All eyes on Sen. Specter

Washington Times ^ | Published November 5, 2004 | Editorial Staff

[vannrox]

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

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All eyes on Sen. Specter

Published November 5, 2004

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Sen. Arlen Specter had better watch out. The day after President Bush's election triumph, Republican Sen. Arlen Specter -- who is expected to be chosen chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee -- fired a warning shot across the bow of the ship of state: "The president is well aware of what happened, when a bunch of his nominees were sent up, with the filibusters. And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning."

As one of the few Republicans who opposed President Reagan nominee Robert Bork for the Supreme Court, and President George W. Bush's nominee for the federal bench (and now senator) Jeff Sessions, Mr. Specter's words are quite easy to decode. He is warning the president that he will block or oppose conservative nominations, no matter how qualified, for the high benches.

[Malleus Dei]

Specter must go. He is not on our side.

[26lemoncharlie]

Go to www.notspecter.com and sign the petition. Send Senator Frist an email/FAX/letter of Phone call protesting Specter's appointment.

From what has been on the news and the web, they are getting hammered with fax's, e-mail's phone calls. I mean people are up in arms about Specter. They want him off and out whatever.

We tried to replace him, but they stood up for him!! Now that we have him what do we do with him? Make him tow the line. I think Arlen has been bitch slapped quite a few times for this already. We cannot let him chair that committee.

He could do a lot of other damage to our goals just by the decesions and the operation of the chairmanship. We have to make him prove himself to us. I have no calls in a recall, but that seems impossiable.

[Cedar]

Specter cannot be Chairman!

Keep the calls, faxes, emails, pressure going. (And also many strong prayers.)

There IS a way out of this. As someone else has already mentioned on another thread, the Repub Senators DID NOT follow "tradition" when they selected Frist as Majority Leader.

They DON'T have to follow it now.

Let them know that we know!!

[RJL]

I've FAX'd and will call Frist's office and signed the online petitions. Now what? Anything?

First he has to be elected by the Republicans on the committee in a secret ballot, then he would go before the full Senate.

So it's very important to call the Republican members of the Judiciary Committee and Senate Leader Bill Frist to let them know how you feel.

Judiciary Committee

Majority Leader Bill Frist 202-224-3344 or 615-352-9411
Fax 202-228-1264 Bill_Frist@Frist.Senate.gov

Orrin Hatch (202) 224-5251
Charles Grassley (202)224.3744
Jon Kyl (202) 224-4521
Mike DeWine (202) 224-2315
Jeff Sessions (202) 224-4124
Lindsey Graham (202) 224-5972
Larry Craig 202/224-2752
Saxby Chambliss (202) 224-3521
John Cornyn 202-224-2934

[ppaul]

Arlen Sphincter

[fire_eye]

Does *anyone* have *any* idea *why* this idiot came screaming out of his corner like this?

If he wanted to torpedo Bush's appointments, the effective thing to have done would have been to have shut his pie-hole, secured his position on the SJC, and then set about methodically sabotaging Bush's appointments when they came through. Now, he's not only "telegraphed the punch", but set himself up for being removed from the committee and losing 90% of his influence over the confirmation process!!

I find it hard to believe he could be *that* stupid. Maybe so... but if not, there must be some "Deeper Significance" to what he's doing... I'm really open to entertaining conspiracy theories on this, because it's *hard* to imagine the guy could be *that* big of an idiot...

[lainde]

Thanks...Cheney is a good idea!

[freeangel]

I think he will if they deny him the Chair of this committee. At least, then, President Bush will know where this man stands for sure.

[maryz]

He has since dis-avowed applying litmus tests, but the fact of the matter is he is pro-abortion... and if you don't value life, how can you be trusted to value anything else other than your own power?

Roe v. Wade probably is a good (read: reliable) litmus test for judges (which is why the liberals use it): No strict constructionist considers it a good decision. "Living document" types love it both for itself and for promise of things to come.

[ThanhPhero]

Whereas, liberal Arlen Specter has a stated litmus test against pro-abortion judges

You let your whereases confuse you. The Specter's litmus test is against PRO-LIFE judges.

[Mamzelle]

I dunno about borking this guy--I suggest you email your senators that you are "aware" and "concerned" that we'll have our own homegrown RINO Daschle.

I would like to caution against turning a vain little Napolean into an outright enemy. It may well be that Specter was just preening and strutting for attention rather than ideology...there are many egomaniacs in the Senate. The Senate seems to do that to a lot of men.

Could be he was just running his silly mouth.

But--PLEASE--Check out Specter's donation records. , those of you able to get a good list. I seem to remember that Specter is a big recipient of trial lawyer money. That'll help you smack Specter back into place.

[maridee]

He will not change parties. He wants the power he has a Republican Majority party.

[Servant of the 9]

I think the paper is incorrect.
It was Jeff Session's father who was the Judge.
However Sessions is on the Judiciary Comittee and it would be perfect justice to make him Chairman, instead of Specter.

So0

[samtheman]

Frist is the key to this. The voters of TN must make it clear to Frist that his survival depends on how he handles this single issue. It's up to the rest of us to convince the voters of TN to give Frist that ultimatum. How do we do that?

[VaBthang4]

"Rove says Specter promised Bush expedited handling of judicial nominations"

For me...that is the signal from the White House to let him be.
I can only deduce that they've made some quid pro quo deals concerning Specter's election and W's nominees.

I'll now hold my fire. Once we merge with the enemy on the nominees I'll watch for Specter's activity. If at that point he gets in the way, the White House will turn on him and I'll get back to going after him.

For now it is clear, the White House will obliquely support him...therefore I cease fire.

[Rocky]

Stop Specter.