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On the Third Day of Christmas (Dec. 27), the former senator who resided in Pennsylvania but represented himself for 30 years took to the stage of the Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia to really let we Keystone Staters know what kind of cue balls we have been. (snip) "Bill Clinton is a friend of mine because I was a friend of his," he joshed. "I voted not to impeach him. And that's a hell of a thing to do considering the evidence." So much for "Scottish law".

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - As the Republican campaign to replace President Barack Obama heats up in early voting states like South Carolina, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint is releasing a book discussing the roots of the tea party crusade and his hopes for the movement in 2012. "I believe that the 2012 elections may be our last chance to stop this insanity of spending and borrowing and debt," DeMint told The Associated Press recently. "I'm trying to recruit more Americans with this book."

[Note: This is a companion to an earlier thread about Jim DeMint's new book] Sen. Jim DeMint, a conservative kingmaker who spent millions of dollars helping tea party favorites get elected to Congress, faced contempt from other Republican senators as he tried to curb appropriators' powers and limit senior members' clout. In his new book, "The Great American Awakening," DeMint describes himself as an upstart freshman lawmaker on a lonely mission among "sorry rascals" infuriated by his bucking of venerable Senate practices in his bid to cut federal spending and limit colleagues' ability to fund local projects. In one of...

As Arlen Specter leaves the Senate after 30 years, the one-time corruption-busting Philadelphia prosecutor and architect of the "single-bullet theory" of the John F. Kennedy assassination says he wouldn't change a thing about his zig-zag-zig political path. Specter began and ended - for now - his political life as a Democrat and spent the intervening four decades as a Republican. But he sees himself as an independent who often bucked party leadership - ultimately ending his career. "I have always agreed with (John F.) Kennedy that sometimes party asks too much," Specter said in his last news media interview in...

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department is investigating whether Guantanamo Bay detainees charged with roles in the Sept. 11 attacks were improperly given photos of CIA officers or contractors, according to a person familiar with the investigation. The investigation, headed by the Justice Department's counterespionage chief, John Dion, is trying to determine if military lawyers defending the detainees divulged classified information or compromised covert CIA officers, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke only on condition of anonymity. It is a violation of federal law to identify CIA covert personnel, and it is a...

One of the most ignominious political careers of the modern era will at last sputter to a pitiful end when the 111th Congress finally relinquishes its strangle-hold on the American Republic. Arlen Specter, outgoing senator from Pennsylvania, personified the sort of elite, politically opportunistic, government careerism that the American people have grown to so justifiably loathe. He will not be missed. Educated at Yale Law School, Specter first sought public office when, though a registered Democrat, he ran for district attorney of Philadelphia on a Republican ticket in 1965 because, as TIME once noted, “ he failed to secure the...

Wayne you sorry bastard, I will never ever forgive you and Chris Cox for trying to save the Democrat's asses in this election. Actually I figured you out when you endorsed Brad Carson over Tom Coburn in Oklahoma's Senate election a few years ago. At the same time you endorsed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey. I can't believe you now have the gall to try to sell me something. Just bugger off. Sincerely, OKSooner, "Northeastern Oklahoma"

Sen. Arlen Specter urged “mainstream Americans” to turn out in droves to prevent a total rejection of moderate challengers and incumbents. “Mainstream Americans must march to the polls this November to express themselves forcefully to stop extremists financed by undisclosed contributors from stifling our democracy,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said in a floor statement Tuesday morning. Specter, who left the GOP for the Democratic Party last year after determining he could not win the Republican primary in his state, noted this year’s primary process has been particularly devastating to moderates. Specter, a moderate, is one of three incumbent Senators to lose...

Jessica Brady witnesses Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) giving one of his final floor speeches on the subject of, well, how much he resents that he's giving one of his final floor speeches. “Mainstream Americans must march to the polls this November to express themselves forcefully to stop extremists financed by undisclosed contributors from stifling our democracy,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said in a floor statement Tuesday morning... “Within days of the start of the Obama administration, before the ink was dry on his oath of office, Republicans openly bragged about plans to ‘break him and engineer his Waterloo,” Specter said of...

