Ok, so this is what I've become: I'm a liberal. I'm a man who worked vehemently to get John Kerry elected. I like to think of myself as somewhat of an empathetic character. I don't much like Republicans. Yet, in contrast to everything I've ever held dear and everything I've ever believed, I'm putting my faith in Arlen Specter.
Ok, so this is what I've become: I'm a liberal. I'm a man who worked vehemently to get John Kerry elected. I like to think of myself as somewhat of an empathetic character. I don't much like Republicans. Yet, in contrast to everything I've ever held dear and everything I've ever believed, I'm putting my faith in Arlen Specter.
It's come to this: a liberal relying on Arlen Specter, Mr. Republican, to protect his civil rights. I'm imagining a teeter-totter. On one end (let's call it the left), I'm sitting, along with my progressive friends. On the other (not left), sits President Bush and his salivating troop of Christian brethren. I'm envisioning them snarling and snorting and singing...oh...I don't know...Ave Maria or something. Anyway, we on the left are all on the verge of being catapulted into space. We're hanging on for dear life when, out of nowhere, a small, elderly-looking gnome-like creature comes crawling from the other side of the see-saw. He obviously isn't fond of us. He's mumbling something about "individual retirement accounts" and "the spirit of entrepreneurship." But, nonetheless, he keeps crawling toward us; as he crosses over the fulcrum, the balance of the see-saw shifts and we on the left feel gravity taking over once again. He's definitely heavier than he looks.
I live in Pennsylvania, in a swing town of a swing state, and I voted for Joe Hoeffel. I voted for the Democrat and I rooted against Specter all night. I watched as Hoeffel's vote total seemed to freeze at about 10:00 p.m. It, along with MANY other things, depressed the hell out of me.
Now, I'm glad he lost. Arlen Specter, with his 157 years in the Senate, is in position to take control of the Judiciary Committee. He's already made it clear that he wouldn't be happy with any anti-choice judge nominees (he's already backpeddled but, if he wants the seat, he better). If Hoeffel won the race, he would have spent the next year sharing cab rides with Ken Salazar and picking up Rick Santorum's dry cleaning.
Anyway, let's look on the bright side my progressive brothers and sisters: at least we have Arlen Specter to fight for us (except for when it comes to anything other than a social issue...then, we're screwed).