WASHINGTON Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Donald Trumps nominee for attorney general, would in many ways represent a clean break from the policies of the Obama era. But at Sessions Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Democrats were so subdued in their attacks on Sessions that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) praised them for showing admirable restraint.

More than 30 years ago, Sessions was rejected as a federal judge over concerns about his views on race. Today, some of his future subordinates are worried hell gut the part of the Justice Department devoted to prosecuting abusive cops and investigating allegations of widespread law enforcement misconduct . But Senate Democrats seemed mostly resigned to the idea that Sessions would be one of the first nominees to be confirmed for the incoming Trump administration.

Dems asked a few tough questions on Tuesday. They just didnt land many blows. Theres another hearing Wednesday. But unless something incredibly dramatic happens, theres no reason to believe Sessions wont cruise through the confirmation process.

Sessions has been in the Senate for two decades, and previously served as ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As Republican senators routinely reminded the committee, they know Sessions. (Im pretty sure youre not a closet bigot, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Sessions, recalling their service together.)

During a hearing that stretched on for more than 10 hours, Sessions defended himself from charges of racism. He clarified his view of Trumps comments on sexual assault. He acknowledged that waterboarding is torture. He defended voter ID laws. He said he would not support a Muslim ban or registry. He said hed recuse himself from decisions involving a theoretical prosecution of Hillary Clinton.

In the 1980s, Sessions indicated that he believed the main barriers to equality had already been knocked down, and that civil rights groups and the American Civil Liberties Union did more harm than good when they asked for things beyond what they are justified in asking . Sessions views on race dont appear to have shifted greatly, and he referred to racism as a relic of the past.

As a Southerner who actually saw discrimination and have no doubt it existed in a systematic and powerful and negative way to great millions of people in the South particularly of our county, I know that was wrong. I know we need to do better. We can never go back, Sessions said. I am totally committed to maintaining the freedom and equality that this country has to provide to every citizen.