Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Will Specter pull a Lieberman

Or

Arlen Specter vs. Toomey, Luksik, Ridge, Sestak, Torsella, Lamb, Watkins and a cast of thousands.

About the only people I have heard that are happy about the possibility of Arlen Specter winning another term in the US Senate are the talking heads on cable TV news, the top brass of the PA Democratic Party and this guy.
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I have never have been a Specter fan but always enjoyed how he had a way of pissing off my republican friends and annoying my fellow Democrats.
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Just a few highlights from his career that have rubbed me the wrong way in addition to his voting record, there are more. He came up with the single bullet theory to explain the murder of President Kennedy when he was working for the Warren Commission in 1964. We all believe that one. He voted "Not Proved" in the Senate trial of President Clinton after he was impeached by the House of Representatives invoking Scottish Law. That was not an an option and his vote was recorded as not guilty. He should have voted to convict or acquit not invent some third way. He also wanted to stick his nose into the NFL. His treatment of Anita Hill (she's a liar) in the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Clarence Thomas inspired me to work for Lynn Yeakel. We came close in that one only losing Wayne County by 20% instead of 40% and statewide by 3%.
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Penn Patriot has the Republican take and The Pennsylvania Progressive thinks that PA Democrats can do better.
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So the question is will Arlen Specter see all this opposition from the base of both party's and try to run as an independent? He said he wouldn't but who can believe anything he says now.

17 comments:

  1. Pope George Ringo7:21 AM

    THe rules do not make it easy for a Pennsylvanian to conduct a statewide Indpendent candidacy. And should Specter lose the primary he will be powerless to mount an effective one. If Pennsylvania elects a Republican Governor in 2010 and SPecter is re-elected, the odds of him surviving another six year term are nill at best and therefore, ironie of ironies, the Republican Governor will appoint a Republican Senator to succeed Arlen (perhaps, ahh, say--Toomey?).
    P.S. I've seen scientific accounts proving the single bullet theory, but who knows? IN all likelihood JFK was offed by Oswald, and Oswald alone. Judging from the distance from the sixth floor to the road, a cub scout could have hit the target.

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  2. The Much Maligned Anonymous Poster8:21 AM

    By being placed on the bottom of the seniority ladder a message has been sent to Specter, "Go along or expect a primary opponent in 2010." Arlen Specter has sold his soul to the devil and now he must put up. Watch him to go along more than not and when the Dems need the deciding vote, even if Specter has a history of opposing, he will go along. Adm. Seastic (sp) is making noise about a primary challenge. The messages are being sent and Specter proving his lack of courage will go along or become a private citizen.

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  3. Anonymous9:14 AM

    G, you forget to mention he was the Defense attorney for the original Unicorn killer Between his gig as Philly DA and Senator.

    Specter got him reduced bail and told the judge he was not a flight risk, But he ended up back packing through Europe all these years.

    Considering this and the magic bullet theory maybe we are safer if his work craziness is contained in the Senate

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  4. I did read that PA has a law that would prevent Specter from pulling a Lieberman if he were to lose his primary.

    http://electoral-vote.com/

    I haven't found a link to a copy of the law, but apparently it exists.

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  5. POPE GEORGE RINGO10:46 AM

    Jedimaster is correct; I had heard that on a politico show but I could not nail it down; just know that it is so.

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  6. Okay, so at least someone else heard about the law. I think that Specter needs to show party loyalty or he will get a primary challenge from someone like Sestak.

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  7. Professor Milburn Cleaver, OPA11:48 AM

