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Moderate Senator Fights for Top Judiciary Post
Reuters ^ | Nov 8, 2004 | Reuters

Posted on 11/08/2004 5:26:23 PM PST by mdittmar

Sen. Arlen Specter pledged on Monday not to oppose Supreme Court nominees just because they are anti-abortion as the moderate Republican fought to keep alive his bid to head the Senate panel that oversees judicial nominations.

"Absolutely not, and it's not just what I'm saying — I have done it. I have not applied a litmus test, and have voted to confirm pro-life judges," he said in a television interview.

But conservative critics kept calling for someone other than the Pennsylvania senator to be Judiciary Committee chairman in the newly elected Congress, and other Senate Republicans said little or nothing in Specter's defense.

Specter, who favors keeping abortion legal, is in line to replace the more conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, as chairman based on seniority.

Peterson Jury Urged to Keep an Open Mind N.J. Governor Delivers Farewell Address Moderate Senator Fights for Top Judiciary Post He angered conservatives last week by saying he thought it unlikely the newly elected Senate — even with its Republican majority expanded to 55 — would confirm a Supreme Court nominee who wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case legalizing abortion.

The question of who wields the gavel in the Judiciary Committee is crucial. President Bush may make several nominations to the Supreme Court during his second term because Chief Justice William Rehnquist is ailing and other judges are thought to be close to retirement.

The Senate is expected to pick a chairman next week. First, the Republican members of the committee must nominate the chairman by secret ballot. Then, according to party rules, another secret ballot vote is taken by all Senate Republicans.

If they reject the committee's recommendation, the matter is sent back to committee with instructions for it to nominate someone else.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arlen; arlenspecter; borkespecter; notamoderateatall; rino; specter; specterspectre
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Jim Robinson ping.
1 posted on 11/08/2004 5:26:24 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: mdittmar

We've got Specter where we want him, on the record as "not going to oppose Bush's nominees.

Not the time for bloodletting IMHO.


2 posted on 11/08/2004 5:27:57 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: mdittmar

Ai carumba! Spector is a LIBERAL -- why can't we get the democrat media to tell it like it is? "Moderate" -- sheesh!


3 posted on 11/08/2004 5:28:13 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: mdittmar

Moderate?


4 posted on 11/08/2004 5:28:14 PM PST by Cedric
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To: mdittmar

Never, never, never, Specter.


5 posted on 11/08/2004 5:28:17 PM PST by freekitty
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To: mdittmar
Moderate Senator Fights for Top Judiciary Post

ModerateLeft of center Senator Fights for Top Judiciary Post

Much more accruate title!

6 posted on 11/08/2004 5:28:23 PM PST by CatOwner
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To: mdittmar
This is NOT about abortion. That is old news.

THIS IS ABOUT INTEGRITY. SPECTER MUST GO.


7 posted on 11/08/2004 5:28:50 PM PST by Diogenesis ("Then I say unto you, send men to summon ... worms. And let us go to Fallujah to collect heads.")
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To: mdittmar

It's long past the deadline for Senator Specter to come on over to the "dark side". A Republican imitating a Democrat is really not a wholesome spectacle anyway.


8 posted on 11/08/2004 5:29:00 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: mdittmar


After hearing Karl Rove on two Sunday shows,
I am all for letting the WH handle Specter.


9 posted on 11/08/2004 5:29:05 PM PST by onyx
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To: onyx

Progressive=Socialist
Moderate Republican=Socialist


10 posted on 11/08/2004 5:30:08 PM PST by Rome2000 (Democrats are perverted socialist crooks)
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To: mdittmar

A moderate what? A moderate liberal maybe.


11 posted on 11/08/2004 5:30:16 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: mdittmar
Sen. Arlen Specter pledged on Monday not to oppose Supreme Court nominees just because they are anti-abortion as the moderate Republican fought to keep alive his bid to head the Senate panel that oversees judicial nominations.

First off, Arlen Specter is NOT a "moderate." That's the Leftist media carrying water for him.

