A Principled Former Republican or Election Winning Democrat?

I was wondering why Specter was flipping parties. Then I found this:

“Friday, April 24,
Incumbent Senator Arlen Specter trails former Congressman Pat Toomey by 21 points in an early look at Pennsylvania’s 2010 Republican Primary. Fifty-one percent (51%) of Republican voters statewide say they’d vote for Toomey while just 30% would support Specter.”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/pennsylvania/election_2010_pennsylvania_republican_senate_primary

hehehehe, now it all makes sense.

ADMIN, think my comment got caught in the SPAM FILTER. Please un-spam.

I heard this on the news as I was driving to work this after. As you might guess both Limbaugh and Savage were having conniptions.
Over at Riverdaughter the concern was Specter voting right wing for things like the FISA Bill with TELCO immunity. I about chocked on that one because he voted the same way as the leader of his newly adopted party.

After they have used him to push through all their socialists reforms, they will run a star candidate in a Democratic primary. What a loser.

I listened to Limbaugh and I didn’t hear him “having conniptions.” He wasn’t surprised as Arlen had was pretty much a Democrat anyhow.

I agree he wants to hold his seat and is switching for that reason. Although there may be much to say about being a Republican these days, I don’t buy that Specter just now decides he can’t carry the party water. I do think it is about saving his skin.

Having said that, it’s understandable someone wanting to keep his job might do whatever he feels necessary. I just can’t help think it would have been a more admirable thing if Specter retired at the end of his term rather than contort himself to remain fresh or relevant.

I don’t see it as a principled move or as a pragmatic one. I think it’s a desperation move and Specter would retain more dignity were he to bow out gracefully.

Like so many in Washington, from both sides of the aisle, they are hooked on power.

Specter could have chosen to become and independent and caucused with the Democrats as Jim Jeffords at the begining of the Bush administration when he felt the Republican Party had gone too far to the right.

But Specter probably could not win as an Indy in Pennsylvania, so he needs the support of the Democratic Party and President Obama’s election machine to get himself over in November.

So instead of being a potential check in the checks and balance system on behalf of those Americans who are not on board with the Obama/Pelosi/Reid agenda he has sold his votes to them in order to save his job.

If Franken is seated, the moderate Republicans who at least had the power to get some concessions and curb some excesses will be powerless thanks to Specter, because the fillibuster can not be used as a weapon. He hung McCain and Snowe out to dry in the process.

He will not be an indepdent voice. He needs Obama/Kaine/Reid to help him get re-elected and will not cause any trouble for the them.

He sold out the American people to keep his job. Another gutless hack.

I think that when you are elected as a representative of one party, you owe it to the people who elected you to stay and fight for those principles since you are their representative and the job is not to vote for what you personally want. The job as a representative is to speak for what your constituents want. I find this party switching to be disgusting. I also think that it should be illegal if it gives the other party too much power. If someone no longer identifies with the party and it conflicts with their values then they should resign and a special election be held to decide the seat. I’ll tell you what, if I elect a Republican, he better stay a Republican or I would petition for his resignation, as well as, an investigation to see if any of his bank account balances went up substantially in recent months!

I’m sick of this shit!

The Republican Party needs to retool its image by focusing on economic and national security conservatism. Social conservatism is turning too many moderate people off. I understand that abortion is important to pro life people. You guys think of it as taking a life but the majority of Americans don’t want women forced to carry a pregnancy to term against her will. As Hillary Democrat, I am socially liberal but conservative on matters of foreign policy and economics. I want your party to grow and prosper, to become an alternative to the Obama Party. You CANNOT win with only the base of the party. You need independents and moderates. A conservative party in the mold of Goldwater would be a winner.

