Specter joins the Dems

[SteamWake]

All true but it makes it much more likely. As of late both sides of the aisle have been more or less in lockstep with their own agendas.

Honestly Spector is not a great loss since he was a rino anyhow.

His main motive evidently was he dident have a chance of remaining in office as a republican.

[Platapus]

That can sometimes backfire. Sometimes the citizens don't like their representatives jumping parties like that.

There is a quality to commitment.

[Aramike]

Specter is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with American politics. A quote from him:

"I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate."

He's specifically dodging accountability to his constituents - and saying he's UNWILLING to be judged by his record.

Specter's been a RINO for years, so this isn't really going to impact anything. However, his statements and perception of the purpose of the Senate is a complete outrage.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Aramike

Specter is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with American politics. A quote from him:He's specifically dodging accountability to his constituents - and saying he's UNWILLING to be judged by his record.

Specter's been a RINO for years, so this isn't really going to impact anything. However, his statements and perception of the purpose of the Senate is a complete outrage.

Read what he said. He is actually saying that he is unwilling to be judged by the Penn Republican primary electorate

Republican does not equal everyone

Senators are supposed to represent their entire state, not just their political party.

That is the purpose of the Senate.

[SteamWake]

Talk about hypocrasy.

Spector was just saying a month or so that he would 'never' change parties that he "Thought it important to have a balance in the senate".

I guess getting re-elected is more important than either representing his people or party allegiance.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Talk about hypocrasy.

Spector was just saying a month or so that he would 'never' change parties that he "Thought it important to have a balance in the senate".

I guess getting re-elected is more important than either representing his people or party allegiance.

You mean he is a politician who would lie to get reelected???

Oh my, what ever has become of US politics.

[Max2147]

Specter is still free to vote against the Dems on a filibuster, just like he was free to vote with them before the switch. So this doesn't really change the balance of power in the Senate.

The bigger worry is that his defection (and the reason for it) shows that there isn't much of a place for moderates in the Republican Party anymore.

[August]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Read what he said. He is actually saying that he is unwilling to be judged by the Penn Republican primary electorate

Republican does not equal everyone

Senators are supposed to represent their entire state, not just their political party.

That is the purpose of the Senate.

But apparently he IS willing to be judged by the Penn Democrat party electorate?

I see this as a last ditch effort to save his career. He's not Dem enough for the Democrats.

[Max2147]

Originally Posted by August

But apparently he IS willing to be judged by the Penn Democrat party electorate?

I see this as a last ditch effort to save his career. He's not Dem enough for the Democrats.

But it looks like this move will please the Dems enough to discourage anybody serious from running against him in the primary.

[August]

Originally Posted by Max2147

But it looks like this move will please the Dems enough to discourage anybody serious from running against him in the primary.

We'll see, but state party organizations tend to not go in lockstep with the nationals on a fairly regular basis.

After all look at it from a Pennsylvania Democrats standpoint. All those years working for the party just to see the nationals hand the nomination to a turncoat former Republican?

5 election campaigns talking about how important it was to defeat Spectre the Republican and now he's their preferred candidate? I have a difficult time believing the state party would just roll over like that.

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Read what he said. He is actually saying that he is unwilling to be judged by the Penn Republican primary electorate

Republican does not equal everyone

Senators are supposed to represent their entire state, not just their political party.

That is the purpose of the Senate.

I did read what he said. Now, you should read what I said.

In case you forgot, the Republicans are the ones who elected him. Now, he's avoiding their judgement on his record.

Senators are supposed to represent the people who elect them, because in order to be elected, that's the majority.

[AVGWarhawk]

nough said.....

[SUBMAN1]

Specter is just wearing appropriate clothes now. He was always dem.

-S

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Aramike

Senators are supposed to represent the people who elect them, because in order to be elected, that's the majority.

Do you have a citation to back up you viewpoint?

Are you sure Senators are not supposed to represent their entire state?

In all my government studies, I have never come across any citation that states that Senators only represent the people who voted for him or her.

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Do you have a citation to back up you viewpoint?

Are you sure Senators are not supposed to represent their entire state?

In all my government studies, I have never come across any citation that states that Senators only represent the people who voted for him or her.

Umm, that's the nature of a democratic republic. That's why the majority selects the representative, and representing that majority would constitute representing the state.

I thought this would be a pretty obvious point. Especially considering that it is completely impossible to represent all of the diverse viewpoints held in a state.