As the elections proved. There is scant room for democrat centrist also. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Polarization and partisanship is not a winning proposition for the American people. We need people to work together.

I am encouraged by the work in the lame duck session, that issues can be solved via compromised.

He always enjoyed sticking it to both parties. Kinda surprised he wasn't "disappeared" for some of the crap he pulled. I guess cannibalism is worse than switching parties to give the Dems a filibuster proof majority in the Senate?

This country isn't polarized enough. The more congress works together, the more stupid laws they pass. You want grid lock. In politics, you never want people working together.

Does civility ever exist on these pages? Senator Specter has always had the courage to tell it like he sees it whether it satisfies the Republicans or the Democrats! May he continue to find satisfaction in knowing he served his country well.

Good riddance. Compromise with the ultra-left is a bad idea. Look at what the continuation of the Bush tax cuts cost the country in terms of extended unemployment payments that are unfunded.

Correct me if I am wrong,

Wasnt Specter a Dem, was facing a tough election switch to the Repubs and when the going got rough again switched BACK to the Dems side in hope of keeping his seat?

I've been watching Congress closely over the last several years and have been increasingly astonished and appalled at how badly the Dems behave. It's all about blaming and calling name and above all, lying to the public about everything seemingly to justify what they want, never using logic or good reasoning. For the first time as an independent, I've decided to vote for third party candidates rather than vote either of the main two parties. Simply cannot vote for Dems anymore.

"Eating or defeating your own is a form of sophisticated cannibalism," he said.

So he jumps from one party to another and he talks about cannibalism? F-king idiot!

Neither of our stupid political parties has had leadership capable of compromising in quite some time, which is the reason there are more and more independents!!

Sounds like sour grapes from a sore loser to me!! He got bounced in a year that sadly didn't see enough of the establishment of both parties, but some's better than none!!

Enjoy your (long overdue) retirement, Arlen!!

Bitter old man...After reading his part in the Warren report (JFK Assassination) I don't trust him.

I totally agree. Republicans are hostage takers AND cannibals. Judging from the posts here, the truth must really hurt!

Buh-bye..., Senator Specter...

@Snowbird,

Does civility ever exist on these pages? Senator Specter has always had the courage to tell it like he sees it whether it satisfies the Republicans or the Democrats!

Well I am amazed at this comment. Spector has always had the corrage to tell it like it is IF he can benefit from the issue. Let's see, first a Dem, then a repub, and back again to the Dems when he couldn't get the support of his party and voters.

If you also look back on the first two Obama years, the Dems did not include the Repubs in any reindeer games (had to do that for Christmas) but instead spun them as the party of no. Now, it seems that the Dems are the new party of no, and the media is really spinning the preseved obama wins.

The mad rush to pass new legislation that must have been sitting on the shelf prior to the end of the Dem reign. No one could write that many pages in such a short period of time.

But, as Obama compromises with the GOP, the GOP will make him into a saint. And of course, he will take the credit for it. You now have a "dino" dude-in-Chief in the WH. Wait and see the disagreements between Nancy, Harry and the Dude.

Tea baggers are voters like every other American and don't have any more power than the rest of us. Thank goodness they shook up the Republican party. I hope they keep shaking it up. As a matter of fact, I wish we'd get some coffee baggers, sandbaggers, trash baggers, etc. to keep cleaning up Washington. I don't care what party you belong to, if you don't represent the will of your constituents and what's best for this country, then ya need to go!!

I was amazed at this statement:

Good riddance. Compromise with the ultra-left is a bad idea. Look at what the continuation of the Bush tax cuts cost the country in terms of extended unemployment payments that are unfunded.

The Bush tax cuts themselves were -- and are-- unfunded!

He was blaming the push to the right wing of the partyso far, that it will no longer deal with anyone. And with that the left wing will have to go the same way. So, we end up with a bigger stalemate in the do nothing congress than ever. Most Americans are neither a right wing nut or a left wing commnunist. Most are middle Americans. In other words the citizens could compromise on legislation. The idiots you elected in Washington have no wish to. Good luck on your retirement Specter. I am sure the world will seem more serine without those people you used to work with.

