Specter Kicks Off August Tour of Pennsylvania and he'll be in my hometown tomorrow morning for a brief Q&A session. It will be early, but I'll be there, with my coffee, patiently waiting my turn to ask the distinquished Senior Senator from Pennsylvania a question.
So fellow kossacks, what shall I ask?
Since he's the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee I should probably ask him a question about Alberto Gonzales. But where to begin? Maybe with the latest shocker? Or should I bring up the "I" word?
Or, since we can already anticipate what he will say to that, maybe I should ask him his opinion regarding the latest developments in Iraq?
BAGHDAD — Four suicide bombers struck nearly simultaneously at communities of a small Kurdish sect in northwestern Iraq late Tuesday, killing at least 175 people and wounding 200 more, Iraqi military and local officials said.
The death toll was the highest in a concerted attack since Nov. 23, when 215 people were killed by mortar fire and five car bombs in Baghdad's Shiite Muslim enclave of Sadr City. And it was most vicious attack yet against the Yazidis, an ancient religious community in the region whose members are considered infidels by some Muslims.
The bombings came as extremists staged other bold attacks: leveling a key bridge outside Baghdad and abducting five officials from an Oil Ministry compound in the capital in a raid using gunmen dressed as security officers. Nine U.S. soldiers also were reported killed, including five in a helicopter crash.
Then again maybe I should ask him about "the next chapter" in the Rove affair as Bush's brain attempts to "move on down the road" despite the fact that he remains under congressional investigation? Yep, Arlen and I could discuss Rove's refusal to comply with a Judiciary Committee subpoena ordering him to testify regarding his role in the politicization of our Justice Department and the firing of nine U.S. Attorneys?
Or we could just relax, sip our coffee, and talk about the weather?
"Report: Pennsylvania's climate could be like Alabama's
Study on global warming: Droughts, floods ... and an end to skiing"
Without major reductions in heat-trapping gas emissions, Pennsylvanians can say goodbye to ski resorts, snowmobiles, brook trout and eastern hemlocks, and expect many more heat-related health problems by the end of the century, according to a study on the effects of climate change on the Northeast.
So very much to say and so little time!
Post-meeting Update: I almost forgot what a skilled politician Arlen Specter is. He worked that audience with charm and finesse.
Say what you will, unlike Santorum, it is hard not to like Specter on a face-to-face basis. Anyhow...I plan to do a diary later when I get time, but for now wanted to ck in to let you all know that I did get to ask a question. Since I was #4 and the topics of FISA, Gonzales, and Iraq had already been addressed in the intro and the first few questions I got to ask the Karl Rove question which turned out to be a hybrid of the questions posted below by Positronicus, Captainlaser, and NonnyO. Thanks!! His response was typical middle of the road trying to have it both ways, but he did come through in the end and received applause from the seemingly liberal audience - will give details later. Again, thanks for all the great suggestions!