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.

[theirjustdue]

"Now Bush should nominate some 40 year old, very conservative, less visible man or woman without an extensive paper trail. Someone the dem's can't knock down on some trumped up charges of racism, ethics, etc. "

Great idea, dd! I hope he does.

[Tree of Liberty]

Bork's squishy on RKBA issues, and is getting up in years.

[Howlin]

You'll get no fight from me. I agree.

[Donaldpaul]

The low life bastards. Perhaps it's time to nourish the tree of liberty with the blood of some scoundrels. If just one committee Democrat votes to report out Judge Pickering's nomination, each senator will have the opportunity to give his advice and consent. Mr. Biden once said that every judicial nominee deserves a vote on the floor, and Chairman Patrick Leahy said that the Senate has the responsibility to bring nominees to a vote. But this is about politics, not fairness, and the left is ready to claim its first victim

[Bubba_Leroy]

I have a serious constitutional question here. The Constitution charges the Senate with the duty to vote on judicial nominees. If they refuse to perform their constitutional duty that means no more federal judges. Ever.

What happens when one Senator, in this case the Senate plurality leader Dashole, refuses to permit the Senate to perform its constitutional duty? It seems to me that the President could file a mandamous action against Dashole to get a court to order him to allow a vote.

The courts can't tell the Senate how to vote, but the Senate has a clear constitutional duty to vote every judicial nominee up or down.

[43for8]

What disgusted me was watching Orin Hatch and unbelieveably Jeff Sessions and others laud gushing praise and compliments all day long on PROVEN MILITARY SECRETS LEAKER and TRAITOR Patrick Leahy as well as other democrats. They did this all with a smile on their face and cheerful voices, i.e."I want to thank the distinguished Chairman Leahy for his friendship and the way he has treated us during these hearings and I want to say upfront I deeply respect him and others here and I count him as a dear friend, BUT I must say I'm disappointed with him and my distinguished colleagues on the other side of the aisle for voting down this nomination and not allowing a full vote on the senate floor"--Senator Orrin Hatch and too many other GOP gelding "committee members". Unf___ingbelieveable.

[oldvike]

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.

I evaluate them on a case by case basis. Luckily for me, my congressman and Senators are very conservative and stick to their core beliefs so my job is quite easy when I walk in that voting booth.

BTW, how have you been DOAIJV? I saw that you got in a little skirmish last night on that Bush thread. Hehehe, you're a tough ol' babe.

[Reagan Man]

I believe that was leftover from last years power sharing agreement between Lott and Daschle and only applied to USSC nominees. There has never been any agreement to allow all presidential nominees a floor vote.

[laureldrive]

see my post: WHY WON'T RACICOT RUN? WE NEED TO TAKE BACK THE SENATE FOR THE GOP - - BUT RACICOT REFUSES TO RUN TO UNSEAT A VERY VULNERABLE DEM IN MT? I think Racicot should quit as GOP chair if he doesn't have any more concern than that for the fortunes of the party - and the country. We need a GOP Senate - - but Racicot won't help!

[Timesink]

Carnahan in MO?

The RNC has targeted the Wicked Witch of the Midwest as one of their "must-gets" in November. They will spare no expense to take her down. Her GOP opponent will be former Missouri congressman Jim Talent. I'm unaware of any polls on how these two stack up with the voters at this early stage, but like I said, she's practically Enemy #1 on the GOP's list, and that's not a place any candidate wants to be, no matter how popular they might be with their constituents.

[peekaboo]

Where have you been.

I have heard Bush address this issue for a number of weeks as he traveled around the country. He was in Mississippi not long ago and has been very supportive of him. I have heard the press say this a number of times and it really irritates me. They say it for one reason only and that is to place the blame on Bush if any of his nominees fail. He is up to his neck in a war. The republicans have talked about this issue too. Even the liberal press, Washington Post and the NYT have addressed this issue.

I listened to c-span callers after the hearing today and a number of callers were outraged about the 10 democratic senators who have denied the people of Mississippi their choice. I am so sick of the lies of Leahy, the mistatement by Feinstein, that Bush does not have a mandate to nominate any one but a moderate to the courts, Shumer with his litmus testing and the whiny Feingold. And what is that thing growing on Edwards lip. It is really gets in the way of his lies. I was proud of all of the Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee, even Spector, who could not resist bragging about the many Clinton undesirable nominees.

I do hope that Bush DOES NOT SIGN THE CFR BILL when it reaches him. Enough of the nice guy thing.

[rdb3]

Thank you, Jumping Jim Jeffords!

[Reagan Man]

Thanks for the info Ragtime Cowgirl.

[Timesink]

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.

Yes, I agree with you totally on that. What was done to him by the RATS is truly evil.

Can he still legally receive a recess appointment after being rejected by the Senate?

[Reagan Man]

Thank you, Jumping Jim Jeffords!

Ooh, don't remind me.

[oldvike]

Several people on this thread have pointed out that maybe Pickering was only intended to take one for the team and never actually get approved. This might all be part of some bigger plan. Those FReepers might be on to something. Maybe.

Even if that's that case, I still didn't like seeing Pickering get Borked.

[Timesink]

What happens when one Senator, in this case the Senate plurality leader Dashole, refuses to permit the Senate to perform its constitutional duty? It seems to me that the President could file a mandamous action against Dashole to get a court to order him to allow a vote.

I think it might be too risky to go that far. That just makes us look (to the sheeple) like we're playing politics as much as they are. Right now we should stick to our principles and let them get all the attention as the bad guys. Then come November, we'll get the Senate back and this problem will be solved.

If necessary between now and then, Bush should simply make recess appointments out the wazoo.

[4CJ]

Payback is hell.

[Howlin]

I wish we knew what "the big picture" is........it's making me nervous.

[oldvike]

Thank you, Jumping Jim Jeffords!

Damn right.