While I agree that moderate Republicans are a dying breed, I completely disagree with the assertion that they are finding themselves more visible in the mainstream. If this article is implying that McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is still a moderate, it is clearly off base.

For one, he has made the classic conservative arguement – that of free market principles – to solve America’s heath care woes, without even mentioning the possibly state/private hybrid to cover more working families. Also, looking at his support for the continuation of Bush’s supply-side economic schemes, and it appears that McCain, the former moderate, is now marching lock, step, and key with conservative leaders of the Republican Party.

JM

Specter continually talks like a “moderate”, but when push comes to shove, he votes with the rightwingers. Remember, our supposedly pro-choice senator is the one who led the charge to harrass Anita Hill and ensure another anti-choice jurist, Clarence Thomas, made it on to the US Supreme Court. He championed Roberts and Alito, too. It was ok with Arlen that the military tribunal law gutted habeas corpus rights. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Charlie Dent and Jim Gerlach are no different either.

pd

I agree! Just check their voting records-they have been reliable, just not 100% like some others, Bush agenda supporters.

There is no question that the current political environment will lead to a revival of moderate Republicans . . . and none too soon. Count me in!

Mike Livingston
Candidate for Congress/2nd District Pa.
www.livingstonforcongress.com

Good for you! We all are just dying for another gutless moderate to raise our taxes.
And, keep us from drilling more oil wells and building more reactors to actually solve the energy shortages.
Maybe you’ll put one of those new light bulbs in every socket, then charge us ten bucks apiece to get rid of them.

and tell them to take a hike in 2008. Specter is a disgrace – that he bent over so much for the bush admin and Repubs like Gerlach have done nothing to distinguish themselves – instead Rubber-stamped every bad policy decision – especially the war in Iraq and its corruption.

Looking forward to seeing them voted out in 2008.

Once he joined Congress, he stepped in line with the Republican leadership just like all other partisans do.

They like their job; they want to keep it; they’ll do anything to do just that.

—Jake

Specter is not ideological. The problem with him is that while some non-ideological public officials are true to an ideal conception of good government, the only thing that Specter is true to is Specter. His agenda is based solely upon what is good for Specter. That explains such intellectually dishonest positions as opposing Bork as unqualified while backing Thomas. (Bork was qualified, Thomas was not qualified, but both are extremists and neither belonged on the court).

I must confess that the sooner Specter is gone from the Senate, the better off we all will be, and it matters not who replaces him.