Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

The Spectre of Specter

by BooMan
Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 11:18:40 AM EST

I watched Arlen Specter's appearances this morning on Face the Nation and Meet the Press. Especially during the Meet the Press interview, he made a serious effort to pitch himself as a reasonable choice for Pennsylvania's Democratic primary electorate. He said his father was a World War One veteran who never got his promised veteran's bonus. He said his father was 'a little guy' and that he had gone to Washington to stand up for 'the little guy'. After I got done cleaning up the coffee I had spit all over my living room table, I started thinking about how pathetic and unconvincing Arlen Specter is as a serious Democrat.

This is a guy that said that the Military Detainees Act was “patently unconstitutional on its face” the day before he voted for it. I don't know if he can win the primary or not. He has the support of the governor, the president, the DNC, and the DSCC. That's a lot of institutional support. The Democratic electorate has hundreds of thousands of people that have voted for Specter in the past. But, looking at how ridiculous he sounds as he tries to articulate his case for himself as a Democrat, I think he'll have a real challenge surviving any reasonably well-funded opposition from a real Democrat.

The Spectre of Specter | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

That is just the thing ... where is this well funded "real" Democrat going to come from? What outsider would be willing to take this challenge on? And Sestak isn't that far left of Specter to create a clear distinction

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 11:25:17 AM EST

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

Labor unions can help fund a challenger but most union members are sympathetic to Arlen. The money will be more valuable than the endorsement.

by BooMan on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 11:33:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 1)

They're not going to be sympathetic to him if he votes against EFCA.

More at Zandar vs. The Stupid.

by Zandar1 on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 11:34:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

Which he basically already has .. there is so much Op research material available on him .. that he'd get smoked by a well funded challenger

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 11:39:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Today's sound byte is devastating (none / 0)

Specter saying "I did not say I am a loyal Democrat...I did not say I would be a loyal Democrat" will come back to haunt him in about ten months' time, unless he actually starts voting like a loyal Democrat.

Even Joe Lieberman claims to be a good Democrat. Hell, Zell Miller claimed that he was a loyal Democrat, if only the party hadn't betrayed its principles. Southern Democrats could maybe get away with such b.s., but an ex-Republican running in a Dem primary in PA?

The ads really write themselves. Sure, plenty of PA Democrats may have warm fuzzy feelings towards Arlen Specter. He will benefit from the "Operation Chaos" Democrats who changed registration in April 2008.

But running in a closed Democratic primary in a blue state with a record of 95% support for Bush and a Progressive Punch score of 36% (Bob Casey and Joe Sestak are in the 90s) AND saying stupid shit like "I did not say I would be a loyal Democrat"???

With any sort of well-funded opposition, the guy is toast. Rendell may stick with Specter to the end, but I think Obama would suddenly find himself "too busy" in early 2010 to actually get involved in the primary.

by existenz on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 07:29:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

you underestimate how much good will he has built up in the labor community here.

by BooMan on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 11:43:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

hopefully labor realizes that they would have a much better chance of passing priority legislation with an actual Democrat. It just seems like a no-brainer to me.

by existenz on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 01:55:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

Not this union member.

Plus, he's an accessory after the fact. I'd say that the Dems in PA get a decent alternative.

by Bob In Pacifica on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 02:14:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

This is a guy that said that the Military Detainees Act was "patently unconstitutional on its face" the day before he voted for it.

How is that different from Obama's saying that spying on Americans is wrong, before he voted for the telecoms immunity bill? Spectre fits right in to today's Democratic party.

I don't see how Spectre is worse than Reid or Pelosi. Both of those betrayed both their party and their country by their continual collaboration with Bush. At least when Spectre enabled Bush, he was being loyal to his party.

by Alexander on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 12:40:24 PM EST

No worse than Pelosi? (none / 0)

Look, I'm no fan of Reid and Pelosi, who rolled over way too many times under Bush (and Reid continues to fold in face of GOP filibuster threats), but they aren't in the same league as Specter. Pelosi never would have allowed the Military Commissions Act to be passed in the House, much less voted for it.

Specter did NOTHING to fight Bush's worst policies. Sometimes he would talk a good game, but never backed it up with votes.

by existenz on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 01:49:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No worse than Pelosi? (none / 0)

Specter did NOTHING to fight Bush's worst policies

That was not really his job. That was the role of the opposition party, which did not do its job.

