Arlen Specter is crossing the aisle

[Kevin]

No offense intended, but RINO is such a dumb term. It seeks to belittle those who depart from the party line for their own reasons. We don't elect these men and women as Republicans and Democrats, we elect individuals who happen to be Republicans and Democrats. 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.

RINO/DINO are terms which to me really smack of anti-intellectualism.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

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.

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.