View Full Version : Arlen Specter now a Democrat in name, too
Wife just called from Capitol Hill, Specter just changed affiliation to Democrat. Now the Dems have a filibuster-proof 60 member majority in the Senate regardless of the MN race outcome.
Sorry, no cite at this time.
I really, really, hope you're pulling our legs. If this is true, we are in for a very tough fight on any issue. The only bright light is that there are one or two sensible Dems who do tend to vote conservative.
Sorry, but no this is not a joke. His web site is down, I imagine when it comes back up it will have the announcement.
Here you go: I beat CBS by two minutes. :cool:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/28/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4974413.shtml
edited to add: The CBS thing says he's saying R until the election next year, though. It's a minor technicality so long as he continues to vote with the Dems and the Dems retain majority. Still, that's an important distinction over what I reported initially.
sandman99and9
04-28-09, 11:56
Wife just called from Capitol Hill, Specter just changed affiliation to Democrat. Now the Dems have a filibuster-proof 60 member majority in the Senate regardless of the MN race outcome.
Sorry, no cite at this time.
My aol page says his switch puts the dem count at 59 Not sure if this is correct or just a typo ??
s.m.
Why is that not a surprise? Fox also reporting:
The switch puts Democrats within one vote of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Democrats currently hold 56 seats in the Senate, and two independents typically vote with the party. Republicans have 41 seats, and there is one vacancy.
John_Wayne777
04-28-09, 12:09
I'm not shocked.
woodandsteel
04-28-09, 12:15
My aol page says his switch puts the dem count at 59 Not sure if this is correct or just a typo ??
s.m.
They are assuming that Norm Coleman is going to lose to Al Franken in the Minnesota recount.
Coleman is currently appealing to the Minnesota Supreme Court, a lower court ruling that Al Franken won the recount vote in Minnesota. A Franken victory gives the Dems a 60 vote majority with Specter coming over too.
Steelblitz
04-28-09, 12:29
By the way he votes, this just makes it official. F-him, he's betrayed us PA residents for way too long. I was going to give my vote to knock him out of the Republican primaries when they come up anyhow, now I'll just vote against him in the general election.
Good. The RINO herd needs to be thinned out anyways.
"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the communist party...?"
FlyAndFight
04-28-09, 13:39
So the RINO officially becomes an ass... ;)
The simple fact is that he would have lost as a Republican in the next election, so he's simply trying to keep his political career afloat by changing parties. Anything else he says is hogwash.
I recognize his name and , IIRC , he is from Pa. and often called a moderate , sometimes called a traitor or a Rhino.
That's about all.
Anybody have a source for his voting record (etc) on gun rights, national defense, and Vet's issues?
dirksterg30
04-28-09, 13:42
The CBS thing says he's saying R until the election next year, though. It's a minor technicality so long as he continues to vote with the Dems and the Dems retain majority. Still, that's an important distinction over what I reported initially.
That's too bad; if Specter were to remain a Republican, I'm sure he'd get his ass beat by Pat Toomey. I know plenty of Pennsylvanians who are upset over the bailout/stimulus debacle, and Specter's role in it.
I recognize his name and , IIRC , he is from Pa. and often called a moderate , sometimes called a traitor or a Rhino.
That's about all.
Anybody have a source for his voting record (etc) on gun rights, national defense, and Vet's issues?
For starters on his voting record, most recently he was one of three Republicans that voted for and allowed the porkulus bill to pass.
Specter's GOA Grade is D.
dirksterg30
04-28-09, 13:46
I recognize his name and , IIRC , he is from Pa. and often called a moderate , sometimes called a traitor or a Rhino.
That's about all.
Anybody have a source for his voting record (etc) on gun rights, national defense, and Vet's issues?
http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Arlen_Specter.htm
I believe Specter was the tie breaking vote for the 1994 AWB IIRC. Right now he's complaining about the Republican party and the Club for Growth supporting far right candidates which cost the Republicans the majority, according to him. That's funny, I seem to remember Bush throwing his support behind Specter over Toomey, a true conservative. Bush could have just stayed out of it. Specter is switching because he knows he'll lose to Toomey in the primary. I talked to Pat Toomey personally in 2004, when I helped with his campaign, before I moved here. I believe he's a true supporter of the 2nd, in the traditional sense. The Republican party needs to throw everything they have behind Toomey in 2010, because he's the best chance they have to knock off a senior Democrat. When Specter originally ran for Philly attorney general in the 1960's he was a Democrat, but the incumbent was a Dem, so he switched to Republican with the intention of switching back after he won. He's always been a democrat, he just never bothered to switch back. If he would have gone the independent route that Lieberman went after losing the primary, that would have been somewhat honorable. But switching was a power move, to keep seniority and get chairmanship. This is all about power for him, just like it was when he first ran for political office.
