The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> COMEDY CENTRAL br> Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Olympia Snowe plan on holding a "Moderates Meeting" perhaps as early as this week, in hopes of creating at the very least an informal voting block of like-minded Republicans and Democrats to offset the hardening conservative and left-wing party lines. /p>

According to a staffer in Sen. Arlen Specter's office, Specter was invited by Snowe, indicated his desire to be a part of their block, but said given attempts to regain footing among conservatives, his attendance would cause him more problems.

Specter's decision to decline the invitation would seem to indicate that he is focused on wooing Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and within his caucus before he considers other political options.

It isn't clear whether Lieberman and Snowe's plans are anything greater or more ambitious than an attempt to bring a moderate mood to Senate proceedings, which are expected to be tough and bare-knuckled for the foreseeable future.

"Senator Lieberman is a man with far greater respect for the institution of the Senate than he has for giving his own political party an edge," says a Republican Senate staffer. "We don't see this as a political grab or an attempt to water down or somehow undercut a Republican majority. Snowe, on the other hand, may have other ideas. We're just not sure."

There is a school of thought among the more conspiracy-minded Senate staffers that some moderate Republicans and Democrats could essentially create a critical third voting block in their chamber. A moderate group of four or five Republicans and two or three Democrats would be enough to serve as critical swing votes in what will surely be a number of tight votes on bills and issues the Bush Administration has targeted as high priority: tax fairness, class action lawsuit reform, medical malpractice, and the confirmation of judges.

p> CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH

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