In a late afternoon update, The
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, via AP:
Judiciary panel's GOP members back Specter
WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter today won the support of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Republicans to be their chairman next year, surviving complaints from abortion opponents who lobbied to skip over him in favor of a conservative.
This seems to be a late wire service telling, without much more to the story.
"I have assured the president that I would give his nominees quick committee hearings and early committee votes," Specter said at a news conference where outgoing chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said the panel's Republicans were unanimous in backing the Pennsylvania moderate.
It's pretty typical blather, but make no mistake, the Pa Senator has been, shall we say, castrated.
"I have no reason to believe that I'll be unable to support any individual President Bush finds worthy" of the federal bench, Specter told reporters.
He read from a statement he wrote that was cleared painstakingly in advance by committee members as well as the GOP leadership, who are determined to confirm Bush's second-term nominees, possibly including a Supreme Court vacancy.
I haven't made up my mind whether we're better off with a leashed Spector heading the comittee, or an angry and rejected Spector.
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