That great observer of American democracy, Alexis de Tocqueville noted that U.S. political parties were like nations at war with one another.
While that’s certainly true when it comes to the average rank-and-file party members, who work, sweat, bite and fight against their political opponents for ascendancy, the same cannot be said of those at the highest levels.
That is but one lesson to emerge from the abrupt party-shift of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, who, up until quite recently was the senior Republican senator from Pennsylvania, and among the institution’s longest-serving.
Facing an increasingly difficult primary election in the fall, he ditched the party on which he has run and won (as a senator) for almost 30 years, and cast his lot with the opposing majority party (Democrats)
Political pundits and talking heads went almost apoplectic in their overheated responses and predictions. "Earth-shattering!", said one. "An earthquake!", said another. In moments, they counted his votes on Democratic bills and proposals that had yet to be written.
The truth was quite simple: he wanted to win re-election, and he couldn’t do it in the GOP.
It’s often been said that the Senate is a millionaire’s club; but it’s more. It’s one of the most exclusive clubs on earth. It’s only 100 men and women, who are essentially princes and princesses of power. In each U.S. state, only 2 people can sit in the Senate, and once in, it’s quite difficult to lose an election. Because Specter had an irritating independence streak, his upcoming Republican primary would’ve been among those seen as unsure.
Richard J. Needham said, "Power is a drug on which the politicians are hooked."
Power. That’s it.
Specter, who has spent his adult life as a prince, didn’t feel like giving up that incredible power. And his switch virtually insures that he won’t have to.
By switching parties he gives the Democrats one vote closer to a bulletproof majority — to 60 votes with which they can virtually run the table (assuming former comedian Al Franken can hold his lead over the GOP’s Norman Coleman). By so doing, he virtually insures that his former party-mates will be powerless, as without 41 votes, they can’t stage a filibuster – or effectively block any legislation.
He therefore becomes the most powerful member of that body, for his vote becomes crucial.
The great wit, Alexander Pope said, "Party-spirit…which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of the few."
Arlen Specter is a Party unto himself.
-
Yaqinda AQSh Oliy sudi Mumiya Abu-Jamolning hakamlar hay'atini tanlashda irqchilikka asoslangan yangi sud jarayonini o'tkazish haqidagi apellyatsiyasini rad etdi. AQSh Oliy sudi Filadelfiya DAning ikki quyi sudning 2001/2008 yillardagi qarorlari bo'yicha apellyatsiyasini ko'rib chiqish yoki o'lim jazosi qayta tiklansa, Abu-Jamolga yangi hukm chiqarishga loyiq degan qarorga kelgani haqida hali qaror qilgani yo'q. Agar AQSh Oliy sudi DA foydasiga qaror chiqarsa, Abu-Jamol yangi hukm tinglovisiz qatl etilishi mumkin.
Bunga javoban Abu-Jamolning bosh advokati Robert R. Bryan AQSh Oliy sudiga "qayta tinglash uchun ariza" topshiradi. Bir qator shaharlarda aholining javob choralarini muvofiqlashtirish uchun favqulodda yig'ilishlar o'tkazildi va 3,000 dan ortiq odam onlayn petitsiyaga imzo chekdi. o'lim jazosiga qarshi faollar tomonidan muvofiqlashtirilgan sa'y-harakatlarda.
On Friday April 24 and 25, 2009 events were held in more than a dozen cities to organize and to celebrate the release of Mumia’s new book with City Lights, JAILHOUSE LAWYERS. More info here:www.citylights.com
24 yil 2009 aprelda Oklenddagi tadbirda Anjela Y. Devisning nutqini tomosha qiling
http://www.zmag.org/zvideo/3128
Listen to Abu-Jamal’s latest commentaries on Prison Radio.
http://www.prisonradio.org
Favqulodda miting | 4:8, 163-may, juma | 125 W. Garlemdagi XNUMX-ko'cha
http://www.freemumia.com/may8.html
Davom etilayotgan yangilanishlar:
http://www.freemumia.com/
ZNetwork faqat o'z o'quvchilarining saxiyligi orqali moliyalashtiriladi.
hadya etmoq