Never Gonna Give You Up

where in my writing about this have I declared Specter's switch a victory for us? my opinion from moment one was at worst this gives us nothing, at best it offers us a Senator who votes with us 25% more often than he would have before. but either way, to ensure Specter is a better Senator between now and Nov. 2010, he must be challenged in the primary.

I think we agree more than you think we do. we can have 70 Democrats in the Senate, it doesn't matter if we don't have 60 decent ones.

There will always be a balance between the ideologies, i.e. conservatism and progressivism, it's just that the thumb is pushing down on the progressive side right now, and for good reason.

My point is, bruh3, that you can't carry out the progressivism on every political point to the nth degree and expect actual results.

Now, don't get me wrong: this is an absolutely reprehensible statement from Specter. He went to the Democratic lunch today; you'd think he at least show solidarity. Specter has a long way to go.

And that's my point, bruh, if we argued purely from a partisan progressive perspective, we'd in effect be short-circuiting the political process because the major players are the political parties, not necessarily their associated ideologies.

Insofar as Specter, though, we all had buyer's remorse as soon as last week!

you do not see how a deal in which we got nothing and resusitate a guy who was about to lose in his own primary is a sign of weakness when that very same guy proceeds to be a pain in the neck from day one? i would love to negotiate with you.

shorter (less convuluted): he traded in his GOP card to become a liberdem. So we give up a sure fire chance at a pick up for a guy who will regularly be a thorn in the side of any change in the state of PA. Meanwhile, we do this while also publically endorsing the crass move without any concessions.

Oh wait--the comment is totally tongue-in-cheek.

Yeah, Mark Halperin was screwing with us....

I'm not reading The Page again.

Hmmm...

You'd have to think the floor for a Generic (R) in PA is 40% (a la Rick Santorum in 2006), and the floor for a Generic (D) is 45% because of the partisan shift.

With Specter in the GE as an (I), you'd have to figure he'd get at least 35% of the vote, with 35% of the vote for the (D), and 30% of the vote for the (R). That's too close for comfort. He'd probably lose in a squeaker.

I don't think Specter has the energy in him to hustle like Lieberman did in 2006 and win as an (I).

strategically he made the smart move. he gets the support of a party apparatus that is now in the majority without changing a single thing about what he believes, says or does. we gave him a resuscitation, and he gives progressive a pain in the neck that descracts from conservadems. WHo would not take that deal?

well, then I look forward to Specter clarifying. if he is joking, I'd like him to say: "I was clearly joking in my interview with the NYT. The people of Minnesota have spoken and it's clear that Al Franken will be their next Senator. My friend Norm Coleman would be wise and gracious to bow out as soon as possible." I don't mind falling for the joke if that's the result. and btw, if he was kidding, someone should tell the NYT.

Oh, I don't think that's the reason no one pays attention to you!