HERE'S THE PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT , FROM SPECTER'S OFFICE

NROTC ^ | 11/3/04 | Arlen Specter

[visualops]

So he considers himself a candidate for the Supreme Court?
Rigth after saying we need some "greatness"?
What qualifies him to sit on the SCOTUS?

[swilhelm73]

I got this from NRO. They claim it is the real deal, and I doubt they would make a mistake on this.

[jim from cleveland]

DUMP THIS SKUNK RINO....PUT HIM ON ANOTHER COMITEE....

IF W HAD SUPPORTED TOOMEY IN THE PRIMARIES HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE WON AND WOULD HAVE WON THE GENERAL ELECTION AS WELL...W WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE GOP FAITHFUL EVEN MORE REASON TO GET TO THE POLLS AND MAY HAVE TAKEN PA AS WELL

[Mase]

"So he considers himself a candidate for the Supreme Court?
Rigth after saying we need some "greatness"?
What qualifies him to sit on the SCOTUS?"

His profound self importance.

[primatreat]

Hatch for supreme court

[cynicom]

Bush wanted Specter, now let him live with him. Bush had no problem running Trent Lott off, how come he is too chicken to run Specter off?????

[El Gato]

SPECTER: When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v Wade, I think that is unlikely. And I have said that bluntly during the course of the campaign and before. When the Inquirer endorsed me, they quoted my statement that Roe v Wade was inviolate. And that 1973 decision, which has been in effect now for 33 years, was buttressed by the 1992 decision, written by three Republican justices-O'Conner, Souter, and Kennedy-and nobody can doubt Anthony Kennedy's conservativism or pro-life position, but that's the fabric of the country. Nobody can be confirmed today who didn't agree with Brown v. Board of Education on integration, and I believe that while you traditionally do not ask a nominee how they're going to decide a specific case, there's a doctorate and a fancy label term, stari decisis, precedent which I think protects that issue. That is my view, now, before, and always.

Stari decisis didn't save the laws against homsexual behavior, despite the fact the decision overturned wasn't even all that old.

Besides which the Roe v. Wade precedent does not prohibit any and all restrictions on abortioins. It only prohibits them as applied during the first trimester. During the second trimester it allowed restrictions, and it allowed outright bans during the third trimester, IIRC. That decision was based on the understanding of the day (actually the best lay understanding, the scientists already knew better). Since our knowledge of fetal developement is more complete today than 33 years ago, the decision would seem ripe for review. For example we can now "hear" the fetal heartbeat at 18 days. My daughter was able to hear her baby's heartbeat at both 7 and 11 weeks.

It's a crying shame that Specter can't be replaced with a real Republican.

[Kay Ludlow]

I emailed last night and did get an automated response. No real response.

[visualops]

Sounds about right lol

[Stormyta]

Yes I got a response from Senator Frist's office---but know he has been deluged with e-mails, phone calls and letters about this idiot----I pray he will look elsewhere for the head of the judiciary.

[monkeywrench]

"HIGHSMITH: Talk to us a little bit beyond judgeships, you said again today and last night that your goal now is to moderate the party, bring it to the center."

"SPECTER: Correct"

Someone needs to put this barely elected a-hole in his place!

[He Rides A White Horse]

I didn't vote for the President only to have Arlen Spector pick Supreme Court justices.

[cyn]

great -- thanks for finding and posting this. I called Sen. Frist this am.

[cyn]

"When the Inquirer endorsed me, they quoted my statement that Roe v Wade was inviolate."

Specter ping.

[MHGinTN]

Specter can spin all he likes, but his history is not pro-life nor even pro-Republican. Arlon Specter is as close to a democrat as one can get without kissing Puff Daschle's feet. Arlon must not be allowed to chair that committee and it would be even better to remove him from the committee all together. I recall hearings a few years ago (on appropriations committee) when Specter and DungHeap Harkin were in bed together pushing for federal funding to kill and strip embryos of their stem cell body parts for research. If Specter even believes in God, I have a feeling he 's in for a huge surprise when he stands before the Almighty ... something about doing to the least of these don'tchaknow!

[cpforlife.org]

Pro-Life PING

Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[cpforlife.org]

FWIW -- On Brit Hume there was some coverage of Specter and some video of his statements. Replay of show starting now and that piece in a few min.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I dislike this man since he was opposed to Clinton's impeachment. I hope he doesn't Chair the Judiciary Committee; he's a disaster and an embarrassment to Conservatives.

[Theodore R.]

I believe that Dr. Frist is afraid to tackle Specter. He thinks if Specter were removed from Judiciary, that Specter would switch parties and carry with him . . . Collins, Snowe, Chafee, Hagel, and a couple of others to make Harry Reid majority leader.

[Burlem]

Sen. Specter Backtracks on Supreme Court After Outcry

Oh dear, was it something we said? Sen. Arlen Specter is

scrambling to undo the damage caused by his attempt to boss President Bush on nominees for the Supreme Court.

A reader from State College, Pa., wrote us this morning: "Called Santorum's office re: the Specter story and they said they have been getting lots of calls. Specter's # has been busy all morning. I suspect, given the mandate Bush now has, people are frosted. I think this is a big story waiting to happen. Thank you."

The above was posted on another board, it was from newsmax.