[hchutch]

Y'know... in a way, having Specter as the Judiciary Committee Chairman may be a benefit. Unlike Hatch, he is not seen as a hardliner on judicial nominations, and in fact is seen as a moderate.

I suspect it will not be Frist who makes the motion to go nuclear. Frist is seen as the President's man in the Senate. It will be too easy for the Rats to paint this as Dubya's bidding.

But if Arlen Specter is the one who raises the "point of order" on the judicial nominations, that changes the whole ball game. Specter is seen as the maverick, the moderate, the person who tries to build the bridges. It is harder to attack him as the Nazi than it would be to attack Frist as the Nazi.

[wrathof59]

Earlier this month Harry Reid viciously attacked Alan Greenspan, a man whom I never thought would be treated this way by the Senate minority leader.

These democrats are fighting for their very existence (like a wounded animal) and will attack anyone who they see fit.

The Dems will attack Spectre and rip him apart without batting an eye. I would be surprised if they didn't rip Spectre.

[Poohbah]

But if Arlen Specter is the one who raises the "point of order" on the judicial nominations, that changes the whole ball game. Specter is seen as the maverick, the moderate, the person who tries to build the bridges. It is harder to attack him as the Nazi than it would be to attack Frist as the Nazi.

Wonder what the my-way-or-no-f***ing-way folks who want to throw out Santorum will say then.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Y'know... in a way, having Specter as the Judiciary Committee Chairman may be a benefit. Unlike Hatch, he is not seen as a hardliner on judicial nominations, and in fact is seen as a moderate. I suspect it will not be Frist who makes the motion to go nuclear. Frist is seen as the President's man in the Senate. It will be too easy for the Rats to paint this as Dubya's bidding. But if Arlen Specter is the one who raises the "point of order" on the judicial nominations, that changes the whole ball game. Specter is seen as the maverick, the moderate, the person who tries to build the bridges. It is harder to attack him as the Nazi than it would be to attack Frist as the Nazi.

Perhaps, but that assumes that Lucy will finally hold the football until Charlie Brown kicks it.

[Zack Nguyen]

That is an excellent point. Yet I have my doubts as to whether Arlen Specter would be willing to compromise his precious reputation as a "reasonable" Republicna in the Senate to confirm a set of judges that he doesn't like anyway.

The fateful decision was made a year ago, when the PResident and Senator Santorum barnstormed Pennsylvania to re-elect Specter in the primary. He would not have won otherwise. As it stood, with total establishment support and a popular President by his side, he barely squeaked by.

[AmishDude]

You make a brilliant point. If Specter brings up the nuclear option, it's over. And he might. One thing that everybody should know is that you don't piss off Arlen Specter.

[Raycpa]

But if Arlen Specter is the one who raises the "point of order" on the judicial nominations, that changes the whole ball game.

Mother Teresa could come back from the dead to raise the point of order and the democrats would demonize her.