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Here is video of Sen. Arlen Specter discussing the possibility of a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. He said he hopes Justice Stevens will not retire soon, because he fears there will be gridlock in the Senate on confirming a replacement. He believes there would be a better chance at consensus after the midterm elections. Specter was asked if he had a suggestion as a replacement, and he said he does, but that he was saving that "for the President instead of Fox News."

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter holds an 11 point lead over Rep. Joe Sestak, his challenger for the Democratic nomination, but it is the smallest margin over Sestak since December, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted March 15. Specter is ahead 48 percent to 37 percent with 5 percent preferring another choice and 9 percent undecided. In January and February, Specter was over the 50 percent mark, leading Sestak by 11 points and 15 points respectively. Last December, he led by 13 points. Specter is seen favorably by 65 percent of Democrats and unfavorably by 31 percent. Sestak is seen...

Mr. President, There is no doubt America is in need of major health care reform. With a reported 47 million people without health insurance, the status quo is not acceptable. Additionally, there are millions more Americans who are underinsured, with health insurance that is inadequate to cover their needs. Families are forced to make tough sacrifices in order to pay medical expenses or make the agonizing choice to go without health care coverage. There are far too many Americans whose financial and physical health is jeopardized by the rising costs of health care. In the coming weeks and months Congress...

Arlen Specter's email response to my email against the health care reform bill: Thank you for contacting my office regarding health reform. On December 24, 2009, I voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which the Senate passed by a vote of 60-39. This legislation is an important step in ensuring adequate health care becomes a right in America and not just a privilege. This legislation extends coverage to 31 million more Americans. It also has important insurance reforms: no longer can an insurance company reject a claim because of a pre-existing condition; no longer can...

Sen. Arlen Specter racked up another union endorsement Monday as the Pennsylvania chapter of the Service Employees International Union said they will back the five-term senator in his Democratic primary battle with Rep. Joe Sestak. "SEIU fights for its members so we have a natural kinship with Senator Specter who is well known as a fighter for Pennsylvania,” state SEIU Executive Director Eileen Connelly said in a statement. “He's been there for us and now we are proud to be here for him. We have close to 100,000 SEIU members in PA and we are ready to play our part...

Last Week Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak made an astounding prediction. The White House offered a plum job in the administration if he would only drop his primary battle against now Democrat, former Republican, former Democrat, Arlen Specter. Both Fox News and the Philadelphia Enquirer spoke to unnamed White House officials, who insisted on “anonymity,” but had denied the congressman’s claim. Sestak, meanwhile, has repeatedly stood by his assertion that the administration offered him a job in exchange for not running against Specter. Yesterday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked the question out in the Instead of answering the...

U.S Sen. Arlen Specter leads his Democratic primary challenger by 24 percentage points and also has climbed ahead of likely Republican nominee Pat Toomey in a general-election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. Specter, seeking a sixth term as a Democrat after 28 years as a Republican senator, leads U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak in his new party's primary 53 percent to 29 percent, the survey finds. The poll also shows Specter ahead of Toomey 49 to 42 percent, after being essentially tied with the Republican since last summer. In December, for instance, the Quinnipiac Poll found a...

Here is video of Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter admitting that Terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab shoud NOT have been read his "Miranda Rights" following his attempt to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day. Specter said they should have tried to get all information possible from Abdulmutallab in order to prevent future attacks. Specter said it was unnecessary to read him his "Miranda warnings" even if you intend to try him in civilian court because "you had that guy dead to rights" without anything he might say following his capture. . . . (VIDEO)

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter (Democrat, for now) is finding it harder and harder to antagonize new voting blocks. The senator, who's managed to upset feminists, anti-feminists, Republicans, Democrats, conspiracy theorists, bald people, and people named Arlen, is trying to connect with new voters, in order to turn his back on them. "I don't know what more I can do," Specter said at a recent national prayer breakfast for Veterans of anti-American Insurgencies."I stand by my record of offending both sides of the aisle and some people who are across the aisle, down the hall, and in another room." Specter even...

Here is video of Sen. Arlen Specter interrupting his Democrat rival Joe Sestak as Sestak was delivering his closing remarks before a Progressive Forum. The two were to have separate Q & A sessions before the group. Specter looked like he did not realize Sestak was even speaking when he climbed onstage during Sestak's remarks. Sestak paused, and greeted the Senator. The moderator got up and asked Specter to leave the state until Sestak was done! Sestak seemed embarrassed for Specter, and tried to lighten the mood with some humor. . . . (VIDEO)

Arlen Specter would say that the latest Franklin and Marshall Poll is not "acting like a lady" According to poll released today, if the Pennsylvania election was held today, Specter would be retired to the farm tomorrow. The poll reports that republican challenger Pat Toomey leads Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania by double digits, 45 percent of likely voters back Toomey, with 31 percent supporting Specter and 20 percent undecided. As recently as December the same poll showed Specter and Toomey were tied. Specter, a five-term senator, switched parties from Republican to Democrat last spring announcing to the Democratic party,...

