Specter issues parting blow to Roberts, Alito

[kpete]

Source: CNN

In his final speech on the Senate floor, Specter, the former GOP chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, chastised Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito for "eroding the constitutional mandate of separation of powers."

"The Supreme Court has been eating Congress' lunch by invalidating legislation with judicial activism after nominees commit under oath in confirmation proceedings to respect congressional fact finding and precedents," said Specter, who voted in favor of both Roberts and Alito when the Bush appointees came before his panel.

Specter specifically took issue with the court's controversial 5-4 decision early this year, in which it relaxed federally-imposed campaign finance regulations for corporations and unions.

"Ignoring a massive congressional record and reversing recent decisions, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito repudiated their confirmation testimony given under oath and provided the key votes to permit corporations and unions to secretly pay for political advertising - thus effectively undermining the basic Democratic principle of the power of one person, one vote," said Specter. Chief Justice Roberts promised to just call balls and strikes and then he moved the bases."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/21/specter-issues-parting-blow-to-roberts-alito/

[tularetom]

1. WTF is he bitching about?

He voted to seat both of those douchebags. We knew they perjured themselves at their hearings, especially Roberts. Why didn't Specter?

[AndyTiedye]

5. He's a Lame Duck, So THEY Don't Own Him Anymore

[AlbertCat]

12. We knew they perjured themselves at their hearings, especially Roberts. Why didn't Specter?

EGG-ZACTLY!


What planet is DC on anyway?

[Creative]

70. Actually, DC is not on a planet. It is the center of the universe.

:sarcasm:

[ladjf]

16. Regardless of who he voted for, I'm glad he criticized those

two creeps. Every little bit helps. nt

[molly77]

29. tularetom

Maybe Arlen sees how much damage he has done to the country and is trying to make amends.

[still_one]

34. How about the Democrats such as Shumer who also voted to confirm them /nt

[DeeDeeNY]

40. Huh?

http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=259359

http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=260284

[still_one]

47. Thanks, I obviously was incorrect, and appreciate the correction /nt

[No Elephants]

60. Props. So few posters ever acknowledge an error.

[tularetom]

44. If they make a statement like Specter's I'll ask WTF then too.

Far as I'm concerned any Dem who voted to confirm them suffered from craniorectal insertion.

[TheMadMonk]

37. Like with the CIA and Osama Bin Ladin. He thought they'd advance...

...his cause in return for his support. He has since discovered that they have agendas of their own that are less than compatible with his.

Rinse repeat in Central America. Ditto SE Asia x Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia.


IF YOU LIE DOWN WITH DOGS. DO NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU WAKE UP WITH FLEAS.

Just how fucking hard is it for people, governments, and the USG in particular to learn this lesson?

[underseasurveyor]

42. Apparently it is.

Hard for them to learn that is.

[BrklynLiberal]

46. +1000. Brings to mind Sandra Day O'Connor expressing regrets about the way the SC has gone so far

right.

Sandy Baby..YOU were involved in the Bush v Gore..and then resigned to give pres shit-for-brains a chance to put a Rwingnut on the court.

Too little, and way too late, in both cases.

[No Elephants]

61. Thank you. WTF, indeed!

[rhett o rick]

63. Agree. He knew. Now he wants to clear his rotten conscience. May he rot in hell. nm

[derby378]

2. It's his own damn fault for voting them both in

And now he wants to whine about it. Wake me when it's over...

[saigon68]

3. Arlin Sphincter defender of "Clarence Long Dong Silver Thomas"

A moment that will live in infamy




After being introduced to exotic male dancing by a young Chris Farley, Thomas quickly worked his way up the ranks using the gimmick of being a judge during his strip-shows. In 1990, Fate knocked on Thomas' doorstep in the form of President George H. W. Bush. Hired as part of a male entourage to a "girls' night out" party for First Lady Barbara Bush, Thomas was spotted stripping out of his usual judge's robes during the act, and a drunken George W. Bush (then acting as owner/manager of the Hackensack Bulls) convinced his father to nominate Clarence Thomas for membership on the Supreme Court right on the spot, despite Thomas' complete lack of qualifications, except that he is an evil Uncle Tom butt-boy. The senior Bush, for his part, was happy to oblige, since he wanted to hoist the Democrats on their own petard by nominating an African-American, albeit a Fascist one, to the Supreme Court. Thomas agreed to accept the nomination on the condition that he be able to continue to pursue his dancing career. After the nomination, the country was riveted when a former private client, Anita Hill, came forward and praised his sexual prowess and immense dong. Her testimony sealed Senate confirmation and Thomas assumed a seat on the Supreme Court.

[pacalo]

4. This is his "What have I done?" speech, but in fairness, he's absolutely correct about

Alito's & Roberts' lying under oath at their confirmation hearings. Each was asked repeatedly if either would ignore politics & follow the constitution.

Many Democrats voted to confirm them, based on lies.

[savalez]

7. +1

[EFerrari]

10. Specter has always been brilliant about finding the holes

in any legal argument, imo. But that never has translated into affirmative action, has it?

