Yep, That Pretty Much Describes Him

Today's National Review editorial perfectly sums up Arlen Specter:

Arlen Specter belongs to a type familiar to Congress: the time-serving hack devoid of any principle save arrogance. He has spent three decades in the Senate but is associated with no great cause, no prescient warning, no landmark legislation. Yet he imagines that the Senate needs his wisdom and judgment for a sixth term. He joined the Republican party out of expediency in the 1960s, and leaves it out of expediency this week.

Those who attribute his defection to the rise of social conservatism are deluding themselves. It is not as though he has been a reliable vote for any other type of conservatism. He has stood apart from the mainstream of his party on welfare reform, trade, taxes, affirmative action, judicial appointments, tort reform, and national-security law...

(emphasis added)

I'm really not into party politics, so whether the pro-abort Specter has an "R" or a "D" next to his name is of little import to me. But if I were a Republican, I'd be wishing good riddance to bad rubbish.