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Eminentoes
Spectral Voices
Arlen Specter’s shameful — shameless— farewell.
Someone who takes revenge violates a Biblical prohibition, as it is written: “Do not take revenge.” (Leviticus ) Although there is no corporal punishment assessed, it shows extremely bad judgment. Instead it is appropriate for a person to be less exacting in his standards in worldly matters, because to discerning people all such matters are meaningless and incidental and not worthy of revenge. What constitutes revenge? He asked his friend if he could borrow a shovel and the friend refused. The next day the friend asks him to lend a shovel, and he says, “I will not lend you just as you did not lend me.” This is revenge. [Maimonides, Laws of Proper Thinking 7:8.]
Everything has a time and there is a moment for every object under the sun. There is a moment to give birth and a moment to die… there is a moment to break down walls and a moment to build… There is a moment to throw stones… there is a moment to embrace and a moment to distance (oneself) from embrace. [King Solomon, writing as Ecclesiastes, 3:1-5.]
ARLEN SPECTER CALLED ME a cannibal yesterday, but I will obey the Biblical injunction and eschew revenge. On the other hand, I must respond to the moment, and Arlen has defined for us the appropriate stance for this moment: it is indignation.
The outgoing Senator from the great state of Pennsylvania gave an oratorical summation, a peroration if you will, in which he waxed more wroth than eloquent. He spoke liltingly of the collegiality of yore and wiltingly of the disloyalty of the nonce. Why, there is political cannibalism today [read: Tea Party], where a sitting Senator [read: Jim DeMint] can work to checkmate a seatmate. In the old days the members of “this body” were above such monkeyshines; it was, in Specter’s infelicitous phrase, “conduct beyond contemplation.”
Disloyalty, eh? Betrayal, eh? Duplicity, eh? That a brother should be so perfidious?! You gotta be kiddin’ me.
LOOK WHO’S TALKING. This man is the crown prince of disloyalty, the grand vizier of betrayal, the court jester of duplicity and the town crier of perfidy. This is a man who less than two years ago turned his back on a party which had supported him for nearly three decades, which had rewarded him with plum chairmanships. He traded his virtue for verdure he thought greener. Not only did he become a Democrat, he became the most docile lapdog of the President. When there were a few holdout Senators on Obamacare, their names were Lieberman, Nelson, Lincoln. The specter of Arlen was nowise visible.
So how many betrayals is that already? One, the Republican Party, as stated. Two, his fellow Republican Senators, the ones who let him take leadership roles. A leader abandoning his troops, a warrior deserting his comrades: apparently none of this is beyond contemplation. Three, President Bush, who backed him in his prior primary against a more conservative candidate. Four, the people of Pennsylvania who elected him under false pretenses.
Nor was he more loyal to the Constitution. He was always a Big Government guy, one of three Republicans to vote for Obama’s $700 billion stimulus. He was not loyal to the most vulnerable among us, voting the pro-choice line. He was against abortion, he explained, but it was a matter for the family and “not for the government.” The one place government does not belong is protecting human life, by this logic.
This exposes yet another disloyalty, to the Jewish People and its moral teachings. That makes him no worse than most of the Jews in public office, who are the most reliable votes against all things Biblical or moral or traditional. But it goes to credibility, Your Honor. It leads us to ask a simple question: to what principle or person or institution or nation is Arlen Specter loyal? The answer is none at all. Jews used to be accused of dual loyalty, but in the case of Arlen Specter there is no loyalty but to himself.
This is who is lecturing us on fraternity, a preening peacock of a man, a guy who makes you want to look up all those words to describe puffery. Words like gasconade and fanfaronade and magniloquent and grandiloquent, words from the 19th Century tailored to the blowhards of the time. Do you remember what a poseur Specter was during the Clinton impeachment, saying he wanted to vote neither Guilty nor Not Guilty because he preferred the Scottish construction Not Proven?
He got his comeuppance in this election, but it was too little too late. We let this buffoon sit in the United States Senate until age eighty. Specter is right about one thing: shame on us!
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
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Ret. Marine| 12.23.10 @ 6:58AM
Traitors have many of faces. HE has proven this beyond recognition. He is the case study of a man without any moral compass, he just blew where the political winds landed him. The next stop-hell. Good luck with that snarlin arlen.
russel| 12.23.10 @ 10:58AM
What I say . Many of these elected won't be seen after we've spent our time on Earth suffering them . Thank God .
Bob Cotten| 12.23.10 @ 7:02AM
Had this creature crawled out from under his rock in Hungary in 1944, he would have followed the example of the the jewish superstar, George Soros, and fingered Jews for the Nazis, taking their property and weaseling out of any responsibility with the claim "had it not been me it would have been someone else. I felt no guilt." This is perfidy at the cellular, nay, even the mitochondrial level and, sadly, will always be around in such stuffed shirts as Arlen Specter.
WRTolkas| 12.23.10 @ 7:51AM
Dear Mr. Cotten,
You have written a concise and well defined analogy. Soros and Specter - two evil angels separated only by time but not by inclination.
