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Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Arlen Specter, a gruff, independent-minded moderate who spent three decades in the U.S. Senate but was spurned by Pennsylvania voters after switching in 2009 from Republican to Democrat, died on Sunday of cancer, his family said. He was 82.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell talks to Msnbc's Alex Witt about former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Spector who died from complications of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Specter had announced in August a recurrence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system. His son Shanin Specter confirmed his death.
Resilient, smart and aggressive, the former prosecutor frequently riled conservatives and liberals on his way to becoming Pennsylvania's longest-serving U.S. senator. He was elected to five six-year terms starting in 1980. He left the Republican Party because he said it had become too conservative.
Former Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter dies of cancer at his home in Philadelphia. He was 82. Msnbc's Alex Witt talks with The Daily Beast's Eleanor Clift and Politico's Rachel Smolkin.
Specter steered a moderate course during an era when the two major U.S. political parties became increasingly polarized, and often broke with his party. His sometimes testy demeanor and opportunistic maneuvering earned him monikers like "Snarlin' Arlen" and "Specter the Defector."
In 2009, Specter left the Republican Party after 44 years when he concluded he could not win his party's primary in Pennsylvania in 2010 against a conservative challenger. But his bid for re-election in 2010 ended in failure when he was beaten by a liberal challenger for the Democratic nomination.
Chris Maddaloni / CQ-Roll Call Photos
Former Sen. Arlen Specter prepares to testify at a Senate Judiciary Administrative Oversight and the Courts Subcommittee hearing on "Access to the Court: Televising the Supreme Court."
After President John Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Specter served on the Warren Commission that investigated the shooting, and he helped devise the disputed "single-bullet" theory" that supported the idea of a lone gunman.
During his lengthy Senate career, Specter was crucial in increasing U.S. spending on biomedical research.
Tom Williams / Roll Call
The Republican-turned-Democrat, who played a key role in many Supreme Court nominations, was 82.
He helped get one conservative, Clarence Thomas, confirmed as a Supreme Court justice in 1991, while torpedoing the Supreme Court nomination of another conservative, Robert Bork, in 1987. He infuriated liberals during the Thomas confirmation hearings with prosecutorial questioning of Anita Hill, a law professor who had accused Thomas of sexual harassment. At one point, Specter accused her of "flat-out perjury."
Specter annoyed fellow Republicans by voting "not proven" on impeachment charges against President Bill Clinton in 1999, helping prevent the Democrat from being ousted from office over his affair with a White House intern.
Specter unsuccessfully sought the 1996 Republican presidential nomination. He had several health scares, undergoing open-heart surgery and surgery for a brain tumor, as well as chemotherapy for two bouts of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
In February 2009, a month after Democratic President Barack Obama took office, he became one of three Republican senators to vote for Obama's economic stimulus bill that Specter said was needed to avert a depression like that of the 1930s.
Specter was reviled by some conservatives for giving Obama an important early political victory. In April 2009, Specter at age 79 abandoned the Republicans - saying his party had moved too far to the right - and was welcomed by Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as a Democrat.
Incumbent senators rarely face stiff challenges for their party's nomination for re-election, but Specter barely survived conservative Pat Toomey's challenge in 2004. Pennsylvania Republican primary voters are more conservative than the state's overall electorate, and Specter calculated that he could not win the Republican primary in 2010.
"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," Specter said in April 2009 in explaining his defection.
In the 2010 Democratic primary, Specter had the support of the Democratic establishment, including Obama, Pennsylvania's governor and labor unions. But liberal challenger Joe Sestak, a retired Navy admiral and two-term congressman, painted Specter as a political contortionist concerned only about himself.
A Sestak TV ad featured a clip of Specter telling a news interviewer: "My change in party will enable me to be re-elected." Sestak thumped Specter in a May 2010 primary.
"He has been a serious and consequential senator for three decades, yet mostly ungenerous words come to mind: driven, tenacious, arrogant, self-righteous, opportunistic," Congress expert Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution think tank told the New York Times after Specter's defeat.
Specter was born in Kansas in 1930 during the Great Depression. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant who owned a junkyard. Specter moved to Philadelphia at age 17 to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1951, then served in the Air Force before attending Yale Law School.
He was a Democrat until age 35, when the Republicans offered their nomination for district attorney of Philadelphia. He served as the city's district attorney from 1966 to 1974.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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R.I.P.
Arlen is a common-sense Republican-turned Democrat, or RINO...Rhinos are endangered species [in politics]. I hope his death won't serve as a forecast of the death of common sense and political compromises in our political discourse.
RIP Senator, you served your country well.
Let's analyze the following...
Why is Obama allowing Romney and Ryan to blame the debt and the slow economy on him?
Where is the backbone and hitting back on this issue?
The President does NOT pass jobs legislation. He just signs them.
Growth only happens if the "GOP owned congress" puts bills on the table to sign.
The uncompromising GOP has blocked, stopped, voted NO, obstructed, filibustered over 500 times and made pledges to NOT create jobs or bring cash to the government just to blame ONE man.
When is Obama going to say that to the millions watching?
When is he going to challenge the lies and tell the people that his policies are NOT at fault?
ALL GOP Policies are at fault because everything is directly involved with them.
Mr. Romney, let's do some ARITHMETIC...
#1 - Name the "Obama" POLICIES and the AMOUNTS that you say added trillions to the debt and "ADD" those amounts.
#2 –"DEDUCT" that Obama total from the current $16 TRILLION.
The balance = "GOP" spending.
DO Remember the following…
Expenses to "FIX" the GOP failed policies like TARP and the stimulus are still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so DO NOT count those policies.
All expenses from the previous GOP administration's "UNFUNDED" policies that Obama ADDED to his budget are ALSO Republican spending.
The INTEREST on the GOP TRILLIONS of debt is NOT for Obama to be responsible for either, it is GOP spending too.
The GOP "OWNS" that interest.
Also,
The "Bailouts" ARE "loans" to REPAIR more GOP screwed-up policies, the GOP wanted those to be FREE of charge, a "going away gift" to the Banks and Wall Street from Bush. Obama made them loans.
Do not add policies before Reagan because there was NO DEBT PROBLEM before that, Reagan took office when the DEBT had ONE TRILLION and could have been tackled and fixed with comprehensive tax reform but Reagan did the opposite..
"Entitlements" are a tiny fraction of the debt and they always bring their own revenues through payroll deductions as premium payments. Entitlements are NOT free, it's paid.into insurance.
Saying that the Democrats had a "majority" doesn't count either, because we all know the DO NOTHING, BLOCKING GOP have the "CONTROL" with record filibusters.
All those failed GOP policies were drafted by Republicans AND all passed with GOP majority of votes going back to Reagan.
The RepubliCONS will NEVER have policies or numbers to blame on the Democrats because they DO NOT exist.
Look them up, I tried.
Every single policy at fault is GOP owned, drafted and vigorously voted by RepubliCONS.
DO NOT get fooled into thinking it is Obama's fault. It is time to stop that Myth.
The Republican Fox-Rush-bots are going to try more diversions and ridicules to change the subject on this.
This is a win on the economy.
This is NOT blaming the GOP or BUSH, this is ARITHMETIC !!!!
Blame Blame Blame....Where's the budget?
The Republican party has ceased to exist for what it was. Now, there are only greedy extremists that want to get rich at all cost.
Reagan would be labeled a "Liberal"now
Why are you all talking politics in the name on commenting on spectors death. You will turn anything into politics won't you. I am as much into politics as anyone, but this is not the forum today.
A Senator that voted for his country and not greed. RIP and Thank you for your service.
Reagan was a guy who made low rated movies with a chimp. they even let him be in a few adult movies. reagan=much to do about nothing.
1.1 As always, the value of a post is inversely proportionate to its length.
I didn't see any loyalty to his party, the country or his principles as he switched parties merely to try to save his political ass.
