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Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Final)
11-19-04 | Always Right

Posted on 11/19/2004 2:02:09 AM PST by Always Right

Updates:

11-19 Update:  By now you are all aware the Specter has the support of the nine current GOP members of the Judiciary Committee which will be more than enough to secure his position as Chairman.  I know many of you are disappointed and perhaps angry at the loss, but don't be.  This battle was not about Specter being chairman, this battle was about laying the groundwork so that good legislation would get pass and conservative judicial nominees would get confirmed.  From that perspective, I think we scored huge and important victories:

1. The Senate is on Notice.  Senator Graham noted that he received more calls on this than any issue since Clinton's impeachment.  Reports from other Senator offices note the same.  We have been heard loud and clear.

2.  Specter has been Neutered.  With Specter's statements and promises to every GOP Senator and to the public, it will be very difficult and politically impossible for Specter to unilaterally bottle up legislation or shelf judicial nominees.  If Specter goes back on his word, there will be enormous outrage and sufficient cause to remove him from the judiciary.  Who Chairs each committee and which members serve on each committee is determine by majority party rules, so there are solutions to Specter should he should become a problem.

3.  New Judiciary Members will be Conservative.  I think I am extremely safe in saying that the one or two additional GOP appointment to the Judiciary Panel will be conservative.  If Frist and Santorum mess this up, they deserved to be shot and killed on the spot.

4.  'Nuclear Option' is Viable.  My feeling was that the Senate had never really considered this as a viable option, but now I have heard numerous Senators, including Frisk, talk about changing the Senate cloture rules.  The so-called 'nuclear option'  would limit the use of filibusters to legislation only, so filibusters could not be used against judicial nominations.  This is an extremely positive development and will only require 51 votes.  The biggest disappointment is that Frist may only resort to this on Supreme Court nominees.  We need this option alive for all nominees.

5.  We still have 55 GOP Senators.  So we have extracted our pound of flesh from Specter and we have focused the Senate on getting judges confirmed, all while keeping our Senate majority firmly in tact.  Sure there are 3-4 RINOs and few other unreliables, but we made our point and haven't really lost anything. 

I know there are many naysayers out there who believe Republican Senators are a bunch of spineless wimps, which is true to an extent.  However, I really think this effort has empowered conservative Senators to act conservative.  So before everyone condemns the Senate, don't do so prematurely.  Let's judge the real results, the judges and the legislation.  I am very optimistic that we may have apparently lost this battle, but are on the way to winning the war.  In the end, this may have been the best possible outcome.

So let's remember folks, we control the White House, the House of Representatives, and well, we are working on the  Senate.  But this is the best position conservatives have ever been in.  So let's not get all negative and doom and gloom.  Let's get busy.

Allies:

Thomas Sowell, Laura Ingraham, Grassroots.PA, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary, Stop Specter Now!, National Right to Life Committee, NRO - The Corner, The Conservative Voice, Focus on the Family

Confused Conservatives:

Hugh Hewitt

Petitions on the Web:

We Want a Strong Leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee - GOPUSA

"New Pro-Abortion Senate Judiciary Chair?" - Voices Heard

Arlen Specter MUST NOT become Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. - nospecter

Pull chair out from under RINO Arlen Specter - Conservative Petitions

 Petition to Republican Senators Opposing the Election of Senator Arlen Specter - AFA

THE FAIR JUDICIARY OATH - Coalition for Fair Judiciary

On-line Petition - gopwing.com

Latest News Stories:

NEW! Specter Effectively Wins Senate Judiciary Chair - Reuters 11-18-04

NEW! Republicans on Senate Judiciary Panel Endorse Specter as Chair Bloomberg 11-18-04

NEW! Specter secures judiciary chairmanship after issuing statement The Philadelphia Inquirer 11-18-04

Pro-choice Specter faces GOP test Chicago Trib 11-15

Frist withholds Specter support Washington Times, 11-15

NY Times: Frist Sees Hurdles for Specter NYT 11-14

For Specter, a Showdown Over Judiciary Chairmanship Washington Post 11-14

The Specter Campaign National Review 11-11

Focus on the Family ups effort to block Specter Rocky Mountain News 11-11

Embattled Specter upset at HRC snub NY Blade 11-12

As Specter seeks a chairmanship, it's payback time for conservatives Phily Inquirer 11-12

An ominous Specter: Part III Thomas Sowell 11-12

Specter's voting record Washington Times, 11-11

Specter asks to appeal to peers  AP via Washington Times 11-11

Specter sees 'a battle for balance in the Republican Party' Philly Inquirer 11-11

