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What others are saying
So what's the Big Deal
According to National Pubic Radio, Arlen has switched BACK to the Democrat Party. They said that in the '60s, this good ole fence sitter changed his stripes from Democrat to Republican due to the shifting political winds in his home state of PA. At least the little ferret is consistent.
Specter's Defection
Come on guys.. Turn the frown upside down. Better to dump the worthless stuff off the raft now. Crap creek is just now reaching flood stage. (he was RINO only)
Fantastic!
Now if we can just purge three more from the Republican party we can finally get down to business as a party.
The "RINO's" were doing the party no good and only hamstrung conservatism/libertarianism along the way. They are finally a member of the party that better reflects their voting record.
Spector
Another one that you can lay at Bush's feet....George got him elected knowing full well that the Republicans could not count on him.
Self Serving
Senator Specter's move to the Democrat party is nothing short of a self serving move to continue his political career. He realizes the dumbmasses in Pennsylvania who vote for anyone with a D next to their name are his best ally come re-election time. Senator Specter is old and weak and doesn't have the guts to stand up to the fight he would face in a Republican primary so a move over to the candy a$$ Democrat party certainly make sense. If you are voter in Pennslyvania and would consider voting for him keep in mind he has his own best interests in mind not yours.
who cares?
Probably not the first to say this but, hey Alrlen, don't let the door hit you in your a$$ on the way out.
Specter was a Republican? Who knew?
Have we come to a point in this country where it's okay to start playing for the other team when you know you are going to be benched by yours?
rino
SO?
Now That I Live Here
Now That I Live Here...in PA, that is; I’m a bit closer to the action on this one. I found it odd that Specter was running TV ads against a Republican primary challenger, Pat Toomey, last month. Really, how many political ads are on *your* TV now? Specter narrowly beat Toomey in his last primary, and perhaps then only because Pres. G.W. Bush threw his support behind Specter. Keep in mind that was an election year for Bush. (A lot of people didn’t appreciate that, but it’s understandable that a sitting President would back party incumbents in a hotly contested state.) With that background, I suspect that Specter saw there was no savior (like Bush) coming to the rescue this time; and it’s plainly obvious that he’d have a much easier time returning to Washington as a Democrat. He’d likely have no serious Democrat challenger, and thus wouldn’t have to spend money as he would in the Republican primaries. Not to mention that I’m sure there’s been some “little” incentive offered to report now as a Democrat. Look, any time I’ve heard Specter personally interviewed, I’ve thought him cogent and reasonable. But his Senate record confirms that he has earned the RINO label. I’ll accord him some respect, because unlike Jeffords, Specter did this prior to the election. (Recall that Jeffords ran with Republican money; was elected as such; then jumped ship to give the Democrats a voting majority, and received perks from the Democrats in terms of seniority as if he had always been a Democrat). These guys may do it because they feel they are indispensible, or because they think they can be more “effective” with more power (in the majority that’s obviously true), or just because they’ve committed themselves to being lifetime professional politicians, and they’re just trying to keep their job. Perhaps when he started in the Senate 26 years ago, Specter had a servant view of his office. I couldn’t say. My feeling now is that the means – power and influence in the Senate – has become the end.
Now That I Live Here...(continued)
Read Specter’s statement when he voted for President Obama’s stimulus bill. “Something has to be done.” He’s simply stating his oft demonstrated view that solutions are best created and enacted from Washington. If he were truly representing his state, he might consider my experience. After all, the family owned small business I work for (in Pennsylvania) has grown from a dozen employees to over 100 now. And they pay pretty well. Heck, they had to pay *very* well to get me to come up here from Georgia. But now, we’re holding the line on many expenses… limiting capital expenses (i.e. buying stuff) and headcount (i.e. jobs)… making sure that we’ll have enough to pay the increased tax bill. Is that helping the economy? I don’t think so. But these are the rich, after all, who are selfish and not doing their share to help out! Never mind the risks they have taken, or that they’ve hired many well-paid long-term employees (most without college degrees); spent money on items used to build their business; and even – gasp! – spent money on nicer cars and houses than mine (though I’ve heard that’s good for housing contractors and auto workers). No, Specter and his ilk think it is better policy to take more money from these “rich”, who have made generally good decisions with their money; and give it those who have made lousy decisions with their money: whether it’s the single welfare Mom with 4 kids, a $100 manicure, and a big-screen TV; or General Motors itself. Heck, it doesn’t matter if it’s better policy or not. What does matter is that there are several hundred thousand people in and around Philly who will vote for more handouts; and more union-based “job security”. That will punch Specter’s ticket back to Washington, and frankly, that’s all that matters. “Democracy” in action.