You're probably right: if one ignores party affiliation, Specter is worse than Reid and Pelosi. But when you consider that none of the three put up a real resistance to the criminality of the Bush regime, Reid and Pelosi come out looking worse than Specter, given that they were in what was nominally the opposition party, whereas he was in Bush's party.

by Alexander on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 02:00:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

good point, but (none / 0)

good point regarding the role of the opposition party, but in your initial post you made it sound as if Specter fit right in with the Dems based on his votes/actions under Bush.

I just wanted to point out that his votes/actions were abominable by almost any standard. He makes Ben Nelson look like a liberal fighting Democrat by comparison.

Now that he is in the Democratic party, and we can compare apples to apples, his vote record is already horrible. So, I still contend that Reid/Pelosi are in a different category and to lump them all in together is a bit unfair.

by existenz on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 07:35:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

Chris Matthews had an interesting interview with Rep Joe Sestak and he seemed pretty intrigued by the idea of running against Specter. Said he would announce a decision in the 2nd quarter.

by mainsailset on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 01:15:37 PM EST

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

Arlen Specter is like a basketball player who gets traded to a new team, but keeps shooting baskets for his old team.

I don't think the 76ers would be too excited about signing Lebron James if he started scoring points for the Cavs every time they play.

Arlen Specter is the Jim Marshall of politics, though that comparison is a tad unfair since Arlen is doing this on purpose.

by existenz on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 07:39:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We need to pressure Sestak (none / 0)

If Sestak wants to make a go at this, let's support him. If he gets pressured to drop out, we need to develop a list of possible alternatives. Ned Lamont came out of nowhere to take down Lieberman, it would just take the PA version of that to beat Specter. A real Democrat who can develop a connection with union workers, western PA, and of course the fightin' Democrats in Philly.

So far what's I've heard from Sestak has been substance-less bromides about running "for" something as opposed to "against" something. He needs to get specific. Also, he should ignore calls from Obama or Rendell to drop out, because by January next year most Democrats in DC will be wanting to get rid of Specter and will regret their promises to support him.

by existenz on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 01:41:04 PM EST

Re: We need to pressure Sestak (none / 0)

Sestak is weak. I wish Rendell would run but he's BFF with Specter so he'll stick with the backroom deal Obama and Biden made with Specter for nothing in return.

Maybe PA dems won't put up with this shit and not vote for a fake democrat.
I can dream can't I????

by Jan on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 02:16:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: We need to pressure Sestak (none / 0)

I think you'll find that Rendell is the one who made the backroom deal with Specter. It was Rendell who promised that the PA Democratic Party wouldn't push a primary challenger against Specter, after all - Obama really couldn't do a thing about it if the PA Dems wanted to mount a primary challenge.

Rendell has been trying to get Specter to switch parties for years. He laid the groundwork long ago and is now reaping the rewards for himself (what he gets out of it other than a poke in the eye for the PA GOP is unknown to me - given that it's Ed Rendell we're talking about, though, a poke in the eye to the PA GOP might well be all he wanted.)

by nonynony on Mon May 4th, 2009 at 01:51:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

On a public option for health insurance -- which conservatives claim will end the private market, but most observers say could bring down the costs of coverage for millions of Americans -- Specter said he would be in opposition. "That's what I said and that's what I meant," he added later, when asked if he would vote "no" on public health care.

At several other points, Specter did lay out areas in which he had "diverged materially from the Republican line," including raising the minimum wage, the stimulus package and abortion rights. But he went to great lengths to insist that he did not, as reported, tell Democratic leadership or the White House that he would be a loyal party member.

"I did not say," he told host David Gregory, "I would be a loyal Democrat. I did not say that."

So someone please explain to me to WTF???
Useless. He will be more of a detriment to us than anything. But, AS USUAL, democrats fall all over themselves FOR WHAT??? He'll most likely vote against Obama's pick for the Supreme Court. And at that point, the DNC should say good luck with your relection because WE'RE certainly not giving you any money.

by Jan on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 02:04:48 PM EST

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

me bad- RE ELECTION.

by Jan on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 02:06:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

I'm not a huge fan of joe sestak, but if Joe or anyone else witha snowball's chance ran against the cancerous old coot, I'd give that person money and support.

shit, I'd even support Specter's cancer if it ran against him.

