As of last week, Specter was on track to lose in his primary

[CreekDog]

Of course, a lot has changed since last week, except the part about him facing a loss in his primary. :eyes:

[ThomCat]

1. Yup, except now he'll lose to a Democrat in the primary.

:)

[MadBadger]

3. Except he prob wont cuz the DSCC will do its best to clear the field for him.

[CreekDog]

7. ask Lieberman how effective that was

:think:

[Xipe Totec]

5. We should give him credit for sensing the political sea change

Pennsylvania is turning blue, and he sees it.

[ThomCat]

9. True. But we still shouldn't vote for him.

Hopefully there is a real progressive Democrat somewhere in the party in Pennsylvania.

[Xipe Totec]

11. The point I'm making is that Specter will be progressive,

if his constituency is progressive.

We have a representative form of government, and it is clear he wants to represent the voters of Pennsylvania.

[ThomCat]

13. There is no way in hell I believe that.

He's going to represent his donors, and only throw enough of a fig leaf to appease the party. He's not going to give a damn about being progressive.

There is nothing in his history, in anything he has ever said or done to indicate that he's going to be progressive. That's just wishful thinking.

[Xipe Totec]

14. I guess the voters of Pennsylvania will decide that

and whoever they choose, by definition, will be the person best qualified to represent them.

I have no love for Senator Specter, but I understand what he is doing, and why.

[ThomCat]

15. Yup. He's abandoning a sinking ship

and going back to his original party because they have the money, the corporate support, and they want him back to build a majority.

Being a progressive doesn't appear in that equation anywhere.

It would be really nice if Specter has a midnight conversion and became a progressive, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. You'd be far more blue than he will be.

[Xipe Totec]

16. Without question, I'm far bluer than he is

but I'm not in Penn State, I'm in Massatwoshits.

:hi:

And I would rather have a true blue firebrand in any state.

The only question is how far to the left has Penn State moved, and has Specter shifted enough to make them happy....

[TwilightZone]

2. That was pretty well known.

Specter acknowledged that it was a factor in his decision.

[notesdev]

4. Specter is living proof

that this country desperately needs a maximum age for officeholders. These guys hang on to power, white-knuckled, their death grips broken only by death itself.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Politics is an old man's game n/t

[Obamanaut]

12. Because "we the people" keep reelecting them time after time,

then complain about them holding on to power, maybe it's time for term limits legislation. It is obvious we won't limit them at the voting booth.

[Debi]

8. Yep, not a change of heart as much as a fear of

a change of address :eyes:

[WhiteTara]

10. yep. "they" may have made a promise

but the grassroots won't necessarily honor it.

[msongs]

17. A sick old man desperately trying to hold on to his power and fame IMO nt