Ah bin tellin' Ahlen fah years thaht 'e needs to be more indahpendant!
Posted on 03/19/2009 11:04:46 AM PDT by bestintxas
Having rejected Democratic overtures to switch parties, Sen. Arlen Specter is raising the possibility he may spurn the GOP and run as an independent.
“It’s an abstract possibility,” the Pennsylvania Republican also told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, regarding an independent bid. “But I am not making any plans on it.”
Specter has suggested he would only do so as a last resort, and would continue to caucus with Republicans.
Specter has been under fire from GOP conservatives particularly in his home state due to his moderate positions. He was one of only three Republican senators who voted for the $787 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress.
After representing the Keystone State for five terms, Specter is expected to face a tough primary battle for the 2010 GOP nomination. One potential rival is former GOP Rep. Patrick J. Toomey, who ran against him in 2004.
Specter, 79, also expects a strong Democratic challenge in the general election, possibly from Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa.
Specter’s status as a swing vote in the Senate has made him, at least in some quarters, one of its most influential members. In his interview with the Los Angeles Times, Specter appeared to downplay the notion that he might entertain an independent bid.
“It’s a possibility in the sense that almost anything is a possibility,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Arlen still believes he has relevance in the GOP ...
Good riddance! Get moving you worthless POS.
“Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.”
Can we give him a going-away party?
“Arlen still believes he has relevance in the GOP ...”
No, Arlen still believes he has relevance to Arlen.
Bull. He's under fire for lying: He calls himself a Republican, and acts exactly like Nancy Pelosi. I would not be surprised to learn he wears lacy panties. The man is a sissy, like most who vote left.
Finally he got a good plan.
Maybe Al D’Amato can move to PA and run for the Republican nomination!
(A VERY similar situation allowed him to be a senator from NY in the first place. Arlen Specter is the 21st century Jacob Javits.)
Thank George Bush for this mess in PA.
Is there a chance that Pat Tilman (?) could win in PA?
LLS
Now’s time to target this guy (He’s our “Lieberman”), let’s just hope that Pat Toomey’s run ends better than Ned Lamont’s.
I have never tried to imagine what Pelosi wears in private, nor do I appreciate any hints in that direction. Gross! If I had to guess, I'd say probably something "Gestapo chic", but I don't want to think about her or Helen Thomas as anything but unusually unattractive people physically and ethically.
The AFL-CIO are trying to get him to vote for the card check. If he does they will switch their voting registration to vote for Specter in the primary. He is back stabbing scum and has always been a Dem.
Deluded old bastard.
1. The Dems will have no use for him when they can have their own guy in.
2. Conservatives dont want him.
3. He will have no money to run with.
His influence is only because he is a easy turncoat for the Dems
How about a military sock-party for him?
What he’s really saying is that if he can’t have it, he’ll try to split the vote to deprive the GOP nominee of victory. I really believe that he will draw more Dem votes than GOP votes in the general election, though.
I’m going to see Pat Toomey in about 4 hours, and we’ll see if he will formally announce.
He would have beaten Specter in ‘04, had it not been for Bush saving him. (Ever notice that when you have a Bush as Prez, they leave the GOP in shambles by the time they leave office?).
He knows he screwed up but hes such a vain poopycock who will not give up power willingly. Greedy, vainglorious, selfish, dishonest and so very screwed.
Pat Tilman died as a Ranger in Afghanistan, I believe. Do you mean Lynn Swann?
He has $6 Million stockpiled to run. All those Senate deals with the Democrats have been very profitable for him.
No Lynn Swann please! He ran an absolutely horrible campaign against Ed Rendell!
Just go you backstabbing bastard Sphincter. Go be a Obamacrat along with your fellow Pennsylvanian, John Murtha. You two will make a perfect set of book ends.
Hey Arlen! Don’t let the door hit ya in the A$$ on yer way out!
bye bye creep.
(Arlen Specter Hints He May Spurn GOP)
Not a hint Arlen but a fact. As an American and a Pennsylvanian I am spurning YOU. Tired of you being a lawyer instead of a represntative of the people that elected you. Besides you never were a Republican to start with...........
Specter enjoys his position as one of three Senators who will screw his own party for a favor or two.
This is a transparent shot across the bow of any primary challengers. Specter is basically saying, if you beat me in the primary, I will run as an independent in the general and either win or see to it that you dont win.
It is smart hardball politics on his part. It may well scare opponents out of the primary. I don’t like a lot of what Specter does, but he wont be the last incumbent to use the Lieberman example to hint to potential primary opponents that even if you can get the prarty nomination, it will be worthless to you.
Good. Get rid of him
Does PA have a “Sore Loser” law where one can’t run as a write-in or indy if he’s been beaten in a primary (like Lieberman did in CN)? Jumping the GOP may be the only way to scoot by the Primary, where he’ll be challenged, straight to the General, where he’d win with Rat votes.
If PA returns him to the senate, I vote we kick PA out of the union. Any FReepers and other conservatives are welcome to move to my state. You’ll be in good company and a much better climate!
I really have mixed feelings about this. I’ve been wanting to change to independant for some while now but have remained Republican just so I can vote against Specter in the 2010 primary. Unless the legislature changes to an open primary I don’t think old Arlen has a chance to win.
Will not happen - PA has a "sore loser" law that prohibits the loser of a primary from running in the general with the other party or as an independent.
That is not all of Arlen's problems. The PA primary is closed - no 'Rats or independents allowed. A recent poll of GOP voters here showed a 66-26 preference for bouncing Arlen. He is trying to get the state GOP to open up the primary.
Actually, the smart thing for him would be to turn 'Rat in name as well as deed. If he doesn't, he is toast next spring.
See post 37
See post 37
Now that he senses that republicans have had enough of his double dealing he hints he might make it official.
"You can't fire me - I quit!"
Thanks...good to hear about the “sore loser” law in PA. The only chance ol’ Scottish Law has to get re-elected this time around is probably if he bolts the party. Better sooner than later.
With Specter, Republicans should take the Sam Malone approach from Cheers: “I dumped you first.”
Just retire him. The man needs a rest.
How would we ever know the difference?
He’s done.
Is there a chance that Pat Tilman (?) could win in PA?
Pat Toomey. He's the one that ran against Arlen in the Republican primary, but lost because RNC money went to Arlen.
Pat Tilman is dead. He's the ex-NFL who joined the US Army after Sept 11, 2001 and was killed while serving.
“(Ever notice that when you have a Bush as Prez, they leave the GOP in shambles by the time they leave office?).”
It’s the reason why I will never support Jeb, and I don’t care if he is the most conservative of the lot. We just can’t afford another Bush after 12 years of White House regrets with them after the bluster they were like Reagan.
It just runs in their blood, I guess.
When is the RNC going to address the open primary problem around the country?
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