Senate Panel Approves Pryor Nomination (Specter=scum)

[goobergunch]

Jul 23, 12:42 PM EDT

By JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer

<snip>

Pryor, who wants a seat on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, was moved on to the full Senate on a 10-9 vote, with all 10 Republicans voting for him and all nine Democrats voting against him under protest.

Democrats objected to the vote, saying Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, rushed the confirmation vote before they could finish an investigation into Pryor's fund-raising activities for a GOP attorneys general group. Hatch overruled the objection and forced the vote.

That move increases the chance that Democrats will filibuster Pryor. "By rushing it, you're helping our side in a sense," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told Hatch.

<snip>

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and one of the moderate Republicans on the committee, voted for Pryor but warned that Senate confirmation was not assured. "This issue is far from over," said Specter, who would not promise to vote for Pryor on the Senate floor.

more...http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SENATE_JUDGES?SITE=PAPHQ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[benfranklin1776]

1. Indeed. Major soylent green pond scum.

This should puncture the carefully cultivated Arlen myth that he is a "moderate." When push comes to shove on key issues near and dear to the cold heart of Mr. Bush , like ANWR, the tax cuts and these nominations he shows himself to be a loyal bootlicking stooge. He is far from moderate though he would like to maintain that mythical image so that his core base of support in the ring counties around Philadelphia does not erode. Now challenged by "movement conservative" ultra right wing cracker Pat Toomey he will veer even further to the right in the primaries to appeal to the hard core base. His Democratic opponent, whoever he or she is should carefully note and remind the voter every chance he or she gets that Arlen is Bush's man and puts Bush's agenda first and Pennsylvania last.

[jiacinto]

2. Hoeffel should make this vote an issue

nt

[goobergunch]

3. Strongly seconded (n/t)

[jos]

4. I was just going to post this

with the header "Scumbag Specter." He truly is one of the great weasels of all time. "I'll vote for it, but the matter is not over." What a gutless wimp!

FILLIBUSTER TIME

And it's time for Specter to go.

[NewJerseyDem]

5. Need to focus on Chafee, Snowe, Collins

If Specter was waivering than those 3 senators surely must have concerns about whether to confirm Pryor. The Republicans already have ads running in Rhode Island and Maine that accuse the Democrats of discriminating against Pryor because he is catholic. They say they are advertising there because there are a lot catholics in those states but they are obviously putting pressure on those moderate Republicans. So, if we can get Ben Nelson to vote no and those 3 republicans than maybe there won't be a need for a filibuster.

[jos]

6. Won't come to that

Dems have the votes to fillibuster. This is one they won't let through.

[NewJerseyDem]

8. I'd rather not have to use filibuster

It would be a lot better if the REPUBLICAN controlled senate defeats a Bush judicial nominee. I do support the filibuster here even though I don't with Miguel Estrada and am unsure with Priscilla Owen. However, if we filibuster too many people than it could make the Democrats unpopular.

[LynneSin]

7. From the Desk of Arlen Specter, who can never call himself pro-women...

or pro-homosexual EVER EVER again!

http://www.senate.gov/~specter/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=446&Month=7&Year=2003

SPECTER SPEAKS ON PRYOR

Washington, D.C. - Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement regarding the pending nomination of Alabama Attorney General William Pryor to a federal appeals court judgship:

"I am voting in the affirmative to send Attorney General Pryor to the floor reserving my final decision until the vote by the full Senate. As indicated in my questioning of the nominee at the Committee hearing, there are a number of areas of concern in his record. Since that hearing, an additional issue has arisen on campaign contributions. Before the floor vote, I intend to talk to Attorney General Pryor about his role, if any, in soliciting campaign contributions from companies or individuals who were or were likely to be under investigation by his office.

In voting to send Attorney General Pryor's nomination to the floor, I note that the Constitution provides that confirmations are to be decided by the Senate and not just the Judiciary Committee.

In view of the media and editorial focus on my vote on Attorney General Pryor, I think it appropriate to amplify my views. The Philadelphia Inquirer had an extensive story the day before yesterday headlined, "Foes on Right, Left Await Specter's Vote on Federal Judge."

>>>>>>more<<<<<<

[Pallas180]

9. Gotta get Dems in Pennsylvania to work to get Specter thrown out

when I e mailed Specter I just got auto responder message
back..dont bother e mailing

call up and tell them you're from Pa and working agsints his
re election because of this vote.

when is he up for re election?

[goobergunch]

10. same here...

he actually sent two auto-responses. He's up for re-election in 2004, facing a primary challenge from Santorumesque Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Allentown). Our candidate is Rep. Joe Hoeffel (D-Montco), who I think can win and will try to volunteer time for.

[LynneSin]

11. We have a second great candidate to consider in PA

Charlie Crystle.

And I'm really liking what this guy's campaign is about. When Hoeffel announced he was running he said "I believe in the power of Washington" Well look where Washington has gotten us today. What about the people, who is going to represent us and remember us when they are in Washington??

Hoeffel is a great guy, but I like the idea of some fresh faces getting into DC and stiring things up. And Hoeffel does not have much name recognition outside of Philly, which I think can give Crystle a good shot at winning the primaries.

BTW, I know the PA Democratic party has backed Hoeffel, I believe a condition to get Joe to run in the first place. They also back Bob Casey Jr. in the primaries......

http://www.charliecrystle.com/default.asp?page=bio.asp

[goobergunch]

12. Crystle doesn't have much name recognition anywhere

I'd also like to see a fresh face in DC, but Crystle's never held elective office and I think Hoeffel has a better chance of winning.

Also, have you seen the Iraq Watch on C-SPAN with Hoeffel as one of the main speakers? It's during House Special Orders on Mondays.