Oh to have been a fly on the wall during the Spectre conversations this week.
If we take things at face value, then Spectre did a handshake deal with Democratic leadership in which he was promised seniority and support in the Democratic primary in exchanged for being a "loyal Democrat". He then publically denied making such a promise, and proceeded to vote and act like he'd never changed parties. He even had the gall to candidly admit that his only purpose for changing parties was to avoid the Republican primary.
If true, then it appears Spectre overplayed his hand. Mr Entitlement is clearly used to calling the shots and having everyone defer to his great seniority (yes, reminds one of his buddy Lieberman). But, what Spectre forgot is that his negotiating power was lost when he announced the switch. He can't go back to the Republicans now -- that's one primary he has even less chance of winning than before. So all he had in his favor was the handshake deal. So when he broke his part of the deal there was no reason for the Democrats to maintain their part.
At least Joe realized that when he'd overplayed his hand by betting all his chips on McCain, that he had nothing left to offer the Democrats except a promise that he'd go back to being loyal and quiet, and he's done that. Let's see if Spectre gets the same message.
Posted by Anonny at May 5, 2009 10:10 PMKind of like the party he left... no plans and in disarry. I don't like the fact he feels the Dems owed him, especially after he says he's not going to support a Democratic agenda... that's not how it's done in Washington.
We already have one Joe Loserman, and enough Blue Dog "Dino" Dems! I guess his support for Norm Coleman is what pushed everyone over the edge. I'm glad he was kicked to the curb.
Can't believed the Dems showed such a spine.
Serves that SOB right.
He got a carrot, thought he owned the orchard, and then when he overplayed his hand, he got the stick (tm).
Some on DKos say this has Rahm's fingerprints all over it.
Now the real question that I'd like to get answered is... when was the decision made to do this? I wonder (if I play the devil's advocate) if it wasn't planned all along and Specter got wind so he started spewing crap like the Coleman and Sessions comments.
Posted by Raj at May 5, 2009 11:09 PMIn the fine "reporting" on this "issue", has any member of the corporate press asked the Grand Poobah of PA exactly what policies, approaches or even attitudes of the Dem party he "supports"?
In what sense is Arlen a "Dem"? Because he's (supposedly) pro-choice? Please.
Arlen wanted to switch solely to save his ass (he admitted it!), and we were too timid to lay down the law on what was expected of him in order for us to "save" him. Then Specter goes on a cable TV rampage basically acting like an imbecile with an ego greater than Napoleon spitting in the foolish Reid's face. Specturd stinks like a smeared dog shit to any real Dem schmoe in the heartland, especially after this weekend's "performance".
Looks like a poorly thought-through affair from all sides, typical DC gameplaying by these monstrous egomaniacs, with no thought whatever of human reality---such as, what kind of activist Dem in PA (or the internet) is going to enthusiastically work their ass off for Duke Specter of PA, of all idiocy.
What a clown show. Loathsome.
Posted by euzoius at May 6, 2009 05:34 AMThe dems should consider supporting a better, younger, more progressive politician for the Senate at the next election. Toomey can be beaten by a good progressive democrat. We don't need Specter. It's time for Arlen to spend more time with his family and start writing his memoirs.
Posted by mike at May 6, 2009 07:12 AMI' m also quite happy that the Dem Leadership actually slapped his stupidly antagonistic "attytood" where it hurts him the most. I admit, I was surprised by the mind bogglingly arrogant statement "I am not going to allow my 29-year record to be judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate”. As soon as he uttered those words, I wanted to crush his egomania as completely and devastatingly as possible.
I can certainly understand that his conversion MIGHT offer much to the Obama agenda, assuming he can be trusted to deliver cloture votes, that's enough for the next year. If he actually seems to stop being an idiot, I could possibly, accept him as a PA Democrat.
But this entire deal smells like DICK Cheney's undisclosed cesspool, involving as it does, high-handed insider promises; pledging to "clear the primaries" of all challengers for the party's new BFF. That is completely unacceptable bullshit. I thought I smelled Rahmbo's markers all over the deal. I say HELL NO!
