Political Quotes

“The needless 4-month delay in the consideration of these nominations is another example of the delays that have been caused by Senate Republicans' unwillingness to agree to schedule these nominations for votes last year. As the editorial from the Tuscaloosa News noted: ``[T]he determination of Senate Republicans to delay President Barack Obama's judicial nominees--even those who have won bipartisan support from the Judiciary Committee--is emblematic of the polarization that also has sabotaged efforts of the two parties to work together on numerous other fronts.'' The editorial concludes by urging that there be ``no more partisan games.'' A recent memorandum from the Congressional Research Service confirms what we have long known: The delay and obstruction from Senate Republicans have resulted in President Obama's judicial nominees waiting much longer for a floor vote than judicial nominees under the past four Presidents. These tactics, of course, have resulted in a much lower number and percentage of confirmed judicial nominees under President Obama--despite the fact that President Obama's judicial nominees have by and large been consensus nominees. The consequences of these months of delays are borne by the more than 150 million Americans who live in districts and circuits with vacancies that could be filled as soon as Senate Republicans agree to up or down votes on the 17 judicial nominations currently before the Senate.…”