18 senators voted in support of an exit timetable, but there were still some notable senators who voted No. And we know why.

Progressives must put up a fight — and that means taking on the Democratic Party establishment.

Last night went just about as well as it could possibly go for progressives. The more progressive candidate won in Pennsylvania when Joe Sestak ousted long-time Republican, short-time Democrat Arlen Specter. Clearly, a win for progressives.

Today’s elections have nothing to do with throwing out incumbents and everything to do with affirming the status quo. Not a single candidate who opposes the war in Afghanistan is expected to win. It will take a lot more than partisan primaries to end the war.

There has been several incidents where it is perceived that President Obama let supporters down. However after Specter was blacklisted by the Republican Party, Obama did everything he could to support Specter. The fact that the Republican Party changed it’s mind about also booting out Elizabeth Snow who also voted for the stimulus should be interpreted as Obama saving Snow’s job. Obama has made a number of other quiet successes, but quiet successes doesn’t lesson the perception that the way to get something out of Obama is to kick him real hard. Note Obama’s desire to at first have others like Afghan President Karzai govern in Obama’s style, until they too became a squeaky wheel in response.

There is a lot of anger and frustration in the electorate this election cycle. It is seen in the Tea Party demonstrators (who get far more press than they proportionally deserve for the actual size of their movement) ; it can be seen in the grumbling on the Left, up to and including those who are flirting with bolting from the Democratic Party. This has lead to a slew of primary challenges to long term incumbents.

I am completely in favor of primary challenges, especially to Senators. It is fitting that a group of men and women who only have to face the voters every six years be required to get the endorsement of their party members before asking for their state to return them to Washington. If nothing else it keeps these very powerful politicians aware of the voters who they need to keep their job.

"Originally posted at Squarestate.net"

Which brings us to an interesting situation this cycle; there are two long term Senators who are both facing tough primary challenges. They are Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). What is interesting about these two is the lengths they have both gone to try to appeal to their bases, and keep their jobs.

Events in Greece may lead to Americans taking a new look at our unhappiness over Obama’s bailout efforts and compromises. The idea is becoming popular, that the people whether one considers oneself progressive or conservative should unite against those in charge. I believe this is bad news. In this essay I systematically examine and try to refute the idea that Obama is betraying what he first claimed to stand for.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing for the Department of Homeland Security today. Over the course of nearly three hours Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was questioned about the running of her Department. Given the new law in Arizona and the looming Comprehensive Immigration Reform fight, most of the questions centered on immigration and the boarder.

Several Senators tried to get the DHS Secretary to give an opinion as to whether the “Papers Please” law in Arizona was constitutional or not. Being a good politician Sec. Napolitano kept deferring to the Department of Justice which is currently reviewing the case law and did not offer her own opinion.

However, when asked about its affects on law enforcement, if it should be allowed to go into effect, she was not shy in detailing the ways that it would be a net negative. One of the biggest issues is the level of distrust that such enforcement would engender between the Latino community and all levels of law enforcement. When a community feels that laws are punitive they do not come forward with the kind of information that allows effective enforcement of all the laws.

Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Joe Sestak, who I wholeheartedly endorse over Arlen “Semior Moments” Specter, seems to have forgotten the lesson of swiftboating in the Kerry/Bush race of 2004. You can’t be “above the fray” and you must immediately counterattack with tv ads, especially with only four weeks left in the election.

Arlen Specter still thinks and acts like a Republican. At a Pennsylvania State University event, Specter said, I’m proud to have been endorsed by the College Republicans.” Actually, he was wrong on two counts: first, it was the College Democrats and secondly, they did not endorse him.