According to MSNBC, Democrats have promised Specter not to field another Dem candidate in 2010

[rockymountaindem]

So instead of seeing him go down against Toomey, then beat Toomey with a real Democrat (which would be easy given what a hard rightwinger Toomey is), we're going to just accept Specter into our party indefinitely instead of being totally rid of him in 2 years?

It's not like he's going to suddenly start voting differently. This sounds like a big waste to me.

[PRETZEL]

1. Sounds like a back room deal,

if Specter runs unapposed then wins in November, what's to stop him from switching back?

[TechBear_Seattle]

Absolutely nothing n/t

[Arkana]

2. Specter wanted into the party and out of the horrible situation with the GOP

he was in, and freedom to vote his conscience.

Maybe he might surprise us--not on everything, but he's pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-environment...sounds like more of a Democrat than Evan Bayh, and we keep him around.

[L. Coyote]

3. BS. It is a free country. Anyone can run in the primary! Kick his R arse out!

and put a progressive in that seat. This is NOT change!

[rockymountaindem]

7. BS? I'd like to see a Democrat run and win against Specter in a primary

with the entire party organization and fundraising machine working for Specter the whole way. Anybody can run, but it won't be very credible.

[L. Coyote]

15. Voters decide elections

[robinlynne]

11. But the DLC finances right wing primary candidates, and goes out of its way to defeat

progressives. It is really hard for a good candidate to beat the DLC, unfortunately, unless thy have tons of money.

[thewiseguy]

4. He would have ran as an independent in GE and won anyway

[Beetwasher]

5. They Didn't Do That For Nothing

I expect he has to play ball as well. Maybe not on everything, but he will have to uphold whatever HIS end of the bargain is.

Dems may not support a primary opponent, but so what? We can still run one.

[Kittycat]

12. Yep, 2010 is a long way off. We own Specter now.

[DURHAM D]

6. My post at 12:35 on another thread -

"To start he likely got a promise of no opposition in the Dem primary. n/t"

This totally sucks. Honestly, my problem is Harry Reid.

[bleever]

8. I have to wonder if Rendell or Matthews might not be eager to challenge him.

It would be easy to run as a "real Democrat" against Specter, especially if he insists on being a hold-out against the president's initiatives.

[Occam Bandage]

9. Too early to weigh in, since we don't know what Specter promised in return.

If it's a reliable cloture vote, then it's worth it. And if he fucks up, another Dem can run and beat him despite Democratic backing of Specter. Worked for Lamont in the primary.

[demokatgurrl]

10. I knew it, I knew it

sometimes our party just pisses me off it's so effing lilly-livered.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Specter withdrew his support of EFCA

This is not the gift it's being made out to be.

[csziggy]

14. Could he sway other "moderate" Republicans to vote fo Obama's bills?

That could be a reason to cut a deal with Specter if that is what was done.

[Last Stand]

16. You are SOOOOOOO right!

I heard him talking about running a couple of weeks ago and all I could think is "We're finally gonna be rid of this guy." Now, him and his horrible voting are ours to keep til the Devil snatches him up.

He's so famous for his hight-pofile, television fist pounding against Repub bills that he votes for after the cameras dim. He's a fraud and he's a Republican--I don't care what he calls himself. He's still serving the same masters.