May 1st, 2009
Benedict Arlen?
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter shocked the nation this week when he announced that he’d be switching political parties after 29 years and 5 terms in office as a Republican. Specter is the 12th most senior member of the Senate, and the 5th oldest Senator. This is the second time Specter has switched parties; he was a Democrat until the mid-60’s.
Specter cited the reason for his departure as being “increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party,” then noted that “I have traveled the state and surveyed the sentiments of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and public opinion polls, observed other public opinion polls and have found that the prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak.”
Specter’s announcement has infuriated some (most notably the RNC), and his liberal voting record (he most recently in favor of the stimulus package) have left others with a “good riddance” philosophy. Some more moderate Republicans, however, are concerned about losing an influential, moderate party member and what it might mean for the future of the Republican party. As for Specter, it seems that his party switch is likely to earn him re-election.
One of the main points of concern over Specter’s defection is the numbers: Congress is now one vote shy of being a filibuster-proof Democratic majority. (Well, sort of.)
And that, improbably, leaves the Congressional balance of power in the hands of Stuart Smalley Al Franken. The embittered Al Franken vs. Norm Coleman Senate race recount is still officially undecided due to various legal challenges, though a recount and a trial have Franken as the winner by a whopping 312 votes.
What will happen in Minnesota and its practical effect on Congress has yet to be determined. In the meantime, we bestow a Fantasy T-Wearer Award to Senator Arlen Specter this week, with the “Switch Hitter” T-shirt pictured above.
Specter rocks! I defected too. (And not because of Obama. It was purely based on failed policies and old ideals.)
It’s good to see someone in Congress taking a stand for what he believes in – not just a party. Someone make me a cool shirt! Please.
This Omelet/frankfurter thing is just too bizarre. Now they’re fighting over uncounted votes. Well why not just “unofficially” count the dang things and then see if there’s something even there to fight for in the first place.
Nah, that would just make too much sense and cut the time this mess is taking from a few months to a few minutes.
As far as Spector is concerned, he’s one of the most powerful folks in DC. And even tho he comes across as a dork, he’s sharp, fair and does actually fight for the people. (Yeah, I met him) No matter what party he’s in, he has my vote.
It’s good to see someone in Congress taking a stand for what he believes in his own country. Someone make me a beautiful shirt!
Specter was a Democrat before he was a Republican before he was a Democrat. He goes whichever way the wind blows. Or rather whichever way the poll numbers blow. He was about to lose a primary by 20+ points. Yeah, it was all about philosophy. lol
Spector was going to lose. That is because he has been voting against his constituents wishes. He is a self serving politician. He is switching parties to keep in power. This man is the poster child of what is wrong with Washington. He is on almost every committee that had oversight on most of the policies that have failed. It just another example of CHANGE but not the change we voted for. I love hearing people who have a opinion of this guy but they are not aware of problems that he has ignored in his state.
[...] of the GOP’s concern over this race stemmed from Arlen Specter’s departure. With Specter as a Democrat and Franken filling Minnesota’s seat, Congress is now a [...]