Specter

I don't like to engage in the breaking news game that permeates the blog world. Not that there is anything wrong with that - it is a valuable service provided by many bloggers - but I like to let things settle a bit.

Like many principled Republicans, I was ready to pop a champagne cork when I heard the news of Senator Specter's defection. I have debated many influential local Republicans about Arlen and always ended with the claim - he might as well be a Democrat because he basically votes like one anyway.

Arlen has proven me right. He is a Democrat.

However, he will not win a Democrat primary. The left of the Democrat Party will not accept an ex-Republican. And they will run ads like "He voted 80% of the time with President Bush", etc. They will dig up his "extreme right-wing votes". I will laugh when those ads happen. He will be tarred with the same brush that he - and other moderate Republicans are using - to tar rank and file principled Republicans. I will remind you of this when it first happens!

Why? Because the Democrat Party leadership has been coopted by those who believe in Big Government, even socialism. Yes, I know Bush & Comp. started this process, but I will get to that in a minute. Even self-proclaimed "moderate" Arlen will be too much of a right wing extremist for George Soros, Moveon.org, etc. Remember, so was Senator Joe Lieberman.

So Arlen will go the way of Senator Jim Jeffords. Remember him? Few do.

And why is it that "moderate" Republicans are disloyal? Specter jumps ship. Wayne Gilchrest lost to a conservative and endorsed a Democrat. Others in the House who have lost to conservative primary challengers have done the same. Senator Lincoln Chafee lost, became an Independent and endorsed Obama for President. (I guess John McCain wasn't moderate enough for him.) Moderate Republican officials in LA endorsed Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu shortly before the election. (I guess State Treasurer John Kennedy was too "extremist" for them because he is a conservative.)

Locally, taxhiker and big spending, former Lehigh County Executive Jane Ervin endorsed taxhiker, big spender, big borrower Pawlowski for Mayor of Allentown. Maybe someone should send her a registration form to change to a Democrat.

The reality is that the Republican Party has also been co-opted by believers in Big Government. They just want it slightly smaller and they want to control the pie.

Senator Specter complained about "purists" in the Party. Maybe we need a bit more focus on principles and a bit less on "pragmatism". The 'move to the left' strategy has been working quite brilliantly, hasn't it?

I don't think it is purity to say the following - if you believe in Big Government, be a Democrat. If you believe in Limited Government welcome to the Republican Party. This would avoid a lot of confusion and useless in-fighting in the GOP. And, frankly, it would lead to electoral victories for the GOP in the long run. The problem? Too many have selfish self interest in their own careers, benefits, power and influence to advocate less power and influence with smaller government. Such politicians must be exposed to the Republican base and let the chips fall where they may.

But Arlen's defection will have the opposite effect about this "purity" argument. Many political handlers and consultants have to retool their political calculating machines. As the Left advances their socialist agenda, any Republican who considers voting with Democrats now has a new factor to consider. Could this be the one vote that might "Specterize" me with the base? Such votes may have already been cast, if they are publicized to the base.

That can only be a good thing as the fight for Limited Government gains momentum. And it should lead to a bit more purity. After all, if we are dealing with a socialist agenda, isn't voting 80% of the time with fellow Republicans a bit short of the mark? Especially on MAJOR legislation?

Defense of the Constitution and our Founding Principles of Limited Government are not "extremist" or "puritanical". It is a practical necessity anymore with our HUGE amount of public debt and such principles are a necessity based on common sense.