Specter's Departure A Wake Up Call For GOP

Washington Post:

How much more can the Republicans take? Demoralized, shrinking and seemingly lacking an agenda beyond the word "no," Republicans today saw their ranks further thinned with the stunning news that Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is switching parties and will run for reelection in 2010 as a Democrat.

Specter is worried about his own survival -- and particularly a primary challenge from the right. Many in the GOP might say good riddance. After supporting President Obama's stimulus package, Specter was persona non grata in his own party. So it may be easy for some Republicans to conclude that they are better off without people like Arlen Specter.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Hawaii5-0]

It's easy to label people as left or right, Dem or Repub. That just keeps us in the us vs them paradigm. And a lot of time and energy is wasted fighting over party ideology. While the GOP has been pushing deregulation, members of both parties have voted for it. There is plenty of blame to go around. The GOP claims Specter is switching purely for selfish reasons. What about GOP support for Norm Coleman?

The new litmus test should be, "is this politician willing to put aside party affiliation to do what is best for the American people?" In that case, seems like Specter is willing to do that. He will not toe the party line of, "Just so No" and is willing to vote for what he feels is best for America. He knows that doing so, he is not welcome in the GOP. So who would stay in a party that does not want them?

[socialdemocracy1968]

The GOP is paying the price for forty years of ignorance, racism, economic deregulation, and warmongering. They started silly, stupid, destructive, costly wars and lost the support of military soldiers, commanders and veterans. They came out against Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Arabs, and they lost the ethnic vote. They castigated gays and lesbians and limited their rights, and thus have lost most of their votes. And they deregulated the economy and destroyed the unions. Working people aren't supporting them too much anymore, either. Now they're limited to a core group of hardliners, still clinging to their bankrupt ideas - hoping, pleading, that somehow things will turn around. But it won't turn around. The Republicans have locked themselves in a cycle of self-destruction, and its our duty, as Americans who care about the fate of this country, whether you are Democrats or Independents, to ensure that happens. There will be an opposition party, but it cannot be the Republicans. They have made fatal failures.

[Seb85]

To be fair, the democrats were in power when the major bills deregulating financial institutions were passed. I would argue that socially they have failed a LOT more than fiscally, an area in which both parties have acted irresponsibly.

[VeroucaSalt]

Really? When was that? I'd love to read up about that particular contribution by the Dems. A link will suffice.

[socialdemocracy1968]

Deregulation started with Reagan. Don't shift all of that blame onto Clinton. The Republicans were in control of Congress when Clinton was in power. It wasn't politically viable to oppose deregulation when everybody was smitten with Gingrich's Contract With America rubbish. The 1990s were a different time; we weren't yet ready to fully shake off Reaganism like we are now. It took twenty years for that to happen.

[steamboat]

And they were in TOTAL power when they escalated VietNam, also.

[dontvote4him]

I woke up feeling relieved that he left.
Next up, Olympia.
Pick 'em off one at a time.

[loria]

That's right, chase every moderate from your party and hang on to the fringe. You will be winning the hearts and minds of a lot of people approaching it that way. The GOP should be especially concerned that they are loosing the young and the young evangelicals. It could be a long time before they see a rise in party numbers. But, then many seem to want it that way.

[Cunningham]

Are you 21%ers hoping to become 15%ers? Keep doing what you're doing.

[kepary]

this isnt his 1st switch... he was a democrat before becoming a republican before becoming a democrat... lets see how the political winds blow in the future... he's all the democrats now

[Seb85]

This story seems to be more significant symbolically and as a news story, than in actual practice. While the title of his party has changed, after a bit of research it seems that his history is not one to abide by party party guidelines and he stands against the democrats in a lot of the important issues. While symbolically a loss for the republicans, their image is already shattered to pieces, and I don't really think this can be considered a huge gain for democrats. They first need to get all their members in line and working together, before I'd say that such an event is a win for them.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I don't know...I'd say it's pretty significant. If someone who has been a Republican for as long as he has...it seems pretty significant - even if it is "INO"

[dontvote4him]

A significant rino?

[loria]

I think the significance is that moderate Republicans can't exist in the party today. Those who can win a general election in a moderate state are pitted in the primary against those that are far right. They win the primary, but can't compete in the election because they are too far outside the mainstream. I don't know who in the GOP doesn't recognize that the country is much further left than they think, but I hope they keep believing the country is right there with their base.

[zizyphus]

Sorry for the Republican party's descent into oblivion, I have modified their logo to reflect their character.

[Galvanized Democrat]

Funny, it doesn't look like a butt.

[Binea]

I don't blame Spector,he has to do what he has to do.I don't think it's a move to keep power for powers sake because as he said,he has things he wants to work on and get passed. As for the republican party,Ron Paul is the only repub I can respect anymore.