Specter
YOU MEAN HE WAS A REPUBLICAN ? COULD HAVE FOOLED ME
specter the sphyncter
Finally, the man admits he is a statist by leaving the party that pretends to stand for freedom and joining the party that openly admits to wanting the middle class enslaved forever to the statist's dream.
The GOP had a chance to rid themselves of a democrat in republican clothing back in 04, but they blew it.
At least Specter finally had the intestinal fortitude to leave the pretend party instead of forcing the pretend party to cut him loose.
The dems can have him. This way, in 2010, the primary will be without Specter gumming up the primary works in the GOP. He can be the problem for the Dems in 2010 instead.
Before growing a new garden, get rid of old weeds
Now we know Specter is a politician and not a statesman. Not that it was in doubt. Enjoy him, Copyleft. Take him with our compliments.
Spector
Opportunism is alive and well in Washington DC and Pennsylvania. I truly believe that the average US Army PFC could give a better definition of loyalty and duty than any of the clowns in the US Senate and House of Representatives.
Ridiculous
Forrest, Your comment about Lieberman is ridiculous. Dems are just as bad if someone doesn't toe the party line. Why do you conveniently ignore how he was treated? Open your freakin' eyes! It wasn't about toeing the Repub party line, it's about the fact that he has no business as Senator voting for big government crap he supported. He's a political opportunist.
FOX, Fair and Balanced
How CNN.com reports the news:
"Longtime GOP Sen. Arlen Specter becomes Democrat"
How "Fair and Balanced" FOXnews.com reports the same story:
"PARTY POOPER. Specter Ditches GOP for Dems and Obama"
They're getting so obvious that it's hardly any fun to catch them anymore.
And this is a surprise why?
Truth is....
Either party hates when they loose any member's because it just plain looks bad. What we need for REAL change is a third party. The career politicians need competition and they also someone to keep them honest, if that's possible.
Hey Copyleft...
...nice comment, but don't snivel and whine when you finally figure out that socialism isn't quite as wonderful your Marxist handbook says it is.
Everyone else keep your chins up. Our country managed to survive from 1976-1980, I'm sure we'll pull through this dark era as well. It seems like every 20 years or so, we as Americans have to remind ourselves that weakness, indecisiveness and "trickle up poverty" still do not work in the world (Hint: they never have). I foresee a lot of eventual good coming from all this once the pendulum begins to swing back to the right. (Another hint: maybe a "fair tax" one day?)
Yes he can!
Can one person single bring down the entire country single handed? Yes he can! I always thought James Bond was trying to stop Spectre, where were you on that one Jimmy?
Specter
Arlen Specter... see ya!
Copyleft... seriously, are you 12 years old?
This loser
He was not even going to win his seat to represent Pennsyvanians so now the news media will blame his defeat come next November when he's a Dumbocrat on something else other than he's way passed his prime, if he ever had one. Take Graham and Mc Cain with you.
Good riddance
Funny how if you simply stand your ground you get accused of moving towards the right by those who are content with drifting ever leftward. Obviously he's been fading for a long time now. His impending senility will be a tribute to his new party, and may he leave them as refreshed as a summer's eve.
Very Smart Specter
Specter is fiscally conservative, but that's not good enough for the party of Bush. The Repubs have run off all the mainstream politicians - all they got they left is the Michele Bachmann-Sarah Palin nut wing of the party and the last two Mohicans: Sens. Snowe and Collins. Speaking of the nut wing, which totally doesn't get satire, irony or parody, I'm not really French, so you mouthbreathing knuckledraggers can skip the usual francophobic venom thrown at me on this post. I just picked the name to drive you crazy so don't encourage me. I am however, a lawyer. Thank ya very much.
