Specter flees the crazy tent

Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter today announced that he is switching parties to run as a Democrat in 2010.

In a statement issued about noon as the Capitol was digesting the stunning turn of events, Mr. Specter said he had concluded that his party had moved too far to the right, a fact demonstrated by the migration of 200,000 Pennsylvania Republicans to the Democratic Party.

“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Mr. Specter said, acknowledging that his decision was certain to disappoint colleagues and supporters.

Coupled with the emmanent seating of Al Franken, Specter’s defection will give the Democrats a filibuster-proof 60 seat majority. The Obama agenda just got the green light in a very big way.

A side benefit of course is that the GOP, already diminished to an obstructionist rump of conservative nutters, is now an irrelevant annoyance.