new jerseyans spend a lot of time in diners. and for this one this is the diner of my youth., this is the place -- >> when you come here, what do you get out of it? other than nice food and coffee. >> it was a place to socialize. for teenagers a place where we could come, we could buy some food that was affordable and was good and we could have fun and they didn't kick us out. >> i couldn't help but noticing a sort of frisson of excitement when you came in. you're popular with the locals. >> well, listen, this is my hometown. >> i mean, the most famous new jersey celebrity is probably bruce springsteen. >> yes. >> who has given you a few whacks. >> yeah, he has. >> how do you feel about that? >> it's okay glp is that the new jersey way? >> i think it is. and it's no surprise to me because bruce is a liberal. and you know, he and i have different political philosophies. but i've been to 125 of his shows. so you know, i love him. i love his music. and i love the way he performs. and -- >> what's your favorite song, "born to run"? >> no, "thunder road." "thunder road." >> see wh

a proud new jerseyan she earned degrees from rutgers university and rutgers university law skaofplt she is a member of the new jersey state bar, a past president of the hispanic bar of new jersey and extraordinary jurist. these two extraordinary nominees, two of new jersey's most respected legal professionals both deserve confirmation by the full senate as u.s. district court judges for the district of new jersey. i urge my colleagues to confirm the nominations and give new jersey two respected and distinguished district court judges who have earned the confidence of the legal community of my state. the recommendation of the judiciary committee and, in my view, deserve a unanimous vote in the full senate. thank you, mr. president. with that, i yield the floor and observe the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

proposed tax rate cuts, while people in my home state lose $34 billion in health benefits and 400,000 new jerseyans end up without health coverage at all. they want to continue to shift the balance to millionaires and billionaires while making draconian cuts to health care benefits to seniors. cuts do not reflect our values as a people and as a nation. even a majority of tea partyers think it's a bad idea according to recent polls. now i'm remind that had our distinguished republican colleagues are symbolized in their party by an elephant, a large animal that never forgets. but conveniently our republican colleagues have forgotten what price president cheney told america on national television as he was waging two wars, both unpaid for. he said -- quote -- "deficits don't matter." vice president cheney: deficits don't matter. republicans have apparently forgotten president bush's own words on april 16, 2001, about the benefits of favoring the wealthiest americans. tax relief will create new jobs. tax relief will generate new wealth and tax relief will open new opportunities. he was right about one