Regards,
WRTolkas
NavyBrat | 12.23.10 @ 9:17AM
I agree as well Mr. Cotten. Specter is a Jew by ancestory. He would sell out his own mother if he thought he could get something out of it. As a Jew myself, it kills me to see so many fellow Jews voting with & FOR policies that lead to the extermination of 6 million of their fellows 70 plus years ago. I'm not even an "observant" Jew. I don't keep Kosher, I don't go to Temple. But I know how G*d wants me to act. And I know that the way I was brought up was in accordance with how He wants me to act. Which is why, whether I chose to be Jewish, or had followed my Mom's religion, Catholicism, I could no more support the things that liberals do than I could poke my own eye out with a stick. And unfortunately, there's only one good Jewish conservative voice on the right in Cantor. There needs to be a few more who walk the walk as well as they talk the talk.
Amenbro| 12.24.10 @ 9:15PM
In American Politics, as long as I can remember there was Specter at the switch basking in self contrived ideological limelight staking out positions designed for his maximum publicity payoff. Consistent to Arlen to the end, Arlen's party change last gasp was Alzheimerly surreal. On stage with Obama, Arlen laid to rest, GLOBALLY, any arguments anywhere he had a decent cell in his body. GOOD RIDDANCE . May mine olfactory, eyes & ears never again be sullied by his presence!!!!!!!
MikeD| 12.23.10 @ 7:34PM
I simply cannot understand vermin like specter and soros. They profess to be Jews, but only when they guilt other Jews into doing their bidding. I am finally to the point that euthanasia looks like an acceptable policy for creatures like these two. Another thing I cannot understand is that Jews are universally regarded to be about the smartest 'class' of people in the world, yet they ALWAYS vote democratic, even more so when the democrap in question hates Israel. I have spent considerable time in Israel, from the late 70's through the 90's; and Israelis also cannot understand their American bretheren who vote to stick daggers in Israel's wounded body politic whenever they can.
Regardless of my confusion and concern, my deepest hatred (Yes, I know all the bad things about hate, but I'm a sinful human.) is reserved for scum like specter and soros who have no honor, no class, and care nothing for anything but their own pleasure and aggrandizement. I guess there ARE exceptions to the evils of euthanasia. In the case of these two sub-human life forms even that might be too gentle, mainly because of the terrible damage they have done during their already too long lives. "Off with their heads!" said the Queen of Hearts...
Occam's Tool| 12.26.10 @ 3:29PM
Dear MikeD,
the majority of the Jews with a survival skill are in Israel. My co-religionists stupidity in the states agonizes me. But maybe things are changing with Obama.
Occam's Tool| 12.26.10 @ 3:29PM
Dear MikeD,
the majority of the Jews with a survival skill are in Israel. My co-religionists stupidity in the states agonizes me. But maybe things are changing with Obama.
Tim*| 12.23.10 @ 7:35AM
We,Tea Party Rebels with Jim DeMint's help, took down The Poster Boy of RINO-CINO's Arlen Specter.
We now have Our Tea Party Senator Pat Toomey ready to be seated along with other Tea Party Senators & House Representatives.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Rise Up In Rebellion.
John Navratil| 12.23.10 @ 9:00AM
Tim*,
The work has just begun. The fish rods from the head first, and Snarlin' Arlen is only the lip.
Purpleguy| 12.23.10 @ 7:28PM
Tea partier? Corporatist you mean ...
SoBe Conservative| 12.23.10 @ 8:36PM
wow. oxygen REALLY is wasted on some people.
Tim*| 12.24.10 @ 9:14AM
Duuuuhhh, Political Buffoon!
That would be The Democrats.
Corporatist - The principles, doctrine, or system of corporative organization of a political unit, as a city or state.
SPaquet| 12.24.10 @ 6:57PM
Did you mean corporationalist(doubt it's a true word though)? Maybe it's Latin? This site doesn't seem to be you cup of tea[party] there is a site which your political values are more suited---moveon.com but from the comments you have made lately your masochistic desires would not serve you well there since most of the people on that site are victims. They would insist you tell them warm-hearted sad storys about the poor section8 lady leaving Cabrini Green in Chicago and whining that her 5 bastard babies are cramped in a 3 bedroom apartment and the hallways are to narrow for her big fat under-worked backside; and tell them she doesn't think the government is doing enough to accommodate her slothfull non productive existence. And then you can scream like the little girl you are about those mean people on TAS and see how they ignore you like we should.
RCV| 12.23.10 @ 11:51PM
You mean the Pat Toomey who announced his support for the repeal of DADT? There's hope for the guy yet!
Tim*| 12.24.10 @ 9:06AM
The Tea Party Candidate Pat Toomey was elected on The Tea Party Patriots Mission Statement and Core Values.The Tea Party didn't demand a Litmus Test on this issue.
Mission Statement
The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.
Core Values
* Fiscal Responsibility
* Constitutionally Limited Government
* Free Markets
Pat Toomey: “As I’ve said previously, my highest priority is to have the policy that best enables our armed services to do their job,” Senator-Elect Toomey said. “Our civilian and professional military leadership have now spoken and said we should repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I would support a free-standing measure to do so.”
Many of We,Tea Party Rebels hold a different view.
And it was a moot point, since Pat Toomey won't be seated until The 112th Congress is seated on January 3rd, 2011 and Democrat Candidate Joe Sestak was a DADT supporter from the gitgo. We knew this back months ago.
RCV | 12.25.10 @ 12:20AM
Like you first tea party " victory" -- Scott Brown -- Pat will continue to surprise you with his independence, Timmie.
Tim*| 12.25.10 @ 1:58AM
We know Pat Toomey & his voting record as a United States Congressman.
