Conservatives Swamp Phone Lines to Stop Specter

WASHINGTON - Angry conservatives flooded Senate phone and fax lines yesterday, demanding that Republicans prevent Sen. Arlen Specter from presiding over the Judiciary Committee after his comments that a woman's right to choose was "inviolate" and predicting that strongly antiabortion nominees might be rejected in the Senate.

Republican lawmakers and top Senate aides, speaking privately for the most part, said the uproar from the right was becoming an impediment for Specter (R., Pa.), who won a fifth term Tuesday and has coveted the Judiciary chairmanship. They said that while it was likely he would still get the post, it was no longer a certainty.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/10114009.htm?1c

Is there anything we can do to see that Specter gets this position? I think it is clearly a good thing for pro-choicers for him to get this position considering how hard they are fighting him.

At this point, we not only need to back our dem congresspeople, but also the moderate republicans who are going to be key in stopping as much as Bu$h's agenda as possible. Finding a way to help Specter in this would be a good start.

This is what Arlen the Ass said, from Atrios:

Washington, D.C. - Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) made the following comments today on the judicial confirmation process.

“Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the President about anything and was very respectful of his Constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges.

“As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush’s nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas.

“I have already sponsored a protocol calling for a Judiciary Committee hearing within thirty days of a nomination, a vote out of Committee thirty days later, and floor action thirty days after that. I am committed to such prompt action by the Committee on all of President Bush’s nominees.

“In light of the repeated filibusters by the Democrats in the last Senate session, I am concerned about a potential repetition of such filibusters. I expect to work well with President Bush in the judicial confirmation process in the years ahead.”

You think Asshole Arlen is going to be his own man. Wake up. Arlen has blown both Bushes from the start. Arlen is just a rubber stamp and there is no difference between this liar and the newest crop of assholes going into the senate like Coburn and De Mint

And what other choice do we have? Let the country go to hell just so I can say "I told you so!"? I don't think so. We have to find GOP moderates and do what we can.

Please, you got to wake up. Specter has done NOTHING in the past but kiss Bush ass.

We could trade individual instances of where he broke ranks and where he didn't all day, and it wouldn't accomplish anything. The fact is that Specter is a moderate compared to others in his party, and we need to work with him and others to break ranks when possible, or everything Bu$h wants will pass. Those of you that say "F* all the GOP moderates!", is that what you want?

I'd be getting pretty fed up with my party right about now, and I'd be mulling a change in my affiliation.

This is just a taste of what Moderate Republicans will face for four more years. CONGRATULATIONS FUCKERS!!! YOU JUST FUCKED YOURSELVES FOR A GENERATION!!!

You couldn't bring yourself to cross party lines, and now you want us to do it for you. Well you know what? We're are the last people ask a favor of just so you can save face. FUCK YOU, FUCK YOUR PRESIDENT, and I hope the Christian Right fundamentalist trash and ruin each and every one of your careers everytime you defend your moderate views.

Welcome to DU NNguyenMD :hi:

"Maxim" Brad will now have "Rapture" Pearl to answer to.

:hi:

Let them tear themselves apart.

we can call him, too. I already have once, and plan on calling every time I can.

His Washington office number is 1.202.224.4254
His email address is: <Arlen_Specter@specter.senate.gov >

Here is my email to him the other day..., BTW

Mr. Specter,

I was very heartened to see the press coverage this morning of your statements about protecting our civil rights that Mr. Bush and his 'base' want very much to remove through the appointment of hyper-conservative judges. This was reported in The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, on NPR and elsewhere. See the AP story here: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04309/406471.stm

Your statement today , which basically says that these press reports were false, and that you never said any of these things is amazing to me. All through the past year, nearly every Republican in the country railed against Mr. Kerry for having differing opinions about issue, and he was derided as a flip flopper. How is this different? His differing opinions were NOT on consecutive days.

Mr Bush may claim a mandate for his hyper-conservative "family values", but I remind you that more people voted against him in this election than voted for him in 2000. Most people want progressive courts and have much more moderate values than Mr. Bush. After hearing of your position yesterday, I even sort of laughed when I heard a rumor that Mr. Bush was going to recess appoint Miguel Estrada for the Supreme Court. No, I said, our friend Mr. Specter will speak against such extremism. He will protect us.

Your words against the Democratic "obstructionism" mask the fact that 94% of Mr. Bush's appointments were confirmed and we have the lowest vacancy rate in generations on the Federal Courts.

I am convinced that this turnaround is due to the support that Mr. Bush gave you against Mr. Toomey, and am aghast at the transparency in your duplicitous word. In several outgoing emails this day, I had been supportive of your moderate words. I was wrong. We were duped.

