Posted on 07/04/2005 8:10:50 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak, a former pro football player, is considering a run at the Democratic nomination for U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood's seat.
I think that Sherwood should retire.
Not a problem if Shewood told her You better get some ice on that. he will win by a landslide with a 40% Democrat crossover vote.
No argument there. If he remains, we will needlessly lose this seat (and no 'Rat has won it since Stanley Prokop in 1958).
That only works with 'Rats. For example, Oregon's David Wu, a sexual predator, got the "thumbs up" for his reelection to the House last year.
Ditto. Sherwood needs to be taken out in a primary. If Sherwood is running for the general election it will depress GOP turnout. Such vote depression in the district could have an adverse effect on Sen. Rick Santorum next year.
Fmr. Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, III could get out of the Governor's race and jump into this contest and win easily. His dad held this seat back in '61-'63 before winning the Governorship (and dad is still alive and could run for the seat in a pinch if needed).
"Fmr. Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, III could get out of the Governor's race and jump into this contest and win easily."
Also, Hastert and House leadership need to get a grip on reality and not back incumbents regardless
Here in Illinois in a district adjacent to Hastert's it was obvious in 2002 that Crane was going to lose if he ran in 2004. But Hastert backed Crane out of loyalty/stupidity and specifically blocked McSweeney from running in 2004.
Hastert&Co should not be allowed to make the same mistake again. A strong challenger should not be scared away by the incumbency protection plan.
I wouldn't say straight out we "knew" he (Phil Crane) was going to lose in '04, but that he was in enough trouble that he should step aside. Hopefully Ms. Bean's fluke win will be a one-term aberration.
There's an idea, run him against Kanjorski.
Once a Rat gets in under these circumstances, he or she stays in. We have to keep them out.
"There's an idea, run him against Kanjorski."
Tennessee might not have known it but 99% of Republican workers in Crane's 8th did know it. Many of us spoke up loudly about it. At McSweeney's fundraiser that featured Hastert years ago numerous people told it directly to Hastert while they were having their photos taken with him. I heard them while I was standing in line for my photo with him... and of course I told Hastert the truth directly in that photo shot. That Hastert featured the McSweeney fundraiser implied that he had heard the cry from the voters in the district, although he never explicitly said so. But then later Hastert chased McSweeney out of the race and cleared the field for a suicide run by Crane.
Crane aside, the Illinois GOP has been divided over corruption: Half the GOP pro-corruption, half the GOP anti-corruption. Nobody had the heart to oppose Hastert on Crane and create another split in the party that would cloud the two factions fighting over corruption.
No, I know, you're right. Scranton isn't too far afield from Hafer, so he wouldn't play particularly well in the Kanjorski district.
Don't criticize my locale, I've been told I know far more far about non-Tennessee politics than my own backyard. As one who knows about the demographics of the district, even with a candidate like Crane, it was still likely to reelect him, but by a nailbiting margin. I however agree that he should've stepped down prior to the election for that reason alone.
"Crane aside, the Illinois GOP has been divided over corruption: Half the GOP pro-corruption, half the GOP anti-corruption. Nobody had the heart to oppose Hastert on Crane and create another split in the party that would cloud the two factions fighting over corruption."
That is the preeminent problem with the state party, indeed (though it also similarly plagues other states, most notably New Jersey). It will take someone with considerable intestinal fortitude to clean up the problem, but it's sad to see good people like Pete Fitzgerald chased off by trash henchmen like LaHood to preserve the status quo. I mean, how can we bash the 'Rats and their inherent corruption when we can't even rid ourselves of the same stench ?
FM, are you really in TN or are you an alter ego of BillyBoy?
The problem is that the GOP establishment has too many LaHoods and Hasterts. Nobody has accused either one of directly being corrupt. But they aid the cover-up of the corrupt... in both parties.
Yup, I'm really in TN (though I have some midwestern roots).
"The problem is that the GOP establishment has too many LaHoods and Hasterts. Nobody has accused either one of directly being corrupt. But they aid the cover-up of the corrupt... in both parties."
LaHood's task was to "take care of" Pete Fitzgerald, and he did so in a spectacular way. It's revolting to realize these thugs feel more comfortable with Blago and Obama in charge of things than Republicans pledged to weeding out corruption. We had one of those style "IL Republicans" (this one from the Quad Cities) come down to Tennessee and ended up as Governor, and he was almost every inch as destructive as George Ryan (and not too many saw it coming). His parting gift to Tennessee was seeing a 'Rat take his place...
Then what is the likelihood of retaking the seat?
The Crane seat ? Fairly good I would think (as long as a disaster doesn't occur in the GOP primary). Of course, never fault the IL GOP to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
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