Specter!!!!!!!

[Uzybone]

Switching parties to become a Dem...YES!!!

[Jennicut]

1. WOW. Is this true? Links?

[Uzybone]

2. Just being reported now on CNN

by Dana Bash...lemme see if its online.

[Jennicut]

5. Thanks. I know some were trying to get him to switch, Biden and Rendell. But he had always refused.

[Andy823]

22. I have a feeling.

It's because the republicans didn't like how he voted earlier this year, and threatened to get rid of him by supporting another republican in the primaries. Could be more republicans going over, or to independent before the next election if they think the party is going to try and boot them out and support more hardline candidates in the primaries!

[Jennicut]

38. The Rethugs showed they did not want him so he thought he had no place to go.

I know he has been good friends with Biden for years and I know that Joe talked to him about switching a couple of times this year but never ever thought he would do it.

[Doremus]

3. CNN just announced. nt

[Windy]

4. Breaking on MSNBC.Com as well... is it a done deal??? nt

[vaberella]

17. I guess it's a done deal when Arlen Specter makes a public statement. n/t

[Beetwasher]

6. HOLY FUCK!!!!

Not even going indy??? Going straight to Dem???? :wow:

[vaberella]

14. Straight DEM!!! Could you believe that shit?! Shuster just said it on MSNBC!! n/t

[Cha]

34. I know..when I read "Switching Partays" ..I thought it

would be to Indy!:bounce:

What you said!

[azmouse]

7. Incredible!!!!

I guess an old dog can be taught new tricks!! :)

[mshasta]

8. sweet as honey

[vaberella]

9. I know!!! It's on MSNBC right now....Shuster just mentioned it. n/t

[Undercurrent]

10. WOW!

WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
WOW!

[cali]

11. ugh. he's horrible.

and we could have run someone decent against him and won in 2010

[tekisui]

He could still face a dem primary challenge. But, I expect him

to caucus witht he dems to avoid that.

[Beetwasher]

19. Yeah, That's True, However, There Are Worse Dems Actually

And if he's on board enough to block fillibusters, well, I'll take him. For now.

[Aloha Spirit]

36. .

oopsie wrong place

[DrToast]

27. Yeah, but we could sure use him until then

The first two years of Obama's presidency are more important than the remaining 6.

[HERVEPA]

51. Not really, but.....

He almost definitely would have lost the primary to Toomey, who is a rabid right-winger, and Dem's likely would win general election with someone more liberal than Specter

[HERVEPA]

52. Not really, but.....

He almost definitely would have lost the primary to Toomey, who is a rabid right-winger, and Dem's likely would win general election with someone more liberal than Specter

[Graybeard]

12. MSNBC confirms.

This is hugh!

[redqueen]

13. Holy crap!

:wow:

:woohoo:

[Uzybone]

15. Its nakedly opportunistic by him, but I'll take the 60 votes

http://politicspa.com/Specter%20Switches.htm?ref=fp1


April 28, 2009

Statement by Senator Arlen Specter

I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.

snip

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

[vaberella]

23. Of course...but I'm in the same boat as you. n/t

[ChiciB1]

30. He DOES Have A Way Of Sticking His Finger In The Air!!! But I'll TAKE

the vote!! I've seen him many many times say he supports Democrats on an issue, but when it comes to the actual vote... he went REPUKE!!!!

A DINO for sure, but it's workable!!

[DrToast]

32. You know, there's definitely that...

He may be doing it to save his butt; however, read his statement:

"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

Is there any doubt this is true as well?

[Uzybone]

37. No denying the truth in that statement

but then again, same was blatantly true in 2004 and 1998.

[Sugarcoated]

16. Is this a good thing?

on edit: just yesterday he was interviewed on NPR and he was sort of on the good side of things, but in a lame half assed way . . . I know on its face it's a good thing, but, is it really?

[vaberella]

25. It goes either way. Repubs have called him a Dem before...a Dem dressed as a repub. n/t

[Jennicut]

26. He may get us to 60 votes on some things but its more like an independent

He is not really a true conservative, not a true liberal. I am surprised he did not switch to an independent but heck I will take the extra vote.

[Beetwasher]

28. It Really Depends On How Committed He Is And What He Does

If he's a reliable 60th vote for cloture votes, then hell yeah it's a good thing.

