11/09/2004 Entry: ""
Posted by Maynard @ 09:58 AM MST
Specter Stories
NRO today suggests that Orrin Hatch should be the chairman of the judiciary committee. Hugh Hewitt has raised some concerns which have given me pause. He thinks that removing Arlen Specter from Judiciary would have vindictive consequences. Laura Ingraham has been all over Specter the last few days, ripping him on one side one hour and the other the next. Both radio pundits raise good points. True, Specter is a RINO, but he does hold considerable sway in the liberal wing of the Republican party.
I have, since my posting last week, tempered my position, based on Hewitt's concerns. I suggest one of the following.
- Give Specter a dressing down and put him in charge of Judiciary. Send up conservative judges, and the first one that gets filibustered triggers Specter's removal from chairmanship. Period.
- Give Hatch Judiciary and Specter the chairmanship of a different powerful committee. This avoids a vindictive backlash and keeps the Judiciary committee safe.
In any case, we need to change the Senate rules now to require a simple majority to close debate on judge appointments.
Specter needs to humble himself and realize that subtle (or otherwise) comments that indicate an obstructionist position are out of line given the social mandate Bush received from the voters. Get in line, senator, or we will find someone who holds different views than you.
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I like the "Specter elsewhere" theory. I'll vote for that.
I think, as far as senate rules go, you can bring it up for a vote; if there is a filibuster, you can then change the rules to break a filibuster at 59. If there still is a filibuster, change the rules to 58.....until you hit 55, or 54, or 53, or whatever you need (as long as its above 50). This could be very effective, and you could clearly liberal obstructionism in each successive vote--the reason Daschle (D-ASS-shul) lost.
Posted by Kirk @ 11/09/2004 09:53 PM MST
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