If Arlen Specter Had Voted Against the “Stimulus” . . .
. . . . he wouldn’t be facing headlines like this one in the Christian Science Monitor: Are Specter’s Senate days numbered?
With his polls slipping and Congressman Joe Sestak having all but announced a bid to challenge the Senator in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary, the odds against the Republican-turned-Democrat returning to the 112th Congress are increasing every day. Had he sacrificed his eagerness to be at the center of attention during the “stimulus” debate and joined his party’s opposition to budgetary profligacy, he might have been able to win renomination as a Republican, simply by sticking with his party on issues which draw media attention.
Simply put, had he voted against the “stimulus,” his opponent wouldn’t have garnered the support he did among rank-and-file Republicans, upset at our party’s past profligacy and eager for a return to fiscal sanity.
Opposition to the “stimulus” may have brought him less time in the limelight, but secured him a longer tenure in the Senate.
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Unfortunately, the choice of the Republicans (once again) is a right wing nutcase. So this seat will more than likely go to the Democrats
Comment by PatriotMom — July 2, 2009 @ 4:43 am - July 2, 2009
Yeah, because “moderate” republicans led the party to such sterling victories in 2006 and 2008.
Comment by DaveP. — July 2, 2009 @ 7:09 am - July 2, 2009
Why do Socialists always want to give idvice to COnservatives on who to elect for office. In 2010 the Socialists currently in power will feel the wrath of the voters and will live the current Nig POTUS flapping in the wind for the rest of it’s term.
Comment by Stephen Morgan — July 2, 2009 @ 7:30 am - July 2, 2009
oops. typos in last post. idvice = advice.
will live = will leave
Comment by Stephen Morgan — July 2, 2009 @ 7:31 am - July 2, 2009
Toomey is no nutcase. He’s a highly respected Republican here, who has already demonstrated that he can win a moderate district election and hold it. However, I’m a bit annoyed by the schadenfreude on the right about Specter’s being challenged by Sestak, particularly from those who were just recently complaining about the RNC and insisting that the RNC “mind their own business.” Given a choice between Specter and Sestak, I’ll take Specter any day of the week, thanks. So to those who think it’s funny that Sestak is going to run, this Pennsylvanian says, “Mind your own damned business.”
Comment by rightwingprof — July 2, 2009 @ 7:45 am - July 2, 2009
Hmm, support for free markets and low taxes makes you a right-wing nutcase, but voting for massive intervention in the economy and record deficits makes you a “moderate.”
It’s a strange, strange world.
Comment by V the K — July 2, 2009 @ 9:50 am - July 2, 2009
Want to filibuster? Vote Toomey.
Comment by Ignatius — July 2, 2009 @ 10:10 am - July 2, 2009
Arlen Specter has taken the pulse of America and has a true vision of where he would take us if he were going, but, being tone deaf he has decamped to the valley of the shadow of the misbegotten where by-gones are the lard in the crust of the pie of twenty-four blackbirds. All that remains to be seen is whether he will eat crow or take the job of Commissioner of Professional Wrestling, Aluminum Siding and Storm Door Division.
Comment by heliotrope — July 2, 2009 @ 11:26 am - July 2, 2009
his opponent wouldn’t have garnered the support he did among rank-and-file Republicans
What? Opposition to the stimulus drove far-right Republicans to support the Democratic candidate? Did you suddenly confuse Sestak with Toomey?
And much as you like to ignore this fact, the underlying truth is that the PA GOP has lost almost 60,000 members, some to independents, some to the Dems. This makes the resulting base even more conservative and more at odds with the rest of PA (and the nation, but we already know this about the far right). Spectre simply refused to cater to the hard right. That doesn’t make him liberal enough for the Democratic Party, but only Palin/Sanford/Joe the Plumber could satisfy the far right. Spectre simply moved closer to the center and not an extreme.
Comment by torrentprime — July 2, 2009 @ 11:54 am - July 2, 2009
And much as you like to ignore this fact, the underlying truth is that the PA GOP has lost almost 60,000 members, some to independents, some to the Dems.
What a surprise.
The other nice thing about Operation Chaos is that it gives puppets like torrentprime the belief that they actually have a majority — at which point they start imposing massive taxes on Pennsylvania industry, putting people out of jobs in the name of junk climate “science” and destroying entire towns, while their entire administration is made up of tax cheats and frauds who don’t pay taxes.
Do you really think that will work, torrentprime? Why don’t Obama Party puppets like you pay your taxes?
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — July 2, 2009 @ 12:31 pm - July 2, 2009
I am beginning to believe we actually NEED a Jimmy Carter or Barack Obama every generation or so, just to remind people that if they value their jobs/homes/nation/future/freedoms, they shouldn’t vote Democrat.
Comment by DaveP. — July 2, 2009 @ 1:40 pm - July 2, 2009
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