    AS THE YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE HAD IT THEIR WAY WITH THE ELECTION OF MR. OBAMA, WE HAVE COME TO SEE THE REALITY OF THE OVER INDULGED YOUTH OF TODAY. FOR THE RECORD, COMPLETE INDULGENCE CREATES A FORM OF INVINCIBILITY AND BLINDESS TO FACTS AS THEY ARE TRULY PRESENTED. IT WARMS MY OLD HEART TO SEE THE LITTLE PEOPLE ON THIS BLOG RIP MR. SPECTER A NEW REPUTATION AS TRAITOR, OPPORTUNIST, ETC. ETC. SPECTER IS NOT WANTED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BY THE YOUTHFUL FAR LEFT FOR THE REASON THAT THEY NOT BELIEVE HIM TO BE A TRUE DEMOCRAT, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ALL DEMOCRATS TODAY MUST FIT THE COOKIE CUTTER MOLD OF PRO-CHOICE, GAY RIGHTS, ETC ETC. AND YET, THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC LEADERS, INCLUDING MR. OBAMA HAVE WELCOMED ARLEN INTO THE FOLD AS IF HE WERE SOME MODERN DAY PRODIGAL SON. SO BE IT. I CAN ASSURE YOU ALL, STUDENTS, THAT THE RUMORS OF THE DEATH OF THE GOP ARE A COMPLETE FANTASY. THE ECONOMY SHALL NOT IMPROVE, BECAUSE SPENDING ONLY WORSENS THE PROBLEM. WHEN YOU OWN A CREDIT CARD, THE BILL EVENTUALLY COMES DUE AND YOU CAN'T KEEP PRINTING MONEY AS THE MORE YOU PRINT THE LESS IT IS WORTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT MR. OBAMA HAS A HIGH POPULARITY RATING, BUT THIS IS ONLY PROPER AS ALL PRESIDENTS IN THEIR FIRST FEW MONTHS ENJOY MAJORITY APPROVAL. ONE DOES NOT LEAD BY THROWING TAX DOLLARS AT A PROBLEM THAT BEGAN BY AN OVER INDULGENCE OF TAX DOLLARS. LAST POINT, SEN. SPECTER WILL BE NOMINATED AS A DEMOCRAT IN 2010 AND BY THEN THE SHINE WILL BE OFF OF MR. OBAMA, HIS POLICIES, AND HIS PARTY. JANUARY OF 2011 WILL BE THE REAL AGE OF CHANGE WITH THE ELECTION OF SEN. PAT TOOMEY AND THE RESURGENCE OF REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE CONGRESS. PERHAPS THEN, THE ONLY TRUE CURE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED, ELIMINATION OF THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND A 30% ACROSS THE BOARD TAX CUT TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY WITHOUT SMOKE AND MIRRORS. OF COURSE, THIS MAY NOT COMPLETELY BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL THE NEW PRESIDENT IS SWORN IN ON JANUARY 20, 2013. FINALLY, WE CAN TELL OURSELVES THAT THE SPOILED CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTRY HAVE FINALLY BEEN GIVEN THE STICK AS OPPOSED TO THE CARROT AND SENT TO BED WITHOUT THEIR SUPPER. CLASS DISMISSED.

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  8. "Professor", you were wrong about the election. You will be wrong about Pat Toomey,who is unelectable statewide.

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  9. Professor Milburn Cleaver, OPA2:15 PM

    RE: JEDI: YES, YOUNG MAN, I ADMIT THAT I WAS WRONG. HOWEVER, I HAD BEEN COUNTING ON A CAMPAIGN CONDUCTED WITH SPIRIT BUT ENDED WITH GRACE AND MR. OBAMA DID NEITHER. BY ATTACKING MISS PALIN'S REPUTATION WITH FALSEHOODS AND BELOW THE BELT TACTICS, MR. OBAMA CONVINCED ENOUGH PEOPLE TO STRAY FROM MR. MCCAIN. NO REPUBLICAN HAS EVER USED SUCH SHAMEFUL TACTICS AGAINST A DEMOCRAT IN ANY PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN THE PAST, BUT AGAIN, MR. OBAMA IS THE TRAILBLAZER. I RECALL BEING UPSET IN 1976 WHEN GERALD FORD LOST ELECTION TO A FULL TERM AND MR. CARTER GAVE US FOUR YEARS OF HELL; BUT IN THE END, FORD'S LOSS WAS OUR GAIN BECAUSE IT GAVE US RONALD REAGAN, WHO ELEVATED OUR COUNTRY TO ITS GRANDEST HEIGHTS. I DO NOT DECRY YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR YOUR RIGHT TO CROW AT THE VICTORY OF LAST NOVEMBER, YOUNG MAN; I JUST BID ON YOU TO WAIT FOR THE FUTURE WHEN YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND ADMIT YOU WERE WRONG IN YOUR YOUTHFUL INDISCRETION AT THE VOTING BOOTH. CLASS DISMISSED.

