Specter assails ideological 'cannibalism' in Senate in farewell speech

Washington Post ^ | December 21, 2010 | Philip Rucker

[Second Amendment First]

Sen. Arlen Specter began his goodbye speech after 30 years in office Tuesday morning by declaring "this is not a farewell address but rather a closing argument."

And argumentative he was. The Pennsylvania Republican-turned-Democrat berated his colleagues for stripping the "world's greatest deliberative body" of its collegiality. In a bitter, at times angry, speech, Specter accused leaders of both parties of abusing the Senate's "cerebral procedures" in the service of partisan rancor and gridlock.

Referring to the 2010 election cycle in which he and more than a half-dozen colleagues were defeated in party primaries, Specter condemned senators for campaigning against one another.

"Collegiality can obviously not be maintained when negotiating with someone simultaneously out to defeat you - especially within your own party," Specter said. "In some quarters, 'compromising' has become a dirty word. Some senators insist on ideological purity as a precondition."

Specter, 80, surveyed the wreckage of Republicans defeated by tea party insurgents in primaries this year. He said Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.) was rejected in a Senate primary in favor of "a candidate who thought it necessary to defend herself as not being a witch" - a reference from the Senate floor to defeated Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell that caused a few colleagues to smile and hold back laughter.

"Eating or defeating your own is a form of sophisticated cannibalism," Specter added.

Specter's speech stood in stark contrast to the soaring, valedictory odes to the Senate that Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and other veteran legislators have delivered in recent weeks. And it was not lost on anyone that, unlike Dodd and Gregg, Specter - who earned the nickname "Snarlin' Arlen" - is not exiting on his own terms.

[Second Amendment First]

Good riddance "Snarlin' Arlen". I hope never to hear your name again.

[massgopguy]

Get a dog Arlen.

[VeniVidiVici]

Nobody assailed a two-faced, lying bastard in return?

[Tijeras_Slim]

"Eating or defeating your own is a form of sophisticated cannibalism,"

But does it violate Scottish Law?

[Nervous Tick]

Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, arlene... you corrupt amoral POS

[ReneeLynn]

Ohhhh shut up and go away, Arlen. You blew it.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Specter only objects to "cannibalism" when he's on the menu.

[paul51]

no class right to the end. senile old fart. don’t let the door hit you in the ass

[Second Amendment First]

Good one Slim!

[Hodapp]

Tissue? Crybaby.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I’m sorry that Commie’RAT thing didn’t work out for you Arlen.

[abb]

He called us NAMES! Oh, the horror!! I won’t sleep a wink tonight.

[BallandPowder]

Powder..patch..ball FIRE!

Bye Arlen! Don’t let the door hit you where your brains are on the way out...

[poobear]

He tried to eat his own by turning Democrat and the dog bit him back!

Go away old man and good riddance!

[Happy Rain]

Going out like he came in—no class.

[subterfuge]

Look no further than a mirror for a culprit in making the political scene what it has become, Arlen.

Burn in hell you POS!

[RatRipper]

Cannibalism my a$$, Benedict, you are not fit for animal consumption. I wouldn’t feed you to my enemy’s dog.

[Niteranger68]

CliffsNotes version: “Screw the American people...long live the Senate!”

[Baynative]

Good bye and good riddance, Arlen.

May you NEVER, NEVER, EVER darken our door again!

[WayneS]

"Collegiality can obviously not be maintained when negotiating with someone simultaneously out to defeat you - especially within your own party," Specter said.

Yes. A LOT of people found that out about you during your long and vile career, didn't they, EX-senator Specter?