My thoughts...

on the Sen. Arlen Specter 'sudden' switch from the Republican Party to the Democrat Party. Reports are now surfacing that this switch wasn't as sudden after all, which would come as no surprise to anyone who follows politics.

I have no problem with people or politicians changing political parties, that happens all the time, but what I do have a serious problem with is when a politician switches parties when faced with a tough primary challenge such as Specter was facing with his challenger, Pat Toomey. Sen. Specter's departure should shock no one, because this is not the first time he has switched parties, having been a Democrat, then a Republican, and now a Democrat again.

Sen. Specter, instead of running against Pat Toomey on his record, chose the cowardly way out in order to stay in power, but not only that, he thumbed his nose at the electorate who voted for him as a Republican, and that to me is unforgivable. If Sen. Specter had any dignity, he would have gone the route Sen. Phil Gramm did when switching parties, but instead chose the Jim Jeffords, Lincoln Chaffee, Michael Bloomberg route of political expediency.

All Sen. Specter did was reinforce the prevailing attitude that most politicians are not in this to serve their constituents, but rather to retain their personal power and the perks of their respective offices.