Ailing Specter Is Out of Groveling Mode, but Finding It Lonely in the Center

Washington Post ^ | February 25, 2005 | Dana Milbank

[Former Military Chick]

On an otherwise quiet day on the Hill, 100 journalists and jostling photographers jammed the Senate TV studio yesterday for a sighting of that most exotic and endangered of species: a moderate in the United States Senate.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) seemed amused that he was the object of so much attention. "Must be a slow day in Washington," he said during a burst of camera clicks. But as a prominent Republican senator taking on his president, his party leaders and conservative interest groups -- as Specter did in a meeting Wednesday with Washington Post editorialists -- Specter could not have been surprised.

The senator did not backpedal during his lengthy news conference about the standoff over Bush's judicial nominees. "Both parties are at fault," he said, even scolding Bush for "unheard-of" recess appointments of judges rejected by the Senate. "Each side ratcheted it up, ratcheted it up. . . . So the question is, where do we go from here?"

The answer came swiftly: Nowhere.

Minutes after Specter's remarks, Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, arrived in the same room to offer his response. Asked if he, like Specter, would give his own party some of the blame for the standoff, Schumer demurred.

"I really have to say I think we have been judicious in terms of blocking judges," he said. "I don't think we're being unfair, I really don't." Schumer repaid Specter's candor with a stunt: a letter, released to reporters before Specter was told of it, pressuring the chairman to secure a meeting with Bush.

Republicans on the committee, in turn, were unmoved by Specter's warning that efforts to end Democrats' power to filibuster nominees would cause "bedlam" in the Senate and "hell" in the committee.

[jdege]

I'm sorry?

When were these judges rejected by the Senate?

If there'd been a vote, I'm sure I'd have heard about it...

[-=Wing_0_Walker=-]

"a moderate in the United States Senate" BS he is a L I B E R A L. He is a RINO. Now he is trying to thwart BUSH approintments again. It is up to the Senate Leadership of the Reps to confer with BUSH.

[Darkwolf377]

"A knot of reporters followed him, some to ask more questions, others to wish him Godspeed."

OK, OK, but were any of them conservative-friendly, and if so what are their sexual preferences???? THAT is the most important issue these days, isn't it?!?!?!

[Just mythoughts]

There is nothing moderate about this old man. He is every bit a liberal as the most noted liberal in this nation.

[OKIEDOC]

I wonder about Spector. I believe before all is said and done he will hurt conservative nominees while he sucks up to the left.

[mcenedo]

We should have gotten rid of Specter as soon as he caved to the 'Rats on abortion.

[conshack]

I wonder about Spector. I believe before all is said and done he will hurt conservative nominees while he sucks up to the left.


GW saved Spector's bacon by endorsing him in the Nov 2 election. Spector virtually promised that he would be supportive of GW's nominees. Guess you can't expect much more from a RINO tho.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Missed our chance to vanquish this RINO after Rove and Bush intervened. So what has he done for them lately?

[Former Military Chick]

ACtually he should have remained in the private sector and defended creeps who flee the United States and while out of the states his client gets convicted of murder.

Sorry he is ill but I just do not have a favorable opinion of the man.

[Howlin]

Both parties are at fault," he said, even scolding Bush for "unheard-of" recess appointments of judges rejected by the Senate.

An absolute lie:

The Founders created the recess-appointment power to assure that the judiciary could continue to function if circumstances or political factions prevented the Advise and Consent process from functioning effectively. Recess appointments have an impeccable historical pedigree; beginning with George Washington, presidents have made recess appointments to Article III courts. Since the Founding there have been more than 300 recess appointments of judges. President Eisenhower and Kennedy made 53 such appointments between them. Lest we forget, both Earl Warren and William Brennan were recess appointments to the Supreme Court by President Eisenhower (later confirmed by the Senate).

***Of course, these judges haven't BEEN rejected by the Senate at all.

[mercy]

Curse this evil old SOB. I hope he gets sicker by the day.

[Howlin]

Senator Specter's November 18 press release is reproduced below.
  


November 18th, 2004  
 
SENATOR SPECTER'S STATEMENT ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
 
Washington, D.C. - Senator Specter gave the following statement today on the Senate Judiciary Committee:

I have not and would not use a litmus test to deny confirmation to pro-life nominees. I voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist after he had voted against Roe v. Wade. Similarly, I voted to confirm pro-life nominees, Justice Scalia, Justice O’Connor and Justice Kennedy. I lead the successful fight to confirm Justice Thomas which almost cost me my Senate seat in 1992.

I have assured the President that I would give his nominees quick Committee hearings and early Committee votes so floor action could be promptly scheduled. I have voted for all of President Bush’s judicial nominees in Committee and on the floor, and I have no reason to believe that I’ll be unable to support any individual President Bush finds worthy of nomination. I believe I can help the President get his nominees approved just as I did on confirmation of two controversial Pennsylvania Circuit nominees when other, similarly situated Circuit nominees, were being filibustered.

I have already registered my opposition to the Democrats’ filibusters with 17 floor statements and will use my best efforts to stop any future filibusters. It is my hope and expectation that we can avoid future filibusters and judicial gridlock with a 55-45 Republican majority and election results demonstrating voter dissatisfaction with Democratic filibusters. If a rule change is necessary to avoid filibusters, there are relevant recent precedents to secure rule changes with 51 votes.

I intend to consult with my colleagues on the Committee’s legislative agenda, including tort reform, and will have balanced hearings with all viewpoints represented. I have long objected to the tactic used of bottling up civil rights legislation in the Judiciary Committee when it should have gone to the floor for an up or down vote. Accordingly, I would not support Committee action to bottle up legislation or a constitutional amendment, even one which I personally opposed, reserving my own position for the floor.

[GianniV]

President Bush and the Senate R's got exactly what they asked for. Good luck with this tool running the show.

[Texas Songwriter]

If I understand correctly, Specter has widly disseminated lymphoma, I believe Hodgkins Disease. He will have to undergo aggressive chemotherapy. Some of these cancers are responsive to chemo and some are not. Most are. I hope he is treated efficaciously by chemotherapy, but he will feel like hell for months while being treated. He should step down from committee chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. If he will not, he should be relieved of what is sure to be a very high stress job.

[RWR8189]

"Having some disruption for days or even weeks is not a horrendous situation," said John Hart, a spokesman for freshman Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla).

Amen

[italianquaker]

Milbank calling anyone a moderate is like is like the NYSLIMES calling dean a moderate

[Babu]

Maybe G W Bush is finding out Arlen Sphincter is the same category of "friend" as Doug Wead.

Websters Dictionary:
treach·er·ous adj.
1. Marked by betrayal of fidelity, confidence, or trust; perfidious. See Synonyms at faithless.
2. Not to be relied on; not dependable or trustworthy.
3. aka Arlen Specter, Doug Wead

[Howlin]

Apparently the Washington Post now has one whole floor that does nothing but churn out GOP bashing 24/7.

[mercy]

Works for me. The creep has been in the senate forever. What a putz.