by Mark Silva
Look who's coming to the White House:
Sen. Arlen Specter, the longtime Republican (and former Democrat) from Pennsylvania switching party affiliation and probably sealing his old-and-new party's hold on the Senate's agenda for at least the next two years, plans to join President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, former colleague and now presiding officer, at the White House just after dawn.
The three will stand in the Diplomatic Room of the White House at 8 am EDT Wednesday to address the media - a small pool of reporters on duty.
Biden, a former senator from Delaware, served for nearly three decades alongside Specter in the Senate -- Biden, elected at 29, already was there when Specter, a Republican since the 1960s and now the longest-serving senator from Pennsyvlania, arrived in 1981. Now they have a lot to talk about.
Suddenly Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's pronouncement earlier this week that Congress will tackle health reform "this year'' has some context. Reid (D-Nev.) had been talking with Specter, and told Specter, 79, that he will assume positions of leadership commensurate with his seniority - as if he had been a Democrat since arriving in the Senate in the wave that brought Ronald Reagan to town - Specter allowed today.
With Specter - and most likely with Democrat Al Franken as well, once the courts have settled the dispute over a razor-thin Nov. 4 election in Minnesota -- the Democrats will hold a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
Specter said today that he will be no "automatic'' vote for cloture in the chamber, that he still will vote his mind on certain matters, go his own way. Watch those matters: They will include anything but health care reform. Specter, who was one of just three Republicans who helped Obama pass his $787-billion economic stimulus in February, spoke of that measure today as a watershed - opposed by all of the House's Republicans and all but three of the Senate's GOP - a measure that was essential to averting another depression.
Health care reform is a measure like that, too.
(Vice President Joe Biden, above left, spoke with Sen. Arlen Specter at the White House on Feb. 23 for a summit on "fiscal responsiblity." Specter will return to the mansion Wednesday morning as a Democrat. Photo by Ron Edmonds / AP)
So today, before Obama heads out for St. Louis, for another "town-hall'' styled appearance on this, his 100th day in office, he will stop in the Diplomatic reception room on the way out the ground floor door to the South Lawn and share a few words with a couple of longtime friends from the Senate.
""I welcome my old friend to the Democratic Party,'' Biden said in a statement issued today after Specter's announcement, which Specter had called Biden about this morning before putting the word out. "Sen. Arlen Specter is a man of remarkable courage and integrity. I know he will remain a powerful and independent voice for Pennsylvania and the country."
And for the Obama-Biden agenda - not always, perhaps, but when they are counting on him the most.
Obama had once told Reid, "I have a gift.''
Now it appears he does.
Comments
"Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans." -
- Arlen Specter, 28 April 2009
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So, let's give credit to whom credit is due...
I'd personally like to thank GOP Boss Limbaugh and nativist GOPers here on the Swamp like "Terry" for for their role in contributing to the Democratic parties dominance.
"You can vote for anybody. You can write in a vote. You can do whatever you want, and the left is trying to scare you out of doing that by threatening you with possible jail time, especially if you vote the wrong way. Will they next suggest that the state bring out the dogs on Election Day on April 22nd at the polls, set up roadblocks near polling places, have family members turn in voters who cross party lines? We have, maybe, barely scratched the surface. They are so livid, ladies and gentlemen, that Republicans may be voting in the Democrat primaries that they might bring out the dogs. They might ask family members to turn on other family members -- turn 'em in -- who cross party lines. Of course, they can't cross party lines. They've registered as Democrats. So this is all good. This is all good."
- The GOP Boss Limbaugh Show, 3/25/2008
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http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=34a_1206540423
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Posted by: DrainYou | April 28, 2009 9:42 PM
Two faced GOP
Now a two faced DEM
Posted by: Inky | April 28, 2009 10:48 PM
Trickled-On You,
You can have him.
Posted by: Terry | April 28, 2009 11:09 PM
Specter said today that he will be no "automatic'' vote for cloture in the chamber, that he still will vote his mind on certain matters, go his own way.