In the first place if the Bush tax cuts worked and were funded then why the huge debt and no job creation?

Exactly! Take it from someone who got the 1% tax cut I didn't want, or need.

I'm NOT gonna use one cent of it to create a new job for anybody.

This tax break for millionaires is wrong to the core wrong. In this economy, with all the phony BS about the deficit?

What a pantload.

Between the nutjob Libertardians, the nutjob Baggers, and the nutjob Party of No, the pre-Modern American Conservatives can feast upon their anti-intellectual, anti-modern, anti-humanitarian, worship of Mammon.

It won't take long for all y'all to implode.

You don't think so, but, it really won't take long.

Jimi -

It's not the cut in tax rates that are unfunded as it is not income if you never had it to begin with. It is the SPENDING that is unfunded. That is what needs to be gotten under control.

Counting tax receipts that are not received is like counting your chickens before they're hatched. It's just that the liberals and the democrats haven't figured that out.

jeremy , to answer your question , you got it backwards , he WAS Repub, that switched to Dem, and lost in the primaries to someone else.

Why is he bitching about the Republicans? Arent' the Democrats the one's who 'cannibalised' him? Moral of the story? "Vote for who your leaders tell you to vote, you stupid constituents!"

Specter delivered the Republican party's eulogy today! 2012 will be the end of them thanks to the teabaggers. America is centrist left, not centrist right. They say they are centrist right but keep taking more than they give from their government and don't want their entitlements to end. This includes entitlements to the wealthy. Hypocrites! Obama 2012.

mark, actually he was a dem/Republican/dem, bit of an opportunist weasel.

safecracker, GREAT post at 1.14! thanks

Patriotic thinker? How about non-thinker - you obviously know nothing about the man - what kind of dumb a$$ belittles someone they know nothing about? What! did you see a 2 minute clip on Fox News or something? Morons like you are the problem - lets stir up a little more anger and the fact that you dont know sqat doesnt matter.

another_oldguy,

hey hypocrit, you just used the most anger that you speak of, of the night!

maybe tone down the anger for the Christmas season at least???

YES specter is an example of what bad politicians are all about. anyone who commented as such would be correct.

The Bush tax cuts most certainly were unfunded. Government revenues in 2003 shrank to the lowest level they had been since the Eisenhower administration. Obama was only proposing returning the tax rate on the highest 2% of earners to the level it was at during the Clinton administration. The Republicans have succeeded in getting the average American worried about the wealth of the top 2%. It's amazing how they get people to vote against their own interests.

carrie,

that would incorrect! government revenues soared 2002-07, in fact until pelosi's congress took charge of the "purse". the problem IS that spending soared, revenues were just fine.

your other bigger "un-truth" would be the 2% "democrat rhetoric" myth!

obama's plan would NOT effect only the top 2%, THAT was the BIG LIE. (and you bought it; pay attention) Fact of the matter is it would of greatly IMPACTED over 700,000 small businesses and (are you ready) would effect anyone earning over 250,000, FAR form your LIE that it would only impact "the top 2%". the CBO who has been siding very favorably lately to obama noted that obama's tax plan would quickly loose 1.2 million jobs.

It is obvious that you are a tea party member. Specter told the truth, the tea party is bad for America and the republican party has become morons by trying to please them.The tea party is not patriotic, they are trying to destroy America and make it a third world country. If you dislike Specter statements than maybe you should change your political party.

i am woman,

that is some of the most stupid opposite talk i have EVER heard!

SERIOUSLY, are you that NAIVE? freaking WOW!

maybe even more ridiculous is that 2 people have voted for your incoherent offering, WOW people!

the Tea Party is the BEST thing to happen not just to the Republican Party but to America EVER. AND they are absolutely BASED on being PATRIOTIC as well as have the mission to stop obama from turning America into a 3rd world country.

you should try putting down the pipe!

even more ridiculous is that 2 people have voted for your incoherent offering, WOW people!

scream it out man

Sour grapes are always bitter.

what kind of dumb a$$ belittles someone they know nothing about?

