Arlen Specter, a Republican Senator since 1980, announced today that he is switching parties to become a Democrat.  My first thought was now the Democrats will have 60 seats in the Senate (as soon as Al Franken is seated in Minnesota) and will be able to overcome any filibuster attempted by Republicans.  Then I saw this, from Specter's statement:

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

Some background information here.  The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) Is a bill that will make it easier to form a union.  This of course scares the crap out of Republicans.  Back in the last Congress when Bush was still president Specter was the only Republican to vote to move EFCA forward.  The bill was defeated by filibuster.  Then a few months ago it became clear that Specter was going to face a difficult primary challenge from far right conservative Pat Toomey in 2010.  In a rare move, organized labor came out and told Specter that if he continued to support EFCA they will not only help him with any primary challenge, they would support him in the general election as well.  That means the unions would back Specter against a Democrat.  This hardly ever happens.  Specter said no to organized labor's offer and promptly switched his position on EFCA.  This was purely an effort to stave of Toomey's challenge.

Well that plan blew up in Specter's face.  A recent poll showed that if the primary was held now Toomey would destroy Specter.  So what happened here is the basest form of cynical politics.  The only reason Specter switched was to get away from a primary he was sure to lose.  I think that was rather short sighted of him though.  Why in the world would Democratic voters in Pennsylvannia vote for a Democrat in name only, regardless of its in a primary or the general election. 

This is the perfect time for an up and coming Democrat to step into the fray and now give Specter a serious primary challenge on this side of the aisle.  If Specter is allowed to stay in the Senate as a Democrat he will do nothing but frustrate and disappoint his new party.  We do not need another Joe Liebermann running around underminding everyhting they try to get done.