What a wonderful day! Arlen Specter’s political career is over. It lasted far too long, he was beloved by none and hated by many.
In fact, when I posted a thread at www.thepartisandialogues.com, a site which is downright infested with teabaggers and others of the far right, there was agreement from all sides. Specter was a snake, and pretty much everybody was glad he lost.
So, why was it even so close? Well, the Obama endorsement probably swayed a lot of Democrats, coupled with the argument that he could beat the Republican nominee in November. That’s a bullshit argument, but I must confess, it’s one I’ve used myself. I originally supported Hillary because I didn’t think Obama (because of his race) or Kucinich (because of his height) could win. I’m really glad I was proven wrong.
I suspect that Obama endorsed Specter because that was the deal to get him to switch parties in the first place, and I suspect that Obama is perfectly happy with Joe Sestak as a candidate. I also suspect that, way back when, Jeremiah Wright deliberately made it easy for Obama to throw him under the bus and there is no true animosity between the two men.
I was also happy that the Democrats held onto Murtha’s seat and that corporate whore and Republican in all but name Blanche Lincoln was forced into a runoff. Conventional wisdom has it that she will win the runoff, but conventional wisdom is not what it used to be. I suspect that she will try to scare progressives with the “Halter can’t win in November” argument, but I’m not sure anybody is buying that argument any more.
The election of Rand Paul in Kentucky doesn’t bother me either. I do fear the Tea Party, even as I mock them, but I don’t really think they are worse than other Republicans. And I think that Rand Paul may very well lose to a Democrat in November. Even in Kentucky.
www.gurukalehuru.com 