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

"In some quarters, compromise has become a dirty word,"

Senator Specter is right compromise is a dirty word, too bad he heard but was not listening. Specter turned away from the Republican Party and blames them for his loss. The Democrat/Communist Party is where he belongs. http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/archive/14388/

Jimi -

Your comment about unfunded tax cuts shows ignorance. Tax cuts do NOT COST anything. Spending costs. Period.

it is okay for bush to have his epa chief tell first responders the air was safe to breath when they knew it wasnt. it is okay to keep tax loopholes in place for foreign companies stealing american jobs in order to deny healthcare to dying first responders. it is okay to have foreign money dominate our elections. IT IS NOT OKAY TO DISAGREE WITH THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA... what have we become? God help us to strike all the "EVIL" republicans down.

independent thinker (sounds like an oxymoron to me) if you think tax cuts dont cause problems then just stop working. taxes for the Govt are the same as a paycheck to the working person.

Jimi7100164 --You say:

I was amazed at this statement:

Good riddance. Compromise with the ultra-left is a bad idea. Look at what the continuation of the Bush tax cuts cost the country in terms of extended unemployment payments that are unfunded.

The Bush tax cuts themselves were -- and are-- unfunded!

----- And passed by the Senate with a democrat majority, the house with a democrat majority and a democrat president. Regardless of what it is to be passed the democrats want to borrow to pay.

James, Democrats did not have a majority in the House or the Senate in 2003. Republicans had the majorities in both houses from 2000 to 20007. It's amazing the level of ignorance on here. Do you guys just make this stuff up? And David, you are wrong on the Bush tax cuts Carrie was referring to.

Bush cut taxes in 2000 – 2001. The tax cuts were intended to favor the wealthy and special interests, as the majority of the benefit from the tax cut, in absolute terms, went to earners in the higher tax brackets.

In an open letter to Bush in 2004, more than 100 professors of business and economics at U.S. business schools ascribed this "fiscal reversal" to Bush's "policy of slashing taxes - primarily for those at the upper reaches of the income distribution."

By 2004, these cuts had reduced federal tax revenues, as a percentage of the GDP, to the lowest level since 1959. The effect of simultaneous record increases in spending and tax reductions was to create record budget deficits in absolute terms. In the last year of the Clinton administration, the federal budget showed an annual surplus of more than US$230 billion. Under Bush, the government returned to deficit spending. The annual deficit reached an absolute record of US$374 billion in 2003 and then a further record of $413 billion in 2004.

As for tax cuts being unfunded -- give me a break. Common sense says if you cut revenues, you will need to make reciprocal cuts in spending. Which of course did not happen -- the opposite happened. Bush cut taxes with no plan to make corollary cuts in spending. So yeah, the tax cuts were unfunded.

Well, I for one (a Pennsylvanian) am glad that Mr. Specter was able to let us PA conservatives know that we are not in charge of our own party and must listen to the established members. We should have never voted for Tea Party backed conservatives, we should have stuck with Washington insiders like Arlen Specter. Shame on us for voting as we pleased.

See ya, Arlen. Glad you and Ed Rendell (did all the damage he could in his 2 terms) are soon to be gone.

This is confusion of cannibalism versus purity tests.

The #1 rule for conservatives is to not speak ill of their own. This is their real problem -- no punishment for unethical, immoral and even illegal activity (silence is consent). This explains the long list of Republican scandals, especially in recent time from Jack Abramoff to the present.

Also, Republicans don't allow dissent in their party. They have long had a punishment system in place for those who fail to be lock-in-step (stripped of committee membership, campaign assistance, and so forth). So Republicans suffer from groupthink resulting in irrational and poor decisions per the Bay of Pigs versus the Cuban Missile Crisis case studies.

