BREAKING: Arlen Specter to Caucus with Democrats AND Join the Democratic Party

How (0.00 / 0)

fun! Rethugs will go beserk. Can't wait for the media circus to begin.

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by: VADEM @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 11:30:28 AM CDT

Oh, the circus has begun... (0.00 / 0)

Rush is likening this to downsizing to a leaner, meaner party. Those aren't his words, but that is exactly what he means.  

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by: Dan Sullivan @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 11:48:38 AM CDT

Good work, Kathy! (0.00 / 0)

And I love the accompanying MSNBC videos available at this link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21...

Thanks!

Steve

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by: cycle12 @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 11:59:58 AM CDT

Wasn't Specter facing a primary anyway (0.00 / 0)

in the Republican Party---- or, rumor had it he was likely to have an opponent from the GOP because he was "so liberal." Limbaugh may be right: this defection will reduce the Republicans to their meanest inner core of True Believers.

Even if Specter is not a true blue Dem he is bound to be better than Joe Lieberman ever was. Wonder how Mr. Independent from Connecticut feels now?

When will the two Senators from Maine join the Democrats?  If even one of them makes the jump, it could start a trend.:-)

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 13:14:37 PM CDT

Yes, so that muddies things a bit. (0.00 / 0)

Because he faces a primary, and now that he's going to be a Dem, perhaps the Democratic party won't run a traditional Dem against him.  So, in a sense we lose an opportunity to gain a progressive. There are some wins here.  BUT...

"One person, one vote" died at the hands of SCOTUS, January 21, 2010

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by: KathyinBlacksburg @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 13:57:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's exactly right (0.00 / 0)

on both counts. He switched because he was going to be creamed in the primaries by Toomey (R-Club For Growth), despite having tacked to the wingnut-right the last couple of months. And Menendez has already promised Dem support for his campaign. Ie someone more progressive is likely to be discouraged from running.

Meanwhile, Specter is talking out of both sides of his mouth, as usual. On the one hand, he says he'll be a loyal Dem, supporting Obama's agenda, but he still opposes the nomination of Dawn Johnson and he's still against EFCA and he says that, unlike Jefford's "conversion", his doesn't mean an automatic cloture vote on anything. We can, probable, also expect that he'll talk with the left side of his mouth but vote with his right hand where it counts (though, admittedly, he's voted for Sebelius' confirmation today).

I'm hoping that, perhaps, Menendez (et al) will be able to contain their enthusiasm vis supporting his '10 campaign, if he strays of the reservation too often. But, all in all, I'd have been happier if it had been Snowe who'd switched; Specter is a whore (this is his second switch; he started off as a Dem), while she's a lady of principles, even though her viewpoint and mine don't often run parallel.  

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by: libra @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 20:20:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Snowe and Collins Next? (0.00 / 0)

Agreed, Teddy; both Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, Republican Senators representing Maine, have impressive records of liberal Republican service to their state and to the nation.

Perhaps the same "internal" conservative GOP pressure directed at Specter in Pennsylvania - where his chances at being re-nominated next year as the Republican senatorial candidate appeared to be growing slimmer and slimmer - will be applied to these two ladies, and they will see the same light that brought him to us.

We can only hope...

Thanks!

Steve  

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by: cycle12 @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 14:06:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Specter's (0.00 / 0)

"due date" is 2010. Snowe's 2012. Collins' 2016. Because of that, the pressure that can be exerted on the "Maine ladies" is much less than that on the spectral wonder boy. They each have the luxury of seeing how successful Obama is, before they have to decide; for Specter, it was, pretty much, like Elvis said: "it's now or never"  

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by: libra @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 20:26:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Collins... (0.00 / 0)

...was just re-elected last year, so she's up again in 2014, but I agree with your point and now doubt that she'll switch parties and, from her official website, here's the link to her comment in regard to Specter's decision:

http://collins.senate.gov/publ...

...along with this excerpt from the same website link:
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"SENATOR COLLINS' STATEMENT ON SENATOR SPECTER'S DECISION TO SWITCH PARTIES

"April 28, 2009

"U.S. Senator Susan Collins today released this statement following Senator Arlen Specter's decision to switch political parties.

"'I have great respect for Senator Specter who has worked hard for many years on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania.

'I am, however, extremely surprised and disappointed with his decision to leave the Republican party.

'Senator Specter has long been a leading moderate voice in the Senate, and I believe that his decision is more a reflection of Pennsylvania politics than anything else.'"
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Thanks!

