Might As Well, Arlen

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is switching parties from Republican to Democratic.

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.

Specter's decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next Senator from Minnesota. (Former Sen. Norm Coleman is appealing Franken's victory in the state Supreme Court.)

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," said Specter in a statement. "I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."

He added: "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

Well, this absolutely assures that Norm Coleman will never, ever give up without a Supreme Court decision (nor will Minnesota GOP Governor Mark Pawlenty sign off on Franken) and Republicans will absolutely filibuster any attempt to seat Franken.

Also, it's not like Arlen Specter's going to be much help. He's basically the equivalent of Nebraska's Ben Nelson or Arkansas's Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat that's basically a moderate Republican.

Still. When Franken DOES get seated, it's 60. (Republicans can suck it.) Practical upshot though is I get to use the Democrat Stupidity tag instead of the GOP Stupidity tag for any Arlen Specter based posts from here on out.

[UPDATE] The Wingers are doing the Kubler-Ross stages of grief thing again, but mostly Anger, Bargaining, and Depression.

[UPDATE 2] Puts that poll where only 21% of Americans now identify themselves as Republicans in real perspective, doesn't it?