Arlen Specter is Switching Parties!

[Drake Tungsten]

He's doing it because he can't get re-elected as a Republican. Duh.

[MrFun]

Becoming an independant would have been a smarter move.

Best joke in this thread yet!

[Imran Siddiqui]

MrFun is right (did I say that?!).

By becoming a Dem, Specter makes sure that no Dem challenger steps up to divide votes from him against Toomey in the general.

[MrFun]

Oh, and this means no more filibustering in the Senate, yes?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Oh, and this means no more filibustering in the Senate, yes?

Specter has said he will not be a rubber stamp. He's going to retain his fierce independence.

[Q Classic]

It's theoretically a fillibuster-proof majority, but in practice, it might not be the case, because there are also plenty of 'Blue Dog' Democrats who may or may not be disposed to the matter being fillibustered.

[Drake Tungsten]

Ben Nelson

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's theoretically a fillibuster-proof majority, but in practice, it might not be the case, because there are also plenty of 'Blue Dog' Democrats who may or may not be disposed to the matter being fillibustered.

And, of course, Specter neatly slides over to the Blue Dog caucus.

[Theben]

If what Specter really wants is Dem sponsorship next election, he may have to rubber stamp a bit more than he wants to.

Anyway the GOP can't count on being able to automatically filibuster now. That changes things somewhat.

[Guynemer]

So, where does this leave the GOP nationally? It seems that they continue to marginalize themselves, making them a smaller non-entity by the week.

Of course, the same could be said of the Dems, circa 2002. Does that mean that the GOP's only hope is a spectacular giant cluster**** fiasco from Obama, a la Dubya?

[Theben]

Except Obama listens to outside sources, so even if this admin is a fiasco, it still won't be as bad as Bush.

[Drake Tungsten]

The nation's fiscal situation is already much, much worse than under Bush and Obama's decision to double down in Afghanistan means we'll be up to our necks in COIN warfare and nation-building for the forseeable future. Things are already worse than under Bush and Pakistan looks like it might go down in the near future...

[-Jrabbit]

...and I have carefully examined public opinion.

While all career politicians are, by definition, scum, I appreciate Specter's honesty in admitting he is, in fact, a politician of convenience -- not a party-liner or idealogue. He will talk up the importance of retaining a PA seat with 30 yrs of accumulated seniority (already doing so), which will play well in the general.

[Arrian]

I don't really see much upside here for the Dems. Specter gets to survive, and yet asserts that he will continue to oppose various Dem legislation.

Why not let him lose the GOP primary and then beat the Republican candidate in the general with a good candidate of your own? Does such a good candidate not exist?

-Arrian

[DinoDoc]

Not really. The only way that he wins as an Indy is with strong labor support, which he gave up with his decision on EFCA. He could've plausibly made that move a couple months ago.

Considering the value of his word, I wouldn't hold my breath on him switching his position on Labor's No Choice act:

In a March 17th interview with The Hill, Specter said he absolutely would not switch parties:

[Democrats] are trying very hard for the 60th vote. Got to give them credit for trying. But the answer is no.

I'm not going to discuss private talks I had with other people who may or may not be considered influential. But since those three people are in the public domain, I think it is appropriative to respond to those questions.

I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role, a more important role, to play there. The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That's the basis of politics in America. I'm afraid we are becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party with so little representation of the northeast or in the middle atlantic. I think as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance. That's a very important principle in the operation of our government. In the constitution on Separation of powers.

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/04/28/specter-had-disavowed-a-switch/