(I) continue to believe that censure is really not worth a tinker's damn. We are going to be listening to evidence to decide what to do in a fair and impartial, judicious way. |
[A tired looking Specter told his backers a short time later,] Now is the time, having settled our family disagreement within the Republican Party, to unify. ... We have our hands full. But it's all within the pay grade. |
[After a morning briefing with Bush and top Senate leaders, Specter (R-Pa.) said he told the president he should postpone the announcement so senators have a better idea of how Roberts would influence the Supreme Court as chief justice over the next six months. Lawmakers say they expect Roberts to be confirmed easily next week.] I believe the next nomination is going to be a great deal more contentious than the Roberts nomination, ... I say that because bubbling just below the surface was a lot of frustration in the hearing that we just concluded. |
[Appearing Sunday on ABC's] This Week, ... one of the toughest lynch mobs ever assembled in Washington, D.C. |
[But Republican Arlen Specter (Pa.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also expressed irritation when Roberts refused to answer questions about several Supreme Court decisions striking down laws passed by Congress to help the disabled and victims of domestic violence.] Why not? ... Judge Roberts, I'm not talking about an issue. I'm talking about the essence of jurisprudence. |
[But Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), a member of Hatch's committee, took issue with that view.] I rechecked the Constitution. I do not believe that ignoring a subpoena would be grounds for impeachment, ... Late Edition. |
[But that is Bush's call, Specter said.] Taking advice is not too hard as long as you get to make the final decision, ... And the Constitution doesn't say the president should do more than take advice. |
[Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) says senators are free to ask any question they like, and the nominee is free to answer fully, partially or not at all.] Nominees, ... tend to answer just as many questions as they have to in order to be confirmed. |
[Four Democratic votes for Roberts would be] a pleasant surprise, ... they can be tougher on the next nominee. |
[In the interview, Specter said his November promise in no way constrains him from questioning Roberts closely and running the hearing as he sees fit.] The president and I have discussed this directly, what he views as the chairman's role, ... it'd be grossly inappropriate to make a commitment on votes under any circumstance. |
[Noting that Bush said during the third campaign debate that he would] not impose a litmus test ... would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations I've mentioned. |
[On Aug. 8 Specter sent Roberts a similar letter regarding Supreme Court cases that overturned laws dealing with interstate commerce.] Members of Congress are irate about the Court's denigrating and, really, disrespectful statements about Congress's competence, ... any real justification for the Court's denigrating Congress's 'method of reasoning' in our constitutional structure of separation of power. |
[Reno's move is still short of what Republicans would like to see.] The attorney general is taking a step in the right direction, ... but, so far, she has stopped short of taking the action which is decisive and necessary: requesting the court to appoint independent counsel. |
[Specter said afterward that he had urged Bush to delay naming a choice to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.] The president was noncommittal, ... The body language was not very positive. |
[Specter's most surprising move in preparing for the hearing came on Aug. 8, when he used a letter to Roberts to assail the current Supreme Court on matters in which the nominee had no hand.] Members of Congress are irate about the Court's denigrating and, really, disrespectful statement's about Congress's competence, ... the Supreme Court's judicial activism which has usurped Congressional authority. |