Posted on 01/23/2010 6:31:12 AM PST by Slyscribe
When Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter bolted to the Democrats last April, it seemed like an epic disaster for Republicans. Yes, he had voted for President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus, triggering such grassroots outrage that the centrist lawmaker defected to avoid a tough primary challenge.
But Specter gave the Democrats 60 Senate votes (once Al Franken was seated). With their supermajority they could pass a sweeping health care bill — or anything else — and Republicans were powerless.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.investors.com ...
IF Specter looses in the general election this fall, then the end result would have been quite remarkable — a purge of a leftist from the GOP ranks without the need for a primary fight to defeat him.
I was just reading a report that Republicans are likely to have 48 Senate seats after Nov. That would exceed most estimates of a 3-5 seat pick up.
Not IF Specter loses, WHEN...
The GOP was on their own 1-yard line, with a Dem 1st and 10, and they intercepted a pass in their end zone. Bad call and bad pass. A coach (Rahn/Axlerod) and quarterback (Obama) problem for the Dems.
What are the chances of kicking Specter out?
I would think the chances are quite good. His image is not great now. Democrats backing Sestak will be fighting the same issues that made Massachusetts voters vot for Lt Col Brown. The stimulus package they did not read. The money going to bogus congressional districts and zip codes. The funding of turtle crossways and swamp mice in Calif bothers people. We may see a Republican senator here in Pa.
that number 48 would be if the election were held today. things could get better for Democrats which would mean less pickups or get a heck of a lot worse for Dems making a chance for more pickups. Also if recruitment picks up like i heard Tommy Thompson may jump into the race in WI against Feingold and Mike Pence against Bayh in Indiana there could be even more seats in play
anything can happen in 11 months
As a PA resident, I like our chances, I'd say 60-70%.
There is a long way to go until November, but snarlen arlen, has pissed off a whole lot of folks in PA and I don't believe the demonRATs will pour too much money into PA to save his old, ex-pubbie ass.
The demonRATs are going to have to fight a slew of fires in other states, and we have big mo working for us.
Oh come on, there wa no statergery by the GOP at all. They just wanted to roll over and get petted by the dems. It was the ferocious anger of average people that have stifled the dems agenda so far.
Political labels mean nothing.
What we need is a bumpersticker that is seen from coast to coast — Throw the Bums Out, or perhaps Tar & Feathers, Not a Bad Idea, or perhaps Hope and Change/ Thank Scott Brown.
Something that names what is going on and sends chills into libbies hearts.
This is a wonderful groundswell to watch/ be part of.
This article is a little disingenuous with the history. The republicans had no “strategy” to force Specter out of the republican party and give the democrats 60 votes to hang themselves. We should be so lucky if they plan ahead so well.
No, Specter left in a tantrum of his own after Jim Demint of SC and groups like the Club for Growth endorsed Toomey. The conservatives in the country and in PA were not going to duped by Specter anymore. As Specter said, he didn’t want his 30 years of work decided by the “republican electorate” (the very people who had nominated him for thirty years!). And so he took his ball and went over to the democrats.
Now, instead of being a republican who might have survived had been a little less of a backstabber (judges, torture, illegal immigration, taxes, etc), he’ll be a democrat who will be defeated, likely by his “new” electorate.
The GOP isn’t smart or daring enough to pull off multi-level Jedi mind tricks, but they are stupid and arrogant enough to believe they did.
The GOP had nothing to do with the election of Brown, though they are trying to claim credit for it. They are also trying to usurp the Tea Party movement but I don’t think that will happen. If we have to we can always change our name to something like the “Paul Revere” party. Well, I never said I was good at naming things!
As I have said before; The GOP has an astounding ability to fu*k up a one car funeral.
Unless another RINO bolts. THEN what??
The Republicans had no “strategy” ... they used “strategery”. There’s a big difference. Of course they didn’t plan ahead. Their strategic blunder somehow turned into a great fortune.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.