Arlen Spector is no panacea.

Arlen Specter leaves the Republicans and becomes a Democrat. Arlen Specter? The man is pure poison! Swallow his jive at your own risk. From torture (he's against, he's for it) to illegal wiretapping (he's for it; he's against it)-- from there move on to his work in getting Roberts and Alioto on the Court. ...to his saying no to Unions and you have a thoroughly contemptible Senator--

Perhaps no worse than many other senators, but no big plus for the so-called big tent democrats who list rightward more with each day. Is there is left-wing in the big-tent Democratic Party? Someone to say no to Wall Street, no to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, yes to unions, no to the trillions of dollars in our budget for military world hegemony--let this person stand up!