I need to add that I left the Democrat party so I understand Spector’s frustration, but when you are elected, you should serve the entire term as a Representative of the same party. If you want to switch parties, it should not be until after the term and you should not be allowed to run for a full election cycle. To clarify, Spector is Republican now until his term ends to represent his constituents and then he switches to dem, but cannot be elected a dem until the next term he can run, he sits one out. that would be my rule. You switch, you sit one out. end of story. If it costs you the career, well, it costs you the career!

I don’t want people to get the wrong idea about my rant. I’m not blaming the Republican Party for Specter leaving. He should be primaried and voted out for supporting the Obama/Pelosi Pork Stimulus Bill but republicans could end up with about 35 seats in the Senate if this keeps up. I am conflicted. Will Snowe and Collins be next to switch parties?

There’s little of a devious, sneakly or self-serving nature that I would put past the progenitor of the Single Bullet Theory.

I agree with you on every point. Specter considers his seat in Penn as propriatary. He is the poster child for term limit.

But what you expect from a guy who started his career by crafting the “one bullet theory” on the Kennedy assassination report and went on to harass Anita Hill during the hearings.

I sincerely hope that Obama’s gun control measures will by 2010 make his reelection as a Dem even more unlikely than as a rep. Wouldn’t that be the sweetest karma for him and his new boss?

“I’m tired of feeling like the helpless passenger locked in the back seat and forced to watch two drunk drivers fighting to take control over the steering wheel.”

Wow, that’s a really good metaphor.

I’m all for term limits. I think we need “citizen legislators”. Do a job for awhile, get some experience in some field, then be a legislator for a couple of terms, and then go back to your field. Otherwise, “we” end up being “served” by elites, career politicians who are in it for themselves – and they seem to be more like each other, than like us.

I wonder if Hillary is the last public servant around…

I am not sure that such should be the route because one more time it would be the same game played with recycled cards.

I think that Reps and exhiled dems should go back to the constitution and define themselves as originalists first and foremost. Issues should be then campaigned in that light.

The Congress and every recent administration have taken us so far from what being an American mean for most of us, only the special interests on the fringe recognize themselves in the two parties.

Spector left the party because he pissed of his republican constiutents when he voted for the stimulous package and he knows it. I’m sorry but considering the fact we are broke as hell social conservatism looks really good. With the handing over of GM and Crystler to the UAW and obama this country is starting to look a little too damn fascist for my taste. For all the squacking and squeeling about Repulicans and the far Right. It’s really the democrats that seem to want to control everything about you life. Sure you can have gay marriage and abortion, but we are going to tell you what kind of car you drive, how many times you can flush your toliet, double your taxes, tell you how much you can make, oh and there is going to be transparency in everything the Bush Administration does but we don’t have to tell you sh*t and that’s just the beginning. I”m sorry but if they don’t get rid of this obama sect, the democratic party needs to go down. Even if it means starting a thrid party, i’m not tolerating this bs and neither should anyone else. Washington has gone mad and we need to slap back to sanity.

Republican, Democrat, what difference does it make. A pile of shit stinks no matter what you call it.

Well said

California has term limits for state elected offices, the jury is still out if thyey work as intended. Those that have the political power and name recognition just circulate through various elected positions. It is still the same political elite in power playing a game of musical chairs.

Don Perata, speaker of the state assembly is being termed out of office. He is of course a Democrat, and had been a staunch supporter of Obama over Hillary in the primaries. Recently, in an interview the sound bite he gave on why California should abandon term limits would have made milk squirt through my nose if I had been drinking a glass knowing the praise he heaps upon Obama. He stated that we should not have term limits because we can not afford to have inexperienced people elected to office.

Norm Coleman now MUST fight all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Now we shall see if the moderate Dems step up to the plate and say NO to the left wing loons that are in control.
It’s time we keep a score card.

What’s really pathetic is that he doesn’t have a prayer to win as a Dem. I don’t even think he’ll make it through the democrat senate primary if they run a challenger against him.

And why wouldn’t they (Dems) run a young fresh face against him? Arlen Specter is yesterday’s news in Pennsylvania, it doesn’t matter which party he belongs to.

