Judge Charles Pickering Pushed as Lott Replacement

[Purveyor]

Source: US News & World Report

In a longshot campaign to use Sen. Trent Lott's retirement as a slap to Democrats, Bush allies are pushing for Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to choose retired federal Judge Charles Pickering, rejected by Democrats for higher office, as Lott's replacement in the Senate.

"It would be the biggest in-your-face move if it happened," said one proponent of the move. Pickering was nominated for a federal appeals court post in 2002 but was blocked, in part because of his antiabortion position as well as charges of racial insensitivity. He was renominated and given a recess appointment but eventually withdrew his name.

Proponents of picking Pickering, 70, say it would also help to revive the issue of the role of judges and presidential preferences on the eve of the 2008 presidential race.


Read more: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2007/11/27/pickering-pushed-as-lott-replacement.html

[Robbien]

1. Everything about GOPers has to do with winning

or getting revenge in those cases where they don't win.

Nasty buggers.

[muntrv]

2. Oh joy!! Another Strom Thurmond supporter to replace Trent Lott!!

[tularetom]

3. i know the senate has nothing to say about this

but it would probably be OK with feinstein.

[skipos]

4. "We are going to pick the biggest asshole we can find! Take that Dems!!!"

[NV Whino]

5. Gak!

[peaches2003]

6. Such little vengeful people

Only bigots would have picked Pickering to begin with and they are still at it. And they're talking about Haley Barbour as a good V-P pick.

[Gman]

7. The Republics don't want to go there

only they don't know because they're that stupid.

[jamesinca]

19. Too stupid, they are smart!

SMART is when you believe only half of what you hear. BRILLIANT is when you know which half to believe.

Right wingers are smart, just not brilliant.

[yellowcanine]

8. Bring it on! Why would we not want this? Dems can (rightfully) paint him as a Bush

toady and Bush is under 30%. Plus he is likely a mediocre campaigner (few judges are good at it) and he has a ton of baggage.

[aquart]

11. I know. It's like a pretty little gift.

[McCamy Taylor]

9. He won't get elected in the fall. Bad choice. They need to slip in someone

who plans to run in November and win.

[aquart]

12. Lott has five years to go, I heard.

Is this an appointment to finish the term, or hold the job until a special election to fill out the term can be held? Because if Lott isn't scheduled to run in 2008, is the other senator from Mississippi?

I don't know Mississippi law.

[MaineDem]

13. I believe it's Federal Law

The Governor can appoint someone to serve only until the next regular election.

However, Mississippi is more strict I've read. If a Senator resigns in an off-election year, they are to hold a special election within 90 days. This is contentious now. The GOP doesn't want the special.

[aquart]

10. Eeeewwwww.

Of course, the issue of judges and presidential preferences might not be the best place for them to go.

So by all means, gentlemen, put the rejected little creep into play.

[LiberalFighter]

14. Revive the issue of the role of judges and presidential preferences?

Bunch of ignorant nutcases. The Constitution does not give the President carte blance to appoint at will. He doesn't even get to name his VP replacement automatically.

[Thothmes]

15. He does get to name his VP replacement

But it takes both the Senate and the House to vote on the replacement.

[LiberalFighter]

18. I know that! And why I added automatically.

[Doctor_J]

16. Perfect. Pickering would be a great poster boy for the GOP

going into Nov 08.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. I have forgotten much about pickering, and not sure I want to remember

His name leaves a bad taste in my mouth, with something about his confirmation hearing ? ? ? or organizations he belongs to sexist, racist or both?