After Party Switch, a Senator’s Confused Alliances (NYTimes re: Arlen Specter)

Does Arlen Specter suffer from dementia?



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/us/07specter.html?hp

WASHINGTON — Senator Arlen Specter, Republican-turned-Democrat of Pennsylvania, has rapidly discovered that switching parties is not as simple as checking a new box on a voter-registration card.

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After a week and a day as a Democrat, Mr. Specter is viewed with suspicion by his new Democratic colleagues, with general disdain by his old Republican friends, and with an odd mix of amusement and pity all around.

And the comment about Minnesota, where Democrats need Al Franken to become their crucial 60th vote in the Senate, prompted the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, to confront Mr. Specter on the Senate floor.

“Arlen,” Mr. Reid said in his trademark low-volume growl, “What’s going on here?”

Mr. Specter replied that he had forgotten “what team” he was on. Later, he told a reporter: “I conclusively misspoke.”

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This isn't working for either side. Certainly not for old Magic Bullet.

I view this development with an odd mix of pity and anger. This old bastard needs to retire.

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