Bush Names Pickering To Federal Appeals Court

[Loonman]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?p1=0

No story yet, just headline

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Charles Pickering?

Wasn't he part of the S&L scandal in 1989?

[KamaAina]

19. That was Charles *Keating*. Pickering's a bigot, not a crook.

well, at least not that I know of :evilgrin:

[RandomKoolzip]

Yeah, sorry...I'll do a google search first next time....

I knew I had the wrong guy... Oops!

[goobergunch]

2. BOO!

We filibuster Pickering, so he pokes him in to avoid the Senate. :puke: :puke: :puke:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. payback for them damn liberal colored folks protesting yesterday at MLK

graveside.....bush* is too damn evil....is this reversable in the next congress?...there has to be a clause somewhere that allows a recess fed judge appointmwent to be challenged'''from the back of the bus to being blocked by the bus to being rolled over by the bus

[MoonAndSun]

6. All of the Dems need to stand in front a camera wherever they are at

and condemn this ASAP!!

Of course bush* did it because he was so mad that he was actually booed, and by AA's. He is a petty and vindictive jackass and I can see him laughing his ass off when he released this info.

[Frodo]

9. That could be a mistake.

Unless they did the same thing for Clinton?

Otherwise... let's just set up an empty microphone stand and wait for all the Republicans to stand against it on "principle" and wonder aloud where they are?

[GinaMaria]

57. Love the microphone idea

the media image is worth a thousand words.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

13. Let's not forget

however mad we may be over this, that President Clinton also used the recess appointment tactic. The appointment of Bill Lann Lee to head the Justice Dept.'s civil rights division comes immediately to mind.

[RandomKoolzip]

20. YEAH, WE KNOW.

Pickering is a racist bastard, unlike Clinton's appointee. It's not the process I'm angry about (although it is sneaky...)

[jsw_81]

25. CLINTON NEVER BYPASSED THE SENATE ON JUDGES

This is absolutely unprecedented. Yet another segregationist Republican gets on the bench.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

29. Not exactly, mon ami

President Clinton DID make a recess appointment for a federal bench. Roger Gregory was put on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2000.

[wryter2000]

32. Clinton

Did Clinton put in someone who had, for all intents and purposes, been rejected already?

[Frodo]

31. Come on! (translation "baloney")

December 27, 2000

Today, President Clinton appointed Roger Gregory to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit


First hit on google.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

33. Um, OK

What's your point. You've lost me.

I was merely pointing out, for the sake of complete accuracy, which we never get from the Thugs, that in fact Clinton did make a recess appoinment of a judge, and thus Shrub's action isn't, as you said, unprecedented.

Our criticism carry so much more weight when we have accurate facts on our side.

[conservdem]

85. Good points.

[LibInternationalist]

91. Clinton's appointment had not been previously rejected

and was later condoned by the state's two (Republican) senators

[jsw_81]

37. There's a big difference

President Clinton appointed an African-American nominee who had been repeatedly blocked by closet segregationist Republicans like Lott, Thurmond and Helms. They wouldn't even let him out of committee! And unlike Bush, Clinton had actually been elected president. Twice.

[westman]

81. So it's OK to make a recess appointment of a non-white?

[GinaMaria]

95. Race baiting much?

It's OK to bypass obstructionist racists in the senate is the point.

[westman]

99. See my other posts--

Pickering has significant non-white support.

[GinaMaria]

105. See your post I replied to

nice dodge /sarcasm

[westman]

106. No dodge,

and no race baiting. Not everything is about race, you know.

[GinaMaria]

107. you brought up race

and you are dodging, but won't own it.

FYI, I'm aware that not everything is about race. Please show me where I've said that everything is about race. Another dodge comment. You make a race baiting comment and feebly attempt to deflect from it.

[beaconess]

36. Clinton DID a recess appointment

to install Roger Gregory, a black judge whom the Republican Senate had blocked, on the Fourth Circuit.

Not unprecedented, but there's a big difference between using the power of the recess appointment to appoint an African-American judge, thereby integrating the previously all-white Fourth Circuit, and recess appointing Charles Pickering, a controversial judge with a horrific record on civil rights.

Big, big difference.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

41. That's all fine

We can use that argument over the quality of the appointments. That's a winner.

But let's not act like we're outraged that Shrub used the recess appointment as if it were some sort of unconstiutional end-run or that this action is somehow unprecedented.

