President George Bush continued his schizophrenic behavior when he decided to re-nominate Charles Pickering for the U.S. Court of Appeals. In 2002, Pickering’s nomination was rejected by a then-Democratic-controlled Congress Pickering angered black politicians and organizations when he called the state court, on the behalf of white racists that were convicted of burning a cross on the lawn of a black family, to get their sentence reduced.

Another evidence of blatant racism by Pickering was a law paper he wrote, upholding a ban on interracial marriage.

Why would Bush, so soon after the Trent Lott fiasco, decide to stir up more controversy by nominating Pickering again? Is Bush trying to appease some group or organization by making sure a white racist is in a position of political power? He definitely must feel it’s worth the fight. Some of Bush’s advisors reportedly counseled the White House against nominating Pickering.

Seemingly, not coincidentally, both Lott and Pickering are both from Mississippi, the capital state of the KKK. It has been long rumored in the black community that the KKK wields secret power over the running of the United States government. Undoubtedly actions by the Republican Part at least suggest an overly tolerant attitude towards racism.

It will not be easy for Pickering; Democratic Senators Ted Kennedy and Charles Schumer plan to filibuster the nomination. That means the Republicans will face an uphill battle of scraping together 60 votes to break the filibuster. Sen. Lott is Pickering’s principle supporter, and that will give ample opportunity for the Democrats to revisit the former Republican leader’s reminiscing on how much better this country would have been with a segregationist president.

Bush’s hardball stance, even through Senate Republicans have only a one-vote majority, might prove to be catastrophic political move. It does not show a president interested in uniting this country.