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O.K. Here's an analysis that I'd like to see. During President Bush's first term, a small proportion of his judicial nominees were turned back because they were portrayed as having extreme viewpoints. Much was made of this for a while.

Of those Senators that opposed the President in this matter that were up for re-election, how many of them won or lost? And for how many of them was this an election issue?

Regardless of Senator Spector's motives on this, what kind of political traction does this issue provide? If President Bush pushes a nominee that becomes portrayed (fairly or not) as having extreme views, and the issue comes down to a cloture vote, is it likely to hurt or help him? Is it likely to hurt or help the Senators involved (since some of them will be facing election 2 years from now)? Can we draw any conclusions on these questions based on the Senatorial elections that have just occurred?

What's the point of winning elections if there is no impact on judiciary appointments? The whole point of getting conservatives elected is to make these tough choices? I get tired of all the calculating. Principle has to trump the politics at some point.

Who gets to decide what extreme is? Charlie Schumer?

Ok, here is the rundown Currently..

All the major libs sit on this one.

(R)Orrin G. Hatch
CHAIRMAN, UTAH

(d)Patrick J. Leahy
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT

(R)Charles E. Grassley
IOWA

(d)Edward M. Kennedy
MASSACHUSETTS

(R)Arlen Specter
PENNSYLVANIA

(d)Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
DELAWARE

(R)Jon Kyl
ARIZONA

(d)Herbert Kohl
WISCONSIN

(R)Mike DeWine
OHIO

(d)Dianne Feinstein
CALIFORNIA

(R)Jeff Sessions
ALABAMA

(d)Russell D. Feingold
WISCONSIN

(R)Lindsey Graham
SOUTH CAROLINA

(d)Charles E. Schumer
NEW YORK

(R)Larry Craig
IDAHO

(d)Richard J. Durbin
ILLINOIS

(R)Saxby Chambliss
GEORGIA

(d)John Edwards
NORTH CAROLINA

(R)John Cornyn
TEXAS

Now Edwards is gone, and Orrin can't be chairman, so who else wiould be put up. Specter would have to be moved to another committee, and that won't happen.

Frist has already sent the message and this is specter's response.

Specter will lose this one, since the mandate was so large and clear. I agree to look for the test.

There may also be some rule changes as well, that may affect this greatly whereas Specter would lose some of the power he would have, or mainly the dems ability to fillibuster is now greatly reduced.

Regards,
Sonar5