Posted on 05/04/2006 8:30:09 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter on Thursday granted Democrats a hearing to question White House aide and judicial nominee Brett Kavanaugh on his role in the administration's secret wiretapping program, its torture policy and any relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The move put off, for now, a repeat of last year's parliamentary showdown over President Bush's nominees.
"I don't want to place the Senate in the position we were in a year ago at this time," Specter, R-Pa., said.
Democrats lauded the decision.
"It's the least that can be done for the nominee to the second highest court in the land and a controversial nominee," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "There are a lot of things that have happened since the last hearing, in the administration of which he is a part."
Specter said he would call Kavanaugh before the panel on Tuesday and call for a committee vote on Thursday. That would put Kavanaugh on track for a confirmation vote by the full Senate before Memorial Day, as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist intends.
Specter said he made the decision in part because of a letter this week from the seven Democrats of the so-called "Gang of 14" that mediated the standoff last year. In the letter, the seven pledged to not support a filibuster over Kavanaugh if the panel was allowed to question him again. Specter also presented recommendations for Kavanaugh by two judges for whom he had clerked.
Democrats had complained that Kavanaugh's nomination was being moved without much information about his role in developing administration policies on wiretapping and torture.
Kavanaugh worked in the White House counsel's office when those policies were developed, which came after the committee's questioning of him in 2004. Democrats also want to know what, if any, part Kavanaugh played in the administration's relationship with Abramoff.
In private meetings with Democratic senators this week, Kavanaugh said he played no role in the wiretapping policy or in any White House dealings with Abramoff. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, meanwhile, said Kavanaugh played no role in developing the White House's policy toward detainees.
The exchange came two days after Senate Democrats said they were considering filibusters against Kavanaugh and Terrence Boyle, whose nomination to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Frist also said he will move.
Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters this week that members of his caucus are considering filibustering the nominations of both men. He told reporters Wednesday that a deal on Kavanaugh was possible, but that Boyle certainly would be filibustered because of reports that he ruled on cases in which he had conflicts of interest.
Republicans have widely defended Kavanaugh — but not Boyle — in recent days. Several senators interviewed on Wednesday, including Specter, declined to support Boyle's nomination, saying they wanted to read more about the conflict of interest allegations.
this will turn into another 3 ring circus, with Kennedy and Biden et al blustering their way through. I refuse to send any Republican money until they stand up to these clowns and act like the MAJORITY party. You cannot compromise with these goons.
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Never have so few wielded so much power and abused it so treacherously. Putsch Politik rules... and the GOP gets Pooched again. Thanks, Arlen. Thanks Bill.
Bang-up job you're doing there.
A 99-1 majority would not be enough to motivate these pansies into action.
Republican senators are nothing but pusilanimous gasbags. What pathetic fools they have turned into.
Arlen you are a moron.
All I need to know.
GOP's written me for money recently. They received a warm response.
Dan
Indeed.
On the other hand, we can hardly blame the Democrats for doing what they do best when senate Republicans keep bending right over and asking for it.
Specter is a complete sell out. He's the Chairman of the committee, not some kind of mediator. Kavanaugh should go to the floor for a full vote and if filibustered the Dems should be nuked.
I'm not sure who 'Bill' is, but the real thanks for this fiasco should go to Rick Santorum and Jorge Arbusto.
In Rick's words, "He's always with us when we need him."
I used to just question Rick's sincerity on that. Now I have to question who "us" is. It's certainly not any part of the 'us' that I belong to.
Ping.
WHOS idea was it to give this guy this position?????????
The Bill was Bill FRist.
Altho , in fairness, even an expert cat herder or heart surgeon would be hard-pressed to handle the den of snakes in the Senate or remove the malignancy in that chamber.
Spector is a jerk!
Gang, get it figured out. This corrupt "Two-Party Cartel" owned & run by the elites who will allow nothing to happen to install a true conservative agenda, are running these issues. If the Hildabeast makes it you will have all of those socialist SC justices retiring & she with the total help of your conservative Senators will ram the most leftist/vile group in with or without a so-called majority.
Thanks for that speedy answer.
I am not convinced of Frist's ability to run the Senate or his standing as a conservative. I can't shake the fact that his response to inconvenient phone calls was a FEDERAL LAW to stop telemarketers from calling at dinner time. That's why I have caller ID. I decide whose call I take. I don't need a federal law to 'protect' me, but that was Frist's first notion -- "There oughta be a law."
That's not conservative.
I guess Arlen hopes to hold onto the chairman position no matter which parties in power.
"Specter said he would call Kavanaugh before the panel on Tuesday and call for a committee vote on Thursday. "
There's a lot of criticism of Spectre here, but the bottom line is whether these nominees get on the bench. It looks to me more like calling the Dems bluff than a cave. Vote by Thursday and confirmed this month - sounds good to me.
Dems got waxed in Alito and Roberts hearings and will get waxed here. As long as we get the votes, its posturing.
Thanks Andy Card and Karl Rove. Your counsel to the president just keeps on giving and giving to conservatives. Keep up the good work!
In '04, GWB campaigned for Spectre, who was in a tight race against a conservative challenger.
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