Traditionally political scientists tested for ideology based on social issues such as abortion, capital punishment, and fiscal positions, foreign policy issues and what have you. Now ideology can be determined based on groupthink. If a person loves to participate in viral E-mail distribution, this is a strong indicator they are conservative. Liberals don't do the E-mail thing.

And another indicator would be belief in conspiracy theories. There are much more right-wing conspiracy theories, which are now believed among mainstream conservatives and even Republican leadership, and not just the far-right fringe. This is probably due in large part to loyalty to FOX/Hate Radio only.

But it all comes down to groupthink. And for some reason this appeals to conservatives and not progressives. It would be great to conduct a study on this.

Iamwoman#1.32, that is the most asinine comment I've heard today. Try changing your bong water. When it gets black and fuzzy it just might be toxic. And stop drinking it.

The other choice is the Democrats that worked behind closed doors to cram their unpopular big government agenda down this countries throats with Pelosi telling us they'll have to pass the bill to read what was in it. Go cry to your liberal politicians that have promised those in this country legally and illegally that they would take the personal property of others to elevate their positions in life. Obama's Democrats split this country down racial and class lines based on their lust to expand their voting base. They should be treated as traitors to this country. Especially those that tried to buy the votes of illegal immigrants to the detriment of this country.

Seattle karl, your name says it all..probably good freinds with California karl.......stay liberal to the end but I wonder what you guys are going to do when the money runs out? Actually, I think it already has in California and many other States.

Lanikai Ron- As if the GOP made deals out in the light? Give me a break! You've got to give the Dems for saving this Country from the Economic disaster brought on by GOP " borrow and spend" policies.

No matter who had been elected President, a Dem or a Rep, they would most likely have done the same thing, because they had to. Time will tell which party will start acting like we Americans that have not gone bankrupt do day after day and that is live within our means. I voted for Obama and felt betrayed by his radical big government agenda. I did what ever I could to correct my mistake and was on the winning side this past November. That said, if the Reps don't do what we want them to, they will feel our wrath in the next election. Matters not to me your party affiliation, but if you think other people's money is free for the taking, if you think selling citizenship to illegal aliens for their future support of your party is good for this country, or if you think government should control business and supply you with anything you need, then you have a problem because it aint gonna happen.

Kari why don't you just move on down to Chavez-topia and see if the Republicans are so bad after living the way the Far Left Dems want it.

lanikai ron,

very smart post as 4.1 and at 4.4, good job being intelligent and open-minded enough to break out form the obama spell that so many liberals are brain-washed by. must be LIBERATING! the LIBS refuse to realize that not 1 thing obama has touched has worked and the long term destruction he has brought on America.

speaking of such LIBS, hey rockinwith dokken(you destroy that bands legacy with your liberal representation rants here). NO, i DON'T have to "give it to the DEMS" for saving the COUNTRY, bc that is a LIE! they have just created another bubble with mass un-certainity along with generational theft for DEBT, THAT's ALL! wake up!

Kari wrote- Just calling the GOP for what it is! The party of no. Go to hell America if you don't follow in lock step with these ahole Republicans.

The GOP is more interested in political gamesmanship than helping America. "Playing hardball" they call it. We'll see what happens to us as a nation. If all goes as planned, we will have our own version of fascist Germany before the end comes. And best of all, the average citizen won't even know any different.

Tea Partiers feel justified and that's the problem...they FEEL their way thru organizing. They don't bother with recent history, facts or raw data. They feel that the libs have destroyed America...after eight years of Bush and two wars, a decade of corporatism, and false exceptionalism. You are losers....not in the derogatory sense, but in general...you have lost and moreover, lost your way. You decry education, in favor of compromised text books from hillbilly Texas. Why? Saves a dollar, at the expense of knowledge. You don't want to admit that the war machine will break America...you love the power and might....like social darwinism at its height, in a manner of speaking. The GOP seizes upon your ignorance and lack of desire, your laziness and your religiousosity- the idea that God wills your stupidity. You're lazy and vulnerable, just like African Americans looking to a Jesse Jackson. To overcome this, you shout and complain, but lend nothing to a viable....viable solution. Short-sighted....your politics are short-sighted for short term gain, with insiders running the Beltway. Specter is a sell-out, but you and yours have killed America, and deny it its place in a future.

