You are mistaken. Specter is on the president's, the AG's, and our side today.
“The substance of all the definitions of probable cause is a reasonable ground for belief of guilt.” Maryland v. Pringle, 540 U.S. 366, 371 (2003) (internal quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added).
The key question under the Fourth Amendment is not whether there was a warrant, but whether the search was reasonable.
Although the terrorist surveillance program may implicate substantial privacy interests, the Government’s interest in protecting our Nation is compelling. Because the need for the program is reevaluated every 45 days and because of the safeguards and oversight, the al Qaeda intercepts are reasonable.
This terrorist surveillance program involves intercepting the international communications of persons reasonably believed to be members or agents of al Qaeda or affiliated terrorist organizations.
Disagree.
He is neither on the side of the Democrats nor administration's. Specter's sole interest is in strengthening the Congressional Branches power, and as a result, his own as Judiciary Chairman.
For those that are anti-Specter, they need to understand there is nothing to gain for Specter in bringing Republicans other than good press in MSM organs. This is an election year. If he led a fight against a "Republican" administration, that wouldn't be helpful to Republicans keeping their majority in the Senate. Without a Majority, Specter becomes the MINORITY figure on his committee. Anyone think that is a position he relishes? No.
Similiarly, he has no love for the administration even though that administration is why he has his current seat. The ONLY thing Specter has dreamed about for years, is becoming Judiciary Chairman. Nothing else matters to him. Now that he has made his goal, he resents anyone taking his power, perceived to take his power, or any challenge to his authority. Specter is not looking through the lens of the legalities involved here, though he comforts himself as doing so. He looks through the lens of approachment on his supreme power as Chairman. he's jealous of anyone, or any other branch, that would threaten his power. It doesn't matter if it's this admin, wouldn't matter if it were a Dem admin, wouldn't matter if were the Judiciary. Remember, many of the questions Specter asked concerned Judicial overreach into the CONGRESSIONAL branch during Roberts and alito's hearings.
At least in Specter's case, however, this struggle for control dates back centuries. He's no worse, and no better, than those that came before him in this neverending struggle.
The Dems linking their future to Al Quida as a Party? While there have been flirtations with the communists before, they weren't in entire agreement there. Those loyal to the English Empire, but not total in respects there as well, and infected both sides to differing degrees. I'd state only the civil war split trumps what the Democrats are engaged in here, except I don't believe the Confederates would have joined with the Nazi's, Commies or Islamic terrorists to win.