Posted on 05/04/2006 9:42:04 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Disappointing news to report from Capitol Hill: Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) has caved in to Democrat demands to give D.C. Circuit Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a second hearing.
What’s most troubling about the news is that a second hearing won’t do anything to change the vote of a single Democrat on the committee. However, it will give them an opportunity to drag Kavanaugh through the mud.
Here’s an excerpt from the AP report:
Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter on Thursday granted Democrats a hearing to question White House aide and judicial nominee Brett Kavanaugh on his role in the administration's secret wiretapping program, its torture policy and any relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The move put off, for now, a repeat of last year's parliamentary showdown over President Bush's nominees.
“I don't want to place the Senate in the position we were in a year ago at this time,” Specter, R-Pa., said.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R.-Tenn.), whose aides last week said a second hearing was unlikely, expressed frustration with the decision. Here’s his statement:
"The Judiciary Committee should proceed expeditiously to complete the second hearing and report out Brett Kavanaugh. After three years of waiting, Brett Kavanaugh deserves a fair up-or-down vote without further delay. We remain on track for floor action by Memorial Day."
Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said the delay wouldn’t change a single Democrat’s vote on the committee. Here’s Cornyn’s statement:
"I predict that a second hearing on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination will accomplish two things: it will give the nominee a chance to further display his outstanding legal and academic credentials, and quiet the unwarranted criticism of the process, focusing the debate on the nomination's merits. That debate overwhelmingly favors confirmation.
"However, I don't believe the call for yet another hearing is serious; I don't believe it will change any minds. And it's difficult to take these calls for more debate seriously when the nomination has been pending before the Senate for three years and critics still don't know the basic facts.
"Unfortunately, from all indications, the Democrats are preparing for a battle reminiscent of the undignified and unwarranted attacks on Justice Alito. We won that battle and we're ready to fight and win this one."
What would the GOP lose if it ditched him?
I've always had a problem with term limits. I thought that the term of my representatives should be up to the voters of my area, however...I wish there were "committee" term limits.
There are. That's how Specter got the job -- Orrin Hatch got term-limited out.
LOL! Why couldn't they both have had the same expiration date.
Good call, Sen Cornyn!
Amazing as it sounds, Republican party politics does not always make sense and frequently works AGAINST the party.
Is anyone at all surprised by this news? I predict if the President has the opportunity to appoint another conservative Supreme Court Justice and does, Specter will ruin that nomination.
It's hard to watch Specter. He's like a pitcher who stayed in the game too long. Unfortunately this isn't a game.
Two things need to happen in November: Lynn Swann wins the PA Governorship election and Arlen Spector has a relapse and needs to be replaced on the senate!
>>Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter on Thursday granted Democrats a hearing to question White House aide and judicial nominee Brett Kavanaugh on his role in the administration's secret wiretapping program, its torture policy and any relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.<<
Does he actually have any connection with any of those things?
Yes, you are!
"Unfortunately, from all indications, the Democrats are preparing for a battle reminiscent of the undignified and unwarranted attacks on Justice Alito. We won that battle and we're ready to fight and win this one."(Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.)
~~~~~~~~~
God bless Brett Kavanaugh!
The Dems showed themselves for the "donkey rears" they are during the Alito hearing. We can only hope this hearing is televised and that they do us the same favor of meeting or exceeding their same low standards of behavior. It can only help us come November.
Right. I last had that conversation two days ago.
Specter is the first politician I ever met (I was a very young girl at the time). He was campaigning for District Attorney and grabbed my hand to shake as I was walking by, (having barely noticed him) and at the time had only a passing interest in politics. Who would have thought then he would have been such a thorn in our collective side for so many years?
Just another delaying tactic by the Dems and abetted by Specter. Like Cornyn says, the Dems will get to sling more mud but if they try the filibuster again it'll backfire and they know it.
The proverbial 'dog bites man' story.
Toomey would have won otherwise and defeated Specter. Specter only won by two points (and maybe not even that) IIRC.
At the time, the President held the mistaken opinion he needed Specter to win to help his own victory in PA. He lost PA anyway.
I love your name tag. How exciting and comforting it was to have those two simultaneously at the helm along with Prime Minister Thatcher! : )
"This is basically a $40 million giveaway of the taxpayers' dollars to a private corporation that has nothing to do with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has nothing to do with it." (Said Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican.)
"the $40 million contract was being restricted to a Philadelphia-based entity, a requirement McCain found "astonishing."
"That Philadelphia company is FastShip Inc. And Business Week reports that FastShip executives "doled out $8,500 to help reelect Republican Senator Arlen Specter" in 2004."
"Sen. Specter also "received $24,500 from lobbyists working for Blank Rome LLP. So what's that have to do with anything? Well, "One of Blank Rome's largest clients is FastShip Inc."
"For instance, Sen. Specter received $24,500 from lobbyists working for Blank Rome LLP. One of Blank Rome's largest clients is FastShip Inc., which transports containers between the U.S. and Europe."
"In 2003, Blank Rome billed the company $160,000. At a press conference with FastShip executives earlier this year, Specter took credit for bills appropriating $40 million in federal funds to construct the company's state-of-the-art marine cargo terminal at the Port of Philadelphia."
I could have sworn the Republicans won the Senate. I must have been wrong. Looks like Fat Teddy is the chief decision maker and the Republicans are his lackeys. Snarlin Arlen and Juan McCainiac are his chief lackeys. A pox on all of them!
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