A Middle Gorund on Arlen Specter

Powerline blog ^ | November 8, 2004 | Hindrocket

[hansel]

It feels a little funny to type that post title, as I don't often find myself seeking middle ground. But this is one time when it may be appropriate.

Like Deacon, I've been torn on the issue of Sen. Specter ascending to the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. We have gotten many emails from readers encouraging us--that's a polite term--to unload on Specter and campaign against his chairmanship. And I entirely agree that what Specter did, in warning President Bush as to what judges he may or may not appoint, and implicitly threatening to torpedo any who do not meet Specter's litmus test, was outrageous and unacceptable. Specter's lack of loyalty would be appalling even if President Bush had not helped to save the Senator's seat by supporting him in a tough primary fight. Further, I am deeply concerned that Specter as committee chairman can single-handedly reverse what should be a political debacle for the Democrats by joining them in branding the President's nominees as somehow outside the mainstream.

On the other hand, I think Hugh Hewitt makes a persuasive case that the unintended consequences of attacking Specter and denying him the chairmanship he covets are likely to be worse than allowing him to succeed according to normal rules. The Senate is a place where rules and traditions are very important, and Specter is not alone as a squishy Republican in that chamber. There are at least three or four other Senators whose votes on judicial nominees and other matters will be critical, and who are likely to react adversely if Specter is deposed.

While I don't have much faith in Specter, it is a fact that he has supported every judicial nomination President Bush has made so far. In that context, it is hard to justify upsetting normal rules to deny him the chairmanship.

Here is my suggestion: Senator Bill Frist wants to run for President in four years. Management of the Senate majority is his job, and he has come in for criticism since he became Majority Leader. If the President's judicial nominations start going down in flames because Frist can't keep his caucus together, his Presidential hopes will be badly damaged. So I intend to call and email Senator Frist to express my extreme dismay at Specter's ill-advised comments; to ask Frist to consider seriously whether Specter can appropriately serve as chairman of the Judiciary Committee after pre-emptively seeking to limit the President's discretion in appointing judges; and to ask that, should Specter be allowed to become chairman, assurance be given that he will use his best efforts to secure the confirmation of the President's nominees.

I think the reality is that Specter is going to be chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The best impact we can have, I think, is to let the party's leadership in the Senate know how important this issue is to us, and that we intend to hold Frist responsible if the nomination process goes off the rails.

Emails can be sent to Senator Frist here. His office's phone number is 202-224-3344. Posted by Hindrocket at 05:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

[curiosity]

This guy has exactly the right idea when it comes to Specter: recognize that it is tactically necessary to give him the chairmanship, but let the leadership know our unhappiness. That way they'll hold his feet to the fire, and the favor he'll owe them for "saving" him will be that much bigger.

[Lauren BaRecall]

If we don't, we will be seen as intolerant.

Well, we ARE intolerant of liberal tactics.

That will get us NOTHING we want.

And "The Swimmer"© really came around with "The New Tone,"® didn't he? Sure, I remember that during the all night filibuster over judicial appointments, "Old Kennedy"© said to the Republicans, "That does it for me; I'm in with you guys!"

I really respect Krauthammer's positions and even he said throwing Specter over would be a waste of Bush's political cover and could adversely effect the Republicans.

That's all right. We'll be Bush's cover.

We won. Let's act like it.