An ominous Specter: Part II Thomas Sowell 11-10

Specter Seeks Meeting with Fellow Republicans  - Reuters 11-10

An ominous Specter - Thomas Sowell 11-10

Specter Still Not in the Clear - Fox News 11-9

Spat over Specter may be subsiding - Pittsburg Post-Gazette 11-9

Conservatives target Specter - Washington Times 11-9

 GOP Senators Struggle with Specter Chairmanship Focus on the Family 11-9

 Under Fire, Specter Gets Only Tepid White House Support NY Times 11-9

Why the Specter flap matters - Boston Globe 11-9

The Left's View on Specter - Limbaugh 11-9

Specter Campaign Crumbling - Human Events 11-8

Senate Chairmanship in Question for Specter - NPR 11-8

Specter blunders on Roe vs. Wade - Chicago Tribune (Novak) 11-8

Specter Opponents Pressing Senate Leaders - AP 11-8

A Specter of Trouble - OpinionEditorials 11-8

Specter: "I not only voted against Bork, I led the charge aGrassroots PAgainst him." - Grassroots.PA 11-7

Specter says he won't slow anti-abortion court nominees - CNN 11-7

Arlen Specter - "Bork" Him - Intellectual Conservative 11-6

Judges Following No Law (why Arlen Specter must go) - ****Robert Bork, 8-12-04

Keep Arlen Specter off chair of Judiciary Committee! - WND 11-6

Who's spinning? Specter or reporter? - WND 11-5

All eyes on Sen. Specter - Washington Times 11-5

Conservative wing raises fuss over Specter's views - New York Times 11-5

Specter faces battle for Judiciary chair - Washington Times 11-5

Sen. Specter Ignites Firestorm of Opposition - NewsMax 11-5

Suffering Specter - Pittsburg Tribune Review 11-5

Specter's Remarks Trigger Protest - Focus on the Family 11-5

Lawmaker wants Grassley on judiciary panel - Des Moines Register 11-5

Specter 'Borked' Himself from Senate Judiciary Committee - Concerned Women for America 11-5

Pro-Life Pray-In Planned to Stop Specter - CNSNEWS 11-5

Will Specter Chair Judiciary? - Human Events 11-5

Thank You, Arlen - National Review 11-3

GOP Sen. Specter Vows to Block Bush's Nominees - NewsMax 10-29

The Northeastern Liberal (Kerry and Specter, two peas in a pod.) - Evan-Novak 3-11-04

Background:

Actual Transcript of News Conference Wherein Specter Threatens Bush's Judicial Nominees

Specter's "Clarification" of his Threats to Pres. Bush's Judicial Nominees

Another Soros Specter Connection (The Bush-Soros Pick)

SPECTER SLAMS CONSERVATIVES IN CAMPAIGN LETTER, ATTACKS PRO-LIFERS, CHRISTIANS

Senate Judiciary Committee .

Contact Information:

Bill Frist:  E-mail:  senator.frist@senate.gov
461 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
PHONE: (202) 224-3344
Web Form (Email his office): http://www.frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm

Contact Information for all Senators

Sen. Orrin Hatch, UT, current Committee Chair PH: 202-224-5251 FX: 202-224-6331

Sen. Jon Kyl, AZ PH: 202-224-4521 FX: 202-224-2207

Sen. John Cornyn, TX PH: 202-224-2934 FX: 202-228-2856

Sen. Charles Grassley, IA PH: 202-224-3744 FX: 319-363-7179

Sen. Mike DeWine, OH PH: 202-224-2315 FX: 202-224-6519

Sen. Jeff Sessions, AL PH: 202-224-4124 FX: 202-224-3149

Sen. Lindsey Graham, SC PH: 202-224-5972 FX: 202-224-3808

Sen. Larry Craig, ID PH: 202-224-2752 FX: 202-228-1067

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, GA PH: 202-224-3521 FX: 202-224-0103

Homepages of Judiciary Committe Members:

Orrin Hatch   Chuck Grassley     Jon Kyl    Mike DeWine    Jeff Sessions     Lindsey Graham    Larry Craig    Saxby Chambliss    John Cornyn    Arlen Specter

