Arlen Specter to switch parties

[StrangeSox]

Everything Balta said was my position. I still think he isn't 100% on EFCA, he's switched his mind once already.

 

But, Dems bringing in moderates-conservatives into their party is better than getting rid of them. Why the republicans are continuing this race to the right is just really confusing.

 

Most True Republicans are happy to see this RINO gone. He represents what's wrong with the GOP in their minds.

 

I think that if politicians decide to switch parties while they are stil lin office that they should be required to resign and run again under thier new party. After all, most people voted for that person based on their party, and if they are now switchign parties, they just disenfranchised everyone who had voted for them. Guess he doesnt have enough balls to try and run as an independent, eh?

 

 

I have no sympathy for people who vote based on what letter is next to someone's name instead of what the person actually says and does.

 

 

 

 

Does this make Lieberman consider caucusing with the Republicans?

Edited April 28, 2009 by StrangeSox

[lostfan]

Most True Republicansare happy to see this RINO gone. He represents what's wrong with the GOP in their minds.

What's a "True Republican"? Does anyone know anymore?

[jasonxctf]

He just switched for the second time in his career. I believe he started out as a Dem.......... The other thing that I find really humorous is the only area where the gov't(Obama) does not want to regulate more is unions.

 

this is true.. Specter was a Democrat until 1966. From Wikipedia...

 

In 1965, Specter ran for District Attorney, on the Republican ticket as a registered Democrat. He handily beat incumbent Jim Crumlish, and subsequently changed his registration to Republican. Although a death penalty supporter, as prosecutor he questioned the fairness of the Pennsylvania death penalty statute in 1972[11].

[Cknolls]

this is true.. Specter was a Democrat until 1966. From Wikipedia...

 

In 1965, Specter ran for District Attorney, on the Republican ticket as a registered Democrat. He handily beat incumbent Jim Crumlish, and subsequently changed his registration to Republican. Although a death penalty supporter, as prosecutor he questioned the fairness of the Pennsylvania death penalty statute in 1972[11].

 

 

He also defended Ira Einhorn(Earth Day founder,I believe) of murdering his fiance and stuffing her in a chest and putting her in a closet.

[BigSqwert]

He also defended Ira Einhorn(Earth Day founder,I believe) of murdering his fiance and stuffing her in a chest and putting her in a closet.

 

I wonder why Republicans haven't criticized him about that until today.

 

[Soxy]

So I'm assuming he'll mostly vote with the Blue Dog Democrats?

[Balta1701]

What's a "True Republican"? Does anyone know anymore?

Dick Cheney.

[Chet Lemon]

he votes dem anyways. doesn't matter.

 

On most domestic/social issues, yes. He went to the mat hard for Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito's Supreme Court confirmations though. This move was clearly done to win re-election in 2010 as he would have went down in defeat to Toomey in the primary. I guess he could have tried to pull a Lieberman if that scenario played out.

 

[Balta1701]

I guess he could have tried to pull a Lieberman if that scenario played out.

Actually he couldn't. PA has what is known as a "Sore Loser" law IIRC...basically it says that if you lose in one party's primary, you can't run in under another ticket in the General. CT did not have that law. He had to either switch now or risk losing the primary.

[Rex Kickass]

I'm guessing the Dems offered Specter 0 to switch over. Specter needs the Democrats more than the Dems need Specter.

 

In fact, the real bargaining chip is the new organizing resolution of the Senate that would give Republicans the seat back that Specter currently holds. Until a new organizing resolution is passed, Specter maintains his seat on his committees, a new one has to pass to give those seats back to the GOP. If the Dems were smart, the GOP would only get that seat back when Coleman concedes.

 

Who gets a sweet package to switch over now? Olympia Snowe.

 

Will the last moderate Republican to leave the party turn out the lights behind you?

[BigSqwert]

I find it interesting that a stimulus spending package in the midst of the steepest recession in memory is the sticking point. For the GOP to have remained mute under the massive increases in spending and borrowing under Bush but to make resistance to the Obama stimulus package a litmus test for conservatism reveals that the deepest principle of the Republican base is partisanship.

 

Sullivan

[southsider2k5]

Sullivan

 

That kinda goes the other way too... The Dems who just a year ago were screaming about the debt and the deficit are now supporting trillion dollar deficits are far as the eye can see.

[Balta1701]

That kinda goes the other way too... The Dems who just a year ago were screaming about the debt and the deficit are now supporting trillion dollar deficits are far as the eye can see.

One could certainly argue that the economic conditions have changed from the period about 1.5 years ago.

[Balta1701]

"I enthusiastically welcome my good friend Arlen Specter into the Democratic caucus. It will be very good to have the company of yet another independent minded Democrat in the caucus!

 

"I have always admired Arlen as a man of deep principle who has been a bridge builder to get things done in the Senate. Arlen understands that we get things accomplished when we listen to the vital center of American politics. I know that Arlen will continue to make a major contribution to the Senate and the nation as an effective independent leader and problem solver."