[desertdweller]

Through the process of distillation, the Republican party has decreased in volume while becoming more concentrated in its narrow-mindedness, bigotry, and regional appeal. What was once a vintage of at least modest complexity is now a bitter swill of dregs and sediments that is palatable only to itself.

[Pupadup4oBama]

It's like when you have your coffee in the filter, you pour the water through and all that great flavor goes into the pot...but you still have those stubborn coffee grounds that just won't go through.
Those republicans....just like a bunch of dirty coffee grounds...:) lol

[motoGpifupleez]

Senator Specter saw the writing on the wall. If you challenge The Party in any way, shape or form, there will be reprisals. Paul Begala's analysis on larry king last night was dead on:
"Democrats are looking for Converts, Republicans are hunting heretics".
There is no such creature as a Republican Moderate any more. Do your Master's bidding or they will replace you with someone who will.
As long as the Republican party continues it's inward march of "White Makes Right", they will continue their march to irrelevance. The 18th and 19th centuries ideas are not going to serve them well in the 21st century. Not past the bastion of "The Solid South".
I applaud Senator Specter's honesty in admitting that he made this move for political survival. The man has shown a "Country First" attitude that will be welcomed by President Obama and will earn him a harsh rebuke for the "Party First, I Hope America Fails" crowd.
So be it. Fu.. them.

[CarolinaDem]

Sounds kind of like the defensive reaction of somebody who knows he's done wrong and fears that his allies will acknowledge it. They should call this 'preemptive purification'.

[Cosmic-Zantor]

Conservative values are corrosive and destructive to American culture, and the less influence these archaic loons have the better off the rest of us are and the brighter our future is. Democrats having the magic 60 in the Senate, Obama in the White House, is probably the best thing to happen to this country in modern times. All we need is a good supreme court member or two to really get the progress rolling.

[CarolinaDem]

What a good comment!

[desertdweller]

Can you just picture the fur flying when Obama makes a Supreme Court appointment of anyone to the left of Pat Buchanan? GOoPer heads will be exploding. It won't be pretty.

[loria]

You are right.

[Retrofuturistic]

The fact that the GOP hasn't perceived a "wake up call" yet is significant.

Most people "woke up" (and left) at least by 2004....

[probo]

Republicans are on the wrong side, financially, with most americans, they only care about the rich, most of us are not rich, they dangle that carrot out there trying to fool us and it worked out pretty well for awhile, but now we reap what they sowed and it is not a pretty picture. Anytime you come across a diehard republican, just ask them if they make over 250,000 a year, most do not, then why would you vote against your own interests. If they bring up the abortion issue, I say, has anyone forced you to get an abortion? And, honestly, how does the fact that gay people would marry affect your marriage? Why does your party want to get up all into my personal business? By the way , there are many extremely rich people who are democrats, and progressive. They understand that the middle class are the backbone of this country, and they want a strong middle class.

[FabulousAt52]

Like rats jumping off a sinking ship...
but no matter which island they swim to (to survive), RATS are still RATS.

President Obama and everyone else in DC: Don't trust the swimming rats...

[dj5850]

RATS are still RATS (whether they jump the ship or not!)

All I can say is AMEN (this coming from an atheist).

[Tom Joad]

21% identify themselves as Republiban. Clearly the highest incidence of mental illn ess in the developed world...another 20% are obviously not telling the truth.

[dontvote4him]

Proud to be a right wing, tea baggin, afro american, conservative. Sorry Janeane Garofalo

[GayGrandpa]

The Republicans hung their guns on two issues, gay rights (GAY MARRIAGE) and woman's rights (ABORTION)...those are big groups to fight especially when sensible people are more progressive, liberal and tolerant. The Republicans placed a bet on the Fundamentalists and lost! They are not the only "spiritual" people in the country, nor are they the only Christians. In fact they have a deserved reputation as haters and warmongers.

Also, people are tired of needless war and having the America coffers stripped by the likes of friends of Halliburton (CHENEY)! They are tired of non-thinking and non-responsible Presidents as well.

The Republicans are being steamrolled by a force they themselves are responsible for it is called BACKLASH! No one is going to forget Dick and W. lied us into a war that has cost us over 12 billion a month, no one is going to forget the intolerance and rush to war, no one is going to forget the stupidity!

[HyperInfluential]

I also think we should just make it a general rule that anyone who grew up in Connecticut but wants to be a cowboy so bad he moves to Texas and buys a ranch there and hires people to run it for him so he can barbecue should not be allowed to be president. Somethin weird about that. Shows a fundamental disconnect with reality.

[MyUserName]

Sorry, but it is you who are showing a fundamental disconnect with reality.

As a child, Bush attended public schools in Midland, Texas.
He was born New Haven, Connecticut but his parents moved to Texas
when he was a baby.

[steamboat]

Prop 8 which shot-down gay marriage happened in a very heavy democratic state---California....So don't only blame the GOP.