Posted on 12/12/2001 7:05:57 AM PST by Croooow
I recently told you about Mary Frances Berry refusing to acknowledge George Bushs appointment to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in a blatant attempt to keep her dictatorial power over the panel. (http://www.boortz.com/dec7-01.htm)
When the Bush appointee showed up for the meeting, Berry (who has contributed $19,000 to the Democratic Party in the past decade) made him sit in the audience and when he tried to talk she announced that the committee didnt take comments from the audience. Well, now comes part deux. The six-year term of another Republican member of the commission, Russell Redenbaugh, was up yesterday. While not the law, the tradition is that Congressional appointments to the commission alternate between the parties. It is the Republicans turn and they would likely reappoint Redenbaugh. But it appears Daschle will break the tradition and appoint another Democrat. It also appears that Trent Lott is going to lay down and let it happen. Ive said this before...Trent Lott may or may not be a good senator for Mississippi (I dont know), but he is a pathetic leader for Senate Republicans. He presents a good front as far as showing anger at the Democrats actions, but in the end he almost always wimps out. Perhaps he is picking his fights carefully...but it would be nice if he would just pick a fight PERIOD!
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was created in 1957 as a "bi-partisan, objective body." Currently it has a staff of 75 and a budget of $9 million (I wonder how much of your obese tax bill goes to fund it). It basically has no power and has become such a joke under the dictatorship of Berry that there is absolutely no reason to continue its existence. But it undoubtedly will continue because any calls for its end will be deemed as "racist." No professional politician will dare go near that hill.
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Victoria Wilson, staunch Berry supporter, will almost certainly lose the legal case because her appointment from Bill Clinton says in plain English that her term ends on "29 November 2001." If she gets the boot, as she richly deserves, Daschle will only need to violate a "tradition" not a law, to keep the racist Berry in the catbird seat.
But this Boortz article is missing a point. A "congressional" appointment cannot be made solely by the Senate. The House is in there too. If so, then both Lott and Speaker Hastert would have to lie down and roll over for chapter two of this farce to go on as the racists presently in charge at the Commission wish it to. IMHO.
Congressman Billybob
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