Gutshot John
04-28-09, 14:51
People seriously need to do some research about Specter's positions on gun control...notably that he doesn't support it.
He voted against the 94 AWB.
The_War_Wagon
04-28-09, 14:53
Hot damn! Now we can get rid of him, and get Pat Toomey like we SHOULD have done in '04!!! :D
dirksterg30
04-28-09, 14:55
Hot damn! Now we can get rid of him, and get Pat Toomey like we SHOULD have done in '04!!! :D
Let's hope so; there are a lot of people dead from the neck up who reflexively vote "D" in this state.
He voted against the 94 AWB.
Like I said, I'm not sure about his AWB vote, but I know I'm right about the other stuff. He's not a Lautenberg or Schumer, but I wouldn't call him pro-gun or a friend of gun owners by any means. Either way, for this blatant power move, he's a dishonorable douchebag.
Oh, and on a side note, he's the genius who came up with the JFK "magic bullet" theory.
This is good, I had set aside money to contribute to his next primary opponent (Toomey) and let him know prior too his vote on porkulus. If he gets out of the way I'll only have to contribute to Snowe's and Collins's opponents.
Hmm maybe a new DD M4 in my near future. ;)
Business_Casual
04-28-09, 15:24
This move does a lot to support the theory that there really is only one party. When someone his age can cast aside decades of affiliation as though it were so much dead weight really says a lot about politicians.
M_P
He's only out to protect his own skin and agendas, and not a very good servant of the people. Probably one of the most obvious RINO's in the party, besides McCain and the porkulus trio, which Spectacle was a part of. Good riddance! Maybe it's time for some DINO's to make the switch? On a side note, did B.O. and his entourage import some of that swine flu themselves from his recent trip Mayheeko?:eek:
dirksterg30
04-28-09, 15:42
This move does a lot to support the theory that there really is only one party. When someone his age can cast aside decades of affiliation as though it were so much dead weight really says a lot about politicians.
M_P
He's just living up to one of his nicknames - Benedict Arlen
FromMyColdDeadHand
04-28-09, 17:03
I believe Specter was the tie breaking vote for the 1994 AWB IIRC. Right now he's complaining about the Republican party and the Club for Growth supporting far right candidates which cost the Republicans the majority, according to him. That's funny, I seem to remember Bush throwing his support behind Specter over Toomey, a true conservative. Bush could have just stayed out of it. Specter is switching because he knows he'll lose to Toomey in the primary. I talked to Pat Toomey personally in 2004, when I helped with his campaign, before I moved here. I believe he's a true supporter of the 2nd, in the traditional sense. The Republican party needs to throw everything they have behind Toomey in 2010, because he's the best chance they have to knock off a senior Democrat. When Specter originally ran for Philly attorney general in the 1960's he was a Democrat, but the incumbent was a Dem, so he switched to Republican with the intention of switching back after he won. He's always been a democrat, he just never bothered to switch back. If he would have gone the independent route that Lieberman went after losing the primary, that would have been somewhat honorable. But switching was a power move, to keep seniority and get chairmanship. This is all about power for him, just like it was when he first ran for political office.
I hope Toomey send W a nice Telegram
Dumbass
It would be sweet if Liebermann said screw it, and threw his lot in with the Republicans. Long shot though.
This is good, I had set aside money to contribute to his next primary opponent (Toomey) and let him know prior too his vote on porkulus. If he gets out of the way I'll only have to contribute to Snowe's and Collins's opponents.
Hmm maybe a new DD M4 in my near future. ;)
Toomey was going to absolutely wipe the floor with him in the primaries - it came out the other day that he had something like a 25 point lead on him in polls. This most likely prompted the switch, since he probably thinks he'll be able to grab the Dem ticket slot.
Just goes to show that for a lot of these old farts, it's all about power. God help them, as a class, when the world has changed enough that they no longer have a firm grip on the levers of power, due to technological incompetence and ignorance. Sure, fine, be a bunch of corrupt old bastards... we get to pick your nursing home. :mad:
What a piece of shit this guys is. I hope hell has a special place for these guys.
Wasn't he also one of the supporters of the 86 NFA?
The voters in his state elected a Republican. How can he switch teams mid-term?
We need term limits and put an end to career politicians. Enough is enough.