We need to think, in other words. Let's not let our raw emotions cloud our thinking.

[GinaMaria]

49. That doesn't appear to be the case

People here are concerned about a racist on the bench more than how he got there. Read the posts again.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

52. Well, at first

There seemed to be consternation over the concept that the fact that Shrub used it. I've been following the thread since its creation.

Now the arguments against it are following a more rational line.

[GinaMaria]

55. So have I

been following this thread from the start. Most of the posts are about racism.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

58. Fine

I'm not going to argue with you. Democrats spend too much time arguing amongst themselves anyway. :-(

[GinaMaria]

59. You made a claim that was false

what's there for you to argue about anyway?

If "we" spend too much time arguing amongst ourselves, why are you perpetuating it? Or does that only apply to me when I point something out to you. Not something for you to examine yourself about?

[westman]

82. Pickering has some significant

black support.

[Snivi Yllom]

65. JFK made 25 recess appointments

It's not the procedure but the nominee that counts.

[conservdem]

86. More good points.

[Turbo]

104. Please, remind me what Pickering did ....

to earn his reputation as a bigot>

[westman]

80. He's not my choice, but he's not a segregationist.

He has the support of fmr governor Ronnie Musgrove, the head of Mississippi's legislative black caucus, and James Evers, brother of Medgar Evers.

[Skittles]

28. EXCUSE ME

Lee was QUALIFIED; he wasn't a RACIST ASSHOLE like PICKERING.

[Kool Kitty]

45. A racist, anti-choice asshole.

Kinda like W.

[nibbana]

60. Lan Lees appointment pissed off Trent Lott

Cruel hoax on Mrs. King..after yesterdays visit to MJK's grave site..

[benfranklin1776]

24. Yes the recess appointment is temporary.

It lasts until the end of the Senate session which is 2004. If he has not been confirmed by then his appointment expires. Thus when the confirmation is brought up again it can be filibustered and Juniors' action ensures a filibuster.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

39. oh Ben..thank you very much for answering....what big cases are due to be

brought up in his circuit? what does bushco want stopped/blocked? that is my next question

[benfranklin1776]

43. Good question and highly relevant.

There is always some hidden motivation we learn of later. Bears further investigation.

[ewagner]

69. Good Point!

I was so busy being pissed that he put Pickering in on a recess appointment, I forgot to look at WHY this may be so important for him to do at this time.

Sorta reminds me of John Grisham's Pelican Brief (the book not the movie.

[WWW]

71. That is exactly what I thought

We need to find out what is on the docket for Mr. Pickering. Pelican Brief immediately came to my mind. Dockets are public record. Does anyone know the particulars of where Pickering will be seated and what appeals he will be viewing?

[The White Rose]

79. They're expecting the election to be REAL close.

I think you might call this insurance.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

93. exactly "bush expecting close election" pickering is his insurance man

i believe it is the 5th circuit court of appeals.....where is the 5th circuit?

nevermind i found it...it is LA, MI, TX!

[Snivi Yllom]

4. story

The Associated Press
Friday, January 16, 2004; 3:17 PM

WASHINGTON - President Bush installed Charles Pickering on a federal appeals court Friday, bypassing Democrats who had stalled his nomination for more than two years, sources said.

Bush appointed Pickering by a recess appointment which avoids the confirmation process. Such appointments are valid until the next Congress takes office, in this case in January 2005.

[MaineDem]

5. son of a bitch!!!

Sorry, I don't normally swearbut I have now officially been driven over the edge!

[beaconess]

7. The Bush Civil Rights Agenda

Last MLK Day - attack affirmative action
This year - appoint Charles Pickering

Good, Lord, we can't afford another MLK Day with this guy in office.

[goobergunch]

8. That's it. We should filibuster the State of the Union.

And yes, this is doable - they have to pass a resolution to go to the joint session, which is fully debatable.

[slackboy]

10. friday

The fascists always pull this shit on friday afternoons when most folks arent watching

[Rose Siding]

11. He'll get FULL retirement!

and serve until the end of 04. geeze

[goobergunch]

12. ****LINK****

Bush Installs Pickering on Appeals Court
TERENCE HUNT
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - President Bush bypassed Congress and installed Charles Pickering on the federal appeals court Friday, opening an election-year fight with Democrats who had stalled the nomination for more than two years.

Bush installed Pickering by a recess appointment, which avoids the confirmation process. Such appointments are valid until the next Congress takes office, in this case in January 2005.

