[Erik Latranyi]

If Specter narrowly wins or even narrowly loses and sees the margin of voters for Clymer which could have been his had he voted more Toomey-like, he may rediscover the principles he has shown on rare occasions like supporting Clarence Thomas.

If you think defeating Arlen Specter is going to make him repent his ways ---- you are sadly mistaken.

If you think defeating Arlen Specter will teach the Republican Party a lesson about supporting incumbents --- you are sadly mistaken.

If you think defeating Arlen Specter will make it easier for someone like Pat Toomey to win next time --- you are sadly mistaken.</P.

The truth is this --- Toomey lost a fair fight. Toomey's support of Arlen Specter will earn Specter's endorsement for a run at Governor where Toomey's views will make a much bigger difference to the people of Pennsylvania than they would in the Senate.

[Ahban]

Toomey lost in a fair fight? What is so fair about a party primary where the President jumps in with both feet? Where the party machineary actively backs one candidate?

There was nothing fair about it. The GOP establishment put Spectre over the top. If they get burnt it may teach them a lesson about meddling. If they dont learn, they are too stupid to be in charge anyway.

[LibertarianInExile]

Nobody thinks defeating Arlen Specter is going to make him repent his ways. It will mean he can't practice his ways in the Republican party any more.

Nobody thinks defeating Arlen Specter will teach the Republican Party a lesson about supporting incumbents. It will teach them a lesson about supporting leftists in Republican clothing.

Defeating Arlen Specter WILL make it easier for someone like Pat Toomey to win next time. Pat Toomey. Not some other conservative--they have to be local and popular like Toomey is. But a real RAT liberal in the Senate instead of a RINO will mean that voters can choose between Red and Blue instead of Red and Pink. Truly independent voters will prefer a real choice between competing ideologies, and generally vote right, to a moderate tossup any day.

Look at their participation in the national election this time--I bet their turnout is substantially higher, if Bush can get Kerry properly defined as Bush Sr. did with Dukakis, and it doesn't turn into a negative campaign slaughterhouse (THAT would be the likely independent depresser in this election).