Comments on: Benedict Arlen

By: Warrior

Warrior — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:02:57 +0000

…long ago. I’ve written at least three diary entries about the liklihood of his defection, untrustworthiness or other betrayal by him.

(Several of them were lost when RS revamped the website a while ago. I think the one remaining is entitled, “Remember NotSpecter.org?” written when he voted, sight unseen, for the porkulus…)

By: Mike gamecock DeVine

Mike gamecock DeVine — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:51:00 +0000

The abandonment of the South Vietnamese after they had essentially defeated the communists and the Bushlied unpatriiotic lie that emboldened our enemies in Iraq, and cost more American lives as it lengthened the time it took to get Iraqis to trust us so that we could win the war.

Thanks God Bush stayed the course, knowing that it wold take 67 votes to override defense budget vetoes.

By: civil_truth

civil_truth — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:21:20 +0000

To change sides because he feared he could not win a primary is really setting a new low among the Senate.

Shame on him and shame on the Republican leaders who supported him over Toomey in 2004 – cowards all. Or in some cases, possbily blinded by friendship instead.

If Specter had a principled objection to the Republican Party, he could have become an independent, To jump to the Democrats is strict opportunism. Of course, he will have to be superloyal the next two years to try to demonstrate his bona fides. But the Democrats know that he has no principles or loyalty (except to himself) and will treat him accordingly.

Specter may find that “thirty pieces of silver” doesn’t go much further today than it did about two thousand years ago.

By: quakenshake

quakenshake — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:08:14 +0000

To quote you:
“I hardly think so too, but that’s not he sole reason for comparing him so. Voting down Bork, voting for the porkulus, having no principles, representing the worst in American politics, etc.”
Sounds to me like the GOP should have abandoned him first, years ago. Yet, they continued to support him, despite all signs of unreliability. That’s like letting a crackhead move in with you and feigning outrage when he steals your cash.
I’ve never been a fan of him myself. Maybe I’m the only one unsurprised by this? I don’t really care. At least Toomey will have a clear path to the nomination and the Democratic opponent is now known, so the GOP has plenty of time to formulate a strategy.

Mostly, I’m tired of trite theatrics in politics. That’s my major beef with the Arnold comparison. I thought that was clear when I mentioned Lieberman.

By: quakenshake

quakenshake — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:01:56 +0000

But that doesn’t mean I’m liberal either.
I’m not looking to be “of use” to you or anyone else.
Be nice, don’t make assumptions about me based upon one post. And incidentally, your post-script actually succinctly summarizes my point about Specter being who he is.
You can’t put your faith in any career politician, ever, regardless of party or ideology.

By: conservativemusician

conservativemusician — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:13:42 +0000

Calling Specter Benedict Arnold is being kind as we are banned from profanity on this site. It is obvious that you don’t really understand the anger and betrayal that most of us are feeling right now about turncoat Specter because you are not conservative yourself. Perhaps this would explain why you knonwingly voted for a person who “veers left or right with the political wind, but is neither a true liberal nor a true conservative”.

I have no use for you and others making excuses for a person who sold this country out for his own reelection campaign next year. Specter needs to be sent to the ash heap of history along with all the other RINOs who are mourning the loss of their co-conspirator moving over to where he always should have been but wasn’t because of political expediency. Sounds like you would be more comfortable posting on a liberal site…like Kos.

P.S. You have to have principles in the first place in order to betray them. We now know that Specter never had any…other than self-preservation.

By: Diogenes314

Diogenes314 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:32:57 +0000

Leave Benedict alone.The comparison is quite unfair-to Arnold. First of all there was no ‘nation’ to betray at the time, just a bunch of colonials commiting what might have been considered treason. Led by a Continental Congress and military leadership that BA believed to be corrupt. Right or wrong he had reasons for what he did.

Spector, on the other hand, betrayed not the GOP, not conservatives, but the voters of PA who voted for him, and more importantly his personal friends and collegues who supported him against their own political interests.

Arlen is scum. But then, he always was.

By: Lammo

Lammo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:02:10 +0000

Tried to paste the image, not smart enough I guess. Here’s the link:

http://www.coppersummitinc.com/Images/Weathervanes/Group_4/Whimsical_Pig_Weathervane_4_608.jpg

By: Warrior

Warrior — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:45:40 +0000

see below.

(Durn this newfangled software…)

By: Warrior

Warrior — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:44:17 +0000

“I hardly think switching parties is worthy of a comparison to a man who betrayed a nation.”

I hardly think so too, but that’s not he sole reason for comparing him so. Voting down Bork, voting for the porkulus, having no principles, representing the worst in American politics, etc.

Let me know if this is not enough for such a comparison. There’s only about a thousand more.

You know, betraying one’s country doesn’t just happen on the battlefield…. let me know if you need some examples of that as well…

By: Warner Todd Huston

Warner Todd Huston — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:31:15 +0000

Dispense with it. OK, let me think. OK, I’ve decided. NO.

By: $peciallist

$peciallist — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:29:27 +0000

that’s more that enough treachery to warrant ‘Benedict Arlen’

By: quakenshake

quakenshake — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:25:15 +0000

I hardly think switching parties is worthy of a comparison to a man who betrayed a nation. I hated this comparison when Dems used it agains Lieberman, and I sure as heck don’t approve it against Spector.
For the record, I voted for Specter in 1992 when I was registered in PA. He is who he is: A moderate politician who has straddled the fence most of his career. He veers left or right with the political wind, but is neither a true liberal nor a true conservative.
I’m not surprised by this. This move makes complete sense from his point of view, and I’m not suprised.
He’s never been a conservative, so he hasn’t “betrayed” any conservative principles.

By: sullyman

sullyman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:16:24 +0000

irony, but it’s a pipe dream. Specter will be dead before Republicans are back in the majority.

By: jwebb

jwebb — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:07:17 +0000

If somebody has a difficult time understanding the groundswell of public frustration that resulted in the Tea Party movement, they need look no further than the actions of Benedict Arlen. Here is a man so bereft of actual convictions, and so addicted to his powerful Senate seat, he will sell out his constituents for another fix of the Senate pixie dust.
regardless of which side of the aisle they are on, I for one am sick and tired of these career politicians. This country desperatly needs statesmen, not con men. I had already decided to support anyone who would run against Specter, just I supported anyone who ran against Murtha.
The House (and Senate) needs to be cleaned!!!

By: Andrew_D

Andrew_D — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:02:09 +0000

Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe should be next!

By: Next93

Next93 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:00:35 +0000

Arlen Specter wouldn’t be fit to carry Benedict Arnold’s laundry.

General Arnold was, prior to his calumny, a fearless warrior and gifted tactician who was treated in a less-than-stellar fashion by the continental congress. He was wounded while turning the tide of the battle for Ticonderoga (ironically, saving a general named Gates who ended up with the credit).

However, I do hope there is one similarity; after the war no one ever trusted Arnold again, and died in obscurity.

By: texas214

texas214 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:42:39 +0000

While all of us a round the country may have a favorite for who we would like to see as the next (R) senator from PA, we need to let the fine Republicans of PA figure out who they can nominate and win with. If that is Toomey, well then great, if it is Ridge then so be it, we will get behind him support him and the people of PA to have better representation than they have been offered by Specter.

By: Return to Revolution

Return to Revolution — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:23:58 +0000

- ripping the Anita Hill crowd and support Clarence Thomas. And that leaves what redeeming qualities?

The only thing worse than Specter would be Ridge, courtesy of the NR(INO)SC

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:22:39 +0000

if Specter won re-election and the Republicans retook the Senate? Now that would be justice on a scale that even the dims would be able to grasp.