Friday, November 19, 2004
WHERE'S THE REST OF HIM?
Inquirer Slams Sen. Specter
The editors of the Philadelphia Inquirer today take Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to task for his tk in Washington this week. In "Arlen Specter: Survival at What Cost?" the editors write:
Sen. Arlen Specter -- what's left of him -- has weathered the storm of conservative protest to secure the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Anyone who has followed his career should have bet on his survival. But Specter may have paid for this coveted post with his presumed independence. [...]
Specter has pledged since then not to stand in the way of President Bush's judicial nominees. Following two days of closed-door meetings with colleagues whose support he needs, the pro-choice Specter delivered a written statement yesterday that he will not impose a pro-choice "litmus test" on candidates and will give them prompt hearings.
As a practical matter, Specter has yet to give up much. Pledging to support the President's judicial nominees is no shift from his record of the last four years. Specter has voted to approve all of Bush's judges to date, pro-choice or not. [...]
[I]n principle, his pledge to look favorably on all the President's nominees is an abandonment of his self-professed independent streak. [...]
If the upshot of the last two weeks is to guarantee confirmation of all Bush nominees, why bother to hold hearings? Just send black robes to the lucky winners via overnight mail.
It's a shame the Inquirer's editors didn't see fit to remind voters that in endorsing Sen. Specter's reelection in November these same people wrote:
The Inquirer believes Specter should get another six-year term. Preserving the legality of abortion plays no small part in this decision. Sometime in the next four years, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee will very likely find himself in the pivotal role of scrutinizing at least one new Supreme Court nominee. Assuming that Republicans are in charge of the Senate, it would be better to have the chairman's seat filled by Specter, who says Roe v. Wade is "inviolate" as the law of the land. If Specter loses, next in line among Republicans to be chairman is Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, who opposes abortion rights.
And, pinning hopes on a wing and a prayer, the editors added this about Sen. Specter:
[His] moderate streak ought to show up more often in the new year.
Happy now, NARAL, Humane PAC, and Michael J. Fox?
Like they say, be careful what you wish for.
| HOME |
The Rittenhouse Review |
Copyright 2002-2006 | PERMALINK |
|
|
|
CONTACT |
|
Send E-Mail
JAMES MARTIN CAPOZZOLA
|
|
BIO & STUFF |
|
James Martin (Jim) Capozzola launched The Rittenhouse Review in April 2002, TRR: The Lighter Side of Rittenhouse, HorowitzWatch, and Smarter Andrew Sullivan in July 2002, and Bulldogs for Kerry-Edwards in October 2004. He is also a contributing member of President Boxer.
He received the 2002 Koufax Award for Best Post> for "Al Gore and the Alpha Girls" (published November 25, 2002). Capozzola's record in the Koufax Awards includes two additional nominations for 2002 (Best Blog and Best Writing), three nominations for 2003 (Best Blog, Best Series, and Best Writing), and two finalist nominations in 2004 (Best Blog and Best Writing).
Capozzola’s experience beyond the blogosphere includes a lengthy career in financial journalism, securities analysis, and investment research, and in freelance writing, editing, ghost-writing, and writing instruction.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University at Albany and a master's in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.
Capozzola lives in Philadelphia with his bulldog, Mildred.
|
PUBLICATION NOTES |
|
Posts pertaining to site developments, news, and updates are subject to deletion and to withdrawal, and with respect thereto, without notice.
~~~~~
Access to linked articles may require registration or subscription.
~~~~~
Linked articles are subject to expiration at the sole discretion of the original publisher.
~~~~~
Letters received by The Rittenhouse Review are subject to publication in full and with complete citation and attribution, including the sender's mailing and/or e-mail address and/or addresses, unless otherwise specifically requested in writing and at the time of submission.
~~~~~
The publisher reserves the right to confirm the identity and/or identities of each, any, and all correspondents through and by whatever means legal and necessary.
~~~~~
Any and all correspondence received and published hereat is subject to editing by the publisher for content, particularly but with no limitations implied thereto, with respect to vulgarity and other offensive language, and length, at the complete, full, and unhindered discretion of same.
~~~~~
The decision to publish each or any correspondence, if at all, rests solely with the publisher of this site.
~~~~~
The publisher retains copyrights to all original material here published and any submissions here received, including correspondence directed hereto, whether or not published hereat, unless otherwise specified.
~~~~~
Obviously, no provision is here made for immediate comments from readers.
~~~~~
All rights reserved and all that.
|
|
|
LINKS |
|
|
|
|