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Scaring Specter straight
Townhall ^ | November 22, 2004 | Robert Novak

Posted on 11/21/2004 9:34:52 PM PST by Jim Robinson

WASHINGTON -- Before Sen. Arlen Specter stood beside other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday and pledged support as their chairman for any judge that President Bush nominates, he had been scared stiff by his colleagues and by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

It was close. As late as Wednesday night, his statement of party loyalty was rejected by Frist as inadequate. When the Judiciary Republicans caucused Thursday, two of them were not yet on board for Specter. To achieve the chairmanship that he has coveted for years, Specter had to promise he would seriously dilute the "independence" he brags about. The achievement suggests that Frist is getting the hang of being leader after a rocky first year in the job.

That offers hope for an end to recent Democratic success in using the filibuster to block every Bush judicial nomination deemed objectionable to liberal pressure groups. The stakes grow higher with the probability of Supreme Court nominations. But Frist will have four additional Republican senators, thanks to this year's elections, and enhanced confidence, thanks to the way he handled the Specter affair

~snip~

What to do with Specter, then, was explained to me by one of the committee's most politically astute Republicans, who asked that his name not be used: "We have to scare the hell out of Arlen before he gets to be chairman -- scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman."

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: rino; specter
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1 posted on 11/21/2004 9:34:52 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson
Before Sen. Arlen Specter stood beside other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday and pledged support as their chairman for any judge that President Bush nominates

It's so easy to tell when Specter's lying.

His lips move.

2 posted on 11/21/2004 9:35:48 PM PST by Prime Choice (STFU ACLU.)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Jim Robinson

The proof is in the puddin.


4 posted on 11/21/2004 9:36:48 PM PST by ClintonBeGone (Sometimes it's OK for even a Wolverine to root for a Buckeye win.)
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To: Jim Robinson
To achieve the chairmanship that he has coveted for years, Specter had to promise he would seriously dilute the "independence" he brags about.

But is this "promise" signed in blood?

5 posted on 11/21/2004 9:37:54 PM PST by F16Fighter
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To: Jim Robinson
The achievement suggests that Frist is getting the hang of being leader

and none too soon.

6 posted on 11/21/2004 9:38:16 PM PST by Graybeard58
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To: Jim Robinson

Make sure ya'll call your congressmen and senators and make sure they realize, if Specter turns, it will be on their heads.


7 posted on 11/21/2004 9:40:09 PM PST by Outraged (specter (n.) - 1. A ghostly apparition; a phantom.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Make sure ya'll call your congressmen and senators and make sure they realize, if Specter turns, it will be on their heads.


8 posted on 11/21/2004 9:40:33 PM PST by Outraged (specter (n.) - 1. A ghostly apparition; a phantom.)
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To: Jim Robinson
He would have to pledge support for Bush judges and declare himself open to a rules change blocking filibusters of judicial nominations.

That's exactly what's going to have to happen if any nominees are going to get by Kennedy and his ilk.

9 posted on 11/21/2004 9:41:51 PM PST by Graybeard58
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To: Jim Robinson
If the position of judicial committee chairman had any power over nominees, it doesn't anymore!

Great Job FR!!!


10 posted on 11/21/2004 9:42:48 PM PST by Safrguns
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To: Prime Choice; Jim Robinson; MeekOneGOP; Smartass; potlatch; Grampa Dave; devolve

11 posted on 11/21/2004 9:42:48 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: Jim Robinson
"We have to scare the hell out of Arlen before he gets to be chairman -- scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman."

Could it be true that Frist told Arlen to play ball or the good doctor would deliver the bat like a suppository? Has Frist found his long-lost leadership stones? Time will tell...

12 posted on 11/21/2004 9:44:43 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (Democrats: Tolerant of all people and opinions. Except me & mine - Conservative, Christian.)
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To: Jim Robinson
What to do with Specter, then, was explained to me by one of the committee's most politically astute Republicans, who asked that his name not be used: "We have to scare the hell out of Arlen before he gets to be chairman -- scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman."

Which one of them does this sound like? My guess would be Sessions.

13 posted on 11/21/2004 9:44:47 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: Jim Robinson

Said it before and I'll say it again. NO RINO should behanded a GOP leadership position. That includes Arlen Specter. Specter has bragged about sinking PresReagan's nomination of Robert Bork in the 1980`s. On that incident alone, Specter has proven himself disloyal to one great Republican President. Now Specter will be at the forefront of passing out of committee the judicial nominees of PresBush. I wouldn't want to be Specter, should he screws things up this time.


14 posted on 11/21/2004 9:45:57 PM PST by Reagan Man ("America has spoken")
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To: Jim Robinson

Things couldn't have worked out better, IMHO. With a chairman Specter who has willingly submitted to a testicle-ectomy! He'll be singing soprano in the choir now. We're much better off with a docile, domesticated, deballed Specter chairing and doing the bidding of Bush and Frist, than if he had been pushed aside and with every reason to not play nice.


15 posted on 11/21/2004 9:46:25 PM PST by bastantebueno55 (Viva Jorge W Arbusto!)
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To: Jim Robinson
That offers hope for an end to recent Democratic success in using the filibuster to block every Bush judicial nomination deemed objectionable to liberal pressure groups. The stakes grow higher with the probability of Supreme Court nominations. But Frist will have four additional Republican senators, thanks to this year's elections, and enhanced confidence, thanks to the way he handled the Specter affair.

If Frist manages to put an end to Dem filibustering of the President's nominees, whether via the "nuclear option" or some other means, the vast majority of the nominees would be approved by the Senate as a whole. And Frist, who has said that he won't seek reelection to the Senate in 2006, presumably to concentrate his efforts on a bid for the 2008 GOP Presidential nomination, will have taken a large step toward that goal.

16 posted on 11/21/2004 9:46:48 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina (I'm from so far back in the woods, even the Episcopalians handle snakes.)
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To: Jim Robinson
He'll just see it as idle threat.

He is the Chairman or he isn't. Micromanaging doesn't work, least of all if there are 50 micromanagers.

17 posted on 11/21/2004 9:46:58 PM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: Outraged
Make sure ya'll call your congressmen and senators and make sure they realize, if Specter turns, it will be on their heads.

I think they know this... Thats why they will boot him quick if he pulls anything.

Specter's cat: "Yeah!!! How does that feel buddy???"


18 posted on 11/21/2004 9:47:58 PM PST by Safrguns
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To: Jim Robinson
What happens if Specter get the chairmanship?

Will Frist have the guts to sack him if necessary?

We still have six months before the Republican Caucuses to stop him. Let's keep the fight going!
19 posted on 11/21/2004 9:48:53 PM PST by Aussie Dasher (Stop Hillary - PEGGY NOONAN '08)
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To: Jim Robinson
. . . scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman.

Baloney! I'll bet he falls on his liberal sword the first chance he gets. He's RINO through and through. BIG mistake. IMO

20 posted on 11/21/2004 9:49:33 PM PST by LibWhacker (FOUR MORE YEARS!!)
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