John Mccain Called his wife WHAT??

by brendan on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 04:25:29 PM EST

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

What does it take to get on the ballot in PA? Why don't you, Boo, or Atrios run if Sestak won't? Because if Sestak won't, no other "establishment" Democrat(meaning current officer holder of any sort .. whether national, state or local) will.

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 09:54:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

How tall is Specter? The only 'little guy' he ever stood up for was himself.

"Little people are very stuff-intensive."

by CabinGirl on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 06:38:40 PM EST

Re: The Spectre of Specter (none / 0)

Specter is so unbelievably fucking old he should not run for that reason, if for no other. He is seventy nine (Iam told) and he has cancer. Please don't tell me there is no live healthy real Democrat anywhere to be found.

by arcadesproject on Sun May 3rd, 2009 at 09:11:53 PM EST

The Spectre of Specter | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Go to: [ Booman Tribune Homepage : Top of page : Top of comments ]

. Home
. About
. Contact
. Advertise
. FAQ
. Search

Username:
Password:

. Make a new account
. Reset password

Gift Cards * New Arrivals

NOTE: Overstock bests Amazon's prices and is "blue."

THE BOOKS WITH "BUZZ":
______________

Senator Edward M. Kennedy tells his extraordinary personal story:

True Compass: A Memoir
by Edward M. Kennedy.

Read Barack Obama's vision for America:

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
by Barack Obama

Boran2 and maryb2004 recommend:

The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime
by Jasper Fforde

Must-have information for all presidents-and citizens-of the twenty-first century?

Physics for Future Presidents: The Science behind the Headlines
Richard A. Muller

rae recommends:

Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire
by Morris Berman.

On BooMan’s shelf:

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

This looks interesting:

Adventure Divas
by Holly Morris

Here’s a good one from
Elizabeth Gilbert:

Eat Pray Love
by Elizabeth Gilbert

"Crash" * Best Motion Picture, Academy Awards * Only $11.79 at Overstock * 2006 SAG Winner, Best Ensemble

Check out
Powell's new section:
NEW FAVORITES
Selected new arrivals at 30% off

Recommended by Indianadem and ejmw:
The Conscience of a Liberal
by Paul Wellstone

From northcountry’s bookshelf:

The New Golden Age:
The Coming Revolution Against
Political Corruption and Economic Chaos by Ravi Batra

A novel about contractors in Iraq from the woman that runs The Spy That Billed Me:

Outsourced: A Novel
from RJ Hillhouse.

Great Deals
----- * ^ * -----

Find mystery novels by Nancy Pickard ("Kansas")

Challenging Empire: How People, Governments, and the UN Defy US Power by Phyllis Bennis (interviewed on DN!)

Featured by Keith Olbermann, New (Powell's Sale): Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower by William Blum (whose other books merit serious consideration)

"Explosive" State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration
by James Risen

The book the CIA doesn't want you to read: Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander
Larry Johnson's review

BT's all-time best seller:

PERMACULTURE:
A Designers' Manual
$79.95 * Sale: $59.95

Unequal Sisters: A Multicultural Reader in U.S. Women's History (Third Edition)

The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich, the Poor Are Poor And Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car!

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
by Timothy Egan

Green Press Initiative
----- * ^ * -----

Journalistas: 100 Years of the Best Writing and Reporting by Women Journalists by Eleanor Mills * NYT review

Bury Me Standing: the Gypsies & Their Journey

1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus

Brokeback Mountain
by Annie Proulx
----- * ^ * -----
Check out Powell's
"At The Movies"

Imperial Ambitions: Conversations on the Post-9/11 World by Noam Chomsky (Power & Terror: Post 9-11 Talks)

The Price of Privilege:

How Parental Pressure and
Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of
Disconnected and Unhappy Kids
by Madeline Levine

Save 35-70% on
name brand clothing,
footwear, and outdoor gear
at SierraTradingPost.com
:

We listened to PEN American Center's "State of Emergency" and found 1940s books by Curzio Malaparte only at Alibris. (Selection (MP3) excerpted from "The Skin.")

Banned Books * Are you a fan of Film Noir, Art House, Documentaries or Hong Kong Action? * Searching for a long-lost children's book or a first printing of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue on vinyl? Find it at Alibris!

:
:

Booman Tribune Homepage
admin@boomantribune.com
powered by Scoop

More blogs about Blogs at Technorati.

Technorati Profile