Specter: Norm Coleman Should Be Seated

[CatWoman]

fuck you with a rusty spoon, Arlen :grr:

Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter has been showing his independence consistently since switching to the Democratic side of the aisle. But his latest display of unorthodox thinking is particularly eye-opening.

In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, the newly minted Democrat said he thinks Republican Norm Coleman should win his Senate recount court battle against Al Franken in Minnesota.

"There's still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner," Specter said.

Specter's defection was particularly impactful because, assuming Al Franken is eventually seated, the move gives Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Now the senator seems to be saying he does not want that to happen.

Even Republicans have admitted that they expect Franken to prevail.

The full interview will be published this weekend.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/specter-norm-coleman-shou_n_197057.html

[Thrill]

1. No Democrat should donate one cent to this pricks re-election

.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

39. When will we get a real Democrat rather than a DemoCRAP? When o when?!??!

:puke::puke:

[Ocracoker16]

2. Specter is a fucking asshole

[mvd]

3. If anything, it seems he's gotten WORSE since the switch

:-(

[Eric J in MN]

4. Primary Specter. (NT)

NT

[mvd]

8. With statements like this, I'll take back my hold my nose vote for him in the GE

If Ridge is the Repuke nominee and not Toomey, I'll skip the Senate part or write-in.

[EFerrari]

5. LOL! Let's see how creating his own reality works out for Arlen!

:rofl:

[Wabbajack_]

6. Primary challenge

Nuff said. He's no Democrat.

[EndElectoral]

53. I'm from PA. God, I can't take this, I may have to run.

[vaberella]

75. I'll support you. n/t

[DrToast]

7. All part of the plan...

Just kidding. I have no idea what the fuck is wrong with this guy anymore.

[freddie mertz]

9. I agree, having posted on this two minutes earlier!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8391900

I'm new, what happens now, do we merge?

[valerief]

10. He must have some REAL good dirt on the Dems. nt

[PBS Poll-435]

11. There are no words for this

:grr:

[niyad]

16. sure there are-- specter is a lying, money-grubbing, sadistic poltroon, a complete waste of resource

[Supersedeas]

37. plenty of expletives will suit

[stray cat]

12. I should be seated - Coleman lost the election - I didn't even run so I deserve it even more

after all a loss is a loss.

[backscatter712]

13. Specter must be going senile.

He forgot he switched parties TO the Democrats last week...

[Cha]

14. Oh yeah, and someone said

specter wasn't "senile"..maybe not but if not then this looks like a grand ploy to what end?!

Senator Sestak ..here you come!

[ObamaKerryDem]

15. At first, I was excited about him joining our side..

Well, mostly just to add another Democratic Senator...but now I think the dude is just asking for a primary challenger (this and his votes SINCE the switch). And I'm feeling tempted to donate to them . x(

Oh well, it will be his loss...

[Cha]

28. So was I because I thought

it was real..but his performance since then has been nothing but one catastrophe after another and this is just downright fucking stupid.

Say Goodbye, arlen.

[fujiyama]

17. I'm still trying to figure out WHAT we gained by having him "switch"?

Not only is he an absolutely unreliable vote, he's a complete idiot as well.

Justice by seating the loser? I guess this is Specter's idea of democracy. Then again, this is the same genius that came up with the single bullet theory. I really hope the Dems rescind their support of him in the primaries. He's as bad or worse than Lieberman.

[mvd]

20. I still hope Biden and other Dems know what they are doing, but..

I'm not seeing it as well. I'm well on my way to supporting Sestak if he runs.

[Cha]

32. I'm wondering if specter

fooled VP Biden? Maybe he has a split personality?

[polichick]

18. Think I'll call his office today and let him know that I CAN'T WAIT to work for...

...his Democratic primary opponent.

[polichick]

26. His phones must be ringing off the hook - keep getting put on hold.

[lunatica]

19. I feel like he's soiling my Party.

Ugh!

[napi21]

21. Arlan is killing his possible chances in a Dem Primary!

I think tere were at least SOME Pa. Dems who appreciated the times Arlan voted with the Dems to get something passed, or when he jelped stop the Pub nuclear option, and would have voted for him, but in the last week, all he's been doing to turning those people AGAINST HIM!

[T Wolf]

30. He has never voted with the Dems when his vote mattered. He only did when a bill

was safely won or lost.

His "moderate" cred is totally false.

[napi21]

51. Did you forget the vote just a little over a month ago when the Dems desperately

needed 2 Pub votes & Arlan and Susan Collins voted with the Dems? That was the vote the Pubs are supposed to be punishing him for! Surely you don't want me to believe he did that for his own benefit?