No on Abortion, No on Same Sex Marriage, No on Prohibiting Oil Drilling, Yes on Restricting Frivolous Law Suits, Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages.....etc.
RCV| 12.25.10 @ 4:37AM
But now he wants to stay a senator, get leadership positions, maybe thinking about national office - the DADT repeal support is only the beginning.
Tim*| 12.26.10 @ 9:50AM
Obviously, Obama PropagandaBoy RCV doesn't know who Pat Toomey is. Pat Toomey is The Former President of The Club For Growth.
Occam's Tool| 12.26.10 @ 3:39PM
Tim*, and you were doing so well---staying on argument, no adhominem, and then, CAR CHASE! Sigh. I agree with your arguments on this one, Tim*. (It's true, and I know it will piss you off.)
John Navratil| 12.25.10 @ 9:44AM
Scott Brown and the Tea Party are almost barely containable in the same sentence. He had Tea Party support, then attended a fund raiser, then claimed to be unfamiliar with the Tea Party principals. Hardly and love fest and certainly not the exemplar of Tea Party/Candidate relations as you seem to suggest.
Still, I'll take Scott Brown over Coakley without reservation (she would let an innocent man languish in jail to preserve her shot as Governor) and just about anything except, perhaps, Barney Frank over the previous office holder. Brown mad no secret of his politics and hasn't appears to betray his voters. Do some of his votes disappoint me? Yes, but just how Texan can a guy from Massachusetts be?
So, RCV, you just keep on telling yourself that the Tea Party is nothing but of bunch of Scott Browns.
Bill| 12.23.10 @ 7:38AM
Seems like old Arlen and Harry Reid have much in common.
winterhawk| 12.23.10 @ 7:52AM
Indeed they do. They are both schmucks.
SkyLark| 12.23.10 @ 8:50AM
Good point - they both appear to be bitter, vindictive, self-serving dinosaurs. A couple of old sourpusses.
winterhawk| 12.23.10 @ 7:50AM
He should have been gone some time ago. He was given a reprieve, a probation so to speak, and he violated it. He will not be missed by many. His vote in the Senate will be missed by the lefties but they did'nt care for his arrogance either. Good ridance arlen, you schlepp.
MikeD| 12.23.10 @ 8:26PM
Unfortunately, George "W" supported spector during his 'ball shrinkage' period; when his very liberal mother took his 'family jewels', and locked them away in a box, kinda the same way she did to her husband halfway through HIS term as president.
The fight has just begun, and every RINO needs to be instilled with the fear of GOD to remember who voted him/HER (in deference to the two biggest, most destructive, and disgusting RINOS of all, the sisters from Maine; collins and snowjob!) into office. We are watching, and the internet allows news to travel fast. That's why the equally despicable barry the muslim is trying his best to A/take our firearms; B/stop talk radio; and, C/ control the internet. Every day brings us closer to the final showdowns; be them with our own RINOS; or the total scum of the Earth, libs.dems. (semper fi...I occasionally whisper.)
Ret. Marine| 12.24.10 @ 6:40AM
Thanks MikeD for your service and welcome to the site. There are things in this world that one cannot explain, but know instinctively which is nothing short of evilness, snarl'n arlene is one of those things. May he rest uncomfortably in hell where he came from. Traitors have many faces. Semper Fi. brother. Marry Christmas, and pass the ammo.
Joedoc| 12.23.10 @ 8:00AM
Specter is a piece of trash. This man thinks he is entitled to be in the senate until HE thinks he should leave. He is what is wrong with our government. Trading on favors to stay in office and throwing his party under the bus when they can no longer serve him. Is there anyone in congress today who is there to serve this country instead of themselves? I have never been a fan of term limits, but I'm rethinking my position.
Wayne | 12.23.10 @ 8:12AM
Murakowski gladly takes his place.
Tim the Enchanter| 12.23.10 @ 12:04PM
Wayne: I think it's spelled "Morecokeski".
RCV| 12.23.10 @ 11:53PM
I think it's spelled "Senator who beat that idiot Joe Miller even though she wasn't on the ballot."
donna| 12.24.10 @ 3:36AM
I think it's spelled " voter fraud". She has shown her true colors this week. Now we have 2 liberal Dems representing Alaska.
RCV| 12.24.10 @ 12:34PM
If Alaskans had wanted to drink the Tea, they could have voted for Miller, who ended up with only a third of the votes. They 've clearly had enough of the Palin crowd.
Tim*| 12.24.10 @ 7:47PM
Actually, Americans clearly have had enough of Obama
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -12.
Aaaaand, Just 27% believe that Russia will honor the terms of the START Treaty approved earlier this week.
Aaaaaand, a review of census data by Michael Barone finds that the U.S. population grew fastest in states with no state income tax.
RCV| 12.25.10 @ 12:24AM
...and the fastest growing populations in those states are Hispanics, whose votes saved Harry Reid and whom the GOP has alienated at every turn.
Tim*| 12.25.10 @ 1:48AM
"But a new generation of potential Hispanic leaders is emerging: Republicans, Senator-elect Marco Rubio in Florida, Susana Martinez, the first female Hispanic governor of New Mexico, and Brian Sandoval, the first Hispanic governor of Nevada. There are more. A record eight Hispanic Republicans were elected to Congress on Nov. 2 for a total of 27 Latinos in the U.S. House. Five new Latino GOP representatives, who defeated Democratic incumbents, will join Rubio on Capitol Hill."
