Toxic Influence

Arlen Specter: he tried and failed.

From the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON – Voters rejected one of President Barack Obama's hand-picked candidates and forced another into a runoff, the latest sign that his political capital is slipping beneath a wave of anti-establishment anger.

Sen. Arlen Specter became the fourth Democrat in seven months to lose a high-profile race despite the president's active involvement, raising doubts about Obama's ability to help fellow Democrats in this November's elections.

The first three candidates fell to Republicans. But Specter's loss Tuesday to Rep. Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania's Democratic senatorial primary cast doubts on Obama's influence and popularity even within his own party — and in a battleground state, no less.

Specter's exit is cause for universal jubilation. Probably the most unprincipled and shamelessly Machiavellian of all senators (and, considering the competition, that's saying something), his departure is long overdue. Conservatives, celebrate this evening with a round of drinks.