National - by Lucas Pattan on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:31 - 9 Comments - 65 views
The Red Cat Republican we love to hate and hate to love out in Pennsylvania has now officially become a Blue Dog Democrat. With the help of the ability to count and a host of powerful primary challengers, as well as a Republican Party chairman who isn’t a fan, Senator Arlen Specter has declared himself a Democrat.
What does this mean, exactly?
Well, it means he’s probably safe for reelection in November of 2010. 200,000 Republicans changed their registration to Democratic in 2008, so the state is now solidly blue. There isn’t too big of a Democrat lined up to take him on for the primary, so there’s little chance Democrats will buck such a huge gift in order to put up someone with little to no name recognition.
It also means that Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate, which means the Republican threat of filibuster now means nothing. While some conservative Democrats may limit the President’s agenda, with Specter on the side of the Dems and Franken’s election looking pretty inevitable out in Minnesota, it looks to be a golden age of Democratic power, especially since 2010 looks to be a good year for Democrats election-wise.
This also means that, despite what he says now, Specter really will have to be nice to Obama’s agenda. Now that he’s attached to a much more powerful party, he will rely on them to avoid fronting a primary challenger and to support him as he begins to reengineer his donor and supporter base for 2010.
Also, for NYU students, this means Specter’s currently defined list of interns, most of them Republicans, will probably head out the door for someone more reflective of their views. So if you don’t have an internship yet and want to work for the new golden boy of the Democratic Party, get on the phone today!
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Oscar Matatquin
9 Comments
Henry Chan
Pennsylvania pride!
I’ve spent like five minutes trying to find the hidden message of this title.
Next up: Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins.
Sophia Tarabicos
@Lucas & @Justin
Yea, I’m not getting it either…
Henry Chan
@Sophia: R for Republicans, D for Democrats.
Madeline Kane
The world (and certainly the Senate) could always use one less R–but I am embarassed. In interviews Specter has been totally upfront about flipping parties because Pennsylvania is waxing blue. Representing the electorate is important, but that’s why there’s a six-year term–so voters can pick somebody from a different party if they want.
I guarantee this guy will not magically tip the balance in favor of Senate Democrats, because that’s not how he operates. Specter will do anything to remain relevant. He took shit from the R’s when he voted for the stimulus, and now he’ll take every opportunity to be a thorn in the Democrats’ side if it wins him media attention.
Seriously, PA, can’t we do better than a political opportunist who will compromise anything, even his party affiliation, to stay in office? If we reelect this dude, we can only expect he’ll continue to be a hypocrite, and next time it might not work in Democrats’ favor.
This is big because it’s a humiliation to the Republicans, but they were going to lose that seat no matter what in 2010. Meanwhile, just because Specter’s caucusing with the Democrats doesn’t mean he’s going to be their 60th vote when it really counts: he’s still against EFCA, for example.
The man’s still a human weathervane. He’s going to turn whichever way the wind blows no matter what side of the aisle he’s on.
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This is insane.