UPDATE II: Specter Switching Parties Today / Cut Deal w/ Dem Honchos for Primary Support
Eschaton Reporting:
Shuster just said that Dems promised not to field primary candidate against Specter. Obviously they can’t stop someone from running, but it does mean the state party and the DSCC will throw their weight behind Specter to some degree.
Craptacular.
— Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party, multiple sources tell CNN.
Update: The Fix:
“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” said Specter in a statement. “I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.”
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.”
LOL!
The Fix has the story.
“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” said Specter in a statement. “I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.”
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.”
Insulating himself froma possible primary loss (a la Liberman). Once you get to the general Specter wins (a la Liberman). So why put up with the Tomey hassle – especially after the stimulus vote. Seems like a pretty sly move by the old guy.
I just saw this over at dKos. If Spector is ready to do this now,I think that he is scared to death and I think that the PA Dems promised him the moon.
Very interesting. ‘Bulo’s first take is that maybe he has sought some sort of promise from Fast Eddie Rendell to endorse him for reelection.
Still, the Drama King is gonna have a tough time winning the nomination from a party he has joined only for the sake of expediency (Specter’s no John Atkins).
Once Al is finally seated, however, the D’s are pretty close to being filibuster-proof. Which makes this doubly bad news for Mike ‘He’s a Pawn, not a’ Castle. It makes starkly clear what one vote in the Senate can mean.
I know how he feels as an individual, for certain (but not as a politician, ‘cuz I ain’t one). Rather than lay waste of Sen Specter, as I’m sure many will, I’d sooner ask why the hell has this been allowed to happen? Yes, the answer is fairly obvious, but there’s been no calculated response to that…unless you’re a pilotician who believes your shit don’t stink. That just won’t do.
While I don’t agree with Specter on a lot of things, the psychological damage to Republicans makes this move worth it. This sends the message to moderate Republicans far better than we ever could.
I don’t think that a dominant candidate has stepped up for the Dem primary yet. So I don’t think that a primary will be nearly as tough as that.
A 60th seat on the 100th day — as much as I hate the 100 day crap — is sorta awesome.
Good job, Michael Steele!
Well, Toomey wanted to run against Specter… be careful what you wish for.
This is good news and bad news. The good news is that it continues the crumbling of the repub party.
The bad news is that Specter was a huge Bush enabler and might become the Senior Dem on the Judiciary Committee (does he have more seniority than Leahy?).
The last thing we need is a bunch of Bush enablers like Specter (or Castle) to become Dems and pull the party to the right. Specter isn’t doing this for the good of the Country, the Dems, or Pennsylvania. He is doing it for his own self-interest.
I hope the repubs do their usual politics of destruction on him, and he loses the primary to a real Dem. PA already has a blue dog Dem senator.
Two movie paraphrases come to mind:
“This is the Party which we have chosen.”
and
“I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. Obama.”
The last thing we need is a bunch of Bush enablers like Specter (or Castle) to become Dems and pull the party to the right.
😯 OMG! That’s it! Castle does run for Senate…AS A DEM!!!
Predicted here first!
😆
WOW!!! I wonder who’s next?
A1 says it will be Mike Castle!!!
j/k!!! 😆
oooo smitty, that is chilling.
It COULD be Ben Nelson of Nebraska flipping from D to R.
Or maybe Charles Criss will run for the Senate from Florida…as a D.
Some are saying that this opens the door for Snowe and Collins to leave the GOP.
Can I say:
I DON’T FUCKING WANT THESE FUCKING OPPORTUNISTS IN MY PARTY!
There is only one reason why Specter is becoming a Democrat: to save his career. He will be no more trusted in the Democratic caucus than in the GOP. He is no more a Democrat today than he was yesterday. This is not like the situations confronting RSmitty or even John Brady. First, RSmitty is not running for public office, and second, John Brady was first a Democrat who clashed with the powers that be back in the day, resulting in his becoming a Republican, and now he has returned home.
Holy crap. If Criss switched, that could very well be the deadly knife to the national party. That guy is being looked at as a key bench member for the national scene.
Specter today also reaffirmed his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, according to Daily Kos. That all but guarantees him a strong D challenger. Face it, Specter’s weird.
a1–
that is interesting re chairmanships. I highly doubt that Leahy or Reid will give the chairmanship to Specter as the organizing resolution can’t be reopened at this time.
I also heard that DDem is becoming DRep if those fucking opportunists switch!
😛
Charlie Crist is the hope and future of the party, more so than horrid radicals like Palin or Jindal.
Yes, I fear Crist. So if he jumps ship, than the GOP has completely collapsed and should disband.
Hahaha, RSmitty. I am meeting with Ross and Burris later today. 😉
Well, if nothing else, that would get us closer to my post yesterday on should we go with Progressive v Conservative parties instead of the current Democratic v Republican?
Jason, I updated and added links to your post. Hope that’s okay!
Oh, I would like to humbly point out that DDem, of all people, corrected my misspelling of Crist’s last name. 🙁
I DON’T FUCKING WANT THESE FUCKING OPPORTUNISTS IN MY PARTY!
