Sat Dec 24, 2016, 09:20 AM

JHan (10,173 posts)

Don't fight the wrong battle on Sessions.

In Trump's horror show of nominees/picks, Sessions is the one who frightens me the most.

Democrats need to aggressively block his nomination using the right tactics.

We're already familiar with his racism, and while important, Jennifer Rubin notes:

Confirmation hearings have two audiences — the Senate (which must confirm) and members of the base (who want to see that their team is fighting for core beliefs). Highlighting past statements on race may satisfy the latter, but the vast majority of senators will not hold comments from 30 years ago against Sessions. Given how readily the country discounted Donald Trump’s comments from the campaign, there is reason to believe words have limited effect in the confirmation setting. There are, however, a few issues that Democrats might raise that will not only appeal to their base but also rattle Republicans.

Sessions supports civil asset forfeiture ,"a practice that allows law enforcement officers to take property when there is simply a suspected link to criminal activity" , he also wishes to further criminalize harmless recreational drug use, he will do nothing about police brutality and criminal justice reform, he has demonstrated a disregard for first amendment principles throughout his political career and he is in favor of expanding mass surveillance capabilities - he's also anti-encryption.

This is not a man who can be trusted to protect our civil liberties.

We have to hold him to the fire.

Whether you're in a red state or blue, call Senators and demand they block this nomination.

"Sessions’s current positions and intentions to enact extreme anti-immigrant measures that trample on civil liberties are much better targets for those seeking to defeat him. Moreover, it might be educational for Americans to learn just how extreme the new administration’s positions may be."

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11 replies	Author	Time	Post
Don't fight the wrong battle on Sessions. (Original post)	JHan	Dec 2016	OP
On top of all of the above criticisms, he is as dumb as a rock. nt	ladjf	Dec 2016	#1
That misses the entire point of the article	oberliner	Dec 2016	#2
Yes but also it will challenge the Republicans to vote on principle.	JHan	Dec 2016	#3
Good point	oberliner	Dec 2016	#4
I think so too & it will be more confirmation that the Republicans are fine with authoritarianism.	JHan	Dec 2016	#5
I wonder if this is a quixotic battle, given how many senators are probably	bullwinkle428	Dec 2016	#6
True, but Dems can't shirk away from tackling Sessions regardless :	JHan	Dec 2016	#7
I wish it was still 60 votes to confirm	yeoman6987	Dec 2016	#8
Not quite	Brainstormy	Dec 2016	#9
They are all awful, however the role of AG is critical.	JHan	Dec 2016	#10
bump	JHan	Dec 2016	#11

Response to JHan (Original post)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 09:44 AM

ladjf (17,320 posts)

1. On top of all of the above criticisms, he is as dumb as a rock. nt

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Response to ladjf (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 09:51 AM

oberliner (58,724 posts)

2. That misses the entire point of the article

Which is that the only way he will not be confirmed is if Republicans can be convinced not to confirm him.

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Response to oberliner (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 10:20 AM

JHan (10,173 posts)

3. Yes but also it will challenge the Republicans to vote on principle.

If Democrats use the right tactics, and Republicans decide to green-light Sessions anyway it will expose them badly.

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Response to JHan (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 10:23 AM

oberliner (58,724 posts)

4. Good point

Although I have a feeling he will be confirmed rather easily.

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Response to oberliner (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 10:37 AM

JHan (10,173 posts)

5. I think so too & it will be more confirmation that the Republicans are fine with authoritarianism.

Libertarian leaning Repubs won't like it at all.

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Response to JHan (Original post)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 10:52 AM

bullwinkle428 (20,598 posts)

6. I wonder if this is a quixotic battle, given how many senators are probably

reticent about about opposing one of their own.

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Response to bullwinkle428 (Reply #6)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 11:14 AM

JHan (10,173 posts)

7. True, but Dems can't shirk away from tackling Sessions regardless :

We have to put pressure against this appointment because Sessions will be Trump's instrument of authoritarianism.

Jennifer's interrogation guide tackles constitutional freedoms Republicans claim to care about:

How are you proposing to pay for a massive increase in deportations?

Does the threat of loss of federal funds to cities that choose not to prioritize imprisonment of nonviolent drug offenders raise 10th Amendment questions? Wasn’t coercion of the states one of your key objections to Obamacare?

What do you tell the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (a major supporter of Trump) that objects to “a substantial loss of federal funding if Trump makes good on his campaign promise to punish cities who refuse to deploy their law enforcement agencies for the purpose of rounding up and detaining undocumented immigrants for the purpose of deportation”?

To pay for the wall along the southern border, Trump has supported a plan to “impound” remittance payments. How is this constitutional? What would be the economic effect in Mexico and other countries if that was somehow accomplished? Wouldn’t that increase the flow of illegal immigration?

Does he intend to try repealing birthright citizenship by statute? Would you then be criminalizing millions of children born in this country?

Do you intend to deport illegal immigrants who in good faith stepped forward to identify themselves under DACA? Do you oppose legislation that would bar this based on fairness and humanitarian concerns?

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Response to JHan (Original post)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 11:50 AM

yeoman6987 (14,449 posts)

8. I wish it was still 60 votes to confirm

I think except for SOS, they all may be confirmed with 50 votes.

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Response to JHan (Original post)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 11:51 AM

Brainstormy (2,372 posts)

9. Not quite

Being a southerner of a certain age I know there is much to fear from Jeff Sessions. Unfortunately, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I think Trump's picks for Education and Energy are even worse. It's a clusterfuck all the way around.

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Response to Brainstormy (Reply #9)

Sat Dec 24, 2016, 12:01 PM

JHan (10,173 posts)