Lazy Jack | 12.23.10 @ 8:18AM
Arlen provided more proof to the truism that a vote for Arlen was always a vote for... Arlen. As per the old post below, he was arguably the least principled senator of the last decade. Got to admit it though, the last proclamation by the Emperor of Entitlement was as fascinating as watching Jersey Shore.
Lazy Jack
http://thanksforthelaughs.word.....irca-2009/
Brother John| 12.23.10 @ 8:26AM
And thus shall Murkowski join him in oblivion.
PACoug| 12.23.10 @ 8:28AM
Here in York County, we've never supported specter. We're Santorum all the way. If it weren't for Philly Specter would never have been a senator in the first place. He switched to GOP so he could get elected decades ago, and he's been cannibalizing the GOP ever since.
I have cast a vote for Specter, back when he was a Republican, but never in a primary.
The worst Republican is preferable to the best Democrap, even when it's Arlen Specter. But I was proud to write a letter to Pat Toomey urging him to oppose Specter in the 2010 primary, proud to volunteer for his campaign from its earliest days, and proudest of all to see Arlen Specter head for the weeds with his perfidious party switch, a bit of long overdue truth in advertising.
Santorum is running for president. He will get nowhere, but his name will stay current so that when the time comes to oppose Casey we Pennsylvanians will have a chance to correct our mistake and send him back to Washington.
Of course, if the PA Tea Party, the largest Tea Party contingent in the nation, produces someone better than Santorum, then it will be my honor to work for that candidate as well.
I'm not in love with any candidate, be it Toomey, Santorum or anybody else. My love is for the country and I will fight with the rest of my team on behalf of the Constitution. If Santorum is the best vehicle two years hence to carry that fight, then Santorum is my man.
I love Rick's no-compromise stand on abortion. But if his primary opponents show the same kind of fight on the real battle of today, which is cutting the budget, I'll show no loyalty to him, though I love him.
And he'll understand. The Tea Party will coalesce around the one they believe to be most able to stand in the Jim DeMint line, putting up a fight against the relentless metastasis of government.
Since Specter is the polar opposite of this type of man, he should not be at all surprised at his pink slip.
Groad| 12.23.10 @ 10:12AM
Snarlin' Arlen has always been a willing lackey for the Fast Eddy Spendell Democrats. Ed Spendell has just finished 8 years as the Mayor (never a Governor) of PA and is taking Specter with him. Snarlin' Arlen has always been a Rendell Republican aka a RINO. Good riddance to both. The incoming Republican state government has a lot of damage to repair.
Purpleguy| 12.23.10 @ 7:30PM
Santorum - isn't he the loser that was obsessed with bestiality and gerbils?
MikeD| 12.23.10 @ 8:39PM
I thought I detected your noxious odor wafting through our site. Of course, you are welcome here, if for nothing but comic relief. Class: please notice that "purpleguy" fits EVERY characteristic of the mentally inferior sub-human bacteria called "the liberal democrat". Unable to structure the simplest sentence; totally avoiding the inclusion of facts in any form of communication; although communication from this species is usually limited to hand gestures and primordial grunts; and the instantaneous reversion to name calling and insipid comments that are beneath the normal level of intelligent discourse. We are fortunate to see one since they are truly endangered due to their complete lack of ANY survival or socially useful skills.
At least they are good for a laugh unless they somehow achieve ANY position of power, a circumstance that occurs only when a "perfect storm" of media malfeasance; criminal dependence on foreign funding, and an electorate that is 'enhanced' by the 'cemetery vote', the 'fraudulent union thug vote', and the 'infantile college practical joke vote'. This is ALWAYS followed by a sudden awakening of the electorate wondering how they could have been so collectively temporarily insane; and an immediate correction of the situation when the extent of the damage becomes known and the very next election provides the opportunity for rectifying the disaster.
Tim*| 12.24.10 @ 7:52PM
Apparently, from your many posts, that would be your turf, Rodent Rump.
Publius| 12.25.10 @ 10:08AM
Nope, his detractors are the ones so obsessed.
Any rebuttal to the content of the article, pg, or just here to add some drive-by idiocy?
Angelo | 12.23.10 @ 8:40AM
Snarlin Arlen ..A more contemptible man ..one will never meet.....he is the originator of The famous...
"Magic Bullet Theory"... of the JFK assassination.
Angelo
Groad| 12.23.10 @ 10:14AM
Specter was right about the bullet. There was nothing 'magic' about it. That is another issue. Go read 'Case Closed' and get away from the wacky conspiracy theories.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 12.23.10 @ 8:48AM
Arlen Spector's "Not Proven" vote during the Clinton impeachment should tell you all you need to know about this loser.
In essence, he's a dyed in the wool liberal who went along on the easy issues with the Republicans.
To Arlen, I'm sure you will read the comments so I offer you this wisdom. You love abortion, and in my opinion, the world would have been a lot better of if you were aborted. That would have been the ultimate revenge, and well deserved cosmic justice.
Goodbye, and don't let the door hit you in the rear on the way out.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 12.23.10 @ 8:48AM
Arlen Spector's "Not Proven" vote during the Clinton impeachment should tell you all you need to know about this loser.
In essence, he's a dyed in the wool liberal who went along on the easy issues with the Republicans.
