Wondering exactly which side "won" the Arlen Specter dust-up?

[jefferson_dem]

Well, here's one inbred freeper's take on the fiasco (for whatever that's worth) ...

Thursday of last week, the GOP Judiciary Committee members voted unanimously to name Arlen Specter Committee Chairman. That’s the bad news.

The good news is the price Specter was forced to pay. He was put through the ringer and forced to make a number of important commitments: to change his attitude of “independence” to one of being “pre-disposed” to support Bush’s judicial nominees; to speed any Bush nomination on to a floor vote in the Senate; and to support, if necessary, a rule change requiring a simple majority vote to move a nomination to the floor, rather than the 60-vote requirement which has enabled Democrats to filibuster Bush’s nominations. He also indicated he would not be an obstacle to tort reform. Specter had to make these commitments in writing and make them public in a press conference, which he did.

As a result, Specter’s ability to torpedo the President’s agenda has been severely impaired. Frist, Santorum and the Judiciary Committee Republican members harnessed the groundswell of conservative opposition to Specter and made the best use of it they could under the circumstances. They avoided the risk we all knew was involved -- that an unprecedented break with Senate tradition would provoke Specter to join Committee Democrats in their obstructionism, and form an open alliance with Snowe, Chafee, and Collins, if not go the Jeffords route entirely. Instead, they put him on a tight leash, and served notice on him that conservatives are watching and that he’s expected to play by the rules. Having been given the benefit of the doubt, an egregious breach of his commitments would result in a powerful backlash and his possible removal as Chairman.

I believe our efforts bore fruit. Still, as conservatives we need to remain alert and ready for action, should the RINO begin to waffle.


***I don't encourage anyone to link, but here it is just in case***
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1286374/posts

[Geek_Girl]

1. I find that whole situation Bizarre

I think it's just a bit of Political theater for the fundie's sake. Specter a RINO? I remember in the early 90's during the Annita Hill Clarence Thomas hearings he was the Bull Dog that put Thomas on the bench. Give me a break I don't buy this crap.

[jefferson_dem]

3. It is bizzaro to the nth degree. After watching that press conference

last week, i can no longer look at Arlen without picturing him in a gimp suit, with dogcollar in effect.

[Stephanie]

8. It was a hostage video, for sure

He was probably tapping out messages with his left eyelid. It was a terrifying site to see him recanting like that. Thank God I'm not a Republican! They eat their own.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

2. Tight leashes create angry beasts....

The arrogance of the far-right is at unprecedented levels in our history.

Funny, I live in PA and there is a juicy little scandal right now involving Senator Santorum...yes, Senator Holier-than-thou has been caught living in VA but sending his kids to a Cyberschool that requires full time PA residency...not to mention the fact that the local PA taxpayers were fitting the bill.

They are NOT untouchable...but they think they are. You don't need to wait for the official Democratic leadership to act. Call, write, email your Senators/Representatives with your opinions/complaints. Let them know that we are watching closely. I know I am (called both my Senators and my Representative this week re: DeLay "secret vote", Santorum not living in PA, and Specter's pandering to the far-right agenda when he represents a blue state) I have NEVER called before.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Oh i'm with you ModRep. I believe Sick-o Santorum is due for

a hard fall. Just saw yesterday that Chris Heinz may be gearing up for a run. After the cyber-school scandal, and the creeping blueness of PA, he best watch his behind (eewwwwwwww).

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

5. Chris Heinz needs to unseat Santorum

Then Chris can reclaim his late father's Senate seat. After the late Senator John Heinz tragically died in a plane accident, a Democrat (Wofford?) actually won his seat. Santorum beat the Democrat with one of his tactics being that Senator Wofford didn't even live in PA. How ironic in light of this new Santorum scandal...what goes around, comes around. Yeah!

If Specter becomes a total lap dog for the Rapturist wing of the Republican party, he better look for a house next to Ricky in Virginia.

[msongs]

6. Why did PA go Kerry and turn down the dem for senate????

surely that was very wierd to vote for kerry and also for a republican senator.

Msongs
Riverside Ca

Clark 2008 shirts
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[devinsgram]

7. No, it's really not to weird

because he had the backing of the unions. Arlens a big union guy, believe it or not. And he had Michael Fox helping him campaign because Arlen backs stem cell research.