Posted on 11/11/2004 12:29:04 PM PST by MissouriConservative
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) wants to make his case to be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee directly to the panel's GOP members next week.
Conservative groups want senators to pass over Specter for the chairmanship because of his comment that anti-abortion judges would be unlikely to be confirmed by the Senate.
Specter, who is an abortion rights moderate, has been calling and meeting with senators individually to assure them he wouldn't personally block Bush nominees from being voted on by the full Senate.
The senator now wants to go in front of the GOP's Judiciary Committee members and hash things out next week in a private meeting, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a committee member.
The GOP committee members get the first vote on whether Specter will replace current chairman Orrin Hatch, who is stepping down. Whatever decision they make can be appealed to the full GOP caucus.
''I expect we'll sit down with him and hear what his plans are to support the president and his nominees,'' Cornyn said.
Call the Viking Kitties?
Since 9-20-2004
So a baby is now a parasitic growth?
Dude, you need help.
You have me mistaken for someone else. I don't throw my votes away. I'm also not a communist.
Is Barlowmaker really Arne?
"I believe Sen. Cornyn is sending a not-too-subtle message that Sen. Specter can either get with the plan or get out of town."
No, Cornyn is providing cover for Specter. Specter is, according to Cornyn, going to be a good boy now, so there is no reason to be mean to him. We Senators have to stick together, you know.
This isn't about principle, or doing what's right. It's about playing to the other Senators, being a team player, and making the big shots in the Republican Party happy. Specter is going to be an obstructionist, no matter what he promises.
He has promised to others before the election that he would obstruct Bush's appointments, and he will, because it is in keeping with his long-standing position. He will not be running for reelection in six years, so there is no leverage to make him keep his word to the conservative part of the Republican Party.
Did you really not understand my post?
Yep! The Cowardly Lion!
I'm not familiar with Cornyn, and don't know what his motives here might be. I believe he is fairly new to the Senate, and was a prosecutor before being elected, so it seems he wouldn't owe Specter anything. Maybe he's toying with him, maybe he's looking to get in the papers . . . hard to say.
I'm comfortable with the knowledge that the committee votes secretly, then it goes to the entire caucus, who also has a secret ballot. Specter doen't have many friends, and I think his chickens may be coming home to roost at last.
Someone on another thread the other day wrote that the committee Republicans vote in an open election, not secret ballot. And then the GOP Senators then vote by secret ballot to accept or reject the proposed chairman.
Too bad. I am not living, voting or expressing myself for your approval, never have never will.
I'd be willing to stake $10,000 on it. Not a doubt.
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