The Republican infighting has begun. The really right wing elements of their party are attacking the moderates, focusing on Arlen Specter. Their attacking Specter because he is set to head up the Judiciary committee, and will therefore have influence on the appointment of Supreme Court Justices.
Now I do not like Specter. I am from Pennsylvania, and I want him out of office because he has a done a number of things I disagree with, but as far as Republicans go I tend to agree with his general views more than most. If the religious right feels that someone who I may occasionally agree with is so incredibly awful, they must hate actual progressives.
Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Lincoln Chafee, they are all being attacked as too moderate. I can see why Jeffords left the Republicans. The fact that Arlen Specter is being given the Chairmanship of the Judiciary committee is not a guaranteed thing. Basically committee chairs are determined by majority in such a way that all the committee chairs end up being from the majority party. Past that the parties determine their policies internally. The Republicans have seniority mechanism with term limits. What does that mean? It means that other Republican Senators, under pressure, could withhold their votes (its actually not so public, but essentially if a majority of Republicans did not want him to have the seat he would not). They could also offer him a seat on some other committee, but I doubt he would take it willingly.
Personally, I hope he gets it, is the best thing for us. He believes in keeping the court balanced, which is the best we can hope for in the present. But the way I see it either the moderate Republican senators will be alienated, or the religious right will be. It will be interesting to watch this play out.
Posted by louis at November 10, 2004 02:19 AM | TrackBack