Posted on 03/15/2002 10:47:57 AM PST by 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.
If we get a rebuilding process we can get rid of Lott as speaker. What a dissapointment he is, every time the RNC calls me to get feedback from the grassroots they get an earfull on Lott.We have more enemies with these RINOS than with Ted Kennedy, at least we know what his stripes are, we never know where these other nambe-pambies are gonna be on an issue and when we need them they are missing in action i.e. look at impeachment.
Beam me up Scotty, there is no intelligent Republican life in the Senate......
However, if they do, that's fine. That is about as smart as Florida voters.
Zell is doing more for the GOP cause in the Senate than GOP chairman Marc Racicot is doing. Racicot won't run a sure-win race for Senate in MT. He won't help the GOP take back the Senate. Criticize him before you criticize Zell.
Think about it: Although he wasn't confirmed for the Fifth Circuit, he has life tenure as a Federal District Judge.
Why would he give that up for a recess appointment?
What he says now:
Leahy: "I dont' look at judicial nominations through a political prism." Well that's his tale, I happen to sit on mine!
What he said just 5 years ago:
"Every Senator can vote against any nominee. Every Senator has the right...They can vote against them [in] this committee and on the floor. but it is the responsibility of the U.S. Senate to at least bring them to a vote." I also respectfully suggest that everyone who is nominated is entitled to have a shot, to have a hearing and to have a shot to be heard on the floor and have a vote on the floor."
This mans word is not worth the paper it is written on.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/646685/posts
Technically, he is correct. He looks at them through a ideological prism.
The ability of this man to lie with a straight face is breathtaking! If he didn't look at judicial nominations through a political prism, Judge Pickering would be sitting on the 5th Circuit Court TODAY! Senator Depends just makes me SICK!
I hope the Dems get a REAL BIG paybak in November. I hope EVERY Repub. candidate for the Senate uses this incident like a sledgehammer against the Democrat opponent. It would be SO heavenly to wake up on Wed. after the election to see that the electorate was so pi$$ed at the Dems. that the Repubs. not only have a MAJORITY, they have a 2/3'sd majority in the Senate and a HUGE majority in the House! Hey, a girl can dream can't she?
. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/646685/posts
This is MORE than great coming from a Democrat!
Can't speak for other area's but even the Democrates here are livid, some may even switch political parties, hows that for progress?
Shalom.
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