Specter says he's switching from GOP to Dems (see below for G2's spin):

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent 1 min ago

WASHINGTON – Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania disclosed plans Tuesday to switch parties, a move intended to boost his chances of winning re-election next year that also will push Democrats within one seat of a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority.

"I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans," Specter said in a statement posted on a Web site devoted to Pennsylvania politics and confirmed by his office. Several Senate officials said a formal announcement was expected later in the day or Wednesday.

President Barack Obama called Specter almost immediately after he was informed of the decision to say the Democratic Party was "thrilled to have you," according to a White House official.

Specter, 79 and in his fifth term, is one of a handful of Republican moderates remaining in Congress in a party now dominated by conservatives. Several officials said secret talks that preceded his decision reached into the White House, involving both Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden, a longtime colleague in the Senate. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell as well as Democratic leaders in Congress also were involved, added the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose details.

With Specter, Democrats would have 59 Senate seats. Democrat Al Franken is ahead in a marathon recount in Minnesota, and if he ultimately wins his race against Republican Norm Coleman, he would become the party's 60th vote. That is the number needed to overcome a filibuster.

Specter faced an extraordinarily difficult re-election challenge in his home state in 2010, having first to confront a challenge from his right in the Republican primary before pivoting to a general

Specter has long been one of the most durable politicians of either party in Pennsylvania. In recent years, he has battled Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, but maintains a busy schedule that includes daily games of squash.

As one of the most senior Republicans in the Senate, Specter held powerful positions on the Judiciary and Appropriations committees. It was not clear how Democrats would calculate his seniority in assigning committee perches.

Specter has long been an independent Republican, and he proved it most recently when he became one of only three members of the GOP in Congress to vote for Obama's economic stimulus legislation.

A senior White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because no announcement has yet been made, said at 10:25 a.m. EDT Tuesday President Barack Obama was handed a note while in the Oval Office during his daily economic briefing. The note said: "Specter is announcing he is changing parties." At 10:32, Obama reached Specter by phone and told him "you have my full support" and that the Democratic Party is "thrilled to have you."

G2's take:

I'm reminded of "The Godfather." Although it is known that Calo set up Santino (Sonny) to be killed, Michael lets Carlo think he's going to have prominent role in the family's Las Vegas operation. Michael also agrees to be the godfather for Carlo and Connie son's. After the ceremony, he tells Carlo to go right back to his house. He meets him there and lays it on the line.

"You're still going to have to answer for Santino, Carlo," Michael calmy says.

Tearfully, and under the false impression that his life will be spared, Carlo admits what Michael already knew. He had helped Barzini set up Santino to be killed.

Then, Carlo meets his end.

So,Arlen Specter wants to be a Democrat?

You still have to answer for the single-bullet theory, Arlen.

If you can't -- or won't -- do it, I guess your political career is as dead as Carlo when he kicked the windshield while Fat Clemenza strangled him from the backseat.

If you admit the error of your ways and ask forgiveness ... welcome aboard.

I could not let today -- April 21, 2009 -- pass without noting that it is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

As someone who -- in another time and place -- would have carted away, whether or not I was religious or not, this day always had personal meaning.

But it seems to have more impact this year and I need not pay a therapist to unearth the reason.

It is because of Sofia and how much my wife and I love her with every ounce of our beings.

I can't even wrap my arms around the concept of the helplessness of trying to protect a child who someone else deems unworthy to exist.

I think of a lot of people on this day, but I'm mostly thinking of the parents -- parents who watched their children die in front of their eyess, parents who tried to survive for the sake of their children and died in fear of what would become of them, parents who sent their children to live in hiding with others without knowing what the ominous future would bring.

The goodbyes had to be the most painful in history of humankind.

And it's something to which every parent could relate, regardless of who and what you are.

If you are reading this right now, please take a moment to remember. Take a moment to hold your children -- and your parents -- a little closer.

Shalom.

Let the countdown begin. The NFL Draft is this coming weekend (April 25-26) and any real man worth the weight of his bowling ball will, at the very least, be monitoring the non-action.

More specific, let us narrow our focus to the only team that matters -- the Eagles.

If some rookie steps up in the middle of season and starts making plays, don't come to me and say: "Where did this guy come from?" You should already know. That's why you're here. Let's call it Eagles' Draft 101 (the second part of the course will be my post-draft postmortem).

