Arlen Spector Becomes a Democrat

Senator Arlen Spector has stunned his Repubican cohorts by switching parties and becoming a Democrat. Once Norm Coleman gives up his lost cause against Al Franken, the magic number of 60 will have been reached. Here is his statement:

I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

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.

I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.

I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides. I thank specially Senators McConnell and Cornyn for their forbearance.

I am not making this decision because there are no important and interesting opportunities outside the Senate. I take on this complicated run for re-election because I am deeply concerned about the future of our country and I believe I have a significant contribution to make on many of the key issues of the day, especially medical research. NIH funding has saved or lengthened thousands of lives, including mine, and much more needs to be done. And my seniority is very important to continue to bring important projects vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.

I am taking this action now because there are fewer than thirteen months to the 2010 Pennsylvania Primary and there is much to be done in preparation for that election. Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.

While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.

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.

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America.

Copyright @ 1998-2009
All Rights Reserved

Thank You Barack Obama

YES HE DID!

I came across this article today, read it, and realized that Barack Obama is a more brilliant manager and strategist that we even imagined. He once joked that he was from Krypton, the son of Jor-el, sent here to save the Planet. He may have revealed himself to us. His goal in this election was to get a filibuster proof Senate majority of 60. He has 58, and it looks like Al Franken will make it 59 in Minnesota. So what does our President decide to do? Read the article first and you'll see what I mean:

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Republican Senator Judd Gregg said he is being considered to lead President Barack Obama's Commerce Department.

“I am aware that my name is one of those being considered by the White House for secretary of commerce and am honored to be considered, along with others, for the position,” Gregg said in an e-mailed statement. “Beyond that there is nothing more I can say at this time.”

If Gregg is chosen and he accepts, New Hampshire’s Democratic Governor John Lynch could appoint his replacement. If Democrat Al Franken prevails in the disputed Minnesota race that he now leads, the party would hold a 60-vote majority in the Senate, enough to shut off filibusters that can delay legislation indefinitely.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that, when he talked to Obama this morning about the commerce nomination, “a final decision had not been made.”

Gregg, 61, a former governor of New Hampshire and former chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was elected to a third term in 2004. He would be Obama’s third Republican Cabinet appointment. Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, was appointed to lead the Department of Transportation, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates is a holdover from the Bush administration.

Read entire article

The man is Brilliant! He endured dinner with those conservative columnists (can you imaging ANYTHING more boring?), meetings at the White House with so-called Republican honchos, a personal visit to Senate offices, anything, to prove his commitment to a bipartisan government. He got stonewalled -- NOT A SINGLE VOTE! Then, to show he bore them no ill will, he threw a cocktail party. So, instead of selecting the perceived favorite, Symantec Corp. CEO John Thompson, Obama is deep in thought and meditation:

"Barack, Jor-el suggests replacing Bill Richardson with a Republican, specifically Judd Gregg. You will be demonstrating continued effort to work with the other side. Then convince Gov. Lynch to appoint a Democrat, and NOT a Republican simply because Gregg is his friend. You have your 60 Senate seats with the support of the Media and the American people."

I appreciate Obama's support of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, his $500 credit against Social Security payroll deduction, his increasing Federal spending on education by 3X, his extended coverage to the unemployed, his strong support for labor unions, all in the first week of his administration, demonstrates a dedication I have not seen from any president in my lifetime, and I remember Truman. He has done everything he could to get the cooperation of the other party.

Now, in basketball terms, it's time to run it down their throats. He must pass whatever legislation will result in fairness and equity for the middle class, limit bailout salaries to equal to his own, and legalizing Industrial Hemp. It will not only revitalize this country's economy, it will spur a new era of prosperity not seen in this country in decades. It will enable us to help feed the world. Here is the evidence: SAVING AMERICA. (Please take some time to visit this site)

My Final Thought

This nation owes President Obama a deep debt of gratitude. We never dreamed during the eight horrible years under Bush, that a man with the name of Barack Hussein Obama would come along and single handedly defeat the powerful Clinton machine, then not only defeat the Republican candidate for President, but have the seemingly all-powerful Republican Party hanging by their fingernails on the brink of political impotency. It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch. THANK YOU, BARACK OBAMA.














Copyright @ 1998-2009
All Rights Reserved