Posted on 11/17/2004 10:45:21 AM PST by GeneralHavoc
Bummer. At least he is loyal.
Thanks Rick. You sold us out.
I'm the biggest Spector hater here, I know all about his history.
I have thought it over, and I have put my faith in Arlen Spector to do the right thing, re: let Bush's nominees come to vote.
Spector will do the right thing if he has the chair.
(This coming from someone who would spit on Spector if I ever met him, people who know me on here know this!)
Ditto for the slogan: "Rick Santorum: The man ENDORSED by Arlen Specter."
Would it be irrational to at least lay out the pros and cons of all this? Is there NO chance that Santorum is making a calculated move in the pursuit of goals we share? The knee jerk is to say he's betrayed us, but are we sure of that?
Those knives in the back really smarts, right Trent Lott, Orrin Hatch and Rick Santorum? You'll be needing the conservatives once again in just awhile. Remember that turkeys!
I am really a big Rick Santorum fan. When I worked on Capital Hill he was such a nice and passionate guy, and always kind to me. I am a little dissapointed by this, but maybe Specter will step up and let the monkey business slide.
Well, Arlen, the conservatives might have another agenda in '06, after this double-cross by Santorum. If I were having to beg for my job, I'd have the sense to keep my mouth shut. I'm beginning to suspect Hellery let Arlen have a copy of someone's FBI files in order to help another leftist in his hour of need.
Our job is to keep the heat on him, and raise expectations if necessary.
Look at it this way: a more conservative chair would operate under a constant, daily assault from the MSM, thus slowing the pace of confirmations. Specter, by contrast, will provide an effective foil for Bush and his nominees.
Strategery.
Santorum is following the above motto. A neutered Specter is better than a jumping Specter.
Politics requires a strong stomach, since in order to accomplish anything, honest politicians must deal with snakes.
And make no mistake. Specter is a snake temporarily defanged. He'll wait for his change to bite us back later.
So, yes, I would have preferred no Specter at all, but I also understand Santorum's dilemma.
My view is that Santorum figures he has to move to the left to be reelected in Pennsylvania, and he has begun that process by backing Specter. And thus another RINO is born.
Or, if he gets brutally knocked off, he has a new shiny axe to grind on every other senate vote.
Not saying it's good, but it's politics.
Specter must have something on Santorum. Wonder what it could be.
What is happening here, is that the Senate is closing ranks in the face of special interest interference. They, the Senators believe that it would be perceived badly if they cave.
It was written on the wall in bold marker before this began and is playing out as I suspected.
All in all, Specter has been warned, and in politics a wounded politician is not a good thing, but I have faith that they can keep him in line.
Reality bites, but this mess must come to a conclusion where everyone feels like they won. That is politics.
So it is written.
Please. Specter has nothing on Rick. Now that Specter has made his deal to support the President, Rick is doing what he should be doing.
We are a big tent. We accomplish nothing in the minority.
And the President will get his district, appellate and Supreme Court justices with Arlen Specter as judiciary chair. Ain't life ironic and politics interesting.
If Spectre tries blocking ANY Bush judge, I'll get the torches if someone else will provide the pitchforks!
Oh,please give us a break. I was as worried as anybody after the post-election statement Specter made. But since then he's been neutered as an opponent of any conservative judges. Every word he utters in hearings will be analyzed to the nth degree for the slightest back-tracking on his pledge to move every nominee to the floor for a vote.
If we're going to be a majority, governing party we can't be terrified of anyone who may hold differing opinions on specific issues as long as they stick to a basic level of fairness towards the president's nominees.
That's the mistake the Rats have made demanding an ideological purity that's ended up chasing the moderate/conservatives like Zell Miller and others from their ranks. If we do the same we'll suffer the same fate.
I wouldn't worry about Specter anymore.
He's been forced back on his heels to make concessons.
While it is apparent Specter will get the chair, the grassroots movement accomplished its goals.
Now we have the best of both worlds.
Specter will not be an obstacle to Bush's appointments, but he will give a "moderate" face to the proceedings. When Bush's appointments get through Specter, the Democrats will have no basis to block them. They won't be able to call them "extremists" who got a rubber stamp from a compliant conservative panel.
After giving it much thought, I have come to the conclusion that Specter chairing the judicial committee will be for the best. Thanks to the efforts of conservatives, and the defense of Specter by his senate collegues, Specter will be sure to be a team player, knowing that he is in debted to his fellow Republicans for giving him the chance. In the end, confirmation will actually be quicker and easier. With the "maverick" Specter's approval, the Democrats will be defanged.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.