Slowly but surely God is zapping this country of its' demons like this sorry bastard. Nazi pelosi and Gutless Reid are on the list,too. Can't come soon enough!
Godspeed, Arlen - YOU were a real patriot!
Kota: You and your fellow right wing Obama haters are really not very nice people, which is why you are radical conservatives, of course.
bye bye arlen, how about taking a few dems with you ...you pick they are all stupid...gotta start somewhere.
Specter is one of the few of a dying breed of Republican. One who I happened to respect although I may not have agreed with all of his stances. He was one of those not overly concerned with social issues (rightly so). A moderate 'fiscal' conservative with right leaning social views which pre-dates all of the bible thumping. Religion has no part in law and the government needs to get out of people's bedrooms and private lives. One does not have to be religious to be moral. Ironic really. The right is fighting so hard to put a state sponsored religion, they would turn the US into another middle east, and thereby lose the thing that makes this great nation so unique. I'm always saddened when a moderate on either side passes. It removes just a little more chance of common sense compromise as they are quickly filled with extremists who represent 'party above all'.
As to Obama, he is the worst 'socialist' ever. Financial markets are exceeding pre-recession profits, manufacturing is improving here in the U.S. (something that hasn't happened since WW II). I always have to laugh a little at those socialist charges. Unemployment is dropping, the economy is recovering, and we are no more 'socialist' than we were pre-recession. Even health care reform relies on private insurers with government pools only for those who cannot get coverage in the private industry. I suspect most who level that accusation don't even know what the word means. The government did what it had to, to prevent a collapse of our free market. I would expect no less from a Democrat or Republican. Apparently congress sets the bar much lower and that is reflected in their approval ratings.
My condolences to Specter and his family.
In a time when the term Rebublican Moderate has become an oxymoron, a politician like Arlen Spector will be missed.
A man with the insight to read the writing on the wall. I expect the rwnj trolls will be posting their nasty comments, so before that happens I'll send my condolences.
My condolences to his family and friends at this time of loss.
As to those of you who feel it necessary to unleash your venom upon the dead, "beneath contempt" would be putting it lightly.
How sad. Sad that this moderate republican passed away after finding his party so extreme that they don't know compromise or moderation! They are even more extreme than when Alren left the party and are now under the extreme control of the teabuggers!
Kota,
You and GW should be next! How rude your comment is and shows the total extremist views that now control the right.
What we have today is not a conservative GOP, but rather a fascist religio-Republican party supported by a large voter group of non-thinking, anti-science, anti-intellectual, superstitious and gullible people who unwittingly vote against their own best interests.
One less self serving, good for nothing (other than himself). False politicians are worse than open enemies. Why can't we bring this great country back to when it was about "by the people for the people"? Not who gets elected. I think because we are too lazy and fearful of making such a sacrafice for the greater good. Maybe we are all self serving. Look at what these politicians are doing to our country. "In a healthy nation there is a kind of dramatic balance between the will of the
people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny." (by: AE) I believe that Arlen will go to Heaven because it's what I feel. Our God is what we are shaped and fashioned by.
I'm sorry to hear he died. The headline should have read, "The Last Sane Republican Has Died". He became a Democrat because he had the sense to see the Republican Party was going to hell in a hand-basket.
Bo 2012,
When somebody says something inane like "jobs bill", you know they are either lying or very naive. I suspect you are naive so I will inform you on something; Congress does not create jobs, the president does not create jobs, govt does not create private sector jobs. Private businesses create jobs. So when a politician tells you they will "create jobs" if you vote for him/her, they are lying to you. Same thing if they tell you they will give you money for the rest of your life- they are lying.
Sorry to have to be so blunt, but I think you need to know.
just goes to show, both parties are interchangable and both aren't worth a sh-t. He's a dead politician, good riddance. All you ppl arguing over what party he was instead of seeing that both parties are the problem, you all can quote who did what, and it was he who controlled this at this time, goes both ways, happened both ways, when the house is owned by the dems, same sh-t happens when the pres is repub and vice-versa, when are ppl gonna wake up and realize both parties are the problem and that we need real ppl who worked in the real world aren't trust fund babies, yes these ppl may know how the political system works, but they have no idea what is going on in the real world, that is a problem.
Oh, so that's how it is? A Republican turned Democrat is labeled a "moderate"? ... No doubt a Democrat turned Republican would be labeled a "radical extremist" in the left-wing media's eyes. It's peculiar to watch the left-wing collective mind at work.
usa1967,
You said: "I didn't see any loyalty to his party, the country or his principles as he switched parties merely to try to save his political ass."
No politician can be loyal to his country by placing his party first. Politicans of the 1940's through the 1970's recognized this. Ronald Reagan recognized this. Unfortunately, like Richard Nixon's staff members, Reagan's staff became more loyal to their personal dogma than to either their President or the country. Think Alexander Haig, Caspar Weinberger, Donald Regan, and Grover Norquist. Their right-wing fixation started the Republican Party's move to the rightist extreme and the Party of Lincoln moved to anti-minority, anti-immigrant (unless they happen to be well-off Cubans), and anti-poor or working class.
Arlen Specter placed the country first in his voting record, rather than trying to get a good score from some right-wing spin tank. Senator, we will miss you.
Arlen Spector. Glad your dead. It's about time. In a just world you would have been indicted as a coconspirator in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. As part of that coverup you come up with the most ridiculous scientific principal ever devised. "THE SINGLE BULLET THEORY". The only way to devise and get away with such a theory was to 1) completely ignore all the basic laws of physics, 2) Use the media to brainwash America and lead us into the quagmire where "absence of reasoning" is taught to us daily. Without the media running these cover-stories over and over there is no way they could have gotten away with all this.
Arlen Spector, Traitor to the American People and the office that he held. Fool us once, shame on you, fool us 1000 times shame on all of us.
@jwoop66
You are just repeating Farce News and Rush Limpkoch's taking points.
Your goal is not to allow public anything to move forward just like they tell you.
You do not understand that Government is in charge of creating everything because you've been brainwashed to believe that "The People" are no longer the government.
You now believe that the rich are the owners of this country and convinced to accept it.
You now accept that your life will be better off with FEES and NOT TAXES.
When you allow the rich to rid of taxes and government you will be helping them to rid of the constitution.
Are you going to be happy when the constitution is replaced with a "contract" between you and the people you put in power?
I didn't think so.
Wow, the man dies, and some Liberal has to turn this into a political posts. Way to show some respect.
Mr. Specter was a centrist who knew how to approach the legislative process as it existed decades ago. He is an anachronism now.
I appreciated his support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which so many of the fascist repubs oppose. That took stones,....I don't care who you are.
Best wishes to Arlen Specter. Condolences to his family, as we mourn this loss for our nation.
John Doe, you mean the respect shown by the righties who are celebrating his death like Joe and "getmadstaymad," don't you?
Good riddence to a turn coat. As with all traitors, in the he was hated by both sides.
You righties are beneath contempt. You're on record here shamelessly mocking the still-warm body of a statesman who served not only this country, but your Republican political party, for 44 years. Why? Because he failed to live up to your expectations for extremism? Because your own party went so sharply and suddenly to the right, leaving him behind? What do you think this says about you?
By devising the "single-bullet" theory, it was then that his true colors and loyalties were shown.
Your negative comments from the right wing extremist side of the republican't party are beyond a disgrace!
No one left that scum bag, Specter, behind. He turned traitor in an effort to save his own ass. He thought the libs would accept him as one of their own after he stabbed the conservatives in the back. I'm so glad they f*cked him over. I hope he liked his reward. He got exactly what a Benedict Arnold like him should have gotten.
I can't say I liked Arlen, and I disagreed on some of his decisions, and yet agreed on others. Watching him on C-span however, I came to respect him. Arlen actually took issues, and discussed them and pointed out the pros and cons of bills to be passed. He voted on things based solely on his facts and analysis. He was definitely not just another party line (useless) robo-voter. He worked on the issues!
