Posted on 11/04/2004 9:32:57 AM PST by RightSideRedux
Published on Right Side Redux
Senator Frist,
I implore you not to allow Senator Specter to become chairman of the Judiciary. His recent arrogance about judges that President Bush should and should not appoint is feckless liberalism at its worst. The assumptive power he pretends to own is not his yet and should not be his.
As a Republican volunteer in Virginia and Florida I would be sorely disappointed if Specter is put in as the Chairman. We worked countless hours to elect President Bush and for specific reasons. The obligation of the ruling majority is to listen to the people who put you there. Please do not mistake our current enthusiasm and support for the Republican victory as license to ignore our base values. We will not soon forget such an outrage.
On a lighter note: Congratulations for the well deserved victory. We are amazed at the courage and hours you and your colleagues put in for this election. It is well deserved!
Justin Hart
Excellent Letter. Thanks for the post.
The problem is if Specter is denied the Chair, he may well decide to flip suits or Jeffords it. It isn't quite as simple as just denying him a slot that he would ordinarily assume.
I sent the following letter to Senator Hagel
Specter warns Bush on high court nominations"
Senator Hagel,
Most of your constituents have felt you were trying to undermine President Bush's reelection. We told you we will fight your reelection. I have spoke with dozens of people about this. My church groups and politically active friends were dismayed with Specter made the above statement. We knew he was challenging the president, after the president agreed to support him. They were wrong in there support.
You will have a chance to redeem yourself to the voters. We need a strong republican who is willing to stand up against the NARAL'S and gay lobbyist.... Most of all we need someone who will fight and stand up to the media (might mean they would like you anymore) to get President Bush's judicial nominee's through, we need someone who won't give in or up. I will be sending this e-mail to many people. I'm sure they will be passing it on also. If you want to be president/vp in 2008, you need to get your own state. We need to see that you will stand up for Nebraska values. If you can't fight this battle boldly, winning the presidency will be even more of a challenge. Almost 70% of Nebraskans spoke Tuesday and we hope you heard what we were saying. Please show us what you can do. Thank you
The Specter issue will put a spotlight on the power of all committee chairmen in the Senate and then to the rules of the Senate that give individual Senators too much power to obstruct action. Especially important is abolishing the 60% rule.
Believe I heard (radio) that Specter is issuing a statement later today to clarify this.
Just e-mailed Frist at:
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm
Rush said Sen. Specter is about to issue a statement shortly. Possibility that news reporter misreported.
"...Specter...may well decide to flip suits or Jeffords it."
We have Senators to spare this time, don't we?
He's transcribing the tape of the interview in order to show he did not say what is being reported.
"misreported" aka "lied"
Unless he can get five more Republicans to switch parties he will be severly hurting himself.
The Dems have nothing to gain by his switching. He will start at the bottom---the lowest member of the minority party. His office will be a closet next to the public restrooms.
Senators to spare, yes, but each seat on committees count.
I'd prefer to keep Specter out of the Judiciary chair, but the Senate GOP needs to isolate him from the other side first. Basically, neutralize him somehow, then give him his pink slip.
He's said stuff like this before. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed him because he promised not to let any "extremist" judges through. The Kerry/Spector campaign signs from the eastern part of the state were not a mistake.
thanks for the suggestion. I too sent an email to him. maybe if enough are sent, Frist will tell spector to take a hike. Speculation, don't be shocked if spector switches parites.
I'm well aware of Specter's history.
Context and timing are as relevant as they always are. And if the media has misrepresented what he said, it is important to acknowledge that.
There is plenty of new blood in the Senate. Given the failure of Specter to deal with first term judicial nominees it is perfectly reasonable for him to be removed as chairman.
If you have to make him chairman of some other less vital committee because it's Washington politics I can understand that. Bush can't do this, it has to be done internally in the Senate so I'm probably wasting my time typing this-- but we can always hope for and expect the right thing.
At this moment in history, I'd rather see a conservative on the Supreme Court than a conservative on a House/Senate committee.
So what if he flips? It wouldn't affect the balance of power.
Frist and Bush please please wake up and listen to your constituency. We have gone out and backed you against all odds please do whats right and give us judges who enforce the constitution and do not make their own laws.
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