"For Republicans this (Specters shift of parties) was demoralization piled on top of demoralization. Many Republicans I speak to are apathetic about their own party unless they are paid to care. It's like how you feel about your favorite team at the end of a losing season. They're still your team. You just don't care about them. (I am male — must use sports metaphors.)

My own view is that Republicans will have to lose three presidential elections to regain their dominance. That's how long it took the British Conservatives. There's almost zero sign of rethinking so far.

In the meantime, I do have to salute Specter's deft ability to survive. I thought he was cooked. He would have lost the G.O.P. primary. I've been told he no longer has the physical stamina to run two tough campaigns — primary and general. I figured he couldn't get the Democratic nomination, because Democrats do after all prefer to vote for Democrats. And it's tough to run as an Independent...."

(NYT columnist and Republican David Brooks)