Specter gets key backing for Judiciary post...

The Morning Call ^ | No. 17, 2004 | Jeff Miller

[oneday]

Specter gets key backing for Judiciary post Current chairman supports him to head panel, but Majority Leader Bill Frist says, 'We'll see.' By Jeff Miller Call Washington Bureau WASHINGTON | Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter picked up an important endorsement Tuesday in his bid to chair the Judiciary Committee, even as social conservatives vowed to step up their fight to block him. Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, the current chairman, said he supported Specter and predicted other committee Republicans would do the same. ''I think this matter will resolve itself,'' said Hatch, who will be forced to step down in January because of GOP term limits on chairmen. But Majority Leader Bill Frist was less enthusiastic when asked about Specter's chances. The Tennessee senator told CNN, ''We'll see.'' ...

Hatch said no one in Tuesday's meeting opposed Specter, whom he called ''highly respected.'' ''I believe he'll be a great chairman,'' Hatch said. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a Judiciary member, said Tuesday that he was leaning toward supporting Specter...

When Specter was asked if he would continue to be independent-minded as chairman, he answered ''yes.'' But he declined to elaborate.

[Redbob]

Spectre, unlike Jeffords, has nothing to gain by jumping:

his doing so would NOT put the Dims in the majority - it would merely put HIM in the minority.
And the Minority gets no committee chairs.

[mwl1]

I agree with you on that. But it won't happen, because we will get our judges, and Specter will pleasantly surprise millions of conservatives. He has no option but to deliver and, frankly, if we keep the heat on and continue to raise expectations of him, we might get more judges confirmed with Specter as chair than with a conservative chair who would operate under a constant, daily assault from the MSM.

[Hank Rearden]

Specter gets key backing for Judiciary post Current chairman supports him to head panel, but Majority Leader Bill Frist says, 'We'll see.' 'Yep, I'm a puss and I caved.'

[Antoninus]

It's funny that you think your activism will make a bit of difference in this affair. The outcome has already been determined. Surrender makes it sound like we have some role in the outcome.

Friend, you're way too cynical. Activism ALWAYS helps--it doesn't always work, but it makes life just a little uncomfortable for the dirtbags. Discouraging conservatives from being active is basically surrendering the field to the left. Is that what we should do?

The Specter chairmanship is as good a field to skirmish on as any. I say, open fire!

[THE MODERATE]

Specter is a former Democrat, who bolted the party because he could not get along with Mayor Rizzo, as the Philly DA he and Rizzo who was then chief of police clashed quite often, Rizzo himself switched to the GOP in 1987 because he thought the Democrats had gotten too liberal, but Specter has such solid control of the GOP in Philly and Rizzo was shutout of the party, Rizzo was attempting to take over the Philly GOP from Specter when he died of a heart attack and since then Specter has had total control of the Philly party.

[Theodore R.]

The Senate Republicans will regret they day Specter is made chairman of the judiciary committee.

No, they won't. Most of the mealy-mouthed Rpepublican senators are "CINO" -- Conservative in Name Only. They don't mind at all when liberals defeat them, as they usually do.

[Uncle Vlad]

They're going to wonder why many of the people who worked so hard to win the election for them this year stay home two years from now.

[Theodore R.]

It ain't over 'till it's over! Keep up the fight till the last, there is too much too lose here to give up before the votes are taken.

This made me think of former Rep. Bob Dornan, R-CA, who was done in by "nervous Nelly" RINOS in his challenge of the fraudulent election of Loretta Sanchez in 1996.

[Dr. Hog]

Would a pro-tax senator ever head the Finance Committee for the Republicans? Would a dove ever head the Defense Committee for the Republicans? Would a pro-abortion senator ever head the Judiciary Committee? The answer to these questions tell you more than you want to know.

[SunkenCiv]

Two possibilities emerge -- one, Specter will be so intimidated by this that he'll be pliable in the hands of the Pubbie leadership and rank and file; two, Specter will finally just switch parties, in which case he'll be removed from the commitee.

[Liberty Wins]

Came home for lunch and decided to make a few calls to see if I could get through. Called the U.S. Capitol on two different lines that I had been told were toll-free: 877-762-8762 and 866-727-4894. However, when I inquired of the operator, each time they said there was NO TOLL-FREE number for the Capitol. (Somebody needs to research this.)

I called twice and asked for Hatch's office. Both times a live person answered, no problem. Frankly I was shocked because I assumed their phones would be busy, busy, busy. Freepers, how come we're not jamming their lines with our sizzling phone calls?

Remember, it's not over until it's over. They don't vote until January, and a lot can happen in the meantime. Don't be discouraged and DON'T GIVE UP. The battle is always won by the side that perseveres.

[jeremiah]

Either a constitutional amendment for term limits, or a return by amendment to the past by senators being appointed by the states. There has to be a way to begin devolving the Federal governments size and scope.

[Catholic and Conservative]

I called 1-800-839-5276 to leave a message for Susan Collins. I think the number is just for Maine's senators and congressmen. Still, if you wanted to leave a message for her or fellow RINO Olympia Snowe, that would be the number to call. Neither one is likely to listen, but the call is free.

[Yankee Foxtrot 72]

If memory serves me correctly, the last time term limits were an issue was long before this forum was in existence. I for one, would love to see the ball start rolling on these pages.

The Founders never imagined that citizens would hold office for their entire adult lives.

[womanvet]

Hatch is a naive, weak-kneed, Caspar Milktoast kind of character who defies categorization as anything other than a wet noodle.

You are being unfair to wet noodles. They can stand straighter than Hatch

[Condor51]

Besides NEVER reading any email from us "commoners"

Not true. I do get responses from Frist (sometimes). And here's the REAL kicker, I always get a written response from..... DICK DURBIN! (D-IL). And it's always on the subject I write about.

The rat answers all his mail, honest. He might be a commie pinko, but he's a courteous commie pinko. And yes he knows I'm a Republican. I make that quite plain each time I write him to support Bush on some bill.

And I'll let you in on a little secret. I actually have a typed and personally signed letter from

President Bill Clinton!

(don't ask anything more, I was drunk out of my skull when I wrote him)

[jeremiah]

Actually, Newt hinted at pushing this through during the '94 elections, and many of the new congressmen that were elected during this cycle supported the concept in their campaigns. Unfortunately, the newbies were slapped hard by reality, and of course Gingrich.

[Indie]

If Specter was trying to fool pro-lifers, he would have kept his big mouth shut until after he was selected chairman. No?

NO...I mean the scum [like Hatch] that are actually supporting him and failing to support the will of the people now that we've given them a mandate..good ol' boy lawyer buddies over the country...that is what is typical. Allowing the American people to flood them with our protests and then turning around and doing what they want anyway. Misleading. Lying. How else can it be said.

[buttons]

It has got to be obeyed ( or enforced ) first

[rottweiller_inc]

Two possibilities emerge -- one, Specter will be so intimidated by this that he'll be pliable in the hands of the Pubbie leadership and rank and file; two, Specter will finally just switch parties, in which case he'll be removed from the commitee.

or 3 Specter will not seek reelection and play nice until he gets the power he wants and give a big middle finger to republicans who were gullible enough to believe him.