It looks like we'll get jacksh*t from Spector on health care. I AM SO DONE WITH HIM!

[CTyankee]

Hate to shout but I'm just mad as hell. He went on MTP today and told David Gregory he would vote against a public plan for health care. Oh sure, he wants everyone covered but he didn't say ONE THING about how that would be done. He just mumbled on about encouraging exercise and nutrition, money for technology, prevention, finding cures. Yes, and water's wet, buddy.

Oh but hooray, he came out against taxing employees on the health care benefits they get from their employer. Gee, thanks. Being against a dead sure nonstarter like that takes guts.

Is this guy gonna do ANYTHING for us???

[Warpy]

1. The only advantage to the Spector switch

was a stick in the eye of the extremist wing of his own party.

He's the same awful man he's always been. He is not on our side any more than any other conservative Democrat is.

[Zapata09]

19. why will noone blame Obama for this?

Why is everyone avoiding the elephant (er, Donkey) in the living room?

How come (almost) no one here has even mentioned Obamas role in this?

Thats the key to the Specter problem and no one seems to have the integrity to even dare to place any blame where it actually belongs.

No one has even mentioned that Obama has pledged to involve himself in an wide open primary (which is NEVER done) and to raise money and campaign for Specter.

Just when we are ready to elect a great new Dem from PA. (Sestak has raised $4 mill for this race)

11th dimensional chess my arse, this is tactically stupid.

This is sooo off the charts selfish of Obama. In search of
the completely mythical # 60, he sells out all PA Dems.

The reality is Specter NEEDS us.

Polls have him 25 points down in the GOP Primary. We give Specter a great gift by letting him join our Party caucus and then have a chance to win in our primary.

We owe him nothing more than that CHANCE for survival.

But Obama has pledged to defeat real Dems in order to protect this temporary one.

Where is the outrage at this?

Obama better back down from supporting this guy in my home state primary.

If he doesnt, I say we primary him in 2012 after we elect Joe Sestak in 2010.

[bahrbearian]

30. I'm Pissed too,

but stating that can get you wolf packed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. He lost me when he pulled away from EFCA

No great gift at all. He could have remained a repuke and it wouldn't have made any difference.

[OregonBlue]

3. He also stated emphatically several times that he would not be a loyal Democrat.

I wonder what Pennsylvania Dems have to say about him? Are they going to give him money to run against a REAL Democrat?

[PADemD]

28. This PA Dem is going to support Sestak.

[Merlot]

4. I think the best thing he did for us was...

wait, I'm thinking...it will come to me.

Well, he did say that the repub party has gone to far to the right. For most people listening who don't follow the issues, that messge may sink in.

Other than that, he might keep the seat for a dem in the next election (though I don't think it will be him).

It's not a bad thing, but it's a luke warm thing at best. It certainly didn't hurt Obama.

[stray cat]

5. Spector represents many moderates - and if their is no repub party for them

it leaves the GOP with only extremist and they will be a narrow, powerless but pure political party in 2010, and 2012.

[peace frog]

6. I never *started* with him

Like we needed another Senate DINO. Here's hoping his Democratic challenger in 2010 can capture the nomination and election.

[Occam Bandage]

7. I'm not upset. The only thing I expected the switch to bring

was a few extra cloture votes, especially on procedural matters, speeding up the legislative process. I fully intend to financially support whoever runs against him in the primary, and I'm not even from PA.

[ecstatic]

8. Did you see Sestak on Hardball the other day? He's our guy

We need to support him and fund his primary race.

