And with Franken, give the Democrats a really nice Senate majority.

Specter will probably just retire for "health" reasons. The guy did have cancer after all so it would be quite believable.

This is good news for the Dems. If they can find a decent candidate they could easily take this seat.

You bet! The best thing that can happen to the whole country right now is for the Republican party, what's left of it, to become a circular firing squad. I'd like to see every "moderate" Congressman and Senator in the party defeated in the primaries by a firebreather who plays to their base. A trend like that could lead to a Democratic congressional delegation from Utah or Mississippi.

Specter has a 100% chance of losing the primary and Toomey has a 100% chance of losing the general. As a Philadelphian, I will miss having a city resident with Specter's level of power. And as our local gov't (and that of many other cities) demonstrates, one-party rule is not good. We need a second party that's not insane.

I can't wait for the self-appointed guardians of the status quo to go into a frenzy over a primary challenge just as they did when Ned Lamont beat Joe Lieberman. "Democrats enforce ideological purity!" they cried. "They can't survive if they can't tolerate someone who's 100% in lock step with those radical blogs and the extremists in the party!"

Oh wait! Sorry. These guys are Republicans. Therefore, no MSM pundit will ever have reason to suggest that anything they do is undemocratic, extremist, radical, or exactly what they spent years accusing the Democrats of doing.

Arlen first of the three Republican Senators to go. The two from Maine sold out for defense contracts at shipyards. They will be held accountable in time. There are many more that will be leaving office right along with him once people figure out that Democrat Stimulus is a condractiction of terms. This will be a true example of bipartisan effort for the large new class of legislators coming after the 2010 elections.

...or teabagging him?

When I saw the headline, my first thought was someone was challenging Phil Specter for title of most completely ape-shit crazy record producer in history, but then I read the story.

but I guess the ape-shit crazy part still applies.

for a permanent Democratic majority? That'll show us Dems!!

Dude, you stole my post! (Or beat me to it....)

...the WH recognized Pat Toomey would lose to a Democrat in the general election and backed Specter who was slated to head the Judiciary Committee.

GWB, despite repeated visits to Pennsylvania during his first term, couldn't turn the state red in 2004. Pennsylvania, like many states, is comprised of a number of diverse communities. The economically vibrant part is suburban Philadelphia, specifically Montgomery and Bucks Counties, where most people are employed in the post-industrial economy. They are not going to vote for Pat Toomey.