Sen. Arlen Specter Switches Parties

[3113]

Apparently this is a big deal....

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veteran Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter said Tuesday that he switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party. "I know I'm disappointing many of my colleagues," he said at a news conference. "The disappointment runs in both directions. I'm putting principle at the top of the list."

When asked how and when he made the decision, Specter said, "the decision has been reached as I have traveled the state [Pennsylvania] in the last several months. Specifically, I got my home poll results last Friday ... and consulted with my campaign managers and had a long discussion. ... I came to a decision over this past weekend."

"....Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right," Specter said in a statement posted by his office on PoliticsPA.com. "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

Meh. Probably just looking to be re-elected, right? Rest of the story here.

 

[Liar]

So that probably means that Coleman fella will dig his heels in forever. Sweet.

 

[oggbashan]

In the UK, switching parties rarely works beyond one election.

Apart from the publicity when the switch occurs, the new recruit is usually not trusted because if they can switch once, they can switch again.

The only person to get away with it successfully was Winston Churchill but even he had several years in the wilderness before he was appointed Prime Minister in 1940.

Og

 

[Stella_Omega]

"Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

This migration will bring the Democratic party closer to center again, which is a very good thing.

 

[Austin8]

Arlen, has been one of three moderate republicans in the congress forever,
he really killed any re-election chances voting against his party,
at a time when the g o p is thrashing around trying to revive their crippled party.
I suppose Arlen baby decided sink or swim mother fucker .

PEACE

 

[freshface]

In the UK, switching parties rarely works beyond one election.

Apart from the publicity when the switch occurs, the new recruit is usually not trusted because if they can switch once, they can switch again.

The only person to get away with it successfully was Winston Churchill but even he had several years in the wilderness before he was appointed Prime Minister in 1940.

Og

In the US, switching parties can work, especially in cases like this one. I think Specter knows he's in more in line with the voters for the general election, but he'd have real problems in the Republican Primary. Since the voters in Pennsylvania have been drifting away from the more conservative version of the Republican Party, I think they'll understand why Specter joined them. It's pretty telling that the Republican Party Chairman, Michael Steele, considered Specter's voting record to be "left-wing."

 

[Stella_Omega]

Arlen, has been one of three moderate republicans in the congress forever, he really killed any re-election chances voting against his party, at a time when the g o p is thrashing around trying to revive their crippled party. I suppose Arlen baby decided sink or swim mother fucker .

That'll teach him to go against the party line in favor of his conscience!

I suppose he's bone-weary of being reviled by his "fellow" GOP, too. It's the kind of thing that ages a person after awhile.

ETA: I like the "peace" right after you call a good man a motherfucker. That's irony, did you mean to do it?

 

[john-the-author]

Arlen, has been one of three moderate republicans in the congress forever,
he really killed any re-election chances voting against his party,
at a time when the g o p is thrashing around trying to revive their crippled party.
I suppose Arlen baby decided sink or swim mother fucker .

PEACE

Specter's seemed to be increasingly moderate in his conservative viewpoints over the last 5-10 years, and I really think that he's actually been a man of principle for the most part. I'm not astounded that he's switched, but I really am surprised.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

According to Specter, he was gonna lose the Republican primary and a run as an Independent was even worse, do he jumped to the Democrats to have any kind of chance to survive.

This is about him saving his job however he can.

If joining the Nazi Party would help, he'd be a Nazi.

 

[sr71plt]

According to Specter, he was gonna lose the Republican primary and a run as an Independent was even worse, do he jumped to the Democrats to have any kind of chance to survive.

This is about him saving his job however he can.

If joining the Nazi Party would help, he'd be a Nazi.

That's a non sequitor even on what little you provide. Running as a Nazi obviously ranks below running as an Independent in his eyes, given the goal of not losing. Obviously if he isn't willing to run as an Independent, he'd be even less willing to run as a Nazi (where he would only get your vote).

 

[Dragonlipz]

The plot thickens. He's obviously playing his hole card, but what the hell? It's not a crime and he's obviously not worried that the Republican 'base' will turn on him.....Lot's more fodder for the Sore Loser Club....

 

[Zeb_Carter]

So the record biz didn't work out for him and he went in to politics?

 

[Austin8]

That'll teach him to go against the party line in favor of his conscience!

I suppose he's bone-weary of being reviled by his "fellow" GOP, too. It's the kind of thing that ages a person after awhile.

ETA: I like the "peace" right after you call a good man a motherfucker. That's irony, did you mean to do it?

yes Stella just just my perverse sense of humor, apologies

 

[cantdog]

This migration will bring the Democratic party closer to center again, which is a very good thing.

