Replies

Well, that one way to look like an ass.

Mr. HATCH. I thank my colleague. The real number, for the past 11 Presidents of judicial nominees confirmed versus the filibustering they are doing, is 2,372 that were confirmed. None were filibustered, until President Bush became President. He is being treated wrongfully. It is unfair to him, unfair to these nominees. I like what the Senator said earlier. I think he said we gave a fair trial to 2,372--actually 168. We gave a fair trial to them and with regard to the four, we just hung them. That kind of shows in that one sense it is great to give a fair trial, but we are not giving a fair trial to these four. They are arguing it is all right for four because it is only four. Well, it is not all right if people are hung without a fair trial. They are certainly not getting a fair trial.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a question?
Mr. HATCH. I surely will.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I think in hearing the debate, the most egregious misrepresentation I have heard is about Judge Carolyn Kuhl and a case she had, where there was a woman who was being examined who had breast cancer, and there was someone in the room who was not a doctor, a person from a pharmaceutical company. It was said she callously let the pharmaceutical company be dropped from the case. Isn't it true, though, there was also an action against the doctor who was negligent, and she kept the lawsuit alive so that woman could have a recovery?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time of the Senator is expired.
Mr. HATCH. I ask unanimous consent for 30 more seconds.
Ms. LANDRIEU. I object.
Mr. HATCH. Let me just say that it is true.
Ms. LANDRIEU. I object. I know the distinguished chairman has been on the floor for a while making some truly offensive statements to colleagues on this side of the aisle that, in my opinion, are beneath the dignity of the committee on which he serves as chair. I ask the chairman if he recognizes the number on this chart. Could he state for the record what it is.
Mr. HATCH. I don't recognize the number. However, I do recognize the argument.
Ms. LANDRIEU. The Senator from Utah----
Mr. HATCH. Let me answer the question, if I may.
Ms. LANDRIEU. The distinguished Senator from Utah has answered the question.
Mr. HATCH. May I please finish?
Ms. LANDRIEU. He has answered my question. He said he didn't know what the number was. I would like to explain to him and to the other Members.
Mr. HATCH. Will the Senator yield?
Ms. LANDRIEU. No, I will not. The number is 98 percent----
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Senators will address other Senators through the Chair.
Ms. LANDRIEU. The number the distinguished Senator from Utah did not recognize--I don't know why he would not recognize it since he is chairman of the committee, but he says he doesn't recognize it. The number is 98. Ninety-eight percent of the judges that were sent to this Senate by President Bush we have approved--98 percent. There are not many people in America, not white people, or black people, or Spanish people, or women, or men, who think the Senate should approve 100 percent of any President's nominees. It is beyond the realm of reason, particularly a President who did not win the popular vote.
Earlier in the debate, the chairman, who also doesn't recognize this number, this 98 percent, also fails to recognize the numbers in the last election. The numbers of the last election were Bush 50,456,169; Gore 50,996,116. So 500,000 more people voted for Vice President Gore in the popular vote than President Bush. He won by a handful of electoral votes in Florida, and we know that. The Court decided it. I am not complaining about it, but numbers are important. Let me tell you another number----
Mr. SESSIONS. Will the Senator yield for a question?
Ms. LANDRIEU. I will not.
Mr. REID. Regular order.
Ms. LANDRIEU. I will not yield for a question.