[AlinPA]

43. Let's go Joe Sestak.

[Hieronymus]

22. I'm thinking he might be getting senile.

[KansDem]

23. Is this Arlen's "Magic Norman Theory?" (nt)

[d_b]

24. is this a fuckin joke?

[MoonRiver]

25. FUCKING ASSHOLE!!

GD, I will work my tail off to defeat him in the PA primary! :mad::mad::mad:

[blueclown]

27. If every Democrat in the fucking Senate is not outraged by this, I'm leaving the Dem Party.

Fuck this. I'm tired of the good ol' boy network in the Senate. This motherfucker needs to be lambasted by all of his Democrat "friends" and he needs to be informed that he will indeed be seeing a challenger in the Democratic Primary.

Harry Reid, get to fucking work!

[MadBadger]

29. What happened to Welcoming Alren with open arms?

[Fire1]

33. Ain't it the truth! I can't help it. This was SO predictable it is

hilarious!:rofl:

[ClarkUSA]

31. Spector was joking, apparently. Here's the entire exchange -->

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8391980

"Q: With your departure from the Republican Party, there are no more Jewish Republicans in the Senate. Do you care about that?

Specter: I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner."

This *could* be him delivering a rather lame punchline around the preceding question. Justice = More Jewish Senators.

[Fire1]

34. Righhhhhhhhht!

[ClarkUSA]

35. I bet he moves to the left by 2010. Count on it. The guy's a loose cannon but he's not stupid.

[Fire1]

36. 1) IF he's still alive 2) No HE isn't stupid.

[AlinPA]

42. He's using the Democratic party just for the election but will vote with R's on important

votes. He is making a fool of the Democratic party and the republicans are laughing up their sleeve at his being "accepted" as a Democrat.

[Fire1]

47. Keep hope alive. lol!

[ClarkUSA]

50. We'll see about that. I kinda doubt it, though: He wants to be re-elected.

[Fire1]

56. Clark, if Specter can get overwhelming dem approval and

support inspite of his voting record WHY would he need to prove otherwise to be re-elected?? He 'played' the democratic party and got over! Period. OBVIOUSLY, it matters NOT how he votes.

[ClarkUSA]

61. I doubt he can do that. We'll see who's right. Meet you here in 2010.

[Fire1]

62. News Flash! He already DID!!

[ClarkUSA]

63. He won re-election already?

[Fire1]

66. LOL! No. He's already voted anti-dem and is still getting

endorsed by Obama/Biden and the party.

[ClarkUSA]

68. I was talking about 2010. Many other conservaDems voted with him against cramdown.

The bill wouldn't have passed had he voted "aye". But his vote and lobbying of Sens. Snowe and Collins saved Pres. Obama's
stimulus bill when it counted. Did you really think Spector was going to turn into a liberal Democrat when he changed parties?

That being said, I am all for getting rid of every single DINO DLC Democrat in office. That includes Evan Bayh and his
obstructionist conservaDems crew.

[Fire1]

73. Hell No and he won't 'turn' into one either by 2010! That's what's

so funny about his so called joke. It's a prelude of 'coming back to bite the dems in the ass.' Leopards don't change their spots and he's already told you as much. So what exactly do you expect of him? Another warm body to make 60? What? Cause I know what's coming. I'm not an eternal optimist.

[ClarkUSA]

76. Well, if he hadn't voted for Pres. Obama's stimulus plan, it wouldn't have passed.

That vote is biting Republicans "in the ass." And that vote is why he left the Republican party because it sunk his chances of winning the GOP primary. So I'm not buying into the black-and-white picture you're trying to draw of Spector.

I still think he will move to the left in 2010. I don't want to belabor this simple difference in opinion. But even Sen. Durbin has said, Specter "has to be supportive enough of Democratic issues to convince primary voters" in his home state.

I am an eternal optimist, which is why I was for Barack Obama from Jan. 2007 on in spite of much disbelief by most of my friends who are fellow Democrats (they later gave me credit). Your entitled to your opinion, but on this one, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Fire1]

79. Good enough. I just don't have faith in one trick ponies. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

38. Franken is Jewish. Coleman is Jewish.

I am missing your point here.

[ClarkUSA]

40. Sure but the story's catchphrase "joke" is "Jewish Republican"

[Dinger]

49. Maybe I Missed It. where's The Fucking Joke?

No, we don't need sphincter, not at all.

[Pool Hall Ace]

58. More Jewish Senators? Shouldn't that be more Jewish Republicans?

Because Al Franken is Jewish, yes?

