In Specter’s Gadget is Politics
Most reports on the official political treason of Arlen Specter were limited to rehashing the current troubles of the GOP or announcing that Specter will now cast his liberal votes for the Democrats rather than the Republicans or more correctly as a Democrat rather than a Republican. It that is what is important or meaningful about this story than he might as well take Snowe and Collins with him. But a blog post at USN&WR may be more on point.
That is just the final paragraph from the post but ideological cohesion is the theme. How often do you suppose a Congressman’s vote is determined by ideology? Isn’t it more likely that it is based on political considerations? Does party line vote mean political cohesion or mass political cover? Even if a Congressional voter actually votes their conscience you can be certain political survival entered the analysis just like Specter changing to the opposition party.
And where is Joe Lieberman in this discussion? How is what Lieberman did any different from what Specter did aside from the fact the party consideration was essentially reversed. Talk radio and GOP members who expressed an opinion seemed quite pleased with Lieberman’s decision. So is it strictly political how they are reacting to Specter’s decision now?
This is the nonsense that needs to be eliminated from ‘governing’ just as much as corruption, earmarks, pork or any other plague which reduces the process to something less than of, by and for the people.
Stanford Matthews
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