Georgia Senator Zell Miller warns of possible Pickering Payback

Reuters | March 15 | J.Q. Pulic

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Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi called the committee action "a slap" at his home state. And Miller, who has frequently broken ranks with Democrats on Capitol Hill, suggested on Friday the sting may be felt across the South.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

Leahy said his job is to help determine if nominees are "qualified or not." In opposing Pickering, Leahy said during 12 years on the federal bench, the judge often put his own beliefs above the law.

Miller said he was "very disappointment" by the defeat of Pickering, calling him a "good and brave man," and warned of possible repercussions.

"This action may very well elect a Republican governor in Mississippi and it will certainly make it even more difficult for Democratic candidates to be successful in the South," Miller said in a statement

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The only reason the lunatic left controls the US Senate is because the traitor from Vermont, Senator Jeffries, changed his party affiliation. If he hadn't, highly-qualified Judge Pickering almost certainly would have been confirmed.

Senator Jeffries committed a fraud upon the people of Vermont: he ran as a Republican and then, after assuming his office, changed to Independent, although he often votes with the Democrats. (If he was a real mensch, he would have resigned and then run again.)

My point is: Senator Miller is often at odds with the Democratic party (what rational man wouldn't be?) The senate is divided 50-49 in favor of the Democrats.

Can anyone tell me why enormous pressure is not being put on Senator Miller to "come home" to the Republican party and return the Senate to the Republicans and the American people.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Can anyone tell me why enormous pressure is not being put on Senator Miller to "come home" to the Republican party and return the Senate to the Republicans and the American people.

You already gave the answer:

Senator Miller committed a fraud upon the people of Georgia: he ran as a Democrat and then, after assuming his office, changed to Independent, although he often votes with the Republicans. (If he was a real mensch, he would have resigned and then run again.)

Think about it... :0)

[nevergore]

The title is a little mis-leading...

Zell is from the great State of Georgia.....

NeverGore :^)

[madprof98]

Miller is lying through his teeth. More and more these days, I suspect that is the DEFINITION of "Democrat." Indeed, Miller has actually promised to campaign at every possible opportunity for his cohort, the ultra-lib and dissolute Senator Max Cleland, D-GA. Believe me, you won't find Cleland crossing the Looney Left DNC Establishment. He's their boy!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Pipers]

The next question is: will he be appointed during the coming recess? I sure hope so.

[Grut]

Can anyone tell me why enormous pressure is not being put on Senator Miller to "come home" to the Republican party...

Miller understands, as Jeffords did not, that his present party is more likely to give him what he wants if they're nervous about his jumping. Jeffords jumped and in so doing lost all value to both parties.

I should point out that Republican fecklessness is as least as much to blame for Democrat victories in the Senate as Jeffords is.

[crystalk]

change head or pull thread. Zell miller from Georgia

[gov_bean_ counter]

Two predictions. Recess appointment for Pickering and pocket veto for CFR. PV is the only reason I can see for the Pubbies delaying, delaying and then giving up the ghost. Pass the bill, leave town, watch it die.

[tbeatty]

Mississippi Senator Zell Miller? I believe he's from Georgia. Also it's Senator Jeffords (as in "Jumpin' Jim Jeffords"), not Jeffries.

I don't recall Miller changing to independant. Jeffords is officially independant. It was 50 to 50 (with Cheney as the tie breaker) until Jeffords went independant and it went 50 to 49.

If Miller went indpendant but voted republican for majority leader, the Senate would revert to Republican control.

[blam]

The Republicans won't do crap. This will all be forgotten next month.

[demkicker]

"Can anyone tell me why enormous pressure is not being put on Senator Miller to "come home" to the Republican party and return the Senate to the Republicans and the American people."

The Clintonistas must have some big time dirt on Zell. Who knows? There may be some torrid pics of Zell and Trent playing with each other's pom poms? Inquiring minds want to know....

[nickcarraway]

regretably that is probably true.

[Robert_Paulson2]

correct.

[TheGoodDoc]

'Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism." '

"Ouch..Ouch..Ouch!!"

"Where did all these lightening bolts come from?"

[CyberAnt]

"recess appointments"

I sure hope so - and I wish the President was mad enough over it to appoint all the rest of his candidates too. That would be the biggest hoot!!

[tet68]

GW should send up someone MORE radical next!

Then someone more conservative than that !

In fact he should send up 96 more conservative judges all at once. Make the Dems squirm!

[Bogey78O]

I'm 99% certain he's a Democrat.

[Bogie]

Good point!

[xzins]

Because the Republicans are honorable and know that Miller ran as a democrat and was elected by democrats on democrat money.

For all their faults, it appears they're more ethical than the demoncRATs. (But Florida proved that to me....there they looked for a bald-faced power grab. Jeffers allowed them to do that -- he's a putrefaction of a man, isn't he?)