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- - Arlen Specter is crossing the aisle (https://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=105065)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin (Post 1804731)

We don't elect these men and women as Republicans and Democrats, we elect individuals who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.

Who is this "we"? I know plenty of people -- Republican and Democrat -- who vote the party label, not the candidate, and who do so for the express purpose of trying to make sure their party of choice is in power.

Quote:

Republicans are not conservative (and haven't been since Goldwater) and Democrats aren't liberal (and haven't really been ever). Each party's platform consists of a hodgepodge of values and agendas which they think is best calculated to convince voters to keep them in power.

This I can agree with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by srmom (Post 1804631)

Forget the party affiliation of the people who voted for him (although in my idealism, I would hope that they and their wishes would be considered). But, in the real world of politics - just ask this - who funded his campaign? Did the Democrat Party organization in his district fund his latest campaign? I don't think so...

And, if the bulk of the people who voted for you sent you up there to supposedly represent their "conservative" or "moderate" positions on issues, then jumping ship to the other side just because it looks like you are going to lose the next primary is disingenuous at best, and outright con-artist like at worst.

I am not saying that one must vote along party lines - I'm saying that a representative should "represent" his constituency, not do the expedient thing to get reelected..

Good point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by srmom (Post 1804631)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepimpact2 (Post 1806433)

Good point.

Not a good point.

1. Specter is one of the few Republicans in Eastern Pa that was supported by organized labor aka DEMOCRATS.

2. There was a huge shift in voter registrations in Pa. Many of the middle of the road Republicans already switched parties.

Srmom's point is that Specter owes it to the right that supported him doesn't hold when the fact is a large part of his support came from the LEFT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ;1804229

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veteran Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, intends to switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party on Tuesday, multiple sources said.

Sen. Arlen Specter was expected to face a tough primary challenge in 2010.

A Specter party switch would give Democrats a filibuster-proof Senate majority of 60 seats if Al Franken holds his current lead in the disputed Minnesota Senate race.

Specter, a five-term Senate veteran, was expected to face a very tough primary challenge in 2010 from former Rep. Pat Toomey, who nearly defeated Specter in the Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary in 2004.

link

Specter wants Frankin to lose.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...-minnesota.php

talk abotu a 'bait and switch."

link

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Arlen Specter was in the driver's seat when the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled the two newest Supreme Court justices back in 2005, but the Pennsylvania senator won't be front and center next time.

Specter jumped from the Republican party to the Democratic party last week, putting the Democrats within reach of a 60-seat "supermajority" that could make it all but impossible for Republicans to block Democratic legislation.

On Tuesday the Senate confirmed that the party switch dropped him to the bottom of the heap in terms of seniority.

That means he will be the very last to speak when the Judiciary Committee questions President Barack Obama's yet-to-be-named nominee to replace Justice
David Souter — after even Sen. Ted Kaufman of Delaware, who has been a senator for all of four months.

HAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!! Now how long will it be before he tries to go back to banging on the GOP door to get back in?

Who cares? Specter already burned his bridges with the Republicans.

Specter still has a vote, right?

Last week he said he wants Frankin to lose. Does that sound like a guy that is going to come through for the Dems?

The Dems are playing with fire here. Specter could still go with against the Democrats if the Republicans choose to filibuster. This is not how you take care of a supermajority.

Hell... treat Specter right and the Dems might even have enough votes to pack the court.

^^it doesn't sound like they're treating him right though