We've been telling you about Lisa Murkowski's attacks against all of you who have supported the Tea Party Express.Today she stepped up her attacks on you, and showed utter contempt for the people of Alaska who rejected her candidacy in the Republican primary.  You've got to see her in her own words from this clip on CNN - watch it below: These liberal RINO politicians are shameful - they tell us about their "big tent" and then display complete hypocrisy when the voters reject them.Remember Arlen Specter?  He left the Republican Party when it was clear he would lose against his...

Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who has broken ranks in the past with the GOP, gave Democrat Joe Sestak his second major endorsement from moderates in a week in his bid for a hotly contested Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Hagel told The Associated Press on Monday that Sestak has demonstrated during his two terms in Congress that he puts the interests of the nation and his constituents ahead of his party. "I think he's exactly what our country needs more of. I think he's what the Senate needs more of _ courageous, independent thinking," Hagel said. "That's what...

When confronted by a reporter who asked former President Bill Clinton why he campaigned for PA Senate candidate Joe Sestak (D) after he tried to get him out of the primary, Clinton claimed that “he never tried to get him out of the race.” The reporter is referring to an Obama Administration job offered to Sestak by Clinton. The White House wanted Sestak to drop out of the Democratic primary against Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter to clear the path for Specter. As known, Sestak ended up defeating Specter in the primary.

Sources tell ABC News that Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Penn., has informed the White House that he would like to consider remaining in public service after his senate term ends at the end of this session, and White House officials are keeping an open mind about possible job openings for him. Specter, who was defeated in his March primary by Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Penn., is a close friend of Vice President Joe Biden and someone praised for his leadership in pushing for greater funding for the National Institutes of Health. Sources said the job discussions are far from anything other than...

The uproar over the White House disclosure it had tapped former President Bill Clinton to see if Rep. Joe Sestak could be enticed to drop his Senate primary bid in Pennsylvania got a new round of attention on the Sunday talk shows. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, appearing on Fox News Sunday, got this question from host Chris Wallace: “If it isn’t illegal and it isn’t improper, do you think using the former president of the United States as a political fixer and then stonewalling about it for months was dumb?” Rendell, a strong supporter of Sen. Arlen Specter who was...

The U.S. Code specifically forbids anyone from seeking to tamper with an election by offering a bribe or anything else of value or substance to a candidate. This is known as 'quid-pro-quo.' And it is a serious offense for which a person who is convicted of the crime could spend up to 5 years in prison. Yet Sestak is stonewalling on who offered him such a deal at the White House and the specific job that was offered, with many speculating it was the job of Secretary of the Navy. The White House also continues with its stonewalling on the...

(Several videos are embedded in the article on the site. Drop by if you want to check them out.) The Obama Administration seems to all but beg for questions of conspiracy. As if there were not enough questions shrouding the White House already, scandal has now filled the air in Washington, which if true could be an impeachable offense. This story starts with Arlen Specter. Remember, he is a Pennsylvania Senator who jumped from the Republican Party to the Democrat Party last year. He was a RINO (Republican in name only) anyway, but the jump shifted power to the Democrats...

"One thing that people on both sides of the political debate can agree on is the need for sincerity in public service. The staunchest advocate of one philosophy respects the integrity and forthrightness of those who sincerely advocate for a contrasting point of view, if only they do so without a side agenda. "I pointed out that all that his Democrat challenger would have to do is to beat a drum that the so-called “People’s Governor” had campaigned on two promises: to cut property taxes and to slash homeowners insurance rates. Once elected, Crist passed an entirely insignificant cut on...

Sen. Arlen Specter wiping tears from his eyes after voting in todays primary for the Democratic Senate nomination in Pennsylvania. Plus his response to ABC News Jonathan Karl when asked if it was an emotional vote, since it could potentially be his last time on the ballot.

