Arlen Specter is crossing the aisle

[Kevin]

What the hell is the government going to do about this? Suspend the laws of science and create vaccines where there once were no vaccines and faster than otherwise possible? Order a 3-week quarantine of all U.S. citizens? What?

The administration can't do a damned thing about it and I hope they don't. CNN thankfully has been pretty good on this thing pointing out that the regular flu killed 13,000 people in January alone. I think with the 24/7 new coverage, we're getting a bit carried away and thinking this thing is worse than it is.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

What the hell is the government going to do about this? Suspend the laws of science and create vaccines where there once were no vaccines and faster than otherwise possible? Order a 3-week quarantine of all U.S. citizens? What?

The administration can't do a damned thing about it and I hope they don't. CNN thankfully has been pretty good on this thing pointing out that the regular flu killed 13,000 people in January alone. I think with the 24/7 new coverage, we're getting a bit carried away and thinking this thing is worse than it is.

Yes.

We are the USA.

We can do anything .

[Kevin]

'cept catch Osama.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Kevin

'cept catch Osama.

*dead*

[srmom]

Well, you know it's the apocalypse when the Texas UIL suspends all high school sports activities!!

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Spector has been a "RINO" for so long, this is probably a very sensible mood from where he sits.

This whole Spector thing doesn't surprise me one bit.... There are so many RINOs out there.....

John McCain was one for a LONG time! He may have gotten his party's nomination but he is still liberal a lot of time.

Charlie Crist....I am tired of these polls saying is the most popular governor....I don't know many people in Florida that like him....maybe they are polling Georgia?

[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.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

John McCain was one for a LONG time! He may have gotten his party's nomination but he is still liberal a lot of time.

Actually if you look at McCain's voting record, he voted for a number of conservative issues and has been pretty conservative his entire Senate career. The "Maverick" label and idea that he was liberal are inaccurate.

[madmax]

Originally Posted by srmom

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...

Nice guess but wrong. Specter's key support came from organized labor in Philly which for the most part are Dems.

Originally Posted by srmom

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..

[madmax]

Originally Posted by srmom

You know, the problem I have with this changing of parties during your term (whether it be by Repubs or Dems - Spector and Leiberman) is that you were elected in your district by people and supported by the party from which you ran.

I know I may be naive, but supposedly, we live in a democracy, where you are elected as a representative of your constituents, and you vote and act for their interests while in Congress. Your not supposed to be acting in your own self interest (in order to keep your phony baloney job!!). Changing parties, mid term, is basically telling your constituents, the people who voted for you - to **** off! .

In Pa there was a shift in registration. Part of his base already switched parties.

Specter's base is as much Dems as Republicans because Specter's key support comes from organized labor. The kicker is that Specter told organized labor to F-off when he did not support the card check bill.

Originally Posted by srmom

This is all about him trying to get reelected. It's not because of some noble ideological change (which would still be wrong, because he's supposed to be voting for his constituents, not his own opinions or purposes).

I have no problem with people changing parties after their term is over, or announcing toward the next election cycle that they plan on doing so. At least then, they would be honest about what they are actually there for.

[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.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by srmom

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.

[madmax]

Originally Posted by srmom

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..

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

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.

[madmax]

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

[DaemonSeid]

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?