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.

[newzjunkey]

I share your "shock" ... this party has no testicular fortitude! It only cares about the grassroots when their fate at the ballot box in on the line.

[SeasideSparrow]

For those who are discouraged, hold on.....it's not over yet.

If we give up now, then we are the true wienies.

Let's just keep the pressure on these guys til they budge.

The very fact so many of them are being hush-hush says they're concerned.

Anyone saying they've all made a decision already has no clue. No one here is telepathic. Keep that in mind.

I'll guarantee you one thing: If calls cease, that will send the wrong message for sure.

[TEXOKIE]

"It is still very much in doubt. So far Specter has gotten the support of Snow, Hatch, and McCain. Specter has been working his tail off to try to salvage this, but is not out of the woods yet. If people keep up the pressure, there is a fair chance someone will step up and challenge Specter..."

IF PEOPLE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE, THERE IS A FAIR CHANCE SOMEONE WILL STEP UP AND CHALLENGE SPECTER!!!!


BUMPITY BUMP THAT!!!

[THE MODERATE]

I think you are making too much of a big deal out of this
but Dole won by a 28 27 vote over Coleman.

[RockinRight]

That is absolutely the reason, right there.

[RockinRight]

It ain't gonna happen, but I'd love to see a Freshman like Coburn or DeMint stand up to him!

[mindburglar]

Relax. There but for the grace of Bush goes Specter. This little exercise in showing distaste for this dope has weakened him to the point where his power is virtually non existent. Specter will be the most powerless chairman of the judiciary committee in the history of our great republic. Just sit back and revel at his impotence. It's going to be wonderful to have W's appointments destroy him.

[sully777]

Hatch refused to go after Dems during the Intel Committee problem. He called Hillbilly Dave his very good friend on the Laura Ingram Show. Hatch suggested there was no wrong doing in the DNC's attempt to seize the Iraqi War as a campaign issue.

I'm not shocked he supports Specter. But we don't. Too bad so sad, Hatch. Maybe you can write a song about it.

[RockinRight]

The future of the Republican party, and conservatism, is at stake. There are two possible avenues:

One, guys like Hatch and other RINOs turn us back into a minority party, or, a majority party as liberal as John Kerry.

Or, newcomers, post-boomer conservatives like Jim DeMint, Tom Coburn, Norm Coleman, and governors like Mark Sanford, Tim Pawlenty etc take the helm. Hopefully it's guys like this who inherit the GOP.

[trickyricky]

I guess they figure a chastened Spectre is better than a Jumpin Spectre.

A RINO by any any other name would stink as bad.
Let the SOB JUMP!

[RockinRight]

Or when they start losing elections.

[RockinRight]

Dole's OK. She comes across as a RINO, but basically votes the right way.

Her ACU rating is 80, not perfect, but OK.

Coleman's is only 85.

[NonValueAdded]

While I've posted elsewhere that Hatch was a poor chairman and relaxing the rule to give him another 2 years of chairmanship is no solution, here's another explanation for the outcome of that secret meeting: Hatch rightly determined that turning the country over to AlGore was infinitely worse than giving the Toon a free pass. As much as I despise the Clintons, hindsight tells us that AlGore as president would have been a disaster of epic proportions.

[Yankee Foxtrot 72]

Isn't it about time to start pushing the discussion on Term Limits again? The trouble we have seems always to begin with the "senior" actors primarily in the Senate. At the risk of losing an occasional good one, and I'm hard pressed to come up with more than a couple names, a term definite would solve a lot of ills.

[buridan]

You can fax free by emailing:

remote-printer.saxby_chambliss@12022240103.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.orrin_hatch@12022246331.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.jon_kyle@12022242207.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.mike_dewine@12022246519.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.jeff_sessions@12022243149.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.larry_craig@12022281067.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.saxby_chambliss@12022240103.iddd.tpc.int
remote-printer.john_cornyn@12022282856.iddd.tpc.int

[Howlin]

There but for the grace of Bush goes Specter.

Bingo.

Specter will be the most powerless chairman of the judiciary committee in the history of our great republic

Amen.

[Database]

Exactly right. Needs to be repeated often:

Anyone as wrong headed about the way constitutional issues should be decided as Arlen Specter should NEVER sit in a position of influence in selecting or approving judicial nominations.

Specter is constitutionally challenged.

[AFPhys]

I agree with you about your concern with Specter NOT being about abortion. It is rather his take on "Original Intent" of the Constitution.
.

[nonliberal]

I called Frist's and Graham's offices and told them that I would NOT support them for President should Specter be confirmed.

[mindburglar]

It's going to be great theater. This dope doesn't know it, but he is going to provide W with all the cover he needs. I can't wait for the hearings. God it's going to be historic. Specter doesn't realize that he is being set up to be the patsey. If this guy isn't Fredo I don't know who is.