Bummer. At least he is loyal.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Got a beef? E-mail here:
http://santorum.senate.gov/emailrjs.html
Well, golly, surprize, surprize, surpriZe!
If they give specter the chair and he so much as looks at any of the nominees sideways they should remove him.
If they don't and he derails a conservative appointment then the GOP majority will end in 2006.
Voting for pro-abortion Specter is no different than voting for pro-abortion Kerry, in fact it's worse - Specter could do more damage to pro-life.
Yet one more piece of proof that Washington politicians really operate as a separate and distinct class from the rest of us, when push comes to shove.
MM
Don't take it out on Santorum. That's called eating your own.