Posted on 05/30/2004 8:54:37 PM PDT by Badray
Party over Principle?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
This past Friday morning, Arlen Specter was at a town hall meeting in Ross Township (suburb north of Pittsburgh PA). According to Specter staffer Justin Lokay, this was at the suggestion of Lou Nudi, the Ross Committee Chairman.
There were about 35 people in attendance including the Senator and 5 or 6 staffers and interns. Also there was Congresswoman Melissa Hart, State Senator John Pippy, former Hart staffer and 16th state house district candidate Pat Geho, former row office candidate Becky Toomey (oh, the irony, but she is still the prettiest, and my favorite Specter supporter), Lou Nudi, as well as some various other local committee people. Arriving late as usual was State Representative Jeff Habay. More on him later.
I arrived shortly before the meeting started and checked to see if I was on the PNG (persona non grata) list, but was welcomed in, much to my surprise because I have been barred from previous events. I sat and listened to how conservative values were important to Arlen, how much he enjoys being around G.W.Bush, and how we must defeat the Democrats.
This is a pretty stock speech when he tries to court Republicans. Sadly too many pubbies have short memories and actually believe Arlen when he speaks. He invoked the name of his recent challenger, Pat Toomey and says that he enjoys his support because the Dem candidate is so bad. Yada, yada, yada . . .
He then tried to ingratiate himself by mentioning the names of several people in the crowd. There names were conveniently written on the cue card in his hand. The whole thing was a sad charade, but that didn't stop many from sucking it up. I don't know if they were all die hard supporters or simply supporting the "R" against the horrible "D" that looms ahead if we don't support Arlen.
He then 'yielded' to Melissa Hart. She yucked it up with him for a moment (Think Sonny and Cher, except that Sonny was the conservative, not Cher.) before he stepped aside. About now, there should have been a commercial break, but they continued anyway. Melissa then spoke in glowing terms of Arlen and how important it was to put Arlen into office so that he could chair the Judiciary Committee and help get Bush's judicial nominees approved. She cited the brave defense of former PA Attorney General Mike Fisher when some Democrats posed some minor opposition to Mike's approval. Thank God, Arlen was there to save the day and he convinced the Dems not to block him. BTW, Fisher was supported in his quest for the bench by his recent opponent for the Governor's office - Democrat Governor Ed Rendell. Gee, that must have been a tough fight, Arlen.
What no Borking of Fisher? Don't worry, if Mike starts to make some sound judgements, you can bet that Arlen will apologize like he did after fighting for Clarence Thomas.
Melissa was about 3 minutes into her praise when I just couldn't take it any longer. There she was defending the man that has been pissing on us for years and she was calling it rain. I walked out. On the way out, I said to her brother that I just couldn't stand the BS.
I stayed outside for the remainder of the meeting. I missed the Q and A session, but was told that there was only one tough question asked and that Arlen spent about ten minutes addressing it. The question may have hit a nerve, but I doubt that he will do anything more than pay lip service to it.
Some good news. There was some who expressed continued opposition to him despite coming to be convinced that they should now be supporting him.
I did tell Melissa's aide that I was not alone in my displeasure with her support of Arlen. She may or may not care, but I am sure that I am quite right in my assessment. She is putting the party before any principle she ever espoused and this will cost her later.
Another person that I engaged was Rep. Habay. He arrived only after I had left the meeting and was outside for about 15 minutes. He approached me as he entered the building and I greeted him with a snide remark that he resembled a man that I used to know and told him that I was disappointed in his support for Arlen. He told me that Arlen helped him early in his 'career' (God, I hate that word when applied to politicians.) and that he was repaying the favor. (Doesn't the mob do favors now for favors in the future too?) I told him that that is what happens when you get into bed with the wrong people. He started getting testy at that point (I have to keep the BAD in badray, ya know) and retorted that he wasn't in bed with anyone, but that he would be glad to sit down and discuss the issue with me. I said OK, but he needed to dig himself out of a big hole. Walking away, he said that he was very comfortable in his position. I thanked him for telling me what I needed to know as he turned the corner (more than metaphorically?).
Just before Arlen came out, I spoke to County GOP Chairman Rich Stampahar and he tried to convince me that Specter was the man to support. His pleas fell on deaf ears, but they were overheard by an intern of Specter's who wimpily came over to tell me that this was a private event and asked me not to create a disturbance. I replied only that I was talking to people that knew me and approached me and wasn't talking to any one else. Can you imagine anyone thinking that I would cause a disturbance? LOL Not me, I'm too shy.
On the way out, Arlen either didn't recognize me or thought that I went over to the dark side and was now a supporter. He approached me to shake my hand, but I politely declined. I reserve my handshake for those that I respect.
Maybe I'm just not a 'good republican'. Maybe I'm an 'unappeasable'. Maybe I am a purist. I've been called all of these things and more. And worse.
What I do know is that I cannot support this man. Not for party loyalty, not even for the Senate majority (we do not effectively have it now because of people like Specter). I also know that it is not out of bitterness or hatred. It's just principle. He doesn't believe the things that I believe. He doesn't value the things that I value. His vision of America is not my vision.
This November, a vote for Democrat Joe Hoeffel is a vote to put a true conservative, a true Republican in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm voting for Joe.
