Democrats welcome Arlen Spector to the party

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by Foreverking

I would be happy with out the 60 votes if you Repubs could just take that no good Joe LIEberman to your side and keep him there. If he still wants to vote liberal occasionally, well fine, but meanwhile it just irritates me to no end that we kept that turncoat. I hate the way he was able to backdoor his way back into the Senate.

The same way Spector is backdooring his way to stay in the Senate. More confirmation that parties mean nothing to these individuals, its all about power, and whatever it takes to obtain, and then keep it..

[LauraC]

Arlen Spectacle is an opportunist as I suspect some other politicians are. At the time they want to run for office, they align themselves with the political party where they have the best chance of being elected.

Spector couldn't get nominated as a Republican in his state and he knew it. Up until a short while ago he said he'd never switch parties. Then he saw the poll numbers showing he would be beaten badly in a Republican primary. Then he wanted open primaries so Democrats could vote in Republican primaries. Those polls, and some enticements of committee chairs, caused him to have an epiphany and he became a Democrat. He's thinking he has a better shot in the Democrat primary to at least make it to the general election. You notice none of this is about principles, conservative or liberal. It's about Spector holding onto his job.

The question is, how can the Democrats throw their real Democrat PA primary candidates under the bus to embrace Spector? I'm guessing they think Toomey would beat the other Dems but with Spector, they have a shot.

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by LauraC

The question is, how can the Democrats throw their real Democrat PA primary candidates under the bus to embrace Spector? I'm guessing they think Toomey would beat the other Dems but with Spector, they have a shot.

Actually thats a simple answer, with Spector, they know what they are getting, a liberal who has a 29 year history of supporting Democratic procedures, and a high ranking one at that. Toomey, if elected would cause a lot of the positions currently held by Spector to be up in the air, quite possibly turned over to another Republican because Toomey will be the low end of the pole..

Its all about self interest, not whats right for america..

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by pghquest

The same way Spector is backdooring his way to stay in the Senate. More confirmation that parties mean nothing to these individuals, its all about power, and whatever it takes to obtain, and then keep it..

I suppose your right, I actually hope Specter still gets beat in the primary, as I don't like the idea that the other canidates get thrown under the bus. I want a new dem in that seat, not Arlen. I wonder if anybody else feels this way. I like voting dem for the ideas, not just so we can have all the power. As long as he was voting with us libs anyway, what dif does it make to me whether he is sitting on one side of the isle or another. Its like dating a chick who has cheated on her husband to be with you, how do you know when the next opportunity comes up, she wont leave you for him. I hate to say it, but I agree with the Rebubs that this guy is just changing sides becasue he wants to keep his job. We don't need seats, we need votes and he has NOT promised any more votes than b4

[Icy Tea]

Spector was an interesting guy. I never liked or hated his voting record, although the last few years he did swing further left than was good for his constituents. Yeah he had a big ego and was self serving and but he balanced out Santorum who was a bootlick to the far right. Then we got that miserable little left wing toady Casey so Spector didn't represent anybody anymore, except himself. I always harbored doubts about Spector's character going back to the Warren Commission but figured Spector had enough dirt on both parties to put Pennsylvania in a position of importance. But he forgot about Pennsylvania and began to only focus on himself and his allies. The guys a putz. He may have jumped from one sinking ship to another that may sink faster.
One thing the liberal democrats don't need is another self serving egomaniac who only wants power and influence. Will Pelosi and Reid and Obama be willing to share? I doubt it. It might get very interesting in the DC backrooms. We need term limits, that's more obvious than ever.

[floridasandy]

it would be poetic justice if arlen switched from his principles just to stay in office and then the party that he switched to was voted out of office because of poor economic policy.

[Evenstar51]

No, he chose to become a Democrat. Of course it's politically expedient, but that taken alone is simplistic. It's a shrewd political move by a seasoned pro, but it's also emblematic of the resentment of Republican moderates caused by such organizations as The Club For Growth. In fact,
Specter suggested that there should be "an uprising, a rebellion.." on the part of Republicans who reject extreme right wing positions. There has been a sea-change in American society, and Specter both understands and
supports the need to address issues rather than to ignore or deny them.


We already established that Specter admitted that he's switching parties to retain his seat; did you miss that part? I then covered why his move cannot be attributed to a simple power grab. Voting in Pennsylvania for twenty years? Then you should know that the correct spelling is "Specter." I listed his accomplishments to illustrate exactly why the Democrats are pleased to have acquired a seasoned politician whose committee positions reflect his ability, the fact that he's earned his "chops" in Washington, and his belief that the GOP has moved so far to the right that he no longer can support such policies in good faith. Your argument is with Specter, not me.

[mrbob]

Originally Posted by LauraC

The question is, how can the Democrats throw their real Democrat PA primary candidates under the bus to embrace Spector? I'm guessing they think Toomey would beat the other Dems but with Spector, they have a shot.

You're obviously dreaming...

The DNC knows full-well that it will be far easier to defeat an unknown Republican challenger than Arlen Specter - and that they have a pretty solid seat in Specter...

Toomey has no chance in the general election - but he WILL incite lots of emotion, anger and hatred from the extreme-right-wing base of the GOP... and it will APPEAR to the politically naive that he has a chance in the general....

But the DNC knows the polling data from PA quite well, and they know they have a significant advantage over the Republicans. They also know that with Specter on their side, a general election victory is almost a done deal.

[HubbleRules]

Originally Posted by TuborgP

Well now what does brother Mike Steele do now that Spector has switched to the Democratic Party? I guess Spector looked at the tea leaves and saw something. Watcha think? Is Obama really doing a raise the roof dance in the Oval Office?

Do you really think there is much that Steele CAN do - other than continue to slam Obama and Democrats and all the policy they try to implement???

I think his 'hip hop' mode is a dismal failure with the youth of America - they see him as a phony fraud.

I think he will go into industrial strength 'party of NO' mode - and will become a pit-bull for the GOP - attacking everything Obama says, does, or thinks...

Eventually - he will be forced to resign.

I give him until shortly after the 2010 elections - John Boehner and Mitch McConnell also.

And a question for you Turborgp: With 'brothers' like that - who needs enemies?