US Politics: Arlen Specter Switches Parties

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

For those who are interested in American politics, longtime Republican Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has decided to switch parties and become a democrat.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/...tch/index.html

This is pretty significant, for two reasons--the first is that when Al Franken is seated, the Democrats will now have a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

The second is that Specter was expected to face a tough primary challenge in his reelection bid--and one wonders how this will go over with voters, if it will be seen as a move of convenience (a last-ditch attempt to preserve some vestige of his political career) or of ideology (Specter has sided with Obama on a few key issues).

Interesting times.

[mykalberta]

Good riddens to bad rubbish. I am a little surprised the DNC would accept him. But the Fillibuster 60 vote threshold is very important down there.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Good riddens to bad rubbish. I am a little surprised the DNC would accept him. But the Fillibuster 60 vote threshold is very important down there.

Is "bad rubbish" a reference to anything in particular? Specter is one of the longest-serving and most well respected Senators of either party.

[Hack&Lube]

Man, Al Franken is actually getting in? Not on either side but what another vote counting fiasco.

[JohnnyFlame]

LOL is there anything more slimy than a politician?

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

LOL is there anything more slimy than a politician?

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Man, Al Franken is actually getting in? Not on either side but what another vote counting fiasco.

It's pretty clear the Franken won the election by around 300 votes. Of course, in real terms that's essentially a tie--but there aren't the kinds of widespread irregularities that there were in Florida. Sometimes elections are just close--not sure what that reveals about the US if anything. Actually, I think Minnesota's handled the whole thing pretty well.

[mykalberta]

Republicans need to clear out dead weight in the party if they are to succeed.

Spector, Hatch, McCain all must go.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Republicans need to clear out dead weight in the party if they are to succeed.

Spector, Hatch, McCain all must go.

I see. Well, I kind of agree with that in principle, actually. But not every purge is equal, and I think the party needs to return to some core principles and develop a positive vision for governance, and get rid of the Christian right. Until they do, I think they'll spend a long time in the wilderness.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Republicans need to clear out dead weight in the party if they are to succeed.

Spector, Hatch, McCain all must go.

Should probably clear out all moderates in general, because y'know that will help it be relevant.

[worth]

I don't claim to know anything about this, but trading parties seems completely ridiculous to me. He may be at odds with the party, but the people elected him as a Republican, did they not? Changing parties flies in the face of all those who voted him in. He should wait until the election and say, i'm resigning from the Republican party and now running as a Democrat. I guess it's not that simple, but the people didn't elect a democrat.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Republicans need to clear out dead weight in the party if they are to succeed.

Sure, as long as they don't fill those positions with the likes of Sarah Palin et al. The Republicans need to get back to being smart, efficient business men...not the jesus freaks they've turned into.

[starseed]

This is really interesting... I wonder how much of Obama's policies will now get through the senate? It will be really interesting to see how universal health care will come about... apparently Spector supports it.

I am so glad Franken beat out that creepazoid Coleman. Afterall, anyone who writes a best-selling book titled "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations" would get my support.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Sure, as long as they don't fill those positions with the likes of Sarah Palin et al. The Republicans need to get back to being smart, efficient business men...not the jesus freaks they've turned into.

Worry some is their new 'star' Bobby Jindal is as crazy as they come, he performed an exorcism and in his state he's doing all kinds of mixing of church and state.

Probably why so many fear the GOP will split because of the religious rights hold on a solid part of this party.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Thor

Worry some is their new 'star' Bobby Jindal is as crazy as they come, he performed an exorcism and in his state he's doing all kinds of mixing of church and state.

Probably why so many fear the GOP will split because of the religious rights hold on a solid part of this party.

The guy is a Rhodes Scholar of all things.

With the religious craziness and his hardass conservatism, he's just too out there. I know they have to appeal to a certain demographic, but still.

Are they still pimping him as the "Republican Obama"? I swear they just picked him because he's got brown skin. There must be someone better than that.

The only time he got any attention is when he made a fool of himself with that SNL-esque "Republican Response".

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Is "bad rubbish" a reference to anything in particular? Specter is one of the longest-serving and most well respected Senators of either party.

And one that said a few months ago that there is no way he would switch sides.

Guy is nothing more than a hypocrite.

I don't care if he builds houses for Habitat for Humanity....he's still a garbage politician that does what is more convenient for him.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by worth

I don't claim to know anything about this, but trading parties seems completely ridiculous to me. He may be at odds with the party, but the people elected him as a Republican, did they not? Changing parties flies in the face of all those who voted him in. He should wait until the election and say, i'm resigning from the Republican party and now running as a Democrat. I guess it's not that simple, but the people didn't elect a democrat.

He's going to run in the next election as a Democrat, IIRC.

The people still have to vote him in.

Either way, he's still nothing more than a hypocrite.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Thor

Worry some is their new 'star' Bobby Jindal is as crazy as they come, he performed an exorcism and in his state he's doing all kinds of mixing of church and state.

Probably why so many fear the GOP will split because of the religious rights hold on a solid part of this party.

Mark Sanford has a much better chance than Bobby 'you freak me out' Jindal.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Thor

Worry some is their new 'star' Bobby Jindal is as crazy as they come, he performed an exorcism and in his state he's doing all kinds of mixing of church and state.

Probably why so many fear the GOP will split because of the religious rights hold on a solid part of this party.

Yet he's the only 'star' of the party willing to stand up and tell Cheney and Rove to shut their pieholes and get lost.

Nobody is perfect!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Yet he's the only 'star' of the party willing to stand up and tell Cheney and Rove to shut their pieholes and get lost.

Nobody is perfect!

Insanity is not perfect.