Bush defangs civil rights panel

USA Today ^ | Dec. 11 2001 | DeWayne Wickham

[laurav]

The Bush administration is trying to run roughshod over this country's only independent federal civil-rights agency.

In a late-night ceremony last week, the White House had a judge swear in Peter Kirsanow as a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which earlier this year chastised Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, and Katherine Harris, the secretary of state, for their role in last year's election debacle in Florida.

[lavaroise]

The Bush administration is trying to run roughshod over this country's only independent federal civil-rights agency.

Roughshod? as if those b!tches were not roughshod? as if Bush and the government did not have any rights over who they hire. What the heck are those people talking about? It s not because they do not like it that they can impose it with their demagoguery. It is an inalienable right of the President, darn it.

[deport]

.......the president should ask a federal court to resolve this dispute. .........

And he has.........

Justice Department lawyers have filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to remove a member from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights so that a Bush administration appointee can replace her on a board that tilts toward Democrats.

But it may not matter as the replacement for Russell G. Redenbaugh is due now and it's lil' Tommy Daschle's appt to make....

[Blood of Tyrants]

Jerks like this make references to the Civil Rights Comission's investigation of "irregularities" in the Florida vote but somehow fail to mention that they found NOTHING WORTH INVESTIGATING. Another example of left-wing biased reporting.

[Elle Bee]

What you talkin' 'bout Willis?

Embarrassing Berry - Incivility on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission ~ WSJ.

civil rights panel meeting

.

[dpa5923]

Don't sugar coat it. Say what you mean!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

" explicitly says that all appointees "shall serve a term of six years.""

That is a lie. The Commission's charter from 1994 states that "Commissioners shall serve a term of six years."
The language is very specific and any language referring to those appointed to fill in for Commissioners that cannot complete their terms, was left out for some reason. Interesting use of quote marks by DeWayne Wickham.
That's why there is a dispute. Both sides think they're right.

[Geopolitica]

what the hell is up with that first sentence? someone ought to write to USA Today's ombudsman (sorry, ombudsperson). "roughshod" - not too emotive a term, eh?

[pt17]

Bush defangs civil rights panel

Stupid author. That panel's got no fangs, not even any teeth - nothing but a big mouth.

[John123]

Unbelievable! It seems the liberals make laws that suit them. What's next, Bill Clinton can serve three terms?

[dirtboy]

The Bush administration is trying to run roughshod over this country's only independent federal civil-rights agency.

Yep, the Bush Administration is using the same nasty, mean, horrible tactics with the Civil Rights Commission as they did in Florida - following the law. LOL...

[I_Love_My_Husband]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/comment/columnists/wickham/wickbio.htm

Under the column, Who Is DeWayne Hickman I found this little gem

From 1978 to 1980, Wickham took a sabbatical from his journalism career and worked as a special assistant to Dr. Mary Frances Berry, who ran federal education programs in the Carter administration before the creation of the Department of Education."

[ladyinred]

I am too angry to comment within the rules of FreeRepublic.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Bush hopes to bamboozle black folks in much the same way his dad did when he named Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.

Attn: DeeWayne, in case you haven't noticed, Clarence Thomas is BLACK. He doesn't wash it off and he doesn't wear it as you do.

[MinuteGal]

Anyone have the appropriate email address? Bombs away!

Leni

[Phantom Lord]

There is another seat coming up for appointment very shortly. This seat is a congressional appointment. The President appoints half and congress appoints half. Following Senate tradition, the partys rotate appointments. The democrats had the last congressional appointment, so the republicans are in line to appoint this one. But it is becoming clear that Puff Dash-hole is planning on ignoring tradition and having the democrats make the next congressional appointment.

I will be waiting for Mr. Wickman's editorial complaining about Dash-hole breaking tradition with regardes to the appointments to the civil rights commission. Actually I will not be waiting, because it is never gonna happen.

[KC_Conspirator]

The columnist is so ignorant. The administration has already filed a federal lawsuit on Friday night. But it was too difficult for the fact checkers to find it.

Wanna bet that they did not even bother to look? Not only is this columnist ignorant, he's lazy as well. Berry and her Nazi's don't have legal leg to stand on - Victoria's official paperwork says her term ends on Nov. 29th, 2001 because thats what the bylaws say.

[Pharmboy]

This Wickham character should take some deep breaths and 5 mg of Valium. Whew! A bit overheated on the rhetoric, eh DeWayne? My goodness, if you really had some good points to make I would never know because it would be buried under all that bloviation.

My G-d: you'd think Dubya was leading a cross-burning on his front lawn the way his hysteria is going.

[veryconernedamerican]

the biggest rule they have gotten around is the constitutional one where the president alone (with the consent of congress) has the right to appoint members to this panel and other panels like it. Congress is now acting outside and in direct violation of the constitution as far as appointment of members for this board, in that they appoint half of them

[Phantom Lord]

See my post #35. It is actually the republicans turn to make the congressional appointment. But Puff Dash-hole isnt planning on following Senate tradition.

[Phantom Lord]

It is my understanding, and i have seen no evidence to the contrary, that when the commission was set up it was spelled out in its creation that the President would appoint half and congress would appoint half and that no party was to have a majority. If you can dig up the original bill creating this commission and show where it says that the President is to appoint ALL of the members I will stand corrected.