Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

[toasty]

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," said Specter in a statement. "I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."


"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/28/arlen-specter-switching-p_n_192298.html

Wow. Specter was always one of the more moderate Republicans, but I'm surprised to see him hop ship entirely. I guess he thinks he'll have problems winning as a republican in 2010. Does this mean he's going to start caucusing with the Democrats now? Can't imagine the GOP would let him stay, or that he'd want to. With Al Franken, though, that would make 60.

[Nigel Harkness]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

Just what we need is the Dem's having no problem pushing their agenda because they have the 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.

[toasty]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

Just what we need is the Dem's having no problem pushing their agenda because they have the 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.

I'm not convinced that he's going to just toe the party line regardless of what letter is after his name, because he's always been a pretty independent guy on a number of issues. Republicans may well target his vote because he was a member of their party up until, well, a few hours ago. They can't afford to piss away his vote on account of sour grapes.

Arlen Specter just became a pretty powerful guy in Washington, I suspect.

[Nigel Harkness]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

Hopefully that is the case and he doesn't stick to the party lines and votes on how he actually feels, not how his party wants him to vote.

[superdave]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

Not really that much of a surprise as he's been more of Democrat the last couple of years than a Republican. However, as mentioned he is fiercely independent and Democrats won't be able to always rely on his party vote.

[speciale]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

not a surprise at all. He is up for re-election and has no shot as a republican. not even to be nominated due to his voting on the stimulus package and his other pro dem voting. he should have waited on this move for later this year to give him any chance. he is done regardless of the move.

like I said, term limits on all of Congress. senate and the house.

[runningman]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

Wow what a back door deal this was by the democrats. TWhat you don't want right now is a blank check to the Dems with the way they are spending money

[speciale]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

29yrs in office. WTF? Term limits. I wish we had them. What is worse is he complains about the rep party being too far to the right, however, he is full of shit. If that was the case, mccain would have never been nominated. The guy is grasping for anything to get re-elected. To me, he is lost in his own beliefs and just wants to be re-elected.

I hate Al franken and wish he would die, but at least he stays true to his own beliefs even though they are evil. I hold more respect for that. however, if i ever see the fucker, i will punch him.

[toasty]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

What is worse is he complains about the rep party being too far to the right, however, he is full of shit. If that was the case, mccain would have never been nominated.

Not true. McCain got the nomination because the more conservative candidates split the primary vote early on. McCain didn't regularly start getting more than 50% in the primaries until after Tsunami Tuesday, at which point the result was a fait accompli -- even the primaries directly after Tsunami Tuesday, however, were not great for McCain -- he lost 2 (one badly) and narrowly won a third with a quarter of the vote. The GOP was never in love with McCain as their candidate -- he got the nod almost by default.

If conservatives had decided to go with Romeny or Huckabee rather than letting them duke it out and dillute the far right vote, I think the result would have been different.

[speciale]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

Not true. McCain got the nomination because the more conservative candidates split the primary vote early on. McCain didn't regularly start getting more than 50% in the primaries until after Tsunami Tuesday, at which point the result was a fait accompli -- even the primaries directly after Tsunami Tuesday, however, were not great for McCain -- he lost 2 (one badly) and narrowly won a third with a quarter of the vote. The GOP was never in love with McCain as their candidate -- he got the nod almost by default.

If conservatives had decided to go with Romeny or Huckabee rather than letting them duke it out and dillute the far right vote, I think the result would have been different.

nominating McCain = GOP Fail

I really think the main problem is there is no bipartisonship. From both sides! It wasnt there when the repbulicans were in charge and it is not there today. It hasnt been there for a long time. Both parties of the government need to work together for the people. Its a shame. o well, lets see what happens in 2010. Regardless of which party dominates, they will still not work well with the other.