Second, if given the choice between letting Specter screw us AGAIN and kicking him off the Judiciary Committee, I'll opt for the latter. I'll never forget or forgive his squandering of the Clinton impeachment.

So, in the final analysis, TO HELL WITH SPECTER.

12 posted on 11/08/2004 5:30:38 PM PST by Prime Choice (Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Arlen Specter's gotta go!)
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To: OwnershipSociety
We've got Specter where we want him,

No, we don't.

He is still in the Senate.

13 posted on 11/08/2004 5:31:43 PM PST by Michael.SF. (Well, Kerry did win the exit polls.)
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To: mdittmar

This is exactly why RINOs ought to be bumped off in primaries, senority being a huge liability in this case.


14 posted on 11/08/2004 5:32:38 PM PST by kittymyrib
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To: OwnershipSociety
We've got Specter where we want him, on the record as "not going to oppose Bush's nominees.

There's an old saying which goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

I'm not about to let Specter fool us twice. Specter's got to go. Anyone who leaves him in place to slither out of the spot he's in is a fool.

15 posted on 11/08/2004 5:33:28 PM PST by Prime Choice (Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Arlen Specter's gotta go!)
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To: Rome2000


I noticed that too.
"Moderate" is not correct.
He's an Eastern lib, with darn few GOP stances.
Law and order is all I can cite.


16 posted on 11/08/2004 5:34:55 PM PST by onyx
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To: OwnershipSociety

you've got to be kidding....he's a liberal...he lies....what he says on record means diddly.

let him do a Jeffords or give him some bs chair.

W and Rove and Santorum only supported him cause they feared Toomey would lose.


17 posted on 11/08/2004 5:37:08 PM PST by wardaddy (The only thing we share with collectivists and ragheads is death.)
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To: Michael.SF.

Let's look ahead a bit. Specter is a louse, but he's our louse. We don't have a big enough majority to toss him and let him drag Snow, Chaffey, Hagle, Collins and the other "moderates". Specter has given a pledge to support the nominees of the WH. The President and Rove are willing to work with Specter so should we.


18 posted on 11/08/2004 5:37:51 PM PST by Wardawg (Beware the Hildebeast cometh. It comes from the left with a shrillness.)
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To: kittymyrib

Which of the senators are RINO's? (Republican in name only)
besides McCain and Spechter?
I'm just not a political junkie so I am not up on all this.


19 posted on 11/08/2004 5:39:07 PM PST by stopem
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To: wardaddy

You can't kick him out of the Senate and what if the 4 or 5 other moderates decide they don't like how Specter is treated?

We do not have enough power to go on a witch burning spree right now.


20 posted on 11/08/2004 5:40:51 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: wardaddy
W and Rove and Santorum only supported him cause they feared Toomey would lose.

I wonder if they regret that stance yet?

21 posted on 11/08/2004 5:42:05 PM PST by NeoCaveman (Don't blame me, I volunteered for Toomey)
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To: Wardawg

Absolutley, we can't kick him out of the Senate and what if the 4 or 5 other moderates decide they don't like how Specter is treated? What if they then decide to make trouble?

We do not have enough power to go on a witch-burning spree right now.


22 posted on 11/08/2004 5:42:06 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: Michael.SF.

We can't kick him out of the Senate and what if the 4 or 5 other moderates decide they don't like how Specter is treated? What if they then decide to make trouble?

We do not have enough power to go on a witch-burning spree right now.


23 posted on 11/08/2004 5:42:31 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: onyx
After hearing Karl Rove on two Sunday shows, I am all for letting the WH handle Specter.

Bingo!!!

24 posted on 11/08/2004 5:43:28 PM PST by woodyinscc
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To: OwnershipSociety
We can't kick him out of the Senate and what if the 4 or 5 other moderates decide they don't like how Specter is treated? What if they then decide to make trouble?

With a heavy heart, I have to agree with you.

25 posted on 11/08/2004 5:43:29 PM PST by NeoCaveman (Don't blame me, I volunteered for Toomey)
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To: OwnershipSociety

No. I don't buy it. There are two many ways a Chairman can drag his feet and screw things up without actively opposing a nominee we want.

