WASHINGTON, DC- This story is blazing like a wildfire across the Internet. It appears that former Vermont senator Jim Jeffords may have inspired another high ranking Republican Senator to jump ship. But unlike Jeffords, this senator switched parties.
Senator Arlen Specter, of Pennsylvania, is about to have a press conference announcing he's leaving the Republican Party to become a Democrat. It's still not clear why he's leaving the party or why he didn't choose to become an independent or why he chose to be a Democrat. Either way, this is big because the Democrats now have a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate… and they're still waiting on the Al Franken-Norm Coleman senate race in Minnesota. The Dems now have 60 seats in the Senate.
NBC's Chuck Todd said “This was a straight up survival decision.” OK then. We'll find out more at his press conference today.
To read more click here.
Kos weighs in. His verdict: “Don't expect much.
GMD's very own Kagro X begs to differ. Sorta.
Kagro X has a second update on what it means.
Not,a more better Democrat.
Frankly, Arlen Specter is one of the biggest blowhards in the Senate. His career is highlighted by very visible stands on principle followed be weaselly retreats. Even if it gives the Dems some tactical edge, I like having him in the caucus about as much as I like having Joe Lieberman.
The big plus is supposed to be achievement of the magic 60-vote threshold (assuming Franken is seated). But would Specter actually vote to override filibusters? First of all, he’s still right-of-center; second, he’s a lifetime Senate insider snob — the kind who just delights in the wonky arcana of the Senate, including the almighty filibuster.
I suspect that two things will happen, neither of them particularly good for small-p progressives:
1. He’ll use his leverage to water down Democratic legislation, in concert with the Blue Dog Dems and the Maine Republicans.
2. His presence will tantalize Dem leaders with the prospect of defeating filibusters, and make them less likely to circumvent the process entirely. Again, this would tend to produce watered-down legislation excessively impacted by a handful of centrists.
All in all, I’d rather have him stay Republican, get defeated by Pat Toomey, and have Toomey defeated by an actual Dem. Even if I have to wait a year and a half to see it happen.
Well, it can only help. Spector is probably doing this for his political survival, as has been suggested above, knowing he could probably be sent home in the gop primaries, but it can only help the demos with that magic filibuster proof 60 seats. On the whole, it seems like good news for dubious reasons.
This from TPM is too good not to be shared
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo…
I am not excited about having specter in the democratic party. He said that he is still against EFCA and if he does end up supporting it he will water it down so much that it won’t mean anything. Also, we can’t count on him for cap and trade or universal healthcare. We can keep him around to tease the republican party for now, but next year I would like to see a real democrat primairy him out of office. “Change we can believe” can only happen with real democrats, the blue dogs wont help with the radical notion of healthcare for all or regulating carbon.