This country was formed by dreams that were born from idealism and dissent. Don't let these concepts die.

but I remind you that more people voted against him in this election than voted for him in 2000

One could just counter that Bush got 3 million more votes and won the support of more Americans than at any point in history. (This doesn't take into account voter fraud at this time)

is an illusion. That's all.

Also, as more questions surface about the believeablity of the machines, perhaps that number is not true.

own" in order to replace him with one of their own more radical fundamentalist types.

They're starting to cull the moderates from their own party.

I wonder what would happen to talking heads were they to discover Democrats helping a Republican because of our common held belief in the U.S. Constitution?

Exploding talking heads, perhaps?

:evilgrin:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1272833/posts
Subject:
StopSpecterNow.com Up To 450 Members In Less Than a Day

and the site they're supporting:
http://stopspecter.savethegop.com/

All of the post-election rants, sites, and future speculations are not very helpful beyond finding an avenue in which to vent.
The insanity needs to stop.
It's time to begin offensive strategy NOW, not the year before the next presidential election.

New strategies are needed--Bush's Bad Behavior is no secret.

I believe the Democratic party needs to hire a crackerjack team of people who know how to hit the voting public in the many available types of Achilles' heels', hit first and hard, and keep repeating until the mantra has them galvanized...but this time have it be with the truth. When stating a "crackerjack" team of people, I mean a team that is capable of using mass appeal on a highly sophisticated psychological basis, rather than taking the rollover defensive action of that does not reach those who engage in sophomoric thinking.

Can the Dems be reprobate? Sure they can, with better strategists STARTING NOW! And they can be reprobate with the truth.

Who knows? There may be one particular issue that takes fire with the many uninformed brain dead in this nation, and a Bush et al. hunt ends this administration before the four years are up.

The "truth" as given by spoon and soundbytes over and over again, choosing which ones were given and at what time, were all part and parcel of the Roverian think tank.

The Dems can do the same thing, but with actual truth...over and over again, until it becomes the litany of the masses.
But what is needed are strategy teams that will hit hard, fast and lowball with the truth when it counts and can be used to start the Bush cabal running.

BushCo, a la Rove, targeted groups of voters and nailed them. There are many other issues near and dear to these target groups, which can be used to teach them actual truth, not the Bush version.

The Dems play defense way too much. Time to take the offense and punt like hell...right where it hurts.

Bad behavior is no secret. And, as far as BushCo goes, the secrets need to start coming out now, not in two to three years as people are gearing up for another election.

Ha. Arlen should have known better. Help him get elected and then deny him the chairmanship by siccing the fundies on him.

If we want to help him, inform him that we are behind him and not to give up!. So he loses the chair , so what He will still be there to fight.

See my post above. Arlen is the ultimate ass kissing rubber stamp. Whatever Bush wants, Arlen will give him and that's an absolute fact!

This is how hitler took control, everyone was afraid to stand up against him

why they just can't get the judges they need to make abortion illegal. Cause you know once they make it illegal, they'll lose their favorite wedge issue.

in their endeavors to strip Specter of the job.

It'll just shine the light on the rift between the socially libertarian and the socially authoritarian wings of the Republican Party. And there'll be less, if any, reason for the nutballs to yell "obstructionist."

If there's a coup against Specter, there's all the more reason we'll be able to watch gleefully as the 15% or so of yet-sane Republicans watch their party completely abandon them. Come 2008, and maybe 2006, they are this century's Reagan Democrats, in reverse.

this is not a dem fight but a rethug fight-let the cons take the party-we refuse to pull their bacon from the fire

If he floats, give him the committee seat. If he sinks and dies, he was a Democrat.

This is the mail floating around and the contact info given to them all.

These are the numbers they are using and the plan they are using.
You can use congress.org to write your senators and congressmen and to write to your papers.
___________________________________________________________________

You are Making a Huge Difference...
"Your Voice is Being Heard by the Media and by the U.S. Senate"

"YOUR VOICES HAVE CREATED A FIRESTORM AGAINST
SEN. SPECTER -- WE MUST KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!"

When your chorus of voices was heard regarding his outrageous, self-serving comments Senator Specter issued a statement: "Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the President about anything and was very respectful of his Constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges."

Unfortunately For Senator Specter, YOU Have Been Calling, Faxing,
Writing, And Emailing News Outlets -- Forcing Them To Print The Truth:

"At about the same time Bush was being declared the winner of the 2004 presidential election, Specter said he believed it is unlikely that the president might nominate abortion opponents to the Supreme Court, adding what sounded to some in the room like a subtle warning to the president ." -- Fox News

"... Mr. Specter's words are quite easy to decode. He is warning the president that he will block or oppose conservative nominations, no matter how qualified, for the high benches." -- Washington Times

"... he warned Bush against nominating anyone for the Supreme Court who would overturn a woman's right to abortion and suggested he would oppose such a nominee." -- Washington Post

