(no subject)

[primroseburrows]

Hmmm. Why didn't this register on my radar?.

Not that I mind a bit, because I like Arlen Specter. I wonder why he became a Democrat and not an independent, though, because he pretty much doesn't tow the party line for either camp. Which? Is why I like him. But it's all good, because now the Dems are almost filibuster-proof, and will be for real if/when Norm Coleman finally stops beating a dead horse .

In other news, I can sit sans meds without screaming this morning, but still very ow. *sigh* First physical therapy was yesterday. Craniosacral, mmmm, I like it. Hopefully it will help, because I hate Vicodin with the force of a thousand fiery pharmacists.

In still other news, Jack Layton is now following me on Twitter. I'm probably way more amused about this than I should be.

Comments

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

I agree completely. And respect people who decide that when the party they've been belonging to no longer represents them, they choose a new one.

[newleaf31.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly agree with that sentiment, too... and I daresay most people would, right? To clarify my rambling above :-p, what I mean is, I think Sen. Specter's move is pretty much entirely opportunistic, NOT particularly predicated on political ideology. Yes, a great many of his political views now accord more fully with the platforms of the Democratic Party instead of the GOP, absolutely. But that's been true for years now, and he hasn't changed his party allegiance. He was pretty transparent yesterday that he was switching parties because he thought it unlikely that he could beat the conservative Republican he'd be running against in the Pennsylvania primary (who's currently whipping him in the polls), but felt confident that he could keep his seat if he ran as a Democrat with the full backing of the Democratically controlled Senate and the v. popular Prez. If Specter was changing his affiliation primarily because of political ideology, I think he wouldn't get nearly as much vitriol. He's getting shredded because his move was motivated primarily (again, not exclusively) by political expediency. But I have no problem with that expediency. That's what I meant to say. :)

ETA: I must add, though, that if he'd moved SOLELY for the sake of expediency -- i.e., if it was clear that the majority of his political views accorded better with the GOP -- then I would have a big problem with it. That would be unethical. But Specter's been his own man for decades, leaning more and more towards moderate-liberal. I always had to remind myself that he was a Republican!

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Specter's been his own man for decades, leaning more and more towards moderate-liberal. I always had to remind myself that he was a Republican!

He seems to be more independent than Democrat, though, so sure, he's doing it for expediency. But like you said, he's not a Republican pretending he's not, he's an independent making a choice. And that's okay with me. I really do like him, anyway, BECAUSE he has that independent streak. He's almost in the same league with my hero Lincoln Chafee, although I think Chafee is ideologically more of a Democrat than Specter. I think he didn't become one because of a lot of reasons, one being that his late father (an old-school GOP guy whom I also love) would roll over in his grave.