I have seen some people that aren't completely thrilled with Arlen Specter joining the Good Guys.  Sure he doesn't vote the way each of us would like him to...but which Democratic Senator ever does? 

Everything else pales in comparison to the symbolic significance.  Specter was a longstanding high profile and well respected member of the GOP who turned his back on his party because his party turned their backs on him...and the American people.  The Democrats can sit here till the cows come home and rant to the American people about how out of touch the GOP is...now all that is needed to be said is 2 simple words, Arlen Specter.  That is the BIG picture.  The GOP is being rejected by their own...

The S.S. Wingnuttery drifts farther and farther from shore...soon they will hopefully disappear from view and forever be lost at sea.  Time to turn up the heat on Snowe and Collins.  Complete the trifecta...

Why would anyone seek compromise when their position is that of the stronger one? 

If need be you compromise with other reasonable people to achieve a goal but never with people whose only goal is to obstruct you in an effort to make you fail.  Right now all that that remains of the conservative movement is unreasonable obstructionists trying to further their failed political agenda.  There are times to compromise...but this isn't one of those times nor are the current conservatives opposition to compromise with. 

Use the Bully Pulpit Mr. President.  Make the tough choices that need to be made while you still have the political capital, it is not only the right thing to do morally it is the right thing to do electorally.  Not too long ago the conservatives thought they had a permanent majority and their hubris did them in...political power is fleeting.

Since WWII we have been on war footing, allowing our government to have extraordinary powers which it does not deserve to have.  Our efforts to combat terrorism is no more a 'real' war than is the 'war' on drugs.

We are not at war, there are no reasons that our government should be allowed 'war powers' to operate in secrecy, our rights should not be limited to protect our 'safety' and no government official (elected or otherwise) is above the law and they need to be held accountable if they violate the laws of our land.

Time to insist that our government become transparent, accountable and starts answering to 'we the people' again. Stop the domestic spying, prosecute torturers, put the constitutional safeguards back in place that protect our rights...and never allow them to be taken away again.