[pacalo]

20. You've nailed it.

:hi:

[tblue37]

31. I am reminded of the way Sandra Day O'Connor started running around the US giving

speeches after she retired, deploring the way the executive branch under Bush was undermining the separation of powers and the civil liberties of US citizens. Now she is complaining about the way this court has undermined democracy with its Citizens United decision. Both of them are guilty, guilty, guilty of empowering the bad guys, so squawking now will not save their historical reputations.

People can’t wash away their guilt and retroactively undo their crimes, no matter how hard they try:

Macbeth: “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas in carnadine, making the green one red.”

Lady MacBeth: “Here's the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten this little hand.”

[defendandprotect]

38. Thank you -- also reminded of Arlen Specter and the "Magic Bullet" and his coverup of the coup

on JFK -- and the Magic Bullet wasn't all of it -- he did plenty

of dirty work for the coup makers -- including threatening witnesses.

One of the first members of our criminal Congress --


:puke:

[Art_from_Ark]

52. Yeah, O'Connor seemed to be particularly glad at the time

that she helped to cheat Al Gore out of his rightful place in the White House.

[Lord Magus]

48. And they should have known they were lies.

The obvious answer, but one that unfortunately won't happen, is to indict Alito and Roberts for perjury. Don't bother with impeachment, the votes aren't there for that. There's nothing that says members of the Supreme Court are immune to felony indictments. Indict them, convict them, and leave them to either resign or leave their seats unoccupied since they're in prison. Which would turn a 5-4 majority for the right to a 4-3 majority for the sane.

[robinlynne]

6. too little, too late. but glad when speople at least say it.

[BlueIris]

8. Stow it, you lying hypocrite.

Loser.

[PurityOfEssence]

65. We witness one of the rare true moments of decency by a major politician, and all we do is bitch

about it.

Maybe we don't deserve any decency at the national level.

He's speaking the incendiary truth to power at a time when he'll be further derided for it and a time of embarrassment. Although there's a certain amount of grandstanding to it, he should be commended for this, and we should hold it as a salient moment of lucidity in what is otherwise a time of bullshit.

[BlueIris]

68. Newsflash: I don't have to like what he did, and you don't score any special points

with anyone, nor does the party, for criticizing me for not liking it.

[travelingtypist]

9. He moved the bases -- I effing love that.

Can imagine Sammy the Fish shaking his head muttering no, no, no.

This has more pop coming from a former Republican, JMHO.

[mercuryblues]

11. Imagine that

Just like Inglis (R-SC) complaining about the TP, AFTER he lost. If either of them won they would not be speaking out. I would give it greater recocnigtion if they spoke out BEFORE they lost.

[AlbertCat]

15. If either of them won they would not be speaking out.

It's akin to all the Repugs voting for things they "just couldn't" vote for before the midterms. Why is that? They were afraid if their constituents knew how they really feel, who they really were, they'd have lost!

What does this tell us about our Houses of Congress and their (non)relationship with the American People?

Remember this when McConnell crows about "The American People clearly don't/do want this". Like they care....

[DeSwiss]

13. K&R

Don't stop there Arlen, why not call for their IMPEACHMENT since they lied under oath????

[alp227]

59. saying so won't get him de-elected so why not?

but then again most Congressional Democrats are soft on Republican crimes...I mean why did it take Dennis Kucinich to introduce articles of impeachment against War Criminal Bush?

[JoePhilly]

14. Death Bed confession, with a parting shot at his former accomplices.

[ladjf]

17. We could use a lot more of those kinds of confessions. nt

[fascisthunter]

18. say what you will, but he is right about the agregious acts of the Supreme Court

[TNLib]

19. I remember him going after Anita Hill viciously

What the hell does he expect.

[molly77]

30. And our very own Joe Biden did not call on the women who would

testify that Clarence had a history of sexual harassment. Or allow their testimony into the record.

[saigon68]

36. Ah yes JOE--- A PROFILE IN COURAGE

Took his orders from his Corporate Masters

[xxqqqzme]

58. Biden took an

accusatory tact w/ Anita Hill, that I found insulting. I watched those hearings. It was my introduction to Joe Biden and I did not like him. I was unimpressed with every male member of that committee.

[defendandprotect]

39. Specter was one of the first pieces of the fascist government to come.....

and if we had any justice in America, Specter, Hatch, Alan Simpson would have

been tossed out of Congress!

And Biden .... ? For a year or more he's been trying to get Israel to attack Iran ...

saying "Israel would be justified" in doing so!

Biden played the primary role in putting pervert Clarence Thomas on the Court -- !!

[anamandujano]

69. Also remember after 9/11 Biden with his sh*t eating grin

crowing that HE wrote the Patriot Act. A quote I remember specifically as he begged for Repukes to let Dems in on the action, "There's a lot of talent here. Use it." or words to that effect.

That was it for me.

[tpsbmam]

21. So impeach the fuckers -- he's absolutely right. n/t

[defendandprotect]

41. It's absolutely what should be done ...

[wisteria]

22. I am going to miss Senator Specter he was a good moderate for PA.

And, his heart was always in the right place. And frankly, I don't give a damn what others here at DU (hate central) have to say.

