Merriam-Webster online:
Main Entry: spec·ter
Variant(s): or spec·tre /'spek-t&r/
Function: noun
1 : a visible disembodied spirit : GHOST
2 : something that haunts or perturbs the mind : PHANTASM {the specter of hunger}
Remarks made last week by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) concerning the prospective judicial nominees of President George W. Bush have set off a torrent of outrage across the conservative spectrum which threatens the senator's elevation to the chairman position of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
According to a transcript of Specter's remarks published Thursday in The Corner on National Review Online, Specter responded to a question by a reporter concerning judicial appointments, saying, "When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v Wade, I think that is unlikely. And I have said that bluntly during the course of the campaign and before."
...The reporter continued to press, and Specter replied, "I don't want to prejudge what the President is going to do. But the President is well aware of what happened when a number of his nominees were sent up, were filibustered, and the President has said he is not going to impose a litmus test, he faced that issue squarely in the third debate and I would not expect the President, I would expect the President to be mindful of the considerations that I mentioned."
Mens News Daily articleAccording to a transcript of Specter's remarks published Thursday in The Corner on National Review Online, Specter responded to a question by a reporter concerning judicial appointments, saying, "When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v Wade, I think that is unlikely. And I have said that bluntly during the course of the campaign and before."
...The reporter continued to press, and Specter replied, "I don't want to prejudge what the President is going to do. But the President is well aware of what happened when a number of his nominees were sent up, were filibustered, and the President has said he is not going to impose a litmus test, he faced that issue squarely in the third debate and I would not expect the President, I would expect the President to be mindful of the considerations that I mentioned."
God help a Repuglican who speaks the truth - that the Warp Resident uses the "base" pandering anti-abortion rhetoric to keep them sucking up. Dupes.
"Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the President about anything and was very respectful of his Constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges," Specter said in the press release.
"As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush's nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O'Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas," the senator continued in his statement.
"As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush's nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O'Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas," the senator continued in his statement.
Too late Arlen. Too late. You are dead meat.
Update 10:30 am: Funny Josh Marshall comment:
At this point, to use judicial jargon, the White House had already forced Specter to enter into a non-custodial relationship with his testicles.
"Although I am pro-choice, I have supported many pro-life nominees," Specter continued.
Keep digging, Arlen.
Conservative talk radio hosts and Internet activists led the way with petitions, phone and fax campaigns, and even full blown web sites are springing up seemingly overnight in an effort to convince the Senate Judiciary Committee to elect a conservative Republican as chairman of the committee rather than Specter.
The Family Research Council sent an e-mail to its supporters urging them to contact senators and tell them to "not allow Sen. Specter to determine the makeup of our courts."
Focus on the Family President James Dobson said, "Specter is a problem who should be derailed."
The Family Research Council sent an e-mail to its supporters urging them to contact senators and tell them to "not allow Sen. Specter to determine the makeup of our courts."
Focus on the Family President James Dobson said, "Specter is a problem who should be derailed."
------
Karl Rove may be a genius, but he really blew one race.
In an effort to win Pennsylvania, the President backed Arlen Specter in the Republican Primary. Specter won by fewer than 16,000 votes and Pennsylvania went for Kerry anyway.
Now Specter will be Judiciary Committee chairman and a thorn in the president's side for the rest of his term. Even if Republicans had lost the seat, a 54-member Republican majority without Specter is better than 55 seats with him.
A friend once told me "never sacrifice your friends to pacify your enemies." So true.
Arizona Central articleIn an effort to win Pennsylvania, the President backed Arlen Specter in the Republican Primary. Specter won by fewer than 16,000 votes and Pennsylvania went for Kerry anyway.
Now Specter will be Judiciary Committee chairman and a thorn in the president's side for the rest of his term. Even if Republicans had lost the seat, a 54-member Republican majority without Specter is better than 55 seats with him.
A friend once told me "never sacrifice your friends to pacify your enemies." So true.
------
One of the major stories from the 2004 election cycle comes from Pennsylvania. The story wasn't that Bush came close to winning The Keystone State, nor was it that Philadelphia Mayor John Street admitted on television that he used $3 million in "walking-around" money to pad Sen. John Kerry's vote totals in his city.
It is the political survival of Sen. Arlen Specter and his twisted idea of expressing thanks to those who helped him.