RIP -- You served our country with Honor sir... and even though I oft disagreed with you, I wish there were a lot more like you in congress today.
Stexasn.
Arlen switched party seeing the wrong direction has party was taking and the extremism it was about to achieve. He has foresight! Yes, now if a democrat switched it would be the to the ultra- and anti American extremism of the right now controlling the republican party that I left as well!! Many others are or will be doing it as well!
The "single bullet theory" is almost as bad as "the good neighbor policy"with Latin America. It showed Mexicans how to get a dollar for every peso.
To be honest I was not impressed by Specter for most of his career and I always thought of him as an ultra-conservative that blocked progressive policies in America. However, towards the end of his career he refused to become an ultra-right-wing ideologue like the rest of the TeaPublican party is it shifted sharply to the right.
Although I did not support Specter throughout his career I give him credit for having the balls to stand up to the crazies in his party and switch to the Democrat party. Not that he was anything like a liberal but I respect him for not selling-out like Republicans today.
He was embarrassed and revolted by current Republicans, on that issue I completely agree with him!
Although I didn't always agree with him, he was one of the best and one of the last of a dying breed. Like Bob dole Spector put country ahead of party and politics.
Yeah, stexan, sort of like Ronald Reagan, a former Democrat, turned Republican, in which guise he was twice elected President. This would be the same politician who was commonly called "the Teflon President" due to the failure of the media to criticize him.
Is that what you mean?
Arlen Specter left the Republican party because the GOP had changed into something he no longer recognized. Similarly, Ronald Reagan left the Democratic party because it had drifted too far to the left.
Neither were traitors to their party. One might say that their parties betrayed them.
As a conserative Republican, I did not care for Specter's politics or political philosophy. Having said that, I give him thanks for his service to the country and wish him and his family peace at this sad time for them. Politics aside, he was a man with a family who served his country. RIP Arlen!
'
Regardless of party its a sad day.
re. JFK and Arlen Specter...Specter was a lawyer on the Warren Commission. He invented the magic bullet theory and opened the way for fifty years of conspiracy theories involving the death of JFK. The Warren report was a piece of crap. No one will ever know the truth. Thanks Arlen.
"Moderate" is a word seen with ever decreasing frequency in regard to American politics; to the great detriment of all Americans and to our Republic.
Until Americans once again demand that label as a prerequisite characteristic for those whom we send to represent us in Congress, we are doomed to continue the cycle of stalemate, accusation, recrimination and finger-pointing which has kept our nation in the economic doldrums for most of the past decade.
"Moderation in all things", as goes the old adage, applies to the Congress as well. Without moderation, government cannot govern.
bo 2012,
you say that government is in charge of everything which tells me you are severely mis-informed and don't understand how this country is supposed to work. You ramble aimlessly and incoherently then mention the Constitution. If you had read the Constitution( a relatively short document and a quick read) you would maybe realize how misguided and misinformed you are.
Please, find a copy of the constitution (barnes and noble will have a it), and READ IT. It is a brilliant document and it mentions what the governments duties and responsibilities are. Creating jobs is nowhere in there.
Arlen Specter - the politician who had no true party affiliation. He started out as a democrat converted to republican so he could start his political career and then changed abck to democrat so he could retain his political career. In the end neither party wanted him. He couldn't make up his mind on whose panties he wanted to wear no neither party let him in their dressing room.
RIP Arlen
I hate to read the post that take up half of the Web page as most of them are biased and based on lies, after the third line. If you want to write a novel get a publisher..
RIP Arlen. Last of the old Moderate Republicans are gone. None left...
Yes, I know he turned Democrat, that's a reflection of the Republican party and why they're wrong for America.
John tell that to your CONservative homies that leave their constantly whining about Obama slug trails on news that have no relevance to Obama whatsoever.
Proud to be a Pennsylvanian when it comes to Senator Specter. I haven't always agreed with him on issues, but I could count on him to think for himself and not let the party dictate his decisions, which is why in the end he wasn't able to win over either party. If he was only concerned with himself he would have just voted the way he was expected to, but he wouldn't compromise his values.
I was quite upset that the Dems didn't nominate him. In Pa Indies can't vote in the primary, so I couldn't help. He was the last Republican I have voted for and will be the last until they give us another moderate like him.
RIP Senator Specter.
MODERATE?????? No one remembers "DEATH PANELS", OR OBAMA NOT BORN IN THE US? He was as moderate as Ryan!!!!! His departure from the Senate was welcomed by his co-horts BECAUSE HE ENDED GIVING THE REPUBLICRAPS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED. I have no accolades for the self serving Senator, he deserves none!
Always interesting how amnesia sets in when ANY politician dies. Specter was the epitomy of the insiders, flip-flopping political opportunist that would do anything to get reelected. When conservatives starting calling him out on his ties to Union Slugs and the thousands of people in Penn. that will only vote for politicians that give them gree sh_t - he quit to become a Democrat only to be betrayed by them which is, well, typical Democrat behavior. He accomplished a lot in his life as a normal human being, but don't expect people to boo hoo his political history.
Strange how the GOP mouths platitudes about loving "principles" and "sticking by your guns" - until someone like Arlen Specter comes along.
**************** Old Soldiers don't die, they just fade away *******************
************************** "SALUTE" ***********************************
RIP
Reading all of the Hate full messages from the Reich Wing Nut Job Party, I now know why he changed partys, He changed from a hate party to a Moderate party. and all of you RWNJ who are christian and posting Hatred, Remember God is a 24/7 God and you will be judged
BO 2012
Rest in Peace Mr. Specter! You served our country well and faithfully.
Now to my anger part: ON THE BACK OF A PERSONS DEATH.....Why is it that people like you and all the other a$$holes who insist on spewing your political rhetoric on every single article that shows up in the news? In this case it only took the second line from the beginning of our comments to show the disrespect and idiocy of many of you out there? Were you all the type of people who as children killed little animals for fun or do you all just not give a $hit or have no respect for the dead or human life in general.
You "people" see an article about a soldier who died bravely...politics appear.
Little girl shot by Taliban...politics appear.
Bus crash kill 6...politics appear.
Mother has 4 babies....politics appear.
What in God's name is wrong with your ways of thinking or showing respect. Your type of thinking is part of the reason why respect and morality in America is declining faster then in any other free world country. Maybe parents of our previous generation and this generation are raising sociopaths instead of people of a higher caliber with moral standard's.
Get off your "bandstands". Show some semblance of respect, unless you're a mindless, idiotic person!. There is a time and place for your crap AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
It's sad we have so much "HATE" in this Country, this is not that time - "RESPECT" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Vet ******************************** "Salute"
"Cohort" is one word.
Mr. Spectre put country first and party second.
Would somebody please explain to me how being in one party or another makes a public servant a better steward of his constituency. The party is a support group for elections.
Party membership has nothing to do with good governance.
Would that other politicians showed the heart, the patriotism and the service that drove Mr. Specter's public career.
One thing to remember -- (and Arlen did) -- when you run for office you are representing your party... When you get elected into office you represent "The People" (all of the people). You even swear an oath to that effect. Senators that carry party into office with them, and don't debate things, are violating their oath to the American People. I am so tired of seeing every bill voted on along party lines, or block voting, or preset voting behind closed doors. It is wrong, it is a diservice to our nations citizens, it is not actually doing your job, but instead a travesty of partisan bill passing. Oh and it is downright un-american...
Thank you Arlen for ignoring that garbage, and thinking for yourself and your state's constituents. I'm sure they agreed with you, or they would not have elected you so many times.
RIP...
I live in PA although i didn't agree with him.He tried to do what was best for me.REST IN PEACE SIR.
GO EAGLES!!!!!!
this traitor is responsible for oblamacare and screwed up americans healthcare and rob seniors of 716 billion dollars out of their plan. Too bad he did not die 4 years ago.
RIP Arlen Specter.
Worked for the people, all the people.
Condolences to the family and friends of Senator Specter.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
dman,
"Cohort" is one word."
Except when one hort assists or accompanies another hort. Then he is a co-hort. :)
usa1967,
I have to disagree with you, Spector may not have been loyal to party, but he was loyal to his principles which is why he switched parties.
I can't say that I always agreed with Mr. Spector and as a Progressive, I was probably less in total agreement than otherwise, but I have to say that I had a lot of respect for him and always felt he was doing what he felt was right, regardless of who's toes he stepped on.
I felt bad when he was rejected by the radical right wing and switched parties. Unfortunately, he was narrowly rejected by the Democrats too and the end result was a far right candidate for the GOP and a far left for the Dems. Republicans barely won the seat in the November elections. Pennsylvania lost because they ended up losing a good bipartisan moderate in the process.
I enjoyed his folksy no nonsense way of communicating and the fact that he rarely pulled any punches. He didn't dance around sensitive topics and when he spoke it was pretty clear where he stood. Sad to see him go, he served his constituents and the country quite well. Too bad that his commitment to the country and all those he served is a concept that doesn't get displayed much by the GOP anymore. He will be missed.
Fake Media, that was way out of line. You need to go to anther website where they have no respect for others also. Bet you are pro-life as well. I have never gotten into name calling before, but you are a disgrace.
LA,
"Fake Media, that was way out of line."
It was. Apparently Fake Media never heard the proverb, "Nothing but good should be said of the dead". There's a reason for that proverb. The dead are in no position to defend themselves against verbal attacks.
bla, bla, bla, hate, hate, bla., hate, hate. LOL people like this poster will always exist. they NEED to exist so those of us of higher standing have a benchmark from which to grade depravity.
Mind Games,
The mother of the US ambassador to Libya has told Romney not to make the death of her son a part of his political agenda Either!
Arlen Spector was so much of the problem in Washington for too many years....
Good riddance to Bad rubbish!!! He betrayed the people and the party that supported him. Never was there a pay-off he did nOT like!!!
Fake media propaganda rebuttal
First off Mr. Propaganda (which you are sh1tting out your mouth now) there are no "traitors" in Government Congress/Senate/all of it. If you think there is either run for an office yourself (you can do that in the United States you know) or get the fu*k out of this country since you "fear traitors" so much.
Second off Mr. Propagande there is only one traitor, and I mean the word implicitly (meaning for dunce brains as yours: "unquestioning or unreserved; absolute")and that person is running freely today and you, who spout off the word so ignorantly and non-intelligently is JANE FONDA.
I bet you even like her movies and support her at the box office!!! USE YOUR BRAIN AND NOT YOUR ASS TO THINK!
You call the Senator, "traitor" and other equally loaded terms... Repubs, you do the realize that your use of terms like that begs the question of whether you are loyal to our country or only to your party. Or only to our country if your faction is running it as a one party dictatorship? A loyal opposition in a democracy does not call the other side, "traitors."
I was just thinking about this man yesterday! Wondering what he's doing these days. Damn...guess my question is answered.
RIP sir.
How sad to see how sick the minds of the right have become. I think it is too much being poisoned by FOX NEWS!
comments added to correct posting.
BO 2012 Comment collapsed by the community
RIP Senator, you served your country well.
Let's analyze the following...
Why is Obama allowing Romney and Ryan to blame the debt and the slow economy on him?
Because for the last 4 years the Democrats have mostly been in control of the government, They passed bill that have slowed the growth of jobs, and the economy. Obamacare, Frank/Dodd for example.
Where is the backbone and hitting back on this issue? There is none, becasue his policys don't work.
The President does NOT pass jobs legislation. He just signs them. The President should set agendias and goals, this president only runs for the job of president, he simply hasn't stopped running since 08. Over the past 4 years he has spent more time golfing and canmaining then doing the job he got elected for.
Growth only happens if the "GOP owned congress" puts bills on the table to sign.
The GOP is only in control of the House, of which they sent about 30 bills to the Democrat controlled Senate. The Senate has done nothing but sit on them. The President can make bills too.
The uncompromising GOP has blocked, stopped, voted NO, obstructed, filibustered over 500 times and made pledges to NOT create jobs or bring cash to the government just to blame ONE man.
Neather side has been comppromising, each believes their side is right. But the Democrat Senate has not passed hardly any bills, The Senate even even defeated Obama's budget plan buy a unamous vote of 0 votes for and 100 votes against. Besides all the Democrats want to do is spend taxpayer money, and I am glad that the Republicans want to put a stop to all that recless spending.
When is Obama going to say that to the millions watching?
Because just about everyone know what he is doing, and most don't approve of what he is doing.
When is he going to challenge the lies and tell the people that his policies are NOT at fault?
But he had a Democrat controled House, Senate and Presidentcy and no improvements were make to improve the economy. He can only lie when no one can question him, during the debate, Romney corrected him on his policys.
ALL GOP Policies are at fault because everything is directly involved with them. it iwas Pelosi, and Reid that passed the affordible housing act that forced the banks to make home loans to people who couln't afford them and we had the housing bubble. It is the Democrat policsy that is incrasing people on food stamps and welfare.
Mr. Romney, let's do some ARITHMETIC...
This will be good, Democrat talkig about math......
#1 - Name the "Obama" POLICIES and the AMOUNTS that you say added trillions to the debt and "ADD" those amounts. Espanding the Government jobs Stimulas, 1,2, and 3 programs, and Obamacare, would cut 2.6 trillion. If he would cut or eleminate the Department of Education (acutally a state function, not a federal function). Combine EPA and Department of Interior. Increasing Food Stamps and unemployment compensation from 52 weeks to 100. That would
#2 –"DEDUCT" that Obama total from the current $16 TRILLION. Actually he only increased it by 6 trillion, dollars, Bush increased it by 5 trillion, although Bush took 8 years to do it and Obama did his in 4 years.
The balance = "GOP" spending.
Not quite, money going to the Military, the paying govenment employees are not a GOP function, really a stupid question.
DO Remember the following…
Expenses to "FIX" the GOP failed policies like TARP and the stimulus are still GOP spending and NOT Obama's fault so DO NOT count those policies. The Stimulus and Tarp were to fix the bills Reid and Pelosi passed garrinteeing that Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae would cover any looses the banks would incure if the bad loans failed,(which many did) so Tarp and Stimulus packages were to fix Democrat caused problmes and are part of the Fix.
All expenses from the previous GOP administration's "UNFUNDED" policies that Obama ADDED to his budget are ALSO Republican spending.
The wars were continued by Obama and included in his budget woes.
The INTEREST on the GOP TRILLIONS of debt is NOT for Obama to be responsible for either, it is GOP spending too. The problem is most of the debt intrest is not Republican make. but were handed down from previous presidents for the past 70 years.
The GOP "OWNS" that interest. so Democrats own 6 trillion in Intrest payments and the Democrats won 10 trillion dollars, in intrest payments.
Also,
The "Bailouts" ARE "loans" to REPAIR more GOP screwed-up policies, the GOP wanted those to be FREE of charge, a "going away gift" to the Banks and Wall Street from Bush. Obama made them loans.
The banks payed theirs back, the GM loan will probably never be paid back,
Do not add policies before Reagan because there was NO DEBT PROBLEM before that, Reagan took office when the DEBT had ONE TRILLION and could have been tackled and fixed with comprehensive tax reform but Reagan did the opposite.. So when the WWII costs were forgiven, they don't count athough the taxpayer had to pay for them. Democrats were susposed to cut spending during Regan term, as part of the tax cuts. of couse they didn't follow up on thier promise, just like the Bush cuting pending prosimse he got from the Democrats. That is why we have the defectts. because Democrats never cut speniding.
