| it's an outright power grab...
|
Posted on 11/16/2004 2:06:34 AM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON -- Hoping to save his upcoming Judiciary Committee chairmanship, Sen. Arlen Specter plans to argue directly to the panel's Republican membership that he can be the best steward of President Bush's judicial nominees in next year's Congress. However, anti-abortion conservatives opposed to the Pennsylvania Republican's rise to chairman plan to speak out on Tuesday in protests around the Capitol."We want the Republican leadership to clearly understand the appointment of Senator Specter, as chair of the Judiciary Committee, would be a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life, pro-family Americans who helped elect the president," said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition.
Specter has been on the hot seat with conservatives since saying that anti-abortion judges would be unlikely to be confirmed by Senate. Since his remarks two weeks ago, he has tried to assure Republicans that he would not personally block any Bush nominees from getting a floor vote.
[snip]
Few GOP senators on the committee have spoken publicly about their feelings on the matter. But Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said Monday that he was still undecided.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
While the Specter controversey is being framed as a 'religious right vs abortion' debate, it may or may not be worth mentioning that some of us are just fed up with 'senatorial arrogance' & the use of so-called 'litmus tests' in what amounts to a very obvious attempt to rig the jury, so to speak.
Kewl!
I'm against him for the "scottish law" insanity.
Snarlin Arlen needs a reality check.
A person who quotes "scottish law" has no business confirming judges.
You nailed it !!! That is the talking point that should be made. He did nothing to help Bush's cause and should not be rewarded for his disloyalty.
It's time for the GOP to stand up for us the way the left stands up for their agenda
.
It's more than not helping Bush's cause; it's an outright power grab...an undermining of the powers of the president and an extension of legislative tentacles into the judiciary, as I see it. A case of we (legislature) write the laws & then select enforcers (sympathetic judges) to insure that our laws aren't subject to the checks & balances the framers intended.
| it's an outright power grab...
|
I agree with the sentiment, but feel it would be poetic justice for Specter if "scottish law" were used to deny him the Judiciary chair. Imagine this:
FRIST: "Well, we have heard the Senator's claims that he will not act as an obstructionist for the President's judicial nominees. Are you convinced?"
REPUBLICANS ON COMMITTEE: "Not proven!"
(note: When the other senators answered either "guilty" or "not guilty" at the impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton, Specter, having previously cited scottish law, answered, "not proven".)
Specter, IMHO, has done nothing to further the Republican cause.
He's in this for himself, and he got himself in this mess himself.
It should be no surprise to anyone, especially Specter, that no one is coming to his defense.
Senate Leadership:
Contact Senator Frist 202-224-3135 Contact Senator Santorum 202-224-6324
PLEASE call these Senate Judiciary Committee members below and ask them to support ANYONE but Specter!
Senator Orrin Hatch 202-224-5251 Senator Charles Grassley 202-224-3744 Senator Jon Kyl 202-224-4521 Senator Mike DeWine 202-224-2315 Senator Jeff Sessions 202-224-4124 Senator Lindsey Graham 202-224-5972 Senator Larry Craig 202-224-2752 Senator Saxby Chambliss 202-224-3521 Senator John Cornyn 202-224-2934
Toll-free number to the Capitol switchboard: 1-877-762-8762
Call this then ask to be put through to each Senator one-by-one.
Hey Specter!!! Talk to the Hand.!!
Not only is it worth saying, it's worth repeating.
This is all about Arlen Specter's 'legacy.' The day after the election, McSpecter, needed to establish that the upcoming Supreme Court (for the next 30 years) would be HIS supreme court...not President Bush's. The salvo was sent out loud and clear...Specter is in charge, history will read Specter as defining the Constitution per Arlen Specter. The senior Senator from PA has a sense of his grandiose place in history that he needed to establish. Fortunately, Snarlin' Arlen's sense of self importance betrayed him. Now he is fighting tooth and nail for his 'entitled' position...and it is up to his colleagues now do either play as a team (follow the President's agenda) or play by their own (give Specter the seat). The choice is clear...
IMHO, Arlen cannot be trusted.
Translation: Sen. Specter will be threatening the Republican membership in private before going NUCLEAR after they rebuke his Chairmanship.
I hope he don't.
You said a mouthful.......I sent a second letter to my Senator on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. DeWine, urging him to vote NO to Specter's Chairmanship or I would have to apply my own vote elsewhere at the time of DeWine's re-election in 2006.
I'm amazed - again - by how thin Spectors alliegence appears to be - Bush went to Pa. to support this empty suit and gets stabbed in the back. Time to cut the strings.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
That's how many Senators see it. They are used having a happy little Gentlemen's Club, and here come these people... these voters... who think they should have a say in how the club is run. The nerve!