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Sessions to replace Specter on Judiciary

Posted: Monday, May 04, 2009 1:08 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Ken Strickland and Mark Murray
According to Capitol Hill sources, it appears that Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions will become the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee -- after former ranking member Arlen Specter switched parties.

However, before this becomes official, it's subject to a vote among Judiciary Committee Republicans, as well as the Senate GOP caucus.

But Sessions taking the top Republican spot on the panel always seemed to be the most likely outcome. Orrin Hatch has the most seniority, but he's term-limited after previously heading up the committee. Jon Kyl would have to give up his leadership post. And Chuck Grassley would have to give up his ranking status at the Finance Committee.

Interestingly, Sessions saw his own appointment as a federal judge fall apart in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 1980s, after Democrats attacked him for his insensitivity on racial matters, as well as prosecuting vote fraud.

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As the world turns. Sometims one's stomach churns. If Sessions is all they got than, well, you know, he should be the ranking minority member on the committee. Sad, that such a bigot can rise to such heights.
SESSIONS A GOOD CHOICE --- HE REMEMBERS HOW THE SLIME-O-CRAT DEMOCRATS SABOTAGED HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE PAST --- WE NEED REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHO HAVE THE "FIRE IN THE BELLY" TO USE THE SLIME-O-CRATS TACTICS AGAINST THEM.

THANKFULLY WE ARE RID OF ARLENE SPECTER.
FR: Interestingly, Sessions saw his own appointment as a federal judge fall apart in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 1980s, after Democrats attacked him for his insensitivity on racial matters, as well as prosecuting vote fraud.

==============

Imagine that, someone that believed voter fraud was a problem and tried to do something about it. That is defintely not a Democratic ideal, and that also means Sessions won't be switching parties anytime soon.
'...His most notable effort was prosecuting three civil rights workers, including a former aide to Martin Luther King Jr., on trumped up charges of voter fraud....'

Sounds like the ACORN accusiations, today !!


'... he referred to a white attorney as a "disgrace to his race" for litigating voting rights cases on behalf of African Americans...'

'..."used to think they [the Klan] were OK" until he found out some of them were "pot smokers."...'

OH NOOOOO !!
Not POTHEADS !!

'...having heard Sessions call him "boy," and once warned him to "be careful what you say to white folks."...'

and NOW a 'boy' is PRESIDENT !!



From Washington Monthly:

'...In 2002, The New Republic ran a rather devastating piece about Sessions' background, most notably with regards to the Alabama Republican's background on race relations.

Sessions got his start in Alabama politics as a U.S. Attorney. His most notable effort was prosecuting three civil rights workers, including a former aide to Martin Luther King Jr., on trumped up charges of voter fraud.

Also during his illustrious career in Alabama, Sessions called the NAACP "un-American" because it, among others, "forced civil rights down the throats of people." A former career Justice Department official who worked with Sessions recalled an instance when he referred to a white attorney as a "disgrace to his race" for litigating voting rights cases on behalf of African Americans. Sessions later acknowledged having made many of the controversial remarks attributed to him, but he had been joking. Yeah, "disgrace to his race" is hilarious.

That's not all. Thomas Figures, a former assistant U.S. Attorney in Alabama and an African American, later explained that during a 1981 murder investigation involving the Ku Klux Klan, Sessions was heard by several colleagues commenting that he "used to think they [the Klan] were OK" until he found out some of them were "pot smokers." Sessions once again acknowledged making the remark, but once again claimed to have been kidding. Figures also remembered having heard Sessions call him "boy," and once warned him to "be careful what you say to white folks."

All of this came to light when Reagan nominated Sessions to a federal court judge. The Senate ultimately rejected the nomination, labeling Sessions an extremist. Regrettably, Alabama voters weren't troubled by his record in the slightest, and Sessions successfully ran for the Senate.

Now, he'll be the ranking member of the same Judiciary Committee that rejected him for being an apparent racist.

Digby added, "Making [Sessions] the ranking member today means the Republicans will put their ugliest face forward during judicial confirmation hearings. But hey, it's their long, ongoing funeral."...'




The NEW FACE of the Republican Party !!

Sessions Sounds like a REAL MAVERICK !!!
On Judicial nominees

From ThinkProgress:


'...Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
"Since the founding of the Republic, we have understood that there was a two-thirds supermajority for ratification and advice and consent on treaties and a majority vote for judges. That is what we have done. That is what we have always done. But there was a conscious decision on behalf of the leadership, unfortunately, of the Democratic Party in the last Congress to systematically filibuster some of the best nominees ever submitted to the Senate. It has been very painful." [Senate Floor Speech, 5/23/05]...'

Interestingly, Sessions saw his own appointment as a federal judge fall apart in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 1980s, after Democrats attacked him for his insensitivity on racial matters, as well as prosecuting vote fraud.


I didn't vote for this peice of crap in Alabama. Voter fraud in this state ran amuck during the last two Republican Presidential races.

He is insensitive on racial matters. The only reason his ass is still representing this state is because of the redistricting of polling ares in this state and that is something that the Attorney Generals office need to investigate. I am confident that it will happen and soon.
I'm from Alabama and don't want Sessions who is a major busshy.  I also don't want Specter to win reelection as a democrat.  If Specter wants to call himself a democrat he had better start voting like one.  I hope the people of PA see thru this farce.  
Man, I can see the Republicans really are trying to open up the party to all races, huh?
You would like to think the GOP would hide this guy, not put him out for all to see his obvious racism, but this may be the plan of the future.

The new names for the old KKK and American Nazi Party may have changed, but the numbers of these hate groups are growing at an alarming rate. Many new members are yearning for a fight and with the amount of gun sales in the past three months, they have the firepower to go with their lack of wisdom.

This is the new look of Republicans - extreme and dangerous...
WOW!!! I find this very interesting that this is coming to fruition, especially since the GOP embarked this past weekend on this "Council for a New America" Tour, that they would look to elevate to a leadership position, a man who has proven to be one of the most racially divisive people in their party.

So I guess this is what they mean when they say they want to build a New America, they want to take us back to the Jim Crow days of the 30's-60's.  

You would think that this country as moved towards being a fair-minded place, but alas, if it looks like a dick, walks like a duck and talks like a duck....
the world turns. Sometims one's stomach churns. If Sessions is all they got than, well, you know, he should be the ranking minority member on the committee. Sad, that such a bigot can rise to such heights.
eagle1776 (Sent Monday, May 04, 2009 1:17 PM)

*****************************************************

WTF IS BYRD??????????YOU REMEMBER HIM DONT YOU....THEY ARE STILL ROLLING HIM AROUND THE SENATE TODAY......MMMM SUCH A GRAND DRAGON.....
sessions is a closet racists that big banking bought his soul a long time ago. anyone that thinks he is a good choice is an empty oyster that lives in a bubble empty of facts. in other words just plan stupid, ignorant, prejudice and partisan hacks could ever support sessions. this man would lie to himself. people need to read, study and research before they say stupid sh_t like he would be a good choice.
The South has a long long way to go, but it has made some inroads....even in this historic election of last November.  As crazy as this sounds, I am also for a two-party system, but a system like when I was growing up where everyone respected each other....even though they were on political book-ends.

Senator Sessions is not a surprise.


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