So, Arlen Specter has switched parties, and the Democrats are elated. They’re one seat away from a sixty-seat majority, the very thing Arlen Specter claimed needed to not happen recently, as it would mean getting closer to a one-party system. But hey, that one-party system is A-OK with Specter, as long as it benefits him, right?

Interestingly, Specter recently endorsed Norm Coleman to win the Minnesota race with Al Franken… after he switched. Not only did he endorse him, but he said it was the right thing to do!

Said Specter: “There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.”

And now, Specter’s giving a casual, “NEVERMIND!” Apparently, it doesn’t matter if it’s “the right thing” if it hurts his chances of getting re-elected in 2010 with a (D) next to his name. Harry Reid must’ve set him straight or something, because he’s backpedaling:

Asked whether he cared about a shortage of Jewish Republicans in the Senate, Specter replied: “I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.”

But questioned outside the Senate chamber Tuesday, Specter said the comment was a mistake.

“In the swirl of moving from one caucus to another, I have to get used to my new teammates,” he said. “I’m ordinarily pretty correct in what I say. I’ve made a career of being precise. I conclusively misspoke.”

Asked who he’s backing now in elections, Specter said, “I’m looking for more Democratic members. Nothing personal.”

That’s right… he forgot who he was supposed to endorse. No crossing party lines as a Democrat, even if it’s the right thing to do. No thinking for yourself as a Democrat, even if the election really was stolen. Don’t speak up, don’t say anything off script, and don’t you dare think for yourself. Principles? Arlen Specter doesn’t need those.

Now, Harry Reid had promised that, as a Democrat, Arlen Specter would get to keep his seniority on various committees. And guess what? Reid’s caucus just gave Specter a big ‘ole middle finger and said, I don’t think so, buddy…

The Senate dealt a blow tonight to Sen. Arlen Specter’s hold on seniority in several key committees, a week after the Pennsylvanian’s party switch placed Democrats on the precipice of a 60-seat majority.

In a unanimous voice vote, the Senate approved a resolution that added Specter to the Democratic side of the dais on the five committees on which he serves, an expected move that gives Democrats larger margins on key panels such as Judiciary and Appropriations.

But Democrats placed Specter in one of the two most junior slots on each of the five committees for the remainder of this Congress, which goes through December 2010. Democrats have suggested that they will consider revisiting Specter’s seniority claim at the committee level only after the midterm elections next year.

“This is all going to be negotiated next Congress,” Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), said tonight.

Specter’s office declined to comment.

Without any assurance of seniority, Specter loses a major weapon in his campaign to win reelection in 2010: the ability to claim that his nearly 30 years of Senate service places him in key positions to benefit his constituents.

How humiliating for Arlen Specter. Instead of being a committee chair, he’s been demoted. When it comes time for Barack Obama’s judicial nominee to meet with the committee, Specter will be last to ask questions, when recently he’s been second. That’s quite a step down.

Of course, it’s entirely possible — and probable — that Democrats are sending a message here. This move completely undermine’s Specter’s argument in 2010 that he should be re-elected based on his seniority in the Senate, which will benefit his constituents. That argument is gone, null, void, vanished. He has no argument for re-election now. If the Democrats run someone against Specter in the primary, he has no hope. And Democrats seem to be saying to Joe Sestak, “PSSST. We’re with you.”

You almost gotta feel bad for Arlen. (Almost.) But then, this is what you get when nothing you do is about any kind of principles whatsoever, and completely out of desperation and self-preservation.

Here’s hoping we can say bye-bye to Arlen in 2010 for good. Until then, I hope the Democrats enjoy having this loser on their side of the aisle.