Specter update

In what is likely an attempt to save his chances of heading the senate judiciary committee, Specter further backpedals from his earlier warnings to president Bush. He now says that he will not hold up pro-life judicial nominees (even though he is pro-choice). He further points out that he has always supported the presidents previous nominees. There was a lot of criticism both in the republican party and in conservative blogs such as the corner after Specter made his original comments.

I would guess that his backpedaling will be enough to save his spot, but Karl Rove has made it clear that Specter will be expected to give the president's judicial nominees to be brought to the floor as he has promised.

I expect that now that President Bush has been shown to have such strong support in the Christian Right, that moderate republicans will be expected to fall in line with the president more than in the past. My only concern is that we might make the mistake that the democrats have made and loose people in the center. While I might not agree with centrists on many issues, I agree with them more than I agree with those on the left. The party has to make sure that they don't push those in the center further left over the next few years.