Busted Down! Spector loses his seniority on all the committees he serves on.

[cali]

Happy, happy, happy dance.

From a kos diary (thanks)

Breaking: Dems to Specter: No Seniority
by brooklynbadboy
Share this on Twitter - Breaking: Dems to Specter: No Seniority Tue May 05, 2009 at 07:51:40 PM PDT
Remember on "Meet the Depressed" when Arlen Specter said:

Host David Gregory challenged that answer, asking whether the agreement to keep his Senate seniority was an inducement. "No, that's an entitlement," Specter responded. "I've earned that seniority."
Apparently the Democrats don't agree!

brooklynbadboy's diary :: ::
The Senate dealt a blow tonight to Sen. Arlen Specter's hold on seniority in several key committees, a week after the Pennsylvanian's party switch placed Democrats on the precipice of a 60-seat majority.

In a unanimous voice vote, the Senate approved a resolution that added Specter to the Democratic side of the dais on the five committees on which he serves, an expected move that gives Democrats larger margins on key panels such as Judiciary and Appropriations.

But Democrats placed Specter in one of the two most junior slots on each of the five committees for the remainder of this Congress, which goes through December 2010. Democrats have suggested that they will consider revisiting Specter's seniority claim at the committee level only after the midterm elections next year.
That's called a bust-down. You know, when you give a bum the used butt of your cigarette. Looks like Arlen hasn't earned jack.

When Supreme Court nomination hearings are held later this summer, Specter will be the last senator to ask questions of the eventual nominee -- a dramatically lower profile than in 2005 and 2006, when he chaired the committee and ran the confirmations of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/5/728274/-Breaking:-Dems-to-Specter:-No-Seniority

[malaise]

1. Freaking Perfect n/t

[cali]

5. nice early morning news.

snarlin's arrogance just got him a swift kick. He needs a lot more of that. fuck the carrots, give him the stick.

[L. Coyote]

21. You just made my day. Now, to fnd a good progressive candidate.

[No Elephants]

26. What chance will that candidate have while Obama campaigns for Specter, though?

[L. Coyote]

29. First, Specter will have to win the primary!!

NOT going to happen!!!

[nilram]

33. I'm sayin "Franklin perfect..."

[KharmaTrain]

2. It's Only Fair...

Just cause Arlen says so doesn't make it that way. As Josh Marshall pointed out, looks like he's too smart by half...thinking he could just cruise across the aisle and we'd all jump up and down to welcome him. Arlen, like most rushpublicans still haven't figured out they lost BIG the last two elections. This isn't the same party it was with Tip O'Neill or Bill Clinton. There's a new dynamic at play that he's seen in his polling and knows is his only ticket to stay in the Senate Boys Club...he just starting to get the message. Let's see how quick it takes hold.

Arlen's definitely on the bubble on the Judiciary now. He will be neutralized in the upcoming SCOTUS nomination and could give him a chance to look good. Another point will be how he stands on holding the past regime accountable. He talked a good game about his "concerns" about how laws were broken, but when votes came down, he enabled the boooosh cabal. Will he now vote in favor of hearings and going after those who broke the laws? If Arlen wants to be a Democrat then he better get with the program....and fast.

[malaise]

8. When you say you're not a loyal Democrat

and you hope that loser Coleman wins, only arrogance would make you believe you have any sense of entitlement. I can only assume that Arlen has a touch of dementia.

[KharmaTrain]

11. He Thought He Was An Independent...

Methinks he thought he could waltz in like Joe Lieberman who suffered little for his jumping fences in '06 and last year. Since Joe kept his senority, Arlen not only thought he should keep his, but feels entitled. Remember, this is a boy's club. He's not there for anything else but to be there. He saw polls that showed him beating Toomey is he switched and didn't think that he would need to win over Democrats...just took 'em for granted. Here's hoping PA Democrats and Joe Sustak give him a real good dose of reality.

:hi:

[MyOwnPeace]

30. PA Arlen

Couldn't have said it any better. I STILL have a tough time forgiving him for his part in giving us Uncle Clarence of "The Supremes!":mad: :mad:

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Yawnnn...g'morning.....nice news to wake up to.

Where's my coffee and what are you guys doing up so early???

[eShirl]

4. When you ASSUME you make an ASS out of YOU.

One of my favorite "House" quotes.

