Senstor Arlen Specter jumps parties

[Stradawhovious]

Welcome to today's Republican Party.

Nice generalization. Thanks for lumping the entire Republican party in with the few. I guess that's what your party is best at though isn't it? (see, I can play that game too.)

[autobahn]

Welcome to today's Republican Party.

Nice generalization. Thanks for lumping the entire Republican party in with the few. I guess that's what your party is best at though isn't it? (see, I can play that game too.)

What party would that be?

I'm officially unaffiliated There's no party that represents me.

I guess I should elaborate... There's no doubt that Rush, Hannity, Malkin, and Coulter are all important mouthpieces of the "Republican Party" these days. At least that's who I see as "speaking for" Republicans these days (and if any Republicans have a problem with that, maybe you guys should be more vocal in denouncing some of their garbage). And sometimes they seem more interested in ad hominem attacks rather than actually making a point.

[autobahn]

More back on topic, I think it's funny that the GOP is doing everything it can to turn the "undecided" voters (i.e. moderates, independents, 3rd party folks who don't have representation in a particular race, etc) to the Dems.

I always find it interesting to listen what Arne Carlson has to say.

[Stradawhovious]

What party would that be?

My point exactly. With mass generalizations it doesn't matter.

I guess I should elaborate... There's no doubt that Rush, Hannity, Malkin, and Coulter are all important mouthpieces of the "Republican Party" these days. At least that's who I see as "speaking for" Republicans these days (and if any Republicans have a problem with that, maybe you guys should be more vocal in denouncing some of their garbage). And sometimes they seem more interested in ad hominem attacks rather than actually making a point.

Rush, Hannity, Malkin, and Coulter et. al. are entertainers. As entertainers they make a living out of getting a rise out of people. If you see them as the "Mouthpiece of the Republican Party", well then, they have done their jobs. I, on the other hand, have and am entitled to my own opinion. To look at me, establish that I am a republican, and then say that all of Rush's views are mine by default, well that's just rude. You wan't my opinion, ask for it. Don't give it to me.

Thanks.

[nyffman]

From these comments then, he has a point.

There's no place for moderates in today's GOP. You're either way on the right or you're not welcome.

That's not a winning strategy, but if that's what the GOP wants to be, it's up to them.

Using any politician as an example of anything(like we're doing with Spector here) s kinda dangerous. But to say that there's no place for a moderate is just wrong. Fine examples are both Bush41 and 43, Coleman and McCain. As another outsider, albeit, a conservative outsider, I believe their problem is in trying to be too inclusive. The loss of their base has had more to do with their recent election losses than anything else.

[autobahn]

What party would that be?

My point exactly. With mass generalizations it doesn't matter.

I guess I should elaborate... There's no doubt that Rush, Hannity, Malkin, and Coulter are all important mouthpieces of the "Republican Party" these days. At least that's who I see as "speaking for" Republicans these days (and if any Republicans have a problem with that, maybe you guys should be more vocal in denouncing some of their garbage). And sometimes they seem more interested in ad hominem attacks rather than actually making a point.

Rush, Hannity, Malkin, and Coulter et. al. are entertainers. As entertainers they make a living out of getting a rise out of people. If you see them as the "Mouthpiece of the Republican Party", well then, they have done their jobs. I, on the other hand, have and am entitled to my own opinion. To look at me, establish that I am a republican, and then say that all of Rush's views are mine by default, well that's just rude. You wan't my opinion, ask for it. Don't give it to me.

Thanks.

I get what you're saying.

My point is simply that the GOP has a big PR problem and instead of having their own voice, to me, it seems like the Fox News crowd is doing the speaking for them. Of course this is all my opinion and my point of view, but if the GOP ever wants my vote, they will have to figure out how to change that perception in my mind.

[R.E.T.]

From these comments then, he has a point.

There's no place for moderates in today's GOP. You're either way on the right or you're not welcome.

That's not a winning strategy, but if that's what the GOP wants to be, it's up to them.

So McCains move to the moderate middle was a winning strategy?