So the Republican Party worked their butts off for the last 20 or so years to keep this freak in office-Republican money, time, effort that created his career and now he just gives them the big screw you? No integrity, no core values, no other attributes other than he is a human cockroach? Wow, he is really an Obama style Democrat!!

I have no respect for Arlen Specter at all. And, I could not care less about his switch. I am no longer a Democrat or a Republican, and reject party politics altogether now.

I do however, think the Republican Party is in big trouble in this country, and it is laughable to see Mitch McConnell defiantly state that the Republican Party isn’t just a “regional party,” and that they’re “working very hard to compete throughout the country.”

Now, I know Sen. McConnell can’t just come out and say essentially what is known to everyone from sea to shining sea: The Republican Party is a bunch of old dinosaurs gasping their last breaths.

But the fact that McConnell came out to make a statement of denial just proves the point. They are the party of denial.

The Republican Party isn’t even a “regional party” anymore–they’ve lost Virginia, they’re in danger of losing their base in the south, even in Texas. People are really sick of their negativity, their hypocrisy, and their scapegoating.

They deny everything, whether it’s the reality of climate change, the end of “trickle down economics,” the merits of stem-cell research, the imperative for a coherent policy for health care, torture does not make us secure, the poisoned reputation of the US does matter, soaring budget deficits hurt us, whatever it is, they DENY IT.

They will deny it, until the point where the entire Republican rank and file desert them, and either become Democrats or form a new party.

Norm Coleman should concede; to do anything else is insanity, and he will regret it if he tries to keep his failed campaign alive through a court fight.

I heard yesterday that PA doesn’t allow for switching from R or D to Independent as a candidate. I don’t know if it’s true, but in any case, Specter has shown himself to be the compleat opportunist. He’s more worried about his legacy than the people.

Thank you for the link, benny. It sure explains why he has this urgency to become a Democrat now.

So where does that leave us, if we only have in essence one party? That’s not what our country needs, even in the best of times.

I have seen reactions from pundits and other politicians on this. I have yet to see someone ask a citizen of PA what they feel about it.

If Spector gets to switcheroo, the the voters should get to recall their votes. It’s only fair.

As for the big 2 parties–there is no difference anyway. They are both for big government and neither can control spending although they talk constantly about it.

Libertarians are for smaller federal government and, in general, fiscally conservative and socially liberal. What’s not to love? The more people read up on this party, the stronger it will become.

I also find it quite telling how Spector waited until yesterday to announce so he could conveniently appear this morning with Obama on his 100th day in office. Another feather in Obama’s hat about how he’s so great that he can make Republicans change party. I can just imagine Obama’s head swelling even more.

I like how Spector was for sticking with the party that elected him until he was against it because it was no longer beneficial for him. I hope he looses spectacularily in 2010 – Obama’s support or not!

Former Dem in Philadelphia raises hand…

I’d rather be dragged through the streets by the wrists slathered in bacon grease before I’d vote for Specter. And That One’s promise to campaign for him just sweetens the pot oh so much.

The part that really gets me is the selective memory of the bots. That One just blessed him and KAZZAM!! All sins of the past 20 years are forgiven. PATHETIC!

And with our PUMA collective memory that rift between PUMAs and Obamacrat party is going to get even wider. Way to cap 100 days, jack-hole. I look forward to watching American Idol tonight in defiance.

By your statements regarding Republicans you do not sound like an independent. The hypocrisy and scapegoating falls on both parties.

Oh wow–a citizen–yea!!!!! Your point about past sins is great.

(PS–Consider joining the live blogging tonight–they are really fun sessions!)

I think with Rendell & Obama supporting him, he has a pretty good chance. It’ll be interesting to see if the other main Democratic candidate (I can’t remember his name right now) will stay in the race; there will be a lot of pressure on him to drop out.

