Posted on 11/07/2004 10:43:35 AM PST by TakeChargeBob
In the justified outrage over the pompous comments by Arlen Specter the day after the election, we have overlooked the simple fact of what a wonderful gift we have received. The critical issue is how we can best cash in on that gift. We need to focus on winning the war rather than winning a particular battle.
The objective is to get strong qualified judges who will not legislate from the bench. We must develop the best strategy that achieves the objective.
One tactic that has been strongly advocated in most of the FR comments was to stop Specter from heading the judiciary committee. There are really 2 fundamental ideas that come through in the suggestions. The first idea is that we cannot have someone lead the judiciary committee that will be an obstructionist. In light of his comments and past actions, can Specter be trusted? It is this idea that had me strongly support the stop Specter campaign. The second idea was retribution focusing in on revenge -i.e. look what he did to Bork. In fact, one could cite a whole litany of issues with which to be angry at Specter. While it may feel good, we should not forget one of the main lessons of the most recent election. A campaign of hatred and revenge is doomed to fail. Why give our enemies any ammunition to hurt us with? Consider how this would be reported and would be used against us.
Is the battle against Specter the one that we need? The answer would clearly be yes if Specter would be an obstructionist. Perhaps other than security, the makeup of the court is clearly the most important issue that we must stand up and fight for. There are a number of us that are frustrated by the inaction of the current Senate in standing up for our nominees. While the nuclear option was not possible in the current Senate makeup, we might have tried a 24/7 filibuster. In fairness, this might not have been realistic because of the physical and technical difficulties in having our membership available around the clock versus the requirements of the opposition.
Let’s look ahead to the next Congress and consider the gift that Specter has given us. To realize the gift, imagine if Specter were silent. He would have had the judiciary chairmanship unchallenged. It is true that we might have grumbled or tried unsuccessfully to stop Specter's ascension but it would have fallen short. We would have had no leverage on Specter. The gift is that we now have leverage on Specter. What is that leverage and how can we best utilize it? The post of Chairman has been coveted by Specter for a long time. Note how quick Specter is to backtrack on his comments. In fact, Karl Rove comment’s today has given Specter support. Here is the price that we must extract from Specter.
1. Specter must agree not to stop any nominees from the process and give a quick hearing and an up and down floor vote to all Bush’s nominees. This is just an affirmation of Specter’s comments that he made in the last few days.
2. Specter must agree not to filibuster any nominee.
3. Specter must agree to support the motion to uphold the constitution and have only 50 votes (with VP tiebreaker) to support the President’s nominees to the court and other positions. In other wors support the nuclear option.
The last item is the real gift. Consider the tactic. Specter who would most likely vote against the nuclear option will have that condition held for his chairmanship. We would have turned a No vote into a Yes vote on the most important issue. If Specter’s yes vote is the one that would make the difference, then Specter’s comments will have been a godsend.
One more important thought about the courts. We must also leverage the future ambitions of our Senators to come through on the nuclear option. We must require that Frist put this to a vote in the next Congress and get the Senators on record as to their position. We will make it clear to defeat any Republican that will vote against the nuclear option. (We must position the nuclear option as upholding the constitution.) With 55 Senators, we only need no more than 5 defections to succeed. With Specter in the fold, there would be one less sure defection.
I appreciate any thoughts on how we can best achieve our objective.
1. Specter will agree to anything to get the chairmanship.
2. Specter will renege on any promises after the fact.
3. There are sufficient RINOs and Dimwits to block any effort to remove Specter from the chairmanship after his appointment to it.
4. Fool me once (sabotaging Bork nominination), shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me (Scottish law applied to Clinton impeachment). WTF? A third chance for this clymer?
GRASSROOTSPA CALL TO ACTION
STOP SPECTER FROM BLOCKING BUSH'S JUDGES
Contact Senator Frist 202-224-3135
Contact Senator Santorum 202-224-6324
Tell them in no uncertain terms that Specter cannot be made Senate Judiciary Chairman
Do NOT take "no" for an answer!