[BlooInBloo]

71. Why people treat "it's just a joke" as being sincere is beyond me.

[depakid]

41. I'm beginning to think we have geriatric mental health issues here

If so, we can expect more unusual or unexpected behavior.

[LittleBlue]

44. I say we threaten to renege on Obama's promise to campaign for him

if he does this on a serious matter.

Run a Dem candidate and have Obama throw his support behind that candidate.

[Kahuna]

45. He's a worm. nt

[rasputin1952]

46. Coleman lost...Just why should he be seated?

:wtf:

[Dinger]

48. And Obama Is Going To Campaign For Him?

Who else? What the fuck?

[ClarkUSA]

52. In the general election, of course. Which is expected.

[Dinger]

54. Well It Might Be Nice If That Same Courtesy Was Extended To Sestak

But apparently it wasn't.

[ClarkUSA]

57. Maybe "it wasn't" because Sestak has not said he's running in the Senate primary.

I'm sure Pres. Obama will campaign for whoever is the winner of the Democratic primary.

[MoonRiver]

65. I HOPE that's the rationale.

I HOPE that President Obama stays out of the primary if Sestak runs against Specter. That's because I HOPE like HELL that Sestak wins the primary, and then wins the general. Specter can go fuck himself.

[ClarkUSA]

70. Of course it is. It's ridiculous to expect Pres. Obama to consider Sestak when he's not even running

Let's not forget that if it weren't for Spector's vote and lobbying, President Obama wouldn't have been able to pass
his stimulus bill.

That being said, I am all for getting rid of every single DINO DLC Democrat in office. That includes Evan Bayh and
his obstructionist conservaDems crew.

[Jackeens]

55. People! Was he not being, eh, funny?

Q: With your departure from the Republican Party, there are no more Jewish Republicans in the Senate. Do you care about that?

A: I sure do. There's still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.

Q: Which seems about as likely at this point as Jerry Seinfeld’s joining the Senate.

A: Well, it was about as likely as my becoming a Democrat.


Joke??

[Muttocracy]

74. Good point Jackeens, and Huff Post has added more about him making a JOKE

at the link in the OP

[masuki bance]

59. The violent rape imagery is way over the line.

[stevenleser]

60. Oh yeah, I'm so glad he is on our side now...

:mad:

:banghead:

:sarcasm:

:nuke:

[PlanetBev]

64. Somebody please explain this to me

If I were 80 years old, and had battled cancer twice, the last thing I'd be concerned about was holding onto power at any cost, especially at the risk of my own integrity.

My God, at that age, the footsteps of mortality coming down the hall must be deafened. I'm 58 and I'm starting to hear them. What delusion makes these guys think that they're going to take their Senate seat with them into the next world?

Why don't you just build a pyramid while you're at it, Arlen?

[Fire1]

77. I would imagine for some people 'working' reminds them

they're not dead yet and drowns out the sound of the footsteps.

[Faygo Kid]

67. UPDATE: He may have been joking. Might be time to chill on this one.

I can't believe even Arlen could say something like that. Check this out:

UPDATE 6:30 PM ET: From HuffPost's Sam Stein: A mild debate has erupted online and on television over whether Specter was joking when he claimed to surely care about a lack of Republican Jews in the Senate and said the Minnesota courts could still "do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner."

Was the newly-minted Democrat trotting out a bit of Jewish witticism? Had he merely forgotten that there now was a D behind his name? Or was he still, personally, pulling for Coleman to prevail in the recount election against challenger Al Franken?

A request for clarification from his office was not returned. But if you look a bit further into the interview, it suggests that Specter was, in fact, dusting off his comedic instincts when he sat down with Deborah Solomon of the New York Times Magazine.

Asked, for instance, to talk about former Majority Leader Bob Dole, with whom Specter shares a hometown (Russell, Kansas), the Pennsylvanian offered readers this jarring bit of imagery.

Were his days with Dole "before was appearing on television in Viagra commercials?"

Specter: "From reliable sources, he did not need Viagra then."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/specter-norm-coleman-shou_n_197057.html

(And just for Catwoman, an obligatory photo, from raht cheer in the nation's capital:)

[AtomicKitten]

69. I think Specter has said too much and 2010 is over for him. n/t

[Hawaii Hiker]

72. Damn, that's enough to piss off the woo-woo guy, & he's always smiling

:woohoo:

Go Joe Sestak....Specter is just an opportunist of the worst order..

[CTLawGuy]

78. throw this shit for brains on his ass

in 10. Go stesak!