Earlier this year Arlen Specter, who believes in nothing except the importance of his own continued presence in the Senate, decided that it might help his election chances to abandon the party that has stood by him and funded him for years even as he spit in their face on important issues time and time again. Today, Arlen Specter officially reaps the fruit of his labor:
It was by no means a surprise, but Rep. Joe Sestak made it official today — he’s challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in next year’s Pennsylvania Senate race.The Democrat, who is now in his second term in the House, announced his candidacy at a VFW post in Folsom, Pa., promising that he would be the most “honest” and “hardest-working” senator if he is elected.
Although Sestak is behind in the early polling, Specter’s numbers (especially his favorable/unfavorable spreads) show that he is very vulnerable, and Sestak figures to be well-funded (especially if Specter doesn’t manage to get an acceptable version of Card Check passed). I give Sestak about even-toss odds of winning this primary. All this despite the fact that the Democratic party apparatus, including heavyweights like PA Governor Ed Rendell and President Obama, have been applying a full-court press to prevent Sestak from even running.
The lesson here for other Republicans who may be contemplating the Specter maneuver is obvious: if you switch parties to try to help your general election chances, you will get primaried from the left and probably lose. You will also lose all the seniority you have on all your committees for the rest of your miserable Senate term. And no matter what Obama or anyone else promises you, they will not be able to prevent it from happening. In other words, the only thing you will accomplish will be to move your electoral defeat forward a few months to the primary, rather than the general election.
Let’s hope the rest of the Vichy Republicans are paying attention.
Moe Lane
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Karma
smitty Tuesday, August 4th at 12:02PM EST (link)You reap what you sow Arlen. The man repulses me so much I am almost tempted to send some money to Sestak. Almost.
Any names
grinlap Tuesday, August 4th at 12:53PM EST (link)of the Vichey Republicans?
There are Vichy Republicans from all walks of life.
The_Rebel (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 1:13PM EST (link)To name three still sitting in the U.S. Senate, we have Hagel, Snowe and Collins. To name two formerly elected Governors, we have Weld and Ridge. To name three current media types, we have Frum, Brooks, and Noonan. And to name one former military type and government official, we have Powell. There are scores more, but you get the point.
Isn't Hagel gone?
scarlos (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 4:24PM EST (link)I’m pretty sure he left the Senate in 2008.
Socialism is Oligarchy in disguise
You're right.
The_Rebel (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 5:57PM EST (link)My bad.
I'm confused...
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 2:52PM EST (link)… wouldn’t it be a good thing for the so-called “Vichy Republicans” to switch parties and be voted out during the primaries?
Why the warning? This almost seems like a call to arms for said “Vichy Republicans” to not venture to the other side because they’ll lose all power and support whereas the GOP will continue to fund and support them (and give them powerful committee positions) even as they spit in the GOP’s face time and time again.
I’m confused by the premise here.
/government
Because some of us don't like Democrats to win (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 2:58PM EST (link)RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Now I'm More Confused
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 3:22PM EST (link)You don’t like Democrats so you’ll vote for and support a Republican that votes, acts, and treats the GOP in the same manner as a Democrat would?
I honestly fail to see the logic, I’m not trying to be obtuse.
/government
Sorry... that should have been a reply above -nt-
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 3:24PM EST (link)/government
I believe the point is to get them to vote like real Republicans
The_Gadfly (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 3:40PM EST (link)until the election. Specter did this reliably for most of his time in the Senate. For the four years after his election, you could pretty much count on him being at some random position with no ryhme or reason to the positions he occupied. But for the two year before his re-election, suddenly he was more consistently Republican. So obviously it will work better in the House than it does in the Senate.
That's a strange way to justify support
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 4:10PM EST (link)Leon (the OP) posted a piece not too long ago about Mike Castle running into some “birthers” and how he would be an improvement, should he win in the coming election, over the former holder of the seat (Joe Biden).
The basis was that the birthers weren’t helping Castle win by distracting from the issues because the GOP just needs to “hold his feet to the fire” as it were.
I seemed lost as I read that being that Castle voted for Cap & Trade, supports Obamacare (or did last I checked), voted for TARP, to bail out the auto industry, he gets an F rating from the NRA, he voted to strengthen Hate Crime laws, and on and on.
My point isn’t really to attack Castle but to point out the fallacy of this mindset as I see it and the cause of many headaches on my part. I do not understand supporting socialism on the installment plan simply because it is better than getting it right now under a Democrat.
Giving one dime to a “Vichy” Republican simply because he’s a Republican is one less dime being spent on real candidates who might actually accomplish something.
/government
He doesn't vote for Nancy Pelosi
Leon H. Wolf (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 4:24PM EST (link)And wouldn’t for Harry Reid.
————
We can’t stop here. This is bat country.
He doesn't vote for Nancy Pelosi
Leon H. Wolf (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 4:24PM EST (link)And wouldn’t for Harry Reid.
————
We can’t stop here. This is bat country.
Huh?
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 4:33PM EST (link)I honestly do not understand what you are referring to Leon. Does it matter if he doesn’t vote for them if he votes with them?
/government
I'm talking about the leadership vote
Leon H. Wolf (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 4:52PM EST (link)Which is the most important vote any congresscritter makes.
————
We can’t stop here. This is bat country.
How is that the most important vote? -nt-
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 5:04PM EST (link)/government
Because it determines
Leon H. Wolf (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 5:08PM EST (link)Who sets the agenda, who chairs all the committees, basically who runs the show. All other things Congress does are controlled by who sits in leadership.
————
We can’t stop here. This is bat country.
But that only matters for the party in power...
gahazzah (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 7:20PM EST (link)… right? I mean, sure Castle might not vote for Pelosi or Reid but a Democrat is going to be in charge when the Democrats hold more seats and as we’ve seen they don’t exactly flock towards the middle when appointing leaders.
Since regardless of who Castle votes for in the leadership roles the Democrats are going to push their agenda anyways, wouldn’t it make more sense to support somebody who will fight said agenda instead of supporting somebody who ostensibly agrees with Pelosi and votes against the American public?
I don’t see any inherent win with this strategy. Okay, he votes against Pelosi and Pelosi ends up in power regardless. Then he votes with Pelosi and the conservative side loses twice.
I’m at a loss as to why support a party that cares more about titles and gives positions of power to sell-outs?
I could see the argument for supporting the Spectors and so forth but why give them powerful committee positions? Why not do to the Vichy Republicans what the (D)s are doing to Boxer right now?
/government
What's funny is that Specter is arguing that
bk (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 7:37PM EST (link)Sestak isn’t a loyal enough Democrat.
Specter need to stop
Richard Mullins (Diary) Tuesday, August 4th at 7:43PM EST (link)calling the kettle black, because he’s a loyal anything.
Richard Phillip Mullins BlogThe Squash Satire SiteNews on Happy Jet Airlines
Rmullins Pics
Rpmullins Twitter
Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.
Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.