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Bush seeks 'prompt' Alito vote

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush asked the U.S. Senate to be "prompt" about voting on the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito.

Alito spent much of the week being questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bush said Alito's appearance demonstrated how well qualified he is to replace retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

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Committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he wants a committee vote next Tuesday and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has penciled in a full Senate vote for next Friday, although Democrats will likely push those dates back about a week. Either way, with 55 Republicans in the Senate, Alito is likely to be confirmed.

"During this week's hearings and over the course of his career, Judge Alito has demonstrated that he is eminently qualified to serve on our nation's highest court," Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address.

"Now the Senate has a duty to give Judge Alito a prompt up-or-down vote. ... America is fortunate to have a man of his intellect and integrity willing to serve, and as a justice on our nation's highest court, Sam Alito will make all Americans proud."

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