Obama Defeats Specter By Jeffrey Lord Wait a minute. Let's back up and stay focused on why, exactly, Arlen Specter lost this race -- and had his career ended. Two words: Barack Obama. Story time. Last April, in 2009, Senator Arlen Specter, then the Republican senior Senator from Pennsylvania, stopped in Harrisburg for a meeting with a group of Pennsylvania conservatives. This was a fairly routine thing for Specter to do. He had had a career's worth of disagreements with conservatives, but he had also had some serious agreements. While his famous opposition to Robert Bork is prominent among the...

A real conservative and a real liberal face off for the party-switcher’s seat. Philadelphia — Both men have taken on their parties. Both hold Harvard degrees. And they seem to like each other, at least personally. But that’s where the similarities end between the two candidates in Pennsylvania’s Senate race, a clash Karl Rove predicts will “be among the country’s hardest fought.” Republican Pat Toomey, 48, a former congressman from the Lehigh Valley, now faces Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.), 58, a former Navy admiral. Sestak’s victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, where he toppled Sen. Arlen Specter, a 30-year incumbent,...

Talking to an NRCC guy who’s looked at last night’s numbers extensively, he concludes that the polls and expectations in Pennsylvania’s special election were thrown off not merely by the competitive Democratic Senate primary, but particularly by Joe Sestak’s surge in the final two weeks. Committee strategists worried about the effect of the Senate primary at first, but as they started getting polling numbers back, they suspected the special election would be the chief driver for turnout in this part of the state. Until the beginning of May or so, that seemed to be the case. But in the final...

Here is video of former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson saying he is "kind of sad about Arlen Specter" losing the U.S. Senate primary in Pennsylvania to Rep. Joe Sestak. Richardson agreed that Specter's loss "surprised him," but said the country is in an "anti-incumbency" mood. Specter has no one but himself to blame. First he was a RINO, then he decided to be a complete turncoat. How can anyone be "surprised" he lost?

...You know, these power clowns just don’t get it. Americans just don’t like liars (or raging idiots or elitist wanna-bes or cheap-shot artists or morally bankrupt selfish SOBs or condescending “intellectuals” or…) In short, we don’t like arrogance and hubris – for the rest of us, that sort of behavior is not only counterproductive, but (gasp!) shameful. And we eventually decide to do something about our elected officials who embody such traits: like Arlen Specter, who just lost his primary to Joe Sestak… See what I mean? ...

PA Senator Is Gone After 30 Years In a powerful show of election force, voters in Pennsylvania took up the anti-incumbent torch this week and, like several other states, declared they weren’t even waiting for November to overhaul the Washington machine. After decades of building his resume as a “career politician,” which twice included switching parties out of convenience to save his seat, 30-year Senator Arlen Specter (D) is out in the primaries. Meanwhile, in the first big Tea Party victory, the Republican primary for Senate in Kentucky saw upstart Rand Paul easily defeat Trey Grayson.

WASHINGTON – The role of endorser in chief isn't working so well for President Barack Obama. Sen. Arlen Specter became the fourth Democrat in seven months to lose a high-profile race despite the president's active involvement, raising doubts about Obama's ability to help fellow Democrats in this November's elections. The first three candidates fell to Republicans. But Specter's loss Tuesday to Rep. Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania's Democratic senatorial primary cast doubts on Obama's influence and popularity even within his own party — and in a battleground state, no less. Of course, it's possible that Democrats will fare better than expected...

Angry Patriots Confront Turncoat Senator Arlen Specter at Town Hall Meeting FOX: Specter on Card Check Specter slams 'death panels' as malicious, vicious rumor Specter Owned Specter caught lying Acorn Buses At Arlen Specter Town Hall In Kittanning PA

Here is video of Pennsylvania incumbent Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter conceding defeat tonight, after losing his primary race to Rep. Joe Sestak. Specter thanked President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, and others for their support. "It's been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania," and "to be in the United States Senate."