After trading away one their two first-round picks (No. 28 overall) -- as well as an expendable fourth and a sixth next year -- to Buffalo for All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, the Birds have already had a successful draft.

Instead of moving up to the first third of Round One to get a question mark at left tackle, which would have fit Andy Reid's MO as much as a third trip to the buffet table or poor clock management at the end of a half, they got a proven tackle with the 28th pick.

And who looks like a genius now for making that trade out of the first round last year with Carolina to pick up the extra first?

And all the outcry about Brian Dawkins and the other veterans they let leave via free agency? That money under the cap was used to lock up Peters in a lucrative six-year deal.

And the best part is that the Eagles are still sitting as pretty as a Playboy bunny at H2's ranch as this weekend approaches. They still have 10 picks and not a whole lot of glaring needs.

The view from my binoculars here in Gordonville is that the needs are these: A running back who can spell Brian Westbrook while also being able to create some of the same headaches for defensive coordinators; A tight end to pair with Brent Celek; And, in my mind, an upgrade at center (with the other NFC East teams bolstering the interior of their defensive lines this offseason).

Anything else would be strictly for depth.

Some would say the Eagles still need a safety after losing Dawkins, but don't forget they signed Shawn Jones and Rashad Baker in free agency to join Quintin Mikell and Quintin Demps (who can play the game, in spite of his nightmarish outing in the NFC championship). Many national draft "experts" have the Eagles going for a safety in the earlier rounds, but I wouldn't be surprised if they wait until later -- or not at all.

As for other defensive postions, they may add a tackle and/or rush end and maybe a linebacker. And this is a deep draft for corners, so they may surprise us earlier than expected.

Offensively, you may see a receiver at some point. Ditto for another running back to add depth beyond whatever blue-chipper they grab in the early rounds. And the Eagles never leave a draft without a lineman or two, even though they have enough on their roster for two teams already. Quarterback? Andy Reid once said that any year a team has extra picks, they should take a quarterback -- if only to groom into an asset to be traded away.

That said, let's look at this three ways. The first is the fantasy. It's how I would do it. Keep in mind that I have many fantasy football titles on my resume and the reason was my drafting prowess. The second is the harsh thud of reality. It is what the Eagles will probably do, knowing their all-too-predictable proclivities. The third is, well, a mixture of the two views. A way it could, conceivably, fall into place.

Little trades are a likely possibility, as the Eagles are known to pull stunts like trading a fifth for a fourth the following year. Following the Peters move, I think it is less likely the Eagles move up but possible they move down a few spots in the first round. However, it would be all conjecture on top of all the guesswork we are already dealing with here. Therefore, for the sake of this drill, no trades.

Ready? Let's roll:

