many weapons of obstruction designed to prevent the President from having his nominees fairly considered and voted upon by the Senate.”