Between the increasingly disappointing Rendell delusions of Bossism and the DLC wing of the Democrat party deciding to close down the 50-state policy and "manage" every thing through the usual, Beltway suspects. I have no intention, at all, of allowing this usurpation of local Democratic affairs.
Even if Arlen behaves like a whipped cur form now on, I am 100% behind the sentiment to primary his ass in 2010. That would seem to be the only pressure this assclown feels to behave like his "new teammates" want.
We are at a delicate balance of party power. It's critical to give Emmanuel AND Obama a figurative political 2x4 up'side the head on this. They MUST understand that we, to a large extent, the people what brung him to the dance, will not suck it up and be "good little soldiers". There is still a critical internecine power struggle which pits the forces of Corporate Democrats AGAINST the best interests of the grassroots and progressive activists. Just because these guys have a D after their name, they are not all on our side.
Joe Sestak is not my idea of an ideal candidate, but he sure wipes the floor with the Greed Or Power party deserter whose entire career is one of blatant venality and reich-wing support when it really counted. I will certainly work and contribute to tell Rahm, Rendell and every other "good 'ol boy" Beltway Boyar to take a very long hike off a short, broken pier.
Specter must be primaried and hopefully, defeated with LOCAL, grassroots support. Barack Obama needs to hear the message loud and clear. Work WITH us! Don't try to ignore us!
Posted by DeminNewJ at May 6, 2009 07:35 AMI guess after you get past all the nice paper gift rapping, there wasn't much in this box that's appealing. What an ugly present this was, and nice to see y'all admitting it. Shame the president made such a big deal about this 'change'. Having him brought all the way into the Oval Office and all. Great pictures for all to see. And how rewarding is it to read y'all endorsing the very progressive Joe Sestak. The former admiral is now the darling of TLC.
Yes Deacon, this is justice. How nice it will be seeing him be the last questioner of the next SCOTUS. The guy sitting the furthest away from the center, the chairman. And by this treatment, Democrats just sent a message to any other Republican considering a 'change' like this. "Don't expect much from us." Good going Democrats!
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 08:01 AMAs always, peter the shit-eater parrots the imbecilic "This helps Repubs!!" line of garbage.
However much the Specter Clown Show doesn't particularly help Dems, shit-eater, it in no way can be seem as helping Repubs. Even Senate Repubs don't see it that way.
Now smear some more shit on your day old Wonder bread and eat, eat, eat. We'll see you wiping up the coffee spills at the Tex-ass For Toomey fundraisers. "Peter pinhead, paging peter, coffe spill at table 14...." Have you recieved your GOoP "Professional Volunteer" badge and decoder ring yet?
Posted by euzoius at May 6, 2009 08:21 AMHowever much the Specter Clown Show doesn't particularly help Dems,
It's just fun to watch a Republican get slapped like a baby's bottom for being such an ass. And considering how the GOP loves being spanked (Vitter, for one, peter for another), it is good for their side. Toadies like peter are too stupid to realize everyone's laughing at him and his "leadership," which makes it all funnier still. At this point, whatever the Dems do is fine with me, the real show is watching the conservatives crash and burn like the train wreck we always knew was coming. It's even more spectacular than I imagined, making me feel almost guilty for the amount of pleasure derived from their flailing about. Thanks GOP!
Posted by Twinky P* at May 6, 2009 08:47 AMBwahaha! And now they've taken away Steele's checkbook! Man, what losers.
Posted by Twinky P* at May 6, 2009 08:54 AMGee what a soo-prise!! It's shit-fer-brains pete back for more of that troll-adoration he thrives on...
Your ego still tells you we need more of that cutting edge "commentary" of your shit-brain "views" does it?
Even a second grader could figure out how well your spreading your shit-stain goes over...