[toasty]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

nominating McCain = GOP Fail

I really think the main problem is there is no bipartisonship. From both sides! It wasnt there when the repbulicans were in charge and it is not there today. It hasnt been there for a long time. Both parties of the government need to work together for the people. Its a shame. o well, lets see what happens in 2010. Regardless of which party dominates, they will still not work well with the other.

OK, but even assuming arguendo that to be true, that's a totally different point than McCain's nomination contradicting the idea that the GOP moved too far to the right. McCain's nomination was a function of the number of more conservative candidates there were that had to split that vote. Take a look at the numbers, they completely bear this out. Recall that there was a decided lack of enthusiasm on the GOP's side of things until ultra-conservative Bible Spice joined on as the Veep candidate. Frankly, even most republican operatives would concede that they lost by moving too far right, so I'm not sure it's up for legitimate debate.

[speciale]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

OK, but even assuming arguendo that to be true, that's a totally different point than McCain's nomination contradicting the idea that the GOP moved too far to the right. McCain's nomination was a function of the number of more conservative candidates there were that had to split that vote. Take a look at the numbers, they completely bear this out. Recall that there was a decided lack of enthusiasm on the GOP's side of things until ultra-conservative Bible Spice joined on as the Veep candidate. Frankly, even most republican operatives would concede that they lost by moving too far right, so I'm not sure it's up for legitimate debate.

regardless of all that. I would like to see bipartisanship in our government. Both parties are always fighting each other. They look like kids. one group cant get along with the other group. both parties are equally as guilty. One makes a comment about tv personality and then has to speak with him to apologize. Where are the leaders?

As for too far to the right, who wants that? Its the same as no one wants someone to far to the left. I wish one day we could vote for a independent thinker. One who cares not about themselves, their party or their own agenda but for the people. One who leads by example. Like our founding fathers. (with the exception of them supporting slavery.)
It kills me that congress voted for each of them to receive a raise when most of us are worried about keeping our jobs. Its way out of any of our control.

Bible Spice, Zing! nice one.

[thegymguru]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

this was a career move, usually when you've been in 1 party you dont jump ship right to the other.

Granted many politicians dont like where their party is headed & they become an independent. GOP and Dems are such polar opposites.

I feel we need a 3rd party somewhere between the 2, but the GOP and Dems wont allow one to get involved in their monopoly.

[toasty]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

As for too far to the right, who wants that?

There is a not insignificant part of the Republican party that honestly thinks that they lost in 2008 because they nominated a guy that was too moderate, that was not far enough to the right. Looking at poll numbers and whatnot, I'm not sure how one could reach that conclusion -- perhaps they think that following the Rove model of ignoring the middle and energizing the far right was still viable -- but those people are out there. Maybe it's just that they are the loudest, but it seems like more than a few dittoheads.

If the GOP continues on this same path, where you effectively have a civil war within the party between the moderates and the right wingers and there is no cohesive message coming out of the party, they could be in for long ride in the minority. Same fate if that civil war is "won" by the side anchored by Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, et al., because that cannot be a winning long-term solution. As a matter of fact, if that were to happen, I suspect you might see a third party come in and fill the void for moderate, more secular Republicans. We've gone through a number of political parties in our nation's history, and it isn't unreasonable to expect that at some point, a new party will supplant one of the current parties. Hell, the Dems were barreling towards extinction after 2004 but got their shit together and now enjoy a commanding majority -- the GOP is a far cry from dead and gone, but they cannot continue on this same trajectory...

[thegymguru]

Re: Arlen Specter to Become a Democrat

I kinda fear the political sling shot effect looking into the future- I dont see Obama's policies helping the economy in the long term, with this massive spending he's creatiing his own economic bubble which will get us out of the hole we are in right now, but back into the ditch not long after. You cant spend trillions upon trillions we really dont have without bankrupting the country- then what hapens, the backlash which puts a ultra right wing guy in the white house. Then we just get screwed from the other direction. At least McCain was more of a moderate, and unfortunately too old to run in 2012.