Posted on 11/05/2005 12:11:30 PM PST by RWR8189
Supreme Court: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., announced that the confirmation process for Judge Samuel Alito will be the longest in more than 14 years. Advantage: mudslingers.
Former Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Toomey came within a hairsbreadth of beating incumbent Specter for the Republican nomination last year, and there was a big reason: fears that, as the new Judiciary chairman, the socially liberal senator would sabotage President Bush's promise to appoint justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
Now the worries about Specter are coming true. In spite of the White House request to wrap up the Alito hearings before year's end, Specter has acceded to Democrats in setting a timetable that would stall the start of hearings until Jan. 9. A full vote would come on Jan. 20 at the earliest — more than 2 1/2 months after Alito's Oct. 31 nomination.
Specter's excuse is all that time is needed to forage through Alito's hundreds of rulings. "We have to do it right," he said.
But what's "right" about the longest process since Thomas' 1991 hearings? What, exactly, will senators be doing over the next two months — besides vacationing for the holidays — that's more meaningful than a Supreme Court nomination?
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
Thanks again, NRA.
*prolonged eye roll*
Exactly. This is an OUTRAGE. Republicans are weenies and wimps for agreeing to this.
I don't blame Specter. As I said last fall, I blame Rove and Bush, first for campaigning for Specter in the primary, and then for allowing him to take the chair of the Judiciary committee despite numerous protests from conservatives.
Unless he had some way to control Specter, this was a very foolish thing to do. Specter quickly showed his bad faith, first by issuing posters during the fall election campaign calling on people to vote for "Kerry/Specter," then by announcing to the liberal media immediately after the election that he would not allow any pro-lifers on the court.
So, does President Bush have any way to control this traitor? Or are some of his worst critics correct in guessing that But doesn't really want Alito confirmed? The theory is that he just wants to rally the conservtive base by nominating Alito, but will now let him hang out there and be destroyed.
I don't really believe that myself, for the moment at least, but I wish I were more convinced that Bush really cares about making conservative judicial appointments.
Oh wait, he's rolled over and allowed Arlen Specter to run amok.
My bad.
Just when you thought you knew which party had the majority.
The democrats must be giddy.
Former Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Toomey came within a hairsbreadth of beating incumbent Specter for the Republican nomination last yearOnly because the pubbies spent a bundle on Specter. What a waste.
Sometimes I feel my party is filled with idiots.
Oh, they'd say "Which is better, Specter elected or the RAT candidate elected?" In this case I'd say it doesn't make any diff as Specter is a huge RINO.
By supporting Specter over Toomey, the whitehouse clearly shot themselves in the foot.
"Specter's excuse is all that time is needed to forage through Alito's hundreds of rulings. "We have to do it right," he said."
And that's all it is is an excuse, from the master of excuses (not guilty by Sottish Law.) Specter is a democrat who votes with them far more often than his own party.
As much as I'd like Alito confirmed yesterday. I don't find it outrageous that the hearings aren't starting until January.
November has Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, December has Christmas and Hanukkah.
Any other time of year and five weeks would be plenty.
Specter is as Specter does.
The conservative base cares about legitimately conservative Justices being appointed to the Supreme Court. Because of that, the Miers nomination was withdrawn and Alito nominated in her place. Now, conservatives need to be as loud as possible, making the case to politicians and pundits alike that Alito must be confirmed.
I like that.
Are the Senate Republicans "Stuck on Spector"?
Republicans are wimps, period. I've very sorry Frist was made majority leader in the senate. A stronger man would have listened to us and not let Spector take the helm.. Jon Kyle would have been so much better... should we all send Frist an "I told you so" email message. He wants to be President, but fails to understand we want a President with a set of cajones.
If Hoefel had won there would be no Specter.
Therefore, there would be no Chairman Specter.
Hence, there would be a Chairman Kyl.
As long as the GOP maintains the majority, in this case I'd say the RAT because we would have someone else sitting on the judiciary committee.
A skeptic might say that the fix was in a long time ago, and the Republicans really never expected him to be confirmed.
I'm convinced that the only reason he retired from public service is because he knew the Sen. Majority leader spot would continue to elude his grasp.
RINOS are worthless.
That will only be some 20 - 30 days beyond what the President requested. I'm not sure it will make that much difference and besides if the Congress is out of session during Nov. - Dec. then there is less damage they can do via legislation. jmo yours may differ.
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.