Reid Double Crosses Double Crossing Specter

You can read up on the latest in the Specter saga at Matt Lewis' post here. First, Specter backstabs Republicans with the stimulus, then he backstabs them again by switching parties, only to find a knife stuck firmly in his own back. The fingerprints on that knife clearly belong to one Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader.

POLITICO.com

"Sen. Reid assured me that I would keep my committee assignments and that I would have the same seniority as if I had been elected as a Democrat in 1980," Specter said. "It was understood that the issue of subcommittee chairmanships would not be decided until after the 2010 election. Some members of the caucus have raised concerns about my seniority, so the caucus will vote on my seniority at the same time subcommittee chairmanships are confirmed after the 2010 election. I am confident my seniority will be maintained under the arrangement I worked out with Sen. Reid."

...

By Tuesday night, Reid had no option but to strip Specter of his seniority, staffers with knowledge of the situation say. Reid preserved a vestige of his original promise to Specter by vowing to revisit the matter after the 2010 midterms.

...

Other Democrats, including Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) all said they were kept in the dark about Reid's decision. Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said he was in the loop but referred all questions to the leader.

It would be fun to focus on the karmic aspect of this, and no doubt others will. But take a look at the excerpts above and it's clear that either Harry Reid is one of the most deceiving manipulating SOB's in the Senate, to match good 'ol snarlin' Arlen himself...

Or Reid is extremely incompetent. At this point senator, Specter is likely putting out feelers to McConnell about coming back. To which my preferred response would be: Stay over there, we'll beat you with Toomey or Ridge, if it even gets that far.