This Specter issue is a danger to us. I wont call it radioactive but the danger Will Robinson sounds should be ringing in our ears. If we overplay Arlens comments and rally the troops to deny him the chairmanship there are major risks. The risks outweigh any possible rewards here.
The only upside is we make a point. Great, but a Pyrrhic victory at best. The downside on this victory is we expend and waste a ton of momentum and popular support. Bashing Specter makes us look petty, small, narrow minded and poor winners. (This is not to suggest we adopt the Dim notion that while winning we have to reach out to them and moderate positions.) MSM will go nuts and donation to NARL, Planned Parenthood and other choice PACs go through the roof.
Specter has been taken to the woodshed by the Bush team. Allowing him to assume the Chair does (IMHO) a couple good things. First and foremost, he owes his political life to GWB. As we all know, if not for GWB Pat Toomeys in the Senate. GWB hold major chips with this guy and, while a royal PITB, Specter aint stupid. Secondly, if Specter pushes a nominee, most MSM is going to view that nominee as a moderate because of Specters history. The nominee may in fact not be that moderate, but Arlens stamp on it is going to give it the benefit of the doubt. I dont think were talking about any David Souters here.
My 2 cents worth, but Im concerned we end up looking like a bunch of knuckle-draggin, mouth breathing nimrods.
It seems to me that Specter has realized the FReeper threat, as I've seen some attempts lately to help him out.
Bring it on Mr. Specter. However, I believe the information below deserves reposting on this thread. I copied it from someone else.
Senator Specter has an Agenda Liberal Judges President Bush ran forthrightly on a clear agenda for this nations future, and the nation responded by giving him a mandate. Remarks by Vice President Cheney introducing President Bush for his victory speech, Ronald Reagan Building, November 3, 2004.
President Bushs margin of victory proves that we have a narrowly divided country, and thats not a traditional mandate
the number-one item on my agenda is to try to move the party to the center. Sen. Arlen Specter, November 3, 2004.
Senator Arlen Specter's shocking comments the day after President Bush's decisive re-election raise troubling concersn
Specter denied the legitimacy of President Bushs historic mandate.
Specter announced a pro-abortion litmus test for the presidents judicial nominees. Specter claims that Roe v. Wade is inviolate and insists that nobody can be confirmed today who does not agree with it.
Specters illegal litmus test would disqualify all constitutionalist nominees from serving on the Supreme Court of the United States and the lower federal courts.
Specters illegal litmus test demands that all nominees violate the canons of judicial ethics by announcing or pledging how they will vote in a particular case.
Specter will not promise to support the Presidents nominees. Instead, he merely hopes that he can support them. The day after the election, when a reporter asked Specter if he would support the presidents nominees, the senator hesitated and equivocated: I am hopeful that Ill be able to do that. That obviously depends upon the presidents judicial nominees. Im hopeful that I can support them.
Specter criticized President Bushs first-term judicial nominees: The nominees whom I supported in committee, I had reservations on.
Specter insulted Janice Rogers Brown, president Bushs nominee to the important U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. Specter referred to Brown, a distinguished conservative and the first African American woman to serve on the California Supreme Court, as the woman judge out of California who he had reservations about.
Specter insulted the entire Supreme Court of the United States, including Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices Scalia and Thomas. When a reporter asked Specter Are you saying that there is not greatness on the Supreme Court, Specter replied: Yes. Can you take yes for an answer?
Specters comments reveal that, like Sen. Kerry and Sen. Daschle, Specter favors judges who follow politics and popular opinion, not the Constitution and the rule of law.
Specter accused President Bush of ignoring the Senates advise and consent role: The Constitution has a clause called advise and consent, the advise part is traditionally not paid a whole lot of attention to, I wouldnt say quite ignored, but close to that.
Specter wants to encroach upon the presidents appointment power. Obstructionist Democrats filibustered ten of President Bushs appeals court nominees. Now Specter wants the Senate to become MORE involved in judicial appointments: My hope is that the Senate will be more involved in expressing our views.
Specter's record over the last 20 years demonstrated a pattern of very troubling conduct on Judiciary Committee issues
SIGN THE PETITION
Specter fought against the distinguished Judge Robert H. Bork, betraying President Reagan and his fellow Republicans.
Specter voted against Judge Bork on the judiciary committee, and against Borks confirmation on the Senate floor. By joining liberal Democratic senators and radical left-wing groups in their opposition to Judge Bork, Specter gave those groups aid and comfort, and was instrumental in Judge Borks defeat.
Judge Bork warned Americans that Specter does not understand the Constitution and that Specter, along with Senate Democrats professed horror at the thought that a judge must limit his rulings to the principles in the actual Constitution.
President Ronald Reagan called the left-wing assault against Judge Bork an unprecedented political attack on a Supreme Court nominee and a tragedy for our country. Specter rebuffed President Reagans plea to support Judge Bork.
Specter helped defeat the nomination of conservative Jeff Sessions for a federal judgeship.
Specter warned filibustered appeals court nominee William Pryor that just because he voted for him on the committee did not mean that he would vote on the Senate floor for his confirmation.
The National Review exposed Specter as The Worst Republican Senator in a prominent September 1, 2003 cover story. According to National Review, Specter is not a team player
is an abortion rights absolutist, a dogged advocate of racial preferences, a bitter foe of tax reform, a firm friend of the International Criminal Court.
Specter refuses to support the elevation of Justice Clarence Thomas to Chief Justice: Id have to think about that, Specter equivocated. Ditto for Justice Antonin Scalia: Id have to think about that too. Specter once slandered Justice Thomas as a disappointment.
The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee must be someone devoted to the Constitution as written and the rule of law
The situation is urgent. Chief Justice Rehnquist is gravely ill. A Supreme Court vacancy is imminent.
President Bush may be called upon to nominate a Supreme Court justice within the next several weeks.
Court watchers predict as many as three Supreme Court vacancies during President Bushs second term.
President Bush will likely have a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return the Supreme Court to constitutionalist principles.
The President needs as chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee a loyal, reliable, conservative partner who will shepherd his nominees through the confirmation process.
Under intense political pressure, Specter tried to recant portions of his post-election statements the day after he uttered them. That means nothing. His 20-year record of party disloyalty and tormenting conservative nominees means everything.
As chairman, Specter will act as a vexatious intermeddler, second-guessing President Bushs Supreme Court and lower court nominations. This imperils the Presidents legacy.
Under the Senates seniority rules, Specter is slated to take over the Judiciary Committee, but under Senate rules and procedures, he can be stopped from becoming committee chairman.
The window of opportunity to stop Specter is limited. Once he becomes chairman, it will be impossible to unseat him.
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