A light shines through the darkness
You may recall that Arlen Specter faced a stiff primary challenge from conservative Pat Toomey, and that President Bush angered a lot of conservatives by backing the moderate Specter, who squeeked out a victory. Well, Arlen has repaid the president's support with a veiled threat to block any judicial nominee he deems too conservative. Specter is in line to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and this is exactly the scenario that Toomey's backers feared.
I'm not laughing. Really, I'm not.
Speaking of the U.S. Senate campaign in Pennsylvania, I see that Libertarian Betsy Summers, for whom I voted, finished dead last with about 77,645 votes. Look out, Rick Santorum, we're coming after you next!
posted by Jonathan Potts at
6:25 PM
6 Comments:
Arlen's staff is now saying he was "misquoted," or his words were taken "out of context," or whatever. The reality is that Bush knew Specter would fight him on judicial appointments and just about anything else of value to the values right (see Bork, see also Clinton Impeachment). But he thought with Specter on the stump, especially in the Philly suburbs, some of his cross-over magic would work. It didn't, but at least it helped press Kerry, who was saddled with a less-than-winning combination (a popular governor who wasn't running, and a no-name Senatorial candidate who was).
7:01 PM
Speaking of our popular Gov, "Fast Eddie."
Do you think he is still popular? Has his "approval rating" fallen? I don't know. I think it has to some degree.
On the NBC Today show, Katie C. interviewed Ed R. and started the conversation with something like, "Now that Kerry lost, we tried very hard to get a spokesperson from the Dem Party to come on the show and none would. So, we have you here. ... "
It was like Katie told the Gov.... "you're not even worth the interview." She was sad to have to talk to him. He was the only one willing to come on the show.
What's up with that?
11:00 PM
That is a bit odd. He's certainly not popular with me, but I'm hardly representative of the voting public. I suspect he is still relatively popular. In terms of passing his own agenda, he's been pretty successful, regardless of what you think of that agenda. I think his budget standoff with the Legislature is fading from memory.
I seem to recall that he came off as a bit of a buffoon during the 2000 election recount, and his record as DNC chair was mixed.
8:59 AM
I too voted for Betsy Summers, FWIW. She wrote in public... just this AM.
Hi Everyone,
I survived! It took a couple days of extra sleep and food, but I am back and ready to go. All of the counties have reported in and the unofficial count is at 77,645. Not to bad for an 11 week, 11,000 mile campaign. Cost per vote .063 cents (I think, I'm not quite done with the expenses yet). A friend told me that I have to get in to office... I would be able to feed a thousand people on one chicken leg.... Thanks to everyone that helped with my campaign, from a bed (or sofa), to mentioning my name to someone. It worked. We retained our minor party status and we gained new contacts, experience, and ideas. Let's not drop the ball. Now is the time to really go to work.
I am sending this communication on so that you can send a letter if you wish. I met Mike at the Erie Gay Pride event on 10/3.
Yours in peace and liberty,
Betsy
9:25 AM
Rendell beat an incumbent AG running for Governor by garnering a zillion swing votes. Single-handedly, he has transformed the Philadelphia suburbs (long an enclave of the GOP) into a force for Democrats. Can you imagine Murphy doing the same in Pittsburgh? Impossible.
I was in Harrisburg three months ago for a meeting with some GOP bigwigs, and they conceded that Rendell's popularity was tough for them in their own districts. They knew they would lose on slots, but they thought they could delay the Governor on Growing Greener II, etc. They were successful on the latter, and conceded the former, which Rendell won largely because of his pull.
That's impressive because the Dems control nothing in Harrisburg but the Governor's mansion.
Personally, I've never understood why Rendell is so popular. He's a bloated caricature of the ward big-mouth, of course, but he's also a death penalty, fry-'em-first prosecutor with suburban cred in the only suburbs that matter in this state.
I've never bought into the "Philadelphia Miracle," however, because it seemed to me all he had to do was crack done on the ward system, ok some balanced budgets, turn taxing and a lot of spending authority over to the state, and bust the police and fire unions.
Hmmmmmm. Where else could that sort of solution work?
In Philadelphia, largely because of his intellect and political skills, Eddie turned all these negatives into positives. Somehow, I can't imagine Tom Murphy coming out of this as anything but a lonely, diminished husk of a man.
Which means, of course, the Pittsburgh machine will re-elect him.
9:33 AM
Rendell beat an incumbent AG running for Governor by garnering a zillion swing votes. Single-handedly, he has transformed the Philadelphia suburbs (long an enclave of the GOP) into a force for Democrats. Can you imagine Murphy doing the same in Pittsburgh? Impossible.
I was in Harrisburg three months ago for a meeting with some GOP bigwigs, and they conceded that Rendell's popularity was tough for them in their own districts. They knew they would lose on slots, but they thought they could delay the Governor on Growing Greener II, etc. They were successful on the latter, and conceded the former, which Rendell won largely because of his pull.
That's impressive because the Dems control nothing in Harrisburg but the Governor's mansion.
Personally, I've never understood why Rendell is so popular. He's a bloated caricature of the ward big-mouth, of course, but he's also a death penalty, fry-'em-first prosecutor with suburban cred in the only suburbs that matter in this state.
I've never bought into the "Philadelphia Miracle," however, because it seemed to me all he had to do was crack done on the ward system, ok some balanced budgets, turn taxing and a lot of spending authority over to the state, and bust the police and fire unions.
Hmmmmmm. Where else could that sort of solution work?
In Philadelphia, largely because of his intellect and political skills, Eddie turned all these negatives into positives. Somehow, I can't imagine Tom Murphy coming out of this as anything but a lonely, diminished husk of a man.
Which means, of course, the Pittsburgh machine will re-elect him.
9:43 AM
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