Here is video of Michelle Bachmann on "The O'Reilly Factor" talking about Arlen Specter telling her to "act like a lady." (Video)Bachmann said that she thinks Specter may have acted the way he did because of "so much pent up frustration for the Democrats in light of what happened with Scott Brown overwhelmingly winning in Massachusetts," she said, "you could just feel the tension last week with Democrats." She added that Specter did call her and apologize. Bachmann was also asked about the Tea Party and if she thinks they will become the dominate force of the Republican Party, she...

I’m watching Fox News right now and they are talking about Sen. Arlen Specter’s ridiculous and sexist comments aimed at Rep. Michelle Bachmann. You know the “I’ll treat you like a lady, so act like one” remarks. One of the guests says there’s nothing sexist about these comments and that those who disagree are making a big deal out of nothing. She explained that it’s a generational thing: Specter just doesn’t know any better, he’s an old man, this is how old men treat women... As an aside, my grandfather is older than Sen. Specter and I never heard or...

This is not the hour of the good loser in Democratic circles. Keith Olbermann called Scott Brown, senator-elect from Massachusetts, “an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees.” Yipes. It was a Senate race, not the Battle of Hastings. “In the personal scheme of things, I went too far. In the broad scheme of things, this was a blip on the radar,” said Olbermann, in a telephone interview, citing the multitudinous cases when right-wing talk-show hosts have said much worse.... Meanwhile, on a radio show, Arlen Specter lost...

Yesterday, Senator Arlen Specter, (D-R-D, PA), was on a radio station debating Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. During their discussion, Specter rudely cut off the discussion by patronizingly yelling at Congresswoman Bachmann, a tax attorney: “I’m going to treat you like a lady. Now act like one!” To her credit, Congresswoman Bachmann politely sidestepped this rude and degrading comment and continued to discuss the topic at hand. Wow. It’s hard to imagine the outrage from liberals across the county if a conservative shouted those same words at Speaker Pelosi. Or Hillary Clinton. The outcry from the highest elected officials in this country...

Republican Pat Toomey now leads incumbent Senator Arlen Specter 49% to 40% in Pennsylvania’s race for the U.S. Senate. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Pennsylvania voters also finds Toomey with a 43% to 35% lead over Democratic challenger Joe Sestak. A month ago Toomey led Specter by four and Sestak by six. In the state’s Democratic Senate Primary race, Specter now leads Sestak by 21 points. Just 41% of Pennsylvania voters favor the health care legislation currently before Congress while 57% are opposed. Those figures include 22% who Strongly Favor the legislation and 47% who are Strongly Opposed....

All Sen. Arlen Specter wants as he sits down at the Vietnam Georgetown Restaurant after a bruising day of fighting for survival is a gin martini, with olives. How hard is that? "Bartender is not here tonight. No mixed drinks - beer, wine only," the young waiter says, tapping a pencil on his order pad. "No bartender?" Specter says. "How about a manager?" The kid shakes his head. "Well, how about straight gin on ice? Can you do that?" Specter asks, sighing. The waiter is puzzled. "Straight gin," Specter repeats, exasperated now. Ah, the kid realizes, this customer is not...

Rep. Joe Sestak blames Democratic leaders for the plunge in public support for overhauling the health care system, saying Wednesday they failed to defend proposals that helped carry the party to victories in 2008. "They said it would be transparent. Why isn't it?" said Sestak, a Delaware County Democrat, in a meeting with Tribune-Review editors and reporters. "At times, I find the caucus is a real disappointment. We aren't transparent, not just to the public but at times to the members." Sestak is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in the May 18 primary, as is Dravosburg's state Rep. Bill Kortz. Former...

Election 2010: The back-to-back Senate retirements of Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd may be just the beginning. The people have seen the future of health care reform and found it doesn't work. Apres moi, le deluge. We don't know what the Mayan calendar says about 2010, but it's starting to look like the end of the world for Democratic electoral prospects. Americans who watched in shock as government tried to step between them and their doctors, may have the last laugh. The tea party isn't over until the angry mob votes. As rage grew over the attempt to nationalize one-sixth...

n a conference call with Pennsylvania reporters Saturday, Specter compared the passage of the health care bill to the Civil Rights Act. He said tough legislative achievements take considerable time. "The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was necessary, although it did not go as far as people would have liked then, to get the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Again, it did not go as far as people would have liked, but we did find the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We have to find times when we have to build incrementally on these matters,'' Specter said. ~snip~ pecter said...