"Senator Arlen Specter (R., Penn.), who by virtue of Senate seniority rules is in line to become the chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, fired a shot across the president's bow, warning Bush that he would block any judicial nominees that he deemed too conservative." -- National Review

"The Senate, Mr. Specter said, would be unlikely to approve 'judges who would change the right of a woman to choose'.'' -- New York Times

"Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice, a coalition of liberal and civil rights groups that helped derail Bork's nomination and has urged Democrats to filibuster Bush nominees, said when she heard Specter's comments, “I was very pleased ..." -- MSNBC

If You Haven't Already Done So
Please Take A Moment And Sign Our Petition To
Remove Arlen Specter From The Judiciary Committee
http://www.voicesheard.org/pet/pet-as.php
This Fight Is Just Beginning ...


Planned Parenthood Gives Senator Specter
A 90% Approval Rate!

Frankly, the Senator's attempts to 'explain' his position would be a lot more credible, if he hadn't sided with Planned Parenthood more than 90% of the time.

Senator Arlen Specter (R) - PA

Issue Description
Position

Domestic Gag Rule
PRO-CHOICE

Insurance Coverage for Contraceptives
PRO-CHOICE

Funding for Family Planning
PRO-CHOICE

Mifepristone (Formerly RU-486)
PRO-CHOICE

Confidential Health Services for Minors
PRO-CHOICE

Violence to Reproductive Health Providers
PRO-CHOICE

Fetal "Personhood"
PRO-CHOICE

Refusal Clauses
PRO-CHOICE

Access to all FDA-Approved Contraceptives
PRO-CHOICE


The positions listed above are based on responses to the
2004 Planned Parenthood Action Fund Questionnaire.


Senator Specter Supports Abortion
Senator Specter Supports Federal Funding Of Abortion

And ... Senator Specter Is About To Become The
Chairman Of The Senate Committee That Controls Judicial Nominations!

The greatest threat to our recent hard fought victories is not activist homosexuals, or children hating abortionists, or even out of control unelected judges. No.

The biggest threat to the Pro-Family, Pro-Christian movement is Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA).

While President Bush was claiming victory for Christians everywhere, Senator Specter was busy holding a press conference and issuing him a warning. The abrasive senior senator from Pennsylvania, who is in line to be Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, bluntly announced Pro-Life judicial candidates need not apply.

This arrogant, self-important windbag threw down the gauntlet to the man who had just won the votes of over 59 million Americans, essentially telling him not to bother to send any Pro-Life judges to the senate for approval. This from a senator who would have lost his seat in the primary without the endorsement of the man he was busy slapping in the face. What a Judas!

Because of the amazing number of you who signed our petition yesterday the Senate is hearing your demand that Senator Arlen Specter NOT be allowed to control the federal judicial approval process.

Because of you, this issue is all over the newspaper, television, Internet, and radio press today! We must keep up the pressure. If you have not done so yet.....

Please Take A Moment And Sign Our Petition To
Remove Arlen Specter From The Judiciary Committee
http://www.voicesheard.org/pet/pet-as.php
This Fight Is Just Beginning ...

If You Have Signed, Please Forward This To Anyone You Feel Can Help!

We must keep up the pressure! Senator Arlen Specter Must Be Stopped!


Was this email forwarded to you? Send an email to subscribe@voicesheard.org

Voices Heard, Inc.
A non-profit organization
946 Orleans Road, Suite G-1, Box 253, Charleston, SC 29407
Phone/Fax: 843-556-6398 -- http://www.voicesheard.org

Below is my email: note if you are not in Arlen specter's district, your email most likely will not be able to be sent to him. You can route your email to him by contacting your senator and requesting the email get forwarded to his office.Also, be sure to include your full address and phone number.


Dear Senator Speier,(email:speier@speier.senate.gov)

Please forward this email to Mr Arlen Specter's office:

Dear Mr. Specter,

Re: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04309/406471.stm

I believe that you see a higher duty to your country than to your party and I applaud you for it.

Please stand strong regarding your statement to uphold the law and protect our civil rights.
Please do not let the fascist right wing's paranoia and hysteria make you waver. They are the minority despite their loud voices. We are the majority. We will support you.


I am not happy to see you backpedal on your previous statements, but I understand the need to walk a fine line. I just want to reiterate that while the right-wingers attacking you are loud and organized, they are also few in actual number. Mr. Bush does not at all have the mandate that he believes he does and we will be quick to fight to preserve our rights.

Sincerely,
Dani Weber

That should say it all.

It's the only thing that might wake up the moderate Republicans in this country.

edited to add:
The Radical Religious Right have already burned the witches of the Left. Time for them to start cleansing their own party it appears. Let's see how long it is before moderate republicans start calling on their senators and reps to stand up to the religious whackos. As far as I'm concerned, this is THEIR fight.

same article here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=963577