Breaking News in Moderate-land

Arlen Specter switches parties.

I don't care precisely why he did it right now, because it was long overdue. He held out for a revival of the moderate wing of the GOP, but instead it's continued to shrink, and now extinction seems likelier than not. No doubt, he'll miss being ranking member of Judiciary, but hopefully the warm welcome wagon will be some consolation.

Yeah, I've always liked this guy, my former senator, but today seals the deal.

And my favorite former Republican senator...

... Lincoln Chafee (to whom I believe I once dedicated a sculpture of a weeping chocolate elephant -- or at least, in my mind, it was weeping) wrote a book, Against the Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Reckless President, and was interviewed on NPR.

Goodbye (party of) Lincoln!

Per Jon Stewart's suggestion last night, an elephant whittled out of chocolate, in honor of outgoing Republican (to the extent that a Yankee can be either outgoing or, apparently, Republican) Senator Lincoln Chafee...

chocolate elephant sculpture
This CGI one is pretty cool, too...

Quote du Jour: Soon-to-be-former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)

"The people have spoken all across America. They want the Democrats and Republicans to work together. I think the president now is going to have to talk to the Democrats. I think that's going to be good for America."

Two days after losing a bid for a second term, Sen. Lincoln Chafee said he was unsure whether he would remain a Republican.

Although I wouldn't cry to see him go Dem, I think it would be more interesting to see him bring up the Senate's growing tally of independents (albeit in six years at best.) All in all, I'm rather fond of the guy. I think a state can be judged in part by the quality of its loyal opposition, and in that respect, he'd make Rhode Island look inviting whether or not one swung left, notwithstanding the climate.