Specter is being Specter

This story is going to break all over the place. I'm gettin' calls from reporters.

So I may as well tell you the breaking news: Specter is being Specter.

That's right, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman is already a busy little bee in his newfound committee chairmanship, nesting, rearranging things, hugging his gavel and yes, hiring staff.

Oh, didn't he tell you?

Chairman Specter has hired Hannibal Kemerer. And who is Hannibal Kemerer?

Why, I'm glad you asked.

Hannibal Kemerer is none other than the former assistant general counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

You might recall -- or maybe not -- that the activities of the general counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Elaine Jones, were well-documented in a series of memos from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Elaine called up her buddy Teddy Kennedy to make sure that no Sixth Circuit judicial nominees would have hearings until her affirmative action case had gotten through that court. She has retired from her position.

Of course, Manuel Miranda, former general counsel to Majority Leader Bill Frist, lost his job and has been investigated under a microscope for discovering the memos that documented this extraordinary breach of ethics.

Now. Let me get this straight.

Manny Miranda loses his job for reading these memos and blowing the whistle, but one of Elaine's team gets a coveted Judiciary committee job offer from a Republican? In a post-Memogate, pre-Supreme Court nomination fight world?

Wonder if Senator Leahy will offer Manny a job.

Doubtful.