As regular readers already know, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) irritatingly tends to stand by his maverick principles right up until his influence might mean something, and then drop them like a prom dress. During the GOP trifecta years his behavior got so predictable that I named a category after it.
In a narrowly Democratic Senate Specter’s position becomes tougher because he has fewer chances for empty gestures and more moments when he has to stand up or back down on matters of real consequence. So far Specter has largely delivered what I expected, but Specter’s dignity-ectomy was never as complete as the rest of his party’s Congressional delegation so there is always a chance for hope.
For instance, via Steve Benen:
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s ranking Republican, Arlen Specter (Pa.), emerged from a crucial Monday briefing and gave the Bush administration 18 hours to resolve the controversy over apparent contradictions in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’s congressional testimony.
Gonzales took issue last week with former Deputy Attorney General James Comey’s description of internal dissent in 2004 over the legal authority for the National Security Agency’s (NSA) warrantless eavesdropping program. Frustrated Democrats called for a special prosecutor to investigate Gonzales for perjury, noting that several officials have publicly echoed Comey’s account. Those calls prompted Specter to request a classified briefing to clear up the dispute.
Specter aides released a statement late Monday that suggested a bombshell to come on Tuesday afternoon.
Before getting too excited about what this “bombshell” might be, remember that Specter always delivers less than he promises. He values his committee seat too much to let it go, or he lacks the spine to follow through on his threats, or maybe just plays his “maverick” role to keep Democrats off balance as part of the GOP’s general kabuki theater. Nobody knows but Arlen. Regardless, gird yourself for the inevitable announcement that Specter’s bombshell amounts to a very, very angry letter to Gonzales, cc’d to the president.
If events prove me wrong and Specter stands up for one of those very uncouth Democratic proposals (special prosecutor, impeachment hearings, it’s all good), super. But I don’t think that I am. Few bets in Washington pay off more reliably than Arlen Specter backing down from one of his principled stands.
Dreggas
I was thinking the same thing when I read the news. He’s going to puff up and make it look like he’s a man then he’s going to get down on his knees and kiss ass.
myiq2xu
Spectre’s fake principled stands are so phony. Just like McCain’s theatrics on torture, they are intended to give the impression that congress has held a real debate on the issues and is not a rubberstamp for lil’ george.
Ryan S.
Oooh! I got so excited I Spectered in my pants…. Oh wait no I didn’t.
myiq2xu
“I was thinking the same thing when I read the news. He’s going to puff up and make it look like he’s a man then he’s going to get down on his knees and kiss ass.”
He’ll be on his knees, but I don’t think his lips will reach that far unless Bush turns around.
Zifnab
Specter already saw his junior buddy Turtle-sex McSantorumInMyPantsAlot get kicked to the curb by an angry electorate. It’s possible his fear of his own party may be overwhelmed by his fear of getting ousted from the Senate. It’s also possible that his fear of an overwhelming Democratic Majority might temper his choice of actions.
And it’s possible that pigs will fly out of my butthole. Specter’s gonna fold faster than Superman on laundry day. Just another douchebag Republican.
myiq2xu
“Douchebag Republican” is redundant
Face
Tim, the more I reflect on this, the more I don’t mind that Specter does this, and here’s why: while in the short term it doesn’t help the Dems, but in the long term, it does. People notice that even the moderate Republicans are unable to break away/act independently. Voters fencing between a conservative Dem and a moderate Repub ought be swayed to the Democratic ticket by watching how lock-step even those moderates are.
Shorter–Arlen is demonstrating that not even moderates can be trusted to be independent. For an electorate that badly wants independent thought and change, this is a huge selling point for Democratic politicians.
My $0.02
Joseph E. Davis
The Republicans are certainly bad, but the Democrats aren’t any better, as we’ll re-learn around 2011 or so…
All these guys are:
A. Power-hungry
B. Corrupt
C. Shallow
D. Insincere
E. Mostly Worthless
It’s not a partisan thing, I’m afraid – if it was, I’d have more hope…
Elvis Elvisberg
Like almost every Republican, this guy always flunks the Gary Cherone test. More than words is all you have to do to make it real, Arlen. Let’s see it.
Dreggas
well now that you’re done talking about Hillary, what about the rest of the dems?
Eural
Just finished reading “Persian Fire” by Tom Holland.
Buy it.
Read it.
And then tell me this shit hasn’t been going on for the past 2000+ years! It’s not partisan – it’s human nature.
(I honestly can’t recommend this book enough – especially those of you who enjoyed “300” will get a kick out of the real story of Thermopolyae. I enjoyed the movie immensely but the real story is a lot more complicated and interesting).
