The distinguished Senator hasn't earned shit!
I was going to post something amusing, but I'm just so ticked that I have to name an Asshat instead. Today's Asshat-in fact, the Asshat for pretty much every day since he switched parties-is Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania. Now, Spector switched parties from Republican to Democrat, so you'd think I'd be over the moon, but it was more a "grit your teeth and hope for the best." But he just did it to save his political skin-he was bound to lose a Republican primary for Senator next year, since he's seen as "too moderate" and Pennsylvania has closed primaries, where only registered members of the party can vote.
And that in a nutshell is The Problem of Incumbency. Spector thinks he should be a Senator because well, he's been a Senator and (in his mind, anyway) a damn good one. In fact, he doesn't think he should have to answer to voters at all. He said, when he switched parties that, "I am unwilling to have my 29-year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate." We're sorry, Viscount. We didn't realize our quaint 'democracy' thing was inconveniencing you.
To top off the massive arrogance, Specter has made no promises on voting with the Democratic Party at all, further showing that Arlen Specter is about nothing but Arlen Specter. And when asked about whether keeping his committee seniority was an inducement to change parties, he said, "No, that's an entitlement. I've earned that seniority." I call bullshit. When Jim Jeffords switched to Independent in 2001, he had a reason and voted as a slightly left-center independent for the rest of his term. Specter intends to continue voting as the mushy Reaganite he's been since he got into office, which begs the question of why the Dems even want him. But that's just politics, and neither here nor there.
And that's not even taking into account his age. Arlen Specter is 79 years old, and battling lymphoma. I have no problem with someone not stepping down because health problems (Go Teddy!), but I think an 80-year-old man with recent cancer should probably think about retirement, yes? So for all these reasons and more, Arlen Specter is Today's Asshat, and I'd happily take just about any Democrat (or even Republican Tom Ridge) in his place come January 3, 2011.
And that in a nutshell is The Problem of Incumbency. Spector thinks he should be a Senator because well, he's been a Senator and (in his mind, anyway) a damn good one. In fact, he doesn't think he should have to answer to voters at all. He said, when he switched parties that, "I am unwilling to have my 29-year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate." We're sorry, Viscount. We didn't realize our quaint 'democracy' thing was inconveniencing you.
To top off the massive arrogance, Specter has made no promises on voting with the Democratic Party at all, further showing that Arlen Specter is about nothing but Arlen Specter. And when asked about whether keeping his committee seniority was an inducement to change parties, he said, "No, that's an entitlement. I've earned that seniority." I call bullshit. When Jim Jeffords switched to Independent in 2001, he had a reason and voted as a slightly left-center independent for the rest of his term. Specter intends to continue voting as the mushy Reaganite he's been since he got into office, which begs the question of why the Dems even want him. But that's just politics, and neither here nor there.
And that's not even taking into account his age. Arlen Specter is 79 years old, and battling lymphoma. I have no problem with someone not stepping down because health problems (Go Teddy!), but I think an 80-year-old man with recent cancer should probably think about retirement, yes? So for all these reasons and more, Arlen Specter is Today's Asshat, and I'd happily take just about any Democrat (or even Republican Tom Ridge) in his place come January 3, 2011.