Sessions to lead GOP fight on court nomination

[IDemo]

Source: Associated Press

updated 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Republicans are set to name conservative Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama as their point man on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, signaling that they won't shy away from a protracted fight despite risks of being cast as obstructionist.

Sessions' ascension as the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee comes more than 20 years after the panel rejected him for his own federal judgeship during the Reagan administration over concerns that he was hostile toward civil rights and was racially insensitive.

In an oddity that epitomizes the typically political Washington, Sessions would replace Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, a moderate who was one of just two Republicans in 1986 to oppose Sessions as a U.S. district court judge. Specter left the GOP last week to become a Democrat, creating the vacancy atop the committee just as Justice David Souter announced his retirement.

Sessions excites conservatives
The choice of Sessions has excited conservatives who see him as a sharp lawyer with well-established legal views after a career as a prosecutor and Alabama attorney general.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30577688/

[tsuki]

1. The Party of NO before the event. Cute. nt

[ima_sinnic]

2. so they don't even know who the nominee will be yet, but are already planning to oppose him or her?

these assholes can't fade away fast enough.

[Gman]

3. So they don't even know who the nominee will be and they already say who will lead the fight

how messed up is that?

Their strategy for 10 is turning out to be geared toward stirring up the base. They are trying to get more of the 30% involved and out to vote. They are living in a political vacuum.

[pattmarty]

7. Yeah, "crazy" ain't it? The really funny thing is that 30% is still 30%.

I guess you theoretically could win an election (maybe in Europe) with 30% of the vote, but if they end up doing it here, then sign me up. I'll become a "believer" of Jesus, in miracles, and a lifelong republican.

[jaxx]

4. Ironic that a racist will go against a black presidents choice for SOTUS

And wrong in my view.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Ready to do battle with no one even offered as a nominee - Way to go, dipshits.

Fuck the GOP and all their stupid members.

I hate them more and more every day.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Didn't even wait to hear the name before opposing the nomination?...

:eyes:

[pattmarty]

8. What I think the Dems have to do here is paint this guy as a..............

........."racist" (albeit in soft rhetoric), hammer home the point that he was rejected for a federal judgeship for extremist views and maybe this will negate this pricks influence.

[Dr.Phool]

9. Marginalize the fuck out of him.

He looks and sounds like Henry Gibson from the old Laugh-in series.

[pattmarty]

11. You got it, my man (woman?)!!!!

[The Stranger]

10. Yet the fucking Democrats rolled over and let Chimper Rouge pack the Court to last for decades.

[msongs]

12. so how fast will the dems cave? with Arlen Specter the trojan horse leading the way? nt

[Zambero]

13. The GOP's Pup Tent strategy

Everyone knows the GOP is no longer a "big tent". The selection of Sessions to be Mister "NO" will further marginalize the party. In its quest for "ideas", the GOP needs to go back for another round of pizza & beer, and ponder the question: Can a political party that is losing ground in all sections of the country except for the deep South expect to make up for these losses by unleashing an uncompromising right-winger from Alabama as it's chief obstructionist? Time will tell, but I think the answer is quite apparent!

[MissMillie]

14. The magic number for court confirmation is "51" right?

They really want to expend energy on a fight they can't win?

[No Elephants]

15. Historically, no fillibusters of court nominees, although the Pubs claim 1 occurred. However, I

think they are going to fillibuster anyway. So, the magic number may be 60 after all.

Wonder how the Blue Dogs will vote?

[radfringe]

16. anyone surprised that NOPers would oppose court nominations?

anyone remember the "UP-DOWN vote" blather during the bush years?

[hayu_lol]

17. The Repugnants are almost certainly to ...

go to the mattresses over any nominee who is only slightly left of Atilla The Hun.

We have enough clowns on our side of the aisle to help them win this one. The Trojan Horse will not vote for our nominee.

[No Elephants]

18. Isn't EVERY Senate vote an up or down vote, morans?

[No Elephants]

19. Talk about bad faith. The Democrats need to be all over the media, pointing out how the

Pubs are gearing up to fight the nominee even before anyone knows who he or she is going to be.

These are ethically bankrupt, shameful people who have less than zero regard for the nation.

[myrna minx]

20. Ah, so prior to knowing who will be nominated, they are already opposing the

nomination. Brilliant strategy from the regional party of "no".

[jpak]

21. "Sessions has excited conservatives" because he appeals to their racist southern dumbass base

disclaimer - not a swipe at southerners - just these assholes

[mvd]

22. And the GOP will self-destruct once again

As the article noted, this move isn't going to win over moderates.

[JayMusgrove]

23. You all DO KNOW SESSIONS' personal history, don't you??? That he

was TURNED DOWN FOR A FEDERAL JUDGESHIP IN THE REAGAN YEARS????? THE REAGAN YEARS!!!

See Rachel Maddow video here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x307875

[TheCowsCameHome]

24. Now THAT is interesting.

Sessions may well be marginalized, with good cause.

[yellowcanine]

25. By telegraphing their intentions Repubs have lost the PR war already.

They should have kept their powder dry at least until a nominee was announced. By jumping the gun they look like obstructionists of a popular president acting within his constitutional authority. Pubs are dead in the water strategy wise.