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"In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution." --Alexander Hamilton

Publisher's Note: Beginning Thursday, 30 April, Alexander's essay will be published as a "stand alone" piece, and will be published as such every Thursday morning going forward. The rest of the Digest content will be published, as usual, on Friday mornings. The new schedule is in response to reader comments and suggestions.

The Specter of change
EDITORIAL EXEGESIS

"In finally abandoning the Republican Party, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter showed his true colors not just ideologically, but personally. It's all about the liberal Specter maximizing his own power. The climax Tuesday of Arlen Specter's long, drawn-out betrayal of his party may seem like it came out of nowhere -- especially since it was only last month that he said he'd seek re-election as a Republican. But why be shocked when a hardened Machiavellian does what comes naturally after doing the math? As a Democrat, Sen. Specter will now be Washington's king power broker, since he is poised to be the 60th vote for Democrats in the U.S. Senate, constituting a filibuster-proof majority at a time when the federal government is undergoing an unprecedented expansion in size and power. No one is falling for Specter's hand-wringing rationale that "since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right." He was just as uncomfortable with Reaganism back then as he is now, all along relishing his role as RINO -- Republican In Name Only -- whose vote was up for sale. ... As vote No. 60 in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body (assuming vote No. 59 belongs to comedian Al Franken of Minnesota), Specter will be owed an incalculable debt by congressional Democrats and President Obama. There will be no threats of party discipline against him on the occasions when he votes with Republicans, no warnings that campaign funds will be kept from him. ... Each and every big vote in the Senate will be a bargaining opportunity for Specter. Riches and favors will be showered upon him for the power he prostitutes. ... Reserve a space for a new addition to history's Rogues' Gallery." --Investor's Business Daily

UPRIGHT

"With market capitalism under assault and polling showing voters quite concerned about spending, debt, and bailouts, you'd think Republicans could find a message which resonates with a wide audience. Although perhaps rank amateurs, the tea party protestors have found the message around which conservatives can unify and which might also bring in independents. Personal responsibility, ending corporate welfare and bailouts, reasonable budgets, and the rule of law might form the basis of a winning message." --columnist Jennifer Rubin

"[Arlen] Specter's switch ... greatly enhances his own re-election changes. Whereas he seemed certain to lose to Toomey in the Republican primary, he must be reckoned the strong favorite if the two are matched up in the general election." --Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto

"Specter often votes for liberal Democratic initiatives and infuriates conservative Republicans. Still, his surprise defection was a crushing setback for the GOP, instantly reducing what limited power Republicans have in the Senate. The GOP's ability to stop liberal legislation is now weakened if not eliminated in some instances." --Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes

"Climate change is the cause of -- and caused by -- everything. Reputable news pieces regularly allege, without any evidence, that climate change is the culprit in hundreds of dreadful events. From the decline of outdoor youth hockey, to the scourge of teenage drinking, to the massacre in Darfur, you guessed it, global warming is always the boogeyman. Who knew that a shift of 0.04 degrees Celsius in a decade could be so terrible?" --columnist David Harsanyi

"Since January, President Obama and his team have schmoozed, ineffectively, American enemies over allies in almost every corner of the globe. If you're, say, India, following Obama's apology tour even as you watch the Taliban advancing on those Pakistani nukes, would you want to bet the future on American resolve? In Delhi, in Tokyo, in Prague, in Tel Aviv, in Bogota, they've looked at these first 100 days and drawn their own conclusions." --columnist Mark Steyn

"At the rate that Obama and the liberals are going, when it comes to piling up the national debt, nationalizing banks and major companies, scuttling our missile defense system, reaching out to Islamic and Communist tyrants, funding ACORN, AmeriCorps and Hamas, discussing nuclear disarmament with Russia at the same time that Iran, Pakistan and North Korea are gearing up, talking tough to Israel while currying favor with the Arabs and the Islamists, I have no idea what will be left to salvage a year-and-a-half down the road."--columnist Burt Prelutsky

DEZINFORMATSIA

Snarlin' Arlen coverage: "[Arlen] Specter blames the party's increasingly conservative tilt." --CBS's Chip Reid

Wrong diagnosis: "It seems like some Republicans still have not figured out that they lost big-time last November, in part, because the American people are sick and tired of their style of politics. Exhibit A: a conservative faction of the Republican National Committee wants the party to brand Democrats as socialists." --CNN's Jack Cafferty

On Obama's first 100 days: "I think we've learned that [Obama is] more moderate than we had expected. I think we've learned that he is quite determined to follow through, almost as a checklist, on his campaign promises. And I think we've also learned that we don't really know his bottom line. Whether it's the banks or Iran, we haven't yet figured out whether or not there's an element in this personality that wavers a bit." --New York Times correspondent David Sanger

From the sycophants: "I'm a huge Obama fan. I think it's such an unbelievably great thing to have a president who's competent and not insane." --New York Times Magazine columnist Randy Cohen

On the economy: "Look, this isn't about the failure of government and the Republicans are on the wrong tact talking about big government. This is a failure of capitalism. [Obama is] trying to save capitalism. ... People are looking to Washington and to government for help, and to argue to get government out of the way makes no sense in this political climate." --Newsweek's Eleanor Clift

Alpha Jackass: "Reagan's dead and he was a lousy president." --MSNBC's lousy "news" anchor Keith Olbermann