...Specter has never been an ally to conservatives; in fact he has been hostile. He sided with Senate Democrats helping to destroy Judge Robert Bork when President Ronald Reagan nominated him to the U.S. Supreme Court. More recently he fought against President Bush's nomination of Arkansan Leon Holmes to the federal bench and only relented after feeling substantial pressure during his primary fight.
Despite being a cog in the wheel so many times for Republicans, Specter convinced President Bush and Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., the most conservative member in the U.S. Senate, to support his troubled candidacy. He told Republicans that he could help Bush in Pennsylvania...
...After being brought to life by Bush and Santorum during his primary and winning his fifth six-year term on Tuesday, Specter had a pointed message for the newly elected president on Wednesday.
An internet headline on an Associated Press story read, "Likely new Senate judiciary chairman warns Bush against nominating anti-abortion judges." Specter, who owes his political life to conservatives, slapped them in the face.
...Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., predicted Wednesday that the new 55-seat majority would make it easier to stave off threats of filibusters from Senate Democrats. Now, Frist must worry about one of his own leading the fight against Bush's nominees.
In addition to Bork, Specter helped kill another Reagan Judicial nominee, Jeff Sessions from Alabama. Since 1996, Sessions has carried the title of senator and, like Specter, serves on the Judiciary Committee. He might have something to say about Specter's impending chairmanship. Senate Republicans do have options.
The best thing that could happen would be for Frist to make use of the changes in party rules in the Senate made earlier this year, which give him more control over committee chairs. If Specter will not relent, which is highly unlikely, he should be passed over for the committee chairmanship or removed from the committee altogether.
As many other conservatives, I feel comfortable voting for Republican candidates, despite the party's problems, because of the likely prospect of having like-minded men and women being appointed to the federal bench. I know I am losing patience.
Republicans lacked the courage to stand up to Specter when they could have purged him from their ranks. Senate Republican leaders must clip his wings to keep him from doing more damage so that President Bush can have a clearer path to reshape the federal courts.
Arkansas News articleIt is the political survival of Sen. Arlen Specter and his twisted idea of expressing thanks to those who helped him.
...Specter has never been an ally to conservatives; in fact he has been hostile. He sided with Senate Democrats helping to destroy Judge Robert Bork when President Ronald Reagan nominated him to the U.S. Supreme Court. More recently he fought against President Bush's nomination of Arkansan Leon Holmes to the federal bench and only relented after feeling substantial pressure during his primary fight.
Despite being a cog in the wheel so many times for Republicans, Specter convinced President Bush and Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., the most conservative member in the U.S. Senate, to support his troubled candidacy. He told Republicans that he could help Bush in Pennsylvania...
...After being brought to life by Bush and Santorum during his primary and winning his fifth six-year term on Tuesday, Specter had a pointed message for the newly elected president on Wednesday.
An internet headline on an Associated Press story read, "Likely new Senate judiciary chairman warns Bush against nominating anti-abortion judges." Specter, who owes his political life to conservatives, slapped them in the face.
...Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., predicted Wednesday that the new 55-seat majority would make it easier to stave off threats of filibusters from Senate Democrats. Now, Frist must worry about one of his own leading the fight against Bush's nominees.
In addition to Bork, Specter helped kill another Reagan Judicial nominee, Jeff Sessions from Alabama. Since 1996, Sessions has carried the title of senator and, like Specter, serves on the Judiciary Committee. He might have something to say about Specter's impending chairmanship. Senate Republicans do have options.
The best thing that could happen would be for Frist to make use of the changes in party rules in the Senate made earlier this year, which give him more control over committee chairs. If Specter will not relent, which is highly unlikely, he should be passed over for the committee chairmanship or removed from the committee altogether.
As many other conservatives, I feel comfortable voting for Republican candidates, despite the party's problems, because of the likely prospect of having like-minded men and women being appointed to the federal bench. I know I am losing patience.
Republicans lacked the courage to stand up to Specter when they could have purged him from their ranks. Senate Republican leaders must clip his wings to keep him from doing more damage so that President Bush can have a clearer path to reshape the federal courts.
I really don't see what these people are moaning about. If Specter will not "relent" (which is highly unlikely - how's that for dark?), they can just send Specter on a trip somewhere in a small plane and "clip his wings".
He really is flirting with danger to disagree with the Warp Resident right out of the gate. Whew. Good luck, Arlen.
At Mens News Daily....
Just like the national elections - only two choices. I would have voted, but I don't see the "Hell No" tab.
...but hey, you go do what you want...you will anyway.
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