Posted on 11/08/2004 5:26:23 PM PST by mdittmar
Sen. Arlen Specter pledged on Monday not to oppose Supreme Court nominees just because they are anti-abortion as the moderate Republican fought to keep alive his bid to head the Senate panel that oversees judicial nominations.
"Absolutely not, and it's not just what I'm saying I have done it. I have not applied a litmus test, and have voted to confirm pro-life judges," he said in a television interview.
But conservative critics kept calling for someone other than the Pennsylvania senator to be Judiciary Committee chairman in the newly elected Congress, and other Senate Republicans said little or nothing in Specter's defense.
Specter, who favors keeping abortion legal, is in line to replace the more conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, as chairman based on seniority.
Peterson Jury Urged to Keep an Open Mind N.J. Governor Delivers Farewell Address Moderate Senator Fights for Top Judiciary Post He angered conservatives last week by saying he thought it unlikely the newly elected Senate even with its Republican majority expanded to 55 would confirm a Supreme Court nominee who wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case legalizing abortion.
The question of who wields the gavel in the Judiciary Committee is crucial. President Bush may make several nominations to the Supreme Court during his second term because Chief Justice William Rehnquist is ailing and other judges are thought to be close to retirement.
The Senate is expected to pick a chairman next week. First, the Republican members of the committee must nominate the chairman by secret ballot. Then, according to party rules, another secret ballot vote is taken by all Senate Republicans.
If they reject the committee's recommendation, the matter is sent back to committee with instructions for it to nominate someone else.
That's standard fare for most, if not all, Congresscritters running for re-election, no matter where they are in the political spectrum, moreso with say for example, Democrat Congresscritters running for re-election in the red states.
Specter is NOT A MODERATE!!!
There's something called an "example" you know. "Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn wisdom."
So just when did you graduate from charm school you say?
So you'd rather we set back our gains about a decade. Because that's basically what you're advocating.
If we destroy ourselves with infighting how many babies will that save?
Re: Specter's feet are being held to the fire
The WH, Frist and all Rep Senators know we aren't happy about Specter. He has had to do a media blitz for pete's sake to defend himself.
He is going to have to push through Bush's nominees because Bush knows this is important and Bush still supports Specter. Bush won't let him get away with any crap. Unless it becomes apparent that Bush is not happy with Specter, I don't want to overreach.
Yep to all of ya.
It's been a wee bit muddy around here as of late determining friend from foe but I am still so friggin happy.....even a week later.
I saw two young watermelons at Blockbuster about to cry looking at Farenheit 911 on the rack....100s of them unrented...lol...asking each other how "this" could have happened?
I couldn't help snickering.
Pity....the young girl was a babelicious...I hate when I witness such a waste. I was also wondering why the young lad was wasting hormonal capital on politics talk with a babe at 20 or so. Forget politics....go get some beer.
It's inherent in any southerner born before 1975.
There's an old saying which goes,And, from www.snoopy.co.jp:
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
We got an emergency on our hands. Rehnquist, barring a major miracle, is going to see those pearly gates in a very few months. We need to exorcise any specter that will bleed conservatism OUT of the court... let alone keep it from being added back in. There is not time for fermenting this wine in fine old kegs.
Please explain how you came to that conclusion.
Bush came in at the last moment of the primary and saved Specter's tail. So what did he say not 48 hours later ? "I'm not a rubber-stamp for the president" You think he would have learned from that one. Yeah, we can count good ol' loyal Arlen.
good cartoon bump
How will President Bush -- or anyone, for that matter -- stop Specter once he's named Chairman?
I guess what I'm asking is, do you believe Specter will straighten up if the President tells him to?
good cartoon bump
I read and responded to your post.
There would have to be some pretty heavy duty quid pro quo at stake. Like opening up a dozen new military bases in Pennsylvania.
AHH ! The California Dog ! I always enjoy your posts !Love the cartoon !
There must be some REAL FEAR instilled in the power elites of our Party on the Senate side, especially within the Senate Judiciary committee.
Otherwise, this will go the way all things on the Hill.
Again, I'm talking threats and promises here by the energized Conservative Base of the Country towards the powers that be in the US Senate on the GOP side, and the SJC on the GOP side.
What is our trump card? What is our weapon? Without one, they'll listen to the calls/faxes/petitions alright, but STILL vote to keep Specter and will reason that "it will all die down after awhile."
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