Media Contacts:
Special@foxnews.com; rush@eibnet.com; hannity@foxnews.com; editor@weeklystandard.com; beltwayboys@foxnews.com; tblankley@washingtontimes.com; jmccaslin@washingtontimes.com; gpierce@washingtontimes.com; jseper@washingtontimes.com; Templar119@aol.com; malkin@comcast.net; letters@charleskrauthammer.com; ben@cspc.org; adams_mike@hotmail.com; ballen@t3energy.com; greg@therightbalance.org; VAlpher@aol.com; friends@atr.org; ruddy@spectator.org; editor@spectator.org; rjbacak@sbcglobal.net; online.editors@barrons.com; me@glennbeck.com; carol@carolbernhard.com; jennifer.biddison@heritage.org; kotta@foxnews.com; briankbodine@yahoo.com; jimbohannon@1050wevd.com; JeffBolton@woai.com; wackerma@bowdoin.edu; chrisb@unt.edu; erniebrown@americaatnight.com; bucc@bucknellconservatives.org; calpundit@cox.net; chairman@cyr.org; joshcampbell@mail.utexas.edu; info@capitolhillblue.com; castellanopj@earthlink.net; charles@littlegreenfootballs.com; bobcole@clearchannel.com; cn@isi.org; letters@commentarymagazine.com; lauren.conner@bba02.bus.utexas.edu; dj@flipsideshow.com; copleyd@wharton.upenn.edu; tom@anncoulter.org; info@collegegop.org; cugop@colorado.edu; crider@mail.utexas.edu;
hill2@cp.chemeketa.edu; j0annaz@yahoo.com; rcuster@yaf.org; pundit@dailypundit.com; lukerval@hotmail.com; davidson@collegegop.org; txtau@yahoo.com; holiday.dmitri@foxnews.com; sara@studentsforacademicfreedom.org; larry@larryelder.com; tpelia@yahoo.com; elizabeth@cspc.org; cfennell@ucsd.edu; mfinch@cspc.org; sarahfloerke@mail.com; rforest@ev1.net; rachelzfriedman@yahoo.com; mike@mikeonline.com; cdganske@yahoo.com; bubbgarcia@yahoo.com; ggermany@austin.rr.com; presACG@aol.com; lynn.gibson@heritage.org; giselarm@san.rr.com; jglazov@rogers.com; fgonzalez@isi.org; opeds@gopusa.com; redshift_7@yahoo.com; MJGriffing@hotmail.com; frn@freeper.org; bac@compuserve.com; michaelh@ductape.net; Hannity@aol.com; khart@crnc.org; johnhawkins@rightwingnews.com; roger@rogerhedgecock.com; jchenry_628@mail.utexas.edu; hhewitt@hughhewitt.com; holco004@mailhost1.csusm.edu; suggestions@lauraingraham.com; pundit@instapundit.com; feedback@intellectualconservative.com; Rollye@rollye.net; calidawl217@yahoo.com; niucrchair@yahoo.com; amw@judgemendozawaterhouse.com; rdj@mail.utexas.edu; gk3385@yahoo.com; kfir@protestwarrior.com; kinghorn1836@yahoo.com; becky@becky4congress.com; pklinkne@hamilton.edu; dks@wava.com; comments.kurtz@nationalreview.com; JCL159522@yahoo.com; lars@larslarson.com; mark@marklarson.com; jleo@usnews.com; binghamtonreview@yahoo.com
 

Previous Threads:

Priority 1: Remove Specter from Judiciary (Thread 1)

Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judciary (Day 2)

Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 3)

Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 4)

Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 5)

Priority 1:  Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 6)

Priority 1:  Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 7)

Priority 1:  Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 8)

Priority 1:  Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 9)

Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Days 10-12)

Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 13)



TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Free Republic; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: specter; specterisasnake
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Thanks everyone for an outstanding effort, your efforts were not in vain. There are several very positive developments. We have laid important groundwork and I see nothing but good coming from all this.
1 posted on 11/19/2004 2:02:10 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right
The thanks is to you! I appreciated your motivation and initiative to keep me moving.

I personally feel that Specter will have to watch himself from here on, he certainly must be aware he will be in the spotlight for some time to come.

Our GOP Senators are also waking to the fact that WE are watching how they conduct themselves and that they will be treated accordingly.

It's not discouraging at all. It was a wake up call to the Senate, and they know it.
2 posted on 11/19/2004 2:08:45 AM PST by borntobeagle
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To: Always Right

I really hope your correct, but Chambliss has lost any future vote from me in any case.

I'll not vote for Frist either.

Spineless Republican leadership is leadership we don't need.


3 posted on 11/19/2004 2:12:33 AM PST by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: Always Right
The question remains.... why keep Specter in the first place?

Any idea why they were so hell-bound-for-leather to allow him to keep the chair?

