K-Lo: Three cheers for Sen. Sessions

NRO's Kathryn Jean Lopez is impressed with Alabama's junior U.S. Senator.

In this post from Thursday, she says that Jeff Sessions would make an excellent Supreme Court nominee:

Is It Me

or does Robert Gates look like Jeff Sessions? I keep seeing the replay of him with Bush and Rumsfeld yesterday and always think "why is Jeff Sessions there?" There's an idea too...Rick Santorum for U.N. (POTUS apparently didn't like my SECDEF idea. Jeff Sessions (who is wonderful on judges) for SCOTUS. Of course, in the minority now, I don't think the Senate can afford life without Sessions.

One of her Alabama readers agrees:

Can I Be Senate Minority Leader?

A reader reminds me why my Sessions for SCOTUS idea is positively brilliant:

Dear KLo,

Jeff Sessions is my senator and I think he's great! He would make a fantastic Supreme Court justice. But did you know that President Reagan nominated Sessions for a federal judgeship in 1986?Democrats (probably the same dinosaur Dems who are still around) blocked his nomination after civil rights groups raised questions of racial intolerance—probably similar to what the esteemed, honorable Judge Charles Pickering had to deal with a few years ago. The Sessions rejected nomination is mentioned briefly in this column about mid-way down. I think it's a kick that after his nomination was rejected, he ran for Senate and now sits on the Judiciary Committee with some of the same twits who gave his thumbs down in 1986. Jeff Sessions rocks!

In the meantime...while we're waiting for a Supreme Court spot to come open...Lopez suggests that Sessions would be a good choice to lead the Republican Policy Committee.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE LEADERSHIP….?

I like some of the guys expected to be at the top there a lot. Mitch McConnell is expected to be minority leader. Jon Kyl will replace Santorum as conference chair. Good stuff.

But …

Kay Bailey Hutchinson is expected to get the Republican Policy Committee.

When you take a look at some of the terrific policy papers the RPC put out under an effective Kyl, it’s hard not to want a smart, solid, conservative, total team-player type in that slot. Mrs. Hutchinson is more mod.

Which brings me (back) to Jeff Sessions. I’m under no impression he wants it, but there are some rumors that some folks there think he should. I certainly think he should. He fits the aforementioned bill.

So, how ‘bout it, Senator Sessions? Run, Sessions, run! It’ll be a bit of a challenge, jumping in now. But inasmuch as the Policy Committee disseminates research on some key issues … Sessions should be there.

Sounds good to me. Sessions is an energetic, thoughtful conservative - should be a great fit for the RPC position.

Naming Sessions to the Supreme Court would be a much bolder move. He's certainly qualified, having served as a U.S. Attorney, Attorney General of Alabama, and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. But, there's no doubt that the Left would react to a Sessions nomination by regurgitating all of the outrageous charges they levied against him back when President Reagan nominated him to be a district court judge. Then again, he has friends on both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Senate, so his position as a sitting U.S Senator might actually work to his advantage. I'd sure like to find out.