General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOn the Federal Courts
" Mr. Sessions' conduct as a U.S. Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference towards criminal violations of civil rights laws , indicated that he lacks the temperament, fairness, and judgment to be a federal judge."
-- Coretta Scott King
Many forum members will recall Sessions from his serving as the felon's Attorney General until he resigned in November of 2018. My favorite memory of this period is found on the below film clip, where Al Franken was questioning Jeff:
It came as no surprise that Sessons was a liar, for his history was filled with dishonesty. In 1986, his willingness to serve as a racist scumbag led Ronald Reagan to nominate him for the federal bench. Mrs. King wrote a detailed letter to the Judiciary Committee, in which she noted, along with the above quote, that, "Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters."
Four DOJ lawyers who had served with Sessions testified that he frequently used racially offensive comments. He called one of them "boy," and said he thought the KKK was okay until he learned they smoked pot. The Committe then voted 10 to 8 against sending his nomination to the full Senate.
Note: In what was clearly a case of retaliation, one of the US attornies who testified against Sessions was charged in 1992 for "attempting to bribe a witness." Sessions was the US Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama at the time of the prosecution. The black attorney, was acquitted. He said he knew Sessions was behind the false charge.
I say this in part to remind people that Sessions was considered one of the "guardrails" in the felon's administration. Also, to focus on the type of weasels that the felon put on the federal bench in his first term. The felon owed his election victory in large part to the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society, two pits of christian nationalist conservative groups. Their agenda was to place as many of their ilk onto the federal benches as possible. They had two individuals who would assist the felon in promoting these groups' choices.
The first was Sessions, and the second was Mitch McConnell. They began to put their agenda in motion shortly after McConnell had blocked President Obama's USSC nominee Merrick Garland. Both Sessions -- for less time, of course -- and McConnell worked with the felon even after coming to despise him. We know the felon was able to pack the USSC with ultra conservative christian zealots. It is essential to recognize he also appoint the same types at other levels, including Aileen Cannon at the trial level. But there was much more of a focus on stacking the mid-level of federal appeals courts.
I've said all of that, to say this: It's three weeks until the election. There is a heck of a lot at stake. The White House, Senate, and House, of course. But also the federal courts. So keep your eyes on the prize, and do your best to elect Democrats.
Thank you!
H2O Man
ShazzieB
(18,910 posts)He was named for not 1 but 2 Confederate notables: Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America; and General P.G.T. Beauregard, who started the American Civil War at the battle of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Charming.
H2O Man
(75,771 posts)When I hear people say that we were lucky the felon was too stupid to do the amount of damage a more capable president might have, I always think that they are forgetting the assistance he had in harming the federal courts. It wasn't because he had any particular values, it was simply to maintain those people's support. And I think Sessions is a good example of what a severely flawed, yet capable type of shit stain on the fabric of America the felon attracts.
Saoirse9
(3,823 posts)He left a lasting stain on the DOJ, which spread out even more when Barr replaced him.
That silly looking racist should be in jail, as should Barr.
When professional liars are in charge of justice we are in trouble.
I miss Al Franken!
We have our mail in ballots, which we always hand carry to the vote tabulating center. We're ready.
H2O Man
(75,771 posts)I remember my father saying that republicans -- and this includes those behind the scenes -- often use "lightning rods." One example I remember was James Watt, Reagan's secretary of the interior. Dad said that Watt was tasked with saying or doing something outrageous, to distract the media's and public's attention for something far worse the administration was doing.
In my past few OPs, I've been stressing that we aren't simply going against the felon and his merry band of supporters. There are individuals and groups with a dark agenda. This includes the severe damage they have done since the 1990s to all three branches of the federal government with Newt's "contract on America.
malaise
(278,668 posts)The Southern racists and Xtian nationalists are a huge part of this mess.
Vote them out
Vote every one of them out of office.