Doesn't he have something better to do????
Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter is in the news this week, but not for doing his job in DC. No, instead he is looking into the Terrell Owens situation because he thinks that Owens was being treated "unfairly" according to this report from Newsradio KYW in Philadelphia. For those of you who are not familiar with football, Terrell Owens is the supremely talented and troubled wide receiver from the Philadelphia Eagles who was suspended from the team for multiple discipline problems. On November 18, an independent arbitration team sided for the Eagles, saying that the team was within their rights to suspend Owens for the season.
That decision made Sen. Specter "madder than hell." because of the impact that Owens had on the Eagles. Sen. Specter seems to think that this suspension is unfair, that it is "restraint of trade" and called the team's actions ""vindictive and inappropriate."
Vindictive and inappropriate???? Like the vindictive and inappropriate treatment Judge Alito has received at the hands of the Senate Judicary committee? Or maybe the vindictive and inappropriate treatment Brent Kavanaugh, William Haynes and Henry Saad have received at the hands of the Judiciary Committee? Or perhaps the vindictive and inappropriate treatment that James Payne has received at the hands of the Judiciary Committee. Just to remind you Senator, Mr.'s Kavanaugh, Haynes and Saad were nominated to the bench on Feb 14, 2005 and Mr. Payne was nominated on September 29 and they have yet to get a hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee. Judge Alito was nominated on October 31. In November of last year, Senator Specter promised "I am committed, in word and deed, to prompt action by the Judiciary Committee. Last April, I introduced Senate Resolution 327, a protocol to establish prompt action on all judicial nominees. Specifically, my protocol provides that all nominees will have a Judiciary Committee hearing within 30 days of nomination, a Judiciary Committee vote within 30 days of the hearing, and a floor vote 30 days later." What happened to the 30 days to hearing Senator? Mr.'s Kavanaugh, Haynes and Saad were nominated 264 days ago. When are we going to see a hearing Senator? How about the restraing of trade that has been imposed on these nominees?
The American people are "madder than hell" at you Senator Specter. After President Bush's re-election, many (like Laura Ingraham and a large portion of the Republican base) wanted a new Judiciary chairman and others (like Hugh Hewitt) argued that you would do the right thing, now that the election was done. Well here we are 11 months into the second term and what have we gotten??? We are still have judicial nominees (like Sam Alito) languishing in Committee, we have the renewal of the Patriot Act still waiting for action and meanwhile you are trying to play power games with the NFL.
Senator Specter, Mr. Owens is an adult. He knew (or should have known) that there were consequences to his actions. He knew that insulting his team-mates and coaches in the manner that he did would draw the ire of said coaches and team-mates. The NFL arbitrator has spoken...the team has acted well within the boundaries of the contract and the suspension has been upheld. Instead of interfering in the NFL's business, why don't you get back to doing the nations business and get these nominees before the committee and on the bench. You promised the President and your promised the country a speedy process, it is far past time for you to deliver on that promise!
posted by The Lady Logician at 5:01 PM permalink
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