Word: specters
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...President and many Republicans on the Hill, Specter can often come across as arrogant or self-righteous. Never one to mince words or suffer fools, he certainly gets his back up when provoked. Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, who has known Specter for 40 years, ever since they were both local prosecutors, recalled a hearing with Gonzales not long ago when the Attorney Geneal was "dismissive of Arlen's questioning, almost talking down to him" in his answers. "I was sitting next to him and I could almost feel him stiffen in his chair and then he came back with...
...ruling several months ago suspended the warrantless wiretapping activities. Republicans would like to grant the Attorney General the power to approve such activities, while Democrats are insisting that he be forced to get sign-off from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts - the same court that suspended the controversial program. Specter has sided with the Democrats, saying in a statement that he can't imagine granting the Attorney General sole power to approve such vital wiretaps. "I am concerned by provisions of the proposed legislation which would give extensive authority to the Attorney General," Specter said. "Regrettably, Attorney General Gonzales does...
...such statements of principle, however, some Democrats have complained that Specter is more talk than action; when push comes to shove he'll toe the party line. Specter disputes this, pointing to his willingness to subpoena Bush's top political aide Karl Rove and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers over the firing of U.S. Attorneys last year. Bush invoked executive privilege and neither of the two appeared before the committee. Specter has suggested the Senate could hold a special contempt trial if the executive privilege standoff continues...
...Still, it's clear that Specter picks his battles with the President carefully. He has been, for example, one of Bush's most important advocates on his judicial nominees. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Specter shepherded through Bush's two nominees to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito. "The President understands that there's a separation of power and that I have a duty to be independent and I think he acknowledges that," Specter said. "I think my independence was a big help to getting Judges Roberts and Alito confirmed, and I think...
...Specter is also championing Bush's controversial nominee to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Leslie Southwick. Critics of the judge cite two of his District Court decisions that could be construed as racist and anti-gay. Specter dismisses these criticisms, arguing that Southwick is a highly respected judge with a unanimous rating from the American Bar Association. After months of wrangling, Specter this week won his battle to force the full Senate to give Southwick an up or down vote...