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.

[Utopia]

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.

If we had Lazio, the Republicans would still be in charge even with the Jeffords defection.

The one issue crowd does so much damage. Here's proof.

[Husker24]

Dont forget Hillary.

[KQQL]

Jeffords must be laughing today

[Naspino]

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle told reporters the president was "asking us to break a 200-year tradition" of Senate committees holding jurisdiction and responsibility for approving nominations. "I don't know that we can do that," he said.

Ahem -- except for Energy.

[hchutch]

There are two judges that Carl Levin wants on the Sixth Curcuit. Helene White and Kathleen McCree Lewis were nominated by Clinton, but their nominations lapsed when Bush was sworn in.

I say we bork the two of them as payback. Avenge Pickering's reputation!!!

[abner]

That just makes us look (to the sheeple) like we're playing politics as much as they are.

Nah, following the Constitution isn't playing politics. It's following the Constitution, and that is how they should portray it.

[oldvike]

I say we bork the two of them as payback. Avenge Pickering's reputation!!!

You can't Bork anybody if you don't have control of the Senate.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Two weeks ago President Bush stood in an auditorium addressing Chinese students in Communist China and stood firm on everything from religious freedom to our defense of Taiwan. He has shown more courage in the past year than Clinton could in his lifetime. It takes tremendous courage to stand tall in the face of hate. Bush is standing firm.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Now, now, now girl. I said "ol'" not "old"! Do you think I have a death wish? ;-)

You're probably one of three or four people around here who have seen my picture (and that's how I'd like to keep it, incidentally!!) - you're going to have people thinking I wear a hair net and support hose!

But, I forgive you, oldvike. I can't stay mad at you. I forgave you for posting those horrible photos of Favre getting sacked, didn't I? If I can forgive that, I can forgive anything.

[hchutch]

Actually, I think the Dems will lose something a lot more important to them for this dispicable act:

Shays-Meehan will be vetoed as Bush insists that the Senate fill the vacancies it has left open for far too long.

[4CJ]

It's fun to watch at times, but I sure wish we could put in a few substitutes before the game continues. Unless fast corrective action is taken, the dims will clean our clocks.

[Burlem]

So the president wants to change the tone in D.C., hs he figured out yet the democrats are not.

[hchutch]

I'm talking about borking `em now. Look through their writings and pull the stuff out of context. Levin wants `em, and he will not get them. I'm talking about doing unto them via the web or other means as the Dems did to Pickering.

[rwfromkansas]

We need to fight like heck to make sure it will be the most amazing turnover of Senate control EVER.

[oldvike]

I forgave you for posting those horrible photos of Favre getting sacked, didn't I?

Ha! I knew down deep you liked those pics. LOL

[oldvike]

No way in hell will Bush allow a smear campaign right now. Ain't gonna happen. At least, I don't think it will happen.

[Steven W.]

You just haven't been paying attention - Bush has spoken out for him on numerous occasions before yesterday. I recall a meeting he had with Pickering and brought the media in to follow-up on, just a couple weeks ago, and before that another press conference similar to yesterday's.

[Reagan Man]

I just heard on CNN, that Lott can request a full floor vote on the nomination of Judge Pickering. Perhaps, this in't over, just yet.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

While I agree with your basic argument, the president has been strong-arming conservatives in his own party when he should have been STRONG-ARMING the evil SOB's in the Democrat Party. The President has chosen the wrong friends and is paying a price. This is not just a blunder by Democrats.

[xzins]

Actually, it is not yet a defeat.

I assume the man cannot be appointed to the post ONLY if the Senate has voted against him. The Senate has not voted against him.

Therefore, the President can appoint him during the recess. And the president can resubmit his nomination since the Senate has yet to vote on him.