Arlen Specter has caved (as we of course knew he would). In his
Statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senator assures conservatives that
I have assured the President that I would give his nominees quick Committee hearings and early Committee votes so floor action could be promptly scheduled. I have voted for all of President Bush's judicial nominees in Committee and on the floor, and I have no reason to believe that I'll be unable to support any individual President Bush finds worthy of nomination. I believe I can help the President get his nominees approved just as I did on confirmation of two controversial Pennsylvania Circuit nominees when other, similarly situated Circuit nominees, were being filibustered.
Please fellow Kossacks, let's take a page from the reactionary right playbook and start drowning our elected officials in communications to let them know when we disapprove (or even approve) what they're up to! We can't just "talk amongst ourselves"; we must become vocal on a whole range of issues,
every day -- from food labelling and airport security (current front page posts) to voter reform and inappropriate rule changes (other posts)-- and become the squeakiest of wheels for both the Dems and the GOP.
For your reading pleasure, here's my email to the Senior Senator from PA:
Dear Senator Specter:
I was quite disturbed by your statement concerning the Judiciary Committee and your intention to rubberstamp President Bush's nominees.
As I recall from my studies of the drafting of the Constitution, the Framers did not intend to allow the Executive Branch to have unfettered control over the shaping of the Judicial Branch, but expected that the "advice and consent" responsibility would be treated seriously. Indeed, and as I am sure you know, the Framers surely would not have anticipated an Executive having such disproportionate power over the Legislative Branch in any event. Although, here in 2004, that is the reality of our federal government (a reality that also serves to undermine the "strict constructionist" theory that judges should defer to the experiences of those who lived 200 years ago rather than give any weight to their experiences in the here and now), our elected Senators still maintain the obligation of ensuring that our third branch of government comprises independent jurists whom our country can and will respect. This understanding is critical to ensuring that the "rule of law" will endure, regardless of which party occupies the office of President at any point in time.
Thank you for your time,
Very truly yours,
"Silverleaf"
You can find email addresses, committee assignments and more at http://www.senate.gov/.