John Cornyn Quotes (115 Quotes)

I just think it was a blind spot in the process of BRAC, but now maybe these developments, showing how in response to disaster, a natural disaster like Rita and Katrina, that it has an important role to play. Maybe this will help us make our case.

Just because we are curious does not mean that our curiosity should be satisfied. You have no obligation to tell us how you will rule on any issue that might come before you if you sit on the Supreme Court.

The protection of homes, small businesses and other private property rights against government seizure and other unreasonable government interference is a fundamental principle and core commitment of our nation's founders,

His long track record as a federal appeals court judge shows that he has indeed put his personal views on abortion aside, and I have every confidence he will continue to do so if he is confirmed to United States Supreme Court.

Don't take the bait, ... Do exactly the same thing every nominee -- Republican and Democrat alike -- has done. Decline to answer any question that you feel would compromise your ability to do your job.

Iraq and Afghanistan alone have been stressful. This doesn't make it any easier. And it probably makes it harder.

The war on terror is not limited to Iraq. It is not limited to Afghanistan. They are but fronts in the global war we are waging today.

He did express frustration that, at some point, additional hearings are counterproductive in terms of the optimal use of his time and the time of the combatant commanders in fighting and winning the war on terror.

If you pledge today to rule a certain way on an issue, how can parties to future cases possibly feel that they would ever have a fair day in court ... Don't take the bait. Do not head down that road.

But the fact is more than 40 Supreme Court justices were nominated and confirmed to that position without prior judicial experience. But I do think she has the professional experience that will prepare her for this position

We should recess to pay respects to the chief justice and his family, ... But we should continue on with the confirmation hearings to make sure that there aren't eight justices on the court when the new session begins.

She is continuing her visits with any senators who want to see her. You know, to me, this has been part of this myth that some have propagated about this nominee that somehow she needs to take time off to cram,

And if you like 14.4 percent unemployment, if you like the fact that 70 percent of home mortgages in Nevada are underwater, then stay the course. Vote for Harry Reid.

I think it's certainly time to pick up the speed on these lower court now that we got the Supreme Court behind us.

I am pleased to report that Texas is known for having one of the strongest set of open government laws in our Nation. And ever since that experience, I have long believed that our federal government could use 'a little Texas sunshine.'

Believe me, Judge Roberts will be asked a lot of questions, and he will give a lot of answers. But one thing I don't expect him to do and that no previous nominee has ever been asked to do, is to make specific commitments about how he will rule in cases that are likely to come back before the United States Supreme Court.

If we just do what we prepared to do, and that is go forward with the Roberts hearing as scheduled ... we can get him on the court, if that is the will of the Senate, before it reconvenes,

The spread of democracy, the new foundation of the rule of law, and the creation of fledgling representative governments that honor and respect human rights-together these actions spell out the increasing marginalization of the terrorists, as they have fewer and fewer places to run and hide.

where we have wide open spaces and plenty of opportunity for high-density training.

The Texas criminal justice system is fair and Mr. Graham did get a fair trial. And he has gotten a fair review by more than 20 different courts and 33 judges,

This is not an election and no reasonable person expects you to make promises to politicians on how you might rule on various issues. Don't take the bait.

I'm confident they've been preparing for the possibility of Chief Justice Rehnquist retiring for quite some time, ... I can only assume they have considered their strategy and will have a nominee ready.

We all agree that comprehensive immigration reform is the way to go. You can't fix a piece of this and claim victory.

I did not have that conversation when I visited with him, ... But I had a conversation with the White House today about this subject -- and I'm not at liberty to divulge who the person is -- but I was assured by somebody who was in the room during visits with other senators that he considers one man, one vote a bedrock of our system. I was told he discussed it with Senator Kennedy.

So I would just disagree with the characterization that someone might make I don't think it's fair or accurate that you've been anything less than completely forthcoming, and that we frankly know an awful lot about you, and that's not been a bad thing,

the most qualified nominee who has ever been put up for a Supreme Court vacancy.

I think you'll probably see not only his erudition, but his sense of humor.

I think certainly, either before or during the hearing, people need to know a little bit more about who she is and what motivates her. She has been caricatured because other people have spoken about her, but she really hasn't spoken for herself.

The enemy is not Islam, the great world faith, but a perversion of Islam.

The Democrat leaders' latest accusation that the administration has manipulated intelligence and exaggerated the threat is nothing more than an effort to use the war in Iraq for political gain, and that is shameful.

It is clear to me that Judge Roberts' history has prepared him well for the honor of serving this country by leading our nation's highest court, and I strongly support his nomination.

I don't know whether John Roberts has a twin, perhaps a sister or, uh, someone with a Hispanic last name.

We should make sure the cure isn't worse than the underlying disease. I want to be a part of the solution, not an impediment.

People who actually were trying to use this, of course, to the president's political disadvantage, I think, are going to be disappointed by the fact that this appears to be limited to a single individual,

I'm convinced that even if there's not anything, there are groups out there who are going to try to make this nomination controversial even when it shouldn't be.

Others do not want to touch it, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), the committee's ranking Democrat, who also is a Catholic. Just as we're supposed to be colorblind, we should be religious blind, ... We have no religious test for public office ... and I think anyone would find that sort of inquiry, if it were actually made, offensive.

I think the president does have an opportunity now after admittedly a very bad week to turn things around and to show why the people of this country re-elected him just one short year ago,

Senators will do what they think they need to do to represent their constituents.

It's simply a violation ... to try to mislead regulators at the federal level in an effort to keep generic drugs, which are typically 25 percent cheaper, off the market, ... If they can delay competition for generic drugs they can reap a lot of gain as a result. We wouldn't file a lawsuit if we didn't think there was a merit to it.

Unfortunately, the (budget) does not . . . help Congress reform such programs as Medicaid and Medicare, which both grow at average rate of around 8 percent each year through 2015 and will continue to eat up more of the total federal budget.

My own guess is that people wonder why we are playing those kind of games, ... They are frustrated with Congress and politicians enough anyway and see that as another example of why they are frustrated.

We have no religious tests for public office in this country, ... And I think anyone would find that sort of inquiry, if it were actually made, offensive. And so I hope we don't go down that road.

Throughout his years on the nation's high court, Chief Justice Rehnquist stood as a beacon of judicial restraint and reverence for the Constitution and the institution of the Supreme Court. I believe Judge Roberts will follow the lead of his mentor, and guide our nation's highest court by those same principles and devotion to the rule of law for all,

Momentum continues to grow in Congress to pass legislation to protect homes, small businesses, and other private property against unreasonable government use of the power of eminent domain,

In my state, from the time ... the most hardened criminals are convicted of the most heinous crimes ... their case is reviewed by not only a jury of 12 of their peers but up to 23 different judges ... perhaps even more.

If there is a nuclear tactic being used here, I submit it is the use of that obstruction where a willful minority blocks a bipartisan majority from voting on the President's judicial nominees.

is to make sure that my colleagues do not misrepresent Judge Roberts' views to the American people.

This is the beginning of what is a long overdue and important debate.

But last year there were 540,000 people, roughly, detained coming across the border illegally. Forty-five thousand of them came from countries other than Mexico, demonstrating the fact that Mexico itself now is a pathway into the United States for people all around the world, and we don't know what their intentions are.

I'm encouraged by the federal government's efforts to pre-position resources to prepare for Rita's landfall, ... Having said that, it is the state and local leaders who know best what Texas will need, so we will ensure that the federal government is an effective partner and provides the necessary support and resources.