[Uzybone]

33. Agreed, all I care about is filibuster proof

we can pass EFCA, Energy, Healthcare with ease...SCOTUS, federal judges.....man....Im happy.

[Sugarcoated]

39. Ahhhh

Filibuster proof, but only if he votes with us, right? If so that is a beautiful thing!

[Clio the Leo]

18. RUNNING AROUND SCREAMING MY HEAD OFF!!!! YES!!!!!! NT

[ChiciB1]

20. WHOA AND "HOLY SHIT!"" Walking Out The Door & Just Heard This!

A BIG BIG DEAL, but is it because he's up for re-election???? He's always played around the "edges" A LOT!!!

Is this the seat that "Tweety" has been rumored to be thinking about???

[jenmito]

21. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WHEN I SAW IT REPORTED ON MSNBC!!! K&R!

:bounce:

[LynneSin]

24. Way to say FUCK YOU to the republicans

And guarentee you'll win in 2010. Democrats won't bother to run anyone against Specter as a democrat because they know this guy will win in a landslide in the general election.

[Thrill]

29. Yup he just confirmed with a statement

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. Wow!!!

Just........:wow:

He must've been REALLY raked over the coals by his fellow Republicans over his vote for Obama's stimulus plan. I thought that maybe his sudden opposition to EFCA was him trying to get back in his party's "good graces". Now that he's switching to Dem, will he now be supportive of EFCA? I wonder if he might be able to get Collins and Snowe to join him? I'm sure that with their votes for Obama's stimulus plan they've become pariahs in their party too. Of course, Specter had been facing a tough Republican primary for next year so is he just switching in an effort to keep his job? If he wants to run in the Democratic primary, he'll really have to demonstrate his new allegiance.

[Clio the Leo]

35. Is there ANY chance that Lieberman would start to caucus with the GOP?

He'd lose a his sub-committee chairmanship right? Is he counted in that 60 number or not?

[Jennicut]

40. Nope. I live in CT. There is no way Loserman would risk it. His #'s would go down further here.

One switch is enough, another one and he starts to look even worse to voters here who supported him in the past.

[leftynyc]

41. I'm still mad at him for

Clarence Thomas but I'll take it.

[Cha]

42. He must have some strong reasoning

for this?

[HERVEPA]

53. Yup. would have lost Rethuglican primary

[Uzybone]

43. Plus its another blow to the head of a dying republican party

he will be Dem Lite, but this cements the GOP as a rapidly shrinking southern party.

[frazzled]

44. He will HAVE to perform on some of the big upcoming votes (e.g. health care)

Because democrats won't vote for him in the primary if he doesn't show some bona fides on a few of the big issues. So, in only temporarily, I think this is very good news for the administration's domestic policies.

[Cha]

54. Yes, he cannot be a dino..'cause

he'll be closely watched until the election in PA and there will be lots of small donors to his opponent if he doesn't "perform" well.

[Fire1]

45. Another whack job.

:thumbsdown:

[Skidmore]

46. Just came in from weeding and heard this. Now this get Franken in there.

Just WOW!! McConnell scrambling to make a statement.

[Hepburn]

47. Holy fucking shit!

:wow:

[mvd]

48. Amazing! This is good for both us and him

I don't blame him at his age and health for not wanting a bruising primary battle with Toomey. And we get 60 votes once Franken is seated. The Repukes are turning themselves into a permanent minority of wingnuts. Come on, Snowe and Collins - the door is open!

I have decided that I will vote for Specter should he be the Democratic nominee, and I think it's almost certain he will be.

[K Gardner]

49. HOLY MOTHER !!! We're at 60 when Franken is seated !

[HERVEPA]

50. Wet Blanket here

If he didn't switch, he would have lost in the primary to rabid right-winger Toomey, and a more liberal Democrat likely would have won the state.

[GreenPartyVoter]

55. Probably. I'd rather have a liberal, but if the choice is now between Specter and Toomey

I guess I'll take Specter. (Wonder what pushed him over the edge into switching?)

[CitizenLeft]

56. holy shit!

holy shit!

I just logged on from work, had no inkling - !!!

:applause:

[InvisibleTouch]

57. Welcome to the light side!

Honestly I don't know much about Arlen Specter. But if he wants to join the good guys, I'm happy to welcome him! Maybe it will start a trend.