According to the United States Constitution, Article II, Section 2, judicial nominations are allowed "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate." In interviews withthe Washington press, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R?-Pa.) seems to believe that "advice" means only from liberal Democrats such as, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY). As for the "consent" part, Sen. Specter instead endorses the unprecedented filibustering of Senate Democrats, largely blaming President Bush and Republicans for the current stand-off. Sen. Specter, who would not have won reelection without the help of President Bush, now seems determined to allow Democrats to run roughshod over the committee he chairs.
Following the 2004 election, when Specter's grasp on the Judiciary chairmanship seemed shaky, he promised in writing to support the President's nominees and support a rule change on judicial nominations, if necessary. In his interviews, Specter, staying true to form, announced he would probably renege on those promises. He is hesitant to support the judges President Bush re-nominated and specifically made clear that he is in no hurry to reconsider the appellate court nomination of William H. Pryor, Jr. Judge Pryor has been endorsed by numerous people and newspapers of all political stripes. Yet the Democrats, now emboldened by Sen. Specter, have blocked his nomination due to his strong religious beliefs. The Republican Party establishment fought hard to keep Sen. Specter as Judiciary chairman. Now that they have him, what are they going to do about him?
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