My Way - The Fantasy

First Round (No. 21 overall): LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
- Comment: Sorry, folks. The perfect fit, Knowshon Moreno of Georgia, will be off the board and Chris "Beanie" Wells of Ohio State is not the Eagles' type of back. The explosive McCoy may be a slight reach, but trading back 6-8 spots would be risky because he is an ideal fit in Arizona and they could jump ahead if we jump back too far.
Second Round (No. 53):Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
- Comment: Some would say this is another slight reach, but Cofffman (90 catches, 10 TDs last year) has the bloodlines (his father was a solid NFL tight end). Needs work as a blocker, but will put in the effort to learn. Great character guy, which will be a nice departure from L.J. Smith.
Third Round (No. 85): Eric Wood, C, Louisville
- Comment: I didn't want to do this. There were more exciting and inviting players on the board (Jackson State corner Domonique Jackson could be a steal). I love the top two centers in this draft -- Alex Mack of California and Max Unger of Oregon -- and one or the other could be there if the Eagles trade out of 21 and add a pick in the middle of the second round. That scenario aside, Wood is a four-year starter and adds competition at a spot that can't just be gift-wrapped for the very pedestrian and limited Jamaal Jackson because of a lack of other viable options.
Fifth Round (No. 141): McKenna"Bear" Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
- Comment: While considered to be around the 10th best tight end available, he is higher the list of two-way tight ends (once you removed the glorified wide receivers from the list). Had 85 catches over the last two seasons and uses his size (6-5, 257) well as a blocker. Earned his nickname because of his playing style. Happy? And now, with three tight ends (Celek, Coffman and "Bear"), we can wave a collective goodbye to Matt Schobel once and for all. Four's a crowd, dude!
Fifth Round (No. 153): Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State
- Comment: Yes, this is the guy who proposed to his girlfriend after the amazing 2007 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. He's also the same guy who returned as a Heisman Trophy candidate and didn't improve much, although injuries were the main culprit. In a West Coast attack, Johnson's receiving skills are enough to put the pitiful Lorenzo Booker out of work.
Fifth Round (No. 157): Terrance Knighton, DT, Temple
- Comment: This guy was playing dominating football at the end of the season (I watch my alma mater whenever possible, so this is a sleeper from the pages of my own personal scouting reports.). Plus, if someone is going put Dan Klecko out of a job as the fourth defensive tackle, it may as well be another Temple guy, right?
Fifth Round (No. 159): Kaluka Maiva, OLB, USC
- Comment: The forgotten guy among the Trojans' linebackers (three will go in the first two rounds, if not all the first). Maiva is undersized (6-0, 232) but has an oversized heart and some athleticism to at least kick it old school on special teams.
Sixth Round (No. 194): Deon Butler, WR, Penn State
- Comment: Although teammate Derek Williams will get draft higher, probably in the early third round, let us not forget that Butler actually led PSU with 47 catches for 810 yards and 7 touchdowns last season. He also has return ability, should Desean Jackson get dinged. His size -- 5-9, 173 -- is the only reason for the drop on draft boards. He runs a 4.47 40 and makes plays. So here is your receiver, fans. Sorry if it wasn't someone more exotic.
Sixth Round (No. 195): Anthony Scirrotto, SS, Penn State
- Comment: I hate Penn State, really. But business is business. Can help on special teams and maybe develop into a third safety in time. A lot like former Eagle and Penn Stater Mike Zordich. Can you live with that as a deep reserve? Note to annoying Nittany Lions' fans who over-value their guys: This is where they are rated, sorry.
Seventh Round (No. 230): Ryan Mouton, Athlete, Hawaii
- Comment: Runs a 4.4 in the 40 but doesn't really have a position, although he would probably get a first look at corner. Hey, you can't teach speed. This flyer is worth a flier.

Note that I doubled up on several of the need positions. Not the way Andy will do it ...

Reid's Way - The Reality

First Round (No. 21 overall): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
- Comment: Some say he won't be there, but he will. And I think Reid goes for the jugular by taking the top-rated guy at a need position. Can't really argue except ... what about running back? We'll hear the spin about how Westbrook is back at full strength and how Lorenzo Booker will be better in his second year in the system. Scary, but we've heard it all before, have we not?
Second Round (No. 53): Paul Kruger, DE, Utah
- Comment: Another great value pick, or so they will spin it about this overaged rookie (he's 24) who is also slender (6-5, 265) but athletic and hard-working and considered to be more of a Top 40 pick. Oh ... and he's also a Mormon. Gotta keep that quota up, Andy.
Third Round (No. 85): Pat White, multi-purpose, West Virginia
- Comment: "We couldn't believe he was still on the board. We had him as a Day 1 pick," GM Tom Heckert will proclaim. Sure, don't all guys without a true position get drafted in the first two rounds? White has flaws as a quarterback and is too small (6-0, 190) to play there anyway. There are more polished wide receivers and making him a running back would be a project. But the Eagles will tell us they got three for the price of one. The fans will eat up like a Pat's Cheese Steak, too.
Fifth Round (No. 141): Austin Collie, WR, BYU
- Comment: The same spin as with White and Kruger, as Collie led the nation in receiving yards (1,538 on 105 catches!) while hauling in 15 touchdowns last season in a gimmick offense. He's been called by a scouts a "slower version of Kevin Curtis." On the plus side, maybe he'll be able to stay on his feet and actually catch the ball when it counts most (ouch, a shot at Kevin Curtis!). Or maybe, as with almost all young receivers, he'll ride the bench here for 13 years while learning the complex scheme. In the meanwhile, another Mormon to give part of his salary to the church is in the fold. Good times.
Fifth Round (No. 153): Scott McKillop, ILB, Pitt
- Comment: A good player and good value here, but ... a middle linebacker when you already have Stewart Bradley and Joe Mays? Does anyone at NovaCare know that you can only 53 guys on the active roster?
Fifth Round (No. 157): Seth Olson, OG, Iowa
- Comment: The needless run on offensive lineman who will hard-pressed to make the team begins by reaching for a tough-but-limited athlete.
Fifth Round (No. 159): Sammie Hill, DT, Stillman College
- Comment: The Eagles love taking a small-school project each year to look clever. This guy is humungous (6-4, 330) but had all of 7.5 sacks against virtual midgets. Good night, good luck ... but a good mini-camp storyline for the beat writers.
Sixth Round (No. 194): Brett Helms, C, LSU
- Comment: An undersized center? In 2009? Albert Haynesworth is salivating already. So is Jamaal Jackson. Job is safe, baby.
Sixth Round (No. 195): Stephen McGee, QB, Texas A&M
- Comment: An option college quarterback with a lot of grit will become Andy's practice squad science project, even with better QBs still on the board. Grrrrr!
Seventh Round (No. 230): Phil Trautwein, OT, Florida
- Comment: A South Jersey kid who was one of Florida's team captains. That's the good news. The bad news ... too slow-footed and soft for the next level. But what's another offensive lineman to cut?

