Specter's desertion of his party will serve only to solidify political power in the person(s) those two giants, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. I am a Republican who was thoroughly disgusted with the direction of my party under Cheney-Bush, but never to the point of desertion. Good riddance to Specter, and I hope that the same political opponents who chased his butt out of the Pennsylvania Republican Party can chase him from the Senate. Obviously this is all about Arlen - he said he can't win as a Republican - obviously he just wants to remain a Senator. This has nothing to do with philosophy.