Blame the GOP for swine flu: "Do you ... think that Republicans are in any way to blame for standing in the way of those important positions -- when you're facing swine flu -- from being filled?" --"MSNBC News Live" anchor Contessa Brewer to Republican strategist Tucker Bounds

This week's "Leftmedia Buster" Award: "I realize it's been a slow weekend in terms of news. The president went out and played golf on Sunday. The White House reporters don't have much to work with today, so they're trying to get a piece of this swine flu story, which you know, all the cable news channels are agog about, bug-eyed about. But so far, it doesn't amount to much in the United States of America." --Fox News' Brit Hume

Newspulper Headlines:

They Also Urge Congress to Spend Like a Drunken Sailor: "Pork Groups Urge Farmers to Reduce Flu Risk" --Ottawa Citizen

Why Would Anyone Want More of That?: "CDC Looking Nationwide for More Swine Flu" --ScienceMag.org

At Least There's Some Silver Lining: "Swine Flu Leaves Mexican Soccer Stadiums Empty" --Associated Press

Breaking News From 1960: "Fidel Castro Dampens Hopes for Better U.S.-Cuba Ties" --Reuters

Maybe He Was Only Pretending He Was Only Pretending: "Man Pretending to Fall off Bridge Actually Falls" --Associated Press

Everything Seemingly Is Spinning Out of Control: "Lenin's Body Left With No New Luxury Suit Because of Crisis" --Pravda

News of the Tautological: "Recession Still Dragging Down U.S. Economy" --Reuters

Bottom Stories of the Day: "Gore Heads Speakers List at Greenhouse Hearings" --Automotive News ++ "Gore Gives Blessing to Climate Change Bill" --Boston Globe Web site

(Thanks to The Wall Street Journal's James Taranto)

THE DEMO-GOGUES

No longer a RINO: "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans. ... Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right." --Sen. Arlen Specter

The BIG Lie: "We were not -- I repeat -- were not told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used." --House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who attended briefings about waterboarding in 2002

Getting ahead of the teleprompter: "In addition to John -- sorry, the -- I just noticed I jumped the gun here. Go ahead. Move it up. I had already introduced all you guys." --Barack, uh, Obama

Doesn't get out much: "Look, I don't know anybody in the world who thinks [Obama's] a weak president." --Vice President Joe Biden

Getting it right: "Nobody in this country realizes that cap-and-trade is a tax, and it's a great big one." --Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

VILLAGE IDIOTS

Just plain strange: "You know as the world is talking about torture and the Bush administration, then we have Michelle with her vegetable garden. Talk about spring time in America!" --editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast Tina Brown

From the gun grabbers: "None of [my family or friends] wants to own an assault weapon, because we have no desire to kill policemen or go to a school or workplace to see how many victims we can accumulate before we are finally shot or take our own lives. That's why the White House and Congress must not give up on trying to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, even if it may be politically difficult. ... We can't let the N.R.A.'s political blackmail prevent the banning of assault weapons -- designed only to kill police officers and the people they defend." --Jimmy Carter

From the Glitterati: "I know [Venezuela's] President Chavez well. Whether or not one agrees with all his policies, what is certainly true of Chavez is that he is a warm and friendly man with a robust sense of humor (who daily risks his own life for his country in ways Dick Cheney could never imagine)." --actor Sean Penn on his man-crush

SHORT CUTS

"A report yesterday held that Vice President Joe Biden has been lobbying [Arlen] Specter for six years trying to get him to switch parties. If that's not torture, I don't know what is: Six years of having to listen to Biden? Talk about political waterboarding." --political analyst Rich Galen

"'Man-caused disaster.' That's a perfect description of the Scare Force One torture photo-op that took place this week and an apt summary of the last 100 days. Say cheese." --columnist Michelle Malkin

"[Thursday] was 'Take Your Kid to Work Day.' It used to be 'Take Your Daughter to Work Day,' but political correctness took over. Thanks to the economy, there's a new special day for parents and kids -- 'Take Your Child to Where You Used to Work Day.'" --comedian Jimmy Kimmel

"Fox Network turned down President Obama's request for air time tonight for his White House press conference. Instead the network will air the drama, 'Lie to Me.' Anybody who can tell the difference wins two free tickets to the American Idol finale." --comedian Argus Hamilton

Jay Leno:

I was sick for two days last week. Had to go to the hospital after I ate a raw pig a friend brought back from Mexico.

You learn a lot about the system. You know, like, people say, "Oh, where do hospitals get the nerve to charge $10 for an aspirin?" See, this is why President Obama wants to do something about healthcare in this country. See, under his plan, hospital aspirin only costs a dollar maximum. Of course, there would be a $9 tax on it.

I wasn't that sick, but some people are, because of this swine flu, which has knocked the torture stuff right off the front page. You notice that? So, it's obvious who is spreading the swine flu -- Dick Cheney.

They're calling it swine flu because it's either originated from pigs or AIG executives.

To give you an idea how bad this swine flu is, today the U.S. government took down the border wall and replaced it with a giant sneeze guard.

Remember the good old days when we thought the only bad pork was in the federal budget?

*****

Veritas vos Liberabit -- Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis! Mark Alexander, Publisher, for The Patriot's editors and staff.

(Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm's way around the world, and for their families -- especially families of those fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who granted their lives in defense of American liberty.)