Southwick approved by Judiciary Committee ('thanks' to Feinstein)

Southwick approved by Judiciary Committee

With the help of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Ca.), appellate court nominee Leslie Southwick won approval Thursday from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He was passed out of the committee on a 10-9 vote, giving Republicans a victory in what had become an increasingly bitter struggle over the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals seat in Mississippi.

Feinstein rejected objections from her fellow Democrats and liberal advocacy groups about his concurrence on several controversial civil and gay rights cases as a Mississippi Court of Appeals judge.

Through her conversations with Southwick, "what emerged was an appreciation on my part that Judge Southwick was a qualified, circumspect nominee," Feinstein said. "I don’t believe he is a racist. I believe he made a mistake. The question is does one ever overcome a mistake. Perhaps some do. I believe he is a good person."

Critics also argued that President Bush should appoint an African American judge to a federal bench that adjudicates cases in Mississippi, which has the highest percentage of African Americans in the country. Southwick is a white male.

“When viewed against his record on the bench, the importance of this seat on the 5th Circuit, and the troubling lack of diversity on that court, I am not convinced that he is the right nominee for this vacancy at this time,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the committee chairman, who voted against the nomination.

more... (and I know all about the source, but it's the first one I saw)

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0807/Southwick_approved_by_Judiciary_Committee.html

just what government needs....more people that make "mistakes"

and "policy failures" and "misspoke"

9 Democrats on this vote, and why she voted with republicans.

They got us again.

Democratic because that's the only way to keep evil judges off the bench?

I voted for Feistein. Three times, if I'm not mistaken. Right now, I'm feeling like a schmuck for doing so.

It's now open for the right Old Girls, too.

Thanks for nothing Feinstein. Oh, and I'll bet she was severely chastised by "the leadership."

Disgusting. Thanks for informing us of this.

Dianne Feinstein --

around here can see why I absolutely WOULD NOT vote for her the last time around. Unfortunately, she's got 5-1/2 more years to go on her term. By then she'll be 78 and maybe, just MAYBE she won't run again and we'll have a chance for a REAL Democrat.

The fact that she votes the "right way" when it will do no good, and thus manipulates the grading organizations in order to claim liberal status and maintain her seat.

She embodies all that is wrong with the Democratic Party.

she's a disgrace.

years. Cindy Sheehan should be running against her instead of Pelosi.