Hi all,
A little late to the conversation but here none-the-less.
The best chance we have is to implore and politely ask Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa to step down from Finance Chairman and take up the Chairmanship of the Judiiary Committee.
Two pluses.
1) He is already Chairman of Finance, so his chairmanship is also limited there, he would still be a member.
2) The Judiciary Chairmanship would guarnatee him at least two terms as Chairman vs. his limited time as Finance Chairman.
This is our best chance, I believe.
Instead of asking to demote or punish Spectar, reward Grassley, and Specter is not even an issue.
Now, Obviously, the leadership is well aware of this, (hopefully) and most likely is talking with Grassley regarding this.
This is where we come in.
I feel you all have been directing your ideas at a somewhat blocked wall, and should be using Honey on bees instead.
Write Grassley, and Frist, and other members on the Judiciary Committee with an (R) next to their name, even Specter.
Ask Specter to publically recognize Grassley as the next in line, not him.
Ask Grassley to figure which is more important at this time in our Country, finance or Judicial Activism, and the likelihood of SCOTUS Nominations, as well as filling the current 30 vacancies.
Grassley would still retain his seat on Finance, and someone else can chair that one.
Folks, we still will need Specter's votes on other issues, and that loses one vote on the fillibuster issue unless rules are changed.
Grassley is key to this, since he is next in line. We have 2.5 Months to effect this, and I feel this is our best chance.
Grassley for Chairman on Judiciary, Since Specter is Chairman of UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS, write Specter and state how well you respect his work on that committee.
This is the only way I see that will be a win-win.
Let's talk about this direction, shall we, insetad of trying to dump a Republican Senator we surely will still need for Votes on the floor adn in the committee.
Folks 55 is not far from 60, but why make it 54, that would not be very good common sense.
My suggestion, Notch it down a bit, and look at what I am suggesting.
http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Legislation.Committees
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm
http://specter.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Biography.Committees
http://veterans.senate.gov/
vacancies:
http://judiciary.senate.gov/nominations.cfm
So Questions...
1) How long has Grassley been Chairman of Finance?
2) how long has Specter been Chairman of Veteran's Affairs?
If Grassley has to give up Finance, Specter has to give up Veterans Affairs, that is the in here. We need him to continue to work for our Heroes who need his help more than ever, and he is the chairman that can lead that fight.
Flame me all you want, but my logic is there, and we have 2.5 months to enact my little brainstorm...
I see no issue more important over the next two years than this.
Regards,
Sonar5
Think of it this way. If Specter decides to revolt against the Republican party because he did not get the chairperson position he was expecting we will be more than glad that we didn't put that sort of person at the head of the judiciary committee. This position is too important to put someone who is not typically in line with the rest of the Republican party.