[yukonjasper]

The entire purpose of goverment is to provide services and oversight on a consistant and fair basis. Our elected officials are supposed to represent our point of veiw as completely as possible. We are all independants to a certain extent because if tomorrow the Democratic Party decided to support the Second Amendment, Pro Life, Marriage between a man and woman only etc etc, and conversly the GOP decided to take the opposite stand, you would see people leave both parties. The point is that a party should be founded on a certain set of core principles. The GOP used to be centered on Limited Government, Personal Responsibilty, Low Taxes and basically a Federalist model that ascribed very little central contol. In their quest for votes, they have abandoned, on occasion, one or all of these priciples.

As voters we need to decide what is important to us. if one candidate or party represents our point of view more closley than another, then I would say for that vote, you are making a value judgement about your principles as they line up to the offerings. Now that you've cast your vote, you expect that these principles are undeniably a part of this person or party. What has happened, is that many are running and being elected under a banner of Priciples, that either A) they don't believe in and are only doing it because they can get elected, B) believe it at the time, but are not resolute enough to defend their viewpoints and are swayed. The RINO (Republican In Name Only) label is for these individuals. If the common will of the people demands that every candidate support a certain idea, then that idea must be adopted by each party as it is a non stater. If the voters are willing to hold their nose and vote for someone who holds 50% of their views, that is their choice.

I think the discontent on either side of the aisle from the voters standpoint, is that no one really stands for anything anymore. The moral relativism and secular ideologies that have pervaded society have crept into our politics. When you cast your vote, there is no guarantee who you voted for will be the same person 10 minutes after the polls close. It is this lack of confidence that is reflected in the wishy washy politicians of the day.

The media perpetuates this by bombarding the masses - including the elected officials - with the agenda they are connected to. This bias is interpreted as the common will of the people and politicians beleive this is what they need to reflect. They are completely out of touch with who they should be representing.

To bring this full circle, Arlen Specter has not represented the core values of the Republcan Party for more than a decade - some would argue longer than that. He is a political chameleon and cares more about being in power and being elected than what he stands for. The plain truth is that he switched parties becasue the GOP got sick of his pandering to Liberal causes and he knew he chould not survive a GOP primary against a strong conservative candidate. Given that he could garner the support of the Dems byt switching over at this critical time to help with the Super Majority, he switched because they told him he would be supported of reelection. Period. He doesn't care which party he belongs to, he is drunk with the perks and power that come from the position. He was elected in 1980 for the first time and hasn't looked back since, it should say something about term limits and our need to assess the motivation of those who run for office. Sad that priciples don't seem to matter in this mushy morally bereft political system - I guess it reflects the society that it represents.

To say the the GO{ os too conservative is a joke. The fact that they have allied themselves with principles that have nothing to do with politics is accurate. The Moral aspect of either party is where I draw the line. Both would be better off leaving the debates over abortion, capital punishment etc. alone and get back to running the country. You can't legislate morals - control over these issues is far to personal and is what galvanizes the political process too much.

[autobahn]

From these comments then, he has a point.

There's no place for moderates in today's GOP. You're either way on the right or you're not welcome.

That's not a winning strategy, but if that's what the GOP wants to be, it's up to them.

So McCains move to the moderate middle was a winning strategy?

Wait, since when did McCain move to the moderate middle during his presidential campaign???

[princewally]

Wait, since when did McCain move to the moderate middle during his presidential campaign???

He didn't move to the middle during his campaign. He was already there. There's a reason the Democrat party was courting him for a switch a few years ago.

[Tutmos]

I'd have to say the liberals that speak in public are the largest collection of idots I've seen in a long time. They say the most rediculous things and of course nobody in the media bothers to call them on it no matter how silly it is.

Case in point: Democrats and other assorted lefties have been insulting Rush for over a year about his prescription drug addiction. They go on and on about it like children using some pretty degrading language like calling him a fat junkie and a druggie etc. How stupid can you people be? Obama admitted being an illegal drug abuser in print, Cocaine, an illegal street drug, not a legal drug obtained illegally.

