Arlen Specter: A Disposable Democrat?

Basically, the Republican Party in Pennsylvania is tired of Arlen Specter. All too often, he has voted with the Democrats on key issues. The last straw was the Stimulus Bill where he and two other Republicans broke ranks to vote with the Democrats. What's worse, Mr. Specter voted on that bill without knowing what was in it. Yet, he vehemently defended it. That's pretty dumb!

Arlen could see the handwriting on the wall. He knew he was "not" going to make it through the Republican primary because the Republican Party -- not him --- would cause him to lose. Apparently, Mr. Specter seems to think the Republicans should back him even though he walks like a Democrat; talks like a Democrat; and now, with the Stimulus Bill, spends like a Democrat. So, he seems to think he's home free with all of his new/old Democratic friends.

The problem with Specter's decision is that the Democrats, just like the Republicans, might not put up with his "part time" party line votes, either. Right now, the Democrats are falling all over him because he's very useful to them. He gives them a possible veto-proof majority. But, Specter has already indicated he's not voting for the Card Check system. If he doesn't, he might find himself just as out of step with the Democrats in 2010 elections as he is with the Republicans right now.

Pennsylvania is a "party pure" state when it comes to it's primaries. Only registered Democrats -- not Independents or Republicans -- will decide whether Arlen is the Democrat's candidate for Senator in 2010. So, in order to get the Democratic nomination for Senator, he's going to have to appeal to some pretty partisan Democrats in that Primary. His past voting as a Republican might well come back to haunt him. As a consequence, he might find himself losing the Democratic Party nomination in much the same way that he would have lost the Republican Party's nomination. I could be wrong, but Mr. Specter is the proverbial "fish out of water" when it comes to "any" party affiliation. That's why I think he would have been smarter running as an Independent. That's also what he really is!

Arlen has another little something to worry about. If the American public turns sour on the Democratic rule by the 2010 elections and there is a sea change of voting to put Republicans back in charge, Mr. Specter could have a very badly timed decision. The 2010 elections are at least 17 months away; yet, Specter made his decision, today, in some kind of "gotcha" and "I'll show you" type of emotional decision. Now, he is coming up with all kinds of faulty arguments as to why he did that. But, a lot can change in the months left to the 2010 elections and this is time enough to put Republicans back in a favorable light. If so and once again, Specter might find himself as the odd man out; even if he does manage the Democratic nomination.

Right now, the Democrats are treating Specter like a new puppy. He gives them the power they need to ram anything and everything through Congress. Thanks to Arlen, this country may now have a powerful single party system than can run unchecked. But, if that puppy doesn't get house trained pretty soon and he continues to soil the premises with occasional votes with the Republicans, the Dems aren't going to want to keep him; and, that may be one calculation that Mr. Specter didn't make in switching parties.

Lastly, a couple of points about how "confused" Specter is....

When Jim Jeffords, in 2001, turn-coated from the Republican Party to become an Independent and began voting and caucusing with the Democrats, it was Arlen Specter who felt that Senate rules should be amended to "prevent" that from ever happening again. At that time, he seemed to think that it wasn't right for someone to be elected by the public to represent them as a Republican (or Democrat) and, then forsake that public trust and the will of the people by switching parties. Apparently, Specter now thinks that "public trust" and the "will of the people" are immaterial.

Finally, just last week Specter said that he wouldn't switch to the Democratic Party because it would seriously hurt the balance of power in our government. Now and again, he has personally decided to go against the "will of the people" and allow one-party rule in this country. What a principled guy he is!

It's apparent that Specter's ethics are as hollow as his ideology. In his last election he was in trouble and George Bush and several other Republicans funneled both money and campaigning time to save his bacon in that election. For that, he slaps the party in the face with his vote on the Stimulus bill. Now, the Republicans want him out and he blames the Republicans because of it. I just hope this "Howard Sprague" look-a-like, act-a-like and sound-a-like from Andy of Mayberry gets the same kind of support from Barack Obama and the Democrats in 2010 that he got from Bush in 2004.