To Arlen, I'm sure you will read the comments so I offer you this wisdom. You love abortion, and in my opinion, the world would have been a lot better of if you were aborted. That would have been the ultimate revenge, and well deserved cosmic justice.
Goodbye, and don't let the door hit you in the rear on the way out.
chris haynes| 12.23.10 @ 8:51AM
yes, Holocaust enablers. Soros and Spector support legal abortion. 55,000,000 the greatest holocuast in hsitory.
The reason they didnt help out the Furher? Not interested in penny ante holocausts.
MikeD| 12.23.10 @ 8:49PM
Most systems in the Universe have 'self correcting' mechanisms. The mechanism at work here is that:
1. The vast majority of aborted babies are Black. How's that for democrat support Jesse, Al, and Juan? (You too barry...) The dems have been SOOO good to you; they have allowed you to decimate your own numbers, saving them the trouble.
2. The other very large group that HAS abortions is that segment of the population most likely to vote democratic, and, therefore, raise more good little prospective democrats.
Just think of all the potential democratic voters that they helped kill. If THAT ain't poetic justice, I don't know what is. BUT THEN... think of the potential leaders, doctors, researchers, explorers, scientists, and ordinary human beings that were ripped from their mother's womb for what reasons?
Remember, barry the muslim wanted to introduce a law that forced doctors to kill any baby who had a strong enough desire to live that it survived being ripped out of its' mother's womb and stabbed in the brain. Barry didn't care; it's what he does.
FURY&RAGE;| 12.23.10 @ 9:17AM
Democrats stand for atheism, sodomy, abortion & death. Democrats condone sodomy. Democrats condone appeasement of enemies. On every front, Democrats fly into the face of Providence same as those who built the "unsinkable" Titanic. For an instructive visual display of the Almighty's displeasure with sodomy & appeasement see the Dead Sea which is all that remains of Sodom and Gomorrah.
NavyBrat | 12.23.10 @ 9:22AM
All anyone needs to know about this duplicitous, self serving piece of shat can be summed up in ONE single soundbyte. All my fellow PA voters saw this. I'm sure Tim* did. This might be the best thing the Sestak campaign ever put together, as it is one of his commercials from the primary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x97DdZho11k
Bob Miller| 12.23.10 @ 9:28AM
There's still work for voters to do, as even the less flamboyant RINOs do great damage in the Senate.
Curly Smith| 12.23.10 @ 9:33AM
We should all be thankful for Arlen Specter. He, almost single-handedly, had the courage to lift the veil and give us a peek into the corridors of power. Before Arlen, we naively bought “the world’s greatest deliberative body” narrative, we knew Congress to be full of thoughtful, honorable, cautious, and careful people who always had the nation’s interest at heart. But Arlen showed us that Congress was proudly venal, defiantly self-serving and aggressively corrupt. Before Arlen, we held Congress in high esteem, now we believe Congress should be held in prison. Arlen did us all a great service. When next you hear the clarion call for more government think upon Arlen and reflect upon his good deed, then remove your Congressman from office. Arlen showed us the way government really operates and in so doing he showed us why everything it touches fails. Don’t vilify Arlen instead make him the Patron Saint of Limited Government. When future generations think “Arlen Specter” they should think “small, limited and accountable government”.
mames| 12.23.10 @ 9:52AM
a classic narcissistic scum bag. I prefer an open socialist to a badly cryptic one. And why do these bastards keep staying in office after the age of 70? Could it be that thier perverted egos need the constant adulation?
Jim Mulcahy| 12.23.10 @ 9:52AM
Jerry DellaFemina, the ad guy, wrote a book about the ad business back in 1970. He recounted why he stayed away from political ad campaigns. He was hired to do some work for Specter. He could never get to see him: "no one gets to see Specter." He asked what he stood for: "Specter stands for getting elected." I think that about sums up this very forgettable politician.
Anthony| 12.23.10 @ 10:13AM
Krauthammer said it all; Arlen Specter gives opportunism a bad name. Specter, the D, turned R, turned D again, is also the undisputed poster boy for term limits.
I watched this spectacle on C-Span with both a sense of amazement and fear.
Fear in the sense that our country has been governed by craven egotists like Specter, who, for these many decades, have governed from the bubble of Washington without a care for what the people actually wanted from their representatives. Specter is the embodiment of the political class run amok.
The amazement part was how America as a society and culture had devolved this low, in that we continue to elect people with this type of blind self aggrandizement and stubborn belief in their infallibility, well until this past election. Caligula had more poise, grace and self awareness than Specter.
It's no wonder the whiff of revolution becomes stronger each day and Nov 2nd produced the results it did. Washington is not just broken, it's diseased and deformed beyond recognition.
So, as Arlen read from sheets of paper, with no more than 10 words on them, before being discarded for another sheet filled with his vile rambling venom aimed at all that has been eating at this man for decades, it was apparent to me that Specter truly represented the 111 Congress in all its sick glory.
May 2011 begin the return of America to the PEOPLE.
Beboper| 12.23.10 @ 3:22PM
I can't imagine how a decent person wouldn't feel soiled after a personal discussion with Specter.
In his space and time frame, he took duplicity and dishonor to new quantum levels. I'm sure some who knew viewed his political and moral acrobatics with awe if not admiration: how he could vote trial attorney liberalism for five years, then posture as a conservative republican the sixth, an election year, all with equal enthusiasm.
I have never been quite able to bring myself to forgive Bush, and particularly Santorum, for helping save this horrible POS from retirement in the 2004 GOP PA senate primary.
