Posted on 03/14/2002 2:39:32 PM PST by 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.
I believe the timing, and the unusually high-profile choice of venue to make that announcement, were quite intentional on the White House's part. They don't even care about Pickering all that much; his nomination in the first place was just a sop to Trent Lott. But it does insure that a lot of voters are now aware of just how much partisan hate, and arrogance of power, exists amongst the Democrats in Congress. And if gives Bush the perfect excuse to play total hardball on truly important judicial nominations from here on out. Which he will do.
Once again, "stupid moron" George W. Bush is showing strategic brilliance.
It does have a nice ring to it, at that.
Yes!! I couldn't agree with you more. In fact, Bush should nominate one a week with each one being more conservative than the last.
Come on, Mr. President...stay angry!
Lott makes me physically ill. To think, back in the early 90s the guy actually had a spine.
The only thing I can think of regarding Bush being somewhat reserved in his critisism of democrats is that he is reserving his "political capital" for the November elections in hopes of taking back the senate and strengthening the house. If that happens, maybe then he'll unleash hell on those son's of bitches giving marching orders to the congressional democrats.
I sure hope your right...
What difference does it make, oldvike? These Democrats are nothing but a bunch of thugs. They've shown that they're going to do whatever the ____ they want.
The irony is that one of their complaints about Pickering was that he appears to have decided the outcome of a couple of cases in advance - which is exactly what these gangsters have done to him. They never had ANY intention of letting this go to a full Senate vote.
Those of you who are frustrated with Republicans and are vowing never to vote for them again, I hope you like this, because this is kindergarten recess compared to what you'll get if you stick to your guns.
Bush had asked Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to bring the Pickering vote to the full Senate floor regardless of the committee's action, but he was summarily rejected.
If Pickering's nomination did get a floor vote, it would likely pass the 50-49-1 Senate, since three Democrats — Zell Miller of Georgia, Ernest "Fritz" Hollings of South Carolina, and John Breaux of Louisiana — have said they would vote with the 49 Republicans who support Pickering. The White House and Senate Republicans said that's the real reason Daschle won't budge.
"The Constitution says as we all know that nominations will be confirmed by the Senate, not by the judiciary committee," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. "The reason this committee apparently is going to turn down Judge Pickering on a party-line vote is because it is well known that if the nomination got to the floor that Judge Pickering would be confirmed."
Democrats Defeat Bush Nominee
I know we're in a war right now. That is certainly a priority. But aside from that, the eyes/attention/minds/hearts/backbones of every conservative within the borders of the United States of America should be focused like a laser beam on holding the House and taking back the Senate in November. To say that is imperative is the greatest possible understatement.
Maybe you're right. I just truly hate seeing a good man like Pickering get crapped on for a month and not get defended until the last minute. It bothers me deeply.
Let's just hope that the voters have memories.
And these people have the unmitigated gall to question Pickering's character. What a joke!
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