What do you think of Arlen Specter switching political parties?

I think it's a purely political move, and it makes sense, seeing as he probably wouldn't have won in the republican primary. As long as he keeps making good decisions, whether he's wearing red or blue is irrelevant to me. I don't vote democratic or republican, I vote for whichever candidate can best get the job done. Specter never really clung too tightly to either ideology anyway. We need more people in Washington who put reason above party loyalty, and vote for what their constituents want. People who say that Specter is a traitor because he voted for the stimulus bill don't know what they are talking about. He did what a senator is supposed to do: he put his duty to his constituents over party loyalty. He polled Pennsylvanians and then voted based on that. That's why we re-elect him time and time again: he represents us, not a political party. It might be okay to vote along party lines when you represent a red state or a blue state, but when you represent a state like Pennsylvania, you can't do that, because we aren't so clear cut. That doesn't mean that he's a traitor, it actually indicates the opposite: that he puts his job (representing the interest of Pennsylvanians, NOT the interests of the Republican or Democratic parties) first.

I'm just giddy over it.

The Republicans strangely enough are happy with it too. Specter is known as a Rhino which is a Republican who talks more like a Democrat. This move by Specter will further move the GOP off to the radical right where they belong, isolating them from the mainstream of the America. With any luck the GOP will become a permanent minority.

Now wouldn't that be a kick:) Republicans choking on their own rhetoric....

Politicians switch parties often actually. I'm glad he's gone, he leaned to far to the left for me. A wise conservative employer I use to work for use to say " When there is trouble going on in any given situation, rats and cowards are the first to jump ship, while the heroes or men of character stay behind to deal with the situation" I believe that applies here. Specter was a left leaning Republican anyways, he was no loss at all to our party. We need a few more like him to take a hike, like the three who voted for Obama's stimulus for example, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain would also do us some good in leaving . Both of them are nothing more then liberal Democrats with a Republican name tags anyways. God bless.

I live in Pa and am a moderate Republican. That being said...for years I never really liked him. He always seemed like a "poll" politician to me. He would take a poll and if 70% of people liked this he would hav ea press conference about how great whatever the issue was or if he got a poll that said 64% of people didn't like this he would have a press conference about how terrible that issue was. I think honestly he was more interested in getting himself reelected than anything else. I think he is probably one of the most self-interested figures in politics today and this switch just proves it. Just my 2 cents.

Well, it appears that the head of the Turncoat Caucus is finally making it official. Arlen Specter, we have just 10 words for you:

Don’t let the door hit you in the @$$ on the way out.

Judging by his liberal-embracing voting record, I thought Pennsylvania’s Arlen Specter WAS a Democrat. Turncoat. o_O

Maybe he can't take another day of being embarrassed by Rush Limbaugh.

You know, maybe he thought he could.

Then after Limbaugh said that our President caused Swine flu, he realized he just couldn't go it another day.

I have an Uncle who stills blame the Japanese for all kinds of things, he is makes a fool of himself at every gathering. We're all embarrassed FOR him because he doesn't have sense enough to be.

Maybe Sen. Spector is tired of the hypocrisy, for whatever reason, I say, thank goodness for someone who can change their mind!

I think this statement he made said it all.

While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.

He's like Lieberman is a traitor to the Democratic party.I voted for Obama,but will vote either Republican or third party in 2010 and 2012.We've seen what happens under one party rule from 2,000 to 2,006 resulting in the torching of freedoms and civil liberties through unwarranted surveillance,the Patriot act,p.a.a.,F.I.S.A.,Enemy combatant,ruthless spending.It's continuing under Obama except worse!If even only one or two more Dems are elected they'll have total control, implementing gun control bills,and whatever socialist bills they want.Both parties are under Israels thumb which is the sad truth Specters just another traitor.

He has had an ideological change of heart. I imagine many others will begin to swtich to as no one wants to be a part of the "party of no." Unfortunately the GOP is turning into an extreme right-wing party with notables like Hannity & Limbaugh, as opposed to a party that really wants smaller government and empathizing with fellow Americans.

Every NO stimulus vote is another nail in the coffin. Every jab at shaking hands with another world leader is another nail in the coffin. Everytime the GOP does something silly like put obvious puppets out like Jindhal, Palin and Steele they make it worse. Everytime a super rich 65 y/o gets up to talks about smaller government and has tea party's so they can keep more money while everyone else struggles to make ends meet - yep - another nail.

Bottom line is the "pork barrel" consequences of being in the GOP is killing the party. People simply don't want to be against things like gay rights, stem cell research, etc. Most people just want to live and let others live - except for hard right wingers. They want to live and control how everyone else lives too. So they will oppose larger government, and then want that same large governement ban stem cells and human beings' wishes to marry. It is a joke.

edit: Believe me when I tell you. None of these repubs are happy that he's gone. When Franken is confirmed GOP will be completely irrelevant in politics and hold no power, so there is no way they are happy with this. How can you possibly be happy when one side can make all the decisions and there is nothing you can do about it. Just clinging to the old-fashioned exclusionary ways that just won't fly anymore.

Good-bye to bad rubbish. Now if we could only get rid of the two bimbos from Maine, we could back back to preventing the commies in Washington from socializing America.