SIXTY. MOTHERFUCKING. VOTES.
Arlen Specter Switches Parties
This is big, big, big, -- BIG.
Arlen Specter has announced that he is switching parties, and running for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary. This now puts the Democrats at 59 Senate seats -- and would be the magic 60 seats, assuming Al Franken is eventually seated from.
A recent Rasmussen poll showed that Specter was trailing his conservative challenger in the Republican primary, 2004 opponent Pat Toomey, by a margin of 51%-30%. Toomey was heavily capitalizing on Specter's support for the stimulus package.
From his statement:
When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
...
My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords' switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.
Source
MOAR: OBAMA TO SPECTER: WELCOME TO TEAM AWESOME.
DELICIOUS REPUBLICAN TEARS. (See top story.)
DID JOEY AND ED RENDELL PLAY A PART IN THIS ~SCANDALOUS AFFAIR~?
EVEN MOAR: Obama on the phone, congratulating Specter. Also, I just remembered to turn off comment e-mails.
Arlen Specter (D-PA)
FUUUUCK YEAH