Kari is dead on...not communist, not socialist......the GOP is a f%%%% cancer, as is a Palin, Miller, Rove, Limbaugh and Beck.

And admit it finally, only progressive movements in history sustain long term wealth. America best move in that direction immediately.

The minority party is always called the party of "no" because they are against the majority. Now that the libs are in the minority in the House, let's see if the lefties start calling their own party "No" when they scream and squawk against legislation from the Republicans.

Boy are you confused. The democratic party is composed now of ultra-left radicals that are seeking to destroy the country that they say they serve. The recent election should have told you that the people of this country have rejected the progressives agenda. This lame duck congress is a travesty of the worst proportions. Specter was just a moderate dem that was ousted along with the rest of the moderate dems in congress. We now have a democratic party composed of only far left socialists and radicals. He should be complaining about the kidnapping of the democratic party by the far left.

Greek Prince..........the one confused is you...neither party, republican or democrate , has done really much for this country ir the middle class. For all that washington is claiming to have gotten done this past year...nearly all benefits will go to the wealthy or wall street. The only ines that got help were the ones that created this mess along with a congress that accepts lobbyist money hand over fist, yet claims it is not bribe money...but..look who gets the help when things look bad for them...the public..or wall street and the wealthy ?

I think Greek should go back to Greece. Or better yet, go live in Venezuela. No decent government - no problem. I am a democrat and I don't believe there are ultra radical democrats who are trying to destroy this country. You mean the ultra radical republicans like Mitch McConnell and Jim DeMint and what's his name Barton. Apparently some of the democrats in Congress believe in tax breaks for the rich also. I don't think i have ever seen what has just happened with the republicans withholding unemployment benefits to get the tax breaks for the rich. You know, I don't think anyone believes as a child they want to grow up to be poor. Sure, people want to be well-off. But the rich have been sucking the blood of the middle class forever. I see my wages go down due to paying more for health insurance to pay some CEO more money (something that should have been handled in the health reform bill, but wasn't becuase it was watered down by the GOP beliefs that their rich CEO's wouldn't be paid as well) How well is well? How much is well-off? They say $75K. That means I would have to earn $30K more. Tell me where is there a $75K job waiting for me? I'll take it. And don't take my future Social Security away. My financial planner had counted on it so I can retire some day. So you know, I don't see any ultra radical democrats out there. What is their ultra radical position? What is radical about keeping health care costs down and making SS secure? Oh, sorry, guess if your a republican, you do think that is radical.

doogal,

no greek is right!

BY FAR the "ultra" or the "radical element" has leached itself onto the DEM party.

for PROOF you only have to look at the jon stewart rally a couple months back. every extreme group NOW has a voice under the "new democrat party".

let's examine:

Communist Party USA; the Democratic Socialists of America; the International Socialist Organization; and the War Resisters League, Marxist Party, Socialist Workers Party, Code Pink, Stalinist Commision, SEIU, ACORN, and literally at least 50 others!

WELCOME TO THE NEW DEMOCRAT PARTY!!!!

nevermind that they left enough trash on "the people's" mall to fill a stadium, including their left-over propaganda that nobody wanted.

so AGAIN, as i was saying, YOU are wrong! the right or the Republicans don't ANY element NEAR the example listed above. DeMint and McConnel are patriots that are trying to save this country from obama's and his ilk radical groups destruction. nothing extreme about that!

Doogal, I don't owe you any explanation, but I am a native born AMERICAN, and use the Greek Prince name for my own personal reasons. I am proudly of Greek heritage and find your comments very offensive. But I guess civility is too much to ask from a leftest who would be more comfortable in Cuba than the United States.

