Senate Proceeding on Dec 2nd, 2010 :: 3:03:10 to 3:07:20
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3:03:06 to 3:03:27( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: voting "maybe." that is not a profile in courage in the united states senate. i yield to the the senator from maryland. the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the recess start in two minutes from now. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. sessions: i object. the presiding officer: the senator from alabama. objection is heard. mr. sessions: you said recess

3:03:10 to 3:07:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

3:03:28 to 3:03:48( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: in two minutes? mr. cardin: i'll be glad to make that longer. we have an order, as i understand it, to recess at 12:30. i wanted to make a brief comment. if the gentleman would like some time, i have no objection. mr. sessions: if -- the presiding officer: the senator from alabama.

3:03:49 to 3:04:10( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: mr. sessions: i would ask, a unanimous consent request to allow me tough five minutes when the -- allow me to have five minutes when the senator finishes. the presiding officer:. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. leahy: i certainly have no objection. the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. cardin: we are talking about the number-two person in the department of justice. one of our responsibilities is

3:04:11 to 3:04:31( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: to make sure that executive agencies perform their functions, and the judiciary committee has a responsibility to make sure the department of justice is doing its work. madam president, we, the judiciary committee, has recommended the confirmation of the deputy attorney general six months ago, and how can we expect the attorney general to

3:04:32 to 3:04:52( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: get the work done if we do not give him the help in confirmation process? we should have the courage to vote up or down a deputy attorney general. i really took this time because

3:04:53 to 3:05:13( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: i find this amazing that jim coe coe -- jim kohl has not been confirmed. i've had experience of working with jim kohl in my official capacity as members of he wasn't selected by at the time porter goss was the chairman of our committee, a republican from florida.

3:05:14 to 3:05:36( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: and he worked with a very difficult investigation, and he brought the six of together because of the professional manner in which jim kohl attacks any of the problems he's confronted w. he's not a partisan. he's a professional. he's a professional who understands what it is in the

3:05:37 to 3:06:00( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: department of justice and public service. he has worked for both democratic and republican administrations. he's been recommended by both democrats and republicans. he's not at all a partisan. he's the person that you would want to have in the department of justice, and that's why porter goss said that he found

3:06:01 to 3:06:21( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: the work of jim kohl a brilliant prosecutor and extraordinarily talented. quoting from the republican from florida who, along with the democrats, were very proud of the professional work that jim kohl brought to a very partisan battle in the house of representatives.

3:06:22 to 3:06:43( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: madam president, we should confirm this nominee. we should at least vote on this nominee. but to use this somewhat backward approach to deny a vote on the number-two person in the department of justice is just wrong. i understand that senator sessions is saying we'll hopefully have an agreement

3:06:44 to 3:07:04( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: before the end of this congress. quite frankly, this nominee came out in july. it's not like he came out of committee last week. he came out in july. this is an important position, and i think we have a responsibility to vote up or down this important part of the

3:07:05 to 3:07:21( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: department of justice's ability to carry out its important mission. so, madam president, i'm disappointed that we had an objection heard on this nominee, and i would just urge everyone to make sure that this nominee is voted on prior to when we