There was politics last night! In Pennsylvania, party-switching career politician Arlen Specter saw his career end in a Democratic primary loss to Rep. Joe Sestak, marking the first time Pennsylvania Democrats were able to beat Specter statewide. In Kentucky, Rand "Son of Ron" Paul beat the establishment candidate in the Republican Senate primary, proving that the Tea Party movement "is huge," and not too crazy for Kentucky Republicans. In Arkansas, incumbent Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln was forced into a run-off with Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in what an Arkansas paper adorably thinks is "one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation."

BREAKING from Politico: Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter will leave the Republican party and run for re-election as a Democrat. One can only imagine how thrilled potential Pennsylvania Democratic candidates for the office must feel right now. Anyway, the move puts the Democratic party one vote closer to a filibuster-proof majority (in theory; Nebraska fuckwad Ben Nelson can't be counted on for anything, and a statement from Specter promises that he won't be an automatic vote); if, as expected, the Minnesota election is decided in favor of Al Franken, they'll hit the number. Maybe even by early 2010!

Politico: Arlen Specter does not wash his hands after he goes to the bathroom.

A thought on the Specter switch: If you're Norm Coleman, wouldn't you be begging Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe to follow Arlen into the Democratic caucus right now? I mean, you want to run for Minnesota governor but you look like a jackass for dragging out the Senate recount. Unfortunately, with that one seat being the only thing keeping the Dems from a filibuster-proof majority, the National Republican Committee has your balls in a vise tightened all the way to the busting point. Snowe seems more amenable to a switch than Collins, but, if you're Norm, you should be pleading with both of the Maine senators, [...]