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Courage, and the lack of it
Boston Globe ^ | May 3, 2009 | Jeff Jacoby

Posted on 05/03/2009 1:47:01 AM PDT by MartinaMisc

ARLEN SPECTER would never have made it into "Profiles In Courage." Unlike the senators described in John F. Kennedy's book - men who remained true to their principles, even when it meant paying a steep political price - Specter has never been celebrated for his backbone.

Forty-odd years ago, Specter abandoned the Democrats in order to win election to Congress as a Republican; five days ago, he abandoned the Republicans in order to win reelection as a Democrat. As he announced his defection, he all but admitted that he was acting out of naked expediency. "I have . . . surveyed the sentiments of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and public opinion polls," he told reporters, "and have found that the prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak." According to a new poll, only 30 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans were supporting Specter's renomination, while 51 percent favored his conservative rival.

When Vermont Senator James Jeffords defected from the GOP in 2001, Specter blasted his perfidy, and said senators should be barred from changing parties in midsession. As recently as two weeks ago, he assured voters that he wouldn't do such a thing. Asked whether he might consider running as an independent or Democrat, Specter staunchly replied: "I am a Republican and I am going to run on the Republican ticket in the Republican primary."

But if Specter is no profile in courage, there are others in the public eye who are, as two admirable American women have recently reminded us.

Carrie Prejean and Mary Ann Glendon could hardly seem more dissimilar. Prejean is a 21-year-old California beauty queen and model; Glendon is a Harvard law professor and a former US ambassador to the Vatican.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: carrieprejean; gop; jacoby; maryannglendon; specter
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1 posted on 05/03/2009 1:47:01 AM PDT by MartinaMisc
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To: MartinaMisc

Spector is 79 and will be 82 should he be sworn in another time. As Tolstoy says: “God knows the truth, but waits”.

Spector could have retired and faded away. Now his legacy will be finalized with this selfish move.


2 posted on 05/03/2009 1:55:41 AM PDT by svxdave (Life is too short to wear a fake Rolex.)
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To: MartinaMisc

Spector doen’t realize that the Democrats never keep their word and Harry Ried is already sharpening a knife to stick in his back.


3 posted on 05/03/2009 1:55:52 AM PDT by Wooly
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To: Wooly
I read that the RATS are furious at Harry for promising Arlin seniority and chairmanship on committees that other Rats want.
This could be fun, at any rate I am glad he is gone.
4 posted on 05/03/2009 2:09:28 AM PDT by DeaconRed (Three Things to know about torture: 1-.Red is Positive. 2-.Black is Negative. 3- Nuts must be wet..)
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To: MartinaMisc

A great American like Jack Kemp departs this mortal coil, and a slimy snake like Specter continues to breathe oxygen.

There is no justice.


5 posted on 05/03/2009 2:11:56 AM PDT by mkjessup (You're either with our Constitution, or you are with TKU ("The Kenyan Usurper"). CHOOSE!!!)
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To: MartinaMisc; John Robinson
"Forty-odd years ago, Specter abandoned the Democrats in order to win election to Congress as a Republican"

I didn't know this. Certainly explains a lot. I've always dreamed (since before wikipedia) of a website where words had information behind them.

So if someone posted something with the word "Specter", it would be highlighted blue, and you could roll over it to get some salient facts like that.

Eg: Specter
6 posted on 05/03/2009 2:23:29 AM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out (click my name)
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

Why are these liberal Democrats posting here? They seem to presume that they’re dictating the response line.

Spector was a RINO of the worst sort and the Republican Party is well off to be rid of him. On the other hand the Republican Party was looking to people like him for leadership when they should have been paying attention at the mailings (and flagging contributions) of their constituency.

This article points out that this vermin turned not once but twice. Why would anyone of a sane mind vote for that?

We want Conservatives and patriots with the love and well being of their nation in their hearts before contributors!


7 posted on 05/03/2009 2:49:38 AM PDT by NewRomeTacitus
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To: Safrguns
"Carrie Prejean and Mary Ann Glendon could hardly seem more dissimilar. Prejean is a 21-year-old California beauty queen and model; Glendon is a Harvard law professor and a former US ambassador to the Vatican."

Seems like there's someone else who sees the commonality in these two women. (Not that our opinion, worthy on its face, needed any vindication.)
8 posted on 05/03/2009 2:59:10 AM PDT by shibumi (" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
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To: NewRomeTacitus
Conservative leadership wins, and wins big. Filling the Republican party with opportunist libs like Spectre hurts, doesn't help.

People want a Reagan. But if there's no real difference between the parties, the dems win, because they still have their base, while the Republicans have alienatied theirs.

It's really easy stuff. But they are pushing this faulty premise hard, and it needs rebutting hard.
9 posted on 05/03/2009 2:59:12 AM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out (click my name)
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To: Voter#537

Promises that won’t ever be kept.


10 posted on 05/03/2009 2:59:36 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: mkjessup

There is no justice.

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?”

He’s 79... leave him to the Lord.


11 posted on 05/03/2009 3:31:57 AM PDT by FES0844
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To: FES0844
He’s 79... leave him to the Lord.

