Judge Pickering's Revenge

National Review Online ^ | November 6, 2003 | Sean Rushton

[FredTownWard]

Last week, Senate Democrats effectively defeated the nomination of Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals through abuse of the filibuster. No doubt liberal ringleaders against the judge — Sens. Ted Kennedy (D., Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.), and Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) — were pleased to add another Bush nominee's scalp to their collection, but with Tuesday night's Republican victory in the Mississippi gubernatorial race, as well as vulnerable Senate seats across the south and midwest in 2004, it may be Pickering who ultimately has the last laugh.

[Rocko]

Excellent article.

[bybybill]

Teddy, Pat, and little Chuckie are proving that some wishes are best not answered

[Alberta's Child]

Great Charles Pickering bump.

[pointsal]

pinging from Reagan country

[pogo101]

character assassination bttt

[chiller]

In the end, it will be the undoing of the Dems. Just hoping the day comes soon.

One immediate benefit would be state court appointments by our 29 Pubbie govs. Almost 2/3 rds...not bad. Govs will also help get the vote out a year from now. We'll get the bastards.

[DianaN]

I am so happy to to hear Republicans did so well. Maybe people are tired of Dumocraps say "we are too patriots" while the terrorists and their supporters quote the Dumocrap rantings on their web pages to support their arguments.

[Clintonfatigued]

I agree, these filibusters (while infuriating) are hurting the 'Rats in the South. In fact, I think it was a factor in Haley Barbour's victory. It's too bad that Miguel Estrada withdrew his nomination, though his decision was understandable. I hope Judge Pickering read this article. He deserves good news after the horrible way he's been treated.

[FastCoyote]

This situation could be solved in five minutes. Just get 40 Republicans to swear they will filibuster every pro-abortion judge for eternity - IF a Democrat is ever elected president UNLESS the filibusters of Republicans stop. If Ideological litmus tests are good for Democrats they sure as hell are great for Republicans.

BEWARE WHAT YOU WISH FOR

[Sgt_Schultze]

If the Republicans ever get to the magic 60 Senators, they still will be beaten by the dems. Who will be the most powerful Republican Senator with 60 members? It will be Lincoln Chafee who's seat, if not a legacy issue, would go to a dem. He is the most "turnable" Republican and the most Rino of members.

[Ladytotheright]

Your truthful post is making me puke!!! If not Chaffee there will be some other @sswhole RINO that will say " I cant support cutting off this debate". Grrrrrr

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

Last week, Senate Democrats effectively defeated the nomination of Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals through abuse of the filibuster.

I don't understand this. I don't recall seeing Senator Ted in pajamas on the Senate floor, holding a filabuster for days and weeks on end. I'm sure I would have noticed this, even on a biased network like CNN.

Geez.. how could I have missed it?!! Well, at least the RINO pubbies running the Senate REALLY, really tried their hardest! Right??

SFS

[RJayneJ]

They are still thinking about a real filibuster on the Rogers nomination, but if you read the entire article the Republicans are reluctant because frankly the want the issue because it's a winner for them. In Pubbie polling Bush's judicial nominees are polling 3rd for the reason voters are voting Republican. The Republican base are turning out to vote and moderate independants.

[solo gringo]

Every time i see schumer daschle ted kennedy pat leakey i have to take a shower. you can just see the slime oozing out of thier greasey suits,

[Sgt_Schultze]

Right, there are the weak sisters of Maine who are also staunch moderates liberals.

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

frankly the want the issue because it's a winner for them.

Character, good or bad, is a better issue. A real filibuster would show the Democrats to be the worthless chunks they are. Calling the Democrats, on nomination after nomination, two weeks at a time, would eventually make them crack and run for the exits. How would it look to the American public to watch night after night as the Democrats appear to be standing in the perverbial school house door, blocking good Black, Hispanic, Women, and yes, even white Judicial nominees, simply because they fail their fluid litmus test. Give each nominee 2-3 weeks. Enforce the Senate rules strictly. It'll ruin their health after a while, while making them look like complete a**es. The GOP RINO Senate will not allow a real filibuster because it might interrupt their golf games.

The Judicial branch is not a political football that should be kicked around. America needs those judges.

SFS

[RJayneJ]

They announced yesterday that they will be holding a real filibuster a few days from now. They haven't done so to this point because it was not in their best interest to do so. They had legislation to get passed before they go nuclear. When they go out on that limb they have to be secure on the notion that one or two senators won't cave because of a fund-raiser or what not back home. The issue has helped them win several of the recent governorships.

[Darlin']

From the article:

"While Democrats had won the battle, Republicans were intent to win the war, especially in the south, where Pickering is well-known and highly regarded. In a region where "racist" is a deeply meaningful and serious charge, many were outraged by its casual use by Democrats and the elite media to smear a man of Charles Pickering's standing. Some saw the accusation as Yankee shorthand for Mississippian, religious, and conservative, and regarded the Left's tone and tactics as a sign of what the national Democratic party really thought of them."

I thank God that Judge Pickering and his family have been able to withstand three years of outright lies and malicious claims. A man of such unwavering strength and deeply held convictions must be very disconcerting to those behind the attacks.

[FredTownWard]

I disagree Sgt-Schultze because you have forgotten that the magic number is not 60 Republican Senators but merely 50 Republican Senators willing to vote for the nuclear option. Frist admitted on FNC that he doesn't yet have 50 votes for that option. It might be because of cowardly Republicans or pro-abortion RINOs or selfish Senators looking forward to using the filibuster themselves, or it might be because they want to stage this closer to the election when the threatened Democrat response of shutting down the Senate will have less effect (nothing much is done right before an election) and be remembered better by the voters. A more Machiavellian reason might be the desire to defeat as many Democrat Senators in 2004 as possible. (You don't want to solve a problem before an election you are asking voters to send you more help to solve.) Even if they fall short of 60 it is a good bet that most any freshmen Republican Senators will be willing to vote for the nuclear option so I would expect a successful vote on that either right after or right before the election depending on election strategy and the number of Republicans willing to vote for it at the time. These attempts to run time-limited "real" filibusters are simply designed to draw more attention to the issue and to annoy Democrats into behaving more stupidly than they have been. Only if the Dems get smart will you see them stop falling into the trap of filibustering an ever growing list of almost comically rainbow coalition conservatives.