According to Lou Dobbs, Arlen Specter is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[BlooInBloo]

Jackass.

Honest mistake my ass - it's like the republicans' sites that still describe themselves as "Chair" of this-or-that.

(no link - just heard him on CNN)

[Moochy]

1. Ranking minority Member

[BlooInBloo]

4. If only that were what he said....

I do hope there's video of it somewhere - because I bet a jillion bucks the transcript will be doctored.

[Ian David]

2. There are no Republicker chairs anymore. They've all been demoted to Ottomans. n/t

[KansDem]

6. So Bush's plan for world domination has been reduced to the "Ottoman Empire?"

sorry, couldn't resist! :rofl:

[ms liberty]

3. umm, he is...ranking member of the minority...

If the Replicans were in the majority, Specter would be the Chairman. Because they're in the minority, he's the ranking member.

[BlooInBloo]

5. He is NOT the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee...

... Lou Dobbs said he was.

That's all I said. Sheesh.

EDIT: In case it's still not clear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_the_Judiciary

Sheesh.

[eggman67]

11. According to the link

he IS the ranking member.


Arlen Specter, Ranking Member, Pennsylvania


It doesn't mean what you think it means.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

14. According to your link...

Arlen Specter, Ranking Member, Pennsylvania

I'm at a loss as to what you're trying to prove with that link.

[ms liberty]

15. Please see your own link, and the posts which follow my original post.

Ranking member is the term of use for the member who would be Chairman if their party was in power.

[BlooInBloo]

17. Yup. My apologies - my mistake. (where's Gildna Radner when you need her? lol!)

[ms liberty]

18. No Problem, Man - We all have those days...

I call it "Temporary Brain Death" or TBD for short...but only because that phrase "brain fart" is not proper in many situations!

[BlooInBloo]

19. And it's really gross to boot :)

[Hepburn]

7. Specter is the ranking member....

because he is the senior member of the minority party. Leahy is chairman cuz he is a Dem, but Specter is the ranking member cuz he is a Repub.

[SoCalDem]

8. Personally, I think Specter IS quite rank

but then that's just MY opinion :)

for the benefit of Gonzo, see bolded definitions :


Definitions of rank:

* noun: a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another

Example: "The entrance was guarded by ranks of policemen"

* noun: relative status

Example: "His salary was determined by his rank and seniority"

* noun: the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army)

Example: "The strike was supported by the union rank and file"

* noun: the body of members of an organization or group

Example: "They found dissension in their own ranks"

* noun: position in a social hierarchy
* verb: take precedence or surpass others in rank
* verb: take or have a position relative to others

Example: "This painting ranks among the best in the Western World"

* verb: assign a rank or rating to

Example: "How would you rank these students?"

* adjective: very offensive in smell or taste

Example: "A rank cigar"

* adjective: growing profusely

Example: "Rank jungle vegetation"

* adjective: very fertile; producing profuse growth

Example: "Rank earth"

* adjective: conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

Example: "Rank treachery"

* name: A surname (rare: 1 in 100000 families; popularity rank in the U.S.: #10855)

[ruiner4u]

9. Ummmmm bloo... Dobbs is correct.. your mistaken...

http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm

[eggman67]

10. Ranking member is a title

for the member of the minority party with the most seniority. Some committees call it vice-chairman instead. Dobbs is correct.

[KansDem]

12. I've noticed a similar practice on NPR...

Whenever there's a story that involves members of congress (say for example, one of the hearings), NPR will more often than not have live comments from Republicans. This has been going on since last November's election. NPR should be going to the Democrats for comments since they are the majority party now, but, I guess it's just tooooo painful for the Corporate Media to acknowledge.

It reminds me of Campaign2000 when CorpMedia would have live excerpts of Bush's speeches, followed by thunderous applause. But when referring to Gore, they would have a comment by a third party (for example a campaign worker). Even when you are recorded saying something stupid followed by applause, you can sound somewhat impressive...

Media: "Speaking to a crowd of farmers today in Iowa, Mr. Bush spoke about farming issues."
Bush: "And if elected, I promise to PUT FOOD ON YOUR FAMILY!!!"
Crowd: applause...applause...applause...
Media: "And a campaign worker for Mr. Gore said today that the Vice-President believes a review of farm price supports is needed..."

[Terri S]

13. "Ranking Member" definition...

Definitions of Ranking Member on the Web:

Member of the majority party on a committee who ranks first in seniority after the chairperson.
www.osa.org/publicpolicy/glossary/default.asp

the lead member of a Congressional committee from the minority party, usually chosen on the basis of seniority.
www.nrdc.org/reference/glossary/r.asp

The majority member holding the most seniority of a given Committee, following the chairperson
www.nsta.org/lhterms

The most senior member of a committee from a particular party. Most often used to refer to the most senior member of the minority party.
www.fifnc.org/resources/glossary.html

Ranking member, in American politics, is a term used to refer to the member of a committee in Congress who is the longest-serving member of the party not in the majority (the longest-serving member of the majority is the chairman). The ranking member is usually considered the second highest rank on the committee.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranking_member

[ms liberty]

16. Just wanted to add re: your "Chair" comment...

Once a member has been a Chairperson, they are often referred to as Chairperson after their party loses control. Remember the hearing Conyers had to hold in the basement? He was called Mr. Chairman in that hearing, even though he was in the minority party and was not Chairman, because he had been Chairman when the Democrats had the majority. The Replicans had a major snit-fit about him being called Chairman, accusing him and other Democrats of having delusions of grandeur. Because of that, I've personally vowed to NOT be as petty about the use of that as a term of respect for former Chairpersons, even if they're Replicans and idiots!