Posted by headxray at May 6, 2009 09:29 AMI hate to point this out folks, but just about every time Petey, Baggy etc., spews his/her/its assigned talking points, a whole host of posters go barking after it like hounds hearing the cry, Tally Ho! It is almost always to the detriment of intelligent discussion.
Hmmm! Maybe he's not so dumb, or at least, not as unsuccessful as many here think. At least he/they are earning a living, however sad and pathetic.
Posted by DeminNewJ at May 6, 2009 09:43 AMYeah, 'cos ignoring works so well. Sorry, DeminNewJ, but post after post of people whining about how Obama isn't prosecuting torture fast enough, or he's not picking the right people for some job or whatever the whine of the day happens to be, is boring as hell and pretty much killed the comments since the election. You want to start an intelligent conversation? Stop sticking up for the dipshit and acting all holier than thou, and fookin' say something smart, eh?
And yes, peter is dumber than a box of rocks if he thinks by getting people to laugh at his idiocy is a good thing.
Posted by Twinky P* at May 6, 2009 09:59 AMHmmm! Maybe he's not so dumb, or at least, not as unsuccessful as many here think.
He reminds me of some real troll work in the old usenet days. Someone named James Taranto (no, I don't know if it was the same person) would post his weekly "locks" for the NFL games that week -- always a perfect prediction and always posted just after the last Sunday game completed (this was before Sunday night football). The timestamp of course proved that he posted late, yet invariably many people would respond to his post that he was cheating.
Week after week, year after year. It was a little game for him to see how many people would respond to the bait.
Then there was the little turkey from New York who would post half a dozen woofs daily about how "jordon" was really just the 30th or 40th best guard in the NBA, and not really anything special. Again, his whole game was in seeing how many people would respond.
These people live for how many responses they receive. peter doesn't even hide it ... the points he makes are entirely meant to tease liberals, even if it contradicts a point he made the day before.
Posted by Anonny at May 6, 2009 10:21 AMpeter doesn't even hide it ... the points he makes are entirely meant to tease liberals, even if it contradicts a point he made the day before.
Everyone knows it, of course. That's the policy of the entire Republican party. That's what finally made them lose in '06, '08 and hopefully into the next century, because that's all they have. But there's always going to be someone who just can't help themselves, always. I decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If you think about it, you guys just gave him what he was really looking for, dissent in the ranks. The way I see it, laughing at the trolls gives TLC more hits and more ad revenue. Oh well. Have at it, fuddy-duddies!
Posted by Twinky P* at May 6, 2009 10:44 AMI agree shit-fer-brains petie does thrive on attention..however I feel part of the problem is too many on the progressive side, stood by in silence while dead eye dick head and his cronies shit all over the rest of the world..
The "shit-brains" from petie on up all need to be confronted on a continuous basis and "informed", in no uncertain terms, exactly how "distasteful" they are..
Trust me I regularly email both the fascist side of the aisle and DINO pol's who ignore the Constitution and shit on the interests of Americans. You know "Americans", those of us who actually built and maintain the country, and fight the nation's wars.. actual citizens opposed to corrupt pol's who would whore their sisters for a quarter..
More of us appear to be participating in the political process and voicing our concerns, sharing our ideas, feelings, and wishes for a democratic government. I think the inter "tubes" are facilitating the communication process and thats a "good" thing, including letting the shit-fer-brains pete's of the world know how their "ideas" go over...
Posted by headxray at May 6, 2009 11:02 AMWow, just wow! Headcase actually contributed something.
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 11:27 AMthanks shit-fer-brains, I was checking your reading comprehension and as I predicted:
you read at the 1st grade level
I contribute constantly asshole, it's like I consistently state: shit-fer-brains pete is too stoopid to understand anything but a puke talking point...
Posted by headxray at May 6, 2009 11:35 AMWell Twinky, I guess I wasn't aware that were were "ranked" against the trolls. If you think about it, you guys just gave him what he was really looking for, dissent in the ranks.
Gosh! I don't want to dissent or "stick up" for dipshits so I guess I should spend all my posts whacking the trolls, 'cos ignoring (just doesn't) work so well. I'll try to find a thread without Petey so I can fookin' say something smart, eh?
