Maturin

Maybe this is bigger news inside the Beltway than outside, but I'm a little surprised nobody else has commented on Sen Specter's switch to the Dem side of aisle in the Senate. After all, this essentially gives the Dems a filibuster proof majority in the Senate once Franken gets in.

I can't say I'm too surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. Both the GOP leadership and rank-in-file have treated Specter increasingly poorly in recent years. You'd think they would realize it's a good thing to have a senior senator from what's a really blue state on your side, but instead the social conservatives have just continued to pile shit his way every time he voted against party orthodoxy, continuing to ignore realism. I'm almost surprised he didn't do it sooner.

An important thing to remember is that Spector remains a centrist moderate. He's going to piss off liberal Dems as much as he pissed off conservative Republicans. One of the first things he announced after switching was that he was still very much against Union Card Check, so that vote isn't assured at all. But as he himself said, there's more rooms for centrists in the Dems right now than in the GOP.

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"Creating something is not a democracy. The people have no say. The artist does. It doesn't matter what the people witter on about: they and their response comes after. They're not there for the moment of creation."

--Russell T Davies

verklingen

politics as usual, he's just hungry for reelection. 2 party system. . . gah!

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

stoneric

It sounded like he was going to lose the republican primary race. I think his motive is to continue being a senator more than any differences within his party.

Maturin

^ Undoubtably that was a large part of it. He was facing a tough primary challenge from a conservative Congressman who was outpolling him 15 points or so. I guess Specter didn't want to pull a Lieberman and run as an independent.

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"Creating something is not a democracy. The people have no say. The artist does. It doesn't matter what the people witter on about: they and their response comes after. They're not there for the moment of creation."

--Russell T Davies

ProfessorMurder

Secret Assignment
"I'm a little worried about this Sollozzo fella. I want you to find out what's
under his fingernails. Go to the Tattaglias, make them think that you're not
too happy with our Family...find out what you can."
―Vito Corleone[src]

Shortly before Vito Corleone is shot, Brasi was summoned by the Don, who
intends to draw out rival mobster Virgil Sollozzo and the rest of the Don's
enemies by having Luca pretend he had switched allegiances. Luca hung
around Bruno Tattaglia's nightclub, eventually going to bed with one of his
bargirls and complaining about not making much money, knowing that word
would eventually get back to Bruno. When Bruno offers a meeting, Luca
drives to The Luna Bar with Trapani, wearing a bulletproof vest.

Sollozzo, after promises of friendship, a job, and $50,000 he then rams a
knife into Luca's hand, pinning it to the bar as an Tattaglia's henchmen
garrottes him from behind. A Sicilian message is later sent to the Corleone
family: a fish wrapped in Brasi's flak jacket. The meaning is made clear to the
Corleones: "Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes."

Brasi's role as personal enforcer/bodyguard to the Don was later filled by Al
Neri. Tom Hagen once said to Michael following the completion of Neri's
training, "Well, now you've got your Luca."

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"No contaban con mi astucia!"

ProfessorMurder

A recent Pew poll found that 22 percent of voters now identify themselves as Republicans.




This also is affecting the invisible 3rd party(s).

Independent use to mean Ralph Nader.

Now, independent means Chuck Norris?!

It use to be People and Safety.

Now it's Guns and Taxes.

It use to mean you were an enviromentalist.
Now it means you are a racist sessesionist.

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"No contaban con mi astucia!"

SageTree

I think Arlen was always on the fence anyways. Other than the who magic bullet thing I thought he was pretty resonable more often than not, as the Republicans went, And he often went Dem. anywho in votes. Good to hear he solidified it. And is doing well after his bout with cancer a few years ago.

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stoneric

He's a hawk. That's all I need to know.

SageTree

Valid point....

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Being

Yeah. To be honest, I don't think this switching is good for either side (wasn't he a Dem before he became a Republican and now a Dem again, right?)


And I H.A.T.E the two party or ANY party system for elections.

Why can't we just vote for someone who we personally agree with, not who we are told we agree with because of our party affiliation?

The party system allows dumbasses to vote without ever doing their(sp?) own research. Its such a retarded system, because honestly it just promotes conformity and allowing others to think for you.

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R.I.P. Gov

Maturin

I've said it before, I'll say it again: if you don't like a two party system, then move to a country with a parliamentary system. Bitching about the two party system in America is as effective as railing against the pounding surf.

The Founders also hated parties: that sentiment lasted all of about 5 years. Certainly by Washington's 2nd the two party system was forming and was full blown by the Adams administration.

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"Creating something is not a democracy. The people have no say. The artist does. It doesn't matter what the people witter on about: they and their response comes after. They're not there for the moment of creation."

--Russell T Davies

SmokeSomeDoja

^yea, if you dont like it, get out!!@!

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fotoz fo yo azz



"I've run over black cats that were luckier than me."

Being

So instead of trying to discuss/debate and maybe hope for change, we are all just supposed to give up and walk away?

That sounds.......smart?


So no one ever should ever protest anything? That makes sense, right?

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R.I.P. Gov

stoneric

What 2 party system?

verklingen

^ you know man, i'm inclined to agree. but in this case it's the 2-party system that gave us a president who is returning science to a prominent place in our country as opposed to that fucking melty-faced would-be torturer.

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

stoneric

He's still part of the war party, which is truely our only political party.

Maturin

What the fuck are you on about Terry? A dictatorship? Please, grow up.

I'm just countering a couple of idealistic-but-ignorant comments about people wanting multi-party governments like you get in a parliamentary system. The simple fact is, the way the federal system is set up in this country you will always have a two party majority simply because it is the most efficient way to win elections here. You don't see coalition governments like you get in Israel or Pakistan. Instead the winning coalitions happen in the parties themselves. The party that can piece together the moderates with the idealogues is that one that will usually win the national election. You lose some of the subtleties between, say, Labour and Liberal Democrats in the UK, but on the other hand you don't have to worry about your government falling apart because it can't agree with itself. You trade distinction for stability.

For the past 25 odd years the GOP has been the party that's been able to hold up the Big Tent. Now it is the Dems have accepted moderates into their fold. They've traded hard ideology for majority. There are people who object to this (See stoneric, who doesn't want anyone who supports war in his government) but right now their voices are few and drowned out. Meanwhile the conservatives are purging anyone who doesn't share their beliefs out of the party. They're also polling 25-35%.

It once again comes down to one question: Do you want to be right or want to be President?

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"Creating something is not a democracy. The people have no say. The artist does. It doesn't matter what the people witter on about: they and their response comes after. They're not there for the moment of creation."

--Russell T Davies

Being

LOL@you.



I don't want a party system period. The party system altogether allows people to vote blindly.

So plz, stfu because your just basically telling everyone to just accept whatever is happening. Which, well incase you can't figure it out, is just ignorant

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R.I.P. Gov

verklingen

couldn't government be about something more than just winning elections?

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Maturin

Very well, Being. Instead of regaling us with smart-assed comments, why don't you enlighten us on how we could hold elections without having parties? Really, I want specifics, not just ideals.

EDIT: As I thought about this, I wondered, can you give me an example of a democracy without parties?

Yes, and if your frustration is with the process itself I see your problem with the current system. The parties themselves, though, aren't completely to blame. Nor is it on individuals who want to win. In the 1800's when candidates sat on their porches the parties were even stronger.

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"Creating something is not a democracy. The people have no say. The artist does. It doesn't matter what the people witter on about: they and their response comes after. They're not there for the moment of creation."

--Russell T Davies