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Leahy On Specter: "It May Be Coincidence That His Positions Have Been Those Of Karl Rove"
On a conference call this morning, Sen. Pat Leahy was asked about his ongoing spat with ranking GOPer Arlen Specter over the nomination of Eric Holder to be Attorney General -- which Leahy supports and Specter has expressed extreme skepticism about.
In response, Leahy upped the rhetoric, saying of Specter:
It may be coincidence that his positions have been those of Karl Rove. I suspect it is coincidence.
Leahy added:
He was a lead supporter in the US Senate of Alberto Gonzales. I disagreed with him on Alberto Gonzales. If he could support Gonzales, who turned out to be a disaster as Attorney General and was eventually forced out by President Bush, I would think that he would be very happy to support Eric Holder.
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Josh
Zachary
It may be that his positions are related to the fact that he's running for re-election in 2010 and fears another right-wing challenge. I suspect it is coincidence.
January 13, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't envy Specter. If he tacks toward the center he risks a right-wing primary challenge. If he tacks right to prevent it, he risks alienating PA voters and losing in the general. He's in a tough spot.
January 13, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
When all else fails he might as well do the right thing.
January 13, 2009 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
poor guy.
hes in a tight spot.
cause he wants to be re-elected.
what ever happended to integrity?
most telling that you dont have any either.
January 13, 2009 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter has his head way up Roves ass...simple as that.
January 13, 2009 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm quite dissapointed by this, in my observation of past Judiciary Committee hearings Specter was one of the few Republicans not openly spewing RNC talking points or helping witnesses stonewall by asking irrelevant questions.
January 13, 2009 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anita Hill. What a travesty! Let's not forget which side he was on there!
January 13, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
As an ex Philadelphian who now lives in the suburbs I've been familiar with Specter since he wws the DA in Philly. He was the original "maverick" a real pain in the ass to Reagan etc. but he's changed drastically in the past 6 or 8 years.
I lost all respect for him when he groveled in front of the Bush/Cheney gang promising to toe the line so he could take over the Chair of the Judiciary Committee which he was entitled to by seniority.
January 13, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Northeast has returned to Blue. If we can keep the atrocities of the last eight years in the recent memory of people, it will get even bluer. We need to ride this wave as far as it will go to enable Obama to get the things done he promised, assuming he fulfills the expectations people have for him.
January 13, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's been hard to like Specter since Anita Hill, but for a while he seemed to be one of the few sane voices on the Republican side. I agree that his pandering to get the Judiciary Committee was pitiful.
On the other hand, I'm not sure that Holder is such a great pick. The last 8 years he's been a fixer/power lawyer in D.C., including for some unsavory folks.
And he's previously made statements against medical marijuana that suggest he'd continue even that part of the idiotic war on (some) drugs.
Holder needs to be challenged at his confirmation hearing.
January 14, 2009 2:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
decsmithie,
I wanted Ralph Nader as Attorney General.
January 14, 2009 7:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
i wanted Dennis kucinich,then maybe these war criminals would get his just dues.then with the help of Ron Paul they could both go after the banking industry.theft by deception is a crime.
January 16, 2009 12:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
SPECTERS performance was a pathetic joke,after championing Alberto Gonzales he should have rec used himself from these proceedings.he was also one of the biggest cheerleaders for that mukasey clown.
January 16, 2009 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink