Rats off a sinking ship of state

The Daily News has an article by Michael McAuliff about the latest rat off the ship:

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter shocked the political world Tuesday by jumping from the GOP to the Democratic Party— likely handing President Obama an EZ-Pass to drive his agenda on Capitol Hill. The sudden move, coming as the veteran lawmaker already faces a fierce 2010 primary challenge from the right in the Keystone State, all but gives Democrats and Obama a roadblock-free Senate, putting them on the cusp of a sixty-vote majority.
"I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans," Specter announced on his campaign Web site. "I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," Specter he added. "I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters," said the 79-year-old lawmaker, who is seeking his sixth term. "I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the party I have worked for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate."
Specter was facing a tough challenge from conservative former Representative Pat Toomey, until recently the head of the anti-tax Club for Growth. But Specter didn't cite the likelihood of losing that showdown as a reason for quitting the GOP. He blamed his former party for shifting too far in the direction of people like Toomey. "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right," Specter said, suggesting he was following the lead of other Pennsylvanians fed up with a party that's gotten too ideologically driven. "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats," he said.
The shift give Democrats 59 votes in the Senate, and they'll hit the filibuster-proof 60 should Al Franken prevail in his disputed win over Norm Coleman in Minnesota. Democrats welcomed their newest conservative Democrat with open arms, and acknowledged it was a tough decision for him. "I know how hard he's agonized," Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy told reporters. "I believe he's going to be happy."
In fact Specter was beaming as he walked out of his office this morning, with dozens of Pennsylvanians on hand, applauding.

Rico says no loss as far as he's concerned; Specter was an evil moron, and good riddance... (But now he may have to break down and vote Republican again, just to elect Toomey and unelect Specter.)