Posted on 05/30/2004 8:54:37 PM PDT by Badray
Party over Principle?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
This past Friday morning, Arlen Specter was at a town hall meeting in Ross Township (suburb north of Pittsburgh PA). According to Specter staffer Justin Lokay, this was at the suggestion of Lou Nudi, the Ross Committee Chairman.
There were about 35 people in attendance including the Senator and 5 or 6 staffers and interns. Also there was Congresswoman Melissa Hart, State Senator John Pippy, former Hart staffer and 16th state house district candidate Pat Geho, former row office candidate Becky Toomey (oh, the irony, but she is still the prettiest, and my favorite Specter supporter), Lou Nudi, as well as some various other local committee people. Arriving late as usual was State Representative Jeff Habay. More on him later.
I arrived shortly before the meeting started and checked to see if I was on the PNG (persona non grata) list, but was welcomed in, much to my surprise because I have been barred from previous events. I sat and listened to how conservative values were important to Arlen, how much he enjoys being around G.W.Bush, and how we must defeat the Democrats.
This is a pretty stock speech when he tries to court Republicans. Sadly too many pubbies have short memories and actually believe Arlen when he speaks. He invoked the name of his recent challenger, Pat Toomey and says that he enjoys his support because the Dem candidate is so bad. Yada, yada, yada . . .
He then tried to ingratiate himself by mentioning the names of several people in the crowd. There names were conveniently written on the cue card in his hand. The whole thing was a sad charade, but that didn't stop many from sucking it up. I don't know if they were all die hard supporters or simply supporting the "R" against the horrible "D" that looms ahead if we don't support Arlen.
He then 'yielded' to Melissa Hart. She yucked it up with him for a moment (Think Sonny and Cher, except that Sonny was the conservative, not Cher.) before he stepped aside. About now, there should have been a commercial break, but they continued anyway. Melissa then spoke in glowing terms of Arlen and how important it was to put Arlen into office so that he could chair the Judiciary Committee and help get Bush's judicial nominees approved. She cited the brave defense of former PA Attorney General Mike Fisher when some Democrats posed some minor opposition to Mike's approval. Thank God, Arlen was there to save the day and he convinced the Dems not to block him. BTW, Fisher was supported in his quest for the bench by his recent opponent for the Governor's office - Democrat Governor Ed Rendell. Gee, that must have been a tough fight, Arlen.
What no Borking of Fisher? Don't worry, if Mike starts to make some sound judgements, you can bet that Arlen will apologize like he did after fighting for Clarence Thomas.
Melissa was about 3 minutes into her praise when I just couldn't take it any longer. There she was defending the man that has been pissing on us for years and she was calling it rain. I walked out. On the way out, I said to her brother that I just couldn't stand the BS.
I stayed outside for the remainder of the meeting. I missed the Q and A session, but was told that there was only one tough question asked and that Arlen spent about ten minutes addressing it. The question may have hit a nerve, but I doubt that he will do anything more than pay lip service to it.
Some good news. There was some who expressed continued opposition to him despite coming to be convinced that they should now be supporting him.
I did tell Melissa's aide that I was not alone in my displeasure with her support of Arlen. She may or may not care, but I am sure that I am quite right in my assessment. She is putting the party before any principle she ever espoused and this will cost her later.
Another person that I engaged was Rep. Habay. He arrived only after I had left the meeting and was outside for about 15 minutes. He approached me as he entered the building and I greeted him with a snide remark that he resembled a man that I used to know and told him that I was disappointed in his support for Arlen. He told me that Arlen helped him early in his 'career' (God, I hate that word when applied to politicians.) and that he was repaying the favor. (Doesn't the mob do favors now for favors in the future too?) I told him that that is what happens when you get into bed with the wrong people. He started getting testy at that point (I have to keep the BAD in badray, ya know) and retorted that he wasn't in bed with anyone, but that he would be glad to sit down and discuss the issue with me. I said OK, but he needed to dig himself out of a big hole. Walking away, he said that he was very comfortable in his position. I thanked him for telling me what I needed to know as he turned the corner (more than metaphorically?).
