Scaring Specter straight

Townhall ^ | November 22, 2004 | Robert Novak

[Prime Choice]

Before Sen. Arlen Specter stood beside other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday and pledged support as their chairman for any judge that President Bush nominates

It's so easy to tell when Specter's lying.

His lips move.

[ClintonBeGone]

The proof is in the puddin.

[F16Fighter]

To achieve the chairmanship that he has coveted for years, Specter had to promise he would seriously dilute the "independence" he brags about.

But is this "promise" signed in blood?

[Graybeard58]

The achievement suggests that Frist is getting the hang of being leader

and none too soon.

[Outraged]

Make sure ya'll call your congressmen and senators and make sure they realize, if Specter turns, it will be on their heads.

[Outraged]

Make sure ya'll call your congressmen and senators and make sure they realize, if Specter turns, it will be on their heads.

[Graybeard58]

He would have to pledge support for Bush judges and declare himself open to a rules change blocking filibusters of judicial nominations.

That's exactly what's going to have to happen if any nominees are going to get by Kennedy and his ilk.

[Safrguns]

If the position of judicial committee chairman had any power over nominees, it doesn't anymore! Great Job FR!!!

[PhilDragoo]

[Keith in Iowa]

"We have to scare the hell out of Arlen before he gets to be chairman -- scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman."

Could it be true that Frist told Arlen to play ball or the good doctor would deliver the bat like a suppository? Has Frist found his long-lost leadership stones? Time will tell...

[Republican Wildcat]

What to do with Specter, then, was explained to me by one of the committee's most politically astute Republicans, who asked that his name not be used: "We have to scare the hell out of Arlen before he gets to be chairman -- scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman."

Which one of them does this sound like? My guess would be Sessions.

[Reagan Man]

Said it before and I'll say it again. NO RINO should behanded a GOP leadership position. That includes Arlen Specter. Specter has bragged about sinking PresReagan's nomination of Robert Bork in the 1980`s. On that incident alone, Specter has proven himself disloyal to one great Republican President. Now Specter will be at the forefront of passing out of committee the judicial nominees of PresBush. I wouldn't want to be Specter, should he screws things up this time.

[bastantebueno55]

Things couldn't have worked out better, IMHO. With a chairman Specter who has willingly submitted to a testicle-ectomy! He'll be singing soprano in the choir now. We're much better off with a docile, domesticated, deballed Specter chairing and doing the bidding of Bush and Frist, than if he had been pushed aside and with every reason to not play nice.

[southernnorthcarolina]

That offers hope for an end to recent Democratic success in using the filibuster to block every Bush judicial nomination deemed objectionable to liberal pressure groups. The stakes grow higher with the probability of Supreme Court nominations. But Frist will have four additional Republican senators, thanks to this year's elections, and enhanced confidence, thanks to the way he handled the Specter affair.

If Frist manages to put an end to Dem filibustering of the President's nominees, whether via the "nuclear option" or some other means, the vast majority of the nominees would be approved by the Senate as a whole. And Frist, who has said that he won't seek reelection to the Senate in 2006, presumably to concentrate his efforts on a bid for the 2008 GOP Presidential nomination, will have taken a large step toward that goal.

[tallhappy]

He'll just see it as idle threat.

He is the Chairman or he isn't. Micromanaging doesn't work, least of all if there are 50 micromanagers.

[Safrguns]

Make sure ya'll call your congressmen and senators and make sure they realize, if Specter turns, it will be on their heads. I think they know this... Thats why they will boot him quick if he pulls anything. Specter's cat: "Yeah!!! How does that feel buddy???"

[Aussie Dasher]

What happens if Specter get the chairmanship?

Will Frist have the guts to sack him if necessary?

We still have six months before the Republican Caucuses to stop him. Let's keep the fight going!

[LibWhacker]

. . . scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman.

Baloney! I'll bet he falls on his liberal sword the first chance he gets. He's RINO through and through. BIG mistake. IMO