Pickering, a federal trial judge who Bush nominated for a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, has been waiting for a confirmation vote in the Senate.

more...http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/7728668.htm

[TankLV]

14. Didn't they do this to this same person before?

Or was it another one.

I know he has made recess appointments before.

Just like the repukes used to condemn Clinton for after 7 1/2 years of no action on most of his appointments. Clinton did it once, and the repukes went ballistic. All sorts of threats.

But now that these scumbags are doing it, it's all okie dokie.

Hypocrits.

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

16. Except . . .

>Just like the repukes used to condemn Clinton for after 7 1/2 years of no action on most of his appointments.

Except we applauded Clinton when he did it.

Let us not be the same hypocrites we accuse the Thugs of being.

[GinaMaria]

51. NOne of us

are screaming about the principal of the thing. Blocking a judicial nominee because of his race vs. blocking a nominee because he's a racist. It's the clear dividing line between right and left. No hipocracy in that.

[TankLV]

77. That didn't take long, now did it! El Wrongo, Bigtime!

The fact that the repukes who were screaming when PRESIDENT Clinton did it makes THEM hypocritical. The democrats, by pointing this out, are NOT being hypocritical. It's the repukes, who spent much energy voicing their HATE against PRESIDENT Clinton for doing this, who are being hypocrits in this case. It is the DEMOCRATS who have the moral high ground here. GET THAT THRU YOUR THICK SCULL!

And don't for a split second, think you are one of "us"!

[conservdem]

87. Still more good points.

[dax]

92. Clinton did it to BEAT RACISM, Bush did it to LEGALIZE IT

How can you equate Clinton overiding racist senators to appoint a qualified jurist who had the support of the congress to the bench and Bush appointing a REJECTED radical right wing ideologue who is not qualified-YOU NEED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH on that-during a recess. The public rejection of Pickering was overwhelming and broad-he is against civil rights, women's rights, environmental protection if he could rewrite the constitution and remove the bill of rights from our body of laws he would, he doesn't think any pesky consumers should be able to sue companies who's products kill the list is endless, he is not a conservative he is a revolutionary fascist and can do incredible damage to our country it is not about endruns of process-you diminish the debate with your nitpicking about how it had been done before. This is a conscious assault on our legal system and if we don't get rid of this administration we could lose the system of government we have because Bush Company now controls the congress and the presidency -when I was a kid they told us the Judiciary was a check for balance-guess what-its GONE NOW as we saw with the supremes dancing for Dubya-how can you sleep at night and tweedle through this thread....

[alarimer]

96. but

Was Clinton's appointment already rejected? Pickering was rejected once, then renominated. Bush was determined to get this scumbag in office so he could begin dismantling the law. Clinton's appointments at least were not right wing scumbags.

[Emboldened Chimp]

15. And here's the typical response from Daschle

An obviously surprised Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., informed of the recess appointment by NBC News, said only, “That’s unfortunate.”

What's even more unfortunate is that he's our Minority Leader. :wtf:

[RandomKoolzip]

18. Still waiting for Daschle's testes to drop....

Thanks, Tom, for being such a vigialnt defender of our constitution....

[kysrsoze]

35. I suspect they must know something damaging about him b/c

he hasn't said much at all for awhile. What a puss.

[arcane1]

50. I think Tom is still afraid of more "suspicious envelopes"

I would be too! Who knows what those "anthrax cleaning experts" found when they had the senate offices all to themselves for 2 days? :shrug:

[Democat]

56. Then we wonder why we lose

Daschle has no fight.

[FredScuttle]

75. Why bother Tom?

He's busy enough not kicking Zell Miller's traitor ass out of the Caucus

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

17. Bush took advantage of Jacko coverage and made his move

Apparently the only news in the world today is Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch party to celebrate his appearance in court. It made a nice smokescreen while Bush once again donned the flight suit and went into combat.

They interrupted with the Pickering appointment, and THAT was interrupted by a news conference by Paul Bremer on Iraq.

After Bremer, MSNBC pretty much went back to their in-depth Jacko reporting.

Quotes from Pete Williams, who reported it on MSNBC:

For Bush, this was a "huge expression of displeasure with the process" and "a direct slap at the Congress."

Welcome to the 2004 election. As the saying goes, there are corks popping in Rove's office today.

:toast: :wtf: :toast:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. who are you toasting?