Posted by Fuddy duddy at May 6, 2009 11:37 AMI feel I should spell this out due to your lack of reading comprehension shit-brain pete:
You are among those who need to stop whoring your sister for a quarter..
You may want to avoid hanging out in bus terminal men's rooms too shit-brain...
Posted by headxray at May 6, 2009 11:44 AMWell Twinky, I guess I wasn't aware that were were "ranked" against the trolls.
New to the blogs, are ya?
Posted by Twinky P* at May 6, 2009 11:44 AM"When comparing California with Texas,U-Haul says it all. To rent a 26-foot truck one way from San Francisco to Austin, the charge is $3,236, and yet the one-way charge for that same truck from Austin to San Francisco is just $399. Clearly what is happening is that far more people want to move from San Francisco to Austin than vice versa, so U-Haul has to pay its own employees to drive the empty trucks back from Texas." h/t Houston Strategies
Didn't we see this in Michigan too folks? Let's get rich on those fleeing towards better jobs, away from 'blue' states. Only the fees charged fleeing from Michigan were only charged roughly $1300.00 for that U-Haul. I guess they really want one last chunk of those leaving California.
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 12:48 PMMy buddy had enough of Texasistan and is moving back home to San Jose. Home sweet home, as far as his family is concerned. I'm glad his move will be cheap!
Posted by Seven of Six at May 6, 2009 01:30 PMMaybe even his new house in California too. Hope he travels I-10 so y'all can hook up for a beer or twelve.
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 01:45 PMBack to the topic...I'm sorry for posting the U-Haul on the wrong thread.
It's so nice to see Arlen's seniority right down there below Kirsten Gillibrand. And I guess Majority Leader Harry can't deliver on his promises anymore. Rats! According to polls out there right now it seems neither one will be re-elected. There's also some polling concerning the two seats vacated by the president and vice president. Oops, those are polling bad for the incumbent party! 60 seats will only last until January, 2011, so enjoy them.
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 02:00 PMDidn't we see this in Michigan too folks? Let's get rich on those fleeing towards better jobs, away from 'blue' states.
Yep. For example, here in BLUE Colorado (get used to it Republicans, the Rocky Mountain democrats are the political force of the immediate future) the cost of a Uhaul is exhorbitant if you want to come into the state and cheap if you are leaving.
Oh wait a minute. That defeats your thesis. Hmm.
The death of California can be laid firmly at the feet of prop 13 and the proposition system. That state is so f*cked up that the only fix is a constitutional convention.
Before prop 13 California was among the top few states in public education. Now it is down at the bottom with LA, MS, AL, and TX (now -- wonder why those four hellholes are at the bottom of every national ranking except "most pollution" and "most people who believe the earth is 6000 years old"?)
Of course, if California had more than one Senator per 17 million people they might have had a chance to supplement the education system with some federal dollars, but the unbalanced Senate assures that states like Alaska and Wyoming feast on the federal tax dollars paid by Californians. So as part of the Constitutional convention California should split into 10 or so states -- thereby giving them adequate representation in the Senate.
Posted by Anonny at May 6, 2009 03:34 PMCan't believed the Dems showed such a spine.
Well it was against one of their own now...plus they know the guys a loser beyond belief so it was easy standing up to such a pathetic figure.
Shorter pete: (for all threads and should be posted at the start of each thread)....Blah blah blah...Dems and Obama suck yada yada yada...insert Rove/Rush/Newt fax blasted talking point du jour here....and that is why this is excellent news for John McLoser and the repuke party.
Hey emal... I'm still around. Thanks for asking BTW on the other thread. Hope your doing well.
Posted by Seven of Six at May 6, 2009 06:07 PMGee, goes out of his way to oppose healthcare reform, energy policy, and Franken. He's not even going to try? Not too bright, that's the republican in him. Nobody likes a rat.
