Senator Specter is absolutely “in touch” with the thousands of Pennsylvanians without health care coverage by supporting Barack Obama’s idea of public option.

Perhaps he doesn’t kowtow to protesters at his town hall, but I look at that as a good thing.

Senator Specter is a brave moderate in an increasingly polarized country. What other politician in this state visits all 67 counties every year? He has probably held more public forums than anyone else in this state ever has. He does not shy from criticism, yet holds true to his convictions. Does that make him arrogant? Of course not! He goes and listens to the people of Pennsylvania and represents our moderate tradition well. He deserves to be reelected and is one of the few people who can rise above the fray and work towards real solutions to our everyday problems.

With all due respect, Senator Specter is not losing touch with his constituents. That is an absurd and wishful claim. Senator Specter makes it a point to check in each year with all 67 counties. No one else does that. I think the Senator is very much in touch by his willingness to hold town halls all over the state on healthcare. Over the past few days, sestak and toomey have had a hard time staying relevant in the debate. They will struggle from time to time w this. Looking forward to more loon coverage tonight and tomorrow night.

Specter is completely out of tough and has burned every bridge imaginable. The Democrat/Republican/Democrat voted for the stimulus, cares nothing about saddling Americans with trillions in debt, and now wants to push ObamaCare on us. Specter wouldn’t be alive today if he had to rely on ObamaCare. People complain about the cost of care and the bankruptcies it cases, and this is a problem, but breaking the system is not the answer. Specter is a hack and will not be reelected. Not this time.

Jim, can i sell you a birther or deather button or tee for you to wear in public?

The “woman in tears” can be seen calmly video taping another ranting questioner. She also appeared on Hannity last evening.
She claims she’s not a “plant”, but she sure exhibited the intelligence of one.

Jim-
You sound like one of those protesters claiming that Stephen Hawking would be dead if he had to rely on Britain’s medical system. Of course, that IS where he’s lived and gotten his medical coverage. Our system IS broken, and Obama and the Democrats are going to repair it, while the Republicans remain the party of NO.

As for Toomey:
“..Toomey, or any other serious candidate, not because he is to the right or left of them, but because they are in touch with what broad segments of the population are—for better or worse—thinking and feeling..”
Well, Toomey certainly represents the worst.

WESTPADEM6, when your whole party consists of clowns like Mayor Luke, Fast Eddy, Obama, Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha, Specter, and Casey, how can you say anything about someone else’s political views? Enjoy your socialized health care. Enjoy Fast Eddy and Obama raising your taxes. Enjoy watching your energy costs skyrocket under cap and trade. Don’t complain though, because YOU are responsible for this. YOU enabled people like Obama, Rendell, Specter, and others to do these things. YOU are part of the problem.

Let it be said of Arlen in political life as it was said in real life of those Romans who were exposed by Cicero: he has lived! It is a sad thing to see the tottering figure of a once vibrant battler enter the ring for the fight that should never have been made.

Jim,

I am not part of the problem… I am part of the solution. Let me know if ud like a pin or tee w your right wing propoganda so u can wear it and everyone can laugh.

Jim-
Would you rather have McCain/Palin and 20% unemployment? Face it, your party ran rampant with their “ideas” and failed miserably and nearly destroyed the country for a generation.
Democrats are better for the economy. Cap and Trade works. The energy companies played the same price scare tactics when cap and trade was used to eliminate acid rain, and the price predictions and collapse of energy sector turned out to be smoke and mirrors.
Ignorance is NOT a valid point of view. Please education yourself so you don’t look like a fool.

David Diano, what evidence do you have of this 20% unemployment that would have occured under McCain? I assume I’m supposed to take your word for it, just as I’m supposed to take Obama’s word that ObamaCare won’t fail like all the other countries that have it, right? Cap and Trade will put a tax on energy companies, which will then pass that onto the consumer. This is a FACT. Since you talk up all the environmental benefits of this, how is the steel industry doing? How is the coal industry doing? The problem with Democrats is that they want us to go back to the stone age. No steel, no coal, no oil, no wind farms…nothing! The more regulations put on these industries the more jobs lost. Coincidence? Obama said he would bankrupt the coal industry and he wasn’t exaggerating. I hope you have solar panels David. You will need it…unless you’re like Al Gore, then the rules don’t apply to you and you can fly around in a private jet and live in a 10,000 sqft mansion.