David, DeMint and McConnel are patriots?? I'll be laughing for the rest of the day after hearing that one! Thanks

mccainpalin08 - you do know it's about to be 2011 in a few days right? No, REALLY - 2011, I swear to God !...

Grew up in PA - Specter was a good public servant as Republicans go. Same cannot be said for McCain or Palin...

Patty - how quickly you forget the prior 8 years when the Republicans wouldn't do anything with the Democrats. Why does it surprise me that you conveniently forget those years? Typical Republican

"W.Goin"

How quickly you forget that the Dems have had total Majority control of the House and the Senate for the past Four (4) years?

And Bwaney Fwank almost single-handedly destroyed the housing industry with his constant defense of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac!

Hope Pelosi (the Queen of spending others money) has a marvelous Christmas!

That's the problem with liberals like W,Goin. They only know what their Democrat leaders tell them and take it as fact. Reading messages such as this make me feel that the battle will be won based on the ignorance of the liberal left supporters.

Republicans were not left out of anything.

The lovely insurance clauses of the health care bill was put in to get rep support. Which it did.

There only other offer to help on any legislation was to start over from scratch.

All republicans like to do is complain and lie.

Like the wars.

The insurance requirement.

The bank bailouts.

The financial industry bailout.

Did yall forget? It was republicans that shot down the amendments making the banks directly responsible till the debt was paid back. They also shot down any thoughts of holding the heads of the corporations responsible for their actions.

Republicans have always been in the pocket of corporate America and todays breed is no different.

It is funny that in the end in 1994 to now most of the house and the senate were in fact controlled by the right wing. The issues that are forgotten from that are the war - 50-60 billion a month - sure we may find oil as a trade in that but in the past we have had help to pay for the war - that was not do to this congress but ones of the past. Furthermore, when we failed to watch what the top 1% were doing the bottom 99% had to pay for that - if I am correct that was during a republican controlled congress. We may never find a true balance of power but we have never been poorer then we were with Regan... Overspent to bankrupt the USSR at that time, but gave such a nice debt load for our grandchildren's grandchildren. The biggest issue is also with Obama and trying to push issues through that should have never been pushed through with such a debt load but when 40% of the USA population does not have insurance - we have say there is an issue and work through it - Become an EMT as I am on the weekends and you will see what happens when we do not have healthcare for people - they either refuse to go seek help and in the end cost 2 - 3 times as much, or worse off - have to go to the ER and then cost 10 + times as much... Sad is that it is not just one issue but a way of saying lets tax less - republican statement but do more with less - someone has to fund that - so guess what taxes get raised - due to democrats... which is the lesser of the two evils...

"Republicans have always been in the pocket of corporate America"

Have always been and will always be. Their brilliance is in getting people to vote against their best self-interests. They are MASTERS at that. Then again, it's not that difficult to be smarter than a sheep...

Repubs take the hit for the six years the Dems controlled the House and Senate. Sure, Bush made errors, but what leader doesn't?

The Repubs identified issues with the government house lenders, but Barney Frank, my favorite dumb $hit congressman, Maxine Waters and others stopped any investigation while Rains (sp) took a big severage package with him when he left.

The Dems controlled! Now you have runaway spending, financial bailouts that we will be lucky to collect on, dificits, a broken health bill that was to correct broken health care. Are the Csars still writing that one yet? The DADT, the missle gizmo, and a host of other issues. The Dems controlled the house and senate, had a Dem Dude-in-Chief, and still could not accomplish all of the spending they wanted to do.

If you look back, the majority of bad legislation that has taken the country down, happened on the Democratic/Liberal/Progressive watch. It's true, it is very true.

As for blaming Bush for the wars: Congress funds the battles, not the Prez. Remember all of those boys and girls in the House and Senate that were for the war before they were against the war?

Repubs take the hit for the six years the Dems controlled the House and Senate

What six years were those? Democrats did not gain a majority of both houses of Congress until 2007. Only then did Congress pass oversight legislation over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

That's not what Fox says...