[RandomKoolzip]

22. I think that the toasts indicate what's happening in Rove's office.

n/t

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

30. Correct, I'm not toasting squat

Sarcasm, that's it. The expression "corks popping in Rove's office" has become a standard line that the media uses when the the Bush administration prematurely (with emphasis on Rove, since he's often the puppet master) celebrates the Pat-Robertson-And-God-Sanctioned "2004 Landslide Victory."

Or, as Paul O'Neil put it, when Bush doesn't get his way, he rounds up Rove-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Ashcroft and tells them "find a way to make this happen." We got to experience it in real time, folks. He may have backslid on the "blind man" comments but we have just validated at least a portion of the book.

The toasts were sarcasm for "once again Bush gets what he wants."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

40. oh thanks for the explanation.i get it now..it's hard to see thru my anger

[pintobean]

90. Yes, the timing was too perfect.

Anyone could have predicted the media coverage of the Jackson circus.

[bushisanidiot]

23. The Nose Picker Appoints Pickering. How Appropriate!

blah!

[KamaAina]

26. The complete Pickering record, from People for the American Way

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=4084

For example, Pickering’s record as a judge includes what the NAACP has called a “troubling anti- civil rights pattern” of such conduct as severely criticizing key civil rights principles and disparaging plaintiffs in civil rights cases. Pickering’s rulings in a number of cases involving constitutional and other issues have been reversed by even conservative appellate court judges for violating “well-settled principles of law.” In addition, Pickering has engaged as a judge in what several legal ethics experts called unethical conduct in seeking a more lenient sentence for a defendant convicted in a cross-burning case.

Even longer report here:

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=1207

So typical of Bush* to pull a stunt like this in secret, much like when he appointed that fundie whackjob Hager to a key FDA committee because Bush*co had allowed the committee's charter to lapse. "Every man that doeth evil hateth the light..."

[benfranklin1776]

34. Yep it is typical.

His true nature always shows through. His deeds always betray him. Just yesterday he has his meaningless photo op at Dr. King's gravesite which he invited himself to as a way of supposedly honoring the cause of civil rights, and then he follows up the PR stunt by ramming through an individual with an abominable judicial civil rights record. So his meaningless lip service is once more a cover for a substantive harmful action. Like praising Head Start and After School Programs before cutting the budget for them. Standard MO.

[lazarus]

27. But remember

http://www.newyorker.com/press/content/

"No President has ever done more for human rights than I have." - George W Bush

[wildwww2]

38. Yes, it was the human right of Iraqi`s to be slaughtered in Shock and Awe!

These fascist fart wads telling us again: We loved you so much we just had to kill you. To save you from all the bad things you might do if we don`t take the oil out of your country. I`m so proud that I don`t have any Republican friends. As a matter of fact I consider the words "Republican friends" to be an oxymoron.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[nibbana]

Black Roses for MLK..Then Pickering

Martin Luther is rolling over again..after he puked from yesterdays visit...

[nibbana]

44. Wonder if the insulting bastard * informed Coretta Yesterday

Evil Suck Ass Bastard...What in insult!

[drscm]

42. So one day, he lays a wreath on MLK's grave, and the next day

he pisses on it.

Perfect *Bush...

[AngryAmish]

46. He is a thief.

Crap-loaded shit head.

[beaconess]

47. John Edwards - Pickering Appointment is an "Insult"

Statement Of Senator John Edwards On Appointment Of Charles Pickering


"I questioned Judge Pickering at his hearing, I reviewed his record, and I know Charles Pickering does not belong on the U.S. Court of Appeals. This is a judge who regularly put his personal views above the law in civil rights cases, a judge who violated judicial ethics in order to secure a lower sentence for someone who burned a cross on the lawn of an interracial couple.

"Coming just before Martin Luther King Day, President Bush's appointment of Judge Pickering is an insult to everyone who believes in equal justice and a stark reminder why we need a new President committed to appointing judges who will enforce our civil rights laws."

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/press.asp

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

48. Man, I'm all over Edwards

I'm liking him more and more. :-)

[dad]

63. .

.. until he starts talking about Iraq

[young_at_heart]

61. Hooray for Edwards!

Let's hear from some other candidates....to do this on a Friday afternoon after laying the wreath on MLK's grave is beyond arrogance!

[dusty64]

64. I'm glad he had

something to say, wonder if the other do?