"Entitlements" are a tiny fraction of the debt and they always bring their own revenues through payroll deductions as premium payments. Entitlements are NOT free, it's paid.into insurance. What a load of cow pucky. We are now paying out more then they take in, in payments. The Government has been using the trust fund money for decades. If it were teated like 401K's the programs would be solvent. Soon one payer will pay for one retiree. Then things will get ugly, when that worker has to pay $1300 in SS taxes for the one person receiving them each month. Medicare will be even worse.
Saying that the Democrats had a "majority" doesn't count either, because we all know the DO NOTHING, BLOCKING GOP have the "CONTROL" with record filibusters.
It takes 40 votes to have a filibuster. The Republicans didn't have that, It was impossible for them to filibuster for 2 years 09-10 unless Democrats 3 would side with them. The also couln't do it in the house until after the 2010 elections. So Democrats had total control of the House, Senate and Presidency, and did nothing productive. You didn't raise taxes on the rich, didn't change immergration, didn't make things "fair".
All those failed GOP policies were drafted by Republicans AND all passed with GOP majority of votes going back to Reagan.
Since Regan the Republicans were in control of both houses for 10 years, Democrats for 24 since Regan.
The RepubliCONS will NEVER have policies or numbers to blame on the Democrats because they DO NOT exist. The problem is the Democrats have been in control of the congress too much. As with most of your statements they simply don't hold water. I can see why you claim that everyone lies on the other side so much, because you dishonistly beleive that liberal crap.
Look them up, I tried. Ovously.
Every single policy at fault is GOP owned, drafted and vigorously voted by RepubliCONS. Yea, right.
DO NOT get fooled into thinking it is Obama's fault. It is time to stop that Myth. If you think that you are a fool already.
The Republican Fox-Rush-bots are going to try more diversions and ridicules to change the subject on this.
This is a win on the economy.
And who is tring to bring Big Bird, income tax forms, and not the economy, Jobs, and foreign policy. His real job. Obama is the only one trying to keep everyones eyes off the real issues.
This is NOT blaming the GOP or BUSH, this is ARITHMETIC !!!! Yes and like Obama's jobs numbers they simply do not add up. Sorry but you get an "F" on your math.
#1.1 - Sun Oct 14, 2012 1:16 PM EDT
Bill Marvel and 1NewDay..................thanks for your viewpoint and I agree to some extent, but, I still feel that he could have supported his principles as a Republican and switched because he felt he could not win the primary. Being elected became more important than his principles.
I hope he rests in peace. I still don't like the grilling he gave to Anita Hill. Women face that kind of grilling whenever we report sexual harassment. However, I always respected his views, because he brought some thought to them.
Heads up people: this is not about Romney or Obama. However, Bush is the all-time vacation champ. The media, except for c-span, refuses to show most of the workings of our government any more. Most Americans do not know anything about our government.
As to the Constitution and job-creation: the government has been bidding contracts for services for a long time. The government pays for defense and other contracts (such as Haliburton); these are not free service given to the government, although Haliburton was a no-bid contract. Private business receives the most contracts from the government, which indeed creates those jobs. Find out what our government really does; it might surprise you to know that the government actually works for you.
George Bush added 4 trillion to the debt in 8 years.
Barack Obama added 6.5 trillion in 3.5 years.
Let's blame George Bush for the debt!
After reading some of these horrific post against Specter I know why I too left the republican party. The extremism is boardering on Neo-Nazi!
How much of the Obama debt come from the 12 years of on going wars that busheahcker took us into and wasted $4,000,000,000,000 on two lost wars, along with the72,000 wasted American lives! Now GW. hides in Texas for years knowing the Hague has a warrant out for his arrest for WAR CRIMES!
clwyd,
"How much of the Obama debt come from the 12 years of on going wars that busheahcker took us into and wasted $4,000,000,000,000 on two lost wars, along with the72,000 wasted American lives!"
Yes, and that was just Act I. Act II of that play will come if Romney is elected to the presidency.
usa1967,
Thanks. I appreciate someone who can at least listen to other's viewpoints. One thing I will add is that Spector looked at the way the Republican party principles were changing and saw that they didn't align with his anymore. He stated as such and said that he found himself closer in alignment to Democrats rather than Republicans. I don't see that as compromising his principles, but in fact just the opposite.
Part of the problem today is that Republicans pretty much expects you to buy the party line, hook, line and sinker, if you are going to be Republican. In fact they pretty much demand it. It does give them an advantage because they pretty much vote as a block. When someone violates the party line, he pretty much gets expelled.
On the other hand, Democrats tend to be more welcoming to different views. That is why there are a lot "Blue Dog" Democrats. As a party, they don't expect you to change your principles to fit and don't work as a group to expel you for thinking somewhat differently. They leave that up to the electorate.
I suppose you could view that as a weakness from the perspective of a party, and you can see its impact all the time as frequently Democrats don't vote the party line.
When a politician chooses to follow a party line without deviation, he really isn't properly representing his constituents. When you look at the country as a whole, there are some pretty widely differing views and a lot of these differences tend to be regional in nature. This is the main reason that it really isn't right for any politician to take on party positions regardless of his own views or the views of those he represents. That is taking the idea of "majority rules" to a dangerous extreme. That really isn't how it is supposed to work. Anyone who serves in a position like a Congressman, represents all the people of his district and not just the ones who voted for him.
Spector was part of a dying breed who felt he needed to represent all his constituents including those who voted against him. Those who vote against the guy who wins are not supposed to be the "losers". In reality, that is what has screwed up this country because we have tended to divide it between winners and losers, with no room for a middle ground. The minority views still need to be respected and considered and not just shoved aside because they lost. But today's GOP has become more about creating losers and then shutting them out of any consideration. That is just a screwed up principle and that's why Spector left the party.
The guy was 80 years old at the time and had his share of health issues. He could have easily just walked away from it all, but wanted to stay in to represent the people. How people can view that he changed because he was somehow being selfish and just looking for his own personal gain, is beyond me. Have no doubt that Spector was a conservative, but he wasn't about to bow down to the likes of Grover Nordquist or any others who felt they could force him into taking their positions.
Gee, sorry for going off the latest topic of this thread, but I believe the country would be in a lot better shape if there were more politicians like Mr. Specter. He used the political party for its natural intent - to get elected.
Once elected, he voted for and supported what he considered to be in the principled interests of his constituents and the nation. Once elected, he used party politics as a means to an end, not the be-all and end-all of governing.
His political career exemplified the American can-do spirit of optimistic pragmatism.
Okay, you can go back to your topic of debt and how awful Obamacare is.
I don't know alot about this man but first off condolences to his family and loved ones.
As for his career ,if the majority of these posts are accurate, then it is sad to see someone like this go who from what I've read appeared to be a moderate and more concerned with doing what was right and not being so ridgid in his ways that he couldn't find common ground or a way to compromise, clearly some common sense that is missing in our government today, I know gasp, work together instead of my way or the highway. For that I thank this man (again based on the little I know) but at the same time my second comment is two words: TERM LIMITS.
Yes, again it would appear this man wasn't all bad in his views and had a stance that others in our government need to learn from, but 30yrs is way to long. For every 1 30yr (career politician) we get twice as many that aren't worth the paper their name is printed on when they are voted for (part of the problem yes). While it may cost a few good ones, the benefits of term limits (combined with some other rules) will far outweigh the loss in years that a few of the good ones could've given us. Time for some change in how our elected ones play the game.
It is time
@BO 2012
For chrissakes, when are these names going to end? They aren't clever. You aren't clever. Libtards, repukes, democRATS, and on and on, take it all and shove it. Anyone who uses these terms is disgraceful. Some folks never get past a grade school mentality. Win your argument with valid points, not name calling.
I'm sure you would get plenty of laughs in a 3rd grade schoolyard. In a discussion amongst adults, you just come off as pathetic.
