Do you feel bad for Arlen Specter?

[phk]

Getting "rejected" by both parties in one year.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Part of me feels sorry for him.  But he chose to leave the Republican Party.  However, the party could've been nicer to him.

[Brittain33]

I have to wonder if he had been a full-throated (or, perhaps, silently accommodating) Democrat from week one, instead of hoping that Norm Coleman wins and hemming and hawing on some other symbolic things that pissed people off, if Sestak ever would have gotten off the ground. Within a few weeks Specter got the message and ran as if he'd always been a loyal Democrat, but his debut as a Democratic candidate was only slightly better than Rand Paul's as a Republican.

I empathize with him and his position enough not to cackle over his situation, but I think that was a turning point.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I have to wonder if he had been a full-throated (or, perhaps, silently accommodating) Democrat from week one, instead of hoping that Norm Coleman wins and hemming and hawing on some other symbolic things that pissed people off, if Sestak ever would have gotten off the ground. Within a few weeks Specter got the message and ran as if he'd always been a loyal Democrat, but his debut as a Democratic candidate was only slightly better than Rand Paul's as a Republican.

But Paul didn't switch parties to run.

[Brittain33]

I have to wonder if he had been a full-throated (or, perhaps, silently accommodating) Democrat from week one, instead of hoping that Norm Coleman wins and hemming and hawing on some other symbolic things that pissed people off, if Sestak ever would have gotten off the ground. Within a few weeks Specter got the message and ran as if he'd always been a loyal Democrat, but his debut as a Democratic candidate was only slightly better than Rand Paul's as a Republican.

But Paul didn't switch parties to run.

No, they're totally different situations... I'm just bringing up that after Specter switched, he said a bunch of things over the following days that he suddenly had to backtrack from or explain away, and which raised more questions than they answered.

[Ronnie]

hell no.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

As much as I'm glad of Sestak win, yes, I do.

[The Dowager Mod]

No.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I don't feel particularly bad for him.  He had a good long run in the senate... and I certainly appreciate him taking the huge gamble of switching parties, even if it was for selfish purposes.

But this year seems to be as polarized as ever and both sides are nominating the more extreme candidates.  It's not a good year to be a moderate incumbent... that's for sure.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

After his comment about Norm Coleman, no.

[The Mikado]

He reminds me of the movie Sunset Boulevard: a bigshot from another era completely unwilling to accept that time has passed him by and desperately looking for a comeback that will never come.  He's a tragic figure, but I find him more pathetic than sympathetic.  I'm glad he's gone.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

He did the right thing by voting for the stimulus, but I couldn't forgive him for voting for all of these right wing judges over the years. Specter often felt conflicted when it came to supporting george bush on various judicial spots,but in the end he gave in to too many conservative wing nuts over the years.


In The end Arlen Specter is an example of how far right the republican party has moved ever since the civil rights act passed, but is also another example of what years of left wing rage will do to a candidate.

[Bo]

No. He is just a cheap, sleazy, manipulate politician. He decided to make a risky move at a particualr time and suffered the consequences of it. Maybe if he had left the GOP during Bush Jr.'s Presidency, he would still be projected to hold his job into the future.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He reminds me of the movie Sunset Boulevard: a bigshot from another era completely unwilling to accept that time has passed him by and desperately looking for a comeback that will never come.  He's a tragic figure, but I find him more pathetic than sympathetic.  I'm glad he's gone.

I can't really disagree.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I think he chose the wrong path after deciding to leave the Republicans (and the primary he was sure to lose).  He should have realized that he'd be vulnerable in the Democratic primary and tried to be an Independent.  At least that way he'd have remained relevant until November, even if he lost.

[memphis]

No. He is just a cheap, sleazy, manipulate politician. He decided to make a risky move at a particualr time and suffered the consequences of it. Maybe if he had left the GOP during Bush Jr.'s Presidency, he would still be projected to hold his job into the future.

Best Rochambeau post ever.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I think he chose the wrong path after deciding to leave the Republicans (and the primary he was sure to lose).  He should have realized that he'd be vulnerable in the Democratic primary and tried to be an Independent.  At least that way he'd have remained relevant until November, even if he lost.

When he switched, I think the party sounded like they'd back him and help him more than they did.

[Lunar]

yes, until I remember this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvDcMzyAlY


After seeing that, I'm like, GTFO

[Derek]

He got what he deserved for turning to the dark side.

[The Vorlon]

Spineless piece of $%^%$#

Deserved what he got.

Has had the reputation for a quarter century as the meanest, nastiest, most vile senator in the entire body to work for.

Senate staffers in both parties are (not so quietly) saying "There is a god!"

There IS justice in the end.

[Nym90]

No I don't feel badly for him (I'm not sure how I can feel bad, since bad isn't a noun).

[J. J.]

No, Specter brought it on himself.

[cinyc]

The only thing I feel badly about is that there isn't some third party for Arlen Specter to defect to and get slammed by.

Later, Snarlin' Arlen!  Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

[Lief 🗽]

He's a tragic figure, but I find him more pathetic than sympathetic. 

^^^^

[Mjh]

yes, until I remember this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvDcMzyAlY


After seeing that, I'm like, GFTO

With all due respect, Specters hearing of Anita Hill was nothing compared to what Ted Kennedy did to Bork.