Posted on 01/06/2005 8:16:30 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Raising the gavel with a grin, Senate Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) Chairman Arlen Specter opened his first hearing Thursday by allowing more criticism of the Bush administration than his predecessor and by questioning some of the Patriot Act's police powers.
With his changes, questions and comments, Specter proclaimed his independence and said he expected the same from Alberto Gonzales, President Bush (news - web sites)'s nominee to be attorney general.
"While Judge Gonzales is the appointee of the president ... he's representing the people of the United States, a key distinction which I'm pleased to say in advance that Judge Gonzales has noted in the statement which he has submitted," Specter said.
The Pennsylvania Republican traveled a bruising path to the chairman's seat. He almost lost his claim to it last fall when he said just after Bush won re-election that anti-abortion judges might not win Senate confirmation. Administration officials were displeased, and conservatives flooded Republican Senate offices in protest.
A major damage-control effort by Specter helped win over Republican colleagues, who chose him to succeed Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. The Senate on Thursday officially signed off on the change.
Specter wore a bandage on his nose from the removal of pre-cancerous tissue but was in good humor, accepting congratulations from numerous senators during the hearing.
He permitted multiple rounds of questions — and criticism for the White House — from senators of both parties, while Hatch had usually allowed only one round at such hearings.
Specter also agreed to let two law school professors and a human rights advocate testify against Gonzales.
He questioned extending some of the police powers in the Patriot Act passed by Congress after the Sept. 11 attacks, particularly language requiring judges to issue warrants without making police or prosecutors justify them.
"Why can't we have that traditional probable cause requirement on the obtaining of those records?" asked Specter. The law comes up for renewal by Congress this year.
Weeell, THAT didn't take long.
What say you, Senator Frist?
Was there a reason that we allowed Specter to retain his chairmanship? Oh that's right, we're stupid. That's the reason.
ping
Time to go nuclear on Specter -- his word to the Republican Caucus isn't worth a thing and they should have known better!
Sounds like Arlen is afraid the Feds will use it to eavesdrop on him.
Yes, they should have known better. They've been made to look like feeble-minded idiots!
Don't say I didn't warn you!
"we".. kimosabe? :-)
Evidently, a Pennsylvania Republican is a demonrat anywhere else. (Just kidding, I know Penn has SOME conservatives; it's just that specter ain't one of them.)
Well, who'd a guessed Spectre would be a double crossing, snake eyed varmint. No doubt, the GOP insiders in D.C. are just double dipped in surprise.
I refer to the collective "we" of the GOP. This in no way refers to the "you", NormRevenge, who is, no doubt, an ardent critic of Arlen Specter and who would, if given the chance, beat him with a damp rag.
Bush stayed out of it in respect for the independence of the legislative branch.
You can have Frist, I'm going after my Senators who assured us that Spector would be no problem.
lol.. I know! Thanks!
Ya have to look at how many senators have sustained head trauma, surgery etc. , and then .. well.. that may be one explanation for what some of these senators do from time to time..
Biden(brain stent),, McCain(whacked as a POW), ARloon_of_the_left(steel plate inplant) come to mind.. just a theory, mind you. ;-)
Actually, Specter kept referring to the ''Patriots Act''.
Since he can't get the common title right, I wonder if he has
bothered to read the dang thing?
I was strongly opposed to helping Specter in the primary election as well as giving him the chairmanship. But I have no great problem with these comments. I think the liberal press is trying to spin them. He seems to be speaking in support of Gonzalez even in the words quoted.
If he obstructs any of Bush's judicial appointments, or for that matter this AG appointment, that's another matter. But a few words won't hurt as long as they are carefully chosen and he DOES the right things.
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