Specter is not to be trusted and we would be fools to hand him a gavel.


26 posted on 11/08/2004 5:43:47 PM PST by Ronin (When the fox gnaws....SMILE!)
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To: mdittmar
"He angered conservatives last week by saying he thought it unlikely the newly elected Senate... would confirm a Supreme Court nominee who wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade,"

Specter must be senile to even make such a stupid statement. I can't ever remember a nominee saying he wanted to overturn Roe.

What Specter really meant is that he would consider any nominee who is pro-life to be objectionable even if he has never expressed an opinion on Roe.

27 posted on 11/08/2004 5:44:16 PM PST by bayourod (Specter's litmus test : "No Christian Judges")
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To: mdittmar

Arlie Sphincter isn't a *moderate* GOPer; Sphincter's a liberal-demokkkRAT in GOP duds.

Throw his stinking ass out!


28 posted on 11/08/2004 5:44:23 PM PST by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
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To: woodyinscc


Hi woody!
Glad you agree.
Now I know I'm right. :)


29 posted on 11/08/2004 5:45:44 PM PST by onyx
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To: OwnershipSociety

No, Specter lies and deceives. He cannot be trusted, or taken at his word. This is far too important to take a chance.


30 posted on 11/08/2004 5:46:05 PM PST by savedbygrace ("No Monday morning quarterback has never led a team to victory" GW Bush)
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To: OwnershipSociety

you don't know that...you fear that.

two different things.

i never said "kick him out" btw...

i said give him a bs chair or let him jump with jim.


31 posted on 11/08/2004 5:47:15 PM PST by wardaddy (The only thing we share with collectivists and ragheads is death.)
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To: Ronin

I understand but forcing him out may be much worse for us.

We can't overplay our hand right now. We do not have enough power. Everyone is just feeling their oats over the great election. You watch, the moderates led by the Mc-He-gar troika will be out soon taking Specters side.


32 posted on 11/08/2004 5:47:28 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: OwnershipSociety

"We do not have enough power to go on a witch-burning spree right now."


Krauthammer on Brit's panel mentioned just this point tonight. He said it would look terrible for the party. IMHO we would look very intolerant. In other words, we'd be just like the Dems.


33 posted on 11/08/2004 5:47:47 PM PST by hansel
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To: mdittmar

Did you hear Specter on Sean Hannity today?

Turned my stomach.

Get him out. NOW.


34 posted on 11/08/2004 5:48:32 PM PST by Republic If You Can Keep It
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To: wardaddy

And what if he takes 3 or 4 others with him? Would that be worth it? NO!!!

Bush wanted him to win in PA, I think that is enough. He won, he is in there, I think bloodletting power plays right now will back fire on us.


35 posted on 11/08/2004 5:49:25 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: mdittmar
RINO Arlen Spectre is not a moderate. That is why he is called a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

I say that he should not be nominated or given the Senate Judiciary Committee chairmanship. I say that the be voted out of that spot, and if he wants to stomp his feet and pout and change over to the Democrat party, that would be just fine with me.

He can keep Jumpin' Jim Jeffords company. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

36 posted on 11/08/2004 5:50:33 PM PST by Frohickey
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To: Prime Choice
I'm not about to let Specter fool us twice. Specter's got to go.

Agreed, once we take his knife, he can't stab us in the back. I would be foolish to let him keep it.

37 posted on 11/08/2004 5:50:44 PM PST by Navy Patriot
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To: dubyaismypresident

it made me uncomfortable...a renegade senator is worse than a dem senator...more complicated.

sometimes W and Karl do things like CFR and Dope for the Elderly and the Education bill which make little sense to me....not to mention their pro-migra outlook.

W got zilch capital from the dope or education fundings...ditto the afican aids initiative.

W can whip the raghead savages I know and have faith there....God put him here for that first.

What he does with judicial appointments will outlive all but the youngest freepers and I see Scottish Law as standing in the way.


