Traitor Arlen Specter Gone

[hotatlboi]

Actually Specter wasn't that bad as a Senator.
How many Republicans can be elected by a majority of Democrats and survive for 30 years?
As Justapixel pointed out Republicans considered him a Traitor.
In my opinion he was an arrogant evil bastard,But, Who would you want fighting for you?
Specter lost because he's 80 years old,cancer survivor and after 30 years it's just time to move on.
P.S. He was truly Bipartisan and proved it many times by siding with Democrats over those 30 years

Spectre used to be a principled Bipartisan yes. But lately he just cared too much about his job and it became obvious.

The same thing has happened to McCain. He used to be a respected senator who valued bipartisanship. Now he's taken an illogical nose dive off the far right cliff in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

It seems that as these guys get older they lose their objectivity and just want to hold on to their status and power.

 

[LonelyInVenice]

Spectre used to be a principled Bipartisan yes. But lately he just cared too much about his job and it became obvious.

The same thing has happened to McCain. He used to be a respected senator who valued bipartisanship. Now he's taken an illogical nose dive off the far right cliff in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

It seems that as these guys get older they lose their objectivity and just want to hold on to their status and power.

Actually, the party system has become so polarized that it rather forces moderates to declare one side or the other. Specter had to leave the GOP because of pressure from leadership to toe the GOP line. Of course it's about keeping his job. Moreover, I believe it's about seeking freedom from party ideological dogma.

 

[hotatlboi]

Specter had to leave the GOP because of pressure from leadership to toe the GOP line.

Not really. The GOP leadership never liked him too much over his multiple decades in office because he was a bipartisan for most of that time and did not feel a need to toe the line.

He had to leave the GOP because he had a look at the primary polling numbers and realized that he would not win reelection.

So basically, it was the voters would suddenly took issue with his status as a moderate. And I think that's not surprising given the metric fuckton of bullshit that has been churned up by the right wing noise machine the last year about Obama and the Democrats which has poisoned the debate on everything and further polarized the right.

 

[LonelyInVenice]

Not really. The GOP leadership never liked him too much over his multiple decades in office because he was a bipartisan for most of that time and did not feel a need to toe the line.

He had to leave the GOP because he had a look at the primary polling numbers and realized that he would not win reelection.

So basically, it was the voters would suddenly took issue with his status as a moderate. And I think that's not surprising given the metric fuckton of bullshit that has been churned up by the right wing noise machine the last year about Obama and the Democrats which has poisoned the debate on everything and further polarized the right.

There's still far more pressure today for Republicans to follow the GOP playbook and not vote with the Democrats on anything.

 

[chuck10x]

Spectre used to be a principled Bipartisan yes. But lately he just cared too much about his job and it became obvious.

The same thing has happened to McCain. He used to be a respected senator who valued bipartisanship. Now he's taken an illogical nose dive off the far right cliff in a desperate attempt to keep his job.

It seems that as these guys get older they lose their objectivity and just want to hold on to their status and power.

Yes Specter loved his job,But in order to keep it,He had to deliver to the people of Pennsylvania.
Thats what kept him in office for 30 years.
When you have die-hard Democrats in here defending Specters record,That really has to tell you something.
The popular opinion of Specter is that he is an arrogant asshole, VERY few loved him,YET, He was elected over and over again.
He had to be doing something right.
He lost because his time is done, 30 years is too long.

 

[MercuryJones]

He lost because his time is done, 30 years is too long.

That may be true for Specter. I don't know his performance among his constituents or their satisfaction.

Of course it's worth remembering this was a primary, and primaries are about a sector of the electorate, not the whole. Specter didn't have long roots as a Dem and he fell to the competition.

Lieberman lost his own party primary but went on to win the state as an independent. So losing a primary doesn't necessarily mean your constituents are done with you. Just that some are.

Please note: this is not a defense of Specter's record, just a defense of accuracy and the bigger picture.

 

[LonelyInVenice]

Lieberman lost his own party primary but went on to win the state as an independent. So losing a primary doesn't necessarily mean your constituents are done with you. Just that some are.

That's a good point, and it dovetails with something I said earlier. It's a mistake for politicians to flip from one party to the other. In effect, they have to forfeit their base in favor of hopefully picking-up votes from the new party. However, switching to Independent is more excusable. Party faithful from the original party don't feel like traitors voting for an independent, while they would if they voted for the other party. Plus, the candidate gets the benefit of pick-up votes from moderates of the opposing party.

 

[chuck10x]

That may be true for Specter. I don't know his performance among his constituents or their satisfaction.

Of course it's worth remembering this was a primary, and primaries are about a sector of the electorate, not the whole. Specter didn't have long roots as a Dem and he fell to the competition.

Lieberman lost his own party primary but went on to win the state as an independent. So losing a primary doesn't necessarily mean your constituents are done with you. Just that some are.

Please note: this is not a defense of Specter's record, just a defense of accuracy and the bigger picture.

Satisfaction was very high, His performance was great.
He had very good ratings among Unions and supported Women and gay rights.
His rating was as high as 76% on Democratic concerns- Damn good for a Republican- Poison to his Party.
Realistically, After his cancer and Chemo treatments, Age and 30 years in service the younger voters went with Sestak.
Specter did start out as a Democrat, But Philly would not elect a Jew at that time so he switched Parties earning the title (RINO) "Republican in name only"

I have met him quite a few times, Great Politician, You could feel the power coming off him, It was like meeting the Devil- Especially when he smiled.
I say that with all due respect as he scared the sh!t out of other Republicans