Spector changes party affiliation to Democrat - 60th Democratic Vote in Senate Confirmed

:D

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/specter-to-switch-parties.html

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.

Specter's decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next Senator from Minnesota. (Former Sen. Norm Coleman is appealing Franken's victory in the state Supreme Court.)

...

He added: "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."

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Hey Ted it looks like the Republican Party is dying a little bit each day. It is not surprising when one considers the values that were adopted under George W Bush. I mean things like Free Speech zones that worked against the right to speak freely. The blatant war against the civil rights of people in this country. Like when Bush had his people remove a couple from a stadium where he was giving a speech because the male was wearing a pro Kerry T-shirt. Or like when Dicfk Cheney had the Secret Service charge a man with assault because the man had the nerve to state that he did not agree with Cheney's policy in the middle East. Do you agree that torture is OK? That arrest on a bogus charge is a republican needed tool or is that something the Republican elected officials need to do to put the tax payer in his place and cause him un-needed expense when they disagree with the average retired tax-payer?

I urge you to come out in the light and join the Democratic party. You will feel better about yourself and your role as a US representative if you do.

Love John

...

please tell me this is a joke.

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.

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.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

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

I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.

I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides. I thank specially Senators McConnell and Cornyn for their forbearance.

I am not making this decision because there are no important and interesting opportunities outside the Senate. I take on this complicated run for re-election because I am deeply concerned about the future of our country and I believe I have a significant contribution to make on many of the key issues of the day, especially medical research. NIH funding has saved or lengthened thousands of lives, including mine, and much more needs to be done. And my seniority is very important to continue to bring important projects vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.

I am taking this action now because there are fewer than thirteen months to the 2010 Pennsylvania Primary and there is much to be done in preparation for that election. Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.

While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America.


http://www.politicspa.com/Specter%20Switches.htm

if this is actually true. He will be a DLC-not-even-lite.

We had a chance for a real Democrat. Now, Far too many will be folled by his "conversion."

:dem:

-Laelth

I was very excited until I read his statement, where he said he still opposes card check. If he doesn't support us on that I'd rather have a real Democrat.

60 doesn't mean anything. There is nothing to say that a Senator caucusing with a party has to vote with them on everything or anything (see, Nelson, Ben).

maybe he'll be more likely to vote for cloture on some particular issues because he won't be threatened if he does.

As you note, the cloture issue will directly affected by this change. More importantly, it directly motivates this change.

Right now there are DOJ and HHS nominations being held by the Republican Senate leadership. The motivation for those holds is such that it forces Spector to address the degree to which, and the way in which his position and that of the racists, creationists, and anarcho-liertarian fringe currently in control of the Repub party conflict with his own moderate, Alf Landon, Republicanism.

He cannot support the Senate leaderships actions on these nominations. Those actions force him to acknowledge and act upon the degree to which that leadership is motivated by policy issues that do not appeal to him or his political philosophy.

It was self serving when he switched the first time and it is self serving now.

It may or may not affect his voting. Democrats are much less adept at enforcing party discipline than republicans -- for better and worse.

He'll probably vote with democrats more. Before, he was under intense pressure to vote one way. Now, he'll be under moderate pressure to vote the other way. So, good. Glad to have him, but he doesn't get a medal from me.

Granted Harry Reid doesn't know the meaning of party discipline, so it's still really fucking difficult.

At least Specter had the balls to make the switch to the other party. Unlike Lieberman.

he HAD to go Democrat or brave the republican primary, then still defeat the democrat

lines of "Good riddance, he was a RINO anyway."

1 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:13:59 PM by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

He has always been a dem. Just making it official.

2 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:14:54 PM by passionfruit (When illegals become legal, even they won't do work Americans won't do)
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To: NormsRevenge

Good bye you son of a bitch!!!

3 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:02 PM by devane617 (Republicans first strategy should be taking over the MSM. Without it we are doomed.)
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To: NormsRevenge

“only a handful of moderate Republicans left in Congress in a party made up largely of conservatives.”

rotflmao!

4 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:12 PM by icwhatudo
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To: NormsRevenge

Don’t let the door hit you in the arse you loser.

5 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:23 PM by West Texas Chuck (US out of the UN - UN out of the US)
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To: NormsRevenge

Wish he had done this a couple of decades ago, but better late than never.

And this is why I detest self proclaimed ‘moderates’ and why my tagline is what it is.

6 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:26 PM by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Feh. A pox on you for waiting this long to admit it.

7 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:35 PM by catbertz
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To: NormsRevenge

I’m of two minds on this. I hate to see 60 Dems, but good riddance to one of the biggest RINOs in the Senate.

8 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:48 PM by CASchack
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To: NormsRevenge

Dont let the door hit you in the @$$ on the way out!!!!!!

9 posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:15:59 PM by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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matter which party he tries to affiliate himself with.

Pennsylvania, go out and find yourself a good progressive Democrat if you want change.

This is amazing!

and the judge will order the entire appeal process to start over again....

Self Preservation. Aww shucks politicians are my heroes.

Should I let dear reader know why I wonder? Perhaps the answer lies on the doorstep of a certain bank in Russell, Kansas, next door to us here in Rush County.

Alan Specter has always seemed more of a Landon Republican than, for instance, Bob Dole. And certainly more moderate than the group running the Repubs today. Landon, in '37-'40, saved them from themselves But the far right of the party never appreciated, and even resented, that fact and its policy consequences. Now - courtesy of the Southern Strategy, racism, and Dominionist political influence - there is no moderate who can assume Landon's role.

Spector, who could have done so, is just too moderate to be acceptable to the members of the racist, creationist, and anarcho-libertarian fringe now controlling the Republican party. Certain "negotiations" regarding HHS and DOJ nominations being held up by the Senate Republican leadership, and the motivation for those holds, must have made that point too sharp to be ignored any longer.

In today's context he is closer to the Democratic party concensus than to the Republican. That won't impress the Democratic left - but Democrats have not folded their big tent to the degree that Republicans have.

The GOP is going to dig in their heels pressing Coleman to fight this thing til the end of time or until Pawlenty succumbs to the two-thirds majority pressure in Minnesota that wants him to stick a fork in it, whichever comes first.