Sen. Miller Warns of Possible Pickering Payback

Yahoo ^ | 3/15/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia warned fellow Democrats on Friday they may pay a political price in the South for preventing a Mississippi judge from getting a seat on a federal appeals court.

"The political repercussions are too obvious to ignore," Miller said a day after the Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) rejected President Bush (news - web sites)'s bid to elevate U.S. District Judge James Pickering of Mississippi to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites).

On three party-line votes of 10-9, the panel refused to send Pickering to the full Senate for consideration, contending he cannot be trusted on civil rights. It brushed aside Bush's contention he has had a good record on this front.

Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi called the committee action "a slap" at his home state. And Miller, who has frequently broken ranks with Democrats on Capitol Hill, suggested on Friday the sting may be felt across the South.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

Leahy said his job is to help determine if nominees are "qualified or not." In opposing Pickering, Leahy said during 12 years on the federal bench, the judge often put his own beliefs above the law.

Miller said he was "very disappointment" by the defeat of Pickering, calling him a "good and brave man," and warned of possible repercussions.

"This action may very well elect a Republican governor in Mississippi and it will certainly make it even more difficult for Democratic candidates to be successful in the South," Miller said in a statement.

Democratic Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's term does not end until 2004. Members of Congress across the South are up for reelection this November.

[Integrityingovt]

It is time to mobilize Freepers. Pickerings nomination was about two things, his pro-life stance and his Christian beliefs. Nothing more nothing less. Unless we retake control of the Senate in this falls elections no conservative judges, no energy policy, no partial birth abortion bill, nothing that line ups with conservative values or iniatives is going to get by the obstructionist Tom Daschole, no I didn't mispell it, and his left wing buddies like Shumer, Leahy, and Kennedy. WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF EVERY SENATE RACE THAT IS CONTENTION AND MAKE SURE WE TURN OUT A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT TO GET REPUBLICANS ELECTED!

[07055]

If Zell Miller switched parties, would the media give him a "Profile in Courage" award?

[mombonn]

"I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

And I'm the Easter Bunny. I do loathe these people.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

If Zell Miller switched parties, would the media give him a "Profile in Courage" award?

Not in our lifetime.

[steenkeenbadges]

Hay all you DemoRats: "You beat Pickering, but we'll be snickering!" A Restored Republican Senate in 2002!!!

[KC_Conspirator]

The left never seems to amaze me with their viciousness. I was always told that the house was the partisan body of the legislature while the senate was more "open minded" and "judicous". Now of course I realized that all of that was hokum. Democrats in the Senate have been venal since the John Tower nomination.

[Brundledan]

---"...goodbye Breaux, goodbye Carnahan, goodbye Cleland, goodbye Edwards, goodbyhe Graham, goodbye Hollings, goodbye Landrieu, goodbye Miller, goodbye Nelson--WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU GO!"---

Let's not get ahead of ourselves....Breaux, Edwards, Graham, Hollings, and Nelson aren't going anywhere, anytime soon. They're safe as can be. Carnahan, Cleland, and Landrieu, meanwhile, are in better shape for re-election than they've any right to be.

I think Zell's being overdramatic here.

-Dan

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Remember Terry is working for the other side!

Here's Terry:

[skeeter]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

SHAMELESS LIAR

[TheRightGuy]

WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF EVERY SENATE RACE THAT IS CONTENTION AND MAKE SURE WE TURN OUT A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT TO GET REPUBLICANS ELECTED!

My senator, the dishonorable Dickie (ACU-rating=0) Durbin, is up for re-election. He WILL be FReeped.

[Ohioan]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, brushed off Miller's warning, saying, "I don't look at judicial nominations through a political prism."

Just through a leftwing ideological prism!

I do not know which is worse, the politicians who simply pander to special interests, and sacrifice principle for those interests, or the ideological fanatics, who don't even realize how distorted is their personal vision.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Brundledan]

---"Pickerings nomination was about two things, his pro-life stance and his Christian beliefs."---

Wrong. What happened yesterday had nothing to do with Pickering; it never did. This was always about George W. Bush, and a panicked Democratic Party's refusal to allow him any judicial nominee, at any level. They've got far too much to lose by allowing even a single one through.

And until Bush starts showing some guts when it comes to his nominees, the Dems will just do this over and over and over again.

-Dan

[uncbob]

goodbye Breaux, goodbye Carnahan, goodbye Cleland, goodbye Edwards, goodbyhe Graham, goodbye Hollings, goodbye Landrieu, goodbye Miller, goodbye Nelson--WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU GO!

Ain't gonna happen

[uncbob]

And until Bush starts showing some guts when it comes to his nominees,

How does he do that

What he should do is a recess appointment

[Alberta's Child]

And until Bush starts showing some guts when it comes to his nominees, the Dems will just do this over and over and over again.

That may not be such a bad thing. Check out the last paragraph in the following essay:

Contortionists on the Judiciary Committee

[Alberta's Child]

What he should do is a recess appointment

A recess appointment is all the more feasible in this case because Pickering was never formally rejected by the U.S. Senate.

[toenail]

"This means we must begin winning over voters in the mushy middle and winning over fringe party voters on the right. I did not see a single Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, Natural Law Party, or Taxpayer Party member vote for Judge Pickering today. I did see nine Republicans vote for him and ten Democrats vote against him."

If you want third-party votes, earn them.

[OldFriend]

If Zell switches, Chaffee and McCain will go the other way in a heartbeat.

[JohnGalt]

We could have used you in '98; now, I am too cynical to think any of it matters.

[crystalk]

Maybe it is time the lights CAME ON in Georgia. Again.