If I Had A Hammer

I don't want to join in on the right wing snarlin' at Arlen Spector. I do want to say that he is less a symbol of GOP fecklessness than he is a symbol of our broken political system. Here is a man with no discernable ideology or values; a disloyal hack who betrayed the party and colleagues who supported him through 20+ years of RINO insults; who shows no sense of mission beyond being re-elected; whose primary skill appears to be the making of windy speeches and the manipulation of Senate rules. And yet, the GOP is dismayed that he is gone and the Dems are crowing that they have him. By rights, it should be the other way around. The GOP should be thrilled and the Dems should be holding him in a brown paper bag.

This is a man who is 79 years old. He has been in the Senate for 27 years. He has been seeking eleted office since the mid-Sixties. Plus, didn't he almost die from Hodgkin's Disease a couple years ago? Yet, he is getting ready for an election in 2010 for a term that will end in 2016. Party insiders might be thrilled, but Pennsylvanians should be appalled. Is there anything they can do to be rid of this man and at least get some fresh blood in the Senate?

Spector is yet another reason why we need term limits for Senators. For all his "experience" what has he done besides repeatedly betray his party at the worst moments? What has he done besides represent the Republic of Arlen?