the expectation is that [an announcement] is very imminent.

a window of opportunity at this time to resolve the disagreement on drug-interdiction policies.

I have raised a certain cautionary signal, that I believe the next nomination is going to be a great deal more contentious than the Roberts nomination,

The president of the United States has the fundamental responsibility to protect the country. The president does not have a blank check.

I understand that you were sent over in a very limited capacity, with perhaps the calculation that you didn’t have this information,

[The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision rejected Congress’ findings and its] method of reasoning, … Is there any real justification for the court’s denigrating Congress’ ‘method of reasoning’?

So they weren’t necessarily your views then and they certainly aren’t your views now?

Is Roe a super-precedent?

Judge Roberts, in your confirmation hearing for the circuit court, your testimony read to this effect, and it’s been widely quoted: Roe is the settled law of the land. Do you mean settled for you,...

I’m not going to be a party to spending more than the president asked for,

Given the option in this trial, I suspect many senators would choose ‘not proved’ instead of ‘not guilty,’

A lot of things have happened since 1985,

We start off with the basic fact that the Democrats have filibustered and you can expect them to filibuster if the nominees are not within the broad range of acceptability, … And I think there...

He’s leaning toward the beginning of January.

The fundamental purpose of government is to protect its citizens.

We’re facing a daunting workload with a very heavy backlog of controversial and contested judicial nominees.

[After a morning briefing with Bush and top Senate leaders, Specter (R-Pa.) said he told the president he should postpone the announcement so senators have a better idea of how Roberts would influence the Supreme...

[Four Democratic votes for Roberts would be] a pleasant surprise, … they can be tougher on the next nominee.

Institutionally, the court is on the spot as to the whole overtone of appearing to be too political or ideological.

I think that some of the voting today was calculated to impact on the next nomination.

Would you characterize it as ‘very serious’?

are the epitome of the ‘throw money at the problem’ approach repeatedly rejected by administration spokesmen.

I think that the criterion ought to be: Who’s the best person available for the job? And many of us have called for a nominee who comes from a background other than one of being...

She’s a very, very busy person.

I simply wouldn’t do it.

I don’t like it much. I have to have a large clothespin over my nose but I’m voting for it.

It’s not gone forward because there’s a political advantage for the Democrats not to have an immigration bill.

I know that the president will listen to what Senator Frist has to say. I’m not saying he’s going to agree with it. But what Senator Frist has had to say is weighty, and I...

He cannot be required to answer how he’s going to decide a case that might come before the court, … That would undercut the very basics of judicial independence.

sort of pawns in the whole operation.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Sen. Kennedy just propounded a very, very long question. Now let him (Roberts) answer the question.

I’m really sorry that on doctrinal grounds they don’t understand that she cannot tip her hand on Roe. I really think … they’re failing to understand a very basic constitutional principle of judicial independence,

I believe Republicans as well as Democrats have an obligation to find out about Judge Roberts’ jurisprudence, and there ought not to be a political tilt,

I worry that these acquisitions and these mergers can only spell higher costs for the consumer and in the long run problems for the employees of these companies.

Bill Weld has gotten tremendous national exposure, and there are a number of people within the Republican Party who may disagree philosophically with Senator Helms, and (Weld) may be rallying a lot of people to...

I had not seen such passion or fervor from the president since two days after 9/11, … His force, I thought, was impressive and I am re-thinking [the issue].

We may not finish before Thanksgiving. We’re going to have to take whatever time we need. We do not have much paperwork. We do not have much of a record.

The whole confirmation process is in her hands. If she does well (in her public testimony) she will be confirmed. It’s up to her as to how well she does.

[Specter’s most surprising move in preparing for the hearing came on Aug. 8, when he used a letter to Roberts to assail the current Supreme Court on matters in which the nominee had no hand.]...

There could be a real tough battle here and a real tough fight, depending on whom the president puts up,

I am concerned about the Supreme Court’s judicial activism which has usurped congressional authority,

overturned almost 60 years of Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause.

As a matter of traditional and sound constitutional doctrine, an amendment to the Constitution should be the last resort when all other measures have proved inadequate.

These decisions pose two major problems, … A lack of stability or predictability in the law because the two cases, decided three years apart, are virtually indistinguishable; and, two, the court’s judicial activism in functioning...

I now call it the single-bullet conclusion,

Chief Justice Roberts has great potential for the future to bring a consensus to the court, to have a better recognition of congressional authority and, as he put it, to understand the Constitution responding to...

I think that we’re paying much too much attention to Pat Buchanan,

Wait a minute, Senator Biden. He’s not finished his answer.

we need to propose a political settlement at the end of the security rainbow, to try to give some hope to these 18-year-olds who are really just posing a threat which can’t be stopped.

We’ve got the potential for enormous advances in medical science, and we should utilize them,