Interesting political news today: Arlen Specter will be running as a Dem in his re-election bid next year. I don't really see his move as a change of heart at all, but just an acknowledgment that he isn't welcome in the GOP anymore. He seems to be jumping ship in anticipation of not being rightwing enough for the next PA Republican primary. That's probably true, since the GOP is tolerating less dissension than ever.
I don't think this really changes the dynamic in the Senate; I expect Specter to vote in the same way as he has been. With a history of bucking the GOP party line, I doubt he will suddenly begin towing the Dem party line. That's why I don't understand some of the complaints I've seen that he has somehow hoodwinked the people who voted him into office. It's not like any of them thought they were voting for someone who wasn't a moderate.
I'm personally not estactic over this. I'm not a huge fan of one-party rule so I'm not interested in the dissolution of the Republican party. I would rather that the GOP was not so shitbag crazy, and so was a viable opposition party. Losing a prominent moderate has not helped that, but maybe it will promote some much needed soul-searching within the party.
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I totally agree - I dont see how this changes his future votes. Im hoping after the "personal agenda" attacks die down that the Republicans will rally around SOMETHING for definition. Not too sure how they're going to deal with the increasingly outspoken and important FAR right that's been dominating though.
ReplyDeleteThey are at least entertaining. The Palin camp is like some sort of lurid soap opera; the domestic squabbling of the daughter and the kid who knocked her up are like the entire world's business it seems. I would seriously enjoy seeing the entire brood on Jerry Springer. Todd and Levi could get into a fist fight, Sarah would shoot an audience member from a helicopter, and then a moose could gore Jerry.
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