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One less RINO. democrats, He is officially yours now. Presumably he will run for re-election as a democrat, of course, and that's how it should be. We Repugnants should thank him for supporting Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, and Samuel Alioto. Otherwise we would be more screwed than any of us can realize. You too, democrats. It's been long overdue and we are not any worse off. It's now Lord Acton time.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | April 28, 2009 11:28 PM
It is only a matter of time, until more Republicans come to their senses. Since the Dixiecrats took over their Party, their numbers have been shrinking, as their good ideas have disappeared !! it is not a great mystery, as to why this is the case !! The Dixiecrats want to return to the good old days, when American freedoms were limited to certain groups of people. Those days are gone for good, I hope and pray and in their place, we now have a fairer nation, a more compassionate nation, and yes, a real, democratic nation. As a nation, I think America is very happy with these developments and of course, President Obama's election !! Welcome to the Democratic Party, Senator Specter ! We are glad to include you into our ranks !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | April 29, 2009 8:36 AM
Actually I'm happy the old crow left the Republican party. His best days are far behind him. His record has not been that impressive, he persecuted President Nixon, he confirmed the magic bullet theory, and mainly looked out for himself, politics in this country have become very nasty business. and for where I sit there isn't very many I would like to sit down at a dinner with. That goes for both parties.
Posted by: Paul | April 29, 2009 8:53 AM
So, let's give credit to whom credit is due...
I'd personally like to thank GOP Boss Limbaugh and nativist GOPers here on the Swamp like "Terry" for for their role in contributing to the Democratic parties dominance.
"You can vote for anybody. You can write in a vote. You can do whatever you want, and the left is trying to scare you out of doing that by threatening you with possible jail time, especially if you vote the wrong way. Will they next suggest that the state bring out the dogs on Election Day on April 22nd at the polls, set up roadblocks near polling places, have family members turn in voters who cross party lines? We have, maybe, barely scratched the surface. They are so livid, ladies and gentlemen, that Republicans may be voting in the Democrat primaries that they might bring out the dogs. They might ask family members to turn on other family members -- turn 'em in -- who cross party lines. Of course, they can't cross party lines. They've registered as Democrats. So this is all good. This is all good."
- The GOP Boss Limbaugh Show, 3/25/2008
.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=34a_1206540423
.
Posted by: DrainYou | April 28, 2009 9:42 P
You may hav e a poinT but to me the American people are falling for Obma's Socialism and don't realize it. in time lets hope the Joker Card turns up.
Posted by: Inky | April 29, 2009 8:57 AM
Here I thought the Joker had shown up, when you played that frayed old, socialism, card II The Republicans have been discarding that loser, since the 20's !! I guess, they still don't get it, people are tired of the fear and smear strategies of the Dixiecrats and their lackeys !! Go out and find logical and reasonable ideas, instead of the nonstop, name-calling the Republican Party has unrelentingly engaged in, to the point of losing the whole ball of wax !! Who will be next, to join the ranks of the Democratic Party ? Come one, come all !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | April 29, 2009 9:55 AM
Here's a pair a full house can't beat!.
Posted by: Paul | April 29, 2009 10:42 AM
Here I thought the Joker had shown up, when you played that frayed old, socialism, card II The Republicans have been discarding that loser, since the 20's !! I guess, they still don't get it, people are tired of the fear and smear strategies of the Dixiecrats and their lackeys !! Go out and find logical and reasonable ideas, instead of the nonstop, name-calling the Republican Party has unrelentingly engaged in, to the point of losing the whole ball of wax !! Who will be next, to join the ranks of the Democratic Party ? Come one, come all !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | April 29, 2009 9:55 AM
ObamA is playing his four aces mightY fast, WATCH the JOKER WILL POP UP SOON.
Posted by: Inky | April 29, 2009 5:31 PM
Hey Snow and Collins! Come on over!
Posted by: C.Morrisā | April 29, 2009 8:29 PM