Specter spectacle
Arlen Specter shows that party affiliation is meaningless and that people are and should be judged by their actions. He and the big government politicians want us to trust in government.
>>I'm looking forward to a great future for America, with all obstacles to progress finally removed.<< Specter and the democrats are all about government controlled "progress". The unproductive parasites and ignorant masses are the only ones who like your type of progress.
Huge government has historically resulted in loss of freedom, liberty, and innovation. This will be no different. "Progress" destroys liberty and freedom. For folks like Copyleft, Machiavellianism to achieve "progress" is perfectly acceptable.
Though I have learned to never expect any kind of deep analysis or thorough examination by Copyleft.
Good riddance!!!
Now, if only the rest of the RINO's would follow suit, maybe the Republican Party would wake up and get back to being Conservatives again.
This is news?
I had forgotten the man was a Republican. C'mon, the guy was a Rino. At least he is being honest now.
Huh?
Copyleft sez. "I'm looking forward to a great future for America, with all obstacles to progress finally removed."
Copy, just ONE little problem, where are you going to get the $$$?
Perhaps you think they can continue, even accelerate the RINO Bush years, but much like the joke about which part of the body is the most important....... You might find all your "progressives" bring little to the tax base required to keep "change" rolling.
As for Specter? Good riddance, and the sooner we cleanse the Republican party of slime like him, the sooner some of us Libertarians can come home.
Specter's Switch
I think there should be a law that states if a person goes into office as one affiliation and changes that affiliation, (s)he should forfeit that office and someone else voted in or be appointed by the Governor of the state (s)he's representing.
Arlen Specter
Was always a RINO, no surprise
One problem ...
Not that there is just ONE problem here, but the ONE I want to complain about is simply that I do not think that ANY politician should be allowed to just switch parties on a whim.
I think that they should only be allowed to switch BEFORE their next election.
I'm sorry but they ARE VOTED IN and some people will vote for someone based on political affiliation alone and that can (and does) get people elected.
This would change the political game at election time and possibly get some of these people out of office.
Arlen Specter
Its about time he made it official and stopped lying about his allegience... ;)
Specter
Please tell me the distinguished douche-bag from Maine is going to cleave to her own kind also?
Yawn
Spec who? Oh yeah that's right...the RINO. Where's the surprise?
Specter
It should not surprise anyone that He now adds a"D" in front of his name. He has been a Liberal as long as I can remember,and I'm old. This absolutely no loss th the Republican Party. Now he can be truthful about his opinions.
Summary!
Okay, to summarize the letter he said: I have never looked out for Republicans or stuck to my Republican ideals, but instead always did what I thought was best regardless of the values I claim.
I then voted for the Bailout. My party very much disliked this so promised my next election bid to be dead.
So I am switching to the Democrats because they aren't as radical, afterall.
Specter
Specter can, in the words of the immortal Max Goldman from Waubeshau, Wisconsin, "eat my shorts".
Copyleft
Thank you, Copyleft. It's because of people like you that I will have no freedom to raise my future family in the way I want to. Because of your "progression," doctors will be government workers when I get to that point, and I will make next to no money like everyone else in this country will. You say all "obstacles" are removed for progression...but it's not just the filibuster that was an obstacle. The constitution was the obstacle. And now that you have all but removed it, nothing will stop your party from the conquest of this nation and all the rights of its citizens.
It's people like you who have destroyed this nation. May the people one day snap out of their brainwashed states and take back the rights that so much sacrifice has earned them...
R.I.P The United States of America 1776-2009
The American Empire 2009-
Keep hopin' Forrest
Enjoy your slavery.
Bout time. 10 years late actually.
I always knew he was a weasil, he's where he belongs now. The GOP was stupid enough to give him an important chair.
Hee hee!