Bush has no Mandate?
Just say "NO" To Specter's Games!
Senate Judiciary Committee GOP Members
Contact Senator Orrin Hatch 202-224-5251
Contact Senator Charles Grassley 202-224-3744
Contact Senator Jon Kyl 202-224-4521
Contact Senator Mike DeWine 202-224-2315
Contact Senator Jeff Sessions 202-224-4124
Contact Senator Lindsey Graham -202-224-5972
Contact Senator Larry Craig 202-224-2752
Contact Senator Saxby Chambliss 202-224-3521
Contact Senator John Cornyn 202-224-2934
Well we need a 55-45 split on the committee plus at least two more Republicans. That would give Republicans a three vote edge.
I agree with you 100%, Scott
What is your position if Specter could be the deciding vote on the nuclear option? The thought is that the nuclear option would be brought up as the first order of business. Then the chairmenships could be voted on. This way reneging is not a possibility.
One other important point that I left out. Consider what ousting Specter would do. That would turn a vote against us that might be otherwise available (at least sometimes).
No compromise. No collaboration. Specter must be defeated. All RINOS will be marginalised.
I appreciate your PA insight. Understand that Specter wants the position to last. It should be made clear to him that he will be outsted at the next session at the latest. I do not know if there are any measures to get him changed from the judiciary. Perhaps, the Senate rules adopted at the next Congress can give the right of the Majority leader to make changes of Chairmen as he sees fit. Of course Specter must not oppose that rule as well.
While we may be angered at specter. what can an angered Specter do in retribution. We must win the war. the battle is less important.
Hey Hav, Just what DID Specter say a week after winning the primary and having the Prez run in to save him at the last minute ?
The reason Specter covets the Judiciary Chairmanship is so he can protect Roe v. Wade from those evil Republicans. Once you understand that, you realize that we can not put Specter in that position. Specter doesn't care about titles, he cares about results and Specter is willing to do anything to protect abortion rights.
However, winning THIS battle is critical to winning the war.
Yep, who the Republicans give the Chairman's job is entirely up to us. We have seniority rules to be fair. In this case, Specter's views are so out of whack with the parties views that it would be counterproductive to give him the appointment. This is perhaps the most important chairmanship we have, but the position should be earned. Specter's statements, positions, and actions should disqualify him from consideration for this role. We would have to be brain dead if we put Specter in that position.
I would guess a lot of Germans thought of Hitler(during his rise to power up the ranks), in the same way. Before 9/11 most of us Americans, while we may have thought that Muslims were animalistic by nature, thought the same way about them.
Specter is nothing more then an ultra Liberal with an R and the end of his name. Would not surprize me in the least if he was a mole for the Libs. So to even suggest we give this idiot any power over Judge appointments, let alone "The Power", is idiocy. The days of bending over for Libs is over. Some folks just don't seem to realise this.
The real world is that Pennsylvania will not be hurt on the budget process. That is fantasy.
The anger that has permeated these comments is not unfounded but let's keep our eye on the prize. There is no way we can count on 6 Dems to support a nuclear option.
What Specter wants is power. no matter how repugnantit is to have him as chairman. We can extract a price. just look at how he is backtracking.
You stated the crucial question, "Can Specter be trusted?" I think not. The stakes are too high to take a chance.
What good is it to be the majority party when you countenance committee chairman who do not consistently agree with the majority view? It should not be too much to expect a committee chairman to be loyal to the party, and it's majority views, that got him elected. But as stated above, I don't believe that 'the party' should take the chance on Specter.
This is the second time I've seen this line of posts today. Can you please tell me what you folks intend to achieve by keeping Specter from this committee chairmanship?
http://www.gopusa.com/activist/petitions/petition.php?petition=specter_chairman
Petition to remove Specter as Chair...please sign!
Way not to take charge.
Bob.
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