How do you view Specter in comparison to Lieberman?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

Which do you agree with on policy issues more often?

Do you have a higher opinion of the conduct of one compared to the other?

[WI_DEM]

1. I'll hand it to Specter for one thing, he clearly has said he became a Dem because he couldn't win a

GOP primary. Lieberman said he would run in the dem primary and indicated he would support whoever the winner was, he lost, and he became an independent and doomed Lamont's chances.

[Toucano]

2. For me, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. n-t

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. I'd have to call it a draw

Specter lied about the murder of a President. Lieberman was part of a lie machine that forced us into a needless war.

Both worthless in my opinion.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

4. I dislike both of them equally.

Although, Zell Miller has them both beat.

[MercutioATC]

5. I'd rather the lukewarm support of a historic enemy than the betrayal of a historic ally.

I'm not all giddy about Specter, but I think his switch has ramifications beyond his voting record.

[Bluebear]

6. Specter: turncoat who turned to us. Lieberman: turncoat who turned away from us.

[dkofos]

7. Specter only changed his affiliation once.

We will have to wait until after the election to see if he stays.

[ThomWV]

8. I despise Lieberman but at times I agreed with Specter even before he switched

And he did not lie about why he switched - something that everyone who follows politics in this country was well aware of. He can't win the Republican Primary in his state because it is the die hard right that votes in Republican Primaries and they want a born-again Klan-er if they can get one - which Specter isn't. If he could get to the general election he would be a 50/50 shot to beat whoever we put up.

So what do we get by accepting him and what do I mean by accepting him? Well, accepting him means recognizing his seniority in the Senate and letting him go essentially unchallenged in the Democratic Primary. Do you not think he has to pay a price to get that trade?

People wonder if he will vote with Democrats despite the change in Party affiliation - is it just a name change? Well, if he doesn't vote with Democrats one can presume he will indeed face a challenger in the Democratic Primary and that the challenger might be funded by the Party. How's that for incentive for Arlen to vote with us? And then there are those Committee seats. How will he conduct himself there and how will that effect our decision - and it is our decision, not his - to give him the support of the Party he has now run to for protection?

I think we should welcome him. Welcome him and watch him like a Hawk. He can call himself a Democrat for now, but he'll have to show us he is one before he gets support in any sort of election. That's how I feel about it.

[BuyingThyme]

9. They're both for illegal wiretapping, secrecy, war, torture, et cetera. You know... Fascism.

The difference is that Specter pretends he's not in favor of all the above in hopes of double-crossing good people like you and me. I suspect he's taking the same approach in joining the Democratic Party.

[SmileyRose]

10. Draw - Specter is an honest turncoat - Lieberman is a dishonest one. nt

[NNN0LHI]

11. Specter never met a war he didn't love while Lieberman on the other hand ...

... oh, wait a minute ...

Don

[Bluenorthwest]

12. I view them both as

conservative war mongers, anti-equality bigots, and that sort of thing. Lieberman is taller I think. That's the main difference.

[madeline_con]

13. Does Specter spend most of his time kissing Israel's ass?

[stillcool]

14. I'd take Joe over Arlen any day..

at least his votes.

[emilyg]

15. So will I.

[JI7]

19. do they vote that differently, Specter has always been a moderate but like Lieberman both hawks

[Laelth]

16. Much higher opinion of Specter than Lieberman.

Lieberman showed massive disloyalty to the Party running against Lamont, the duly nominated Democrat.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Donald Ian Rankin]

17. I'm not sure that that is logical.

If it's the "disloyalty" part you're most concerned about, didn't Specter display even greater disloyalty to his party?
If it's the "party" part you're most concerned about, isn't Specter to the right of Lieberman on more issues than vice versa?

[Laelth]

21. Here's the difference.

Specter didn't run in the R primary, lose, and then run as an independent against his own party. Specter didn't say he was going to support whomever won the primary and then change his mind and run against the actual winner. Specter didn't campaign for Obama, either. Specter didn't make it clear he wanted to be Obama's running-mate.

Lieberman did all of those things. Lieberman is a traitor, deep down, pure and simple.

Specter has always been a moderate R. The R party betrayed him, not vice-versa.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Donald Ian Rankin]

22. I would say that they are both traitors, or at the least turncoats.

Would your opinion of Lieberman be higher than it currently is if he had won both the primary and the election, and then gone over to the Republicans?

[Laelth]

23. Yes.

That's considerably more honest. And I'd be especially willing to defend him if the Democratic Party had, over the past 28 years, become vastly more liberal ... but that's not what happened.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Dr.Phool]

18. They're both assholes!

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. Lieberman is a scumbag who deserted his party to get reelected.

Specter is a... oh wait.

[Kingofalldems]

24. Lieberman--dishonest and passive aggressive just like his supporters

Specter not in his league in those departments.

[Arugula Latte]

25. I hate that fucker Lieberman w/ the blazing intensity of 1,000 suns

I'll admit, that's based on pure gut-level emotion, not so much policy.

Lieberman is the scum of the Earth.

[Badgerman]

26. Specter is an honest politician, bought, stays bought...Liebernman no n/t

n/t

[derby378]

27. Lieberman worked against his party while he was still part of it

In that regard, I'm willing to step back and let Specter prove himself for a while. But if he starts constantly gutting our party's initiatives, he's fair game.

[Umbral]

28. Specter just conned the Demcrats out of a Senate seat they likely would have won in 2010...

Lieberman conned Connecticut out of a Democratic Senate seat with the help of the Republicans... Whatever, they both suck, and the Democrats will regret any bargain they made with that snake Specter and Harry Reid can go fuck himself.