LOL. He takes naps during his speeches now. zzzzzzzzzzz
Posted on 07/19/2007 6:42:04 PM PDT by neverdem
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- In unusually harsh personal criticism on the Senate floor, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., on Wednesday accused Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of being "rude," "dictatorial" and "ineffective."
The outburst by Specter came after the Senate's rare all night-session and emotional vote on an amendment calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Reid interrupted Specter after he said it was a "ridiculous waste of time" to keep the Senate in session all night Tuesday to debate the amendment, which Specter opposed.
"I would bet, with all due respect to my friend, the senior senator from Pennsylvania, that the people of Pennsylvania want a change of course in an intractable war that we find ourselves in in Iraq," Reid said.
As Specter tried to respond, Reid called for a vote on an education bill and left the chamber.
Specter waited in the Senate for half an hour until the next break in the action, then spoke again in sharp criticism.
"When the majority leader cut me off, and then made reference to what the people of Pennsylvania want ... I at least ought to have an opportunity to reply because I think I know more about Pennsylvania than Senator Reid does," Specter said.
To be interrupted like that, Specter said, was "rude, to say the minimum."
"And if the United States Senate doesn't run on comity, on courtesy, on basic decency, the United States Senate cannot run at all," Specter said.
Specter said former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., told him that Reid did the same thing to him a couple of days ago.
"Senator Lott said the majority leader wanted to publicly apologize. Senator Lott said, 'Not necessary.' Public apologies don't mean much."
Specter said Reid approached him after the interruption and said he would make sure Specter would be recognized to speak first after the vote on the education bill.
"I said, 'No thanks, I can get myself recognized,' " Specter said. "Those practices (by Reid), I think, are not only rude, but dictatorial."
Specter then turned to the overnight session.
"We had a meaningless, insulting all-night session for absolutely no purpose. It was an indignity to the senators who were kept here all night to vote," Specter said.
That made the Senate "the laughing stock of the world."
"The majority leader said the purpose was to show the American people that he would not back down. Well, I think he showed the American people how ineffective he is," Specter said.
Responding to Specter's comments, Reid spokesman Jon Summers said tensions are high because of the debate on the Iraq war.
"Everyone is frustrated with the situation, particularly Senator Reid, who is frustrated with Republicans who continue to block votes on changing course in Iraq and bringing a responsible end to the war," Summers said.
Specter gets cranky when he doesn’t get his nap!
It should make people appreciate Republican leaders which they roundly denounced at the time. They got a lot done with razor thin majorities, something Reid can’t manage.
“We had a meaningless, insulting all-night session for absolutely no purpose. It was an indignity to the senators who were kept here all night to vote,” Specter said.
That made the Senate “the laughing stock of the world.”
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After the immigration debacle, They’re up to “the laughing stock of the world” status already . I din’t know dat. ;-)
Sometimes they listen. The drying up of NRSC contributions certainly got their attention.
Yeah, maybe it’s about time we saw some fist fights, or at least some pushing and shoving, on the Senate floor. Snarlin’ Arlen versus Harry “Real Estate” Reid. Pay per view. I’m not sure who would win it, though.
My theory is that the northeastern liberals pick a western useful idiot to do their dirty work so they aren’t put on the spot , and Dashell and Reid were stupid enough to fall for it. There’s nothing as pitiful as a small man who thinks he is important. Tom Foley was another.
“Dictatorial” is four more syllables than I would have used.
Take two shots of Jamesons. That will loosen things right up!
just take cat naps like Geezer Sheets Byrd during sessions.
The Republicans’ greatest moment in history was when George Nethercutt beat sitting Speaker Foley in 1994.
How we have fallen since.
Is Specter running for president?
And even with a huge majority while a clown Dem President was in office ... re: 1994 Congress ...
Really, the Pres was floundering and worrying about his 'relevance' and 'legacy' pre-1994 ... and then Newt's Congress comes to the rescue and completely overhauls government, which Clinton took as his mantle of accomplishment ... but who really cares who takes the credit? The "Contract" was good for America, and thats all that really counts ... if Slick wants this as his 'legacy' on his watch, then so be it ... it really doesn't matter who takes credit, it was good for America.
Hear! Hear!
It certainly vies for the most damaging Amendment to our republic with the 16th. 1913 was one BAD year.
Gawd, would I like ex-senator federalist FRed address it - but ... sigh I won't hold my breath on that either.
I'd also call him a racist. Anyone who would purposely abandon the Iraqis at this time before some sense of order is established shows that he does not care about who or how many get killed. If they were not a brown skinned people, I don't think Reid would folow the course he is on. He is nothing but a racist!
What horse$hit!
Later yet, Specter was overheard to say “Harry Reid, thou fobbing, reeling-ripe wagtail, cockered milk-livered flirt-gill!”
LOL. He takes naps during his speeches now. zzzzzzzzzzz
Specter is much too “moderate” for my liking. But I haven’t see that he has ever been rude or dictatorial.
I think Specter’s calling out another Senator this way is really saying something.
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