I'm pretty sure that's what the UN told an arrogant Shrub when last he went in front of them. This is Shrub's latest preemptive, unilateral invasion --- of the US Courts...of course this guy's a racist so what's Shrubbery to do?
sfgate.com
Democratic presidential candidates assailed President Bush's decision to bypass Congress and appoint Charles W. Pickering to the federal appeals court, calling it a threat to civil rights and the "ultimate hypocrisy" after Bush's visit to the grave site of Martin Luther King Jr.
Democrats had accused the Mississippi judge of supporting segregation as a young man, and pushing anti-abortion and anti-voting rights views as a state lawmaker. Pickering has strongly denied allegations of racial insensitivity.
By naming Pickering to the court with Congress is out of session, Bush avoids the Senate confirmation process, where Democrats have bottled up the nomination for two years. But it gave new life to a politically volatile issue, especially in the South.
Calling the move "reckless, irresponsible and wrong," Wesley Clark said Bush's decision went against the recommendations of hundreds of civil rights organizations.
"By appointing Charles Pickering to the court, the Bush administration is continuing its assault on our most fundamental civil rights," Clark said in a statement. "Judge Pickering has an unforgivably dismal record on important civil rights issues."
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean condemned the timing of the appointment, just one day after Bush visited the grave site of the slain civil rights leader. The nation marks the anniversary of King's birth on Monday.
"I think the president's appointment of Charles Pickering to a recess appointment is an ultimate hypocrisy," Dean said while campaigning in Iowa. "Yesterday he went and saluted Dr. King's birthday. Today he appoints a racist to the Supreme Court."
Dean immediately corrected himself, saying he meant to say the federal bench, not the Supreme Court.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who has voted to block Pickering's appointment, also questioned Pickering's commitment to civil rights.
"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," Edwards said in a statement. "This is a judge who regularly put his personal views above the law in civil rights cases."
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman called the move divisive and said it showed a "lack of respect for the judicial approval process."
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry accused Bush of "ignoring the will of the people and threatening civil rights on behalf of right-wing ideologues," while Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt said the president "has again displayed his willingness to side with the most extreme right-wing elements in the appointment of controversial federal judges." |
