Senate Proceeding 11-17-09 on Nov 17th, 2009 :: 1:53:35 to 1:56:30
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1:53:31 to 1:53:52( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: favor of confirmation. senator lugar believes judge hamilton's superbly qualified under both sets of criteria. i urge and

1:53:35 to 1:56:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeff Sessions

1:53:53 to 1:54:17( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: i yield the floor. mr. sessions: how much time's left on this side? i ask that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. sessions: pouc how much time is left? the presiding officer: the senator has a minute and a half remaing. mr. sessions: i would briefly say, mr. president, for the first time i believe in the

1:54:18 to 1:54:42( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: history of this senate that a number of nominees that president bush were systematically filibustered at 30 different times cloture votes were required or voted for and some failed so the nominee did not go forward. and that was unprecedented in the history of the senate.

1:54:43 to 1:55:03( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: now my colleagues say that -- that dispute eventually sort of got settled by the fact that a group of 14 senators said, we need a compromise and this is a compromise. if you -- you should not filibuster a presidential judicial nomination unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

1:55:04 to 1:55:24( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: i oppose that. i opposed filibusters before. but i do think that since we've had no debate on this nominee to date and that this nominee has extraordinary statements and cases and a record that indicates to me a lack of

1:55:25 to 1:55:45( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: commitment to following t law, even though he's a person that i have no problem with as to character and intelligence and ability. but i don't agree with his judicial philosophy. the presiding officer: the time's expired. mr. sessions: thereof, i believe this side cannot acquiesce into a philosophy that says that

1:55:46 to 1:56:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: democratic president can get their judges confirmed with 50 votes, but if -- but if -- if a republican president nominates a nominee, heas to have 60 votes. so i think we've changed the rule, unfortunately, and i think based on this situation i would ask my colleagues not to support cloture.

1:56:12 to 1:56:25( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Sessions: i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.