Musgrove endorses Pickering in letter (Judge not Chip)

The Clarion Ledger, Jackson Ms. ^ | September 25, 2003 | By Emily Wagster Pettus

[WKB]

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and four other statewide Democratic office holders are supporting Judge Charles Pickering's nomination to a federal appeals court.

A letter was sent to U.S. Senate leaders Wednesday from Musgrove, Attorney General Mike Moore, Secretary of State Eric Clark, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell and Insurance Commissioner George Dale.

"Charles Pickering was, before rising to the federal bench, an active Republican," the letter said. "It is our hope that party labels can be transcended in this fight over his nomination. We should cast a blind eye to partisanship when working to build a fair and impartial judiciary."

U.S. Senate Republicans are preparing for a contentious second battle over President Bush's nomination of Pickering to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

Pickering's nomination was defeated 10-9 in March 2001 when Democrats controlled the Judiciary Committee.

Republicans now control the committee 10-9.

Democrats have said they would filibuster Pickering if his nomination makes it out of the committee to the Senate floor.

The 2001 defeat of Pickering's nomination came after civil rights groups said he had supported segregation as a young man in Mississippi. Opponents also pointed to Pickering's conservative voting record as a Mississippi state lawmaker and decisions as a judge.

The letter from the Democratic officials on Wednesday praised Pickering's work toward improving race relations, including his service on the board of the University of Mississippi's Institute for Racial Reconciliation.

"Mississippi has made tremendous progress in race relations since the 1960s and Charles Pickering has been part of that progress. We ask the United States Senate to stand up to those that malign the character of Charles Pickering, and give him an up or down vote on the Senate floor," said the letter, which was sent to Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

When the president was in Jackson Sept. 12, he called on Senate Democrats not to block Pickering's nomination.

"He's a man who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some senators are playing politics with America's justice. They did this man and this country a disservice," said Bush, speaking at a fund-raising luncheon for Republican gubernatorial nominee Haley Barbour.

Musgrove faces Barbour in the Nov. 4 general election.

Clark, Spell and Dale all have Republican opponents in November. Moore is not seeking re-election.

Pickering is the father of Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss

[WKB]

First tax credits and now this.
Next thing you know he will be calling himself
"Ronnie the Republican"

[Theodore R.]

Endorsing Pickering makes no practical difference because Leahy and Harkin et al won't allow the nomination to come to the floor for a vote -- not now, not ever!

[WKB]

He is trying to "look like" a conserative until Nov 5.
That's all.

[SmokyGeo]

Endorsing Pickering makes no practical difference because Leahy and Harkin et al won't allow the nomination to come to the floor for a vote -- not now, not ever!

They don't have to. Those are the rules. Nominees are to be recommended or not recommended by the Judiciary Committee.

Actually, the Committee has passed on close to 200 Bush aqdministration nominees who have been confirmed by the full Senate.

Is your glass half full or half empty?

[WKB]

Watch out for those newbies TR. Sometimes they are not what they appear to be.

[wylenetheconservative]

Musgrove, Clark, and Dale are running scared. This is the year for a GOP break-through in MS.

[WKB]

Musgrove, Clark, and Dale are running scared. This is the year for a GOP break-through in MS.

Clark and Dale need to switch. They could both still win.
I'll bet they both voted for Buh.

[dixiechick2000]

Smart move by the Muskrat.

"First tax credits and now this. Next thing you know he will be calling himself "Ronnie the Republican"

It may come to that before you cast your ballot. lol

[dixiechick2000]

Welcome to Free Republic!

Pull up a chair and sit a spell.

I hope you'll enjoy your time here.

[wardaddy]

I agree. The Club in DC which we refer to as The Senate does not care what the Governor of Mississippi thinks.....whther Dem or Pubbie.

Except on redistricting.

[wylenetheconservative]

Don't let Musgroves sudden flirtation with Conservatism fool you. He tried to create the tornado district that would have combined Desoto and Rankin counties...two of the largest counties in the state and more than 3 hours from each other. He is a liberal. The RATS in Arkansas are doing this successfully. They talk conservative at election time and then vote liberal. Luckily, the voters in Mississippi aren't as stupid and gullible as the idiots over in Arkansas.

[wardaddy]

I'm not fooled....and I am a Mississippian.

[bourbon]

I call them Trojan Horse candidates--folks like Musgrove who disguise their liberalism to get elected. It's what Geo. McGovern called Clinton in 1994. Their "triangulation" is just a ruse.

To be fair though, other high-profile MS Dems have supported Pickering all along in this process (i.e. Mike Moore and Dickie Scruggs).

[wylenetheconservative]

That strategy has certainly been effective in AR. Every Dem uses the word "conservative" in his ads. Even Mark Pryor, who I think is racking up a liberal rating of over 90%. It is nice being in MS now where the voters have more common sense.

[jwalsh07]

Endorsing Pickering makes no practical difference because Leahy and Harkin et al won't allow the nomination to come to the floor for a vote -- not now, not ever!

Sure it does, his internal polling must show Barbour catching him on the outside.

[dixiechick2000]

Yep. This is for local consumption.
IMO, it's a preemptive strike by the Muskrat to try to keep Pickering from becoming a campaign issue.

I've been wrong before, though...

[wardaddy]

I've been wrong before, though

No way.... ;>)

[wardaddy]

BOURBON JUST PASSED THE MISSISSIPPI BAR!!!!!


I thought it needed public attention.

CONGRATS!

[WKB]

I've been wrong before, though

No way.... ;>)


I have been here almost 5 years more if you count lurking amd I can't remeber one time she's been wrong.