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(R) Sen. Arlen Specter is switching parties
CommunistCow
Abstract MetalThingyRegistered User regular
Abstract MetalThingyRegistered User regular
Sources: Specter intends to switch parties
By DAVID ESPO – 7 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several officials say veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to switch parties, advancing his own hopes of winning a new term next year while pushing Democrats one step closer to a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.
The sources said an announcement could come later in the day — or Wednesday. The officials who provided the information did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss his plans.
Specter is a 79-year-old veteran of five Senate terms, and one of only a handful of moderate Republicans left in Congress in a party made up largely of conservatives.
AP Article
This would be so awesome but somehow I think this is mostly out of self preservation and an attempt to get re-elected. Though I would say Specter has seemed more pragmatic than most in the republican party recently.
Edit: Feel free to lock if we want to discuss this in the State of the US Congress and Governorships thread.
No, I am not really communist. Yes, it is weird that I use this name.
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We dont need to wait 2 years. fuck yes.
This seems more than a little odd to me. He's got a history with labor, and now that he's switching being against EFCA will hurt in the primary rather than help. Wonder what he's thinking.
Well the RNC is actively campaigning against him?
Can you blame the guy?
Yeah this seems idiotic. Card check is down the list on priorities for me but it seems dumb to switch parties, thus burning bridges with the GOP and still refuse to budge on an issue that would help quite a bit in terms of unions.
QEDMF xbl: PantsB G+
Does this make sixty? Once Franken gets seated?
but they're listening to every word I say
I think that's a good thing. At least the Governor part. I don't know the ramifications of Democrats having the 60 votes.
Yes it does.
The question is, can the Dems use this as leverage against Bayh, Nelson, etc. They won't have the excuse of needing Republicans to provide cover any more.
Me either, this seems to come out of nowhere. Maybe he saw that 100 days was over and Obama was still in firm control?
QEDMF xbl: PantsB G+
haha, I think we all know the answer to that
He likely knows all this, and this is just political bullshit. Either floating a trial balloon, or trying to scare some people over to his side in the GOP primary, or some other nonsense.
Filibuster proof majority. Basically they can pass legislation now, rather than have it cock blocked every day on every issue.
Because if repubs are in power it's "Lets do this bipartisan" and if it is dems then for pubs it is "lets not let them pass anything, ever," at least right now.
but they're listening to every word I say
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
Oh I know about the filibuster, but I don't know the ramifications on specific legislative initiatives that will get through now. I don't know of any particularly bad bills that the dems are trying to push.
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
Don't know how effective that will be, though.
The fact that it's not obvious is hilarious.
Wait, no, what's the word?
Horrible. That's it.
Nor are all Republicans guaranteed to unite on a filibuster. But that's why I said if he becomes part of the democrat bloc as a whole, trying to stop filibusters, it will increase the likelihood of bills being passed with no republican support.
Now if only we could get Olympia Snowe to either switch or start picking real fights with the leadership. Susan Collins has been a double-agent (the bad kind) for some time; I called it before the election and cast a protest vote for Tom Allen even though I didn't like him, and the bullshit she pulled with the Swine Flu/stimulus bill was validating in an "I feel sick" sort of way. Unfortunately by 2014 I don't think it will be anything we can use against her, but still it pisses me off...
Specter can now only do two things. He can be a Dem or a he can be an Independent. He can't win reelection as the latter. If he says his the former but keeps being a dick, its open primary time and without union or progressive support he's fucked.
Its not a blank check by any means. But this could have real significance and could conceivably be a tidal change.
QEDMF xbl: PantsB G+
A) The Dems are going to basically shepherd Specter through the Democratic primary. Probably was part of the deal. (You can still run against him; you're just on your own as far as support goes.)
Reid would take a GOP filibuster so far up his ass it'd be like a gay Houdini
That would work in the general. It assumes no one runs against him in the primary though, which doesn't seem too likely as long as he's against EFCA, and especially since a general election against Toomey would be a walk in the park for just about any random jackass with a D after his name.
edit-
nevermind, seems i'm falling behind
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
Someone needs to photoshop that asap!
but they're listening to every word I say