Okay, so Arlen Specter is now #59. What does he bring to the Democratic Party?

[derby378]

In other words, how is he an asset? He's pro-choice, which helps with medical issues. He's at least favorable to same-sex civil unions if not outright marriage.

But where has he stood on union labor? Iraq? Health care overall? Social Security? Torture? Clean energy? Firearms?

Let's use this thread to hash it out and see what Specter can offer to the overall future of our Party's presence in Washington. I know some are already whispering "Lieberman," but let's see where this goes.

[LynneSin]

1. Labor loves Specter

I know the Steelworkers are big fans of Specter and tend to endorse him each election. And Steelworkers are big in Pennsylvania with Pittsburgh and Harrisburg regions.

[derby378]

3. Is Specter favorable towards EFCA?

I heard he got a 61% rating from AFL-CIO, so I'm curious.

[Occam Bandage]

6. He was, then he reversed himself once Toomey started gaining.

He said that he's still against it, but all we need is for him to agree to vote yes on cloture, maybe after a few face-saving but insignificant compromises (say, on the exact percentage of employees who need to sign off).

[monmouth]

2. He brings an enormous amount of entertainment value, he will keep

late night guys in material for weeks. Let's see....yeah, lots of good stuff. I'm digging Arlen and know our boys and girls will have him straightend out and rehabed in no time.

[salguine]

19. No kidding...his NAME is "Specter", for cryin' out loud.

[Occam Bandage]

4. A vote on cloture.

I don't care how he votes on the bills themselves, but I'll bet anything that cloture votes were part of the terms the Dems offered.

[tridim]

5. He brings a big "fuck you GOP" to our party and our country.

[WI_DEM]

7. What? I just got on--Arlen switched parties!?

[derby378]

9. As of today. Who woulda thunk it?

:shrug:

[derby378]

8. I found a Brady scorecard on Specter's gun votes

http://www.bradycampaign.org/legislation/scorecard/scorecard.php?inds=76

This looks promising.

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. Well we already knew he was a fan of "magic bullets"

:hide:

[derby378]

12. Bwaaaaah!

Have you seen the Seinfeld episodes that make fun of Oliver Stone's JFK movie? That was actually rather funny, right down to the spoof of Abraham Zapruder's 8mm film.

[Laelth]

11. If his mind is agile enough to come up with the magic bullet ...

... he might end up being a mostly-liberal Democrat before it's all said and done. Principles, it seems, are not his thing. That's fine. I just want his votes.

Who knows?

:shrug:

:dem:

-Laelth

[T Wolf]

13. Not a god damned thing except conservative bullshit. He is no moderate - just look at his

record.

He never votes against the pukes if his vote matters - he only makes noise and then follows the rethug herd.

He is not to be trusted. Anyone who could participate in the cover-up of the JFK murder does not have good intentions. Ever.

Anyone who thinks that his vote will be automatically in "our" column is terribly naive. I've lived in PA for almost his entire tenure and have watched his disgusting act for far too long.

There was a real possibility of ridding ourselves of him in 2010. Now, enough ignorant cheerleaders on the Dem side will ensure that a second DINO sits in the Senate. He and Casey make a good pair. Neither will get my vote.

The euphoria that too many are showing today just shows that far too many still think of politics as some god damned game. They view this schmuck switching like a Penn State touchdown. "Yay. We win. Take that, GOP."

Changing an "R" in parentheses to a "D" will not really accomplish much, if anything. He still is the same lying, nasty, asshole who only cares about his own career. Unfortunately, that plays well to idiot amerika.

[Dawgs]

15. He makes it harder for Republicans to gain the majority, and we probably won't need him.

I'm happy with it.

[derby378]

17. Some are talking that the DSCC has pledged not to support a primary challenger in 2010

So are we going to see a race between Specter and Rick "Man on Dog" Santorum?

[derby378]

16. I'm convinced that Oswald fired the shots - but not that he paid for the bullets

Other than that, I hear you. We may be in for a bumpy ride, but it might actually be worse on the GOP side of the aisle.

[endarkenment]

14. Cloture - 1. nt.

[CreekDog]

18. well you can't keep him out you know

:eyes:

[Fuzz]

20. A warm (barely) body