GOP Sen. Specter plans to switch parties

and from the New York Times

This would be great news. The 60th vote, assuming the Norm and Al drama ever ends, and the continued fratricide within the Republican party.

Oh so much I want to say but can't!!!

Ok, I knew some of his neighbors, who are a very politically active liberal democratic family, who've had his ear forever. I'd like to think a few of them finally brought him in, not to mention the strong desire he must have to jump away from the sinking ship!!!

Let it be true!!!

It's true, but as a progressive, I don't think it's all that great. Pennsylvania was almost certainly going to be a Democratic pickup in 2010, but now it'll be with a centrist like Specter instead of someone more progressive.

But as a moderate Republican driven from the party by Bush et al Specter makes me happy.

I also hold grudges so watching my ex-party implode is both joyous and entertaining.

I am certainly enjoying the implosion. I'm also hoping this means Specter can go back to supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.

This makes sense for him politically. He was going to get crushed by Toomey in the Republican primary. This isn't some "I've seen the light!" moment.

He's been a centrist for most of his career, especially considering his pro-choice stance. He's helpful to the dems because he'll have serious and long time connections within the republican party with people who can help move legislation. he'll help open communication lines with sane republicans and he makes it even harder to get a filibuster.

all in all, a good thing.

Specter’s Statement on His Decision to Switch Parties

The Republicans brought this on themselves. There seems to be a positive feedback loop: The Republicans keep getting more radicalized, which drives the centrists out of the party, thus furthering their radicalization. Specter may not be the kind of progressive that I would want in the Senate, but hey, it's Pennsylvania. I wonder how long before Snowe and Collins jump ship.

You mean, maybe we can get some shit done now?

I don't think this will change much. He has said he won't blindly follow the party platform. Senator Specter has always voted his conscience on an issue-by-issue basis, which is why, as a Democrat, I respected him before this decision, and continue to do so.

BTW, streaming video of the news conference on CNN.com

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Good work wingnuts. Keep up the craziness!

Michael Steele, what do you think? Is this a wake up call and time for serious introspection in the Republican Party?

Oh. All right then.

I guess Steele is still pretending that he has any credibility or say in the GOP.

"Left-wing voting record..."

*shakes head*

I have it on good authority that he da man.

When you're that far right, the center is "left wing" by comparison. And I'm a Communist or something.

+1.

Nate Silver describes this as being bad news for Republicans more than it's good news for Democrats.

Yep.

It is definitely bad news for the GOP since Specter is a senior power player in several key committees. He goes, they lose that. It's no great gift to democrats since he's not a reliable dem vote, and he will be in competition with other dem legislators to chair some of those committees once he becomes a dem and gets re-elected (which is far from a sure thing).

The symbolism of moving a 40 year GOP power player to the "D" column is still pretty impressive, though. It signifies the extent of the decline in power of the modern GOP and puts a face on exactly how extremist the remaining party loyalists have become.

Not likely. He's already saying he will oppose and nor has he said that he would support a cloture vote.

Maybe he was just tired of having to take orders from Assyface Limbaugh.

Bear in mind, this means that the Dems in the Senate have just gotten more right-wing...

One must also remember that Spector started out as a Democrat, however early in his career he was convinced to become a Republican by very influential political players.