Ray Horvath
Dearie, when I went to school 60 was a failing grade. At 43, Specter fails miserably, but in this 'school of hard knocks' I don't want him to repeat the 'grade'. I don't want to promote him to a higher 'grade'. I want him flunked out of 'school'.
And in Rayworld a grade of 8(for Hillary backed Hoeffel) is an A+.
no, but i guess you see dead politicians under yours.
politicians switchen'? very common??? why ,there must be hundreds of them!! NOT
politicians dyin'??? yea right, all the time. look at em' laying everywhere like dead cycadias !! LOL (atyou)
better get a better grip on that "reality" your swinging, I think some might have slipped away.
jim jefford?? got another name ??? now run and ask you friends...
I won't say where you head is apparently permanently stuck.
just more chicken lil' cry baby demo crap.
avoiding the true reason of this thread , trying to find a way to protect the SJCC.
all you pro-choice Specter fans are a riot. go back to killing babies. you're not sharp enough for this forum.
BTW, I've neither distorted or lied about anything. I am a harsh critic. If you, or Specter, or any one else can't handle that, that is your problem, not mine. My standards and expectations are high and my principle and liberty are too important to trust to those who have no standards or lack the courage to stand up for them.
If you think that's an insult, that's okay by me. But unless you can point out and prove that I've lied, I want an apology and a retraction.
Mind you, I want it, but don't expect it. Not from someone like you.
I'm not trying to deflect from the fact that you and Hillary Clinton are both supporting the same anti-gun, pro-abortion democrat.
Ping, again...
Does anyone at the BUSH WHITE HOUSE read this stuff.... Certainly, not many folks get the message. Too bad.
You certainly hit the nail on the head with these posts.
Thanks.
The worst kind of switch is when the voters switch from Repub to Dem. Does that sound like you? No wonder why we can't get rid of the Dems.
can you say "babykiller"? thats specter
can you say "Judges"??? thats who specters gonna choose
if you want "babykiller judges" vote specter!
then you can be... "babykiller republicans"!
we're soooo proud of all the babykillers in our party.
Tamsey, you can be chairman of the "Republican babykiller club"
Arlen might give you an award.
well, thats the way I see it. a vote for specter is another abortion.
anything you need buddy, sorry if I go overboard sometimes, about the name calling thing... i'm a little guilty there , but calling someone chicken lil' is so funny.
and the babykiller supporters NEED to know who they are. ;o)
You're vile.
Hoeffel, 100% lifetime Planned Parenthood rating and 100% NARAL rating last year. NARAL gave Specter 21%.
http://www.hoeffelforsenate.com/blog/index.cfm?week=04%2F25%2F2004
Then 1, show me where I said Specter is a "good republican".
And 2, if you insist that Specter at 43% ACU rating is a "liberal", then I want to see you say that 57% is a conservative.
See... you have no argument without lies and distortions. Go campaign for Hoeffel at DU where they appreciate lies, distortions AND like Hoeffel even more than Hillary.
Tamsey, I suggest you look in a mirror and repeat this. Badray posted this as his strategy for discussion, not a mandate. But from the start you people have done nothing but hurl immature names and accuse people of being the enemy, not discuss. I am sure the party would be proud of you.
abortion is vile.
you're dense
pro-choice is pro-choice
Hoeffel will never be on the SJC, so I couldn't care less about his rating. he is our pawn.
the only rating I care about is the one thats gonna affect the selection of conservative judges and thats babykiller Specters rating.
I like Kyl's better. but thats me.
you prefer Specters babykiller views and thats you.
Go campaign for Hoeffel at DU where they appreciate lies, distortions AND like Hoeffel even more than Hillary....
you would know this.
Yes, there were hundreds of switches in recernt years, mostly Dem to Repub. Here is a partial list. Get a life.
politicians dyin'??? yea right, all the time. look at em' laying everywhere like dead cycadias !! LOL (atyou)
The names I gave you of people who died in office was just a partial list. Next time, do your homework before making a fool of yourself.
got another name ???
I found some on the internet; why don't you try it.
avoiding the true reason of this thread
And what is that?
better get a better grip on that "reality" your swinging, I think some might have slipped away.
So far, you're the big loser....and you keep coming back for more. Your turn.
You acted like a total jerk at your little town meeting (not extending your hand to Specter - that's classy). It seems you've burned all your bridges through your silly, puerile behavior. I laughed when you said that you've been prohibited from those types of meetings in the past. Nice guy. To add crap to the pile, you one-up your ridiculous nuttycreep act with this moronic, ill-considered proposal.
You're a joke Badray. There is such a wealth of useful, inspired and thoughtful discourse on this forum, I suppose its only fair that goofball fringe nonsense like this exists as a counterweight. Your plan is stupid and going nowhere, which means it will attract quite a following with a faction of the "true principled patriot" internet crowd.
You may now return to your sandbox and playmates.
You guys have been campaigning for Hoeffel on Free Republic since April... the only ammunition you have is to 1, lie about how far to the left Specter is and 2, pretend that anyone who votes for him must be secretly admiring his stance on each and every issue, and 3, bully people who point this out.
Your proposal is garbage and your tactics are unbecoming for conservatives. As far as you being insulted that you are accused "of being the enemy", that would pretty much fit define people who campaign for leftists.
I rarely ask this but I can't help it in your case, I feel like I'm beating up a pre-schooler ... how OLD are you?
You defended yourself well. You took a lickin' and kept on tickin'.
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