I also think Democrats in Pennsylvania are relatively conservative, so Specter might be an attractive candidate.

Norm Coleman is a draft-dodging neocon POS. He is corrupt. He is in bed with Ted Stevens & Rove’s guy Larson.
And he already lost.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7056

Everyone should be disturbed that there are more votes than voters in heavily liberal precincts as is the case with the Norm Coleman election. Counties treated absentee ballots differently. Some precincts decided to count ballots that were technically illegal- such as missing witness or witness not registered and some precincts would not count them. How can anyone not see a problem with that?

You vote the issues, you find someone that supports the issues that are of concern to you and when and if they alter their position and can’t justify it, find someone else to support.

Wait a minute, here! Remember last year when Chris Matthews threatened to run against Arlen Specter just as his Lymphoma Cancer was returning?? That infuriated me somehow – probably because of my intense dislike of Matthews. Be that as it may, Specter has not made any pretense about why he’s switching parties. So, some of you think he should just suck it up and lose?…..gracefully no less? Get real! This is the world of politics! While most of us expect them to be honest and not get elected fraudulently like you-know-who, the reality is Arlen cannot win in PA as a republican. Others have suggested the more honorable thing to do would have been for him to become an Independent like Joe Lieberman. Joe is from Conn. That is probably THE only state that someone can confidently be elected to political office. In most states you MUST be either a democrat of repub period. It is virtually impossible to be elected as an Independent in most states. # 1, people don’t even see your name on the ballot since it’s on the third line that no one is used to seeing.

Don’t be so rough on Specter! He made a pragmatic decision and made no bones about it. He’s been as upfront as any politician I’ve ever seen as to exactly why he is switching. As far as Obama’s PA “machine”, Obama does not have a machine! Obama LOST the PA primary. The only machine in PA is Ed Randell’s – and the reason 0 won PA in the ge. A democrat cannot be elected in PA without Rendell’s blessing and HIS machine. Governor Randell has already offered Specter his help.

Everyone needs to cool their jets. Specter is a good politician who has never been bound by party and does seem to have the people’s best interest at heart, regardless of his stimulus package “yes” vote. The other thing, however, is once someone switches parties, no one claims them. It’s pretty lonely. Neither side seems to trust them after that.

Old voters never die, they just reregister in Democrat Party controlled precincts.

Pat Toomey should step aside and let Tom Ridge win the primary. I know republicans are angry at moderates right now but Ridge could be Specter. He’s a traitor. Why would the democrats even trust him?

Politicalidentitycrisis, Specter has been in trouble with PA’s far right for a good while and almost lost the last time to that Perry guy. I understand what you are saying, but at this point if he did as you are suggesting, it would be a SURE loss and with his “yes” vote on the stimulus package, fresh in those PA’s minds. To show his independence is still intact, Specter voted “no” on 0′s budget tonight. If he had any chance to hold onto his senate seat, there was one choice – become a democrat. What is the point of going through a campaign knowing you can’t win? Specter is NOT an opportunist – he told us exactly why he is doing what he’s doing. He deserves high marks for his honesty and forthrightness.

Specter is a progressive and liberal on many social issues. In fact he is pro-choice. This is one of the reasons he is disliked among his republican colleagues. Being a cancer patient who has just been through another round of chemotherapy and radiation, he is FOR stem cell reseach – another reason his republican colleagues aren’t crazy about him.

I think you are shooting yourselves in the foot to continue attacking Senator Specter for making a politically pragmatic decision that he has been completely honest about. He is really more of an independent than republican or democrat. But he cannot win in PA as an independent like Joe Lieberman did in Conn. Conn is a different breed of political cat.

We need to stop overgeneralizing here. Better to have an independent-minded Specter than some anti-everything far-right-wing republican or another far-left-wing looney-tunes democrat who loooooves B0. Get over it, y’all. Specter needs to stay in the US Senate and he chose the only way that is possible.