Chairman Specter Warns Chimpy on Justices

[jefferson_dem]

Anyone believe this shit is for real?

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Republican expected to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee next year bluntly warned newly re-elected President Bush on Wednesday against putting forth Supreme Court nominees who would seek to overturn abortion rights or are otherwise too conservative to win confirmation.

Sen. Arlen Specter, fresh from winning a fifth term in Pennsylvania, also said the current Supreme Court now lacks legal "giants" on the bench.

"When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely," Specter said, referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

"The president is well aware of what happened, when a bunch of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster," Specter added, referring to Senate Democrats' success over the past four years in blocking the confirmation of many of Bush's conservative judicial picks. "... And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning."

<SNIP>

http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1099519446292850.xml&storylist=penn

[kikiek]

1. The moderate repugs said they were going to lay down the law!

Maybe they will!

[jefferson_dem]

3. Here's hoping the 2 or 3 moderate repukes stand firm, cause they are

about to get bum-rushed like fucking crazy!

I also hold out hope that the sleeping giant (complacent female pro-choicers) is about to wake up and say "whatthefuck is going on here!?"

[seraph]

7. That has been widely circulated among conservatives

that the war for the republican party would start Nov 3rd.

I'm not sure what that means.

[kikiek]

15. I truly believe that a true republican would be pissed. This isn't a

republican in office. They're just using their name. They will pay for years to come after this loser.

[Sufi Marmot]

19. Snowe (R-ME) and Collins (R-ME) are both staunchly pro-choice

Chaffee (R-RI) may also be.

-SM

[kikiek]

28. It is frightening to think of how many of Robertson's people have

infiltrated our government.

[Pirate Smile]

2. There are two different Republican parties and, hopefully soon,

they are going to start going after each other.

[GRLMGC]

4. I hope so

Then it won't just be the Dems at eachother's throats. This would let us regroup while they bicker.

[Not Me]

6. I did a post suggesting that earlier...

I really think the 'normal' republicans could quickly tire of the neocon RW arm.

[regnaD kciN]

14. WHAT "normal Republicans"...?

In case you haven't noticed, virtually the entire party is now the neocon RW arm.

[The Doctor.]

10. You are correct...

I'm a real republican.

These assholes in the WH are not.

There are those in my party that still believe in the ideals of diplomacy and conservatism.

These jackasses in the WH do not.

There WILL be a falling out if there is any grace left in the universe.

It would be nice to see these neo-cons join the Reform party.

I love DU'ers like family, but I don't want to surrender my party affiliation because of these fucking thugs.

[Chili]

20. I long for the day...

...when Republicans like you take back your party. Good luck to you, we're in this particular fight together.

[The Doctor.]

22. AMEN nt

[Pirate Smile]

21. I think we need to join together. I think your party has been taken

over by Karl Rove's plan to turn it into a revival meeting for evangelical Christians.

The red v. blue states now is becoming the religious v. secular. Oh sure, you can want a secular government and still go to church but you just don't want the church to start running the damn government.

[The Doctor.]

26. You are correct...

Republicans live under the Limbaughnian illusion that they are somhow 'Smarter' than 'Liberals'.

*Writhes violently trying to supress rising bile*

I've found that the 'Liberals' have the facts on their side lately.
I follow the facts because I'm the Republican the rest THINK they are.

I can't wait for Falwell to start legislating.

The rational people in my party will figure it out.

I really liked McCain, What did they do to him?

Why did Kerry give up?
To show grace and help unite America in earnest?
Or something else.

GODDAMNIT I WANT MY PARTY BACK!!!

(sorry - been drinking for hours now...)

[ibegurpard]

5. Very, very interesting

Could we be seeing the beginnings of the Republican civil war? We'll see. I don't hold much hope. The moderates have had plenty of chances...they made this deal with the devil and I can't see them getting the monkey off their back now.

[The Doctor.]

12. Great Pun... nt

[ibegurpard]

24. LOL

It was totally unintentional.

[The Doctor.]

27. Ah... the human subconscious works in mysterious ways....nt

[Buddyblazon]

8. Well....

If a few of the moderates step up with stuff like Spectar here...than I would hope a few more would start coming forward.

Expect the best...
be prepared for the worse.

[regnaD kciN]

9. This from the whore...

...who savaged Anita Hill while plugging Slappy Thomas? (Not to mention being the inventor of the Warren Commission's "magic bullet theory.")

Give me a break. King George could nominate what's-his-name from Operation Rescue, and Specter would be front-and-center working for confirmation.

:puke:

[Zookeeper]

11. I think the Repubs are going to turn on each other....

and it will be the only fun thing to watch for the next four years. Well, that and Chimpy's impeachment.

[seraph]

13. Remember who controlled congress when Nixon was impeached.

n/t

[ethereal]

18. i'm a registered republican

and was so impressed by clinton that i started learning about the dems. in 2000 i was so underwhelmed by chimpy that i researched gore and voted for him.


it's pretty clear i'm a total convert, but i can attest that the real moderate repubs from across the country are not taking this attempted theocracy lightly.


i agree--let them rip each others' throats out in a battle for their party while we continue to grow stronger and more united. between that and the inevitable results of the policies this administration has sown over the last four years, they are gonna have their hands full.

[goclark]

16. Now we are talking, work to impeach him

I know, the sheep among us say so what it's over, move on.

F that, it ain't over tell the fat lady sings and Rose Anne Barr ain't singing.

[StupidFOX]

23. I think I smell the collapse of the Ultra-Right.

;) ;) ;)

BTW, round 2: Santorum vs. Hoeffel in 2006!!

[jefferson_dem]

17. Other than revolving chair, will there be other member ship turnover?

Because i don't hold out much hope, from the rest of the JC lot at least.

http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm

[finecraft]

25. If they overturn Roe V. Wade, they lose their base

I don't think they have any intention of ever overturning Roe V. Wade. Think about it. If it gets overturned, they lose the main reason the fundies support them. Every election time they will roll out some issue connected with abortion (the partial birth abortion ban, the parental notification law, etc.), but if the abortion issue was taken off the table entirely for them, their base would dry up. Overturning Roe V. Wade would be political suicide for the GOP.