ConfirmThem

By AndrewHyman Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Senator Specter and his Judiciary Committeee ought to start hearings as soon as August rolls around, instead of letting the nominee --- whoever it is --- get pummelled by left-wing groups until hearings begin in September. Doing nothing throughout August would be torture for the nominee and torture for the public.

On July 2, Knight Ridder reported that, "Specter said he expected to hold confirmation hearings in September but didn't rule out action in August if Bush submitted a name to the Senate." But, on Fox News Sunday, Senator Feinstein was adamant that she's going home for August, adding: “To set arbitrary timetables, at this point, would be a mistake.�

There's nothing "arbitrary" about having prompt hearings, instead of letting a nominee dangle like a pinata for the whole month of August. If Sen. Specter wants to have thorough hearings, he shouldn't confine them to the month of September. He ought to get started August 1, or sooner. This is all the more important given the possibility of a further vacancy. Specter acknowledged today on Late Edition that it's the Senate's "duty" to have any Supreme Court nomination resolved before the Court convenes in October.