Sen. Spectre of Penn. changing from Repub. to Democrat

[alteredhistory]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124093451028864031.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Assuming Franken is seated in Minn in a few weeks, as is widely expected, Spectre provides the 60 votes needed to block fillibuster.

Comments

[electrichobbit]

Interesting...I guess the Dems made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Wow...with a fillibuster-proof majority...christ. Maybe we really will be able to fix this country.

[alteredhistory]

I assume your ellipsis dropped the word "and" from your quote. Because I think the problems may be bigger than 60 can fix, however well intentioned.

[mercutio_bgq]

However, Spectre isn't a lock on Dem. votes. He's very centrist, and his choice to move was a practical decision based on his electability in 2010. I would expect him to be hard to sell on most Dem. agenda items.

[alteredhistory]

Not the important ones, ie, the ones most likely to be fillibustered. He backs gay rights and implies he might support gay marriage. He supports the economic package. He favors the president's version of health care reform. And he's got a pretty good environmental record.

You're right that he is not a solid lock for judicial appointments.