His legacy is a face taking on the look of Dorian Gray's picture, exhibiting the corruption of a lifetime of evil.
Wayne Farmer| 12.23.10 @ 10:14AM
Arlen Specter was DA in Philly when hippy guru, Ira (Ike) Einhorn murdered his young girlfriend, Holly Maddox, and hid her body in a trunk, behind a walled-off closet. For political power and money, Specter released Einhorn who lived free in Europe, with wealthy women, for decades before dedicated law officers located and extradited him. He's now serving time in prison, but his release and decades of freedom were purchased from Arlen Specter.
Angelo | 12.23.10 @ 10:15AM
In answer to Curly...
Mark twain summed it up the best when he said..
"We have the best congress money can Buy"
SugartownSuper| 12.23.10 @ 1:28PM
I do not remember whether it was Mark Twain or Will Rogers:
"There is no natural criminal class in this country...except for Congress."
"If, on the one hand you have a criminal, and on the other hand a Congressman...but I repeat myself."
Louis Jenkins| 12.23.10 @ 10:34AM
And so the last chapter of a bad novel is read, and the book is closed. Now it's time to go vomit.
Bob Grant| 12.23.10 @ 10:47AM
Arlen Specter is the poster boy for term limits (Ha!! yea right, if only.)
He clearly demonstrated he would do literally ANYTHING, say ANYTHING to hold on to that seat.
If a Senate seat is THAT luring, enticing, to cause countless septuagenarians and octogenarians to forgo extremely comfortable retirements so they can die a Senator, then that seat clearly is out of step with what the constitution called had in mind and limits need to be in place.
Good riddance Specter!
A. C. Santore| 12.23.10 @ 10:48AM
AHA! Caught you in a spelling error.
You wrote, "He traded his virtue for verdure...," but it should be "He traded his virtue for ordure...."
So much for the legacy he wanted so badly but tarnished so completely.
Occam's Tool| 12.23.10 @ 12:04PM
Again to quote Smashmouth, regarding Arlen:
"Someone once told me, the world was gonna roll me, I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed..."
David| 12.23.10 @ 11:06AM
Good riddance to Benedict Arnold.
Christopher| 12.23.10 @ 11:42AM
Good riddance. Specter's worst moment was his opposition to Judge Bork. In Bork's book he described his meeting with Specter, and what an intellectual lightweight Specter was/is. Specter tried to redeem himself by supporting Justice Thomas, but think of what we lost by losing Judge Bork. We go Justice Kennedy, another lightweight who is not a reliable conservative.
In Pa we were told in 2003 by Bush and Santorum
to hold our nose and vote for Specter, so we did out of loyalty and respect, and Specter then did what he did.
Claudia Monteverdi| 12.23.10 @ 12:13PM
Your articles is composed magniloquently with just the faintest scent of grandiloquence; insufficient to make of it a Gasconade but plenty enough to make it an ou and out classic Fanfaronade,a word not at all pejorative mon ami to us parlez vousers! (as you suggest)...
so, not true? 'VENGEANCE IS MINE, SAYETH THE LORD"...no revenge? the first born..locusts..Sampson's temple? etcetera, etcetera????...nonetheless.."Not Proven" a rather elegant ITALIAN cum Roman construct, not at all Scottish other than by adoption..what the bloody hell is wrong with that.he nollo contendere borderlines guilt and innocence..damned good sayeth I...
Spector? Oh yeah I remember him..the olden days..let's tal the 13 republican bums who voted for the treacherous START treaty--the mentally deficient Republican tax bill negotaitors..those clever Republican little rascals who slid through the annulment of DADT..the Republican senatorial culprit\rats\bastards who destroyed the party's 2012 slam dunk victory our of fear, complicity, ignorance God only knows..whatever..I don't wish to spend time hating poor old slimeball Spector..let's focus on throwing those so called RepublicanSOBEEZE out on their asses..too late to sweat the 2012 election..without Murray and Rubio (my ticket) we have give that Obama guy re-election..
I remain,
quasi grandiloquently,
with oceans of love,
Your faithful Admirer and Slave,
Claudia
Margie| 12.23.10 @ 4:57PM
Claudia,
Slave? My goodness!
But that's none of my business.
Moving right along..
I have put together a new word in honor of Curtis Sliwa.
Bob Grant, are you listening?
Taking from Mr. Homnick's magniloquent. Not that the word actually belongs to him, as in Homnick's.
Let's just say I've never heard of it before. Anyway, the new word is this:
Magniloquentoast. ie., someone who speaks in lofty tones but is really just a Casper Milque-toast. Oh, never mind.
You just would've had to have been there.
Toodles.
Claudia Monteverdi| 12.23.10 @ 5:10PM
Hey Margie,
fair is fair..if you can say "toodles" I can say "slave" !
Best of the best,
Claudia
Margie| 12.23.10 @ 8:38PM
Best to you too, Claudia! And I do hope you knew I was kidding about the slave thing.. as in slavish in love, right?
Truly, I was.
Sagacious Sol| 12.23.10 @ 6:39PM
Buck up Claudia and have faith. All is not lost.
2012 is a long way off. A lot of things can happen between now and then ... and those things might be good things.
stmichrick| 12.23.10 @ 12:35PM
For politicians like Specter, the art in politics is having it both ways. To start with, in East Coast big city politics (Philadelphia), the way to election was to buck the crowded field of Democrats was to call yourself Republican and act like a Democrat.
