E's Spector insight was interesting. Bob Novak had an interesting behind the scenes yesterday.
Without a doubt, Frist could muster the votes to block Specter as chairman and name a more reliable Republican (such as Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona). But that would leave a wounded, probably vengeful Specter. He might well cross the aisle to the Democratic side, perhaps forcing a change in committee ratios of the parties. Even if he remained in the Republican caucus, Specter would still be on the Judiciary Committee and could be counted on to raise havoc with Bush's nominees.
What to do with Specter, then, was explained by one of the committee's most politically astute Republicans, who asked that his name not be used: ''We have to scare the hell out of Arlen before he gets to be chairman -- scare him so badly he will act properly as chairman.''
Frist told Specter he must produce a written statement pledging his cooperation as chairman. What he wrote pledged only that judicial nominations would get out of his committee. That was not good enough, Frist told him Wednesday night. He would have to pledge support for Bush judges and declare himself open to a rules change blocking filibusters of judicial nominations. Specter must have been frightened. He wrote a new four-paragraph statement incorporating the majority leader's demands.
On top of this, I think Frist will work to eliminate the filabuster of judges rules if push comes to shove.
No comments:
Post a Comment