Arlen Specter - Good Riddance

Arlen Specter announced today that he is no longer a republican. Specter in his statement said "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans." Gee that is a surprise.

I say good riddance. Matt Yglesias called Specter a "flippity floppity opportunist" I think he is just more of a unapologetic pandering low life bottom feeder who deserves to be defeated next year when he runs for re-election. He would probably have lost the primary he faces. If the democrats are smart they will reject him.

But there is one other caution here. The GOP, or at least what most people think of the GOP is an increasingly irrelevant party. Real fiscal conservatives were aghast at the flamboyant way W threw money (other people's money) around. Real libertarians were annoyed at W's intrusions into our lives. People who are interested in have a conservative option were bothered that the GOP standard bearer last year showed little ability to debate ideas - something that Reagan showed a propensity for. So goodbye Mr. Specter, and good riddance.