The above will look like a good draft, value-wise, but will have flaws revealed as the years pass. What else is new, huh?

But there is another way it could go and I wouldn't surprised -- or terribly displeased -- so keep these names in mind ...

First Round (No. 21 overall): Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
-Comment: A DeSean Jackson type, Harvin could also line up in the backfield -- as he did at Florida -- as a third-down back. Has a major tude but great upside.
Second Round (No. 53): Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
- Comment: Has a lot of potential but his Day 1 status is based a lot on pre-draft workouts and not production. I'd rather see Victor Abiamiri get a shot to start this year.
Third Round (No. 85): Jeremiah Johnson, RB, Oregon
- Comment: His name has been paired with the Eagles a lot because he fits the system. Smallish (5-9, 200), he is more quick than fast but has been highly productive as a runner and catches the ball smoothly. Stock drops slightly because of a torn ACL in 2007, but he could be a nice pick (kind of like another third-round running back from Villanova a few years back).
Fifth Round (No. 141): Austin Collie, WR, BYU
- Comment: Come on ... you know it's gonna happen! His older brother, Zac, was a training camp body two years ago after playing at BYU. Their dad, Scott, and Andy Reid were college teammates at ... BYU.
Fifth Round (No. 153): Tony Fiametta, FB, Syracuse
- Comment: Yes, the Eagles signed Leonard Weaver. But it was only a one-year deal. Although the versatile Fiammetta is the top-ranked fullback among an average group, he may slip this far. The Eagles can sell the fact that he can play a little tight end and/or H-back -- as can Weaver (a college tight end).
Fifth Round (No. 157): John Phillips, TE, Virginia
- Comment: Don't worry, here's a true tight end four picks later. They'll forget they ever uttered the nonsense about how they will use Fiametta when they already have Weaver. Phillips has good size (6-6, 251) and does everything decently -- except get deep. Scouts believe that if he can add 10-15 pounds, he could be as much of a force blocking as Pettigrew down the road. Whatever. I still like my guy, the "Bear," better.
Fifth Round (No. 159): Roy Miller, DT, Texas
- Comment: An effort player who has the fortitude to make it as a backup.
Sixth Round (No. 194): Brandon Underwood, DB, Cincinnati
- Comment: A defensive back is likely at some point, and this guy can play safety and corner.
Sixth Round (No. 195): Mike Reilly, QB, Central Washington
- Comment: If Donovan McNabb stays past this year, Kevin Kolb goes. Plain and simple. Another guy has to be groomed. Reilly, though at a lower level, put up sick numbers (3,706 yards, 37 touchdowns) last year and throughout his career. Scouts say he would have to play in a West Coast offense to make it because his arm strength is lacking. Reminds some of Jeff Garcia.
Seventh Round (No. 230): Pat McAfee, K-P, West Virginia
- Comment: A kicking specialist? Yeah, why not? It's the seventh round. And the Eagles really don't have a lot of open roster spots. His best bet would be to challenge this inconsistent Sav Rocca, and it could be a dead heat right out of the gate. His presence, even as a kickoff guy, could make David Akers kick it up (get it, kick it up?) a notch, too.

Not as good as my draft, but doesn't leave as many holes as Reid's likely scenario.

And if you read this far, give yourself a hand. I hope this helps create clarity come this weekend.

As promised in my April 5 column deriding blowhard Bill O'Reilly for boycotting Sean Penn films on spec, I'm am pleased to re-release an updated list of my Top 10 films of all-time.

