If Specter was embraced because of his pro-healthcare reform stance and

[babylonsister]

his resulting (possible-never say never) vote, are you okay with that?

And even if he wasn't embraced by this admin, no one could have stopped him from changing parties, could they?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. They could have discouraged him, sure,

and he'd have possibly re-thought his plan.

Tell you the truth, I'll take Rove if he were a Senator would vote correctly for health care reform. Yeah, I'm that desperate.

But I think Sen. Specter is a very sick man, and I think he wants to be on a winning side when he dies. I'm SERIES111!! I honestly think he's considering his legacy and where he's going to end up.

During his press conference yesterday, he was wheezing something awful. Those are not the sounds healthy lungs make, and he had a recurrence of his cancer last August, so I think Arlen is making plans.....................

[babylonsister]

2. Wow, I saw the presser and didn't notice wheezing.

I did notice Tweety bringing up his ill health often.

I was shocked to hear he's 79. Didn't know that. And I thought he looks a heckuva lot better than he has in the past.

If he is there because of healthcare, I think he'll be tolerated.

[BigBearJohn]

3. If he helps pass new healthcare plan -- he can stay. If not, to hell with him.

[TwilightZone]

4. I find it amusing that people actually think that we should have "stopped" him.

For what purpose? We may not like his record and I'm sure he'll piss many of us off with his future as a Dem, but this is one hell of a negative for the Republican Party. It's worth it, simply for that.

[babylonsister]

5. Amen. And there's no stopping someone who changes parties. nt

[TwilightZone]

6. Plus, with a possible shot at 60, there was *no* chance...

that Obama was going to pass up that opportunity.

Sure, we know that once Franken is seated, it's not a solid 60 (thanks to the Blue Dogs, etc.), but perception is a big part of politics.

[bigtree]

7. it's not clear

. . . that he's going to change anything he does or votes on due to his switch in parties.

I think he could have just stayed where he was. I hope Pa. voters can manage a Democrat to overcome him, despite his switch.

[babylonsister]

8. He's a big advocate of healthcare research. That might be good enough. nt

[Toucano]

9. He would surely not have switched without support from party leaders.

If he didn't want to face a Repub. primary and the Democrats didn't promise fundraising and endorsements, I bet he would have retired.