As we now face a battle over the vacancy in the u. S. Supreme court, we want to focus on what senator joe biden said back in 1992 on the senate floor. Senator biden it is my view that particularly if the reality of a divided government during the time of great change at the Court Continues in the next administration, future confirmations must be conducted differently than the preceding ones. Mr. President , the president s intentions on the existing process which exploded during the thomas nomination fight make restoration of what came before judge thomas nomination even if it was desirable, a practical impossibility. Having said that, mr. President , we face one immediate question, can our Supreme Court confirmation process sow discord and bitterness in an Election Year . Mr. President , history teaches us this is extremely unlikely. Some of our nations most bitter and heated confirmation fights have come in president ial Election Years. A bruising confirmation fight over roger taunys