Comment # 1.15 deleted, death wishing from dman-353357.
You are suspended for a week for violating rule # 5 of the Code of Honor.
So sorry, another decent moderate has passed, Rest Well Senator you served your country well.
Yep a real moderate that helped sotomeyer and kagan land on the supreme court!!$%@@! Why didn't you take ried, pelosi and those dumbazz commie senators from new york with you!!!!!!!!!!!!
tim,
If playing with the adults is too hard for you, why don't you take a time-out.
Arlen Specter did more than any other Senator to get Clarence Thomas confirmed to the Court. But he also nearly single-handedly blocked Robert Bork, after he realized how crazy Bork's interpretation of the Constitution was. And as for the others you name, they were all ELECTED by a MAJORITY of the voters in their state or district. One of the problems in defining everything in extreme terms is that you marginalize yourself.
Rest In Peace, WOW... what an inCREDible contribution to Music... Producing all those WONderful hit songs with that bombastic Wall Of Sound... but you kinda F'ed up when you went gangsta and you pulled a gun on yo womens, you shouldn't DO that... but I guess The Music Industry overlooks those sort of indiscretions...You in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, so it's all good... OH WAIT... no, that was the OTHER guy named Spector...Never mind...
Wouldn't it be easier for you to self deport over to Bullsh*t Mountain with the rest of neocons, evangelical fundamentalists, and other low information voters and when Mitt the Twit loses and self deports to the Cayman Islands you tools can claim your first territory.....
A Specter will always be haunting the GOP - pushing RepubliCONs to have common sense and put American first.
Wow. Nice posts there, Republican nut jobs. Gee. When do the executions of your members who show any waivering fealty start? Are you guys gonna have arm bands soon, or are we just counting the mandatory lapel pin flag?
Boy, I'd watch my back if I was a moderate in the GOP these days.
for BO 2012 sake let me just respond to a few of his quotes from american hating communists rags like moveon.org or huffington post. First your right the communist trash occupying the white house can't sign bills unless they make it to him so call and email harry reid and have him explain why he won't bring any job or budget bills to the floor to be voted on last count there's been over 30 bills sent to him from the american party controlled house. As far as specter a moderate republican is a progressive no different than a progressive democrat this also means he was a socialist and an enemy to the american way of life, a traitor to the american people who can RIH
Skyparrot, you are correct that another moderate has gone, and the country is the poorer for it. He was a patriot.
His legacy will long be as a statesman of integrity, perserverance and pragmatism. Yes, it takes a strong character like Specter to combine integrity with pragmatism, and he did it.
Democart blah!
First Senator Spector was one of those politicians, who walked the walk and talked the talked. I admired his tenacity and his dedication to all Americans.
It seems Republicans, who cannot think of a valid reason, to vote for the two Rs ,call free thinking Americans, who trust in President Obama "Socialists." Quite frankly, I would rather have a chance, at a piece of the pie, rather then having the 1%use their gluttony, to wipe out the middle class.
You do realize if you elect the two Rs, wyou will be in a commercial in four years, stating they fooled you. That is, if we still have freedom of speech! It is sad, to think of gullible people like you, being taken in, by the sound bites and not FACTS!
Democratnomore "he won't bring any job or budget bills to the floor to be voted on last count there's been over 30 bills sent to him from the American party controlled house."
Have you read any of these bills? From deregulating banks again, eliminating income tax on investment income, cutting education funding, deconstructing medicare to increasing the national debt by 5 trillion. Lets not forget all the bills to take away the rights of women to control their bodies. Do you also support the Person-hood Bill, the one that according to its authors Bans, birth control pills, invetro fertilization, morning after pill and best of all any women that has a miscarriage will be subject to investigation of murder!
Did I mention not one bill presented by the House will create not even one job. The title says Jobs Bill yet not one job will be created.
Instead of posting what Rush told you, read them for yourself.
I didn't realize Spector served on the Warren Commision. That was like sending the fox to guard the hen house. Israel was behind the assassination of JFK and we put a Jew on the commision to steer them away from the truth. Then on the 9/11, we put in another Jew named Zelicow to make sure the truth was obscured, while the real culprits got away. 9/11 was an inside job with Israeli support.
Spector was another Zionist Congressman,a tyraitor to his country, working hard for Israel. Good ridance
I just can't feel bad when a politician leaves the living! No politician gives a crap about us "common" people! They are low life people who DON'T DESERVE RESPECT!
I respect people who deserve to be respected. God forgive me for saying it, because I know it's not the christian thing to say, but in this instance, this is one death I won't waste any time mourning. Throughout our lives we're confronted with situations where we are morally tested, to see if we'll do the right thing - not the most popular, least controversial - but the RIGHT thing. (I'm falling short right now in the judging department.)
Arlen Specter faced the biggest moral test of his life in 1963 and 1964 and he failed - MISERABLY. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Specter knowingly, WILLINGLY, conspired with some of the very scumbags (I'm talking to you Allen Dulles) who almost certainly orchestrated President Kennedy's assassination. He came up with that ludicrous "Magic Bullet Theory" to conceal the fact that there had to have been more than one gunman, which equaled a conspiracy.
Arlen Specter willingly enabled President Kennedy's killers to get away with their crime. He helped conceal an assassination which had terrible emotional and political ramifications - not only for this country, but for countries around the world - and we are still enduring the aftershocks of his decisions. This man is not a hero, not a patriot. In WILLINGLY participating in the cover up of the assassination of our President - he is nothing short of a traitor to this country.
If he HAD cared about this country, the citizens of this country, he would've done what was morally right. He would've refused to take part in that perverse, disgusting plan Dulles cooked up. He would've refused to participate in that sickening charade called the Warren Commission, allowing guilty men to get away with murdering our President in cold blood.
The bible says "blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God". In Oct. '62 President Kennedy was able to prevent this country from being dragged into a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. He signed the nuclear test ban treaty. In his speech at American University he talked about his vision for a lasting peace. In Oct. '63 he signed National Security Action Memorandum 263 which called for the first advisors to be back in the US by Dec. '63 and for all US advisors and military personnel to be out of Vietnam by the spring of '65. He wasn't going to allow this country to be dragged into an unwinnable guerilla war in Nam. When they shot his head off I believe he went to Heaven because he died a Peacemaker.
Arlen? I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. His deceit, his willingness to sell his soul for political gain, served as one mighty shove, propelling this country onto the path to that war in Vietnam, a war that cost two of my uncles their lives. The thousands of men and boys who died over there in the rice paddies, their blood is on his hands. Most of the political decisions he made had nothing to do with what was best for this country, or the American people, it was all about Arlen, what was best for HIM. Now that he's face to face with God, I'm sure he has a lot of explaining to do and he'd better hope the good Lord is merciful when it comes to his sorry, morally bankrupt soul.
Judy The Ornery
The only person wiping out the middle class is Barack Obama.
Enjoy your Obamacare taxes starting in Jan 2013. $1,700 per middle class family.
60% of every dollar Obama spends is borrowed. Try it yourself and see how far you get.
I'm one of the 47% and I'm voting for Romney because I can see bankruptcy headed our way with Obama's wild spending.
Who will send me a check when Obama bankrupts the government?? I doubt you will.
RIP to Mr. Specter. How sad that his death has turned into yet another article about politics. *bleagh*
Lkessler: Amen, I was just thinking the same thing. RIP Mr. Specter.
I hope he suffered greatly...vote # 60 for O'Baggercare!
The GOP left him. That is how right wing they really are.
BS skyparrot. Specter took a hard left turn in an attempt to get the left to vote him back in office when he knew he wasn't going to get the nod from the Republican.
He was playing too much footsie with the Democrats and got caught at it.
Truth is he was a blubbering useless turd at the end of his political carreer.
The Dems used him then kicked him aside.
Crowbar7: See my comment above since it applies to you as well.
