Specter's Departure a Wake Up Call for GOP

[TheCoxwain]

By Dan Balz
How much more can the Republicans take? Demoralized, shrinking and seemingly lacking an agenda beyond the word "no," Republicans today saw their ranks further thinned with the stunning news that Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is switching parties and will run for reelection in 2010 as a Democrat.

Specter is worried about his own survival -- and particularly a primary challenge from the right. Many in the GOP might say good riddance. After supporting President Obama's stimulus package, Specter was persona non grata in his own party. So it may be easy for some Republicans to conclude that they are better off without people like Arlen Specter.

But his defection is a reminder that the Republican Party continues to contract, especially outside the South, and that it appears increasingly less welcome to politicians and voters who do not consider themselves solidly conservative. Northeast Republicans have gone from an endangered species to a nearly extinct species. Republicans lost ground in the Rocky Mountains and the Midwest in the last two elections. That's no way to build a national party.

Read more at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/28/specters_departure_a_wake_up_c.html?hpid=topnews

[TheCoxwain]

1. It is time to put some Tylenol PM into their Coffee ....

[louis-t]

2. The 'contracting' is what was sought by Club for Growth.

They don't WANT anyone in the party that is left of Ann Coulter.

[dgibby]

3. GOP: The Rip Van Winkle Party!

[DavidDvorkin]

4. Let's hope they ignore the call and go back to sleep.

[David__77]

5. It's just the obvious riposte to the flight of southern right-wing Democrats.

And I believe these "moderate" ex-Republicans will be as loyal to the Democratic Party as the ex-Democrats in the south are to the Republican Party.

Let's not forget that, prior to switching, Ben Nighthorse Campbell was a pretty good Democrat, voting the right way on almost everything; overnight, this changed. We'll see the same in reverse I believe. Is it opportunism, possibly; but we should not care.

[Dr.Phool]

6. Of course it's opportunism. DSCC pledged no support for a primary opponent.

Which is as it should be. Only if they don't support him over a real Democrat.

Time to retire Arlen.