Favre Pulls a Specter....Kinda

Although it's not yet official, Brett Favre could be a Viking by the end of the weekend. It looks like he will be wearing purple and gold, looks like people will call him a traitor as well. A couple weeks ago Arlen Specter decided to switch over to the democrats in order to stay alive in the political arena. There's a few similarities here don't you think? Favre just wants to play football. Firing the pigskin for a touchdown (or interception), as long as he's throwing it. Specter just wants to remain in the game in Washington. His chances would have likely been squandered in the next election.

Specter claims that his views have changed from the republican side to the democratic side in his almost 30 years in the senate. Does this have consequences for both sides? Of course. It's just one more blow to the GOP in the last 8 months or so. Although it could be pretty big considering if Al Franken takes Minnesota's seat it would give the democrats 60 seats in congress. That would make them filibuster proof. That puts a pretty big thorn in the side of republicans. Specter hasn't always voted conservative though. He did vote for President Obama's Stimulus package, and his fellow party members weren't very pleased about it.

Specter would have faced a challenger in Pat Toomey. He obviously didn't like his chances. So instead of going into retirement or putting up a fight, he chose the easy way to get his paycheck. He switched sides. Just like Mr. Favre. TRAITOR!!! Would Fiorina be surpised? He does say that members of congress are more polarized than they have been in the last 30 years (pg 18). I'd say that would shock him just a tad. I'm more surprised about Specter than I am about Mr. Favre. I realize there isn't much to compare between the two because one is politics and one is sports, but at the same time there is still some issues that you can compare. Specter thinks he stands a better chance at winning his seat as a democrat next year. If there's anything we've learned that's been obvious in some of the readings, it's not about the party, it's about the candidate. It's not about the team, it's about the player. Politicians, like athletes, are ego maniacs. Looking out mostly for their own interests and care only about what benefits them.

Politicians have their own agendas, and if their agenda leads them to break from their party, so be it. Congress might be more polarized than the normal every day American (might), but does that mean this whole swinging from one vine to the other will lead other politicians to switch parties? As far as I'm concerned I don't think so. Specter might have changed his views on things because he probably wouldn't have won in 2010, but he also might have changed with age. He probably changed for the wrong reasons, but when it comes down to other people switching parties, it won't and will not happen very often. People, especially politicians, are more polarized than anybody. This was a simple case of Favre-ism. Selling out to stay in the game.