Ok, Specter is saying he's getting any Committee positions

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

he would have had had he been a Democrat from the beginning. Now, what does that mean exactly? And when would that commence?

I'm not liking the part in the presser about all the judicial nominations left on the table for President Obama, unless he just means that as a chiding to say that's where extremism gets you.

He's been pretty frank that it's all about him and his political future and he knew he wouldn't win a Republican primary.

[mikelgb]

1. yeah that 's some bullshit, he gets treated as a lifelong Dem

sickening

his whole presser was sickening his arrogance and sense of entitlement were brazen and infuriating

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. But I want to know EXACTLY what it means. Does he get a chairmanship?

[mikelgb]

9. yes that is exactly what it means

[RoadRage]

3. Of course he is!

Specter isn't an idiot.. and Reid knew he had to promise him something to get him to switch teams.

I'm not surprised by this..

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. But WHAT committee positions? They touched on it in the presser but I couldn't quite catch it. nt

[Aloha Spirit]

4. that press conference was amazing

he doesn't have the patience to prevaricate I guess... lol.
But yeah, he'd be the chair on the Labor and HHS subcommittee of the appropriations committee, as he outranks his friend Harkin.

http://appropriations.senate.gov/labor.cfm

[blueclown]

6. Specter will be the chair of the Labor subcommittee?

The same guy who opposes EFCA?

[Aloha Spirit]

12. just a guess at looking for which subcommittee he would be highest ranked.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. Thank you!

I was terrified it would be Judicial. Labor. . . I think he'll be hearing more than he ever wanted to hear about EFCA. Perhaps whatever his reservations are could be addressed and the bill could be passed.

I appreciate your comment about not having the patience to prevaricate! That's kind of what I thought. I know that at some point in their lives, a lot of seniors issue themselves the "Oh what the f!@# license" where they just can't do it anymore.

[Aloha Spirit]

13. the wtf license.. lol that is precisely right!

I'm just guessing about the labor subcommittee as he outranks Harkin, but yeah, Leahy is more senior thann Specter, so we should be safe on that front.

[jobycom]

7. That's always how it works. They carry their seniority as a senator, not as a party member.

Pretty standard deal when this happens.

[thatsrightimirish]

10. Hopefully not Judiciary

What a disaster he was there

[Jakes Progress]

11. He's gonna be a disaster wherever his goes.

He's not changing his views or his support. It just gives us one more number. He wouldn't have switched if he wasn't going to lose his primary anyway. He's changing parties, not convictions. The problem is the number of already in place Dems who are no better.

[cali]

14. no way. thankfully, Leahy has more seniority than snarlen'

not that the little fuckwad should get the chairmanship of any committee.

[Metta]

15. He's going to maneuver for all he can get. He deserves nothing.

He deserves nothing more than a hearty hand clasp in the W.C. Fields manner.

[MiniMe]

16. It won't change anything for this session of congress

However, he will have some seniority in the next congress. Leahey is still senior to Specter, so it won't change Judiciary. But I think that Specter has seniority over Harkin.