I knew there'd be bitter complaints and sour-grapes whining for this one, and the Nealz crowd didn't disappoint! Thanks, everybody.
I'm looking forward to a great future for America, with all obstacles to progress finally removed.
Opportunistic
Why the worry about losing the filibuster...didn't do us much good with the stimulus. At least now he'll be honest when he votes.
why not take..
snowe and collins while they are at it.the wicked witch of the north and the wicked witch of the south.they will probably be left in place to ensure the repubs cannot make any unanimous decisions..hence the term republicrats..
This is how Repubs operate...
If you don't vote straight down party lines, then you get kicked out. Granted, Specter is leaving on his own terms, but he saw the writing on the wall.... Funny how the Repubs hate Specter now that he's leaving, but they sure loved Lieberman when he made his switch. Actually... they just loved that Lieberman made a switch at all, they don't care that he still thought for himself. In any case, Specter did this admittedly because he felt it was his only chance to stay in office, thats no secret, it is in his statement. He doesn't vote down party lines and I believe him when he says he approaches each issue independently, and wish we had more politicians with that approach. Where that the case, we'd actually have representatives of the people, instead of representatives of two parties. What would really be interesting is if we see more Republican politicians coming to this same conclusion and moving to the Dem party. This could give us the chance to watch the Religious Republican party wither and die, leaving an opening for a renewed party of true Conservatism, maybe the Libertarian party, if a strong leader can be found.
Just like a politician...
...changing sides when the winds change.
I'd like to see a Catholic congresscritter announce he/she's joining the local freethought society. Like that'll happen in my lifetime...
Upon Request?
"Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle." (quoted from his statement)
If Specter had any integrity at all, he would return ALL contributions made to him as a republican candidate. He knows that few people will go to the trouble to make a formal request for the return of their contribution. This typical example of the general lack of integrity with our politicians is appalling.
What deal did he get?
After 28 years of doing mostly nothing, I wonder what deal he was given to give the dems what they needed? Specter knows his days are numbered and he's got to get his big bucks before he's sent packing.
There's always money behind this kind of crap in Washington.
From this day forward, Arlen Specter will be synonymous with being a backstabbing traitor
Out: Benedict Arnold In: Arlen Specter
Instead of calling a traitor a 'Benedict Arnold', they will now be 'Arlen Specter'
Specter
New elections are coming up.
Democrats outnumber Republicans, so his chances of being given another position are down - way down...
Solution: Switch the the group that has the most voting power and influence.
And?
This is shocking how? He voted to the left constantly, so why not just make it official? Anyone who thinks he did this for the better of the country is a fool. Specter did this for one reason: for Specter. Another politician who cannot let go of power, so he is doing what he can to stay in the game. All about Specter.
Spektor--RINO to DINO
Bush never should have helped this slimeball last time. Well now both the Dem and GOP IQs increase.
GOP DEAD? Libertarian Party to the rescue?
The GOP is DEAD. It's time for the Libertarian party to pick up the mantle of Ronald Reagan and become the dominant center-right party. The religious zealots on the far-right have destroyed the GOP.
Big Deal. a RINO's gone
The news article I read stated he was a moderate leaving a party dominated by conservatives. That struck me as funny because had this been the case they probably wouldn't have lost Congress in 06. It also neglected to mention he was joining a party dominated by leftists. Bias anyone???
Another Power-Hungry Politician
Make no mistake, Arlen Specter switched parties for one reason, and one reason only: to improve his chances for re-election. Politicians will do anything to keep sucking on the taxpayer teat.
Disgusted
What a f'n coward! I can't stand him. He used the excuse that reps went far right evidence by 200,000 jumping to dems in the primary. That was to vote for Hillary, who won PA! How many of those switched back?
On Arlen
Arlen Sphincter finally comes out of the closet!
First memory of Arlen Specter
My first memory of Arlen Specter was when he was arrested for punching a fellow member of the Philadephia City Council out sometime back in the 70s. When he later became a Senator I couldn't believe it, but then look where he's from (PA).
