It’s been nearly 43 years since a liberal Democrat named Arlen Specter chose to become a Republican after successfully running on the Republican ticket for Philadelphia District Attorney. It’s been a long road, as the Party that gave him a chance to build a substantial legacy in the Senate became increasingly the home of intolerant folks who had little in common with his own perspectives. To become Chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee he had to grovel to the right, and agree to vote to confirm the judicial abominations Alito and Roberts for the Supreme Court. He had to watch while the President who headed his party gutted the constitution, and did all he could to destroy the remaining historic balance between the executive and the legislature. Finally, he was vilified by the ideologues when he voted with the new President, but exacted a high price for his support on the stimulus bill, including much more of his party’s treasured tax cuts than should have been in a bill that sought the maximum stimulus for an economy dropping like a stone. Finally, he got out, and “growled” at those who were turning his Party into a wingnut’s fantasy.
And finally, I imagine, placing myself in his shoes, while experiencing a silent moment or two, I fancy he must say to himself with a big grin on his face:
“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty . . . “