Posted on 01/12/2009 1:38:07 PM PST by Salena Zito
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has a bit of dilemma on his hands. It’s the kind of problem that has the potential to snowball and create an avalanche of political issues, depending on how he handles it.
As the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Specter will have a front-row seat to what could become a political spectacle: the confirmation hearings of President-elect Barack Obama’s pick for attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr.
Specter’s pivot point is not whether he decides to grill Holder, but how. Go overboard as many perceive he did with Anita Hill in the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation, and he alienates the left; give Holder a pass, and he pushes the right even further away.
Specter was first elected as the junior senator from Pennsylvania (Republican John Heinz was the senior) on the coattails of Ronald Reagan in 1980. At 78, he is gearing up for a sixth run. His last big political battle (and there have been many) came in 2004, not at the hands of a Democrat - but within his own party, which he has always had a love-hate relationship with.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
Specter’s finest moment was grilling that fraud Anita Hill and putting a stop to the high tech lynching of Judge Clarence Thomas, one of the most capable men to ever serve on the Supreme Court. If he were to stop Eric Holder’s confirmation cold, he would assure himself of an easy run in 2010. A moderate with the backbone to stand up for what is right is better than a conservative who’ll roll over to be liked.
Just where do you pick up such incredible nonsense?
Specter should resign, ASAP.
I hope Snarlin’ Arlen has a really strong Primary opponent in 2010 and that the PA voters retire this senile, duplicitous old back-stabbing RINO a$$hole!
[duplicitous — adj. Given to or marked by deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech.]
Pat Toomey would be my choice — he was a most excellent Congressman and is doing a fine job as President of the Club for Growth. He should have won the seat in ‘04.
Maybe by 2010, PA and the USA will be ready for REAL CHANGE and permanently retire Snarlin Arlen!
I’m surprised there is even one Republican left who cares what that moron thinks. He should have been turned out of office years ago. Shame on the PA voters for keeping this relic in the senate.
Case in point is Orin Hatch. He always scores in the 90’s on the conservative side. As a person, he is probably one of the most decent men in the U.S. Senate. But he has this need to be liked which pushes him into too many wrong-headed decisions. Give me a Jim DeMint or a Tom Coburn any day. Even give me an Arlen Specter on the day he stood up for Judge Clarence Thomas. I was damn proud of him when he took off the gloves against Anita Hill. Somebody had to do it.
Arlen was the preferred choice of GW himself. The flummoxed doofus Santorum into supporting him, only to be defeated himself.
The Repubs better grill and fry every Obama appointee from now until 2012. Treat them the same as Bush’s nominees were treated. Of course the weaklings will probably just roll over for anything Zero wants....
Specter should have lost to Toomey in 2004, I'm still pissed about Bush and the RNC saving his butt.
Toomey should have won the nomination but he would not have gotten over 40% in the general election.
Holder is dirty over the Rich pardon.
And Arlen Specter is in possession of this audio. Yes, Marc Rich established a $250 million fund to get his pardon.
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=ji0r6e&s=4
(Don’t worry if it says VIDEO NOT FOUND. The audio starts in a few seconds.)
Yeah, what an idiot, getting Roberts and Alito through!
He should have been turned out of office years ago. Shame on the PA voters for keeping this relic in the senate.
Yes, a vibrant young Democrat would really please you, wouldn't it?
Sen Specter has done a few things right, but he’s the type of lukewarm Republican who is forever content to be in the minority, standing in the background with a stupid smile on his face while the Democrats turn us rapidly into a socialist state. A few crumbs now and then keep him happy, and in his place.
That’s not good enough.
Well, I was aware that it would have been an uphill battle, but it had to be fought. He might have won. Guess we’ll never know, will we.
Both Dubyah and Santorum pulled a dumba$$ stunt when they endorsed Snarlin. I still do not understand that move. They were wrong, and they both paid a huge price for supporting Snarlin in the primary.
You will recall that Snarlin repaid President Bush the day he won by telling the President that, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he would not support the President’s Judicial nominees! Many of whom had been waiting for confirmation for months.
ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL!
I wouldn't say anyone would be pleased with the prospect of getting a self-confessed Democrat instead of a wannabe Democrat (Specter). The shame of this is that we did get one of those Dems as a result of this race two years later when Santorum lost because of his misplaced support of this RINO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.