[ProudDad]

67. If Spector is a "moderate"...

Clarence Thomas is a Progressive... :shrug:

Gawd, the definition of "moderate" has sure taken a dive over the last 40 years...

[valerief]

23. WTF did he vote for them? It was obvious they'd be RW cowboy justices. nt

[DemocraticPilgrim]

24. Well done Specter, I think he truly bevame a Democrat.

[onethatcares]

25. lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

fuck arlen and his horse.

he's one of the problems this country faces. A person that has been on the taxpayer teat for his entire life.

[barbtries]

26. you know

i really thought he was dead. where have i been.

[katty]

27. sorry, too late - as usual

[FLAprogressive]

28. You enabled them.

[DeadManInc]

32. why act like you have a pair of balls now,

this should have been said when they did it!

[catgirl]

33. We need more of this

The public needs to know more about the Supreme Court. It's talked about so little in MSM, that I doubt
many can even name the Justices, or how their votes impact our lives.

[saigon68]

35. It doesn't matter they can have Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan

To admire

[lonestarnot]

43. Yeah, and look who caused that you asshole.

[craigmatic]

45. It really pisses me off that they wait until they're about to leave to say this shit.

Why not do something about it when you have the power?

[tomp]

49. you voted them all in, you asshole. good riddance.

if you believed them, you,re an asshole. if you didn't and voted them, in you're an asshole.

you were an asshole before any of theses votes occurred anyway.

goddamned kennedy assassination conspirator.

[SpiralHawk]

50. Thanks for spanking the RepubliCorporatistas and their perversion of the Constitution

The Republicons have made a mockery of the Constitution, and the whole cabal of them should be impeached.

[myrna minx]

51. K&R n/t

[xchrom]

53. recommend

[colsohlibgal]

54. Too Little Too Late

Nice that he went after who he went after but where was that his whole life, all the way back to his ridiculous fictional idea of the "magic bullet"?

[VeryConfused]

55. Good for him, the more it's said the better

[DWilliamsamh]

56. Too little too late Arlen

I have been voting in elections as a Philly native my entire voting life. I am now 44 years old. And although folks here may ride me for what I am about to say, I had voted for Arlen Specter, running as a Republican, every time he was on the ballot in the general because he was effective and mostly principled. Even though I hated Bush the First with a white hot passion surpassed only by my feelings about Gingrich, I had never voted a strait Democratic ticket mostly because of Arlen Specter. Even as a 20 something, I knew there was no such thing as a politician who was principled all the time. They don't exist.

I stopped voting for Specter as of the Democratic Primary this year. It wasn't the flip flop turn coat, covering his own ass. trying to stay in the senate by any means necessary that made me dump Arlen. No, I knew I would never vote for Specter again when he gave that wonderfully principled speech in defense of Habeas Corpus. He was passionate and persuasive and absolutely correct in his review of the facts, precedents and consequences. Then he voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, effectively killing Habeas Corpus.

It was the last straw in a disturbing trend that saw Specter eloquently and correctly stand, as a Republican, against the erosion of our rights, or some other Republican nastiness that would only effect "the little people," and then turn around and vote for the thing he had railed against.

The floor speech against Roberts and Alito, is a perfect end to Specter's career in the Senate: A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,

[earcandle]

57. SO impeach them already for purgery. NOW! We can do it. Let us set a precedent!

[rhett o rick]

62. This is bullshit. If he has an ounce of intellegence he knew exactly who these judges were when he

supported them. No fair now getting a conscience. Just like the bullshit many Democrats spewed after they kissed Boy Georgie's ass and let him kill hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi's. They claim they didnt know he was lying. Bullshit. Sen Specter knew who these assholes were. He was part of the Republican machine. I hope he rots in hell.

[judesedit]

64. Regardless of who voted for whom initially, the 5 members of SCOTUS screwed this country big time

when they voted to allow domestic and foreign corporations to "donate", excuse me, I mean "BUY" our government, through undisclosed campaign funding and advertising as if they were individuals. This is only the beginning of the hell these charlatans have now created, and don't worry, EVERY ONE OF US will feel it. The "new" old GOP already wants to get rid of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Texas GOP is trying to rewrite history, and actually make it mandatory to teach your children that hogwash, and in Florida they are discussing getting rid of public schools altogether, school busing, lunch programs, teachers....you name it. Pretty sad when the basically sane people of this country won't move off their fat asses to get to the polls to defeat these lying bastards. Short attention span or just plain ignorance? With all of the facts available for the taking if one looks....I wonder. The republicans have NEVER won an election fairly. They are very, very creative and unscrupulous. Just ask them. They brag about it behind your backs and laugh all the way to the bank while you starve. What a sad state of affairs America may or may not overcome. It's your call, citizens. Are you going to let them get away with this crap or are you going to finally take a stand against injustice?

[MindandSoul]

66. A little late.. . but I'm glad he made such a clear statement against those traitor to justice!