Outlander Systems
04-28-09, 20:36
We need term limits and put an end to career politicians. Enough is enough.
Hear, hear!
This son of bitch is an absolute disgrace.
He actually had the balls to come on the air and state something to the effect that "I'm not going to let my 29 year career come to an end over one decision", or something to that effect.
Public servants?
My ass.
This is so outrageous, so defamatory to the Republic, that I am actually shocked. Shocked that there isn't damned near rioting. This clown essentially kicked the democratic process in the balls, and had the nerve to, no so subtly state that hsi constituency can go fly a kite.
This asshole basically came out and said that he's above the democratic process. Stew on that one for a moment, because that's what is being said between the lines. No cloak of night. It's in our faces now.
The audicty of these vermin. This is preposterous, beyond words. How long will the American public put up with this sort of carrion?
I swear to live by my signature.
I've had it. I've seen it all now.
SeriousStudent
04-28-09, 21:46
I have zero problem with him switching parties........
As long as he does it immediately after resigning, and running in a special election. Go ahead and switch.
After you quit your seat, you lying pusbag.
If I was a betting man they offered Specter chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee. I mean, from what I gathered in reading a few books on some past SCOTUS hearings this man would sell out/do anything to get that chairmanship.
variablebinary
04-28-09, 23:59
The real question is, does this make Specter more or less vulnerable in 2010?
woodandsteel
04-29-09, 05:02
I have zero problem with him switching parties........
As long as he does it immediately after resigning, and running in a special election. Go ahead and switch.
After you quit your seat, you lying pusbag.
I couldn't agree more. That is the only honorable way to do it.
That's how your former Senator Phil Graham did it. He resigned when he switched from being a Democrat to Republican. He let the voters decide.
Wife just called from Capitol Hill, Specter just changed affiliation to Democrat. Now the Dems have a filibuster-proof 60 member majority in the Senate regardless of the MN race outcome.
Sorry, no cite at this time.
Really though, what is the difference:rolleyes:. He did not vote conservative.
variablebinary
04-29-09, 06:57
Conservatism is alive and well. The GOP is in the toilet.
Also, anyone that thinks his changing parties is due to ideology is wrong. It's purely a play to stay in power.
This entire situation is just another case that proves we need term limits imposed on the house and senate. 4 terms tops, then these mutts need to get a day job.
As long as he does it immediately after resigning, and running in a special election. Go ahead and switch.
That would certainly be the honorable thing to do. And no one expects such behavior from Specter.
If I was a betting man they offered Specter chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee.
That's questionable. To recognize his seniority, it would have a huge domino effect among other Dems. You take the Judiciary chair from Leahy, what does he get instead? And what do you give the guy who now loses that chairmanship, and so on?
My personal guess is that Specter's real desire is to be on SCOTUS.
Also, anyone that thinks his changing parties is due to ideology is wrong. It's purely a play to stay in power.
He says as much in his press release (http://www.politicspa.com/Specter%20Switches.htm):
"I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate."
There's now a buzz in Washington that Snowe and Collins might jump, too. At which point, I think the entire Northeast would have nothing but Dem Senators.
Gutshot John
04-29-09, 08:26
Regarding a "special" election. Who pays? Not me. He announced this at the start of the election cycle. Far more honorable to do it now than later. PA will either reward him or will not Collins, Snowe et al will be watching closely before they run again.
I'm dubious that he will win, but whatever his flaws he has been pretty reliably pro-gun. That's either a glass half-full or half-empty type of thing.
Politically this is VERY bad for the GOP and indicates a profound need for new blood/leadership.
Ideologically it bodes ill for small government and fiscal restraint.
OldNavyGuy
04-29-09, 09:03
he is and always was a traitor to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. swearing their oath to office doesn't mean a damn thing to him or any democRAT, it is just a formality that they soon forget.., power is the ONLY thing on these socialists minds.
can anyone answer why these traitorous liberal democRATS HATE the U.S.A. ???
variablebinary
04-29-09, 09:08
I dont think we should be looking for refuge with either party.
Both sides in the pockets of the same handlers and financiers that have an agenda that will be realized irrespective of who is in office.
Hell, an overwhelmingly majority of Americans want the border closed. No matter who is elected it always stays open.
Sure there are a couple of points here and there where one side is especially passionate, but generally the new boss is pushing the same agenda as the old boss, just in a different way.
HiggsBoson
04-29-09, 09:34
Wife just called from Capitol Hill, Specter just changed affiliation to Democrat. Now the Dems have a filibuster-proof 60 member majority in the Senate regardless of the MN race outcome.