[Captain Hilts]

20. You 'Make an Ass out of U and Me'. The full quotation. It's MUCH older than 'House'. nt

[eShirl]

22. Yes, I know the full saying predates "House."

-whoosh!-

[Captain Hilts]

24. Just making sure, there are a lot of runny-nosed kids here....Keep up the Good Fight! nt

[eShirl]

25. oh I know what you mean

I'm more ancient and creaky than I usually act :)

[saltpoint]

6. Hi, and welcome to the Bipartisan Grill. I'm Arlen, and I'll be your turncoat

Senator this evening. Would you like to start out with a half-empty glass of swill?

Let me tell you about our Special we've got going. It's kind of blue but actually it's pretty red, and it's all mixed together, something like cattle feed and fish vomit, and to tell the truth, it doesn't really sit very well in your toomey, I mean tummy, so you might not want more than a brief sip or two before you give up on it altogether. I don't even like it myself.

So who got the half-assed healthcare pot pie? Wait. Is this the right table? Did I give you a straw? Yes, the straw's unwrapped and has been in my apron pocket for years. Is that a problem? Just jam it into the swill glass and suck til you turn blue in the face. Or red in the face, as the case may be.

[cali]

9. DUzy, DUzy, DUzy. bravo. well done

:rofl:

[saltpoint]

18. Hi, cali. Good morning. I'm at a loss on the Specter defection.

I'd like him to come fully-loaded with blue votes. I'm entirely nervous that that isn't the case! We'll see how things play out in Pennsylvania in this Senate race. It could get real interesting.

[ecstatic]

7. Good. He had become way too cocky

He couldn't wait to vote against Pres. Obama to show his "independent" streak. Time to retire, Specter!

[Vinnie From Indy]

10. The deal is that Specter has to EARN seniority as a Dem - PERIOD!

The Dems did the right thing in regard to Specter. If he can win the Dem primary AND get elected, then he should be considered for seniority. It should not be given to him simply because he switched parties.

Any politician that feels entitled to serve is not worthy of serving.

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. Well said!

[razorman]

12. This is one of the few times that Democrats and Republicans can

come together in harmony and do a "happy dance". I think everyone is feeling a bit of "shadenfreude"
over Specter's comeuppance. No one like a traitor. One side or the other might take advantage of the person switching sides, but the they would be foolish to trust the turncoat.

[Liberal In Texas]

13. Good. This guy acts like he's come over to our side to be a saboteur.

We should be working to defeat him in the next primary and get a real Dem in there.

[No Elephants]

27. Not as though he had no reason to, though. Lieberman frickin campaigned heavily for McCain and

still made out fine. Then again, Lieberman had been a lifelong Democrat, becoming Independent only after a primary defeat.

"Earned it?" Sure. He earned seniority in the Republican Party. For Democrats, he's the newest of newbies--and only to try to save his own neck, anyway. Hope Franken loses? KMA.

Meanwhile, I am happy Harry did the right thing, for once. I can hear old Harry now. "I'll fightcha standin' on one foooot."

[saigon68]

14. That's called a bust-down. when you give a bum the used butt of your cigarette

our new friend, Arlen Sphincter


Sphincters prove effective in the mediation of the entrance or release of liquids and fluids; this is evident in the blowholes of numerous marine mammals, for example.

[lazer47]

17. If we were back in the 'Nam, he would be the guy I would let

hold the match to light 3 cigarettes with. I know you understand,,welcome home

[Hubert Flottz]

19. Benedict Arlen is lower than whale shit!

Just Like Joe LIEberman in SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many ways! Nobody but a damned fool would EVER trust either one of those self serving, turncoat, worms. Arlen was a democrat before he was a republican before he was a democrat...what will he be next a NAZI?

[formercia]

16. Snake gets to stay under the rock.

No Sun for you.

[Obamanaut]

23. This DU thread is interesting re Spector

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5596803

[marshall]

28. Welcome to your new world, Arlen!

If you really stand behind what you say you will stay in there and work your way back to the top.

[WI_DEM]

31. What's he going to do? become a republican again?

[saltpoint]

32. LOL! At first glance, people might say, 'Nah.' But then again...

[SoCalDem]

34. It's an engraved invitation..for him to retire NOW..

He could have taken the high road, and kept the polling information to himself.. a simple "The republican party no longer represents MY philosophy..and left it at that"..and then set out to support democratic votes.. but he had to throw his weight around, like he still had clout..

He gave the dem leadership the perfect opportunity to smack him down....and I hope Sestak beats him like a rug..and send him back home to spend more time with his family:)