Specter and Souter
The replacement of David Souter counts as a noteworthy issue where Arlen Specter’s decision to switch parties really will make a difference. Over the course of his career, Specter has shown a total lack of principles on judicial nominations. He was an important part of the campaign to spike the nomination of Robert Bork back in the 1980s. But he was the key persecutor of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas nominations. During the Clinton years, he hewed a moderate line, then during the Bush years he gave key moderate cover to hard-right nominees.
If we were talking about Arlen Specter, guy who’s trying to fend off a primary challenge from Pat Toomey, you could be sure that he’d vociferously oppose anyone Barack Obama nominated. But as Arlen Specter, guy who’s hoping to avoid a tough primary challenge from the left, he ought to be easy to count on as a supporter. The overall impact of the Specter flip should be pretty modest but I bet this is one of the times it will flip a vote and that, in turn, will help flip the narrative around the whole thing.
19 Responses to “Specter and Souter”
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May 1st, 2009 at 10:11 am
I wouldn’t say “total lack of principles” in this SINGLE case (Everything else he does? Craven). I think, with the sole exception of Bork, you can classify his judicial principles as “executive deference”, which is a legitimate view of the confirmation process (though I’m willing to look at counter-examples).
May 1st, 2009 at 10:13 am
Re Matthew’s comment “But he was the key persecutor of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas nominations.”
—————-
But that because’s Arlen thinks the federal judiciary needs more Afro-American members –that we should exert some affirmative action to make up for America’s past shameful history of slavery. Putting a black man on the Supreme Court provided a shining role model to thousands of young black attorneys, both male and female.
Whereas Matthew is continuing the Jewish Community’s part history of insulting paternalism — of giving lip service to black equality while arguing in the back rooms that blacks are too childish to really take on positions of significant responsibility. That one must condecend to them to get their votes, but there is no need to actually give them any share of the political spoils.
(hee hee )
May 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
It occurs to me that Arlen Specter would make an excellent mole/saboteur/agent provocateur for the Republicans.
Beware of Trojan Horses.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:20 am
PS By Republicans, I am not -of course – referring to the lowly Republican Members of the Senate. Rather, I was referring to the Big Money boys who finance the Republicans. Who probably could use a spy right about now.
I’m referring to a REAL spy, of course. Not to the Known, Obvious Spy Joe Lieberman.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:29 am
My God, Matt, are there no other pictures of Specter you can use? I’m sick of that one!
May 1st, 2009 at 10:36 am
Since Mr. Yglesias is speculating on judicial appointments, how about commenting on the Justice Department dropping the charges against the two former AIPAC employees, vindicating my claim that the charges were a crock of shit. Mr. Don Williams, eat your heart out!
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gSpb_bzErQhH5ChuJkkqVuCWowbwD97TG9S00
May 1st, 2009 at 10:39 am
Actually, it has been pointed out that Specter’s switch is disastrous for a Supreme Court fight. A Supreme Court nominee needs one minority vote to get out of committee. In the past, Specter would be that minority vote. Right now, our best hope may be Lindsey Graham.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am
vindicating my claim that the charges were a crock of shit.
Or, alternatively, vindicating everyone else’s claim that the espionage wing of AIPAC is untouchable.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:51 am
Re This Machine Kills Fascists
These guys were fired by AIPAC and one of them, Mr. Rosen, is suing that outfit for firing him. But of course, the conspiracy buffs like Mr. Machine see a conspirator under every bed, just like the birfers see President Osama phony birth certificates under every bed.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:52 am
A Supreme Court nominee needs one minority vote to get out of committee.
Really?
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/committee-approves-alito-nomination/
I can’t say I am a rules expert, but there doesn’t seem to be such a requirement.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:56 am
“A Supreme Court nominee needs one minority vote to get out of committee.”
No, just a vote to bring the matter to a vote- essentially, one person from the minority has to vote for “cloture”. After four years of whining about “upperdown votes!” I doubt it’ll be that hard to find a Republican willing to do it- and an Arlen Specter facing a primary from the right side of his party was actually NOT reliable on such a vote.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:13 am
Sweet, now instead of giving moderate cover to conservative nominees, he can give bipartisan cover to Republicans who want to obstruct Obama nominees! Specter FTW!
May 1st, 2009 at 11:15 am
the conspiracy buffs like Mr. Machine
Uh huh. Takes one to know one, SLC.
It’s not as if you like Israelis anyway, you crazy old spinster.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:26 am
Re This Machine Kills Fascists
Doesn’t Mr. Machine realize that the International Zionist Conspiracy, and its head, Dr. Joseph Ratzinger, run the world? All governments are mere puppets in their hands.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:29 am
that analysis would make sense except you’re overlooking one very important fact: the democratic party, in its infinite wisdom, promised not to primary specter. so really, he has no incentive to cooperate because, the party won’t support a primary challenge and the president himself said he would campaign for specter.
its still possible some grassroots challenger could pop up, but without the support of the party and without the support of the president, i don’t see it having a good chance of succeeding.
he’ll continue to vote like a republican because he has no incentive to vote like a democrat.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:53 am
“the democratic party, in its infinite wisdom, promised not to primary specter”
The Democratic Party don’t get to make such decisions. With labor saying “prove it”, Sestak saying “I’m not out yet” and Casey equivocating, there’s at least room for someone to scare Specter (Which isn’t hard, anyway). Hell, Rendell’s boy in the Senate race hasn’t even dropped out yet.
And then, consider this- the NRSC is shopping for a Non-Toomey. If they can get Jim Gerlach or Tom Ridge, that candidate can win the primary, and suddenly, Specter needs all hands on deck. Which gives him big reasons to please labor and liberals.
Specter still has LOTS of incentive to tack left. The question is how good is he at reading the winds.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
the democratic party, in its infinite wisdom, promised not to primary specter
I doubt there was an unconditional promise to that effect, which in any event would be unenforceable.
And knowing Specter, I think it is very likely he will avoid pissing off Obama and inviting a serious challenge. So, I suspect he will end up more or less supporting Obama’s agenda, at least when it matters.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:30 pm
“But as Arlen Specter, guy who’s hoping to avoid a tough primary challenge from the left, he ought to be easy to count on as a supporter.”
Why won’t this logic apply to every major Senate vote? Contra Matt and CW, I think Arlen will be very dependable for the next two years. He has no choice.
May 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
the only encouraging aspect of this mess is that specter is such a total political whore.
he will, as he always has – going all the way back to his single bullet theory formulation – do whatever was necessary to move his own fortunes forward.
if he believes that it will help insure his election in 2010, he will fully support obama on this and future court appointments.
imho, the best way to make certain that he believes its in his best interests to cooperate is by quietly encouraging any and all democrats to remain in the primary contest.
what they have done so far – offering unconditional support – is going to come back to haunt them and ultimately cause them to go through lots of public contortions as they try to keep their promise and deal with specter’s usual shennigans.