Breaking: MALIBU STACY HAS A NEW HAT!
Posted by The Editors under
Uncategorized [29] Comments
I mean: ARLEN SPECTER SWITCHING PARTIES!
[Words] I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
Convenient timing, that, as Republicans were planning on using their primary to end his career. More:
My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.
Translation: I’m changing my hat, but I’m still a huge fucking dick. Meh.
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April 28, 2009 at 9:39 am
Think it’s probably more accurate to say that old Single-bullet Spector has switched to the Lieberman for Lieberman party.
April 28, 2009 at 9:39 am
under. whelmed.
April 28, 2009 at 9:41 am
It probably doesn’t change the Senate voting line that much, but the wingnut head explosions will make for a few days of mellow happiness.
April 28, 2009 at 9:47 am
Shorter Specter: “Look at me!!!”
April 28, 2009 at 9:50 am
Why don’t they just get it over with and form a single party. They could call it the FUCK YOU – WE’RE RICH Party.
April 28, 2009 at 10:12 am
Wonder if any DINOs will bolt for the Rs?
April 28, 2009 at 10:44 am
Wonder if any DINOs will bolt for the Rs?
Nah, rats don’t hop on sinking ships. Besides, Specter was more of an R than a RINO.
April 28, 2009 at 10:50 am
Steven Benenator offers one plausible upside:
Jonathan Cohn’s take sounds right to me:
“Specter is one of the better-known senators in America. If you follow politics even casually, you’ve seen or heard him on the news before. So it’s going to register with you that a major Republican senator has decided his party has become too extreme for him. And if you’re a Republican, you might wonder if it’s become too extreme for you, as well.
Of course, polls show voters leaving the Republican Party already. And not just in Pennsylvania, as Specter noted. The real significance here may be less about political change to come and more about political change that has already happened.”
Indeed, it sends a signal to voters: the Republican Party is home to Limbaugh, Tea Baggers, Palin, right-wing blogs, the Rove/Cheney/Gingrich triumvirate — and no one else. The party that’s been shrinking to generational lows just got even smaller.
For three months, the conservative message has been that President Obama, his widespread popularity notwithstanding, is some kind of radical ideologue, far from the American mainstream. Specter’s departure from the GOP sends the exact opposite message. Moderate Republicans are teaming up with Obama, and leaving the party that has “moved far to the right” behind.
April 28, 2009 at 12:19 pm
That’s true. The downside is that it sends a signal to voters that the Democratic Party is home to Arlen Specter, Ben Nelson, and Joe Lieberman has the spare set of keys. Hopefully Arlen Specter will lose the primary, but I doubt it, which takes away a seat from someone who actually has principles. On the other hand, probably some Senate votes.
So still don’t know if want.
April 28, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Why are all the cool blogs suddenly getting threaded comments?
April 28, 2009 at 11:01 am
Your know, I couldn’t help but wonder what was up with Specter, reading his self-congratulatory essay in the latest NYRB, where he paints himself as a valiant crusader against the excesses of the Bush Admininstration (!!!). Now it makes a kind of sense, pre-positioning himself for leadership of the Ben Nelson wing of Senate Democrats.
April 28, 2009 at 12:27 pm
The two-thirds of PA resident to the left of Specter better get out their motherfucking checkbooks and punch this relic right in his 104-year old face*.
*ANOTHER GODDAMNED SIMPSONS REFERENCE
April 28, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Specter may well have lost his primary. But, he may also well have pulled a Lieberman anyway. Just ask for the same team that did it before. We didn’t have to disgrace ourselves by begging for him to cross…sheeesh. That’s just degrading. Typical.
April 28, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Lieberman won the general because he got most of the Republican vote. It’s not clear that Specter would get Dem support in a 3-way race.
April 29, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Also, Pennsylvania’s “sore loser” law would prevent Specter from running as a third party candidate after he loses to the Club for Growth.
In other news, a specter is haunting Pennsylvania….
April 28, 2009 at 1:18 pm
It’s clear to me that he’s simply pulling a Lieberman — he’s just doing it prior to losing his primary rather than after. In his mind he’s the most important person in the world. Who else will save the world from people with actual principles! And how dare the voters vote out such as fine men as him and Lieberman! Those damned voters must be stopped, or soon the Senate will be filled with all manner of rabble.
It’s disturbing that Dems in the Senate and in Pennsylvania would encourage this. After losing his 2010 primary to a crazy person, his seat should have been an easy pick-up.
April 28, 2009 at 1:53 pm
And of course, it really is proof that all the world is out to get “us”, isn’t it? You know, members of ‘the tribe’. The way those uncircumcised heathens treat a good mensch like Joe and myself…
April 29, 2009 at 8:40 am
I don’t see this aspect of it. You don’t have to be Jewish to be a self-serving asshole.
April 28, 2009 at 2:10 pm
That’s nice and all, but you missed the big story; right wing terrorists stole Air Farce One and almost wrecked it into the Statue of Liberty! I am absolutely suprised that the administration had NO IDEA that this was going on. What the heck? I thought we were watching these terrorists very closely… I guess it is a big news day and you have to pick and choose which story you’re going to run on page one…
April 28, 2009 at 2:34 pm
The US Senate is a sad joke. I hope that sooner or later some president appoints his horse, that would at least be funny.
April 28, 2009 at 3:57 pm
You guys. Come on. The patchouli and being proven fucking right repeatedly for the previous 8 years is going to your heads.
If you can pick up a Senate seat for your caucus, you fucking take it. Somebody recently called them fucking valuable, you know, and he was right even if he does have ridiculous hair and the ethics of Mayor Quimby.
You take the fucking seat first, what you get out of it is negotiable after that.
And if there are any other seats in the Senate which the Club for Growth would like to give us Dems, I’ll take them as well.
April 28, 2009 at 4:16 pm
May I speak to the owner of this blog personally, please, about a previous entry’s comments? Is there an e-mail address I can contact?
I’d appreciate it very much.
April 28, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Uh, Editors, I think she’s asking for you.
April 28, 2009 at 9:39 pm
There is no public email, and I don’t moderate or edit comments. These things are all much more trouble than they are worth, IMO. Sorry.
April 29, 2009 at 10:37 am
I understand. Thanks anyway.
April 28, 2009 at 9:16 pm
They’re talking up the idea of purging Lugar & McCain now – going for a Trifecta of fail. Stalin would be so proud of them. Let the good times roll, tovarich!
With his usual brilliant insight, Bubba Kristol says Specter jumping ship is good news for the GOP … that’s all I need to hear to know that their Death-Watch has now officially begun.
April 28, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Comment branching disturbs the narrative.
April 29, 2009 at 6:00 am
The Eds has a long tradition of employing football analogies, and REnato’s point is about as close as one may get to one: take the three points. It’s still early in the game.
April 29, 2009 at 7:30 am
Something something “prevent defense”?