Matt already blogged last night about Senate Democrats signaling to Arlen Specter that he can vote against key Democratic positions as early and as often as he likes, but he can’t expect to usurp their privileges.

Here’s a tidbit from Politico that adds the perfect footnote to Matt’s post:

A Democratic aide said Tuesday night that Specter’s fate was sealed by comments he made suggesting that he wanted Norm Coleman to win the disputed Minnesota Senate race and by senior Democrats who were angry at the prospect of losing seniority to Specter.

It’s hilarious what Democratic senators were upset by. Not Specter’s vote against Obama‘s budget, or his declared intention to oppose Dawn Johnsen‘s nomination to head the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, or his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act or his steadfast, principled stand against healthcare reform. No sir, what has their panties in a twist is a statement about Norm Coleman deserving to win the Minnesota race that may well have been a joke, and the prospect of losing seniority to him.

And the voice vote that stripped Specter of his seniority was unanimous. When was the last time Senate Democrats voted unanimously on anything?