Senator you will be missed.
Now how bout you explaining how the Democrat party threw Hillary away who has served our country and was the brains most likely behing the Clinton administration that should of won the presidency but NOOOo the Dems eat their own and elected a community organizer who is extremely prejudiced YOUTUBE -obamas other race speedch -and a divider who has casued a total train wreck in our beautiful country who now will most likely throw her under the bus again for Benghazi gate which is an obvious cover up to thwart this administrations failed international policies... never seen a Pres so prejudiced and totally bent on destruction..it will never happen True Americans no matter what party affiliation they
will totally not continue this insanity
okay crowbar 7. And what exactly have you done in your life that qualifies you to make that statement?
And you are that right now. What's your excuse?
At least crowbar is telling the truth. Not lying like a ho with every word that comes out of his mouth, like the people who do obamas advertisements, or is that obama feeding them all that bullsh!t!!!
I actually thought that crowbar presented the facts with only a minimum coloring. While the Democratic Party establishment did not throw Arlen Specter "under the bus"; Sestak proved as the Republicans moved to the right, the Democrats moved left. This has left a void of common-sense, moderate politicians more interested in doing the nation's business, than appearing as the hardest ass in the quorum.
If you think anybody is telling the truth this election cycle, you're delusional at best.
Regardless of party, couldn't you focus on Alan Spector's death and stop playing petty politics? And once one person did it, couldn't you stop yourself from dignifying that misguided response by not answering back. It would have been the decent thing to do. Alan Spector served his country, state, and city well over many years. Whether you agreed with him or not, you could recognize those contributions. It was way more than most of us posting here.
Rest in peace, Senator.
Bill: how exactly has the Democratic party moved further left? I see them embracing policies that used to be the cause celebre for Republicans back in the 80's and 90's, they're no longer fighting the anti-abortion, pro-gun, anti-union crusaders like they used to. They're supporting business over idividuals. Ask a liberal. I think most of them are sadly dissapointed with where the Democrats have drifted now days. I know right wing extremists like to claim Obama is "the most leftist president ever," but compare him to Reagan, let alone FDR or LBJ. Ignore the man and just look at the policies. That statement is laughable in that light.
Amelia,
... just as they are leaving others like Sens. Collins and Snowe from Maine.
Bill,
that is BS and you know it. Both parties have moved to the right for the past three decades. The Right went so far right this time that the Left now look like communists. Those are the real facts by someone who would have been seen as a moderate Republican in 1998 (I am just left of dead center now). Regan? He would be a Moderate Democrat today in comparison of today's Right and his Right.
RIP Senator... We could use more like you..
Dead ?
Tell Ted Kennedy we said Hi! I am not going to shed a tear for a consummate politician whose values and beliefs were for sale. He was greedy and put his trust in obama only to be thrown under the bus.
You are so wrong. So sad for you.
Shame on your for crapping on someone that just died. Have some class.
gorgse, respect is earned not given and Specter did earn any.
He played a crooked little game and it came back to slap him in the face.
He should have known better than to try and play up to the Kenyan interloper in the White House. Especially when he was a politician from Chicago.
I'm with you proudamericanveteran. I guess gorgse would say the same about others when they die, such as Stalin, Hitler, Sadam Hussein, Ted Kennedy, etc., just as they are saying this about him. Just because someone dies, doesnt automatically make them a good person.
No Patriots fan will shed any tears!!
As you said he put his trust in OBAMA and was thrown under the bus, just as the entire working class has been thrown under the bus. "Consummate Politicians who are for sale" are the rule not the exception". As a member of the Warren Commission, and the originating member responsible for the "Magic bullet theory" Arlen Specter was, in my opinion, no "Great American" but just another career politician that would sell his constituency down the river for another shot at one more term. These people singing his praises need to consider what this guy did to contribute to the condition of the economy or the ongoing fleecing of the people he was supposed to represent. For this man I have no tears, for the people who put their trust in him, I do. I would also point out the statement by nj reader that states that Specter "got ahead in line for special cancer treatment, ahead of ordinary people with the same sickness" which is another instance where a politician uses his position for his purposes while the civilian population pays the price; in this case "the price" was their "life". I have no tears or sorrow for this man who was a career leech which is what a number of politicians are; they absolutely ruin this country while they line their pockets and this guy went so far as to, apparently, have someone removed from the cancer treatment that may have saved that persons life, so that Spector could displace that person in the treatment program.
Teabagger comments on this story show what a morally coorupt and bankrupt party of haters the Republican party has become.
I personally will cheer when this Republican party is discarded into the waste bin of history with the rest of the anti-American baggers.
Overlord, what a bunch of crap! Conserative people who want a government that is fiscally responsible; want less regulations; want controls on spending are NOT morally corrupt like you who spew true hate! Dems who call Gov Romney a liar, murderer, tax cheat, ect are nothing more than the true 'haters'. When the progressive-liberal party is finally destroyed will be a great day for America.
NJ John,
Hate? Read RTGSC, Crowbar7, proudamericanvetern for hate. Read up on Spector's entire career. You don't have to agree on every vote to show respect. These haters loaded on on events at the end of his career which they disagreed with. He had a long career and was a veteran. It does call for respect.
Tomilvento, did you read my previous post? I truly get tired of liberal dems of making 'general' comments that accuse us (conservatives) of being liar's, don't want to help people; are hate filled people, ect. I don't believe all Dems-Liberals are bad people and just don't appreciate people like Overlord implying that because we're conservative, believe in smaller government, fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, strong military, ect that, somehow, we are evil, liar's , ect. We're not!
NJ,
maybe that is what you want but you are ignoring reality. All the GOP want's is less regulation in certain places. They want much more regulation in others. For example the GOP wants the ability to tell you what to believe; no more freedom of religion for those that are not Christians. It was show cased in Ryan's answer to abortion during the debate:
paraphrased:
"Regardless of everyone's personal beliefs, which I do respect, our administration will be a Pro-Life administration" translation: we will force our religious beliefs onto this country because we do not agree with those that see no problem with someone choosing to get an abortion.
Personally I think that if your party was about what you claim it is about you would not have this kind of crap going on. If they were for less regulation that would be everywhere, not just in economics. They would not be pushing for vaginal probes, forced rape, redefinition of what rape really is, Gay bashing, removal of personal responsibility, and the destruction of the First Amendment.
Like you said Geowil, maybe that is what you want to believe about a minority of Republicans, but I believe you are ignoring reality. I think the difference between us is simple. You believe that abortion is fine, there is not a problem with it. I on the other hand believe that abortion is wrong, that's it's the same as taking the life of a human being. I agree that abortion is a choice women can make, but it doesn't make it right. I also agree that abortion in the case of incest and if the mother's life is in danger should be a choice. But to just have 'universal abortion' on demand just because the birth of a child would be a 'inconvenience' is wrong. Finally, no one, regardless of party, will tell me 'what' to think or 'what' to do.
Rest in Peace, Senator Specter. A politician who served his country well and with dignity.
Yes USrael is proud.
Sorry, but I thought him a really bad politician, bad for PA and for both parties, as he abandoned the one after decades only to make a transparently self-serving and late jump to the other. I also believe he got ahead in line for special cancer treatment, ahead of ordinary people with same sickness but no Congressional insurance.
Maybe being from NJ you prefer the loud-mouth Christie type, but being a Pa resident I can tell you, Specter had the respect of most of the non-extremist (AKA the people who can think for themselves) people I know.
Yes he did switch parties at the end, but that's because he couldn't go along with the Republican think what we tell you to think attitude. He had to choose to either compromise his principles or switch parties.
He was a good man... he thought that moderation had a chance. You apparently do not and I feel sorry for you.
Yep, arlen the Sphincter was a great politician who could work the graft mill til it smoked!!!
Enjoy Hell with your buddys Kennedy and Osama!!
