Go to the Bench Memos at NRO...you'll get an excellent synopsis.
Kennedy had a hissy- Specter had a momentary lapse and acted on principle- Sessions set some records straight- the libs were typical- the only surprise was Specter.
I think Specter was more incensed by the insinuation that he had received a letter from Kennedy that he insisted he did not receive. The fact that TK did not back down and was basically calling Specter a liar was what inflammed Specter. If Kennedy had not made it personal Specter would have continued to give the bloviating whale more courtesy than he deserves