I prefer the country that our forefathers created based on a government that protected the people, not controlled them. The liberals here would not have fared well back then in that you actually had to produce in order to survive. The Democrats have filled their ranks based on promises to take from others to support them. I'm no tea party guy, but fiscal and personal responsibility is a worthwhile goal. We will see what the Reps do starting in January. I believe they will do the work of the people. They've witnessed the results of not doing it, but if they don't, they will certainly suffer the same fate as those that were booted out this past November.

Respot, Goldman Sachs was one of Obama's biggest campaign supporters. Can't get much more "Corporate America" than that. Oh, and they also got bailed out. Hmmmmm.......

Repubs take the hit for the six years the Dems controlled the House and Senate.

What six years are you talking about. I think you need to fact check.

David - so true! A really honest politician!

...A really honest politician?...pleeezzz put down the crack pipe and step away from the booze...LOL

Honest?...read the Warren report...see if you still trust him...

Let's hope that Spector is the first of the many DEM/REPUB elitists that take the long walk out of Congress.

But Arlin will return as a lobbyist.

Hear, Hear! Arlen Spector was one of Pennsylvania's finest. I am also from Pennsylvania, and I voted for Mr Spector in every election I could. And, I've been voting for 35 years! He was always for the best for our country, and for Pennsylvania. It was disheartening to see him lied about and his record perverted by Toomey, who will, I predict, be a one-term embarrassment to the citizens of our fair state.

Thank you for your years of service, Mr. Spector!

scruples, try spell check some time. It is the little ABC icon on the menu.

Greek Prince - Yet 'nother Pennsylvanian here...bet you wish "logic-check" was that easy, huh? You might end up more persuasive...

JonboGreen, yeh,that would be a button that you lefties could use to great benefit of the reasonable conservatives that try to set you straight on the issues. I know that you won't be changed from the Dark Side but hope and change is what it is all about? Isn't it?

Maybe the gov owed him for his part in the Warren commission report...He was the reason the gov only looked at the single bullet theory for JFK...

How on earth would you know, Alaska? Don't you have enough problems to work out with that quitter ex-governor cruising around the country and making a joke out of your state with every moronic word she utters? You should probably deal with that half-wit before you throw stones all the way across the continent at PA.

Spector is a turncoat. YOU NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR PRINCIPLES. Anyone who is willing to do so should never hold office.

Forget age limits, we need term limits. One term in public office and one term in prison for the crimes against America committed while in office, then out. NO CAREER POLITICIANS!

Our Founders expected our citizens to serve a term of public service, then return to their communities and their normal lives. The further we have gotten away from that ideal, the worse our government has become.

John Carter

So true, the longer they are there the better they learn how to steal. There's nothing worse than a smart thief, and we have 535 of them sitting in Washington right now.

No, not term limits. Campaign finance and lobbying reform.

You saw what happened to your Alan Grayson. The democratic party is so far the left now that compromise with them is nearly impossible. The only answer is to defeat them in elections and take back the presidency and the senate. We have experimented with socialism and it has brought the country to its economic knees. Obama has been a complete failure with no idea how to govern a country. He lacked the experience to be president.

Greek Prince...I believe it was the republicans that said no to the tax bill that was just passed unless the wealthy got a big share of it...and guess what, they did. Neither party is showing responsibility to the voters, not one of them no matter what they claim. You just have to see how these congressional folks vote...compared to what they claim.

ivan NC

One of the most used words in liberalism is FAIR, so how is it fair that everybody gets tax breaks except the wealthy. Is that fair or is that just more liberal BS.

The would have still gotten a tax break, on the first $250K, just like everyone else.