Sorry, no cite at this time.
Thanks for the news.
By my count Dems still have 59 votes without the MN seat (as reported by WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124096362009966109.html) and elsewhere). Am I missing something?
Nathan_Bell
04-29-09, 09:36
he is and always was a traitor to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. swearing their oath to office doesn't mean a damn thing to him or any democRAT, it is just a formality that they soon forget.., power is the ONLY thing on these socialists minds.
can anyone answer why these traitorous liberal democRATS HATE the U.S.A. ???
This is true of ALL career politicians. Republican, Democrat, Indie, or Socialist. They are ALL parasites whose primary goal is to keep their position.
Thanks for the news.
By my count Dems still have 59 votes without the MN seat (as reported by WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124096362009966109.html) and elsewhere). Am I missing something?
The outcome of the MN race is almost a foregone conclusion at this time. Unless some miracle occurs, Franken has that seat.
Well said VB, and something that most people can't seem to wrap their heads around. Calling a party a silly and uninspired name like DemocRAT and grouping every one in that party as some sort of traitor to the Constitution (when in this very thread someone has pointed out that there are apparently some Democrats who presumably "get it" makes no sense. Look at the voting patterns over the last 12 years or so and I think you'll find that more and more voters are drifting away from hard core ideology and voting more on how a particular candidates issues affect them personally. Anyone who votes for a candidate based strictly on party affiliation faces the same risk that anyone voting for Specter took when they voted for him. He has been pretty clear on his stance on most issues - so what else did they expect? Political debate in this country no longer exists. It's now "right vs wrong" or patriots vs traitors" and all sorts of irrelevant chatter in between. And yet, despite the fickle and often ignorant political debates that continue to thrive in this country, the Republic survives!
I dont think we should be looking for refuge with either party.
Both sides in the pockets of the same handlers and financiers that have an agenda that will be realized irrespective of who is in office.
Hell, an overwhelmingly majority of Americans want the border closed. No matter who is elected it always stays open.
Sure there are a couple of points here and there where one side is especially passionate, but generally the new boss is pushing the same agenda as the old boss, just in a different way.
You forget he was a "Demo-rat" before he was a republican (1965) and voted with them almost all the time.
Good riddance to this two faced scumbag! Way to go PA, you sure can pick-em!
I'm not shocked as well.
I say good riddance and now we can truely blame everything that happens in the next two years on the democrats. I just hope they don't do too much damage for the republican comeback in 2010 to unass their socialistic policies.
Wife just called from Capitol Hill, Specter just changed affiliation to Democrat. Now the Dems have a filibuster-proof 60 member majority in the Senate regardless of the MN race outcome.
Sorry, no cite at this time.
I felt disheartened and betrayed when Colin Powell stabbed the Republican party in the back and supported Obama..now we have another traitor in the ranks.
Here you go: I beat CBS by two minutes. :cool:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/28/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4974413.shtml
edited to add: The CBS thing says he's saying R until the election next year, though. It's a minor technicality so long as he continues to vote with the Dems and the Dems retain majority. Still, that's an important distinction over what I reported initially.
That's likely because he's on the judiciary committee, and the Dems need one vote from the minority party to pass any judicial nomination through for a floor vote. It's too bad, because with him gone we actually had a way to filibusterer the messiah's radical socialist replacement for souter. If the Republican party had any gumption at all they'd ride him out the door on a rail. We're better off without him.
We already have term limits.
Its called voting.
Cagemonkey
05-03-09, 10:43
The man has no principals. He could at least have changed to an Independent and have some sense of class. Jim Jeffords and Joe Lieberman both left their parties and became Independents. It wasn't such a slap in the face to their former parties. Also Leiberman had the balls to risk running in the primaries. Only willing to leave his party as a last option.
FromMyColdDeadHand
05-03-09, 10:54
He is on Meet the Press right now and I have it muted. Watching him is like watching "Tyra", you can hear yourself getting dumber.
I really don't get the arguement that the GOP is lurching right?
Hasn't gay marriage always been a fringe view, heck California voted against it and Obama was against it.
Since when are low taxes a fascist conspiracy?
I thought undocumented workers were always illegal?
Not a huge fan of some of the Patriot Act stuff, but it pales in comparision compared to the shinanigans from the past.
Even the 9th is supporting the 2A rights.
And what I really don't get is the arguement that the GOP needs to give up and out flank the Dems on the left. Obama got in because he energized the far left, and the press took care of the middle.
Wonder what he sold his soul for?
I'll pray for him.
Terry.
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