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  10. Anonymous6:00 PM

    As a Democrat, I am hoping Specter gets a primary challenge. I would vote Specter over Toomey or Ridge, but definitely not happily.

    If pro choice Ridge gets it, we need a pro life Democrat to defeat him.

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  11. Why no talk about Santorum. I have been hearing Ridge today but Tom won't run.

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  12. Seeing at the wide margin in which Santorum was defeated, I doubt he'll run again.

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  13. Anonymous10:35 PM

    Is Lamb pro life, in a three way Dem primary with arlen and Sestak He could sneka in.

    The best GOP candidates are two gfuys from bucks County.

    Govoner Mark Sweiker is great, he left office a hero and can take some(not a lot) of credit for Ridge's accomplaishments with out ties to bush and the color code. He is moderate But I think he is pro life so he can appeal to the middle without really pissing off the base. Also he can go after Specter on the War. I really want to see some GOP guys doing that and

    the samegoes for former OCngressman mike fitzpatrick. Moderate but solidly pro life. He is by all accounts a grrat guy.

    I have heard the form Gov hates running for office so he may be out. mike Fitz recently kicked the shit out of cancer so who knows if he is up for a statewide race, If he does want to get back in elected office he may prefer to take out patrick murphy then go statewide.

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  14. Yes Jedi, the law precludes Specter running as an independent if he participates in a primary. When he looks at the polling next January he may just try to win a 3 way race by running as an independent.

    Professor, you had previously stated that you would retire if President Obama won the election.
    I recently heard rumors that the Mean Old Man had fitted you with cement shoes or buried you in hugo's back yard. I'm glad to see that you are well but you need to learn something about blog etiquette. ALL CAPS are verboten, this is not a lecture hall.

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  15. Professor Milburn Cleaver, OPA10:14 AM

    RE: WEBMASTER: Very well, young man, though I cannot help but point out the Liberal slant in your presentation. We Conservatives for ages have been attempting to educate the public as to the "Big Brother" views of the far left...and I must confess that with your NO CAPS rule, you have illuminated my argument. For what harm does it do if I conduct my presentation in all capital letters? OF course, this is another of the many form of political correctness that is eroding the freedoms of our land. However, as this is your privately owned blog, and I merely a guest commentator, I shall respect your rule under protest. Finally, my son, I did indeed say that I would retire from commenting should Mr. Obama win the election, and have kept silent since that dark November day. Circumstances, however, have prompted me to return as it is important to have my life experiences available to enlighten the little children who may otherwise be starved of a genuine, knowledgeable and impartial opinion. I do not wish to compromise you sir, I ask that you not compromise yourself and your readers by failing to broaden your horizons. Thank You. Class is dismissed.

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  16. I would not be surprised Gort, if Specter dropped out of the primary and ran as an independent if the polling indicated that he could have a better chance that way. I do wonder if he'd run as an independent even if polling showed him losing and coming in 3rd in a three way race. I wonder if he'd try anyway.

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  17. Not to argue semantics with you "professor" but your opinion is not impartial. The word impartial is defined by Princeton.edu as "unprejudiced: free from undue bias or preconceived opinions.

    You are clearly favoring the conservative side over the liberal. Your posts have all indicated that.

    Moving on.

    Here's a lesson in internet etiquette, something us young folk know a bit about. Typing in all caps is unfriendly to readers. The text is harder to read and it seems like you yelling. Gort is totally correct by asking you to not respond in all caps on his blog. Besides you conservatives like to have things private. Privatize this, privatize that. Gort's blog is a private institution, he can demand whatever the hell he wants. He can run his blog however he wants. We should be thankful that Gort appreciates everyone's opinions because he can easily deny people the ability to comment on these blog posts.

    The class on internet etiquette is dismissed!

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