Specter casts another vote against Dem agenda

[babylonsister]

Specter casts another vote against Dem agenda
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 04/30/09 03:38 PM


Newly minted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter is already asserting his famous independence, casting his second straight vote against his new party's agenda.

Specter (Pa.) on Thursday voted against a controversial bill that would have rewritten bankruptcy laws — a bill cherished by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) — just a day after voting against the Democratic-written budget.

Specter shocked Capitol Hill on Tuesday by announcing his switch to the Democratic Party ahead of his reelection next year. He was welcomed to the White House on Wednesday, where he told President Obama he was "a loyal Democrat" but also warned reporters he "would not be an automatic 60th vote" for Democrats.

Specter downplayed the significance of his vote Thursday, noting that he has opposed the bankruptcy provision for more than a year.

"It's a position I've always held," he said.

Democratic leaders said Specter's "no" votes simply confirm his independence.

"This is very premature," said Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.). "Sen. Specter's views fit within our caucus on many, many, many issues."

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/specter-casts-another-vote-against-dem-agenda-2009-04-30.html

[shadowknows69]

1. And we're going to support this infiltrator above any Dem primary candidate?

And Gee, Chuck Schumer leaps to his defense. My wonderful Senator. I want a Democratic party that's full of Democrats again.

[niyad]

2. the ONLY value I see in his defection is the apoplexy of the reichwing repukes.

other than that. . . .

[yardwork]

3. Promises can be broken on both sides.

If Specter acts like a jerk, the party can go ahead and run a Democrat against him in his next primary.

[abluelady]

4. I Would Assume That is Exactly What Will Happen. eom

[shadowknows69]

5. I thought the line so far was total support in 2010?

So we have to wait 6 freaking years for our party to remove a potential cancer? Crush him now and be done with him.

[abluelady]

12. I Have a Feeling There Will Be More to This

You can rest assured when the DSCC calls me for money, I will tell then "absolutely not" if Specter is going to get any after failing to vote as a Dem when needed. I'm sure I won't be the only one.

[DS1]

6. Just because we have 60, doesn't mean we're going to get 60 votes

[babylonsister]

7. But if Specter continues this pattern, I'm hoping we'll find someone

else to support in PA in 2010.

[Jakes Progress]

9. One would hope.

But I think the fix was in and the promise made. Could be broken, but all he has to do is not go overboard. He can keep being the ass he always has been and still get POTUS to campaign for him.

[Jakes Progress]

8. A point truth that everyone seems to overlook.

We won't get Arlen's vote on most of them. And we haven't gotten 58 to vote together yet.

My opinion is that trading off the chance to get a decent candidate in '10 for the mythical power of 60 was wrong-headed.

[bullimiami]

11. could they have kept spector from changing party affiliation if he wanted to?

i know they didnt have to embrace him but could they have stopped him?

[Jakes Progress]

15. I wouldn't think so, but

I would be surprised if this was something he just came up with. I read somewhere that this was a project that Biden had been working on. I will be interested in seeing how much support he gets for the election.

Before he changed parties, the republicans were going to run arch-neocon tool, Toomey. We could beat that easily. Now they will run what passes for a moderate. If we back Arlen, we stand a good chance of losing the seat back to the republicans.

[bullimiami]

17. i guess if they turned him its somewhat of a coup even if his votes arent much changed.

[DefenseLawyer]

10. Did it pass?

That's the only question you need to ask. Believe it or not, they know how many votes they have/need before something it brought up.

[norepubsin08]

13. We shoud tell Specter that if he wants to be

a Democrat he needs to act like one!!!

[rox63]

14. A dozen Dems voted against it

It's not like he's the only one.

[babylonsister]

16. But he's batting a thousand, isn't he. I have no intention

of supporting him just because he's now a Dem, and a pox on the Dems that voted against it, too.