Posted on 11/05/2004 6:28:01 AM PST by Always Right
Specter Retreats: Specter denied yesterday that he threatened Bush on judge nominees. Don’t buy it. Specter knows that he got too arrogant and stepped into a hornets nest. Specter’s statement that, “I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue,” just is not true. Specter has made it clear that he considers Roe v. Wade as Constitutional as the First Amendment. When the rubber hits the road, this is a litmus test for Specter. A few token votes to save his behind doesn’t change that a bit. Never forget what he did to Bork. In words and actions, Sen. Specter is no different than President NON-elect Kerry.
The BUZZ on this issue was outstanding. Discussions were all over talk radio, cable TV, and the internet. Several reports of phone calls flooding Senators offices were made. Reportedly, Sen. Frist grilled Sen. Specter on this and told him flatly that the Judiciary Chairmanship is not guaranteed. Folks, this is winnable. We can not let this issue die.
Today’s goal is to STRATEGIZE. Things we know:
1. Sen. Hatch must resign the Chairmanship because GOP rules forbid him to hold it for more than 8 years.
2. Sen. Grassley is next in line, but because he is Finance Chairman he is forbidded to have both.
3. Sen. Specter is next in line, followed by Sen. Kyl who would make an excellent Chairman.
4. Seniority on Committee gives priority, but it still must be voted on. We need to find out the when, what, where, and how behind this vote.
There is an effort to try to persuade Grassley to resign his Finance Chairmanship and take the Judiciary. I support this. It’s a clean way to resolve this without changing the rules or ruffling of too many feathers. But having Grassley give up the coveted Finance Chair is a big if.
Let’s keep in mind the real goal here too as we strategize. We want Bush to appoint good conservative judges who will not go along with the judicial activism that currently runs rabid in our courts. There are two obstacles to this.
1. Democrat Filibusters.
2. Specter as Chairman of Judiciary.
The next 60 will determine how big the obstacles will be. In my opinion, what happens over the next 60 days are the most critical. We need to establish a clean path so Bush’s appointed judges can get voted on the full floor of the Senate. We must keep up the pressure on our Senators. If we let it die now, nothing will be done and we will have lost the best opportunity of our lives to make a difference in our Courts.
There is a preliminary petition at that is being worked on here. Please review it. Pro-Life Petition to Block Sen. Arlen Specter.
Specter Ping List
Your link to the petition isn't working.
Specter has to be removed from Judiciary for the good of the country.
Is Grassley reliable? Isn't he a little squishy himself?
Great to watch the Specter smackdown on the evening news, and read about it in the Journal this morning and know we were a part of it.
How DARE he try to slither out of this! Frist needs to be a man and either jump over Specter and seat Kyl or get him off the judiciary all together. Please keep this going.
Specter is the "Goliath" and we must be "David"s.
Put me on your Specter ping list.
I will do what I can.
On a related subject, I hope the Pres has given up on the idea of embracing the killer senator from Massachusettes.
I actually heard news (ABC radio) regarding the "grass roots effort" among voters to ensure Sphincter does not attain the Chairmanship ofthe Judiciary. The reporter stated that pansy Frist had received literally thousands of E-mails and phone calls requesting that he be removed from consideration for that post.
It will be interesting to see if the limp-wristed Republican leadership will serve as an additional impediment to President Bush's mandate, or if they will grow a set and actually realize that the people overwhelmingly support their positions.
Is Grassley reliable? Isn't he a little squishy himself?
Yes, he was one of the leaders of the Souter nomination in 1990. He didn't just vote for Souter but was one of his major patrons.
The link to Prolife petition to block Specter does not go anywhere.
Can you try that again please ?
Please add me to your ping list and thanks. We need a link that works, please.
Do you have an email address or phone number for Frist?
Guy, the Grassley option has some good potential and I applaud your tactical thinking on it, but I'm not convinced it is optimal to focus on it.
I suggest two things:
1) The pressure belongs on Frist every bit as much as Grassley. Senate rules also need not be changed if Specter's committee assignments do not include Judiciary, and Frist decides that. Let's not put all our eggs in the basket of convincing Grassley to abandon Finance.
2) Don't wave a red bandana in front of the media and the RINOs in Pennsylvania by labeling your petition Pro Life. If the PA RINOs tell Specter to fight, he will, and he has a ton of seniority. Better we leave it unlabelled and talk about his failure to vote Clinton out. The rest of us know the real score.
The AFT (American Federation of Teachers), AFL-CIO had endorsed Spector. He was the only Repub. they'd endorsed in their leftist magazine last month - all others were Dems.
What does THAT tell you!??....
Big "LOSER" - as Ah-nold says. GET RID OF HIM!
Thank you!
I sent an e-mail yesterday. I'll be making a phone call to Senator Inhofe's office today.
Do one thing every day. It will make a big difference.
Contact Senators Coburn and Inhofe.
Spector = Specter -- sorry.
Because he didn't.
No matter who is Chair of the committee, 40 Dems will still block any pro-life nominee.
Removing Specter for saying so will make no difference in the facts.
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