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My letter to Senator Specter

26 July 2006, 8:42 pm by Dana Pico

I noted previously that I would be writing Senator Arlen Specter (RINO-PA) in regard to his disloyalty to the President, to the Republican Party, and to the Pennsylvania conservatives who voted for him, despite doubts about him.

Well, Mr Specter’s website (with a laughably youthful photograph) doesn’t make contact all that easy: his e-mail contact form is deliberately discouraging, in that it provides no options for political complaints. But, I pushed forward anyway:

    Dear Senator Specter:

    According to the Associated Press, you stated that you “will submit legislation to the United States Senate which will…authorize the Congress to undertake judicial review of those signing statements with the view to having the president’s acts declared unconstitutional.” I find this action on your part totally offensive and repugnant.

    Presidents have issued signing statements for a long time. You certainly know that when the interpretation of a law is in question, the courts sometimes look to the intent of the legislature that passed the law. By issuing signing statements, the President, who is part of the legislative process under the Constitution, is making clear his interpretations and intentions in signing a bill, something which ought to carry just as much weight in future court cases.

    That your political views are further to the left than those held by most Republicans is hardly a secret; your votes against the confirmation of Robert Bork and against conviction of President Clinton did not earn you many accolades from conservatives. Yet, when challenged by Representative Pat Toomey in the 2004 Republican primary, President Bush and Senator Santorum stood beside you, and urged Pennsylvania Republicans to renominate you, which we did.

    After you were safely reelected, and it became your turn to become Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, there was significant conservative opposition. Again, President Bush supported your case and your cause.

    And now, for the President’s friendship, you have returned spite; for his support, you have returned disloyalty; for his good will and help you have spit in his face.

    I understand that some congressmen do not like the signing statements; that is their right. I would have expected such a bill from Senator Leahy or Senator Schumer, and might even have let it pass had you decided to support such a bill, from them, quietly. But for you to sponsor such a bill, for you to help in crafting such legislation, after the support you received from the President and from Pennsylvania Republicans, is offensive, is back-stabbing, and is, quite frankly, a deal-breaker. You may be assured that Pennsylvania’s Republican conservatives will not support you, should you decide to run again in 2010, and that I, personally, will support your 2010 primary opponent with my words, my actions, and my financial contributions.

    Very sincerely,

    Dana R. Pico

Category: Foreign Lack Of Policy, Politics

6 Comments

  1. Yorkshire:

    Good luck. He’ll probly tell you he’s working hard to get the price of gas to be lower. Speaking of which, the man gives me gas.

    26 July 2006, 8:57 pm

  2. Dana:

    York, I got back the following auto-generated letter:

    From: Senator_Specter@Specter.Senate.gov
    To: editor@commonsensepoliticalthought.com

    (Please do not reply to this email)

    Thank you for your email. We will be responding soon.

    I receive a large volume of E-mails, phone calls, faxes and letters every week from concerned citizens like yourself. By following these simple steps, you will help me respond to your concerns in a more prompt and efficient manner.

    IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEMS:
    To respond to your time sensitive concerns, please contact the Washington office or the state office in your area.

    IMPORTANT! Please read the information below carefully to
    ensure your request is handled correctly:

    Scheduling Matters:
    Please contact our Washington office by faxing your request to our fax line (202) 228-1229.

    Constituent Services:
    DC Tourism, Internships, and Flag Requests, please access my website. You may also submit your request to our Washington Office (202) 224-4254.

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    26 July 2006, 9:04 pm

  3. Yorkshire:

    I got that too. And a few days later you will get Form Letter #4592, to the pissed off constituent. I voted for Toomey also, and held my nose to vote for Specter. The stench from the lever still hasn’t left my finger.

    27 July 2006, 7:40 am

  4. Common Sense Political Thought » Blog Archives » My Letter to Senator Specter is Answered:

    [...] On July 26th, I copied My Letter to Senator Specter to this site. Yorkshire guessed that I’d get back a form letter, which was pretty much what I had expected. Perhaps what I received is a general response to however many people wrote in to the Honorable Gentleman from Pennsylvania, but at least the response did address the issue. Subject: Re: Senator Specter’s bill to sue President Bush Date: 8/28/2006 12:00:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time From: Senator_Specter@Specter.Senate.gov Reply To: To: editor@commonsensepoliticalthought.com [...]

    29 August 2006, 7:46 pm

  5. The Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2006 | Redstate:

    [...] On July 26th, I copied My Letter to Senator Specter to my site. Perhaps what I received is a general response to however many people wrote in to the Honorable Gentleman from Pennsylvania, but at least the response did address the issue. Subject: Re: Senator Specter’s bill to sue President Bush Date: 8/28/2006 12:00:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time From: Senator_Specter@Specter.Senate.gov Reply To: To: editor@commonsensepoliticalthought.com [...]

    30 August 2006, 12:13 pm

  6. Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “Of Course You Know - This Means War!”:

    [...] I wrote At least I never voted for him — and I never will on the 25th, and also published the text of my letter to the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania here, the following day. And yes, of course, this is an unashamed pimping of my own site! :) [...]

    6 November 2007, 7:01 pm