Georgia Senator Zell Miller warns of possible Pickering Payback

Reuters | March 15 | J.Q. Pulic

[xmarksthespot]

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

[jragan2001]

Yeah, most Republicans won't do anything since many of them have jellyfish for spines. At least Sen. Zell Miller, as a Democrat, has a lot more of a backbone then many of our esteemed Republican Representatives.

[jragan2001]

Trent Lott should have been sent back home to Mississippi a long time ago with his lack of resolve during the Clinton impeachment hearings. He is a total idiot who has no resolve when standing up for the Rule Of Law in our country. He is about as useless as Dennis Hastert is in the House.

[Theodore R.]

Madprof, please explain why you consider Senator Cleland "dissolute." Isn't Cleland a "disciple" of the "bow-down-and-worship" "Georgia Jimmy"? If so, would "Georgia Jimmy" support a "dissolute" senator? Remember too that Georgians feel good about themselves every time they pull the lever for a "handicapped" one. They probably recall the old public service ad campaign urging businesses to "hire the handicapped."

[Theodore R.]

LET'S SEND TRENT LOTT BACK TO PASCAGOULA, SOONER, RATHER THAN LATER, TO QUOTE bILLclinton!

[lentulusgracchus]

[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!!

Now, there's an idea........and let Sandra Day O'Connor leave the Supreme Court the same day, and let Bush promptly make a recess appointment of Judge Bork to SCOTUS and several dozen conservative judges.......and the payback for Bill Lann Lee and so many other loathesome Klintoon recess appointments will be complete!

What an idea! Boiling the 'Rats in their own soup!

[vannrox]

"...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..."

HA, HA, HAAAAAAAAA !!!!!

[Conservative til I die]

I know this sounds naive, and I'm aware that Miller does do some grandstanding, but generally, he seems to be a bit more honest and remains a Democrat because a)that's what he was elected as and b)he believes in the Democratic Party ideals, even if he is upset with how the Party is running today.

[cake_crumb]

Great-graphics-as-usual BUMP!!

[VRWC_minion]

Vermont has gone ultra liberal. The people of VT will be proud of him.

[davidosborne]

I have noticed that my petition is UNDER ATTACK by those who would seek to bring discredit upon an HONORABLE man like Judge Pickering because he is a Conservative Christian......

it is a CLEAR indication that our message is getting out..

The BASE of the Democratic Party RELIES on the fact that CONSERVATIVES do not have the means to get their message out, and when we do they get VERY upset... I take it as a compliment, and so should YOU..

I have written to the Pettion webmaster to see if it is possible to have those entries deleted,, IF NOT I guess it just goes to show how SERIOUS of an issue this really is....

NO SENATOR even the most LEFTIST Senators would never approve of such horrible statements and characterizations.. they will seek to convince us that this is what they were trying to AVOID so that is why we should appoint "Moderate" Judges... DO NOT BE FOOLED.. it does however clearly show them WHO their BASE really is !! and their BASE is quickly beginning to see themselves in the mirror.

May God HELP America !!

SIGN PETITION here........

Click here for MAIL BLASTER.......

David C. Osborne

[madprof98]

I can't remember all the details of the scandal that goes back to Cleland's days as GA secretary of state (when Cleland's sexual misconduct in office ended up costing GA taxpayers a bundle), but a quick search of the Atlanta newspaper archives reminded me of what happened when GA Republicans brought up the matter back in 1996. This was the lead-off to an article from the time (which I don't care to buy because I won't support the AJC): "Georgia Republican contenders for the U.S. Senate suggested Thursday that their Democratic opponent, triple-amputee Max Cleland, uses his wheelchair to score political points, and they raised questions about his sex life." I think they were right on both counts, but evidently they quickly backed off.

[angry elephant]

I do not want Zell Miller to pull a Jeffords.

If he switched, he would not be pulling a Jeffords as far as voters are concerned. The voters elected a Republican, who died. The DemocRat governor then appointed Jeffords. Jeffords should be fulfilling the desires of his Republican constituents who elected Cloverdale.

[lilylangtree]

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."

LIAR, LIAR Leahy's pants on fire!

[lentulusgracchus]

Vermont has gone ultra liberal. The people of VT will be proud of him.

So, whaddayathink? Acid rain? Their tapwater pH factor got too low, and it ate their brains?

Just wondering.

[davidosborne]

I have noticed that my petition is UNDER ATTACK by those who would seek to bring discredit upon an HONORABLE man like Judge Pickering because he is a Conservative Christian...... it is a CLEAR indication that our message is getting out..

The BASE of the Democratic Party RELIES on the fact that CONSERVATIVES do not have the means to get their message out, and when we do they get VERY upset... I take it as a compliment, and so should YOU..

I have written to the Pettion webmaster to see if it is possible to have those entries deleted,, IF NOT I guess it just goes to show how SERIOUS of an issue this really is....

NO SENATOR even the most LEFTIST Senators would never approve of such horrible statements and characterizations.. they will seek to convince us that this is what they were trying to AVOID so that is why we should appoint "Moderate" Judges... DO NOT BE FOOLED.. it does however clearly show them WHO their BASE really is !! and their BASE is quickly beginning to see themselves in the mirror.

May God HELP America !!

SIGN PETITION here........

Click here for MAIL BLASTER.......

David C. Osborne

[CyberAnt]

The only problem with my idea is that the appointments are only good for 2 years (according to Rush Limbaugh). However, it would give the repubs a chance to get back the Senate - which would allow them to make the confirmations permanent. I still think it's a great idea.

[Theodore R.]

So you are saying, Madprof, that Senator Cleland's loss of limb did NOT affect a certain mid-level body projection!!! Is Cleland married or single?

[Theodore R.]

Yes, a gubernatorial appointment to the U.S. Senate is good for no more than two years, usually less, depending on when the vacancy occurs. In TX such an appointment is good for only six months, nonrenewable. There must be a special election within six months in TX to fill a vacant Senate seat. This last occured in 1993, when Kay Bailey Hutchison was chosen as the ultimate successor to "Lord" Bentsen, who became bILLclinton's secretary of the treasury. And this occurred in 1961, when John Tower became senator to a 5.5-year term to succeed ultimately Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. But in GA and most states, an appointment would be good for up to two years. I think WA also requires early special elections, as was held in 1983, when Henry M. Jackson died in office.

[lentulusgracchus]

Yes, the recess appointees are only good until the Congress reconvenes after the next general election. Then they'd have to be put up again, or vacate, is how I read that article in the Constitution.

No, really, it's a good idea.

[lentulusgracchus]

BTTT- Post #100, I get the free Slurpee!