Tell me when the media starts calling Obama a junkie on national TV instead of fawning over the TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States).

[Holland&Holland]

I'd have to say the liberals that speak in public are the largest collection of idots I've seen in a long time. They say the most rediculous things and of course nobody in the media bothers to call them on it no matter how silly it is.

Case in point: Democrats and other assorted lefties have been insulting Rush for over a year about his prescription drug addiction. They go on and on about it like children using some pretty degrading language like calling him a fat junkie and a druggie etc. How stupid can you people be? Obama admitted being an illegal drug abuser in print, Cocaine, an illegal street drug, not a legal drug obtained illegally.

Tell me when the media starts calling Obama a junkie on national TV instead of fawning over the TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States).

And GW did not spend his college days snorting blow? It seems we have come a long way from the "I did not inhale" days on both sides of the isle and I am disgusted with both for it.

[1911fan]

I have to admit I was stunned that BHO was able to win, being so far left, I had it
conservative hard core,.............................McCain...............Hillary........................BHO

With that as the continuum that McCain had the middle and even a bit of the moderate left, and Hillary and BHO fighting over the far left remaining quarter. What happened though is McCain allowed the Media message to be him far right, hillary more centrist, and BHO to be the moderate to slightly left liberal. Because the MSM left out that whole segment right of McCain, they felt disenfranchised, and left without a serious voice, several said "eff it, we will get it back in four years, who ever they elect will just be a Carter". ( I actually heard a California GOP spokesperson say that, except for the Eff part)

That left him fighting to keep his third of a much smaller constituency.

That and he did not have a Karl Rove. He needed a pissed off, Junk Yard dog like Carville to rip the MSM and force to at least pose as neutral. Carville may be a miserable SOB of a person, but as an attack campaign strategist, he might be one of the best ever.

[Tutmos]

I'd have to say the liberals that speak in public are the largest collection of idots I've seen in a long time. They say the most rediculous things and of course nobody in the media bothers to call them on it no matter how silly it is.

Case in point: Democrats and other assorted lefties have been insulting Rush for over a year about his prescription drug addiction. They go on and on about it like children using some pretty degrading language like calling him a fat junkie and a druggie etc. How stupid can you people be? Obama admitted being an illegal drug abuser in print, Cocaine, an illegal street drug, not a legal drug obtained illegally.

Tell me when the media starts calling Obama a junkie on national TV instead of fawning over the TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States).

And GW did not spend his college days snorting blow? It seems we have come a long way from the "I did not inhale" days on both sides of the isle and I am disgusted with both for it.

Ya know I've never actually heard that substantiated. I realize the average idiot on the left thinks if they just keep saying the same thing it will magically be true. Kind of like Dan Rather forging documents to make it true. Bush admits to being a heavy drinker but not a cocaine user. Obama on the other hand admitted to using Cocaine whenever he could afford it and was likely an IV Heroin user to boot, claiming he thought hard about it but in the end didn't. Uh huh. He still is a smoker no less and nobody on the evening news ever mentions that. If he was a republican we'd never hear the end of it. They'd talk about how weak his character is and how little will power he has not being able to quit, even as President. How can we possibly hope for someone who can't even quit smoking, with the best resources available to any human being on the planet, to avoid corruption? As we can see from all the felony level tax cheats that are his financial experts he can't.

BTW I don't think Bush was very good either. He was basically a RINO.

It's okay for Democrats to be the absolute scum of the earth, it's just a simple mistake if Barney Frank is molesting children or half Obama's cabinet are felons. It's an oversight if a liberal happens to have been caught red handed in the middle of a serious crime. If a republican gets a parking ticket it's the end of the world. The Left is so pathetic I can't help but laugh everytime I see one of these clowns on TV.

[hammAR]

.................admitted to using Cocaine whenever he could afford it and was likely an IV Heroin user to boot...................

...another glaring double standard,
try getting or keeping a security clearance after making a statement like this,

however this is in fact the TOTUS with the highest security clearance that you can get................