Zifnab
*rolls eyes*
Yeah, I remember back during the 90s when we suffered under the horror of the Clenis. What was the war we got lied into back then? Which of Clinton’s AGs lied straight to Congress’s face, on the record, with the Dems floundering to cover for her? How many nukes did N.Korea have on his watch? What got passed on par with the Bankruptcy Bill and the Bridge to Nowhere?
And don’t even get me started on Carter and his warrantless wiretapping. That man was out of control.
Thank you Mr. Concern Troll. Your jackalope hunting license checks out. You’re free to go.
HunterBlackLuna
Aaaaaand…. direct hit from Zifnab! He sunk the Troll Battleship! That’s going to sting when the fool turns his brain back on in a few weeks!
mrmobi
Jesus, Zif, you must be one of those mean blogger/bloviators. Nice rant, though.
Dreggas
Yeah better send that in to BillO as another example of that there hatin’ on the intertubes.
Bob In Pacifica
When I think of Arlen Specter I always thing “Magic Bullet.” And I’m not talking about that grinder that helps that Aussie pitchman make salsa in less than three seconds. The man is owned by the most corrupt core of bastards running our national security state. He’s as independent as a dog on a leash.
Specter is owned, not the Aussie pitchman.
Bob In Pacifica
When I think of Arlen Specter I always think “Magic Bullet.” And I’m not talking about that grinder that helps that Aussie pitchman make salsa in less than three seconds. The man is owned by the most corrupt core of bastards running our national security state. He’s as independent as a dog on a leash.
Specter is owned, not the Aussie pitchman.
Bob In Pacifica
When I think of Arlen Specter I always think “Magic Bullet.” And I’m not talking about that grinder that helps that Aussie pitchman make salsa in less than three seconds. The man is owned by the most corrupt core of bastards running our national security state. He’s as independent as a dog on a leash.
Specter is owned, not the Aussie pitchman.
JakeB
Ah, but do you always think “Magic Bullet” three times consecutively?
Punchy
Looks like BIP has a lot to say. a lot to say. a lot to say.
I would like to know why Specter hasn’t made a statement yet after the WH missed his deadline. They had 18 hours to type out 2 pages. I’m betting when it comes, it’ll just say “fuck off” in brown and red crayon with a coffee stain and the ragged edge of a ripped-out spiral notebook page.
myiq2xu
I guess (In)Specter Gadget is gonna have to send them a sternly written Post-it note.
Steve
I don’t think Specter plans to run again.
Ryan S.
Hmmm, apparently his “bombshell” spectered, at least he’s consistent. Remind again “Why?” people vote for you, Mister Senator.
Tulkinghorn
I just caught Specter telling Wolf on CNN that he favored allowing off-the-record (ie, White House terms) ‘investigations’. Well done Tim, just the mix of rhotorical principle and substantive craveness you predicted.
Ryan S.
Aparently, this is supposed to be the bombshell? Thats the weakest excuse I’ve ever heard.
UnkyT
The bombshell was just the shell. Nothing explosive included. Anytime Spector says bombshell he really means empty water balloon.
Dreggas
Well let’s see how specter can out specter the whitehouse on this one. This was a big middle finger to him, which means of course he will begin doing just that (fucking himself) in an effort to appease the president.
caustics
I think he probably will. As a lifelong resident of Pennsyltuckey, I’d have to say the example of Santorum’s foolishness is a large part of what is informing Specter’s tactics these days. That ‘Magic Bullet’ account was paid in full long ago.
And maybe, just maybe – nowadays he is genuinely pissed off by false testimony no matter who’s in charge.
Zifnab
Between watching Specter’s other ballet slipper drop, and Bill’O dropping the random obscure photoshop as the DKos death blow, I think today is just a big day tough talk and no substance.
caustics
Not a bombshell, I guess. But still…
liberal
Perhaps, but then why all this unprincipled ass-kissing?
Maybe they got dirt on ‘im.
theo
The amazing thing about the “Magic Bullet” is that it only enters once, but it comes out in three different places.
ConservativelyLiberal
I can’t wait until Arlen is no longer exSpecterating in the Senate. He is putting on a good show, but I think it is just that, a show. In doing so, he is giving Gonzo a possible out if he frames his answers to Specter perfectly. Arlen can let Gonzo off of the hook and look like he is being tough to the Dems in his state. The Repubs are then happy as Gonzo escapes.
Win win, as they say…
Specter is worthless. In fact, most of the people in the House and Senate are pretty worthless. He is just a bit more worthless than the others.
We need statesmen. We have invertebrates and crooks right now.