Specter and Toomey Debate Live Now on Many Pa. Stations

[Pafreedom]

Spector and Toomey Live now on Pa TV. Any out there want to start a thread.

[ForOurFuture]

C-SPAN is to play it at some point, so says an e-mail from the Toomey campaign.

[Temple Owl]

We love you Cie. Vote for Toomey. He's the good guy

[Cboldt]

but you have to understand that the instant the national party leadership showed support for Toomey there would be a panic in the offices Senators, Snow, Collins, Chafee, and McCain.

I understand. I said that politics is an insider's game.

[Cboldt]

So, if Pat Toomey wins the nomination, will Senator Santorum, the RNC & GOP then trow their full backing and support behind candidate Toomey?

Beats me. Maybe there would be bitter reaction, maybe there would be sporting support.

The GOP and RNC apparatus has clearly advocated for Specter.

[geedee]

Any good quotes for those of us not watching?

A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain. Mark Twain

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. Mark Twain

A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. Mark Twain

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more. Mark Twain

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Mark Twain

An Englishman is a person who does things because they have been done before. An American is a person who does things because they haven't been done before. Mark Twain

[JohnBDay]

I can't emphasize how bad Specter looks. He looks ill, he's sloppy. This is the worst I've ever seen him in the debate. I don't think he's going to win the general if he should win the primary.

Judging by he's performance tonight, Hoeffel could easily out debate Specter in what would be a much more high profile debate (i.e., not aired against the NCAA semi-finals). Every Republican should vote for an articulate candidate like Toomey.

[azcap]

What we are seeing is the smart way to get rid of the RINOs, one at a time from the grassroots, bottom up. Interest groups like the Club for Growth, Right to Life groups or NRA can provide a lot of the momentum but the national party stays on the side. The national GOP leaders have supported Specter but I haven't heard any say a bad word about Toomey. If the national party were to be seen as attempting to purify the party you would see a mass exodus of RINOs and moderates. We could easily become the minority party again. I don't like the RINOs anymore than most people around here but you don't weed a field by plowing the whole thing under. RINOs are on the wane. It is up to their constituents to get rid of them just as the good people of PA are doing.

[NYC Republican]

The GOP and RNC apparatus has clearly advocated for Specter.

They HAVE to support him... Think about it, if they don't, you'll see the DNC running ads saying that the RNC/GOP didn't support him, after x years of supporting their party. You also risk him switching the Dem side, or withholding votes on major issues...

If Toomey wins, you'll see the GOP/RNC support him 100%.

[Tribune7]

Specter was really upset with the Club of Growth. He hammered Toomey on it. Toomey just ignored him and kept bringing up the trial lawyers.

[mickie]

Any idea when C-Span will repeat it?

[ForOurFuture]

Any idea when C-Span will repeat it?

No.

[Digger]

Looks like at 5:30 EST on sunday

[eeriegeno]

Mr Specter's closing statement sums up his performance in Washington for the last 24 years. The Senator from Scotland claims that he initially ran for office to seek some sort of 'bonus' for his immigrant father. He said that, to this day, his father has still not received that bonus. Mr Specter admitted here that he tried for 24 years, as a United States Senator, to get a reparation for his father and FAILED. I hardly think that sending him back for another six years will help him reach that goal.

Vote Toomey......

[Fresh Wind]

Vote Toomey......

And send him some bucks, too.

[Sci Fi Guy]

Why are the RNC and GOP so stuck on Arlen? What do their polls say?

They are not "stuck on Arlen". All incumbents have the right to expect the support of their party. (sometimes it is support in name only.) It's a basic rule of politics. The only time I can think of it not happening is with Senator Smith of NH. But he quit the party briefly earlier in the year. So he gave up any right to expect their support.

The question is how is the GOP supporting Spector? Is it in name only, or are Repub big shots coming to the state to do fundraising for him(against a primary challenger)?

[Cboldt]

Is it in name only, or are Repub big shots coming to the state to do fundraising for him(against a primary challenger)?

Good question, and I don't know the answer. I did see a news clip (video, Fox News) of Mayor Guiliani standing with Specter, and saying that Specter was the right man for the job. I don't think the context was a fundraiser, but it was an expression of support. Further, I don't know whether the RNC/GOP put Guiliani up to it, or if it was a personal favor (perhaps at Specter's request).

They are not "stuck on Arlen". All incumbents have the right to expect the support of their party. (sometimes it is support in name only.)

I agree with that. Politics is an insider's game. It's hard to get inside, especially against an incumbent.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I only caught the tail end of it. What an inconvenient time to have it on, but wasn't it great timing for Specter? Most people weren't home or didn't know about it.

I hope Specter loses.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I did see a news clip (video, Fox News) of Mayor Guiliani standing with Specter, and saying that Specter was the right man for the job.

It's always annoying to see Bush, Cheney, Santorum, and Rudy speaking up for Specter. Some people will buy into that.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Looks like (it will be repeated) at 5:30 EST on sunday

BUMP

[Cboldt]

They HAVE to support him... Think about it, if they don't, you'll see the DNC running ads saying that the RNC/GOP didn't support him, after x years of supporting their party. You also risk him switching the Dem side, or withholding votes on major issues.

I heard that Specter was encouraging Democrat constituents to vote for him in the primary. I don't think it's far-fetched imagination that the DNC would run ads advocating exactly the same thing. "Specter, a man we can ALL support!"

I'm not in PA, so don't know what the tenor of the primary campaign is. I do hope Toomey wins, and I do hope the GOP and RNC support him 100%.