First a note: Lists like these are an important mental exercise to sort stuff out. It's easy to say you like so many movies that it's impossible to cull a list together. I'll give you part of that. I like so many movies that a list of, say, my Top 75 -- in order -- would be impossible.

But a Top 10 should be virtually etched in stone. These aren't the movies you like. They are the ones you love. The ones that shaped who you are.

If, for some strange reason, you have not seen at least half of the following films -- or do not have at least one on your list -- I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse:

1) The Godfather -- Guess I kind of gave it away, huh? No real mystery. Best of the best. When they made it, they threw away the mold. Hard to believe that many great actors were together under one roof. Then again, some -- like Al Pacino and James Caan -- were relative unknowns at the time.

2) Rocky -- "Rocky" is all Philadelphia and Philadelphia is all "Rocky." The litany of sequels, save the half-decent last one, were all Hollyweird. Enough said. As bad as the sequels were, they cannot sully the classic original.

3) The Godfather II -- Welcome to the exception to the rule that sequels usually fall short. Some respected critics have gone so far as to say that this was better than No. 1. Not quite, but very close. Get it up for Bobby D.!

4) JFK -- Don't start with this "historically inaccurate" baloney. I'm as well-read on the JFK turkey shoot as almost anyone and a lot of nails were hit dead on the head by Oliver Stone. Plus, whoever said other "history" movies were 100 percent accurate? Show me one and I'll show you the pin number to my secret bank account in Lichtenstein. Bottom line, this was film-making at its best. For those of you who are easily bored, my advice would be to fast-forward whenever you see Sissy Spacek. It'll cut out about 20 minutes and the plot won't be affected.

5) The Shawshank Redemption -- Like a fine wine, it keeps getting better with age. The true test of a great film is being able to watch it over and over and still enjoy it. Overlooked for Best Picture in favor of the inferior "Forrest Gump," studies have shown that this is rightfully ranked higher on most lists of viewers and critics -- including this one.

6) Serpico -- Al Pacino is the best (although Sean Penn is about to take the baton ... sorry Mr. O'Reilly) and this was Al Pacino at his best. With a lesser actor in the lead role, it could have been a just a half-decent movie and not a G2 all-timer.

7) Annie Hall -- Note to my female fans: If you want to know what it would have been like to date me, check out Woody Allen's character, Alvy Singer, in this one and stop eating your hearts out. Woody has had many classics, but this remains his departure effort.

8) Scarface -- This Pacino film was so perfect through the first two-thirds of it that I'll overlook the borderline silly final third of the script and keep it on the luminous list.

9) Schindler's List -- Just as "The Godfather" is the ultimate mob movie, this was the supreme "Holocaust" film. All that keeps it out of the Top Five is that is hard to sit through, although one time per year is suggested just to remind you that we are all humans in the human race.

10) Driving Miss Daisy -- Someone explain to me how Morgan Freeman did not win an Academy Awofard for Best Supporting actor? Nonetheless, Best Picture honors were on the money. Just pro that big budgets don't guarantee anything. It's all in the writing, directing and acting. Special kudos to Dan Akroyd, who reportedly deferred his salary until after the movie was made. He believed in the project that much. It's enough to restore your faith in humanity -- and maybe even forgive misguided blowhards on the Fox News Network.

Just missing the cut ... Dead Man Walking (not worth boycotting, trust me), The Pope of Greenwich Village (a glimpse into the unfulfilled potential of Mickey Rourke and Eric Roberts), A Bronx Tale (almost too good to be true), Crimes and Misdemeanors (my wife's favorite movie, it's Woody Allen's second best), Braveheart (bumped from previous list, but not because of any Mel Gibson boycott ... further research shows the history is so inaccurate that Oliver Stone would be embarrassed), Glory (best war movie), Platoon (second best war movie), Marty (Ernest Borgnine's best), 12 Angry Men (give me great writing and 12 great actors and keep your special effects), Dog Day Afternoon (another Pacino classic), Matewan (the best from the best independent filmmaker, John Sayles), Hoosiers (best sports movie, followed by Miracle and Rudy), Tender Mercies (Robert Duvall's best effort). Goodfellas (note all the extras who ended up on The Sopranos), Mr. Saturday Night (see what I did there?), Carlito's Way (Sean Penn AND Al Pacino).

If I missed your favorite flicks, don't fret. I've seen thousands -- though none of this year's apparent standouts -- and hundreds are considered classics in Gordonville. You can't name them all and none should be boycotted.