Steve

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by: cycle12 @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 20:51:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sorry (0.00 / 0)

about the Collins' "due date". I knew that she had just been reelected; it's my math -- 8+6 -- that failed (no wonder my high school math teacher connived at my cheating at the final exam; anything to get me out of her classroom)

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by: libra @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 21:13:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Snowe, on the other hand... (0.00 / 0)

...has issued no such official statement as of yet and, as you noted above, she's up for re-election in 2012, the same year as Obama, and Webb...

Thanks!

Steve

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by: cycle12 @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 20:58:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Snowe: Republicans heading to "...smallest political tent in history..." (0.00 / 0)

From an article available at this link - http://www.comcast.net/article... - Maine Senator Olympia Snowe has now issued this comment about Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter's defection to the Democratic Party:
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"Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, one of a few remaining GOP moderates in the Senate, called Specter's decision another sign that the Republican Party needs to move toward the center.

"'Ultimately, we're heading to having the smallest political tent in history, the way events have been unfolding,' she said. 'If the Republican Party fully intends to become a majority party in the future, it must move from the far right back toward the middle.'"
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Olympia Snowe; much too intelligent for the "modern" Republican Party.

Thanks!

Steve

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by: cycle12 @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 06:08:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Snowe has a NY Times op ed today (0.00 / 0)

entitled We Didn't Have to Lose Arlen Specter  from which I offer this:

It is true that being a Republican moderate sometimes feels like being a cast member of "Survivor" - you are presented with multiple challenges, and you often get the distinct feeling that you're no longer welcome in the tribe. But it is truly a dangerous signal that a Republican senator of nearly three decades no longer felt able to remain in the party.

and this

I have said that, without question, we cannot prevail as a party without conservatives. But it is equally certain we cannot prevail in the future without moderates.

and this

It is for this reason that we should heed the words of President Ronald Reagan, who urged, "We should emphasize the things that unite us and make these the only 'litmus test' of what constitutes a Republican: our belief in restraining government spending, pro-growth policies, tax reduction, sound national defense, and maximum individual liberty." He continued, "As to the other issues that draw on the deep springs of morality and emotion, let us decide that we can disagree among ourselves as Republicans and tolerate the disagreement."

Let's see how long before Limbaugh and Beck attack her for this???

This is my world and welcome to it

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by: teacherken @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 07:13:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Howling jackals! (0.00 / 0)

Excellent find, Ken, so now, let the jackals begin to howl...

Thanks!

Steve

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by: cycle12 @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 08:33:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Didn't take (0.00 / 0)

them any time at all:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/...

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by: libra @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 18:08:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Doubtful (0.00 / 0)

I doubt they will find themselves in the same position as Spector.  They are so popular in their home state; that alone presents a barrier to any primary challenge.  What's the incentive for them to switch anyway?

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by: tx2vadem @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 21:52:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Incentive (0.00 / 0)

Specter's incentive was being primaried next year by the Republican extreme right in Pennsylvania so, if a similar faction in Maine decides that Snowe is too liberal, they could attempt to do the same thing to her.

However, in agreement with "libra", Snowe still has plenty of time (three years) left in her current term, so she's not likely to make a change any time soon, if ever...

Thanks!

Steve

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by: cycle12 @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 22:00:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

seems positive (0.00 / 0)

Seeing GWB win the republican nomination over John McCain in 2000 was proof to me that the republican establishment was about anything but the "compassionate conservatism" promised on the campaign trail.
Major kudos and heartfelt thanks to all the democrats who have been working for regular Americans all these years, even as many of us kept our heads down and went along to get along. The process can work after all. Thank you, Senator Specter.  

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by: newbluevoter @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 14:22:27 PM CDT

Independence not a bad thing (0.00 / 0)

The Repubs completely, 100% did this to themselves.  They insisted that Specter wasn't pure enough for them, and they succeeded in kicking him out -- just not in the way that they were intending!  If the GOP keeps on moving so determinedly in this direction, they're going to be about as big and influential as the Socialist Workers Party soon.  

We should, though, learn from their mistakes.  Kathy, when I see you write "one caution is that Specter has a mind of his own", I have to say, I don't see that as a downside -- we should all be so lucky!  I admire independents, and I welcome Specter to the party.  We are getting to a 60-vote majority in the Senate by simultaneously promoting our values and being inclusive and open-minded enough to attract moderates too.  

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by: kindler @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 at 20:53:34 PM CDT