Problem with Senator Feinstein
Problem: Senator Feinstein and her husband are using tax dollars and her political office for personal enrichment. Solution: Void and re-bid contract that Senator Feinstein and her husband are taking advantage of. Kick her ass out of office. consider letting her spend some time in the hoosegow if any laws were broken. (Martha Stewart did time in the Big House for a less egregious offense.)
P.S. Should politicians who disgrace themselves while in office really receive all that pension money?
Sen. Olympia Snowe
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Olympia Snowe — one of the three moderate Republicans including Arlen Specter who supported President Obama's stimulus package — told CNN Tuesday that she has also been approached many times about becoming a Democrat, but that it hasn't happened for a while.
"I've been asked, but not recently," she said.
Snowe said the Republican Party never learned its lesson from the "painful" party switch of Sen. Jim Jeffords in 2001.
"For me personally and then for the party, its devastating," Snowe said of Specter's move. "I've always been concerned about the Republican party nationally, about their exclusionary policies towards moderate Republicans. That's not a secretly held view on my part."
Keep going to the right losers. You will be out of power for generations with the exponential rise of the minority populations in this country.
Specter-Speak
About fifteen years ago my bosses sent me to a conference of community action agencies. Those are basically lefty welfare-like handout organizations - weatherization, transportation, Head Start, surplus food distribution, etc. Specter was the keynote speaker. Beside the pandering, the only thing I remember is this statement. (Not exact but close.) "You might think it is strange to have a Republican speak at this conference. But you don't have to worry. I am completely behind you. When it comes to money and support in Wahington, you don't have to worry about me. I am on your side. I'm your guy!" Didn't like him then, don't like him now. But at least with this switch he is being honest. One less RINO to jerk us around.
Specter
Good of him to wait until after he was elected as a republican to do the switch-a-roo. No way he'd have been elected again running as a democrat.
Should sit for a special election before switching
When Phil Graham (R-TX) switched to the GOP, he resigned his seat and then ran in a special election. His reasoning was that the people of Texas had elected him to be a Democrat, so if he wanted to switch, the voters had to approve it. That's what Specter should do.
Hey, Arle... you think all of those noob Democratic voters are going to show up at the polls when their god Obama is not on the ticket?
Filibuster proof
Now the Democrats are filibuster proof in the senate.
God help us all; and I'm no Republican either.
At least now they have no excuse when the ramifications of the things they'll ram through Congress come home. Ya'll have the majority. If you continue to run this country into the ground it will be on your heads. The opposition will be powerless to stop you.
Primaries
Spector wouldn't have won the Republican Primary next time anyway....I doubt he will win the Democrat Primary either...why vote for someone like Spector when they can nominate a true blue Obama socialist for that seat?
Obvious
This is like Richard Simmons announcing he switching to homosexuality.
Surprise! -- Not really.
And who is really surprised about this? Take the remaining RINOs with you, please!
Does that mean.....
....his label RINO now becomes DINO?
...if only!
Specter jumped ship...
...and nothing of value was lost.
can't stand him
Specter's a f#@&ing douche-bag. Good riddance, I say.
....just another example of a career politician from the northeast, pandering to a dumb mass constituency.
Up with term limits!
About Time
One RINO out of the party--let's hope he doesn't let the door hit him on the way out!
Political Coward
very suited for the democrat party
Jeffords jab
I love his remark about the piece of filth Jim Jeffords.
I am surprised he chose to affiliate with the Dems instead of going independent like Lieberman did.
excuse
This will give the RINO's the excuse to vote against everything now and look good to their constituencies. Cause they know it'll all go through anyway.
Kick them all out!!!
Specter
This is no surprise. He's been playing coy since the election, holding out for a bigger engagement ring and Obama finally coughed up the goods. The left is welcome to him.
Most politicians are whores, they just aren't as blatant about it.
Specter leaves
To him it was an old saying.."I didnt leave the Republican party...the Republican party left me" He will regret making the move to "the dark side of the force"
Specter makes it official
I'm sure Specter's decision had NOTHING to do with the nearly 1/4 million Pennsylvanians who changed to the Democrat Party before the last Pres election!!
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