[alarimer]

67. good for Edwards

I'm glad one of our potential nominees is speaking out. I wonder if Bush is counting on gaining a few Senate seats in Nov.? If the GOP does, perhaps Pickering will get approved after all?? Are they planning on stealing enough elections to do that???

[ewagner]

70. Way to go Edwards!

Rational, measured statement.

Excellent.

[Roses_R_Red]

94. You know, hysterics Will get us no where

Before we go off on a flight of freaking out, the entire context of that case should be noted, as it is the only real question on Pickering's resume. Yes, he's conservative, but I think calls of racism are hollow and will be held up for ridicule by anyone with any clue about the facts or the man. African-Americans in Mississippi like Pickering and think he's a fair and honest judge. He fought against the Klan and has the support of Medgar Evers son and the black caucus in Mississippi.

He tried to intercede to make the sentence of a man who drove the car of 5 cross burners more in line with what the other cross burners got. This man did not participate in the burning, aside from driving the car. Now, I agree that he is as guilty as them for this evil act, but he in no way should have gotten a far harsher sentence than the others did. That was the extent of his "judicial violation".

If you're gonna fight a battle, pick it to be on grounds that you have a chance of winning. If this grows into some hysterical media frenzy, then Pickering's record will come out and most people will want to know why he has been stalled in the Senate.

Also, Bill Clinton did the same thing and cries that he did it for an African-American because he was an African-American are bunk and insulting to his nominee. He should have been appointed because he was the best person for the job, not his skin color. If he was held up by the Senate, I doubt that it was solely on the grounds that he was an African-American, but more likely that he was liberal in the eyes of the judicial committee. Making up reasons that you cannot prove will only server to make you look stupid and pandering. To top it off, he was later nominated by Bush when the new congress came into session and was confirmed. So, Bush did nominate and have confirmed, a judge who did what the extremists here applauded Clinton for doing in 2000, further integrate the courts.

http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/new/html/Fri_Dec_29_135529_2000.html

Use facts, not hysteria and hyperbole. You'll win more arguments that way.

[jbm]

97. welcome to DU Roses...

Thanks for the post. I agree with you that we need to base our arguments on sound facts and not hyperbole. I have not personally done any research into Pickering,but I will,and your post has reminded me that I need to start the search with an open mind.

[louis-t]

53. What, do repubs seek out the most evil bastard they can find

and then ram him into a judgeship? 'I know, let's make Saddam an appellate judge. He's an evil fuck. Or how 'bout the kkk grand wizard?'

[West Coast Democrat]

54. He appoints Pickering right before the MLK Holiday Weekend?

Bush* deserves horrendous press over this!

[Clyde39]

62. How insensitive are these people?

Surely Rice and Powell don't feel too happy right now---but, of course they'll defend him.

[Malva Zebrina]

66. I believe that this was done purposefully in order to get even

with the black protestors yesterday and the objections to Bush visiting that grave site as an afterthought while on a fund raising mission. I believe he is that slimey and adolescent minded to do this and gloat about it in private. He is a vengeful prick. He is getting even and showing what he can do to get even because he has the power--He took the power in the first place and that shows he is powerful, in his mind. He does have the power and it is practically unfettered and unopposed.

-he is showing he is the King--and is displaying the power he has over the black people--and doing it out of revenge.

[0007]

88. I do too!

[peterh]

68. Something I find curious and maybe someone….

Can offer insight / an opinion…..

The twit has four nominations blocked and on the shelf, he picks one of the four (I guess really three, Estrada withdrew), why not just go for the gusto and appoint all three? Where WJC had mucho blocked, he also only appointed one. Could there be some unwritten rules here where, fine, you got your one, but don’t cross the line with anymore than that…..and why Pickering over say home state Owens (I think that’s her name) or the gal from Calif.??? I’m guessing that it’s trying to get the most from your one pick and the most bang in ideology may come in the form of Pickering….

Just kinda thinking out loud….

[bain_sidhe]

74. That's why I think it was a direct response

to the protests yesterday. Pickering is THE most bigotted of the lot, AND one of the major arguments against him is that he went around the system to get a lighter sentence for a CROSS-BURNER for gots sakes!

This is just a big 'UP YOURS' to MLK and anybody who ever respected/admired him.

[Roses_R_Red]

100. According to the news

He offered to appoint all of the nominees currently being blocked, but Pickering was the only one to accept. Pundits feel that his age played a part in his acceptance.