Jim-
That is the trend line, and the total collapse was prevented by the Obama policies that were opposed by McCain. So, yeah, given McCain’s desire to stay the course with Bush’s and the neo-cons economic policies, 20% is being generous to them.
You don’t need to take Obama’s “word”. Medical care in other countries is very successful and they have better outcome rates than we do.
The energy companies need to pay for the pollution and other environmental harm they cause. The fees/penalties should come out of their profits rather than raising rates. However, this will also help the renewable energy suppliers compete, and that competition will drive all energy prices down. (Also, the pollution reduction will save on health care costs.)
Steel industry problems are due to bad economy and reduction in auto manufacturing under Bush.
Obama never said he would “bankrupt the coal industry”. Quote and reference please?
Al Gore’s so-called mansion is also a place of business with employees. It is MORE energy efficient than other office places employing the same numbers of people. Gore at least buys carbon offsets for his travel.

Jim, you are not really helping your case with all these misinformed positions you have. Take a class or read more.

I appreciate Sen. Specter’s moderation. You raise an excellent point, and the Senate is a deliberative body that was intended to be less beholden to the whims of the general public.

Jim – I’d take that any day over the general incompetence and borrow-and-spend mentality of leaders like George W. Bush, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, et. al.

I wished these right wingers would have shown such passion and zeal when GW Bush was conducting his unconstitutional warrantless wiretapping program. Where was Jim and GOP Hawk then?

David, I’m surprised you even have enough time to spread hate online. Shouldn’t you be busy working on one of the thousands of stimulus jobs in PA? Shouldn’t you be out building new bridges, tunnels, highways, and schools? Your messiah is a joke and a loser, just like all of his blind supporters. There is little difference between Obama supporters and the Manson Family. No go, read the newest DailyKos poll that says 99% of Americans love Obama, he has balanced the budget, and the value of our dollar has soared. Put on your blinders and lie to yourself. Make yourself believe Obama really is the King of Kings and it’s all going to be ok.

WESTPADEM6, have you spoken out since Obama expanded the Patriot Act and the warrantless wiretaps? Have you? Or have you tossed your morals aside already? I’m sure you were one of the people crying about the budget deficit and bailouts last year. Did you say anything this year after Obama did it? I’m sure last year you were claiming that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Do you still feel that way, or do you think that anyone that disagrees with Obama is a racist, a mob, unamerican, or a nazi? I used to be a Democrat, but then I saw how spineless and hypocritical you guys are. What a joke….a sad, pathetic joke. Your messiah’s poll numbers keep going down by the day…Rendell are already at rock bottom…and Specter’s are also. You will fail. You will always fail, because you support someone else running the lives of ordinary Americans. I don’t need Obama telling me what to do. Maybe you need that type of reassurance, but I can take care of myself. Even New Jersey is pushing out Corzine and his socialism. You’re all finished. Your small moment of power is already up and you don’t even realize it yet. ObamaCare won’t pass. Cap and Trade won’t pass. Card Check won’t pass…and next year is an election year, meaning nobody will want to vote for this crap then.

I’m a supporter of Sestak; but I have to say that I thought Arlen looked good at his Lebanon town hall meeting. Above all, he listened to the ranters. He stood right next to them and let then speak; then he was smart enough to walk away with his mic (while his assistant took and turned off the mic the protetor had just used).

On the other hand, I think Joe Sestak has to become a better campaigner if he expects to win the primary. Although it’s early, and even Obama improved his style as time went by, Sestak definitely need to practice his public appearances on the talk/news shows. He lacks warmth and “gives speaches” (too often without answering the question) instead of affecting a repoire with the interviewer, the viewer, or the audience. Joe’s got to step it up. [That's timely and constructve criticism, Sestak campaign.]

Jim,

Im scared to death of your wing nut candidates and antics. As for birthers and deathers winning in 2010….

if I were a betting man, id take your bet Jim. I’ve been quite entertained by the “pull the plug on grandma” lies your camp has been spreading. As the man at the town hall said… big insurance and the right wing smearers will have to answer to God one day for not having mercy and compassion for the poor and those who cannot afford health insurance, but desparately need it.