Countdown to the 2010 Pennsylvania Republican Primary

Commit Now to Voting Against Arlen Specter and/or Financially Supporting His Opponent
  Commitments to Date = 905

Our esteemed Vice President of Gaffe isn't always wrong. Politico reports:

It was supposed to be a meeting, not a roast. But at the inaugural session of Joe Biden’s Middle Class Task Force ...

... in Philadelphia Friday, one guest was in for some rough treatment: Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter.

The moderate Republican – one of three who voted for the stimulus package – found himself the target of good-natured cracks from Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and no lesser personage than the Vice President.

Noting that Specter had supported the stimulus to his own “peril,” Rendell joked: “You could make life a little easier for yourself by taking that registration card of yours and making that little change from ‘R’ to ‘D.’”

Biden, too, expressed gratitude by telling Specter that deep down inside, the veteran Republican – who’s vulnerable to a challenge from the right in 2010 – is really a Democrat.

Our favorite traitor, sent out a newsletter today explaining his vote. It closes with

My vote was cast recognizing the very substantial political peril that I face. I know that there are many on the Republican political spectrum who do not like the vote. I remember, obviously, the tough primary fight I had in the year 2004. But I felt in the final analysis, given the very severe consequences which might befall the country, that my duty was to look out for the public interest and not my own personal political interest.

Received a note from a nice woman who mentioned a commercial she heard encouraging people to call 215-597-7200 to thank Mr. Specter for his vote. Well, she had something else in mind when she called and the woman on the other end of the phone indicated that many of the calls were expressing thoughts that wouldn't be called... thankful. Some of you may want to give the number a ring and say thanks for the porkulus.

Here's a short note I received from another Specter fan, they let me know that I could share it with all of you.

On the notion of Defector Specter

Let me share the following thoughts with Pennsylvanians who will be voting in 2010. Arlen Specter has disappointed one time too many. He is like the good little boy who does bad things. We can overlook the single bullet theory, as silly as it was. We can put aside when he pleaded bail for Ira Einhorn, convicted of the brutal slaying of Holly Maddox. We can enjoy a laugh at his lame excuse, the Scottish Defense, when it came to making a decision in the Clinton impeachment trial. We as Pennsylvanians can be pleased at his promises to bring the wealth home with his senate seniority. But we can no longer respect him or his logic, when he says voting for a trillion dollar spending bill it is better than doing nothing. Do not do nothing, Arlen. Do the right thing.

In 2002 the president panicked this country into war by screaming the sky is falling, the WMDs are coming. And the senate blindly followed with their vote, sending us into war.

Now the senate is screaming we must spend, spend to save the country. And Arlen is out front, leading the parade. Arlen could use that brilliant mind to do the right thing. But he is panicked again. Enough. Enough. It is time for a younger man or woman. Someone who knows how to put aside personal gain for public interest. In the words of Shakespeare, it is time to bury Arlen, not to praise him. That time will come in the 2010 primary election.

I care for my future, your future and most of all for the future of our children and our beautiful country,

Justa Patriotea

Arlen Specter is a Senator from Pennsylvania. He is one of three so called moderate members of the GOP who has agreed to cave in to the President's pressure to act swiftly to enact a massive spending bill that nobody is even sure will help our economy. This bill will saddle our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a crushing federal debt. The size of the federal government will be increased to the point that our very way of life is threatened. Government does not create jobs, business creates jobs. History has proven that reducing the tax burden stimulates economic growth.

Having trouble reaching the senator? Try some of these:

• DC phone: (202) 224-4254
• DC fax: (202) 228-1229
• Harrisburg phone: (717) 782-3951
• Harrisburg fax: (717) 782-4920
• Emails to contact:
• Scott_Hoeflich@specter.senate.gov
• Maria_Plakoudas@specter.senate.gov
• Christopher_Bradish@specter.senate.gov
• thomas_dower@specter.senate.gov
• seema_singh@specter.senate.gov
• corene_ashley@specter.senate.gov
• regina_campbell@specter.senate.gov
• gayle_mills@specter.senate.gov

Suport for Specter falling and falling here's a rumor regarding a potential challenger: Glen Meakem may get in on the race . Just what we need, a fiscal conservative who is not a career pol, and who could mount a credible challenge. You can learn more about Mr. Meakem here Meakem Becker Venture Capital was founded in late 2005 by Glen Meakem and Dave Becker. The firm helps entrepreneurs build leading companies. Meakem Becker is currently investing from its first formal fund. A successful free marketer as our Senator seems like a great idea to me.

In 2004 Mr. Specter defeated Pat Toomey by a very narrow margin. Toomey is currently the president of the Club for Growth and may decide to take on Specter again in 2010. All Americans were served poorly by the last minute endorsements of then President Bush and now former Senator Rick Santorum. Their endorsements helped to push Specter to his narrow victory. He is now one of few members of the GOP willing to cave and support this massive spending initiative. 6 terms for Arlen Specter are far too many, we've endured him for long enough and it is time for him to be forced into retirement.

I want to be clear. Your email address will not be shared with anybody. This is simply a way for us to know that we are not alone. We are a growing group of people who want to see Mr. Specter leave the senate. As the race heats up, I will be dropping the occasional note to let you know what's happening. I will never solicit you for money or share your information with anybody. Period. If we can generate at least a few hundred names, I will fax the list along with a note to Mr. Specter. If nothing else, if he gets the message that we are "mad as hell and not going to take it any more" he just may think before he votes.

Signing this online petition will help to send a clear message to Mr. Specter that the citizens of his state do not view his choice favorably. The information you share, including your email address will not be shared with any other organizations. This site was created by a simple, concerned citizen of Pennsylvania dedicated to wishing Mr. Specter a wonderful retirement.

From the NYT on Feb 6, 2009 -- "Mr. Obama called Ms. Collins and Mr. Specter, as well as Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, another Republican expected to support the deal, to acknowledge they were acting against pressure from their party and, one official said, to thank them for their patriotism in helping advance the bill at a critical time."

Burdening future generations with crushing debt is not patriotic. Thomas Jefferson, a true patriot said "It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."

Reason's Blog includes some quotes from Specter to the Washington Post, including "I am supporting the economic stimulus package for one simple reason: The country cannot afford not to take action." I thought the Senate was supposed to be the reserved, wise component of our legislature. The body that slows things down to ensure that legislation has been thought through completely. I guess that doesn't apply to Mr. Specter.

A few videos with the Senator defending his vote on the Stimulus

Have a site you'd like to share? Drop me a note and if appropriate, I'll add it to the "Friends of DefeatSpecter.org" listings. Do you know of anyone considering a primary challenge? Please pass along that information so I can add it to the site.

I've gotten quite a few very nice messages, if you write and would like me to be able to post your message to the site, please let me know. I'd love to be able to share some of the very thoughtful messages with our growing number of visitors. Unless you specifically request that your message be shared, your communication will be completely private.

This site is not affiliated with any candidate or officially associated with ANY political party. It's just one frustrated guy in PA trying to get things moving for the next election cycle.

Copyright 2009 DefeatSpecter.org