Unless you're a progressive, of course.

 

[Dragonlipz]

ThreadJack:

I got to thinking sometime in the last few minutes (better late than never? we'll see, yes indeed!) that Arlen might be having some reaction to Phil's conviction last week?

Sort of a midlife cathartic experience. I've been waiting for mine but since I haven't had one (I wonder again if my tryst with the bodacious, buxom, blonde, barefoot, brazen, bikini barista qualifies as a midlife situation? It was damned good, regardless of the circumstance!) I suppose that I should assume that I'm not middle aged?
Cool, let's par-tay........
We could have a Republican Party.....

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Hey, I guess he figured out what I did...sometimes, if the crowd you're with is no longer all that friendly, find new friends.

 

[Stella_Omega]

ThreadJack:
Cool, let's par-tay........
We could have a Republican Party.....

With booze and bought babes, and we'll lie to our constituents?

 

[shereads]

Obviously if he isn't willing to run as an Independent, he'd be even less willing to run as a Nazi (where he would only get your vote).

<snicker>

 

[shereads]

This migration will bring the Democratic party closer to center again, which is a very good thing.

I'd prefer that the center move closer to the party than the party move closer to the center.

 

[DeeZire]

I heard Specter on NPR yesterday, before he jumped ship. In the interview, he was opposed to the idea of impeaching that judge dude who wrote the legal briefs in favor of torture for Bush before being appointed to the Federal bench. I was totally unimpressed with Specter, unless I was supposed to be dazzled by his ability to dodge questions. Granted, he has voted against the GOP on some key issues, but he's still a slimeball.

 

[JamesSD]

In the UK, switching parties rarely works beyond one election.

In the US, incumbents have huge advantages. They have name recognition, and can (rightfully) claim the experience advantage. Typically they can also point to pork-barrel projects that they helped bring to their state; many people who are anti-pork on principle are suddenly pro-pork when it benefits them specifically.

Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms are two examples of US Senators who switched party affiliation successfully and had long careers afterwards, moving from being Dixiecrats (Southern, Conservative Democrats) to Republicans. Their ideology didn't change, but the party lines had moved, specifically the issue of civil rights.

But typically this sort of move happens at the end of a career, as it is here with Spector. Assuming he runs and wins in 2010, I can't imagine him going up for re-election in 2016 at his age.

 

[sr71plt]

But typically this sort of move happens at the end of a career, as it is here with Spector. Assuming he runs and wins in 2010, I can't imagine him going up for re-election in 2016 at his age.

Virginia Senator James Webb (Republican to Democrat) did it at the beginning of his elected career. I could see him switching back at the drop of a hat too, if he found it politically convenient.

 

[S-Des]

In the interview, he was opposed to the idea of impeaching that judge dude who wrote the legal briefs in favor of torture for Bush before being appointed to the Federal bench.

Actually, the "judge dude" wrote a legal brief defining the legal opinion of what torture actually was according to US and international law (something that is fairly vague at the moment). None of the lawyers who wrote opinions waterboarded anyone, nor did they give the order to. If they are prosecuted, it will be the first time in the history of the nation a lawyer is prosecuted for giving a legal opinion. I listened to a very lengthy discussion of the topic between two deans of law schools (one on the Left, one on the Right), and it's a fascinating discussion about legal briefs and the possible future consequences to Executive and Legislative legal opinions if these people are even forced to get lawyers to defend themselves.

They should stop being gutless and go after the CIA and Administration officials who ordered the procedure if they really think it was illegal.

And yes, Specter switched sides because he's losing by over 20% in the polls to his Republican challenger. I'd love to see people sue to get their campaign donations back. No matter who does it, it's an incredibly gutless move to switch sides after an election. Do it like Lieberman did if it's really something you believe in, and not some re-election stunt.

 

[DeeZire]

...None of the lawyers who wrote opinions waterboarded anyone, nor did they give the order to. If they are prosecuted, it will be the first time in the history of the nation a lawyer is prosecuted for giving a legal opinion. ...

The context of the Specter interview was whether or not the judge dude should be impeached from the bench, not prosecuted. It does bring up an interesting point - the idea that a judge's lack of integrity during his professional career could jeopardize his appointment after he's been confirmed. Specter wouldn't even go there, passing off the question like a hot potato.

 

[trysail]

... but he's still a slimeball.

You nailed it. I spent enough time in Pennsyltucky to become permanently nauseated by Arlen "which way is the wind blowing today" Specter.

He stands [ and has always stood ] for one thing and one thing alone: "I don't care as long as I get re-elected."