Senate Panel Rejects Pickering

Yahoo/AP ^ | March.14,2002 | Jesse J.Holland

[Reagan Man]

WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Thursday to kill the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the appeals court, handing President Bush a stinging defeat in a racially-charged confirmation battle.

In a series of roll calls, the panel also snubbed Bush's request to allow a vote in the full Senate on Pickering, a 64-year-old Mississippian with more than a decade on the bench.

[TommyDale]

This is WAR!

[gaspar]

Bush should pull all nominees and send no further nominations forward until Pickering is given a vote in the Senate. So the Courts suffer? Too damned bad.

[43for8]

The main problem is that democrats don't fear President Bush. They sure as hell don't fear senate republicans like Trent Lott and Orrin Hatch. Repulsive James Carville and Paul Begalla claimed early in 2001 that unless President Bush somehow caused the democrats to fear his wrath and his leadership then they would roll him every time.

President Bush needs to treat democrats like the traitorous socialists that they are and start using the bully pulpit to beat them viciously and without mercy until they crawl up to him in submission recognizing who their Master is.

It is such a tried and true Natural Law. The Law of the Jungle. Every war has been won by viciously and mercilessly showing the enemy who is superior and what the consequences are if they don't submit. In WW2 Japan submitted after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Germany surrendered etc.

Even the dirty crooked Florida democrats submitted when they saw how serious "the GOP mob" was during the Miami-Dade Uprising during the 36 day War of Florida and how willing we were to die on that hill for George W. Bush to be president after rightfully winning. "LET US IN", "LET US IN", "LET US IN"!!! LOL.

[madison46]

This site has political odds. Claims 98% accuracy rate.
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For Cleland in GA, they have: Sen. Max Cleland (D) is SLIGHTLY FAVORED to be re-elected, 4 to 3 (57.1% chance)

For Carnahan in MO, they have: Sen. Jean Carnahan slightly favored over Jim Talent (R), 10 to 9 (52.6% chance Carnahan wins; Carnahan chances downgraded 2/15/02 from 53.3%)

For Tim Johnson in SD, they have: Sen. Tim Johnson (D) and John Thune (R), even

For Landrieu in LA, they have: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) favored for re-election, 4 to 3 (57.1% chance to be re-elected; odds upgraded 1/22/02 from 55%)

Doesn't look promising if we don't get moving.

[Reagan Man]

I blame the one issue folks on this. They are so hung up on abortion, they would rather sit at home and not vote than vote for a Republican candidate. That attitude gave us Hillary instead of Lazio.

You may have point. May be.

Aside from Jefford's switch-a-roo-ski, I look at Ashcroft's unwillingness to play hardball down in Missouri, as a big reason why Republicans don't control the Senate today. Think about it. Carnahan was dead! He was elected, not his wife.

There are other reasons too.

[oldvike]

I've heard him say things like "we're confident Judge PIckering will be confirmed" and fluffy stuff like that, but I had not heard him vehemently defend the guy like he did yesterday.

[Reagan Man]

This is WAR!

Looks like terrorists and Democrats have something in common.

[anniegetyourgun]

War is right. The Left is already preparing for the destruction of D. Brooks Smith, the President's nominee for 3rd circuit judge.

[TommyDale]

There is a reason the Republican mascot is an elephant-- we never forget! And there is a really good reason the Democrat mascot is a JACKASS!

[rdb3]

It is for this reason that I cut President Bush some slack. I'll admit it, I may cut him more slack than he deserves, but, if his first few months in office were any true indication, he would have tons more on the conservative side accomplished by now.

Just that one defection answered the RATS prayers. Control of the floor in the Senate is a trump card. This cannot be overstated. Now Bush gets obstructed in the upper house of Congress at every turn.

[FreeperinRATcage]

My thoughts exactly. If PRESIDENT Bush had made is "stand" last week or earlier, it would have been forgotten. Pickering's nomination refusal was a forgone conclusion. This way, PRESIDENT Bush stands to make a greater political impact with the apparant obstructionist tactics of the Senate.

Remember, the President has been criticizing Daschle mildly in the past few weeks, perhaps setting up for this event.

[Reagan Man]

There is a reason the Republican mascot is an elephant-- we never forget! And there is a really good reason the Democrat mascot is a JACKASS!

Yea!!! What you said! JACKASS is right!

[Pyro7480]

I never said anything contradictory to that.

[hchutch]

And not only that, Daschle will lose one or two things HE is determined to pass. This is the REAL reason I think CFR will be vetoed, folks. Daschle and Feingold will pay a dear price for this.

McCain's gonna go along, too. He knows not to cross an angry George W. Bush!!

[patriciaruth]

why in the hell did Bush wait until the day before this hearing to speak out in favor of Pickering? Why?!?!?!?!

He may have been quietly working on Edwards, who looked unhappy at having to toe the party line and call a fine Southern judge unqualified. This is not going to go down well in his home state.

When it was sure that Edwards, or whoever he was working on, wouldn't break rank, then Bush made them do it in the light of day, raising the stakes so people would tune in C-span and see the fine defense that the Republicans made, and know that this was a purely party vote to deny circuit court judgeships to pro-lifers, in essense, a religious test for office.

And a stick in the eye to Southern white males.

[zencycler]

At the risk of starting another argument on this board.... why in the hell did Bush wait until the day before this hearing to speak out in favor of Pickering? Why?!?!?!?!

I think the strategy here is apparent. Let the Democrats make the first partisan move, and then W can have the moral bipartisan high ground when he goes on the attack.

[hchutch]

Who says we need to ask him about it?

We just do the thing, tell Daschle to confirm the judges, or accept that fact that we will fight fire with fire. Heck, it might be nice to throw Chappaquiddick in Kennedy's face. Go after the guys who borked Pickering.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Ya know, I have my doubts about how much the public is aware of this Pickering fiasco, which is why the Dems were emboldened to do their treachery. Few people pay attention to this level, and most will just hear the media claim he had some racial issues and then think nothing of it. We really need to raise public awareness, perhaps with commercials in the fall campaign. If Pickering's background on civil rights AND how the Dems misrepresented that one Klan case can be explained in 60-seconds, it could pay dividends. But we must show how the Dems routinely misrepresent, lie, and use the media to fool the public. Right now, I think we are angry, but the public hoodwinked. We have to bypass the media.

[MeekOneGOP]

But Bush won't do it. He's a weakling like his father.

Huh? Earth to Rip van Winkle: You been asleep the last 14 months? Who you talkin' about??? Not the Bush I know. Bush has shown quite a bit of resolve and fortitude. China Surveillance plane incident, 911 response, calling DasHole out. . . . .

[linn37]

What I don't understand is why they did'nt let Pickering withdraw when they knew the dems would vote him down?