In all fairness, I hope Snarlin' Arlen accepts Jesus as his Saviour before he kicks off.
12 posted on 05/03/2009 3:33:19 AM PDT by mkjessup (You're either with our Constitution, or you are with TKU ("The Kenyan Usurper"). CHOOSE!!!)
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

I heard Arlen Specter’s own words. He said he switched because he was not going to end his career in a republican primary. He is basically saying he is not a republican. He is not a democrat. He is whatever it takes to get elected. He has no convictions or beliefs. No guiding principles, except whatever it takes to remain in office. If the communist party rose to prominence he would become a communist. If the NAMBLA party became a front runner he would become a pedophile.
I have no respect for this slimy sack. I could respect him if he believed in his convictions, but he’s not even a democrat. What he is, is a good waste of oxygen. A waste of human flesh. Just the most worthless piece of garbage that can exist. He lives just to be elected and performs just to get reelected. He doesn’t know why he is there, just that he must stay. If he was any type of man he would look in the mirror and resign tomorrow. But he’s not. He’s just plain worthless


13 posted on 05/03/2009 3:33:44 AM PDT by lynn4303
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To: MartinaMisc

Specter has never been anything more then a lawyer.
He conducted himself in office as a lawyer. He made a lawyer decision to continue his career. He has and will continue to be a waste of space.


14 posted on 05/03/2009 3:42:36 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Coming to You From the Front Lines of Occupied America)
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To: MartinaMisc
Aristotle said that courage is the virtue that makes all others possible.

I'm waiting on this side of the aisle for a person of courage to demand a return to our Constitution, a return to sane policies free of bureaucratic mumble-jumble, and a refusal to stand on expediency, not morality. Such qualities would then make possible all the reforms we need, including a demand to halt the asinine interpretation of anchor baby permits.

Regards . . . Penny


15 posted on 05/03/2009 3:43:39 AM PDT by Penny
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

The hardheads being seduced in DC don’t seem to be getting the message. But Hey! We are screwing them up if not outright winning! I’ve grown fond of tea over coffee.

Seriously though, without constant hammering these mere mortals will always fall to the temptations of their positions. The Beltway has had it’s system of corruption in place before “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” and it will continue without a major revolt. We won’t see that soon as our government moves on the barest premises of it’s founding while the two parties acting as one and our judiciary work together against the common people who supply their funding.

Anyone who proudly declares themselves a Republican nowadays is a fool to be taken advantage of and those who declares themselves a Democrat marks themselves as a tool for the Marxist agenda. Neither Party has any concern for our nation and it’s people. The time is now for a group (not a party per se’) to recapture the majority of good citizens wanting to bring America back on track, take our finances back from discredited gurus and reestablish the manufacturing base that made the most of our people’s creativity, drive and capabilities.

I say SCREW all the crap that says people are worth what their tested for at 17 and lock them in that for life. That’s total crap thinking. Ray Bradbury was judged retarded by one of those folks and somehow went on to ridicule them. I also object to judging people to credit ratings. Who said we have to borrow so much to be worth lending to?

My point is that the fascists constantly try to run this world on a set of rules that harms the human race overall, as it can not take into consideration creativity, drive or passion. Apparently there’s always a core group out there, no matter where in history, seeking to suppress the best of human-kind.

We who love liberty must always strive to prove them wrong with our individual achievements and constant chipping against the supposedly impervious cliff.


16 posted on 05/03/2009 3:46:47 AM PDT by NewRomeTacitus
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To: lynn4303

Very good rant...I like it!


17 posted on 05/03/2009 4:08:45 AM PDT by 2nd Bn, 11th Mar
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To: MartinaMisc
Last year I switched party registration to a Democrap for Rush's Operation Chaos. I never go around to switching back but now will wait as I will vote against Specter in the Demo primary.

Republican in PA

18 posted on 05/03/2009 4:11:36 AM PDT by G3
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To: MartinaMisc

Mary Ann Glendon hasn’t received the press that Prejean has, but Good for Her! In fact, Double Good for Her!


19 posted on 05/03/2009 4:15:39 AM PDT by prairiebreeze ( Pretender-in-Chief Barack Hussein Obama....an arrogant embarrassment.)
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To: NewRomeTacitus
The time is now for a group (not a party per se) to recapture the majority of good citizens wanting to bring America back on track

Party is something everyone understands. Bringing such change as you describe, plus doing it outside the party system, is probably not feasible. I think the tea parties should move to the next level and start a Tea Party. Let the GOP be replaced by the TEA. Have a national convention inviting all Republican politicians to mend their ways, take the pledge, convert or die. If they don't come over, out them as supporters of excessive govt, excessive taxation, statism, globalism.

Lady Liberty has become Lady Bountiful. Everyone is now entitled to an education in govt schools...and almost everyone is entitled to vote or to enter the country by hook or crook and sign up for benefits.

The Republican Party is not addressing these issues, they're with the looters on the other side of the aisle. A new party would separate wheat from chaff.

20 posted on 05/03/2009 4:46:57 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast ( AR2, Overdue! = American Revolution II...Overdue.)
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