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You can thank (or blame) Amtrak for Sen. Specter switching parties today. It's been reported on MSNBC that Joe Biden and Arlen Specter "rode the rails" together quite a bit from and to DC, and the VP has been lobbying the Pennsylvania senator for quite some time during those trips to cross over.
There is no truth to the rumor that moderate Republicans will soon be placed on the endangered species list (but their numbers are certainly dwindling).
cubzo Member # 4700
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As a dues paying member of the Dark Side I am happy to see him go. Now if he would only take Snow and Collins with him.
George Harris Member # 2077
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Skipping any political commentary, I can only say, Mr. Spector, don't let the door hit your butt on your way out.
Dakguy201 Member # 10360
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The turnout for primaries consists of different folk than those in the general election. He could not survive in a Republican primary, so he did what he thought he had to do to stay in office.
After being in the Senate for 30 years, he apparently feels the Republic can not continue without him.
I disagree.
As for having a conversation with Biden on this subject while on Amtrak, I doubt that. You just don't discuss desertion on this scale in a public place.
Mike Smith Member # 447
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Truth be known, he left a long time ago. He just made it official, even though he said it shouldn't happen only 12 days ago on Hannity's show.
It's just another step towards the rebirth of The Republic of Texas.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Mike, when Texas secedes, will Austin be an enclave like Berlin was? Anyway, your secessionist, anti-American governor would like to hold up on the "rebirth" until the federal anti-swine flu funds arrive.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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When I grew up, I was taught not to use swear words - you know like d@mm, hell, and DEMOCRAT.
The political party in which I was indoctrinated (but get your 'balance" from reading The New York Times) was one of fiscal responsibility, free enterprise, freedom of choice, and RESPECT for the "loyal opposition'.
Sorry, that simply is not the party of Rush ("I hope he fails"), Sean, Sarah, and Joe the Plumber.
To the point, I have to accept Chris Matthews comment last evening that this was not ideology on the part of Sen. Spector (now D-PA); he is free to vote as he pleases on any motion of Cloture. But it has everything to do with a 2010 re-election bid.
But to return the discussion to anything resembling passenger rail, Sen. Specter is "East Penn" and as such is pro-Corridor. The last "West Penn" US Senator, Sen. Santorum (R-PA), was "uh not exactly" pro-any kind of passenger rail.
Finally, the question to what extent can any of the above noted "personalities", plus and including Kieth and Madcow, be considered broadcast journalists; I'm afraid they are entertainers - which is why I "tune 'em all out'. The only panel discussion shows that can be considered journalism are the three Sunday morning network offerings (plus PBS Washington Week).
Mike Smith Member # 447
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Ocala Mike, as long as the liberals live within our constitution, there will be no problems. {We plan on using most of the US Constitution; it's not being used right now.}
And we do not have a secessionist/anti-American governor, so I have no idea what you are attempting to communicate.
Mike Smith Member # 447
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Mr. Norman, who {besides PBS} do you consider to be a journalist on the main network Sunday shows?
The only old style journalist I have noticed on any of the Sunday shows is Britt Hume.
mr williams Member # 1928
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We get limited coverage of US news over here. CNBC and Sky show the NBC and CBS nightly news respectively but due to the time difference it is late at night. The only 24 hour US news channel we get is Fox....
A programme I always enjoyed was the McLaughlin Group but that was dropped from the schedules about a year ago. Indeed, the EPG still had it listed when something else was going out in its slot. Anybody know what happened to Tony Blankley? The last few weeks I saw McLaughlin he wasn't on it but there had been no mention of him leaving/retiring.
I also became a big fan of Meet the Press but that was also rescheduled from 5.00pm to late at night and I haven't watched it since the tribute to the late, great Tim Russert.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. Williams, Tony Blankley got displaced in favor of Fox Blonde (PhD) Dr. Monica Crowley. Lawrence O'Donnell 'got whacked' after his anti-Mormon blast during the '08 Campaign.
Imagine those Amtrak conversations between Joe Biden and Arlen Specter.
The vice president’s devotion to taking the train home to Wilmington, Del., is legend. It turns out that besides reinforcing his commitment to mass transit, Biden’s commute also gave him hours and hours of uninterrupted quality time with the senator from Pennsylvania.
Which he used to urge Specter to ditch the Republicans.
“We have talked over every problem under the sun and under the moon,” said Specter, at a welcome-to-the-Democratic-Party press conference with Biden and President Obama.
Biden, Washington’s most compulsive talker, and Specter, one of the Senate’s most self-absorbed egos, rode the rails, sharing their every thought. Probably not in the quiet car. You’d think that by the time one of them paused to take a breath they’d be in Montreal.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Gil:
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Tangential (Opinion)--
Imagine those Amtrak conversations between Joe Biden and Arlen Specter.
The vice president’s devotion to taking the train home to Wilmington, Del., is legend. It turns out that besides reinforcing his commitment to mass transit, Biden’s commute also gave him hours and hours of uninterrupted quality time with the senator from Pennsylvania.
Which he used to urge Specter to ditch the Republicans.
“We have talked over every problem under the sun and under the moon,” said Specter, at a welcome-to-the-Democratic-Party press conference with Biden and President Obama.
Biden, Washington’s most compulsive talker, and Specter, one of the Senate’s most self-absorbed egos, rode the rails, sharing their every thought. Probably not in the quiet car. You’d think that by the time one of them paused to take a breath they’d be in Montreal.
But since the demise of the Montrealer, it would not have been possible for them to go all the way without a change of trains........
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Tangential (Opinion)-- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/opinion/30collins.html Biden, Washington’s most compulsive talker, and Specter, one of the Senate’s most self-absorbed egos, rode the rails, sharing their every thought. Probably not in the quiet car. You’d think that by the time one of them paused to take a breath they’d be in Montreal[/i].
Now, this has got to be one of the most accurate assessments of these two I have ever seen anywhere.
irishchieftain Member # 1473
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Ugh. NY Times certainly allows too much hyperbole in their op-eds nowadays, although I find it surprising that they got Specter and Biden pegged in that manner, and using language you'd expect from the NY Post.
As for Specter, I perceive that it is ideology. His too-flippant comment about his former party going "too far to the right"* is anything but accurate, is a blanket statement lacking meaning, and only serves to create division more than anything (which makes it hypocritical).
* I find that offensive, especially in light of what's going on in the European Union and especially countries like Italy; the President said last month that he was "impressed" with "European leadership," which as a former resident of Ireland made my skin crawl. Italy is the current definition of "too far to the right", and now has too much influence over the fate of Ireland, since the group that leads Italy, Silvio Berlusconi's "Il Popolo del Liberta" (which is composed of Fascists) are right now the dominant voting bloc in the European People's Party, which dominates the European Parliament.
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