Goddamn right! When you meeting with Burris? I am calling Protack to sign up.
Hey, RSmitty, get out of my party you commie liberal moderate RINO. 🙂
Who has their hat in the ring for the Dem primary in PA?
Politico is reporting that VP Joe was in the middle of the negotiations here, so Spector got a great deal for this switch, I’m thinking.
Progressive v Conservative parties
What would this renaming get you that is different than today? The differences and the dysfunction here is deeper than the names involved, I think.
i wonder if this is the success mike protack was talking about with his tea party……
Smitty, do not fret. ‘Bulo was the first one to misspell his name. Apparently didn’t want anyone with a C(h)rist complex on here…totally subliminal.
pete peeve alert:
“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” said Specter in a statement. “I am ready, willing and anxious
He meant eager. “anxious” means that he is nervous.
Pandora,
Thanks for updating. Also..
Good job, Michael Steele!
Love it!
Specter and Lieberman can now make kissy-face on the same side of the aisle.
A1,
The glass is more than half full. I’m looking forward to around the clock “GOP in Disarray!” stories in the news.
What would this renaming get you that is different than today? The differences and the dysfunction here is deeper than the names involved, I think.
To me, it wouldn’t be a superficial renaming. I see it as a potential easier-to-idenitify-with-ideologies realignment.
I’m guessing the news angle will play up fears of a filibuster-proof majority. Expect lots of parliamentary analysis of all the socialist programs that COULD be passed with 60 votes.
You’re welcome, Jason. And, methinks Steele is in deep doo doo.
I don’t particularly want Specter either. That said, this is a huge blow to the Republican Party. And, if Dems made a deal not to primary Specter, what did they ask for (if anything) in return.
Let’s face it, Specter would have lost the primary to Toomey, but what were Toomey’s chances at winning the election? My guess is that this deal cut both ways since Specter needs the Dems more than the Dems needed him.
Jason,
It is always a perverse pleasure to watch the repubs get out their long knives for one of their own or formally one of their own.
Still, this pulls the Dems nationally to the right, not the left. Specter may now be a Dem, but he ain’t a “better dem,” that’s for sure.
Republicans are shell shocked.
“The news shocked Senate Republicans, who had been hanging on to their ability to block legislation by a thread. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, called an emergency meeting of party leaders who had no forewarning of Mr. Specter’s plans.”
Pandora’s right. Obama, Biden and Fast Eddie own Specter’s wrinkled butt. Wander too far off the reservation and hello-o-o-o, Alyson Schwartz, which ‘bulo hopes happens anyway.
Specter will be a pussycat b/c he has no choice. Ben Nelson of Nebraska now becomes the most likely irritant to the D’s. Which is why ‘bulo would welcome Olympia Snowe and/or Susan ‘Tamiflu’ Collins to the big tent. What attraction/advantage could there possibly be for them to remain in that Confederate Caucus now?
Ha!
SUCK IT McConnell!!!
Steele weighs in.
“”Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not.
Let’s be honest-Senator Specter didn’t leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.
Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don’t do it first.”
Left-wing voting record? Keep talking and predicting, ( NY-20 anyone?) Mr. Steele.
anonone weighs in:
“Some in the Democratic Party are happy about this. I am not.
Let’s be honest-Senator Specter didn’t leave the repubs based on principles of any kind. Everybody knows repubs have no principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose to a Republican whack job.
Real Democrats look forward to beating Sen. Specter in the 2010 Democratic primary assuming the repubs don’t poison his tea first.”
The Judiciary Committee could become interesting. Lehey has been in the Senate since 1974 and Specter didn’t arrive until 1980 so I think the chair is safe with Lehey. Specter is no longer Ranking Member so he moves over with the the other D’s. Does that mean Ted Kaufman gets kicked off? He’s the most junior.
And what happens if Lehey gets his “truth commission” with Specter on board? It might make it all look less partisan??
I dunno but it sure makes the day interesting for wonks and geeks.
No. Until a new organizing resolution is adopted, Specter’s committee seats (Appropriations, Judiciary, Veterans’ Affairs, Environment & Public Works, Special Aging) are locked in. Which means he stays on the committees, but that he is now a Democrat. That means the GOP just lost a seat on all of those committees. There is now speculation that Reid will keep it that way until the GOP agrees to seat Franken.
Hee hee! I love that. At least Harry can be as big a pain in the patootie to the bad guys as he is to us.
I think this is a serious blow to Republicans, because Specter is considered a moderate by the SCLM and it certainly move the moderate mainstream label to the Dems. I wonder what Snowe and Collins are thinking right now. They both have pretty safe seats, but I’m sure Specter is giving a “the Republican party has left me” speech.
Personally, I think Specter is a pain in the patootie that doesn’t have any real beliefs except that he should be in the Senate for life (like Lieberman).
Oh yeah, I bet Steele’s job is in trouble. Of course, kicking out Steele to put in a Southern white guy is not going to make the party any more appealing.