Desperate times call for desperate 79-year olds

Time's Michael Grunwald pretty accurately explains why we should hold the applause for Arlen.

That's why Specter is bailing on the party that he joined more than four decades ago to run for district attorney of Philadelphia. After talking to Republican leaders and his longtime Republican supporters, he said in his statement, "it has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable." In other words: He knew he had no shot as a Republican, so voila, he's a Democrat again. Even though he voted for Bush's judges, Bush's war, Bush's tax cuts — through the same "reconciliation" process he recently attacked Democrats for considering now — and most of the rest of Bush's agenda. Even though he's best known for trashing Anita Hill, and for being one of the most obnoxious bosses on Capitol Hill.

And, unlike Jim Jeffords, it's pretty meaningless for the Dems. There's no change from minority to majority and the so-call "filibuster-proof 60" doesn't hold a lot of water. Specter has no more in common with the rest of the party than does Lieberman, another "man of deep principle" (one, that is, getting re-elected). We really don't need any more squishy, self-absorbed "centrists."

I sincerely hope the party and Senate leadership made no promises to him. He had no chance of winning a Republican primary; he shouldn't be guaranteed a win in the Democratic one. This is a huge opportunity to pick up a Senate seat for a progressive Democrat who can support Obama's agenda. It was before Specter faced likely primary defeat. It still is.

That said, I wonder how many other "moderate Republicans" are looking at their party affiliations and thinking, "This is the Donner Party!"