Interesting times...

[Bob H]

"Veteran GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to announce Tuesday he will switch political parties and run in the Democratic primary in 2010"


As if these times are not difficult enough.. Trying to figure our how to develop an investment strategy... Then we have these "leaders" switching sides mid stream. Interesting.

[Lucullus]

Did Sen. Specter leave the GOP or did it leave him...and other moderates?


I used to be a Republican, back when the GOP stood for fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, small government, and strong defense but no military adventurism. I was a moderate Republican, rather like Sen. Spectre.



I'm still a moderate, rather like Sen. Specter. And I don't fit in today's GOP any more than he does.



Frankly, I am amazed at the Republican Party. It's as though it's TRYING to self-destruct. Cheney's "legacy saving" is disgraceful. Rush Limbaugh's bellowing is despicable. And Ann Coulter is simply obscene.



The GOP has virtually abdicated the space occupied by MOST American - the center - and is handing it to the Democrats.



As an Independent, I don't like that. I don't like any scenario that leads us toward a Single Party State.



- John Olsen

[Bob H]

John:

Couldn't agree with you more. The last 16 years has made me appreciate a split Gov't. Negotiation means "less bad" for the citizens (tax payers, investors, etc.)


Coming from Chicago/Cook County/Illinois, I have a front row seat to a one party rule.

We have a self-anointed King as Mayor. The often called "Mayor Chucky" or "Short-shanks" rules with an iron fist over his minions. While there is supposed to be checks and balances, the Aldermen's usual vote is 49-1 in the King's favor.

The President of the County got his job because he had the same name as the prior Boss (Dad had a stroke, son ran in his place. Really!)

And lastly, as Gov we had the so-to-be reality star.. Blago. I actually enjoyed the time between when he was indicted and when he was forced out. When others called for him to quit, I cheered him on to stay. The more time he spent in the limelight, the more the nation would begin to see how it works here.


We're already beginning to see the fruits come home to the King. As the local paper calls it.. "The Chicago Way."

Bob

[TRUKRETSEB]

You are correct that the GOP once again needs to stand for fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, small government, and strong defense but no military adventurism. Senators like Spector have take the party off that message...so I say good riddance. How any good Republican could have signed that "stimulus bill" that does nothing more than "payback" those who helped Democrats get elected is beyond me.


The GOP needs to continue to cleanse the party of anyone who does not stand for fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, small government, and strong defense but no military adventurism.

[Bradly T.]

Smaller government? Fiscal restraint? No military adventurism? What Republican Party do YOU belong to??!! Like John O., as an independent, centrist, constitutional conservative, I am appalled that conservative secularism has sold out to "moral superiority" and religous zealots. I wonder if these nut jobs previously mentioned above understand that the constitution was actually written to protect us from them?? There has not been a single Republican budget by a Republican congress or president in over 20 years that was smaller than the one before it - not one time in 20 years. The Bush legacy (X2) will be ever larger government and ever larger budgets. I am also NOT a Democrat. The corruption that comes from power and money has erased both parties' value to working people. Only 15% of Americans are hard right and only 15% are hard left - the other 70% wonder what to do at every election. There are so few politicians from either party with the stomach and back bone to fight back against the "party purists" - even Macain sold out in the end to win an election (and lost it by losing the middle). Rush L hopes our president fails with no regard to what that means to over 300 million people (just in the U.S.). How can a third rate, washed up sportscaster from K.C. become the primary spokesperson for Lincoln's party?? I would be proud of Specter's backbone BUT even he admits it's just a way to get re-elected...so much for integrity. 3 parties are bad form but one is even worse. I'm with you John...when are you running?

[TRUKRETSEB]

I believe that just as we as CFPs have a fiduciary responsibility to do what's best for our clients...so also should the politicians do what's best for our country and abide by the US constitution. If our Founding Fathers saw what the Federal government is involved in these days...they would be rolling over in their graves. Seeing how you mentioned religious zealots...I as a Middle-Right Conservative see many on the "far right" going too far. But if you just look at the issue of abortion...I always state that I believe in a woman's choice to choose...albeit I wish they would choose adoption...but one thing I'm strongly against is any Federal tax dollars being spent on abortion (can you say Planned Parenthood)...this should be handled on the State level...just as our Founding Fathers intended...more States rights...less Fed government intrusion.

[hrod]

If Specter was leaving the GOP because he felt they no longer stood for "fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, small government and strong defense" why would he be heading in the opposite direction. The Democrats under Obama have never been further away from these principles

Did Sen. Specter leave the GOP or did it leave him...and other moderates?
I used to be a Republican, back when the GOP stood for fiscal restraint, personal responsibility, small government, and strong defense but no military adventurism. I was a moderate Republican, rather like Sen. Spectre.
I'm still a moderate, rather like Sen. Specter. And I don't fit in today's GOP any more than he does.
- John Olsen