The Old Switcheroo

Talk about a shot heard round the Beltway! Mr. Single Bullet Theory himself, Senator Arlen Specter, has just announced he's switching sides, leaving the sinking ship that is the current Republican party and joining the majority Democrats as of today. The stunning move gives the Democrats the potential for a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate.

Specter, like most Americans, believed the Republicans in recent years have moved too far to the right in their philosophy, becoming more entrenched in their extremism at every turn:

“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,” Mr. Specter said in a statement released in the early afternoon. “I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.” ("Specter To Switch Parties/New York Times By Carl Hulse)

President Obama -- on the very eve of his 100th day in office -- called Specter as soon as he heard the news and told the 79-year-old Pennsylvania Senator he was "thrilled" to have him, and you get the feeling even "thrilled" might be an understatement. C-SPAN just got a whole lot more interesting Senate now with Arlen Specter a Dem and Minnesota Senator Al Franken set to begin his 6-year term.













Arlen Specter explains surprise party defection to former Republican colleague.