Rejoice! Arlen Specter leaves the GOP.

Arlen Specter, beloved GOP senator from Pennsylvania, announced today that he be leaving the Republican Party and join the Democratic Party. I must say that it's about time.

Mr. Specter said in a statement that he released today that:

"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right," Specter said in a statement released this morning. "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."[1]

The GOP has moved far to the right?



Let's pretend for a moment that Mr. Specter's real reason for moving to the Democratic side is due to the GOP moving to the right since the Reagan Era. Which issues, that he disagrees with, could have possible moved to the right since that time.

He voted for the bailouts[1], Bush's prescription drug bill[2], The Patriot Act[3], and Obama's Omnibus Bill[[4]. Perhaps the Republicans just aren't big enough spenders for Mr. Specter.

The real reason for his decision to leave the GOP has nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with being re-elected. Yes, Arlen left because he fear being unemployed. Specter, in 2004, narrowly defeated Pat Toomey in the Republican primary. Specter was expected to lose to Toomey this time around. In fact, a recent poll showed that Toomey was up by double digits on Specter[5]. However, some experts believe that the switch to a new party will most likely guarantee Specter the election in 2010. Clay Richards, assistant director for the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said that he "just can't see anything but a landslide for Specter at this point". Michael Barone, co-author of the Almanac of American Politics, agrees,"I think [Specter's] prospects for reelection are very good,"[6] Oh yeah, Specter switched parties for ideological reasons.

This kind of switch, to extend one's employment, is one reason why I am in favor of term limits. Arlen has been in the senate long enough and I think it's time he does this country a favor and retire. I, for one, am glad that the Arlen Specter types are leaving the Republican Party. The less fiscally liberal types that are in the GOP the better, in my humble opinion.

Specter will most likely continue to blame the social "ultra conservative" or religious part of the party (because frankly he cannot possibly mean that he is a fiscal conservative) as the election grows closer. The President even said that he will raise money and campaign for the swine[7].

I think Specter might have found his soul mate; well only if it manages to get him elected.

Stem Cell argument: Take 1

I'm beginning to understand how this all works. Not stem cell research, rather, HOLLYWOOD. I understand the basic premises behind stem cell research and what some of the ultimate goals are with the new Obama initiative, but I'm really beginning to understand the entertainment industry, politics and their involvement in all things legislative. The Stem Cell research debate simply gave more saliva for angry dogs to spit but the issue, when presented by political pundits, sounds like all the rest.

It goes like this:

• There is an election where candidates appeal to certain masses with distinct differences concerning science, abortion, war and ways to spend money.
• Pundits take sides, stumping for certain candidates, with most acting objective but always clouded by bias
• One guy wins
• The winner then changes laws and enacts bills
• The stars of the entertainment industry, in all walks, come out with opinions and jokes to bump ratings.

And then they do it all again.

Morality surrounds the backbone of our society and nothing can be manipulated as easily as a good debate on grey areas of life. For every self-righteous soul, there are people opening their mouths looking for and easy buck, spotlight or another fifteen before they fade to oblivion.

From the esteemed halls of congress to a NBC/Fox/CNN studio set, the cast of characters all are in it for one thing: Popularity.

Bill Mauer vs. Ann Coulter: Let the debate for student president begin.

At the Citi Performing Arts Center’s Wang Theatre last night, two people with sharpened politically incorrect exploiting and opposite views within each dueled in a way that made the AP press quote them. Their publicists should get bonuses.

Coulter talked gracefully about Republican Queen Nancy Reagan’s support for stem cell research, "Nancy Reagan was so madly in love with Ronald Reagan, if you told her that we could bring Ronald Reagan back to life, cure Alzheimer's by disemboweling everyone in this audience, she would say 'do it.'"

Maher shot back with some witty lefty zingers. He decided to sling at current Homecoming King Rush Limbaugh by saying, “We all say crazy s--t when we're high. I think it's interesting that he is now the undisputed leader of the Republican Party. It shows how clueless they are. They went looking for the future and they found radio.”

I wish I could be as witty and filled with hard lined opinions as those folks.

Rush Limbaugh is the real genius, though. Nothing like a Democrat as President to revive his career but in fairness, he did pull out the ultimate weapon in the political entertainment industry; anti-American sentiments. Of course the “Anti-American” claims can be argued until your face turns red and blue so bear with me. When Rush said he wanted Barack Obama to fail he became the focus of the Obama administration for a couple of days, thus making him the greatest news maker this week has ever seen.

Oh the excitement…