why would Spector and Leahy be satisifed - you never "satisfy" these kind of people by giving into them. You give in, they come back for more. This issue isn't closed now, like most of the posters here think it will be. The president's political enemies have just been emboldened by this. and why wouldn't they be - by agreeing to dump this program, he has basically just said to them "you know what, you were right after all".
No, that is not what he did. But some will certainly see it that way.
The fact is, Specter has been beating the hell out of this drum, and was not going to cooperate with some picks that need his shepherding if we are to get anyone even close to a moderate past the Dem's. We have to retain this putrid piece of crap's support, even though he is not done complaining, whining, pissing and moaning.
Reality bites when you are a lame duck and face a opposition Congress, and there are some things that have to be done.
Like GWB's judicial appointments. he will be required to give away the store on every one of them, and then some. This is the reality the voters, and our goat stinking base has handed the president and left him to deal with alone.