The White House is looking to push a storyline about the November elections - and for a job like that, there's nobody better suited than Obama water-carrier extraordinaire, Richard Wolffe: Voters are lashing out at incumbents of both parties--which comes as a comfort to a White House braced for a Republican tidal wave this fall. And the president's political operatives aren't missing the chance to play up that message as they head into the biggest primaries of the midterm season thus far this Tuesday.... Inside the White House, Obama's advisers see a similar dynamic across the country. "I think a...

Its the day we've been waiting for here in Pennsylvania. Yesterday was the day for six or more robocalls on my phone ahead of today's primary election. Now I get to vote in the Republican Primary. Meanwhile, the Democrat Primary may deliver the coup de grace to Arlen Specter. Congressman Joe Sestak has waged a generally hard left outsider campaign skillfully with less money than Arlen has in his war chest. Sestak is polling close to Specter and may actually pull it off. If he does, those of us conservatives and patriots who have been eager to "beat" Specter can...

Democrat In Name Only Arlen Specter, former Republican In Name Only has been endorsed by both Bush Presidents as well as President Barack Obama. Pennsylvanians, let's send him back to Hollywood where he can resume his career in another stupid Mike Myers movie: Or, perhaps there is a government program he is eligible for: Its your choice, Pennsylvania, and its a matter of life or death for your state and your country.

Arlen Specter tells Candy Crowley that he switched parties to save the country from 'depression,' not to save his own job. Uhh, yeah Arlen. Surrrrre.

Washington — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder refused to answer pointed questions from Congressman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., about allegations the Obama Administration offered U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., a high-ranking position in return for dropping out of the primary election against incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter. Mr. Issa wants the Justice Department to investigate the allegations which, if confirmed, could amount to three felony offenses for bribery and corruption.  On Thursday, with Mr. Holder testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, Mr. Issa asked why a special prosecutor has not been assigned to investigate the case. “The appointment of a special prosecutor...

A drop of over 60 points in one month, Sestak is currently ahead of Specter in the latest Rasmussen poll by 5 points, here's the latest intrade one month chart + Scott Rasmussen explaining why Specter is behind (Video)

With all recent polls now showing Congressman Joe Sestak grabbing a small lead over Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic Senate primary election in Pennsylvania set for May 18, a desperate Specter has decided to play his trump card- a TV ad with a testimonial to his greatness by President Obama, crediting Specter for helping pass health care reform after his party switch (the 60th vote), and the stimulus package (while still ostensibly a Republican)  . It is of interest that President Obama has no plans to come into the state before next Tuesday to campaign for Specter. Given...

When a three term incumbent senator of any affiliation is knocked off, a shiver runs through the club. "Am I next?" appears to hang in the air, precariously wafting through the ornate halls. And in a rare moment of candor, I got a glimpse of this. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT, invited me to join him on the underground subway that connects the outer office buildings to the Capitol, as we chatted. It's about a four minute ride, but boy did I want it to be longer today. Sitting across from us - Sen. Arlen Specter, D-PA, who is in the...

Real Clear Politics is reporting a Morning Call Tracking poll (pdf) of Pennsylvania likely voters has found the first lead for Joe Sestak in his bid to oust former Republican Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Senate democratic primary. Sestak is now up by two points. Arlen Specter's support has decline 5% in one week. Big news in the latest Muhlenberg College tracking poll (5/4-7, 410 LVs, MoE +/- 5%) of the Pennsylvania Senate race. Rep. Joe Sestak (D) has for the first time in any public polling taken a lead over incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter.Senate Primary Election Matchup Sestak 44...

