I would hope that we could see the court have less 5-4 decisions and speak with more clarity, … I think the president, with four of us there, may well get some response on what...

I regret that instead of accepting our many previous invitations to work with the Senate and increase the level of consultation and cooperation to help fill judicial vacancies, the White House repeatedly has chosen to...

Is Senator Specter speaking for himself, or the entire committee?

If we do not act soon to aggressively crack down on acid rain, the region’s economy and public health will be endangered beyond repair. We need to update our Clean Air laws with comprehensive national...

The DNA is the fingerprint of the 21st Century, but DNA tests are only part of the solution. They are a window into the larger problems in the system, like inadequate counsel.

Both Republicans and Democrats want thorough answers, … Without them, it could be a very, very long hearing.

One of the hallmarks of (Rehnquist’s) tenure was his tenacious fight to preserve the integrity and independence of our federal courts. His commitment to the court and his passion for the law and for public...

It will be raised, partly on the question of to what area — if any — can a president be considered above the law,

emboldened a lot of Democrats to support him.

We don’t want this to be an area of vulnerability.

Many of the questions really weren’t answered at all. You’ve got a one-word answer and you’ve got a two-part question — that’s not answered,

Glory hallelujah, you’re the first one in the administration that’s said that.

Orrin Hatch is the only man in America who can sit there with a straight face and say they really want to go forward with the hearings.

This is not over competence, … He certainly is competent. This is the whole issue of ideology, and if the ideology is one that you go in with a predetermined agenda? Then I don’t care...

[For] $154, he could track her down,

It’s up to us to ask him about what he said or did at that time.

This is the only chance the American people, all the American people, have to see what he is, … It is the only chance, no matter what part of the country you are from, no...

I don’t believe in Democrats now seeking revenge, and I will not be part of that, … will not be a pushover hearing.

will touch on the Microsoft situation but more broadly on how best to promote competition on the Internet.

We are planning on having Thanksgiving in Washington,

I think it is time that Republicans and Democrats, using the Judiciary Committee, do an overall look at the FBI, an in-depth look,

I believe there was a terribly misguided effort to protect children from what some prosecutors somewhere in this country might consider offensive or indecent online material, … The Communications Decency Act tramples on the free...

reputation for being loyal to this president.

I told you publicly I was leaning against all witnesses and in the spirit of fair play I’m now telling you publicly I’m leaning for it.

There is a significant amount of undiscovered oil in northern Afghanistan.

I think that the president this time wants us to suggest some names. I think with the four of us who are there, he may well get some response of what we think about those...

Fear mongering and false choices do little to advance either the security or liberty of Americans.

We’re working hard to carry out our responsibilities, not have this thing taken by winks and nods and quiet promises over conference calls. We’d actually like to know what the heck is going on.

Through a variety of good-faith steps that Senate Democrats have taken, the judicial nominations process today is markedly faster and fairer than it has been,

If you’re going to fix a broken system, it’s going to require cooperation by the states, by the federal government, … catalyst for the reforms that have to happen in the state capitals where most...

We’re not going to do a third do-over.

The Senate’s advice and consent responsibility takes on an added dimension.

of an extreme nature.

when some of the most controversial surveillance powers in the act operate under a cloak of secrecy.

She went through a chronology, point by point by point,

The rest of America, including the Senate, deserves to know what he and the White House know.

The President and Vice-President have been consistent alright-consistently wrong. There is no value in that.

more of an inquisition than an oversight hearing.

gave the wrong impression to the rest of the world.

an eager and early partisan in the ranks of ideological activists in his party’s extreme right wing.

It’s sort of an unprecedented thing to have to send a questionnaire back,

I will make up my mind how to vote for or against Judge Roberts based on Judge Roberts , … And then I’ll take each one as they come along.

I can honestly say I am going into this with a completely open mind, … I have no idea how I’m going to vote.

You’re innocent until proven guilty. And you do not under any circumstances — you do not, do not — say that somebody has to come before whatever the tribunal is and prove they’re innocent.

You get fifteen Democrats in a room, and you get twenty opinions

like Jack the Ripper calling for more neighborhood patrols because of the surge in victims.

The bureau lives sometimes as an isolated area where they forget that they’re responsible to the attorney general and they’re responsible to the Congress,

When people look at that, [they] say, ‘What are you talking about? This little boy should be back with his father.’ That’s why there are no hearings.

I don’t vote for somebody unless I have enough answers to justify in my mind voting for them,

These outside lobbying groups, whether on the right or the left, have become, for me anyway, basically irrelevant.