[Occam Bandage]

9. Sestak's our guy, indeed. nt

[CTyankee]

12. I saw him briefly. What I saw I liked.

And Sestak looks pretty tough. Getting to know more about him will be interesting...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. I'm wondering what exactly we're getting out of this deal

:wtf:

I mean, Obama/Biden wouldn't have been quite so eager to get him to cross over if he is just going to oppose them on some of their major initiatives like REAL health care reform. Given what I've heard about his record on labor, I'm also confused why he is not supporting EFCA (and in fact made it VERY clear that he's NOT changing his position on it) either even though he's now switched parties. I thought that maybe he was blustering about not supporting EFCA because of his vote on his stimulus and being concerned about Toomey's prospects in the GOP primary (when he was still in the running for the GOP primary) but nothing really seems to have changed since he switched, so........??? Specter HAD to promise the Democrats SOMETHING for Obama to agree to campaign for him and for the Pennsylvania Democratic establishment to agree not to support a Democratic primary challenge. It will be interesting to find out exactly what that SOMETHING is because right now I'm confused. Of course, knowing Obama, I suspect that this is just another instance of him "playing chess" and that he and Specter are playing things close to the chest right now- waiting for the right moment to reveal their grand strategy.

:shrug:

Of course, I could be wrong and we've just been pwned by Specter (although I don't think Obama would be dumb enough to get snookered that easily). In that case, I hope somebody a la Lamont has the grits (and the money) to launch a primary challenge despite not being supported by the establishment. Like in Connecticut, somebody CAN win a primary DESPITE the "establishment" supporting somebody else and Specter, if he is really sincere about his switch to the Democratic Party, would do well to remember that.

[CTyankee]

13. I, too, had hoped that Obama cut a really good deal with Spector prior

to the switch. That's why I was so angry seeing him on MTP today. I'm not seeing a "really good deal" coming down with him.

But, I guess he "could" have a conversion of sorts and come through for us with health care. I can't believe Obama didn't demand THAT from him...

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. One would hope he would be leaned on by the President, OR

would get thrown to the curb by same.

[PassingFair]

14. We've just watered down our party....

Chalk another one up for the DLC.

[pnwmom]

15. Hopefully Collins or Snowe will provide the needed vote.

But if not, Obama can use the reconciliation process, as he has promised to.

[joanski0]

16. I live in PA and I won't be voting for Specter.

I saw Sestak on CNN with John King. Sestak said he would wait to see if Specter was a Democrat. King asked him how long that would take. Sestak said about a couple of months. So I believe that if Specter keeps voting against us, Sestak will take up the challenge. I hope so anyway.

[CTyankee]

18. Sestak may have had a "conversation" with the admin. on Spector.

It's possible they said to Sestak "Just wait. You'll see." At least, that's what I'm hoping. I can't believe that Obama is gonna let Spector screw his chances for health care reform...

[Liberation Angel]

17. 3 words

magic bullet theory

[RufusTFirefly]

20. Whaaaat??!!! Jacksh*t from Spector???

[progressoid]

21. Surprise, surprise, surprise!

[Warren Stupidity]

22. If he votes for cloture and against democratic bills it is a win for us.

If on the other hand he votes with the obstructionists to prevent legislation from coming up for a vote, then he is useless.

[WeDidIt]

23. Yup, I was willing to give him a break, but he's proven untrustworthy

Time to donate to Joe Sestak.

[Vinca]

24. Specter has lost me completely. Time to work for Sestak.

[SOS]

25. And this garbage from a cancer survivor

Without his gold-plated, taxpayer-funded, Senate health plan, the guy would be dead.

For his uninsured constituents, that is apparently an acceptable outcome.

I hope he loses in the Democratic primary.

[Faryn Balyncd]

26. And any "reform" without a public option is NOT a reform, but corporate welfare in drag.

Mandated insurance purchase without a public option would be corporate welfare on a scale never before seen.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. What misses me off even more is that Obama has already agreed to campaign for him.

And even worse, they are making deals to have him sit on major committees headed by Dems who have MORE seniority.

I am really pissed off about what's going on. I'm getting more and more pissed by the minute!!!

What the fuck are we getting from Specter? Just what is he giving up?

Please get a true Democrat to run against this opportunistic scum!!! :puke::puke:

[Juche]

29. Look on the bright side

Now he will win reelection in 2010 and stay in the senate until 2016 rather than losing to Toomey in the primary, who would've lost the general.

So you see, we did come out ahead.

:sarcasm:

[Canuckistanian]

31. Exercise and nutrition don't prevent car crashes

Nor do they protect against hereditary diseases or assault injuries or illnesses due to aging - he should know about that.

Does he assume that everyone gets the exact same health plan he does?