I think anyone who says that appointment was done as a way to get back at a few hundred protesters is in serious need of help. This president has yet to show anything but cold calculation in every move that he makes, political or otherwise. He is losing a little of his base because he thinks that his immigration initiative will give him a net gain by capturing more hispanic voters, especially in Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

But, back to the subject at hand. Again, I reiterate, Pickering is not that bad, albeit a conservative. He fought the Klan in Mississippi, African-Americans in that circuit want him confirmed to the bench. The only people who dislike him are a handful of extreme partisans in the senate who have lost power through their own ineptness and they are taking every opportunity to unfairly criticize him. Had Pickering cleared committee when the democrats had the majority, he would have been narrowly confirmed. For some reason, maybe an unfounded fear that abortion will somehow be repealed, these judges are not getting a vote.

I'm sorry, but had they cleared committee when the democrats had the majority, then they could have been given the up or down vote and we could move on with the business of the country. Instead, they (the democrats) chose to roll the dice, hoping to regain the majority in 2002, and now they have been forced into uncharted territory. It's making everyone look bad on both sides of the isle.

My question is, if the republicans gain seats in the senate in 2004, which is being predicted, and Bush is re-elected, will the filibusters continue? What if it goes to the extreme, like 57-43, with the conservative democrats having retired or been replaced?

If that happens, things could get ugly. With almost a filibuster proof senate, Bush will be able to appoint very conservative judges and only the most extreme will be voted down. Better to have given the 4 current nominees a vote and kept a few seats to prevent cloture on the more conservative ones that may follow in the next round.

I think Tom Daschle is rolling the dice again and it may prove to cause what he fears the most. He may have been better off to cut his losses and saved face.

[F-5]

72. Just what we need...

another redneck, hateful, racist, anti-choice, son-of-a-bitch serving in a position of power in the government. :grr: :grr: :grr:

[dicknbush]

73. NOW IS OUR CHANCE TO CATCH THE HYPOCRITES SUCH AS BOB JONES AND INHOFE

http://www.worldmag.com/world/issue/12-25-99/national_1.asp

Playing during recess


Will Clinton sneak in controversial nominees?
By Bob Jones IV
When the cats are away, the mouse will ... circumvent the Constitution.

At least, that's the fear of Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.). He led 16 of his Republican colleagues in warning the president against trying to sneak in any controversial nominees while senators are home enjoying the holidays. Mr. Inhofe promised that any such "recess appointments" would lead to a complete shutdown in the confirmation process when Congress returns on January 24.

The Clinton-Inhofe tension is nothing new. The senator was one of the leading critics last year when President Clinton used a recess appointment to install Bill Lan Lee as acting assistant attorney general for civil rights, even though the Senate Judiciary Committee had specifically rejected the nomination. Then, with Congress in recess for just five days in June, the president appointed gay activist James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg.

For Mr. Inhofe, that was the last straw. Using a parliamentary tactic known as a "hold," he blocked action on all of the administration's civilian nominees. After the president promised to notify the Senate leadership of any future recess appointments in advance, Mr. Inhofe removed his holds, allowing several new judges to take their places on the bench.

[peacetalksforall]

76. Count the hours

between the day-time-minute that he was booed and the day-time-minute he appointed Pickering. We had 76-1, now we have 1-1 plus or minus some minutes. Our Resident Table-Dancer moved r e a l fast.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

78. The NAACP's paper trail on Pickering and the depth of Bush's insult

When you do a little research on the NAACP's efforts to prevent Charles Pickering from moving up the judicial ladder, Bush's MLK visit becomes a mind-numbing, chilling display of arrogance. He must have felt more powerful than his "Favorite Philosopher" as he stood in Atlanta with full knowledge of the story that would hit today's news.

The NAACP has four separate press releases on Pickering:

1/9/03: http://www.naacp.org/news/releases/pickering01903.shtml

12/17/02 (the Trent Lott BET Interview mess, his apology, and the notation that "Thirty-four years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, Lott admits he did some good"...Lott is denounced for his support of Pickering): http://www.naacp.org/news/releases/lottapology121702.shtml

3/6/02: http://www.naacp.org/news/releases/pickering03602.shtml

2/16/02: http://www.naacp.org/news/releases/pickering021902.shtml

and a 3/11/02 NAACP "Action Alert" (sample: "Charles Pickering's record of hostility to civil rights is particularly troubling in the context of the circuit to which he has been nominated for a lifetime judgeship")
with contact info for the Senate, House of Representatives, a sample letter, and a detailed list of objections: http://www.naacp.org/work/washington_bureau/OppositionJudgePickering031102.shtml

[Roses_R_Red]

101. Well, Using the NAACP As A Source

For political information is probably not all that trustworthy, no offense to the NAACP. They probably put even more spin on their information that NewsMax. How do they reconcile the fact that the African-Americans in Mississippi want Pickering confirmed? How do they address the fact that Medgar Evers' son wants Pickering confirmed. Those are pretty big issues to overcome when you are trying to paint a man as a racist and segregationist.

