the Specter spectacle/spectre

Some great quotes, accumulated by Chuck Muth, on Specter's switch...

The only comments I have on these:

On the quote about Bush, Santorum and Toomey: That's what Bush and the GOP gets for endorsing RINOs. No sympathy there!

On the observation that Specter may leap-frog other Dems, given his seniority: ironically, Specter may be a net improvement.

THAT WAS THEN…
“To eliminate any doubt, I am a Republican, and I am running for reelection in 2010 as a Republican on the Republican ticket." - Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), 3/19/09

THIS IS NOW
“The prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak. I am not prepared to have my 29-year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate - not prepared to have that record decided by that jury.” - Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), 4/28/09

RANK OPPORTUNIST
“To his critics, Mr. Specter is a rank opportunist. His party switch yesterday was a shock to few. After all, he was a Democrat until age 35. He only became a Republican in 1965 when the Democratic machine in Philadelphia turned down his request that he be nominated for district attorney. The GOP nomination was his for the asking, but he also covered his bases: He changed his party registration only after he had won.”- John Fund of Political Diary

“After years of voting Democrat, and facing certain defeat in his bid to retain his Republican Senate seat in 2010, Arlen Specter...has finally decided to run for a sixth term under the party banner which he has consistently voted with.” - Blogger J.B. Williams of Right Side News

“It would be more newsworthy if Specter finally became a Republican.” - Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)

“Republicans have cause to consider this a betrayal, especially after President Bush helped him win a GOP primary against Mr. Toomey with a final-days endorsement in 2004. Rick Santorum, the state's other GOP Senator at the time, also endorsed Mr. Specter over Mr. Toomey, a move that harmed Mr. Santorum's own re-election chances in 2006. So much for loyalty in politics.” - Wall Street Journal editorial

“If anything, Arlen Specter is the epitome of everything voters have come to hate about the Republican Party - the desperate grasping for power and the complete rejection of the principles the Party claims to stand for.” - Andy Roth of the Club for Growth

GRUMBLE OVER SPECTER DEAL WITH REID
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) deal to allow Sen. Arlen Specter to retain his seniority after he switches to the Democratic Conference has not been received well by senior senators in the party. Several Democrats are furious with Reid for agreeing to let Specter (Pa.) keep the seniority accrued over more than 28 years as a Republican senator. That could allow him to leap past senior Democrats on powerful panels - including the Appropriations and Judiciary committees." - The Hill, 4/29/09