Bush Hailed Specter As “Firm Ally When It Matters Most”
A reader digs up an ad starring George Bush that Arlen Specter ran during his hard-fought GOP primary in 2004 — a reminder to Dems that their new Senator is not really the maverick that’s advertised:
“I can count on this man,” Bush says of Specter. “He’s a firm ally when it matters most.”
A few interesting things here: First, there’s tons of ammo like this out there for a Dem primary challenger to Specter, should he get one, which is still very possible.
Second, it’s a reminder of how ferociously hard top GOPers fought to save Specter’s political hide, leading to their keen sense of betrayal right now.
And finally, it’s yet another signal of how far right the GOP has drifted: A sometime ally of Bush no longer has a home in the GOP largely because he voted for Obama’s stimulus package amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
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If Arlen Specter votes for cloture about 5 or 6 times this year this move will be more than worth it. If not then we always have the option of primarying him and he will have a harder time making it out in a Dem primary than he would have had facing Toomey. I think Specter knows this and will vote accordingly.
sg, couldn’t Dems have gotten a better deal if they’d elected a real Dem to the Senate in 2010? a Dem would have beaten Toomey in a general election.
Greg
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Yes and no. The problem is that most of Obama’s agenda will be voted on before the elections next year. By the time we got Sestak or which ever other Dem would have beaten Toomey a lot of the major battles would be over and with Specter on the other side there is a chance many of them would be either totally lost or severely watered down. By bringing him over we now actually hold all the cards on his fate. He has shown that he desparately wants to get reelected and his only chance now is that another viable candidate doesn’t run against him in the primary and also that he gets blessed by President Obama and others. Remember there isn’t anything in writing or set in stone that says Obama and Rendell and others can’t rescind their endorsements should Specter stab them in the back. Now the real question is about AFTER next year. Once he gets reelected will Specter still toe the line? On that one I won’t make any predictions. And for that reason you could make the case that maybe we should have just waited for a “real” Dem. But in weighing it all I feel like by then it will mostly be a moot point. If we don’t get healthcare and cap and trade passed this year then we may not get another chance so I put the premium on having him right now moreso than having someone else really starting in 2011.
That’s a very compelling argument, sg.
smart stuff, SG. I hadn’t considered the timing question. that seems exactly right. though in the case of employee free choice, it’s perfectly possible there will be another run at it after 2010.
Greg
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On EFCA I don’t for one second believe that Specter isn’t going to vote for cloture. He will talk a good game and then vote for cloture then vote against the measure. At least thats what I think.
I agree with sg for the most part, but liberal bloggers can help Specter recognize his fate lies with us. We should support a primary challenger against Specter now so that he knows he will not get a free ride. I’m skeptical Rendell would ever turn his back on Specter since they are close friends. Let’s just hope Specter will be as malleable as a Dem as he was under Bush.