Orrin Hatch: “this is the first true filibuster in history of a circuit court of appeals nominee--the first one in history. It just…”

“this is the first true filibuster in history of a circuit court of appeals nominee--the first one in history. It just has never happened before, no matter how controversial the nominee--and this one certainly is not controversial. They just haven't found anything to criticize him with, and that is the problem. The distinguished Senator from Vermont says he is not going to rubberstamp anybody. Don't anybody worry about that. The Democrats have not rubberstamped one of these judicial nominations of President Bush so far. In fact, they voted against a high percentage of President Bush's nominees. Frankly--ask all those who have gone through this process--it is an arduous, difficult, and in many ways a demeaning process as a result of the way my colleagues on the other side seem to be attacking these nominees. The White House has been accused of political games in putting Miguel Estrada up, and in not allowing fishing expeditions into the most sensitive documents in the Justice Department.”