Traficant Leaves Democratic Party

By GottaLaff

Traficant may be about to leave the Democratic party, but his hair is already independent:

Former Rep. James Traficant "says he's leaving the Democratic Party and considering a run for office as an independent," the AP reports.

"He called it a 'painful decision' to leave the Democratic Party but says he feels the leadership of the party is headed in the wrong direction. He says he's not referring to President Barack Obama, but to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid."

Gosharooty how we'll miss him.

I'm sure he'll be a big hit. What a catch. Independents will embrace him the way Palin embraces the English language.

Once again, David Shuster listens

By GottaLaff

Earlier I posted a disturbing story about the Democratic headquarters in Colorado being vandalized.

Guess who listened:

Hopefully, this story will get some air time. Viewers need to understand what is happening in this country, and David Shuster is one of the few who pays attention and pulls the curtain back on these nutcases.

Colorado Democratic headquarters vandalized

By GottaLaff

Is it me, or is everyone getting as depressed as I am? $11,000 later:

A “vandalism spree” hit the Colorado Democratic Party headquarters in Denver today, where the “vandal allegedly used a hammer to smash” 11 windows. Party Chairwoman Pat Waak attributed the violence to the intensity surrounding the health care debate, saying, “Clearly there’s been an effort on the other side to stir up hate. I think this is the consequence of it.”

I hesitate to even ask this, but... what next?

Olympia Snowe: Moderate Republicans like 'Survivor' cast members

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: On MSNBC just now, Olympia Snowe said she is not switching parties.

It's Snowe-ing all over the Rushpublic party:

"Being a Republican moderate sometimes feels like being a cast member of "Survivor" — you are presented with multiple challenges, and you often get the distinct feeling that you're no longer welcome in the tribe," Snowe wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times. [...]

"It is truly a dangerous signal that a Republican senator of nearly three decades no longer felt able to remain in the party," Snowe says. "It didn't have to be this way." [...]

"Ideological purity is not the ticket back to the promised land of governing majorities - indeed, it was when we began to emphasize social issues to the detriment of some of our basic tenets as a party that we encountered an electoral backlash," she writes. "We should view an expansion of diversity within the party as a triumph that will broaden our appeal."

What appeal? Sorry to interrupt. Do go on, Olympia:

"We cannot prevail as a party without conservatives. But it is equally certain we cannot prevail in the future without moderates," Snowe warns.

There it is. Can't prevail with 'em, can't prevail without 'em. Conclusion: The Party of Uh-Uh cannot prevail.

My take? IMHO, the Democratic party has its own sub-party, if you will: the ConservaDems (Moderate Republicans/Conservative Democrats/Blue Dogs, which include Bayh, Specter, etc.). This may be an oversimplification, but it's starting to feel like the Dems are two! Two! Two parties in one! It will be interesting to see what develops, and whether our party is evolving into a single home for what used to be the two parties formerly known as Democrats and Republicans.

BREAKING: Arlen Specter to switch to Democratic party

By GottaLaff

HUGE. This would give us 60 votes in the Senate once Al Franken gets in.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced Tuesday that he is switching parties and will run for re-election as a Democrat in 2010, drastically altering the balance of power in the Senate.

He won't always agree with the Democrats, but this is still a big, big deal.

I'll update as I hear more.

What did the Democrats offer him? He was facing enormous political pressure back home, MSNBC is saying, so he switched. He says he will "not be a party line voter" for the Dems any more than he was for the Rushpublics. His vote on card-check will not change.

It moves the Democratic caucus more towards the center, says MSNBC.

UPDATE: Statement by Senator Arlen Specter

I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. 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.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.

I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides. I thank specially Senators McConnell and Cornyn for their forbearance.

I am not making this decision because there are no important and interesting opportunities outside the Senate. I take on this complicated run for re-election because I am deeply concerned about the future of our country and I believe I have a significant contribution to make on many of the key issues of the day, especially medical research. NIH funding has saved or lengthened thousands of lives, including mine, and much more needs to be done. And my seniority is very important to continue to bring important projects vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.

I am taking this action now because there are fewer than thirteen months to the 2010 Pennsylvania Primary and there is much to be done in preparation for that election. Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.

While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America.

UPDATE: Chuck Todd: A "straight-up survival decision". How can the Rs be a national party when they can't keep a moderate R like Specter in the fold?

UPDATE: Tom Harkin won't answer questions about promises of seniority... mum. No comment. "These things will develop over a period of time."

UPDATE: Obama found out in a note to him earlier, and responded with a response a la "welcome in".

UPDATE: This was under active discussion for 3 weeks. It goes back to the Stimulus vote. DEMS WILL FULLY SUPPORT SPECTER IN ELECTION. That was the deal. Chairmanship an option later on. Specter told Mitch McChinless first, then the Dems.
I'm betting that Mitch's tiny, little nonexistent lips pursed in shock to the point where they disappeared into his missing chin.

UPDATE: Michael Steele: Some Rs are happy about this. I am not. He left because he knew he'd lose the election.

Tidbit: Feinstein, in elevator to Stabinow: Is it true? Stabinow: Yes it is. Wide-eyed disbelief, so not everyone was in on this.

Palin is the New Limbaugh

By GottaLaff

Move over, Boss Limbaugh. Grabby McEarmarks, aka Shooty McMouthOff, is the new y-o-u:

Multiple strategists tell Greg Sargent that the Democratic Party "plans to increasingly elevate" Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) in the same manner it has used talk show host Rush Limbaugh for the last few weeks, "using her high-visibility, her social conservatism, and memories of her harsh attacks on Obama during the campaign to tar the GOP as partisan, obstructionist, and backward-looking."

Said James Carville: "Her name conjures up all kinds of reactions in people's minds. She's an uncomfortable figure for a lot of Republicans. They want to move beyond her. We like her."

Here comes my favorite line:

Said another: "Luckily, she seems to present us with an opportunity every few days. You could say it's a turkey shoot."

Suh-naparoony.