Arlen Specter still walks the line.  But unlike Johnny Cash's straight and narrow, Specter's line is a teetering tightrope performance, leaning one way as he feels the spotlight from those who seethe with hatred for Bush, then swinging upright to avoid falling off the thin wire of support maintained by the Republicans.

The Balancing Act

When asked about the NSA eavesdropping on ABC's "This Week"  Senator Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said:

•  "I thought they were wrong,"
  • This plays to the ABC interview show's base, yet doesn't really say the eavesdropping was wrong and Specter leans the other way later.
• "There still may be different collateral powers under wartime situations."
  • Provides cover for those who approve of spying on the enemy.  Those who don't critically doubt the first statement won't understand this one.
• "That is a knotty question."
  • Gosh Arlen!  That makes your thoughtful staggering even more thoughtful!
•  "I don't think anyone doubts the president is making a good-faith effort. He's acting in a way that he feels he must."
  • From here he can be seen as standing by the President or saying "Poor George, he can't hep it!"

All Bases are Covered

So once again Specter has set himself up where he is holding no particular position and can defend himself from any direction.  In other words, years of meandering arguments on the judicial committee has made him the consummate modern politician.  Is it possible to raise public awareness to the point that such weaseling makes one unelectable? We can only try.