The American Spectator

Reader Mail

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The wringing of the hands and the gnashing of the teeth among conservatives since Senator Specter's recent foray into issuing (unsolicited) opinions to the president about future judicial appointments should be read as part of a piece: Senator Specter was just reassuring his constituency he was still, well, Senator Specter. Who but the most naive and jejune would ever question that allegiance, which has stood him in such good stead for nearly a quarter of a century as Defender of the Liberal Faith? But for those who were genuinely surprised, allow me to remind you of a colleague's criticism of Viscount Montgomery during World War II: "In dealing with him, one must always remember that he is not quite a gentleman."

Timothy Carney's readable and pointed criticism of Snarlin' Arlen as the next Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee adds little to that which is already known to anyone who has followed the tenets and principles Senator Specter has championed in his years in the Senate. Despite that record, the White House decided to back his re-election, a decision fraught with unforeseen consequences, one of which occurred shortly after his primary victory by the slimmest of margins: with his vast reservoir of "chutzpah," the senior senator from the "Keystone State" reassured his liberal base that, not to worry, he was still their man in Washington. It was this very man who came hat in hand to ask for conservative support for "the political battle of my life," and who spoke like a chastened Progressive on Mr. Limbaugh's talk show program without the host's even minimal questioning of his past. In politics, as in life, you (often) get what you deserve and you (mostly) deserve what you get.

Maybe it is my age, but I grow weary of hearing that we are in for major changes with Bush's second term. There is no question that the nation is better off without Monsieur Kerry and his band of brothers at the helm, but the fulfillment of the conservative domestic agenda is seriously complicated by various factors, not the least of which are three other Republican senators who are Specter clones.

p>Despite the firestorm of protest from conservative organizations and websites, I believe that Arlen Specter will emerge as the White House's choice and become the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Time will tell about Senator Specter's handling of judicial appointments, but allow me to repeat Phaedrus's caveat: Once lost, Jupiter himself cannot bring back opportunity. br> -- Vincent Chiarello br> Reston, Virginia /p> p> If Republicans can remove Trent Lott as Speaker of the House for the good of the party then why can't we deny Arlen Specter the Chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee for the same reason? Senator Specter's own remarks have made him controversial with a significant constituency of the Republican Party. Senator Specter has no broad constituency. Few like him even in Pennsylvania. If Trent Lott wasn't "owed" the speakership then why is Arlen Specter "owed" a committee chairmanship? For the good of the party just say no to Chairman Specter. br> -- unsigned /p> p>

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