Arlen Specter, Poster Child for Term Limits

In the 1977 blockbuster movie, Star Wars, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi counsels young Luke Skywalker before they enter the Mos Eisley Cantina “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be careful”. It was funny back then, but as I sit here now, I can imagine that same admonition being said prior to entering the U.S. Capitol.

On Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, United States Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) did something amazing, he switch from (R-Pa.) to (D-Pa.). Now personally I am not shocked by this little charade. To be quite honest he was what has become known as a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

No, the shock comes from the unmitigated gall that this pathetic excuse for a Senator has. You see, the issue was raised just about a month and half ago when he was interview by “The Hill”. During the interview Specter said he absolutely would not switch parties.

At the time Specter said: [Democrats] are trying very hard for the 60th vote. Got to give them credit for trying. But the answer is no.

Get that everyone, the answer is NO. When is NO not really NO, apparently when you’re a politician.



Specter went on to say: “I'm not going to discuss private talks I had with other people who may or may not be considered influential. But since those three people are in the public domain, I think it is appropriative to respond to those questions."

"I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role, a more important role, to play there. The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That's the basis of politics in America. I'm afraid we are becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party with so little representation of the northeast or in the middle Atlantic. I think as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance. That's a very important principle in the operation of our government. In the constitution on Separation of powers.”

The other day, after this change was made public, Specter was asked if he had anything to say to his constituents, you know, the little people who elected him. His response: "I don't have to say anything to them," Specter said "They've said it to me."

Truth is, whatever your party affiliation, something like this should give you pause and make you think. Specter’s defection isn’t earth shattering, what it is, is a sad condemnation of our politicians and the system. Specter has been in the Senate since 1980. Almost 30 years. Folks, Specter, along with people like Joe Biden, John McCain, Edward Kennedy, Ted Stevens, & Daniel Inouye, are the poster children for term limits.

These people get elected and then……. Just never leave. Senators serve a term of six (06) years……. Then again, with an annual salary of $174,000 (as of 2009), would you leave? Pretty much the job is recession proof. But you would think after being in the Senate for 20, 30, 40 & even 50 years…… THEY WOULD GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!

The point is, when are we going to wake up and realize that the Capitol, in the immortal words of General Kenobi, is nothing more than a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Arlen Specter jumping ship is unremarkable. As stated before, he was a Republican in name only while his voting record belied his true beliefs. He switched parties simply because he realized he faced a potentially embarrassing defeat against another Republican. He risked that defeat because his “constituents” were unhappy with his performance.

What is troublesome is that, rather than improve and do what he was elected to do, he lied to them. He willfully engaged in back door deals and more lies to secure himself a seat in the Democratic Party and thereby retain his position. When questioned, he acted like a petulant child stating “I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.” Uh, Arlen………….. remember you work for US, and your record will be judged by US. I just hope that when the time comes, the democrats in Pennsylvania remember how little this man think of his “constituents.”

All Americans, republican or democrat, should be embarrassed to have someone like this representing them. Clearly this is nothing more than self-serving lies and treachery.

Maybe we need to reconsider the whole term limit issue. They have gotten way to comfy in the halls of the Capitol.

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