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Them There's Fightin' Words
Talking Points Memo — Arlen Specter compares Eric Holder to Alberto Gonzales.

Does This Mean Holder Has Specter’s Vote?
Balloon Juice — Specter, on the floor of the Senate today: In a floor speech today, Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary committee, suggested that Eric Holder, Barack Obama’s nominee for Attorney General, might follow in the footsteps of … Alberto Gonzales! Gonzales was confirmed with a Senate vote of 60-36, with no Republicans voting against. I guess this means Holder’s confirmation is a lock.

Specter's tired routine
Political Animal — ... bidding. "He's had an outstanding academic and professional record, and I acknowledge that early on," Mr. Specter said of Mr. Holder in a 25-minute speech on the Senate floor. "But aside from these qualifications on Mr. Holder's resume, there is also the issue of character, and sometimes it is more important for the attorney general to have the stature and the courage to say no instead of to say yes." As part of the broadside, Specter compared Holder to Alberto Gonzales -- seriously , he did this out loud, in front of witnesses -- and announced his intention to re-litigate ...

TPM's Early Handicapping of the Obama Confirmation Hearings
TPM Election Central — ... Sen. Arlen Specter (PA), the senior Republican on judiciary, delivered a scathing speech yesterday that likened Holder to Alberto Gonzales. Still, Democrats are poised to gain an advantage of as many as three seats on committees, so Holder's nomination is far from jeopardized by the jockeying. ...

Death By 1,000 Cuts: The GOP Takes On Obama's Nominees
TPM Election Central — ... Take Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-PA) opening statement during the Judiciary Committee's Holder hearing today. After noting that his tirades against Holder have been criticized as politically motivated, Specter proceeded to take cover behind the media. ...

Specter: Psych! I'll Back Holder
TPM Election Central — ... . After making a huge fuss questioning the independence of Eric Holder, Specter just caved and said he'll support the attorney general nominee. ...

Pulling a Specter
Political Animal — ... caved and said he'll support the attorney general nominee. "I can say with some confidence that there won't be a successful filibuster," Specter told reporters at a press conference gathered to share his thoughts on Holder in advance of tomorrow's Judiciary panel vote on the nominee. Specter has been fighting, resisting, and complaining about Holder's nomination for more than seven full weeks . Specter questioned Holder's " character " and his "courage." He compared Holder to Alberto Gonzales , for crying out loud. Specter told a committee room full of people ...

Scottish Haggis Lives Up to the Name, Backs Holder
Firedoglake — ... After making a huge fuss questioning the independence of Eric Holder, Specter just caved and said he'll support the attorney general nominee. ...