Specter to Switch Parties : Greg Laden's Blog

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Specter to Switch Parties

Posted on: April 28, 2009 1:22 PM, by Greg Laden

Republican Sen. Arlen Specter has decided to switch parties and become a Democrat, stunning his GOP colleagues in the Senate while pushing Democrats and President Barack Obama one step closer to unfettered power in Washington.
Specter will be the 59th Democratic senator, and if Al Franken eventually pulls out his Senate race in Minnesota, Democrats will have a filibuster-proof 60 vote majority in the Senate, something the party could only have dreamed of at this time last year.

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Comments

I think that this was inevitable, but it still caught me off guard when I heard it. How come I never have champagne when I need it? ;-)

Posted by: The Science Pundit | April 28, 2009 1:50 PM

In Bush's first term, when the repubs started piling on Specter, this is exactly the outcome I predicted.
No one among the republican leadership wanted Specter.
Careful what you wish for eh?

Posted by: Kitty'sBitch | April 28, 2009 1:51 PM

Great news and all, given Specter was one of the "good Republicans" (meaning one that seemingly still had a brain of his own when everyone else was marching in Bush lockstep, despite my disagreeing with a number of his positions)... but what about Lieberman? He's one of those 60, and hasn't exactly been the most faithful allies.

Posted by: Jason Thibeault | April 28, 2009 1:52 PM

Not that suprising considering he refused to become a blind follower of Bush regiem, but I kind of wish he hand't announced it until after Frankin is seated. Now they have even more incentive to delay Frankin's seating.

Posted by: Jackal | April 28, 2009 2:17 PM

Wow, that really makes Joe Lieberman look pretty foolish jumping in with the Republicans like he did.

Posted by: Joel | April 28, 2009 3:32 PM

Then up stepped McBean with a very sly wink, and he said,
"Things are not quite as bad as you think.
You don't know who's who, that is perfectly true.
But come with me, friends, do you know what I'll do?
I'll make you again the best Sneetches on beaches,
and all it will cost you is ten dollars eaches.

Belly stars are no longer in style, " said McBean.
"What you need is a trip through my stars-off machine.
This wondrous contraption will take off your stars,
so you won't look like Sneetches who have them on thars."

Posted by: Wayne Conrad | April 28, 2009 3:45 PM

I think Spector will be about as reliable as Lieberman. The only good I see is that it tweaked the noses of the Repubs.

Posted by: Richard | April 28, 2009 10:39 PM