Six more Years (Will Spectre be grateful? - NO)

The American Spectator website ^ | April 28, 2004 | Shawn Macomber

[GeronL]

PENNSYLVANIA -- In the final stretch of the statewide primary battle, incumbent Arlen Specter abandoned any rational argument for his own reelection. Instead, he released a barrage of television ads describing the race as "Pat Toomey vs. George W. Bush."

Specter spent almost no time on recounting the accomplishments of his 24 years in the Senate, preferring instead to replay Bush's five-minute "Arlen Specter is the right man for the job" endorsement. At one of his last campaign stops Monday, Specter told a small crowd that it was "very important to focus on what President Bush wants."

Well -- important when it comes to reelecting Arlen Specter. Whether it will remain important to focus on what Bush wants when it comes to Supreme Court nominees, making the tax cuts permanent, human cloning, and a host of other conservative issues remains to be seen.

Specter's comments yesterday left a lot of doubt as to whether this old dog had learned any new conservative tricks the last few months. He complained loudly that voters from "church parking lots" focused "solely on the abortion issue" had kept his "hands full" throughout the campaign. Beginning today, he will run hard to the left for the general election.

SPECTER'S NARROW WIN (51-49 percent) was by no means a blowout, and came at a great cost. He dropped more than $10 million on the race, about three times as much as Toomey spent. He was a four-time incumbent with strong, vocal support from the Republican establishment. The race should have been in the bag.

Also, moderate Republicans are now on notice that they can and will be targeted by conservative groups, and the way the Toomey revolt captured the imaginations of conservative pundits nationwide will haunt the election year dreams of more than one RINO for some time to come.

Still, the extremely low turnout in Tuesday's vote suggests that perhaps the national excitement over this race might not have trickled down to the Pennsylvania voters. Only about a third of the state's 3.1 million Republican voters actually turned out.

[GeronL]

he will run hard to the left for the general election.

[DustyMoment]

IMO, Bush's endorsement of this RINO is a clear indication of Bush's political leaning.

[GeronL]

Bush has been very much a moderate on the domestic side. No news there.

bump

[BigSkyFreeper]

IMO, Bush's endorsement of this RINO is a clear indication of Bush's political leaning.

Name a sitting president in recent history that didn't put his support, popularity and political muscle behind an incumbent Senator.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Even the worst democrat won't be any worse than Spectre.

I hope he loses the general.

[daddyOwe]

My only gripe is Specter is Pro Choice. The President is Pro Life. I disagree with Bush on his support of Specter.

[depenzz]

I just got my morning paper and was disappointed with the headlines. "Specter wins squeaker"

Toomey came so close to removing this RINO from our future.

I was disappointed that Bush endorsed Specter also but I realize thats how it happens.

It ticks me off that we in the "in between" have so little to say about Pennsylvania politics. Lets hope the "in betweens" have control of the national situation.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I disagree with those who think Bush should be taken to the woodshed. This win of Specter's is just one less seat the Republicans will have to defend. Everyone on this forum seems to be looking at the hand in front of their faces, Bush is looking beyond the horizon.

[petercooper]

Specter is more liberal than most Dems. I hope all Toomey voters stay home on election day.

[Elle Bee]

a fifth term at 74 - 80 years old and in feeble health Arland will reinvent socialism in his lame duck term and be beholden to no one

Ed Rendell, former DNC big and Philly mayor is now Gov. of PA and if Arland vapor locks guess who Rendell will appoint as Senator

Specter will be insufferable as chair of the Judiciary Committee ... bye-bye to all but liberal judges

.

[wgeorge2001]

Only about a third of the state's 3.1 million Republican voters actually turned out.

This is a shame, a liberal democrat republican elected by the foolish of Pa. and the conservative base stays at home believing they are safe from the scourge of liberalism's death culture.
What does it take for American's to rise to the defence of the American life culture and push back and destroy the ever creeping liberal death culture?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Exactly, they stayed home, and howled a fit when the morning paper showed up at the door. Way to go "true Conservatives", that's the spirit.

[LibLieSlayer]

That must be why the states CONSERVATIVE Senator endorsed Specter also.

It was ALL about retaining the seat in November, and nothing else. I am not convinced that Specter's defeat would have cost us the seat in the general election, but Senator Santorum, and President Bush were.

LLS

[Elkiejg]

Could Toomey win in Nov. if he ran as an Independent?

[RobFromGa]

Could Toomey win in Nov. if he ran as an Independent?

Not this November, and if he pulled a sore-loser stunt like that he could write off all future Novembers as well. Adults don't act that way.

[BigSkyFreeper]

If 2/3 of his supporters bothered to show up yesterday, he might have beat Specter, not as an independent, but as a true Conservative.

[guitfiddlist]

I disagree with those who think Bush should be taken to the woodshed. This win of Specter's is just one less seat the Republicans will have to defend. Everyone on this forum seems to be looking at the hand in front of their faces, Bush is looking beyond the horizon.

I'm gritting my teeth here, but perhaps this is the castor oil treatment that in the end, is best for Nov 2004. The fact that it was a squeaker - is a clear shot across the bow of every RINO Senator out there. If and when it comes down to a reliably GOP state, or if we increase our Senate margins - then RINO's beware.

Also, Pennsylvania is now in play for Bush. Having the status quo of Specter on the ticket allows Bush to concentrate on winning PA - and Specter can take care of Specter, which is the only thing HE cares about.

All that said, I'm still bummed....

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I act that way...no way will I vote for Specter. He doesn't represent my values. I won't vote for a Dem, or Liberatarian, or a Greenie, I will write in Toomey. In my assessment Specter = Hoeffel (both liberals Dims). I won't drink the party KoolAid and support Specter.

[mewzilla]

How about the red bits of NYS and PA secede to form a new state? Sounds good to me :)

[GraniteStateConservative]

Bush, 2002. Bob Smith didn't get all that.