His most memorable quote (from the Clinton impeachment vote) is emblematic:
" Not proved"
Lou Filliger| 12.23.10 @ 12:46PM
I dislike political correctness as much as the next person (not Barbara Boxer either) but I also dislike unproven, unfounded generalities that don't really serve any purpose. So I would question the comments that Jews tend to vote against all things Biblical, moral, or traditional. Worse than prejudicial, I think this is just a silly comment in a column I mostly otherwise agree with. Does the author have any proof whatsoever that he can share with us to back up his claims?
Beboper| 12.23.10 @ 3:44PM
It was hardly a 'silly' observation. Far too many American racial Jews have long since abandoned Biblical teachings in favor of the Religion of Liberal Fascism and the money, fame and power it promises, all the while ignoring the fact that it is destroying the nation that gave them such great opportunity. Proof? You can't see the destruction they've wrought as trial attorneys?
Look at the contrast between one of them and a Constitution loving, Biblical observing, Jewish heritage American patriot like Mark Levin.
It's amazing how people will only see what they want to see and believe only what they want to believe.
Lou Filliger| 12.23.10 @ 5:19PM
Hold on there Beboper. Before you throw me under the bus of only seeing what I want to see, I asked for proof or at least some documentation. You provided none. Therefore, what I see is what I saw before: no proof.
I'm sensitive to this because I do subscribe to most of the Tea Party tenets; I object to being labeled a racist; and comments like the one I'm taking exception to are precisely what the left can use as proof that we are "a bunch of racists". Of course, they can still claim that even if it's not true, but we have to keep our side of the street clean.
Let me give you an example of the type of proof I'm looking for. Take all the Jewish members of the most recent Congress, and all the non-Jewish members. Put them in a spreadsheet. Record each group's vote based on whatever you choose to be a reliable measure of morality. (Even that will be subject to debate, won't it?) And see if there's a statistical difference that backs up the author's point. Or suggest another way to prove it or disprove it. Otherwise, it's just anecdotal.
Unlike some other people, my eyes and ears are wide open.
Lou Filliger| 12.23.10 @ 5:22PM
Your comments do have some value, however, in that the author will be forced to disassociate himself with your generalizations, or not. I wouldn't want someone like you riding to my rescue, that's for sure.
Lou Filliger| 12.23.10 @ 12:47PM
P.S. RIP Arlen Sphincter, good riddance.
WRJonas| 12.23.10 @ 1:08PM
That it has taken the people of Pennsylvania so long to recognize the utter disgrace of a man whose first impulse is to betray, is very discouraging .
Perhaps they will over compensate by electing decent trustworthy Senators for the next 50 years.
Step One . Disregard claims of intelligence by the media. To them ,being smart is the only qualification for office. Obama should lay that fallacy to rest for ever .
TURK| 12.23.10 @ 1:16PM
Being depressed in this wonderful week by the conduct of the RINO's (more than I thought there was ) in the "lame duck" thing, I am heartened by the learned and eloquent comments to this article. I was unaware of the strength of Pennsylvania's Tea Party movement and hope it will not be discouraged by this weeks RINO perfidy.
An interesting backdrop to the main subject is in re former Sen Santorum, he who joined with Rove the Bush mastermind, to defeat Pat Toomey the last time Specter was called to task. That Santorum now has the balls to put himself forward as a repub shining light for 2012, dramatically illustrates the problem we have. I will not give up if the rest of you do not(my Ohio is a carbon copy of Penn). The winningest politician in Ohio's history once cornered me (a Repub county Chmn at the time) at a command performance in Columbus, and knowing of my Goldwater/Reagan loyalty told me to forget the philosophical crap and remember that all that counted was "51%" and he repeated "51%"! That was Jim Rhodes who served endless terms as Ohio's Gov. Specter was even worse.
As to the guy who jumped in with his whine about conspiracy and who loved Specter's road to stardom, the smart bullet---I say anyone who thinks a goof like Oswald pulled off the crime of the century all by his lonesome, with a kill shot by a bargain basement bolt action rifle on the third shot, after missing on the first 2, having operated the bolt twice, MUST believe the Easter Bunny brings all that candy around Easter time.
My2Cents| 12.23.10 @ 2:07PM
Is it appropriate to tell a Senator who is about to lose his job, who has struggled with cancer, and two days before Christmas, to "Drop dead"? Who cares. Drop dead, Arlen.
Dave Williams| 12.23.10 @ 2:08PM
Woo-HOOO!!!! One down, SEVERAL more RINOs to go. I can't wait for November 2112.
SugartownSuper, it was Twain on both counts, but Will Rogers had a sharp eye out for congressional perfidy as well.
GregA| 12.23.10 @ 2:13PM
Specter was the poster boy of everything everyone hates about our national politics: self ahead of service; no convictions; political expediency; back-stabber. Charlie Crist was Specter's doppleganger in Florida, and he go roundly rejected by the voters. Lisa Murkowski (however she spells her name) was the same in Alaska, but the dopes up there rewarded her for her act of political selfishness. So, there is still much to do to change the culture in Washington.
LarryK| 12.23.10 @ 2:42PM
So Snarlin' Arlen bloviated.
At least he's done and gone!
