Just one more volley in the never ending struggle between the legislative and the executive. The three branches are designed to be equal, but the judiciary and congress consider themselves more equal than the executive branch. It is time both are forced to swallow the big reality pill that G.W. has prepared for them.
Specter? He is a disloyal, egoist bastard that forgets who brought him to the dance. That last statement is my entry into the obvious understatement of the day award. Snarlin' is no different than any other of the arrogant pricks that plague us all.
Pretty much the jist of it.
The Executive, at least under Bush, has been fairly accomodating to the other branches. They in turn have sought to seize every last inch of his power. It's a power grab. IMO, this is partly why the President includes in consideration for the judges he places on the bench their approach to the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. And, this is why Luttig is unlikely to ever be nominated by this President despite some conservatives holding him up as their number one choice. In two decisions that I know of he's contradicted the Executive. One I can semi agree with, another not so much.
As for Specter, he's helping put Alito on the bench. In return he exacts a pound of flesh by stabbing the administration to get face Time and take heat off from his own constituents in voting for Alito. It's dirty politics, but the bottom line is that Specter doesn't have a damn bit of ability to start impeachment hearings. He knows it as well. Unless he suddenly wants to run for the House. Even then he'd be in the minority.
So, it's all talk without ability to follow through. Liberal constituences of his that lap it up and take their focus off the courts are idiots. I welcome their diversion because I want Alito confirmed and Specter is helping that process through, but it's simply bait and switch here. He's protecting his own skin for putting Alito on Court, and Bush will allow it because he gets Alito and Specter has no power to threaten him in this manner.