GIJoel's Rowdy Rants (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} gijoel666) wrote,@ 2009-04-29 03:03:00 |
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Specter vs. Smersh
So there's this sorta good, mostly almost earthshaking news that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) will run for reelection as a Democrat next year, and caucus with the Democrats in the Senate from now on. And the talking heads are accusing him of being opportunistic, self-interested, self-promoting, disloyal, untrustworthy, you name it. I don't buy any of those labels.
The party whose standard he bore into office has already told him they will support someone else in a primary against him, so who the hell is being disloyal? Clearly, the Repugnican party has deserted Specter, not the other way around.
Untrustworthy? I don't think so. The man will continue to vote with his somewhat independent conscience as a Democrat, the same conscience that made him a more-acceptable-than-average Republican for three decades.
Opportunistic, self-interested, self-promoting? Senator Specter likes his job, and his state has made it clear they like how he does it for them. He doesn't need that particular job, he can take any job he wants at this point, he's earned a hell of a lot of respect; or he can enjoy a well-earned retirement. But he wants to keep it, not for himself, but because he honestly believes he's the best man to do it in his state, and I think he's probably right. Would any other Democrat beat Pat Toomey in a general election? In the current political climate, of course! But would any other Democrat be as qualified? Why should Specter desert the people of Pennsylvania just because a party that has dwindled to little more than its lunatic fringe has both alienated and virtually expelled him? He has some very important issues he'd like to address with his continued service, and he'd likely be a stronger force for getting action on them than some greenhorn but lifelong Dem. He *should* take the sure route to reelection instead of the sure route to the private sector, and both Pennsylvania and the nation need him to.
Welcome to the party that gives a shit about the real world, Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA).
So there's this sorta good, mostly almost earthshaking news that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) will run for reelection as a Democrat next year, and caucus with the Democrats in the Senate from now on. And the talking heads are accusing him of being opportunistic, self-interested, self-promoting, disloyal, untrustworthy, you name it. I don't buy any of those labels.
The party whose standard he bore into office has already told him they will support someone else in a primary against him, so who the hell is being disloyal? Clearly, the Repugnican party has deserted Specter, not the other way around.
Untrustworthy? I don't think so. The man will continue to vote with his somewhat independent conscience as a Democrat, the same conscience that made him a more-acceptable-than-average Republican for three decades.
Opportunistic, self-interested, self-promoting? Senator Specter likes his job, and his state has made it clear they like how he does it for them. He doesn't need that particular job, he can take any job he wants at this point, he's earned a hell of a lot of respect; or he can enjoy a well-earned retirement. But he wants to keep it, not for himself, but because he honestly believes he's the best man to do it in his state, and I think he's probably right. Would any other Democrat beat Pat Toomey in a general election? In the current political climate, of course! But would any other Democrat be as qualified? Why should Specter desert the people of Pennsylvania just because a party that has dwindled to little more than its lunatic fringe has both alienated and virtually expelled him? He has some very important issues he'd like to address with his continued service, and he'd likely be a stronger force for getting action on them than some greenhorn but lifelong Dem. He *should* take the sure route to reelection instead of the sure route to the private sector, and both Pennsylvania and the nation need him to.
Welcome to the party that gives a shit about the real world, Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA).
