Specters Beware!

So I'm back here writing, this time post-election and looking at the changing Senate. Arlen Specter has now been retired by the Democratic voters within the state of Pennsylvania and not at the time that best suits him. Down in Arkansas Senator Lincoln was dealt a devastating blow by Bill Halter, but she still has a run-off to try and prevent a liberal from taking her place after years of serving at the behest of corporation instead of her constituency. North from there, Rand Paul, son of Ron, beat the Republican party's favorite to succeed Senator Bunning for the Republican nomination.

What does this all mean? Do we have a revolt against long-term politicians? Is everyone that's in bed with Wall Street and the rolodex of the Fortune 500 on their way out? Well one thing that is for sure, the faces, they are a changin'.

From RawStory:

Insurgent US Republican voters in Kentucky routed their party's establishment candidate and selected iconoclastic political outsider Rand Paul on Tuesday night, a clear show of anger at Washington ahead of November elections to decide control of the US Congress.

Similarly, Democrats in Pennsylvania appeared to have ended the political career of Sen. Arlen Specter, one of the state's best known politicians who became a Democrat after Obama's election in an effort to prolong his time in Congress.

Democrats also managed to hold onto the Pennsylvania congressional seat formerly held by deceased Rep. John Murtha with the victory of Mark Critz. The race was heavily watched and hyped as a predictor of voter mood in the lead-up to November's elections.

What it says, and to concur with what I mentioned yesterday morning, is that a small but dedicated bloc of voters can precipitate major changes. Reports of low voter turnout were a plenty and definitely not surprising. So in a nutshell, Americans have become extremely apathetic (even with the already low voter turnout rates from years past) and those that aren't have tremendous influence with their votes. And that is why the teabaggers get to celebrate a nominee they helped choose in Rand Paul. That is why liberals are enthused (myself among them) that Halter and Sestak did so well last night.

It just goes to show, if people wake up and participate in their government, their ability to effect change and use power is mind boggling.

What Kind Of Democrat Roots For Norm Coleman?

Before the name "Joe Lieberman" pops in your head, please remember that he is no longer a Democrat, even if he caucuses with them. No, the Senator that wishes to thwart the will of the voters in Minnesota and have Norm Coleman drag out the process for another month or two is the newly-minted Democrat, Arlen Specter. Although he's only been in the party a week, so far he hasn't said anything that resembles what one would think an elected Democratic politician might say.

From TPM:

In an interview with the New York Times, Specter stated in no uncertain terms that he wants Norm Coleman to win the disputed Minnesota Senate race: "There's still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner."

So what exactly are the Dems getting out of this whole deal?

Late Update: NRSC press secretary Amber Wilkerson gives us this comment: "First he voted against President Obama's budget, then he said he wouldn't be a loyal Democrat, now he wants Norm Coleman to win. We've never agreed so much with Arlen Specter. You just have to wonder whether Joe Sestak agrees with the positions of his fellow Pennsylvania Democrat?"

Well Amber, Joe Sestak doesn't even consider Arlen a Democrat yet. If he keeps this up, Sestak for one will be challenging him in the Democratic primary come next year. While Norm Coleman doesn't stand a chance at coming back to the U.S. Senate anytime soon, the way Arlen Specter is going, he'll be out of a job once the Pennsylvania Democratic base replaces him with an actual member of the party, not one that slaps a (D) next to his name to avoid the wingnuts from primaring him on the right.

Update 5/6/09 11:15AM: Specter backtracks, but only after he was stripped of seniority for the remainder of his current term.

Sestak's Reponse To Specter's Switch Is Spot On

Arlen Specter's change in party has made for a considerable amount of news. Part of that story was the support of many within the Democratic establishment without really examining what Specter is going to bring to the party. Joe Sestak, a congressman that had already been considering running against Specter (before the switch) was on CNN yesterday and he when presented with a question about Specter being a good Democrat, responds with a question:



That should be on the minds of Democratic Pennsylvania primary voters next year when Arlen asks to be on the ticket as one of their own. Specter probably believes that his defection entitles him to be nominated as a Democrat in the primary, but Pennsylvania Democrats are not about to simply bow down in his presence.