38 posted on 11/08/2004 5:51:01 PM PST by wardaddy (The only thing we share with collectivists and ragheads is death.)
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To: hansel

Yes! Looks very, very bad and Specter could really stick it to us if we do it.

Our chance was in the PA primary. We got beat. End of story.


39 posted on 11/08/2004 5:51:16 PM PST by OwnershipSociety
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To: onyx

We elected 4 new pub Senators, with a 55 to 44-1 majority we should have a four seat edge on the committee. This is what the dimwits had when they were in the same position. Let us see how this shakes itself out.


40 posted on 11/08/2004 5:52:48 PM PST by woodyinscc
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To: OwnershipSociety

More "what ifs"?

how long have you been a conservative??

we try to go on facts and empirical observations around here.

W has loads of political capital as he declared last week.

I hope he uses it.

Where does overturning Roe v Wade rank in your laundry list?

Very high on mine.


41 posted on 11/08/2004 5:53:24 PM PST by wardaddy (The only thing we share with collectivists and ragheads is death.)
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To: onyx
"I am all for letting the WH handle Specter. "

Maybe the WH strategy is to stay out of Senate business and rely upon us conservative Bush supporters to block Specter.

The Committee chairman can smooth the way through confirmation or allow an unending string of witnesses to Bork a nominee with spurious unproven charges that are repeated every night on the news for weeks and used by the Democrats to rally support from their extremists party members.

42 posted on 11/08/2004 5:53:57 PM PST by bayourod (Specter's litmus test : "No Christian Judges")
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To: stopem

Snowe, Chaffee...there's another I can't recall...


43 posted on 11/08/2004 5:54:21 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: OwnershipSociety
Specter could really stick it to us if we do it.

Given what you know about Specter, do you trust him to do the right thing?

44 posted on 11/08/2004 5:55:15 PM PST by reformed_democrat (Just a red-state woman trapped in a blue-state nightmare.)
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To: mdittmar

Moderate???? Specter is so socialist he makes Kerry look conservative.


45 posted on 11/08/2004 5:56:04 PM PST by cynicom (<p)
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To: wardaddy

What you said. :-)


46 posted on 11/08/2004 5:58:14 PM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: stopem
McCain (RINO-AZ)
Lugar (RINO-IN)
Snowe (RINO-ME)
Collins (RINO-ME)
DeWine (RINO-OH)
Smith (RINO-OR)
Spectre (RINO-PA)
Chafee (RINO-RI)
Warner (RINO-VA)

Pretty much anyone that voted to extend the AWB ban. Spectre voted 'NAY', but he gets 'religion' when it comes time for his reelection bid. Since the AWB vote for S1805 was in 2004, and he knew it was time to face his constituency again, he found religion and voted against the reauthorization of the ban.

47 posted on 11/08/2004 5:58:56 PM PST by Frohickey
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To: OwnershipSociety
"I think bloodletting power plays right now will back fire on us."

Then join us in opposing Specter. If he gets the chairmanship there will be bloodletting every time he lets the Democrats torture a nominee for weeks before sending the name to the entire Senate with a recommendation not to confirm.

48 posted on 11/08/2004 6:00:10 PM PST by bayourod (Specter's litmus test : "No Christian Judges")
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To: Wardawg
Specter has given a pledge to support the nominees of the WH.

Knowing Specter's record, do you trust him to live up to his pledge?

49 posted on 11/08/2004 6:00:12 PM PST by reformed_democrat (Just a red-state woman trapped in a blue-state nightmare.)
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To: mdittmar
Sean Hannity interviewed Arlen Spector on his radio program this afternoon. In my opinion I do not think Spector can be fully trusted and should still be held accountable for not convicting Bill Clinton based on "Scottish Law".

I do not understand why President Bush spent so much of his political capital campaigning for Spector, but my hopes are that for the President's generous efforts that Spector will return the favor with great magnanimity.

If, however, republicans have the chance to make a bold decision as to the Chairman of the Judiciary, please let it be a very fine, upstanding conservative and not some finger in the wind moderate.

50 posted on 11/08/2004 6:00:42 PM PST by harpo11 ('W' is for We The People Are Winners!)
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