Posted on 11/08/2004 12:08:08 AM PST by GeneralHavoc
Arizona Senator Jon Kyl would certainly make a great Senate Judiciary Chairman, and would be far less controversial than the liberal Specter, who conservatives trust about as far as they can throw Ted Kennedy. Kyl has a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 97 and is well respected by leaders on the Hill.
Senate staffers said last week that discussions are under way to consider whether Mr. Specter should serve as the Judiciary Committee chairman or elect an alternative committee member. Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, is the most senior committee member next to the current chairman, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, but has indicated he wants to remain the head of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.
Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, is next after Mr. Specter in seniority and is under consideration as a prospective chairman.
I like Sentator Cornyn also. He made an impression on me when the panel was up discussing the Iraqi Abu G... prison situation. Very good and clear speaker, getting his views across.
Yes. Grassley will never leave Finance because he wants ethanol subsidies for Iowa. Kyl is one of the best members we've got in the entire senate and they are very hard to come by since Helms' departure
He is, but he's also one of the types who likes to play it safe politically. He'll vote conservative as long as he thinks he can get away with it but he's more of a follower than Kyl is.
Here's some notes I took while Kyle was interviewed today on local Phoenix radio:
Kyle was interesting. He started by saying Specter was a "maverick" and on the "left side of the spectrum". He also called Specter's comments "ungrateful" toward the president considering how much he did to help Specter get reelected.
But then he said Specter has been backtracking on his comments and unless he said something else like the initial comments, it was "very doubtful" the GOP would "buck tradition" and not elect him Chairman.
Kyle also pointed out that since Specter had been squarely in Clarence Thomas' corner during his nomination, it w/b hard for Specter as Chairman not to support Thomas for Chief if he was nominated.
A caller asked bluntly if Kyle w/b the member to replace Specter. He said yes since he was "next in line" (mentioned another Senator who w/b next was already Chair of another major committee).
Kyle said he w/b the one to challenge Specter, but was waiting to see if Specter would make the commitment to the party rather than "being Arlen Specter". So far Kyle said he was satisfied with Specter's retractions, but he was waiting to see what happens next (more inane comments).
Kyle also said his office has recieved almost 1,000 contacts about this issue and they were running about "842 to 1" against Specter. He said there's been no let up in the letters/call/emails received and other Senators are receiving tons as well - all in the same ratio against Specter.
Kyl would be far superior to the RinoSpecter.
Sounds like tits getting to those congress critters.
A really nice person, too...unless you're on the other side of the courtroom, of course.
Good.
My son was flying on business a couple of year ago, and sat next to Kyl in first class. He had Kyl corner for four hours and came away very impressed with him. I don't know Kyl, but I do know my son. I'll take his word on this one.
Ditto. He'd make a great Chair. He was also considered for Vice Pres when Bush was running his 2000 campaign. He's a good Senator.
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