Attorney General Jeff Sessions is Democrats' worst nightmare

Here’s why the effort to stop Sessions is likely to intensify as his confirmation hearings near. Sessions is the Senate’s highest-profile, most determined, and most knowledgeable opponent of comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats are particularly anxious about immigration because of the unusually tenuous nature of President Obama’s policies on the issue. Those policies can be undone unilaterally, by the new president in some cases, and by the attorney general and head of homeland security in other cases. There’s no need for congressional action — and no way for House or Senate Democrats to slow or stop it…

Of course, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will handle the Sessions nomination, cannot very well say to the nominee: “I will not support you because you might actually enforce the law.” So they need another basis on which to oppose Sessions. That’s where 30-plus year-old allegations come in.

Republicans, with a narrow majority in the Senate, should be able confirm their colleague, especially since soon-to-be-former Sen. Harry Reid nuked the minority’s ability to filibuster executive branch nominations. But before that happens, look for the noise and the anger over the Sessions nomination to increase. There’s too much at stake for Democrats to go along.