DANSHANTEAL| 12.23.10 @ 2:51PM
HE GOT IT WRONG WITH THE WARREN REPORT AND IT WAS ALL DOWN HILL FROM THERE.
Petronius| 12.23.10 @ 3:29PM
The only vengeance taken out upon Benedict Arlen was by the voters. For me and thee, merely schadenfreude. I taketh satisfaction knowing that the only difference between Specter, Bond, and a couple hats full of sheep feces is the abused hats.
darudz| 12.23.10 @ 3:36PM
Arlen expectorated on the Republican party, and now he is out of a job. Good.
LaneyB| 12.23.10 @ 5:10PM
The voters of Pennsylvania elected this guy for thirty years. They got what they deserved, but they didn't have to inflict him on the rest of the country.
Claudia Monteverdi| 12.23.10 @ 5:21PM
been booding Jay..forget Ezekiel and Leviticus and plagues and poor Leah and the mighty Samson in the temple (where the hell is Victor Mature when you need him?) Gasconade, is considered a hideous racial slur in presant day Douce France..this word, lets say, bragadoccio, loud mouth, gained prominence in French literature with characters like D'artagnan and Cyrano de Bergerac and others (both mighty fine fellows you may note) ..always been rather a fulsome term but suddenly the politically correct regime has determined it to be racist..By the way, Figaro considers the word "arab" to be equally racist but has no problem with the plethora of the glossary of anti American and Israeli terms it print's so freely and guiltlessly...so you see, in the eyes of the behoilder all such sensitivities, including REVENGE (them poor old Philistines--my authority? Ezekiel and Judges) all are in the eyes of the beholder--with me Jay? ---if not I will be pleased to submit a 3217 page dissertation on the subject..
Love & Kisses,
Claudia
PS to Margie..please note I omitted the forbidden word...
jim| 12.23.10 @ 6:27PM
Specter is the godfather to other "Republicans" who just sold America down the river on START. They, like Specter, will do what they need to do to gain POWER! It has nothing to do with doing what is best for the American people. It is about putting power in the hands of 535 would be rulers of the poor stupid American rabble. Obama and his 535 immortals! Will lead us all over the ledge. Specter was just replaced by younger versions!
dw| 12.23.10 @ 6:51PM
Elitist egoist--that is what in reality we are being ruled by..multiply Arlen by hundreds and you may begin to understand the problem.
See 3 members of the FCC taking over the internet..see The One taking over the country on behalf of the all knowing pius liberals...see Gore declaring the science and the debate on global warming is closed....see Kerry hiding his boat from taxing while trying to raise taxes on the rest of us....see the dictitorial reigns of Pelosi and Reid....see Clinton cheating on his wife while she ignores it in her quest for power...see how every one on this list is a multi-millionaire.............
This list could go on forever....meanwhile we get screwed by these people and continue to ask for more.
Dixie Pixie| 12.23.10 @ 6:52PM
"I an simply not going subject my 29 years in the US. Senate to that Republican primary electorate."
A quote by former Senator Arlen Specter.
I guess Senator Specter never agreed with the concept of "A government by the people, for the people".
He certainly had no use for the concept of a representative democracy as it applied to him.
He did try to keep alive the traditions of the Roman Senate when the majority of the subjects were slaves owned by the Roman Empire. Arlen does miss the old days..... of the Roman Senate.
gritsngravy| 12.23.10 @ 8:32PM
Sometimes the electorate will not see the light; and then the Almighty steps in to rescue them from themselves. RIP Teddy "Moral Compass" Kennedy!
Claudia Monteverdi| 12.23.10 @ 8:51PM
Dear Sol,
From your mouth to God's Ears!
Regards,
Claudia
ejp| 12.23.10 @ 10:36PM
Arlen Specter shamefully exploited the GOP conservatives in the past by always veering more right a year before it was time for re-election and then comfortably going back to his liberal instincts once re-elected. It was no coincidence that a year after being re-elected in 1986 in a bad year for the GOP when they lost the Senate, he came out against Robert Bork. But in 1991, a year before re-election, he then endeared himself to conservatives by defending Clarence Thomas and going after Anita Hill (and then it helped him among conservatives when his opponent in 1992, Lynn Yeakel was a flake of the first order who tried to use the Thomas hearings AND the Warren Report as the reasons for unseating Arlen, and suddenly a vote for Arlen became a matter of standing up to Oliver Stone). And then the same game over and over again through 2004 until finally we had the guts to say enough and no more. Specter's whining is just his unhappiness over the fact that Republicans had enough of his con game act over the decades.
james| 12.24.10 @ 9:52AM
Well, MikeD, vermin like them understand you so you better pick it up or you'll find yourself under arrest.
Yosemeti Sam| 12.24.10 @ 2:29PM
Yo, 'Spectre' in Pennsylvania - meet honor bound Republican Moosekowski from Alaska.
LOL.
brad| 12.26.10 @ 11:43AM
Some time in the future, Mr. Specter will pass away and many newspapers will carry a lengthy obituary extolling the accomplishments of a man dedicated to public service. Please remember this article as the great state of Pennsylvania honors the passing of this man.
Occam's Tool| 12.26.10 @ 3:34PM
SP ecial E xecutive for C ounter-intelligence, T errorism, Extortion and Revenge. Arlen Specter. Fits. Adios, asshat!
Renaldo Dubois| 12.26.10 @ 3:44PM
The American people need to rid ourselves of this kind of filth in our congress.