-Senator Lieberman (Lieberman, CT)

[HuskyCaucasian]

Most True Republicans are happy to see this RINO gone. He represents what's wrong with the GOP in their minds.

That's the inherent problem with the GOP right now. Complete isolationism. If you dont 100% walk the party line, then we dont want you. This was the argument I put forward in the GOP Rally the Base thread I stated a while back. I think the more you try and narrow the funnel, the harder it is for you to be a viable political party. might as well just blow the whole thing up and start two new parties. This is really a debate for that thread, not this one.

 

but you get my point. I'd happy call myself a republican if they would open up their umbrella beyond strict "Christan" values and analy-conservative fiscal and governmental size policy.

[HuskyCaucasian]

That kinda goes the other way too... The Dems who just a year ago were screaming about the debt and the deficit are now supporting trillion dollar deficits are far as the eye can see.

One could certainly argue that the economic conditions have changed from the period about 1.5 years ago.

 

And there is actually a PLAN to move forward and cut the deficit. It's short term hurt, for long term gain.

[Balta1701]

Who gets a sweet package to switch over now? Olympia Snowe.

 

Will the last moderate Republican to leave the party turn out the lights behind you?

But Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), a fellow moderate, didn't seem surprised. On the national level, she says, "you haven't certainly heard warm encouraging words of how [the GOP] views moderates. Either you are with us or against us."

Link

[HuskyCaucasian]

Link

and lets compare that to the Democrats at the time. With the exception of Lieberman, who is a weird cookie in his own regards, you dont hear people shouting for the expulsion of moderate dems at the moment. Yes there is butting of heads, but I dont think you hear the cry to oust Evan Bayh.

[Balta1701]

and lets compare that to the Democrats at the time. With the exception of Lieberman, who is a weird cookie in his own regards, you dont hear people shouting for the expulsion of moderate dems at the moment. Yes there is butting of heads, but I dont think you hear the cry to oust Evan Bayh.

If nothing else, it's interesting to see what issues each party uses to draw the line. For the Democrats rank and file, it was the Iraq war. For the Republicans, it seems to have been the stimulus package.

 

It's also interesting to note, tactically speaking, that one reason there hasn't been any talk of a primary challenge to Bayh, or Nelson, etc., is that the Dems currently aren't in the business of putting up primary challenges that turn safe seats in to unsafe seats. The GOP has been doing exactly that.

[southsider2k5]

One could certainly argue that the economic conditions have changed from the period about 1.5 years ago.

 

That sure didn't change Democrats opinion of the budget after 9-11. For some reason after a major Democratic recession and a terror attack on US soil we weren't supposed to be running deficits, because they sure as heck have used that as a major talking point ever since then. I take it things are different now?

[lostfan]

That sure didn't change Democrats opinion of the budget after 9-11. For some reason after a major Democratic recession and a terror attack on US soil we weren't supposed to be running deficits, because they sure as heck have used that as a major talking point ever since then. I take it things are different now?

Major? That was like a case of the sniffles.

[southsider2k5]

That's the inherent problem with the GOP right now. Complete isolationism. If you dont 100% walk the party line, then we dont want you. This was the argument I put forward in the GOP Rally the Base thread I stated a while back. I think the more you try and narrow the funnel, the harder it is for you to be a viable political party. might as well just blow the whole thing up and start two new parties. This is really a debate for that thread, not this one.

 

but you get my point. I'd happy call myself a republican if they would open up their umbrella beyond strict "Christan" values and analy-conservative fiscal and governmental size policy.

 

With all due respect, that is a load of crap. I posted an article about the Dems targeting people who haven't followed the Obama agenda in Congress and supporting people to run against those incumbents.

 

And there is actually a PLAN to move forward and cut the deficit. It's short term hurt, for long term gain.

 

Except the plan is based on wildly optimistic assumptions that have about zero historical chance of actually coming true. Ever stop and think how come no one stopped to apply the stress test to our budget, and not just the banks?

 

[HuskyCaucasian]

Michael Steele doing a lot of trash talkin.

 

 

[T]he Republican National Committee Chairman said it was "not only disrespectful, but downright rude" of Specter to make this decision after the national party made it clear it would stand behind him in a contentious primary fight.

 

"[National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John] Cornyn went out on the line for this man," he said. "For the senator to flip the bird back to Senator Cornyn and the Republican Senate Leadership, a team that stood by him, who went to the bat for him in 2004, to save his hide is not only disrespectful but down right rude,"

 

"I'm sure his mama didn't raise him this way," Steele added.

 

"If Sen. Specter survives in the fall — get ready to go to the mat, baby, because we're coming after you and taking you out," added Steele.

 

Wow... this is the head of the RNC. And people wonder why i lean Dem. Such a dignified response.

[southsider2k5]

Major? That was like a case of the sniffles.

 

 

Well the deficit is about 6 to 7 times what is was when the Dems were campaigning against it.

[Balta1701]

Well the deficit is about 6 to 7 times what is was when the Dems were campaigning against it.

$3 trillion a year?