Posted by CAH at May 6, 2009 08:33 PMNice to read you again emal. President Obama doesn't suck, at least not from this person's view. I'm actually liking his presidency, not to go overboard, lets say some. And Johnny Mac, I voted for him, but, I'm glad Obama won. The last several months would have been worse, far worse had he been in charge.
Democratic leadership sucks, many can agree with that.“Sen. (Harry) Reid assured me that I would keep my committee assignments and that I would have the same seniority as if I had been elected as a Democrat in 1980." Arlen said. His new BFF couldn't deliver. Oops, enjoy your life as a Democrat.
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 08:52 PMIt's nice to be you Twinky. Bush didn't torture either, nor did Cheney. No link, didn't happen.
Posted by peter at May 6, 2009 09:19 PMshit-fer-brains pete, you want links?
pull your head outta your ass and you will find them..
Again individuals such as your self are a sad joke..but due to how much destruction and criminality you all support you're not worth any compassion or pity..
I'm certain you consider my views of you all to be profane...the real profanity are your hero's dead eye dick the cowardly, draft dodging, chickenshit that loves him some torture and his sidekicks and pet chimp
I'm also certain you have way too much investment in your manipulative, delusional, sick worldview to ever get a glimpse of reality..one can use someone like john bolton as an example of your idiocy..between him and the chimp no intelligent statement has ever been uttered..ever, not once..
I renew my challenge: find one thing the chimp and dead eye didn't fuck up...you choose African AIDS assistance? He fucked that up royally with "abstinence" clauses...buena suerte buttmunch..
Posted by headxray at May 7, 2009 12:01 AMWho was talking about torture, peter? I wanted a link to the supposed quote by Specter. You don't have one, do you? Then you lied. Simple as that.
Posted by Twinky P* at May 7, 2009 05:39 AMFrom the top of google's search and there are 2050 related articles.
Posted by peter at May 7, 2009 08:42 AMSee, now, that wasn't so hard, was it? And the point is not how many hits come up on a google search, it's that since you are not a reliable source, the onus is on you to provide a link to your claims. No link, whatever you say, it didn't happen.
But I can see why you didn't include the link the first time around - you wanted to convey the impression of a broken promise, and the link confirms that it's just not true since the next sentence says:
Specter said he understood that he would not vault into any committee or subcommittee chairmanships in the midst of this two-year 111th Congress, but he remained confident that Reid would live up to his commitment by 2011, because Reid will convince the other Democrats to go along with their gentleman's agreement.
Now I understand that that's how your party operates, which is why no one in the world likes the GOP except willing dupes like yourself, but in the real world, cherry picking quotes to support a made up thesis is frowned upon - indeed, it leads to electoral losses once the public wises up to your mendacity. Obviously, even with links, it's a good bet that you're lying whenever you hit "post," but if you want to sit at the adult table, you'll have to learn some manners first.
Posted by Twinky P* at May 7, 2009 09:26 AMOHHH MYYYY!!!
"Now I understand that that's how your party operates..."
He does get something! Slash the headlines...
"Senate Democratic leaders have reached agreement with Sen. Arlen Specter to partially restore the party switcher's status on the Judiciary Committee, by granting Specter the chairmanship of the Crime and Drugs Subcommittee."
Sure Twinky tell me again how your party works. And tell me how Sen. Leahy was left out in the cold.
I wonder if the vice president's friendship with Senator Specter had anything to do with this? After all he had held some 14 meetings making this happen last week. Poor Rep. Joe Sestak being sold down the river...
Posted by peter at May 7, 2009 09:16 PMhey shitbrain pete answer the question:
find one thing the chimp and dead eye didn't fuck up...
shitbrain I have an old dog that has more common sense and brain power than the whole lot of you asswipe trolls added together....
Heehee, Specter gets the chair of an empty office. Maybe he'll make something of it and earn his seniority back by helping the Dems stop filibusters by the Party of No. You do understand that's how DC works, don't you? But good for you with the linking. At least you've learned something, peter.
Posted by Twinky P* at May 8, 2009 05:05 AM