Since we’ve been talking about this over the last few days, it might be worth entering into the record two statements by the senator.

First, from an interview in the spring of 2007, on the type of judges he would look for: “I think it’s vital to strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States and have a record of that. Not just a statement of it, but a record of it.” That would seem to preclude any Harriet Mierses–and any David Souters.

Second, a Los Angeles Times account from 1990:

Republican Sens. Phil Gramm of Texas and Don Nickles of Oklahoma each gave tentative endorsements to Souter. But Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona expressed frustration that the President had nominated a low-profile judge, apparently to avoid the kind of blood bath triggered by the nomination of Bork.
“Any first-year law student would tell you his chance of an eventual appointment to the Supreme Court is directly related to the paucity of writing or speaking on controversial issues,” McCain said acidly. “It gives us a largely unknown quantity in appointments to the bench.”

Thanks to reader D.M. for the second quote.