Just before Arlen came out, I spoke to County GOP Chairman Rich Stampahar and he tried to convince me that Specter was the man to support. His pleas fell on deaf ears, but they were overheard by an intern of Specter's who wimpily came over to tell me that this was a private event and asked me not to create a disturbance. I replied only that I was talking to people that knew me and approached me and wasn't talking to any one else. Can you imagine anyone thinking that I would cause a disturbance? LOL Not me, I'm too shy.
On the way out, Arlen either didn't recognize me or thought that I went over to the dark side and was now a supporter. He approached me to shake my hand, but I politely declined. I reserve my handshake for those that I respect.
Maybe I'm just not a 'good republican'. Maybe I'm an 'unappeasable'. Maybe I am a purist. I've been called all of these things and more. And worse.
What I do know is that I cannot support this man. Not for party loyalty, not even for the Senate majority (we do not effectively have it now because of people like Specter). I also know that it is not out of bitterness or hatred. It's just principle. He doesn't believe the things that I believe. He doesn't value the things that I value. His vision of America is not my vision.
This November, a vote for Democrat Joe Hoeffel is a vote to put a true conservative, a true Republican in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm voting for Joe.
Ray Horvath
Then that makes you a DemocRat if you vote for Arlen
Ray's reasoning on this one is sound and strategic.
Finally, we have enough of a majority and hence the FREEDOM to vote him out of office and you give us the same sorry old reason to vote for him.
I won't. There are people who never laid eyes on this board who won't either.
Given your warped reasoning, then you're a Socialist if you vote for Hoeffel, ACU rating 8. Bernie Sanders is 7.
Anyone who votes for Hoeffel is either a snake or a moron.
It would appear that you would also be voting for a liberal democrat.
Oh goody.... it's you.
I could make that same comment about anyone who votes for Specter knowing that he will block conservative judges.
Now why'd you have to go and ruin the fun? You hurt my feelings, (sniff) (sniff).
Please be so kind as to post the figures. :-)
I that your only answer ? Can you not discuss things without calling people names ? Can you not realize that people have different ideas as to how to change things ? Badray posted his thoughts as to how he feels to protect the principles of the party and all you people do is attack.
And no way this time, will we be able to elect a filibuster free majority. So please spare me that argument.
Do you want to see Specter block conservative judicial appointees?
His reasoning is sound and logical.
Will you be voting for him?
When you have no argument, you make personal attacks. Why don't you try addressing the issue?
Assuming that we will retain the majority: If Kyl will be the better chairman, is removing Specter wrong?
Deal with the substance of this thread, if you are capable.
Please try to elevate your responses to the Junior high school level. You are making childish remarks about someone's name like an elementary school child.
By your comment, you must think that voting for the 'winning' candidate is a good thing even if you don't agree with them on the issues.
I'll stick to principle, thank you.
That is frequently the reason I vote for the Republican over a third party candidate who has zero chance of winning.
Both of them are Hillary's mouth pieces.
Specter has seniority and will have considerable power.
Hoeffel will be new and have no power.
I'm voting for the liberal with the least power.
What a lovely couple you two make.
That bears repeating. Well said!
Welcome to FR.
You are ignoring both reality and what has been written. NO OBSERVER, NONE, NOWHERE but you RINOs here believe that the GOP will lose the majority even with this outcome. We have acknowledged that 'what if' and don't believe it either. You are trying to exaggerate a myth and perpetuate a lie.
"This drive to unseat Specter in order to position Kyl for the SJC chairmanship is perhaps the dumbest thing I've seen in political discourse in years."
Based on your fears and lies, it might seem that way. When we maintain control without Specter in the Senate or Chairing the SJC, it will be acknowledged as gutsy and brilliant.
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