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.
Works for me.
If this wasn't such an unbelievable statement coming from a liberal, it would almost be funny.
So they're not even pretending to tell the truth anymore?
This is highly unusual. I don't know what to make of it.
HooooooHoooooHooo Hoooo.....Stop it Pat, you're killing me! Will the tears ever stop??!!! Hooooo!
Wheeeew.
Leahy is a liar.
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.
Very well said. Shall I repeat afuturegovernor again?
March 13, 2002
Dear Ms. ________:
Thank you for writing to me about the confirmation of Judge Charles Pickering to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Recently, I chaired the nomination hearing of Judge Pickering. I have concerns about Judge Pickering's views on reproductive rights and civil rights. After strenuous review, I have decided to vote against this nomination. For me to vote against a nominee really takes a strong and dramatic showing that the nominee is not well suited for the post for which he or she is appointed. Obviously, my conclusion is a product of that process. This is one of those tough decisions.
The Senate Judiciary committee has not scheduled a confirmation vote, but please know that I will keep your views in mind.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write to me on this issue. Should you have any further questions regarding this issue, please feel free to call my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841. Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein United States Senator
ROFLMAO!
I'll say one thing for the democRATs, they can be funny as hell.
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