It's time that the racist accusation is only used for true racists. They more it is used, especially against non-racists that are disliked for other reason, the less meaning the word carries. It has gotten so that whenever someone challenges or denies something to a minority, everyone waits for someone to level the racist charge, earned or not. It's also hard to reconcile calling someone a racist while Robert Byrd is still in the senate and was once the majority leader. Come on, the man was in the KKK. I grow weary of that charge being leveled against someone just because the accuser doesn't agree with them or their politics.

[Dulcinea]

83. Boy George owes the fundies, big time.

He has to do this, or the Falwell/Robertson disciples will stay home in November. He knows he's sunk without them.

[muchacho]

84. Bush Seats Judge, Bypassing Senate Democrats NYT

By NEIL A. LEWIS

Published: January 17, 2004

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 — President Bush on Friday used the Congressional recess to install Charles W. Pickering Sr. in a federal appeals court seat from which he had been blocked twice by the Senate because of Democratic opposition.

In using a president's power to make appointments during Congressional recesses to fill vacancies, Mr. Bush was able to skirt the Senate confirmation process, which Democrats have used for three years to block not only the Pickering nomination but also those of several other Bush judicial nominees.

In a statement announcing the appointment, the president said, "Today I was proud to exercise my constitutional authority to appoint Judge Charles W. Pickering to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit."

Mr. Bush said he had been forced to do so because "a minority of Democratic senators has been using unprecedented obstructionist tactics to prevent him and other qualified individuals from receiving up-or-down votes."

"Their tactics," he added, "are inconsistent with the Senate's constitutional responsibility and are hurting our judicial system."

Judge Pickering, 66, has served on the Federal District Court in Hattiesburg, Miss., for more than 13 years. Under the Constitution, his new appointment to the Fifth Circuit court, based in New Orleans, lasts until the end of the next Senate session, which is expected to conclude around October, unless he is confirmed by the Senate in the meantime. That prospect is unlikely.

The Pickering episode is the latest chapter in a long-running war between Republicans and Democrats over judicial nominations. During the 1990's, a Republican-controlled Senate rejected by vote or procedure 114 of President Bill Clinton's nominees to the bench.

Beyond the Senate battlefield, the new appointment could also have repercussions on a second front, in the coming national elections.

The debate over the nomination had centered on Judge Pickering's civil rights record as a Mississippi lawyer, state lawmaker and federal judge over the course of decades. Democrats, including several presidential candidates, have portrayed him as insensitive to racial issues, and were quick to charge on Friday that the recess appointment, only three days before the Martin Luther King holiday, demonstrated Mr. Bush's own indifference to civil rights.

"By circumventing the Senate to recess-appoint Charles Pickering," said the Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, "the president has confirmed that he has no interest in working in a bipartisan manner to appoint moderate judges who will uphold the law."

Mr. Daschle added that "by taking this step on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the president has shown a shocking disregard for the spirit of the holiday and has betrayed his own words of tolerance."

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/17/politics/17JUDG.html

[0007]

89. This is in retaliation for being put down by Edward Kennedy

the other day. And being booed at MLK's memorial.

junior has no class.

No biggy we'll get junior and his cabal, 'tis just a matter of time.

[demgrrrll]

98. Someone at Bartcop posted that the King family "reluctantly" allowed

Bush to accompany them to the memorial after offering an initial refusal. Does anyone have any other information on this issue?

[Cannikin]

102. Pickering: Concerns about his handling of hate crimes, anti-gay position

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=113&topic_id=5344

[demgrrrll]

103. The Arizona Sun reported that Bush invited himself and Coretta Scott

King did not refuse, but also noted that she is opposed to the war in Iraq. The thing that frosts me is that you have to dig for this kind
of information. I bet the cable and local news did not report that he was not invited.