Russ Feingold: “it is not uncommon for Senators to stand in the Senate and tell their colleagues and the American people that an…”

“it is not uncommon for Senators to stand in the Senate and tell their colleagues and the American people that an upcoming vote is one of the most important the Senate will ever take. We are the masters of hyperbole in this body, forever standing on the precipices and poised on the brink of momentous decisions. But today, I think most will agree with me: We truly are at such a moment. The Senate is on the verge of making a decision with potentially enormous consequences for this institution and for the country and the people we serve. At stake is not just the fate of a handful of judicial nominations or of a future Supreme Court nomination, as important as they may be. No, the decisions made this week will resonate far beyond this Chamber and far beyond the current controversy. I will speak today about how we arrived at this moment of great peril and how we might step back from the brink. I will speak about the consequences of the question that will apparently be put before the Senate prior to our next recess. I will speak today about principle and about power. While they do not always attract a lot of public attention, traditional nominations are very important. We all know that. The judicial branch is a coequal branch of Government. The interpretation and enforcement of the laws we pass in Congress depend greatly on the men and women who serve as judges, and, of course, Federal judges serve lifetime appointments.…”