4 posted on 11/19/2004 2:14:04 AM PST by Ready4Freddy (Carpe Sharpei !)
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To: borntobeagle

Ditto on the BIG thanks to you AlwaysRight for all your efforts. You inspired us to act - and act we did! While I'm not happy Specter is Chair, I do believe the fear of G*D was put in him. The GOP mobilized us for the campaign, now we have the structure in place to hold our representatives responsible - AND WE WILL.


5 posted on 11/19/2004 2:15:07 AM PST by Elkiejg (The Democratic Party is no longer the party of H.S. Truman & Zell Miller - their loss.)
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To: Ready4Freddy
Any idea why they were so hell-bound-for-leather to allow him to keep the chair?

The Seniority rules in the Senate are a sacred cow. While the House has on occasion bypassed Seniority rules for Chairman positions, the Senate never has. It doesn't make sense, just the way the Senate always operates.

6 posted on 11/19/2004 2:20:26 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

My computer ate my ping list. I think I have a copy at my office, but it probably doesn't have a few late additions.


7 posted on 11/19/2004 2:26:12 AM PST by Always Right
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To: BibChr; bobo1; GeronL; lminchi; Dems_R_Losers; paul in cape; mickie; Poser; HiTech RedNeck; ...

Specter is a snake ping. Thanks all for your effort.


8 posted on 11/19/2004 2:29:03 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

Add Peggy Noonan to your list of "confused conservatives".

You are correct, we are in good shape, but we must not sit back and relax. The left has been on a 40 year crusade to destroy this country, their actions since the election show that they do not feel discouraged, they intend to fight on. We have gained considerable ground, but we too must resolve to fight on.


9 posted on 11/19/2004 2:30:41 AM PST by jocon307 (Jihad is world wide. Jihad is serious business. We ignore global jihad at our peril.)
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To: Always Right

A perhaps minor point; NRO *as a whole* has been opposed to Specter, not just the corner...


10 posted on 11/19/2004 2:33:30 AM PST by swilhelm73 (Dowd wrote that Kerry was defeated by a "jihad" of Christians...Finally – a jihad liberals oppose!)
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To: jocon307
You are correct, we are in good shape, but we must not sit back and relax.

Absolutely.

The left has been on a 40 year crusade to destroy this country, their actions since the election show that they do not feel discouraged

I have no doubt the left will still fight hard, but I do think they are demoralized. I have never heard so much silence from the left as I have in the past couple of weeks.

11 posted on 11/19/2004 2:37:01 AM PST by Always Right
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To: swilhelm73

That's true. NRO has put out some of the best articles on the subject.


12 posted on 11/19/2004 2:37:53 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

Heculean effort.....but I think Specter is in..it's a done deal.


13 posted on 11/19/2004 2:48:46 AM PST by stylin19a (the smell of success is a mixture of cordite and rotting bodies)
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To: stylin19a

Heculean= Herculean


14 posted on 11/19/2004 2:49:55 AM PST by stylin19a (the smell of success is a mixture of cordite and rotting bodies)
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To: stylin19a

Thanks you for the kind comment. I am aware that Specter is pretty much a done deal, that's why this was the 'final' post on this.


15 posted on 11/19/2004 2:53:08 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

Specter, from now on will do our bidding. How he got through the primaries, the election and then this firestorm is beyond me though.


16 posted on 11/19/2004 3:05:46 AM PST by Moderate right-winger (We won 2004!)
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To: Moderate right-winger
Specter, from now on will do our bidding.

I don't believe that. Specter is on a short lease and won't obstruct, but I expect Specter to oppose Bush on some key appointments.

17 posted on 11/19/2004 3:10:50 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

Thanks everyone. We have had great response on these threads. 135 comments on day 1, 285 comments on day 2, 183 on day 3, 104 on day 4, 137 on day 5, 70 on day 6, 90 on day 7, 74 on day 8, 90 on day 9, and 119 on the last two. So about 1300 comments in all.


18 posted on 11/19/2004 3:39:45 AM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

I think the effort has put the Senate Republicans on notice and they in turn have Specter much more a partner than he would be as a pouting non chairman..The dems will,of course, do all the obstructing they can.


19 posted on 11/19/2004 3:54:45 AM PST by MEG33 ( Congratulations President Bush!..Thank you God. Four More Years!)
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To: borntobeagle

"It was a wake up call to the Senate, and they know it."

The big wake up call was when South Dakota dumped Daschle. The democrats heard that one loud and clear.


20 posted on 11/19/2004 4:03:19 AM PST by chainsaw ( ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - H. Clinton))
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