28 April 2009

Arlen Specter's Lust For Power

You know, I always try to see the good in people. Really. When Lucy pulls that football away from Charlie Brown's lame kick, I figure the kid just needs to learn a lesson. When Lady Macbeth plotted the murder of King Duncan I thought, "what's a woman supposed to do in a patriarchal society?" And when America kept voting for Sanjaya I admired his talent-free way of making pre-teens cry. But Arlen Specter?

I admit that even I have trouble finding the good in Arlen Specter these days. It's not just the fact that he left the Republican party to join the Democrats -- he's certainly not the first politician to leave one party for the other. What bothers me is his reason.

Specter Explained:

"In the course of the last several months ... I have traveled the state and surveyed the sentiments of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania and public opinion polls, observed other public opinion polls and have found that the prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak."
He left the party because he couldn't win the Republican primary. So, it's not about principles, it's about power.

Like Benedict Arnold, who also figured he was on the losing side so turned turncoat, history can now record Arlen Specter as a man driven by one thing: his lust for power.

Of course, there was another interesting point that the former Republican made during his announcement. He made it clear that the issue which separated him from his former constituency was the trillion-dollar pork laden stimulus bill, which he supported. Thank you, Senator, for pointing out that the Democrats are responsible for that debt delivering disaster. Let's hope the voters remember that nugget during the next election cycle and those responsible will be booted out for stripping our national wealth and sent off to a new career where they will do less harm: perhaps stirring the beans at Taco Bell.

7 comments :

  1. Chuck said...

    It's cowardice. The joke could be on him though. Obama, Biden, and Specter held a press conference this morning. Obama said he would campaign for Specter next year. Wonder if in a year Biden is going to want him to campaign and I also wonder if being a Democrat would be a good thing.

  2. namaste said...

    lol! i love your sanjaya reference.

    hopefully he will lose in 2010 anyway. but i guess i won't hold my breath what with the brilliance the american citizenry showed in november 08.

  3. Sue said...

    KE, As a Democrat speaking my honest opinion, I feel Republicans are letting the voices of extremists like Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Bachmann, Palin, and I could go on and on.. lead the party. If you want moderates in your party then why do you let the far right rule? I feel this is what is hurting you. There is such a tiny portion of America who can stomach those extremists. I would think you would want to back away from them and start fresh with some fresh faces and ideas. Just my humble opinion...

  4. Khaki Elephant said...

    Sue, I would argue that the Republican party is far more centrist than the Democrats. Can you really say with candor that Reid, Pelosi and Obama are not farther to the left than any party leadership since Carter?

    And as for Limbaugh, it is the Democrats, not the Republicans, who trot him out at every opportunity. The left believe that they have perfect villians in Limbaugh and Cheney so they tag them as the voice of the GOP and televise every controversial thing that they say relentlessly. Meanwhile, the sanity of Newt and Mitt are largely ignored . . . because the main stream media doesn't want to discuss what they have to say for fear too many Americans will see their core ideology mirrored there.

  5. Khaki Elephant said...

    Chuck, I agree. Specter is a coward who cares about one thing: Arlen Specter.

    Nameste, who doesn't love Sanjaya! Well, I guess me. And let's pray for 2010!

  6. Sue said...

    But what I'm saying is, the peoples perception of the republican party is that insane Bachmann woman. Thats why just 20% of the country will admit they are republican. You need to do a better job of defining who your party is. It can't all be blamed on the media.

  7. Khaki Elephant said...

    I will give you that, Sue.
    We've done a poor job of communcating what the party is all about and it cost us the Congress.