President Specter?

Last time I checked, Arlen Specter's 1995 run for the Presidency ended before the race began. Republicans rejected Specter nationally then, and Pennsylvania Republicans would've rejected Specter last year had the real President not given him CPR in the closing days of the primary campaign. Last November, conservatives once again attempted to limit the effects of the Specter poison to no avail.

Bafflingly, though, Sen. Specter has not learned his lesson. Rather than showing gratitude to the person who breathed life into him when there was none, he has picked up the nearest knife and used it to stab the President in the back. While one cannot help but appreciate Specter's willingness to go the extra mile by speaking with Injustice Sandra Day O'Connor about sticking around for another year, one can't help but wonder whether Specter understands the difference between being President and being Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Conservatives should forever remember that the actual President saved Specter rather than killing him. As expected, Senator Specter has been nothing but trouble since he entered the Senate, and all the more since becoming Chairman. His most recent comments are not welcome, are not helpful, and are unbecoming of a United States Senator. Even Senate Democrats have not gone so far as to suggest that O'Connor should remain on the Court for another year. With friends like this, who needs enemies?

So what's the lesson to be learned here? Simply put, individuals who do not share conservative priorities should not appear on the ballot as Republicans. Some are less trouble than others, but anyone who does not share our values will eventually cause more trouble than they are worth. Democrats attacking the conservative agenda are one thing. Per the old Irish prayer, we know them by their limp. Never again should a non-conservative be put in a position of leadership. It is time for us to reclaim our Party and let the chips fall where they may. As President Reagan demonstrated, running on principle will help us not hurt us. George HW Bush taught us that when we run from principles, as cowtowing to Specter in any way would be, we lose. It is time for the GOP to put up. For Arlen Specter, it's time to shut up.