As that wise sage Yogi Berra once said, "It's deja vu all over again." In 2004, the last time then Republican Senator Arlen Specter was facing a tough Pennsylvania primary challenge, he received eleventh hour endorsements from top GOP players that saved him from a humiliating primary defeat. He went on to win reelection and then promptly betrayed both the voters and his party by becoming a Democrat. Now, in another tough primary challenge, his new party's establishment is rushing to his aid. Senator Specter who once held a commanding lead of his primary challenger, US Representative Joe Sestak (D-Pennsylvania)...

Specter tells WTXF (a Philadelphia FOX affiliate): "We're going to have to bring down the deficit; we're going to have to control the national debt."

Here is video of a contentious exchange between Sen. Arlen Specter and his Democrat Primary opponent in the Pennsylvania Senate Race - Rep. Joe Sestak. The two appeared in a debate together on May 1, 2010. Specter demands an apology from Sestak for calling him a "liar." Specter said he has stated "facts" about Sestak's military service record when he has pointed out that Sestak was "relieved of duty" for the kind of "climate" he created under his command. Strangely, Sestak appeared to stick to a script in his immediate response to Sestak, and really did not address Specter's demand...

President Obama ends his radio ad for Specter on a predominately black radio station in Philadelphia with this message: "I love you and I love Arlen Specter. I appreciate you guys. Thank you."

Quote of the Day "Well, I probably shouldn't say this. But I have thought from time to time that I might have helped the country more if I'd stayed a Republican." -- Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), in an interview with the Allentown Morning Call, questioning his party switch one year ago.

Actor and medical research advocate Michael J. Fox says that we need Arlen Specter in the Senate to continue his outstanding work as a champion for medical research. Fox suffers from Parkinson's disease.

Greetings from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport where Vice President Joseph Biden is about to speak. This is one of the smallest crowds I’ve ever seen for someone of his stature. Only about 200 people in a half-filled hangar, most of them local politicians or the politically active or just volunteers for U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter’s re-election campaign. His opposition is actually here, too. Veterans who back Rep. Joe Sestak hosted a news conference outside the hangar, criticizing Mr. Specter for running a television commercial that basically says the congressman was fired from his last major naval post. Bill Walsh, 57,...

Here is video of Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter denying that he made a deal with former GOP Sen. Rick Santorum to support the nominations of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts, in exchange for his support in the GOP Senate Primary when Specter was still a Republican. Santorum says Specter agreed to support whoever Bush nominated as a part of the deal. Both President Bush and Santorum campaigned for Specter in 2004 despite the fact Specter is not Pro-Life. The nominations came soon thereafter, and Specter supported both Roberts and Alito.

On this, the 36th anniversary of Earth Day, it is only fitting to speak of one of its founders, Ira Einhorn. You won't find Ira Einhorn's name listed in any of the Earth Day promotional literature, as the organizers have taken great pains to distance themselves from this man, at least since he became better known for composting his girlfriend in a trunk in his closet for a couple of years in the late 1970s.

Editor's note: Following is an excerpt from the book "2010: Take Back America: A Battle Plan," which Harper will release on Tuesday. Start with this: Arlen Specter has been a turncoat and a buffoon who has been in the United States Senate for far too long. For 30 years, he's always been a wild card, never reliably Republican in his voting pattern; in fact, he consistently disagreed with the party about 25 percent of the time. But even though he was always a maverick and frequently at odds with numerous Republican positions, Specter never gave any indication that he might...

The young aide tasked with scheduling Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania pokes her head into his inner office on Capitol Hill. "Caroline, give me two minutes," Sestak says. He's multitasking. As Caroline Troein shuts the door, he adds, "You're great." Sestak resumes talking with Kurt Zwikl of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, which needs money. "We'll watch this and get back to you," Sestak says, standing to end the meeting. A live radio interview is next. "What's the hit?" Sestak asks as Troein enters. "On the half," she replies. The congressman picks up the black binder containing his life...

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA): "As you know from my record, I frequently crossed party lines when I was on the other side of the aisle."