None of this changes the fact that Congress, in general(there are exceptions on either side of the aisle to this fact, along with independants) is an inept, self service, money hoarding, greed, corporate fellatiating, bloated, old, ignorant, corrupt bunch, who don't give 2 &*!$ or a #%^* about the majority of this country. I say before any more reform is attempted, we reform our system of government, because right now most of our politicians are akin to prostitues who's pimps have gotten them hooked on crack to keep them from leaving, because they just wanted to try and make a quick buck.

Eric, I can agree with most of what you said. Not all of our representatives and senators are corrupt, but I believe a large percentage are looking out for what is good for them personally and not for their constituents, let alone the people of the country as a whole. We can hope that the new members of congress will help to change the broken system that we have. The way the senators vote in their chamber is a perfect example of what is wrong. It takes them 30 minutes to vote on an amendment! What a waste of time and our tax money.

I doubt it. Many young politicians who first enter Washington are political idealists on either end of the spectrum. They think they can change this system, make it better, more efficient. They are worn down by the rules of the old ways of politics, because there are still way to many outside influences allow to affect our government. We need balance in this country, single governance by one party or the other is not a good thing, because both parties can represent all that is great in this country. Republicans with the increasing wealth, drive of business, and the financial betterment of the individual, and enlightenment of the spiritual(aka religion), and preservation of the of the business. The Democrats with conservation of the natural world, science, and innovation, and educational betterment of the population, and preservation and welfare of the individual. As we have agreed to, there are those, both left, right, and in between, who have not lost sight of these ideals, but most have, and now the parties of Lincoln, and the party of which Jefferson was a Forbearer, have become shallow, desicated husks of what they once were. I will no finger point as to which one started this, as that is for historians to decide, but one side became more concerned for themselves, and started moving farther and farther to the end of their political spectrum, and, like Newton said, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, the other side did too. The Tea Party could have been a fulcrum in this political balancing act, but instead they were highjacked by the right, allowing the right to move further to the right, and in response the left is moving further to the left(or in some cases to the right, if it keeps up soon we will have bloody conservatives, demopublicans and blue ballesses), and now the only hope for this country is to say "Damn them all" and banish both parties to the political side lines. Although it couldn't hurt to encourage coverage of minor party candidates.

Right on. stfu and stfd Spector. #youRnocentristEither

I could`nt agree with you more, well....... except when you used fox and news in the same sentence, oops I did it too. lol

Look at how the blue dog coalition has decreased in size after the election... Republicans didn't do that... So..., who is eating their own?

I`m no dem, nor rep, but, I seem to remember the President offering by partisanism before and after his election. Which the repubs rebufed and started calling themselves the party of no. So, two years later when he talks of cooperation (again) why is it percieved as new rhetoric ???

Spinning like a top...

You don't even know what you're talking about. Estate tax "break"??? LOL The estate tax is zero now. They are getting a huge tax penalty (on money already taxed anyway).

Floyd.....why do you think they SHOULD be taxed an extra 32 million? Whether or not they need it is not the point, they are being taxed on money they have already paid taxes on, the estate tax is nothing but pure theft by the crooked government.

"They" aren't being taxed anything.

"They" will be dead when the taxes are levied.

The inheritors of the estate are the ones who will be taxed.

.

Look at it like this:

I own a company.

I make some $$

I am taxed on that $$

I pay my employee

My employee is taxed for that income

He pays his pool guy

pool guy is taxed on that income

and so on...

Money is not an entity. Money is not being taxed. The PEOPLE are getting taxed.

.

By your logic, Nobody should have to pay any taxes except for the first one to touch the money...

You all are also forgetting the estate tax is only levied on estates greater than $5 million dollars. For that matter, who is to say that estate was earn via income. Unless you are extremely frugal, and live an extraordinary minimalist life style, and/or earn over $100,000(Median middle class income is approx $52,000 per year, it would take you just over 96 years to hit the $5 million mark, provided you had no deductions, or had to spend any of it) per year, there is no way you are going to amass that much wealth, in your working life(assuming that you work from 18-65) unless you invest, and investments, are taxed at lower rates than income taxes. So yes, the inheritors of those estates should be subject to taxation.