[skaterboy]

Republicans punk out again...IM SHOCKED I TELL YA.

[jdm]

Specter gets key backing for Judiciary post Current chairman supports him to head panel, but Majority Leader Bill Frist says, 'We'll see.'

Classic!!!!

[Bikers4Bush]

They had better smarten up. This will cost them dearly in two years if they make him chairman.

[ladtx]

The Senat Republicans will regret they day Specter is made chairman of the judiciary committee.

[mercy]

I guess they figure a chastened Spectre is better than a Jumpin Spectre.

[joesnuffy]

The Republican Senate motto

"WE THE PEOPLE" ?...WE DONT NEED NO STEENKIN' WE THE PEOPLE

[GraniteStateConservative]

The Tennessee senator told CNN, ''We'll see.'' ...

Frist is just giving those who are worked up about this some consolation in defeat. Specter's ascension was never truly in doubt. This was all a shell game. They think they can hoodwink us by acting like this was touch-and-go and that all the phone calls and emails almost did the trick. They just want to make sure we keep donating to them.

[steplock]

Besides NEVER reading any email from us "commoners" I wonder if the politicians in DC even bother to have their "hidden eyes" looking over these comments?

So - just in case - NO HATCH - NO SPECTER - NO MCCAIN

[BibChr]

Anyone else ever notice this?

Separated at birth?

Dan

[doodles2]

Our Senate is becoming as impotent as the U.N.

[joesnuffy]

Where's THE BULL MOOSE PARTY when you need it?

[mrtoby]

I'm wondering if Specter doesn't behave, can Sen. Frist still use the "nuclear" option if necessary? I'm hoping they wouldn't leave us totally vulnerable.

[jackbill]

I believe that one of our problems is that many of the Senators think that the opposition to Specter is purely on the abortion issue. They need to be told otherwise.

As chairman, Specter would/could be a roadblock to much of the president's agenda - tort reform, affirmative action, etc.. He also would be selecting the committee staff - which is generally the most powerful aspect of any committee.

We need to broaden the opposition and bombard all Senators until January.

[TommyDale]

I've never trusted Orrin Hatch.

[jammer]

Orrin's just relieved that Specter is the lightning rod so that HE won't have to be outed. Say one thing, wish for another. This way, Orrin's got cover.

[xzins]

Orrin Hatch has been looking for a pair his entire career.

In his dictionary, compromise means bend over. He grew up in minority status and never wanted otherwise.

[Salvation]

Key backing comes from the people, Senator, and you aren't even passing muster!

[ZULU]

There are conservative Republicans, there are RINOs, and there is Orrin Hatch.

Hatch is a naive, weak-kneed, Caspar Milktoast kind of character who defies categorization as anything other than a wet noodle. His behavior during the Clinton Impeachment was nothing short of astonishing.

His statement is hardly a surprise.

Hopefully, the flood of outrage from intelligent conservative Republicans all over the Country, together with Arlen's own damning statements will be enough to keep Specter out of the Chairman's seat.

If not, the Administration and the Republicans on the Committee are setting themselves up for some serious trouble from an arrogant, opinionated loose cannon who is far to the left of the Republican and American mainstream and who will let pass no opportunity to advance his own agenda while embarrassing the Administration at every turn.

[sassbox]

so I guess this means another 30 years of legalized infanticide :( Hatch is such a spineless scumbag. I stopped trusting him to do anything to help the pro-life cause when he threw in his support for embyronic stem cell research a few years ago.

is there anything left we can do about Specter or is it hopeless?

[Les_Miserables]

All of our Senators should understand that the major problem with Specter is not his abortion position. It is more systemic and is graphically illustrated by his own stated position that he lead the opposition to confirm Judge Bork because Bork believed in "Original Intent".
The concept that original intent is obsolete is at the very center of the debate yet Specter's position has not been challenged. All the example's Specter has given of why original intent is wrong have been corrected by changes to the constitution. That is the only proper way to modify the basis of our laws. Original Intent then becomes the intent of the Constitutional change. This prevents any whimsical reinterpretation by judges that fancy themselves the determinants of our destiny instead of leaving that responsibility in the hands of the people where it constitutionally belongs.
All of this is more succinctly presented recently by Justice Scalia when he said "In the last 40 years ... we've become fond of the phrase that we have a living document.(US Constitution) But if something is wrong, then change the law or change the Constitution, but don't reinterpret the Constitution." He said proponents of the living document concept and flexibility regarding the Constitution are "dead wrong." This means you, Specter!
Anyone as wrong headed about the way constitutional issues should be decided as Arlen Specter should NEVER sit in a position of influence in selecting or approving judicial nominations.