Reading the comments of the extreme right wingers on here (and all Reps are not extreme right BTW) really makes me sad for this country.
I know the internet attracts the worst of the extremist whack jobs and that goes for the extreme left as well and I draw some comfort from that knowledge. I am a Moderate Democrat mostly because I cannot support a party that does not recognize me as a full equal human being. I believe that the government has no business in social areas except to insure that:
I have a brother who is a Moderate Republican--he simply wants less government spending on pet projects but he does not support the social agenda of the right wing.
I have another Brother who is a bit to the left Democrat, he strongly supports public transportation and improvement projects. (He is blind and reliant on them) I often have to remind him that we re 1%ers ...actually 1/10th of 1%ers.
Those idiots who go around calling people commies etc and calling Obama a Muslim from Kenya are truly sick, I hope they don't actually believe that but I fear that they do. They are irrational and you cannot argue with them. Facts don't matter to them. They are what is wrong with this country.
Most of my friends consider me to be conservative. And for the West Side of Manhattan I probably am.
We have too few voices of reason in Politics.
Specter was one of them. We certainly did not agree on every issue.
May he rest in peace and may we all show gratitude for a life of public service.
Nj reader. show your proof on that medical statement..nothing from Faux noise
prayers and wishes for peace to his family and friends.
I wonder what he is saying to his Maker right not.
RIP Senator.
right now
A good man with sensible logic and reason. Rest In Peace Senator Spector...
A very good man who actually knew how to reach across and work for the American people.
RIP and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
I always admired Sen. Specter. We would be better served as a nation if we had more like him in congress. He was one of the last to put country over party and is apparently criticized by both parties for his convictions. Thanks for your service, Arlen. You were a true American.
Goodbye Mr Specter........I actually respected this politician.
I wonder what he is saying to his Maker right not.
Or what his Maker is saying to him, like.. I'm glad you changed your affiliation from Republican to Democrat, since the Democratic Party holds compassion for all my people..
For all my people but the unborn babies,
Southwest Page I'am a democrat and I love every child the born and unborn and there is no way I believe in abortions but I also do not believe in cutting the programs that feed the ones that are born. That why I believe in democratic policies they favor everyone not just those who are wealthy.
south, a zygote or a bean like blob is not a baby, why not care for the ones that are here, the starved, abused, throw-a-way kids, neglected, dumpster babies could use your help. Why so much concern for a clump of cells that hold the potential for being human but hold hungry children in contempt. Right winger, pro-lifer's confuse me in their priorities.
southwest Page,
I happen to know from my conversations with the Creator that: You are not without sin. You have not done all you could have done for the rest of his children. And neither you, nor the Pope, nor Billy or Franklin Graham speak for the Creator. Only Christ and the prophets speak for the Creator.
That said, quit enforcing YOUR view of the Creator's mind on the rest of us, and get to work on your own faith and unfinished business.
There is no such thing as an unborn baby. I wish you would redirect some of that passion to educating yourself instead of blurting out such nonsense.
Every attempt to curb abortions comes with some or all of the following: less access to women's health (mammograms, pap smears, etc), no exception for rape/incest/health of the mother, less access to birth control, teaching abstinence-only education, and as you mentioned: less help for babies that are born.
That makes abortion the only right-wing issue that goes against the ideology. It favors big government. Clearly it's just for winning votes.
Crucie Fiction, your comments along with many others on this forum are not appreciated and rude. As has been mentioned many times here, this is not the place for your political crap. get a life and grow up.
A great man and one of the few remaining standard bearers of the old Republicans. This country would be much better off if we had more people like Arlan Specter, Bob Dole and Chuck Hagel in it.
I didn't always agree with this Senator, but always listened when he spoke.
Oh, no. :( RIP ole friend, we will miss you.
I admired the Senator Spector. I am just sorry that he did not retire graciously when he had a chance. He did not recognize, as I did, that it was the severe shift of the left to the left which made it appear that the right had gotten more conservative. I supported John Kennedy. His economic and foreign policies are considered Conservative policies today, I left the party that abandoned John Kennedy.
best fiction I've read this week
Have some class Aaron and show some respect to the recently deceased.
Apparently, Aaron, you have been denying or trying to twist reality for so long that it has become a habit you can't stop.
Aaron, that is the most pathetic, disingenuous, possibly pathological, lie I've heard all day.
Aaron is obviously living in a delusional state in an alternate universe. Silly statement.
Aaron,
Obama is further right than Richard Nixon. Richard Nixon, in addition to creating the EPA, crafted a universal health plan that looks an awful lot like Obamacare.
Thank you Senator Specter.
RIP senator, no one is perfect, but at least you tried....
Good riddance to another scumbag. Tell Ted Kennedy we all said hello!
Your first sentence should be placed on your own tombstone.
Jefferson,
If you want to start a collection for the stone, I'll kick in $5.
Rest In Peace Senator Specter.
So sorry to his family and friends for their loss.
The best argument for term limits yet. He did not know when to quit, even though he had one foot in the grave.
Good riddens
Only a coward puts a rag over his head and then spits on a man's grave.
riddens???? you must be the poster boy for how today's republicans are educated, and want everyone else to be. senator spector was a gentleman,who served us well for many years.
So he misspelled a word, singleterm. At least he probably isnt dumb enough to vote for RINOS and obama.
fine. you follow matt, rtgsc. you guys deserve each other. i will vote (haven't yet decided for which candidate) in the best interests of the country. senator spector was an educated, articulate, member of congress who always acted in the best interests of the country, and i salute him.
I'm sorry for a lot of these people saying Spector was a good Senator. The man was a complete self-serving stereotypical A-hole politician who would stab his own allies in the back when it served him. While I'm sorry for his family and the loss 'they' are suffering, this man did no one any favors with his time in civil service except himself.
Two things the founding fathers left out of the constitution that should have been put in, Term Limits and Upper Age limits. Senator Spector was a glaring example of how much good they would have done for the citizens of this country.
Cniht,
So What? At least half of the world is an A**Hole, the other half are Pr**ks.
As for your rewriting of the Constitution, You would have probably disqualified 1/2 of our Presidents, Senators, Representatives and Cabinet Secretaries. Starting with George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Think of the real consequences before you just start typing.
Bill,
I do think of the consequences when I write.
Ben would have been just fine not serving nationally and leading from the State area. I have no problem with non-elected officials being of any age. It's the elected ones that get to write and shape laws which they themselves will rarely be held under, due to their short time left, that I have a problem with.
George Washington set the bar for my comments Bill. He served two terms, refused a third term, was out of the presidency at age 64, and retired at age 65 from all public service. So why don't you learn your history before you go running your mouth.
30 Years in the Senate... that's impressive, say what you will but you don't last that long unless you do a lot of things right. RIP Arlen.
Or that you were properly jerrymandered into place. Ever look at an electoral district map? Its kinda tragi-comic.
You say "30 years in the senate" like it's a good thing. It's not. it's entrenched politicians like Specter who have caused most of the troubles in this country. Most people who make a career out of politics manage that kind of longetivity because they make decisons that are politically expedient - and NOT based on what's best for the country. The other way people like Specter stay around as long as they do is because of they way electoral district maps are drawn, just as James pointed out.
We need term limits for ALL of our elected officials.
I agree he was in therr far too long. They loose thier touch on with the public.
Uh James & Grilled Cheese...he was a SENATOR...they are not 'gerrymandered' they are elected statewide.
They are not elected from districts
If you don;t know that simple fact you should not vote
His other 'job' was as a prosecutor and he let many hardened criminals 'go' , it is said that he even 'engineered' an escape for a very nasty criminal.
But then what does that matter, he was not the only one chopping away at the foundation of liberty and justice was he?
Another supplicant at the public trough is MISSING !
You were a cancer on the body politic. Good riddance, bum.
Sound like you are 15...jerk
Right on Shamrock!!!