Shortest Commute in Political History: Arlen Specter Becomes a Democrat!
Yes, yes – good riddance to the quisling rino, but what is the old Judas up to this time?
Has he received quiet word that one or more members of the supreme court is about to step down (or go out toes-up) and he wants to be on the right, ah…well… the winning side of the tracks when the railroad goes through town? After all, it was Specter who convinced the GOP establishment to rescue him from a conservative challenge when Pat Toomey threatened to unseat him in the 2004 primary. Now Toomey is running again and there’s no one left for Arlen to fool this time – accept has new found “friends” at the DNC.
This raises a serious question for actual limited government, pro-capitalism, pro-USA (you actually have to say that these days) Republicans; Do we pursue a more ideologically diffuse “big tent” party or do we clarify and perhaps narrow our idea base and try to provide a superior quality of appeal to bring voters to our ideals. To intensely frustrated conservatives, who have been in-effect, blamed for big-government, disastrous, socialist meddling in the mortgage industry, and a raft of big-government-based problems which are continually ascribed to the free market – well I guess my question is my answer, but really: Self described moderates should think – how did Reagan win? Yes he was congenial, but he was also stubborn, yes he was funny, but he was in equal parts angry with government, yes was upbeat, but not about lefty nostrums or the cost and damage done by a government dedicated to vested interests. Reagan drew many Democrats and “moderates” to him because he was unapologetic and articulate in asserting free-market, small government, competition based model for our economy and politics. Liberal republicans have had a history of being good at getting elected in the northeast because they HAVE NOT served the interests of the party (or the country). The problem is that Republicans voted for the Clifford Cases and the Marge Roukemas because they an ‘R’ next to their name and the Dems voted for them because they delivered OPM (other peoples money).
Now New Jersey has its own primary, for Governor – a real choice and an opportunity. This is more of a 2004-Pat Toomey moment. Can New Jersey Republican voters understand that against an exposed lefty, union stooge, tax-payer sell-out like Corzine, that a Corzine-lite with corruption issues is an SS Titanic heading for an MSM iceberg? People, can we get it right? And correct! Steve Lanegan is the most electable choice – yes for ‘moderate’ and Democrat voters, because he, like Reagan believes in the freedoms included in the ideas which are the purpose of the GOP, at least the GOP I’ve voted for, and now we have ‘lost’ Specter…that happened a long time ago.
Now says Specter; “I’m not willing to [be judged by] a Republican primary electorate” – translation: “Since I was forced to make specific promises to help pro-constitution judicial appointments (and I, as usual, broke those promises) I don’t want to be judged by an electorate which cannot be fooled by my friends in the MSM” - even shorter translation – “I’m going to lose the GOP primary so I want to lock-up the Dem nod. That way I can keep my seat at all costs.” Clearly the Dems said (like the wolf in Little Red Ridding Hood) “we’ll protect you from a primary challenge - if you switch now” the only problem for Arlen is that there is no honor among thieves or Rom Emanuel. The DNC will withhold support for an alternative Dem in the 2010 primary – but those pesky independent groups – “well that’s why we…or.. er…they, call them independent groups!” (My what big media buys you have!) – Prediction: Specter will lose the Democrat primary to an even farther left (and much younger) candidate who will enjoy support form the Obama White House – however clandestine that support may or may not be.
The question for Republicans in New Jersey is; Do we want to win the election with a Lanegan, or do we want to lose it in the primary to a Specter oops.… a Christie?
