Posted on 11/16/2004 11:05:24 PM PST by JohnHuang2
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, the current head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, predicts Arlen Specter will succeed him as chairman of the panel, despite controversy over comments made by the Pennsylvania Republican.
"I'm for Arlen," Hatch said yesterday after emerging from a closed-door meeting with fellow committee Republicans. "I believe he will be a great chairman. ... I expect him to have the support of the committee."
With Specter at his side, Hatch told reporters the Pennsylvanian had broad support among lawmakers.
"Nobody in the meeting was against Arlen," Hatch said. "Senator Specter handled himself very well and frankly, I'm for him, as I should be."
Specter was grateful for Hatch's support, saying, "No chickens have hatched, and I don't count any chickens until they're hatched. But with Hatch beside me, I'm a little less unconfident."
It's the Judiciary Committee which screens White House nominations to the Supreme Court and other posts on the federal bench.
As WorldNetDaily previously reported, controversial remarks by Specter, cautioning President Bush against nominating Supreme Court justices who would overturn the Roe vs. Wade abortion decision, sparked a furious outcry from Bush's large conservative and Evangelical support base, and spawned a movement to ensure he did not ascend to the panel's chairmanship.
In two newspaper interviews before the election, Specter promised to block pro-life and "extremist" judges appointed by Bush, contradicting claims he is making now amid fierce opposition.
A third paper, the Philadelphia Inquirer, endorsed the pro-abortion senator largely because of his anticipated position on the panel.
The current controversy began when the Associated Press quoted Specter saying, "When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe vs. Wade, I think that is unlikely. The president is well aware of what happened, when a number of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster. ... And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning."
After an outburst of outrage from conservative groups, Specter issued a statement Thursday insisting he did not send a warning to Bush.
"I did not warn the president about anything and was very respectful of his constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges," Specter said.
"As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush's nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O'Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas."
A website named NotSpecter.com emerged last week to help rally the opposition, which includes prominent evangelical Christian groups such as Focus on the Family, Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America.
The ABC News weblog The Note reports conservatives against Specter are telephoning Republican leadership offices, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and members of the judiciary committee at a rate of about two to three per minute.
According to rules established by the majority party, the committee chairman will be chosen by a secret-ballot vote of the Republican members of the panel. The nod traditionally goes to the senior member, but the rules specify any member can be selected. The entire conference must then approve the committee's pick by another secret ballot, although rejection is rare.
I predicted this on another thread---
Its standard Republican---let everyone sound off, let everyone think there might be hope---
Then go back to the beginning and let the RINO IN!!
There are times I hate being a Republican, and if this happens, it will be one of them!
One comment from someone on Fox -
No problem when a conservative is replaced with a conservative - but -
What will be important is when a liberal is to be replaced on the S.C. - Will this guy hinder a conservative as a replacement - Changing the balance of power toward one side -
Should find out before he gets the nod - in my opinion - Has anyone asked -
"There are times I hate being a Republican, and if this happens, it will be one of them!" ... those times in which they behave as Demon-rats and lackey with leftists liberals. I know it.
Yup. Screw 'em both. Hatch has always given me the creeps, and Specter is a spectre.
I'd rather have someone who acts on principle, even if I don't agree 100% with the principles, than the above - they're like twins. They both look really creepy, kind of like salamanders, and they give the impression that their whole interest is string pulling and back room deals, as though being a Senator is a kind of card shark.
I'd rather see plumbers, road flaggers and nurses' aides in Senate positions than these professional politicians.
Oh you mean "Let's give the RIAA the ability destroy the computers of file sharers" Hatch!
"I'd rather see plumbers, road flaggers and nurses' aides in Senate positions than these professional politicians."
You said it!
Little by little the RINOs will be removed.
Man...dont know how many threads Ive been on over the past couple weeks saying the same thing...
WATCH OUT FOR HATCH. DONT TRUST THE MAN.
Same as it ever was...
The GOP and the RINOS...remind me of Cicero.
I was on jury duty one time and the smartest woman of all was a part time flagger. She called 'em when she saw 'em, had a sharp mind and intelligence. Native American. No duplicity whatsoever.
She would be great in any public office. And there's more like her - but they ain't in the universities, law offices, or professional buildings.
They're usually fixing things or making things or building things.
Spot on.
Now we need a campaign to ditch Hatch as well...there is no place in our party or our Senate for good ol' boy croneyism before the will of the people.
ALL of these RINOs need to be run out of the party. In fact, we need a new party...or to take this one over by storm.
These old "hangers on" more often than not become bosom buddies, whereby individual honor and integrity take a back seat.
You would be, Orrin. You would be. Of course, you've been for Ted Kennedy, too, so it's no surprise.
To All, Be careful my fellow Rep. freepers, you will have the DUs, and the RINO liberal Republican freepers, on your case. Bush, and Santorum supports Sphincter, Sphincter stabs Bush and Santorum in the back, then Bush stabs us in the back, enjoy the oligarchy, Think i'm talking through my hat? Ask yourself, why Bush 43, and Bush 41 with their wives will be at the opening of the Clinton library in Arkansas on Tursday, also attending will be a disgusting group of a$$holes, such as: 1,Bill Clinton, 2, Jimmy Carter, 3,Whoopie Goldberg, 3, Bono, and others of that ilk, all shaking hands and enjoying themselves with a President who they vilified, and excoriated for the last four years. Maybe they will all go for a cold beer after the ceremonies. What a crock of $hit, Republicrats, and Democans, leaving us on the right, to twist in the wind.
Bush's attendence at the Clinton Library is done in honor of the office of the Presidency, not of the man.
Are you saying that Hatch is conservative?
Ahhhh, RINO's in Love, ain't it a wonderful thing? Blackbird.
Guys, Hatch and Specter have been contending for top weasel in charge for a LONG time now. Peace and love, George.
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