As I have frequently reported, Republicans are in a turmoil! Many are predicting a demise to the current Republican Party due to the extremist Right Wing of their party attempting a take-over of their agenda. These right wing extremists do not consider Michael Steele, the head of the RNC, as their leader. Instead, many of the extremists consider Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck their leaders with Sean Hannity and Michelle Malkin their primping queens. Now, to add to their misery, Senator Arlen Specter, the staunch and powerful Republican from Pennsylvania, has switched parties. He will run in 2010 as a Democrat. Specter said the Republican Party has slanted too far to the Right and it is impossible for a moderate Republican to survive in their ranks. He said, "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
Specter's decision will give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate once Democrat Al Franken is sworn in as the next senator from Minnesota.
President Obama was informed of Specter's decision at around 10:25 a.m. today, according to White House officials, and reached out to the senator minutes later to tell him "you have my full support," and we are "thrilled to have you."
The move is a huge blow to the Republican party. Many are in an uproar over Specter's decision. Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell said one party rule posed a danger to the country and accused Senator Specter of acting in political self interest. South Carolina senator, Lindsay Graham said: "We got a problem.''
The extremists celebrated the purging of another moderate from the Republican ranks. Rush Limbaugh said, "Arlen Specter should take John and his daughter Meaghan McCain with him.'' Michelle Malkin, another right wing extremist said, "Don’t let the door hit you on the way out."
From my perspective, I often wonder about the Republicans. Why are so many of their stances on the wrong side of Humanity? From Economic recovery to Healthcare to Education to Immigration Reform to Civil Liberties. This makes me think of JFK. Did they hate the fact that he was introducing Civil Rights and the end to the Jim Crow laws so much that they despised him to the level they did? Do the extremists hate progress, equality for all and humanity so much? I question the agenda of the extremists on their side. Every time I read a comment section, their websites and their un-editted responses, I question their morality and their Americanism. Perhaps, like the pyramids of old, that type of thinking has run its course.
The extremists celebrated the purging of another moderate from the Republican ranks. Rush Limbaugh said, "Arlen Specter should take John and his daughter Meaghan McCain with him.'' Michelle Malkin, another right wing extremist said, "Don’t let the door hit you on the way out."
I highly recommend that you read Conservatives Without Conscience by John Dean. He talks about how the Republican party has become more authoritarian. Specter seems to be a little bit better than most of his former Republican colleagues on human rights and various civil rights.
ReplyDeleteAdriana,
ReplyDeleteThank you. I will.
I like John Dean. He is smart, savvy, however much the opposition hates him. More power to him!
There is something really distasteful about turncoats like Specter. The Democrats bought him off with promises of committee chairmanships and other emoluments -- in a word a bribe. There is no reason for Republicans to be upset with this. After all Specter was never more than a RINO. He showed his true colors with his vote on the wasteful bailout package.
ReplyDeleteBut the real reason he switched parties is that he knew he would be defeated in the 2010 Republican primary election. He didn't want to close our his career in ignominy. Now the Dems are offering large scale support for his re-election bid. Who could turn down such a deal?
I wonder how the Dems will feel about this when he casts his first non-party line vote as he did to sustain the filibuster against the union carding. Will he change his vote now?
ReplyDeleteI see the UAW is in line to acquire a 55% interest in Chrysler. I thought Obama was indicating that significant concessions from the unions would be necessary for Chrysler and GM to survive. It doesn't sound as if the unions gave up much of anything. Instead they have supplanted the pension fund stockholders and bondholders in the ownership role. Such a deal! I hope Chrysler goes belly up for making such an insane deal at the expense of its real owners. Where will Specter be on this issue?
ReplyDeleteDestroying the critical balance of power in Congress is not something anyone should be chortling about. This balance has been a bulwark against the unbridled power AZ refers to. Instead of honoring the best traditions of our past, Obama seems to be working very hard to increase his power. Where will this lead? With the UAW owning a majority share of Chrysler we must be headed for a "workers' paradise". [Where have I heard that term before?]
ReplyDeleteConservatives are minimizing the "Specter" of the Republican Party.
ReplyDeleteThe Reaction of the Conservatives like Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh has been :
"This is unimportant, this does not matter, we knew what was going to happen, we do not waste your time, let's pass to another more important subject ( like Miss California )"
But the Liberal Media has made important Analysis, like Rachel Maddow with another repentant Republican :
Former Republican Senator Lincoln Chaffee on "The Rachel Maddow Show," April 28, 2009 - Arlen Specter and the fall of Republicans
He is currently a visiting scholar at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. He is considered "Extremely Liberal" in Republican Circles and supported Barack Obama in 2008.
This is strong analysis of the Extreme Low Moral and Ideological Quality of the Republican Party.
There are other Videos : The Change of Party of Arlen Specter
Chris Matthews with the People of the New Yorker Magazine analyze this political event.
And many other videos of political analysis.
Milenials.com
Vicente Duque