The Magic Senator Strikes Again

Just like his infamous “magic bullet” (click here for more info), Senator Arlen Specter has changed direction once again. For years he caucused with the GOP, but this year he was one of three Republican voted for the Democrats’ stimulus package. Now he’s decided to run as a Democrat in 2010, joining Joe Lieberman in my club of “kinda Jews and kinda Democrats who make me embarrassed to be both.” Specter claims that he finds his “political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” but this is clearly a bid to hold onto his political future in a state that went blue in the presidential elections last year. But Specter has a big bargaining chip that will get him a lot of Democratic support in 2010. If Al Franken is seated as the Junior Senator from Minnesota, Specter would give the Democrats their 60 vote filibuster free majority, an advantage that would allow them to push some serious policy through in the next few years. Obama sees this golden opportunity, and has welcomed Specter with open arms, and is apparently “thrilled” to have him on board. I hate to admit it, but so am I. Recessions make strange bedfellows I suppose…