FYI RE SPECTER [KJL] Here is the Philly Inquirer story on the Specter press conference yesterday. It doesn't mentionrelying on the AP version of the story, so one might assume that the paper interpreted this for themselves: Specter, as presumptive chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested that he would block any Bush nominee to the Supreme Court who opposed abortion rights. Reiterating his position that a woman's right to choose is "inviolate," he said overturning Roe v. Wade today would be akin to trying to reverse Brown v. Board of Education, the court's 1954 landmark desegregation decision. Barring unforeseen GOP objections, Specter, 74, should assume the committee chairmanship in January. He also sent an unsubtle message to the White House that he expects nominees for the federal bench to be of the highest caliber, and took a critical swipe at the stature of the current court. Posted at 12:52 PM
bttt
Anything ever come of that?
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Oh I think Specter stepped in a little too deep this time. I am glad to see the movement is building. Reports have it that Frist's office is getting bombed with calls and e-mails.
Sorry Arlen, no chair for you.
Is Frist the guy that makes the decision? What about our own Senators?
Let's go beyond Frist! I am e-mailing every member of the Senate GOP Leadership. You can find a link to all of their sites here: http://republican.senate.gov/
Let's get to it folks. If Specter takes the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Tuesday's win will be a little hollow!
I say trade one PA Senator for another...Rick Santorum would be ideal to head the judiciary!
Can someone explain the process of how a chairman is picked. I seem to remember they are chosen by secret ballot of the committee members. I think that was implemented a few years ago, to keep people from being chairs forever. Anyone know the specifics, it would be helpful.
Thanks.
Assume Frist has a backbone...
I e-mailed Frist and alerted my friends. Specter simply cannot be given the chairmanship.
bttt
THis is the way Arlen repays Bush for supporting him in the primary against a conservative challenger who damn near won
It was predicted that Arlen would pull this crap and several were trying to get PA GOPers to vote for the democrat Hoefel
so Scottie wouldn't be able to torpedo the judges
They damn well may have been right
Worked the polls in Philly this election. Kept running across Dem labor union members at the various polls with "Specter" shirts on. Also saw Kerry-Specter signs. It was clear that Specter's strategy in Philly was to split the ticket with Kerry. This was after Specter begged for the President's support during his primary, and when the President supported him, it was THE deciding factor that got him through the primary.
From my discussions with the Dem workers, it became apparent to me that the hostility Specter has shown towards us in the Administration over the past year and a half was part of a deal he had cut in advance with the unions for their support in the election. Specter had delivered on his side of the bargain, and those unions worked very hard for him in minority wards.
There are very long memories here in Washington, and it can be a very cold town when you turn your back on your friends.
thanks, I just called. First time I have ever called a Senator's office not in my state. She said she has been hearing this a lot today.....
If the GOP Senate give this committee to Spector -- OR allows him to block Bush nominees, the GOP will be a Senate MINORITY in four years.
Spector has six more years, and Bush only has four, so Spector probably feels he's an imperial, untouchable Senator. Frist should let him spent the next six years in an office the size of a mens-room, or better yet, in a converted mens room, if Spector as much as raises his voice in Committee.
Problem with the GOP Senate, and it's been this way for 20 years, is that the "moderate" (a.k.a."liberal") GOP Senators pre-date the Reagan & Gringrich "revolutions". That is, they have the seniority, so they run the Senate. That's why the GOP Senate always takes half-a loaf when they are in the majority, while the Democrats take a loaf and a half. That's why GOP Judical nominees have trended left even when the appointing President was a conservative.
This crap has got to stop -- NOW.
SFS
just emailed.
a rather brusque note.