To Pennsylvania Freepers On This Beautiful But Ugly Day!

PoliticsPA ^ | 1/21/02 | RepublicanWizard

[republicanwizard]

As we sorrowfully know, Ed Rendell will be sworn in today as Governor. Of course, he was elected Governor by Philadelphia, or rather the Philadelphia media, around ten years ago.

Time does fly. In less than 2 years, we will have our chance to prove that Rendell was fleeting. In addition to re-electing President Bush and Senator Specter, we have three constitutional offices to win.

Please post any comments about the future of PA politics here.

[The Old Hoosier]

What you meant to say was, "After re-electing President Bush and electing Senator Toomey..."

[republicanwizard]

Matt Ryan has been a fixture in Pennsylvania for over forty years. He is known as the Father of the Legislature.

Such is the love for Ryan in Harrisburg that they decided to name the building after him.

[republicanwizard]

Old Hoosier,

Specter has been a dedicated Republican. He has worked strongly to elect Republicans. The bitterness on his face at Rendell's inauguration was evident. He was not happy.

Listen, I like Senator Specter. Pennsylvania likes Senator Specter. If we want to re-elect him, that is our business. You and your Club for Growth had best stay out of my state. You are not the President, the national party leader, Mark Racicot, the RNC Chairman, or George Allen, the NRSC chairman. Until you are one of the three, mind your business.

Why don't you get rid of Senator Bayh before meddling in my state's politics.

[republicanwizard]

You're right.

[The Old Hoosier]

So who do you work for--the RNC, the NRSC, or the Main Street Partnership?

Are you saying that primaries are a bad thing if they threaten the position of a Senate RINO? I thought the party's voters were supposed to decide who the candidate is, and not the party elites.

I'm aware that there are much worse than Specter. But there are also much better, and I'd like to see whether GOP voters will nominate a reasonably conservative candidate this year.

You should remember that this is not a Republican discussion board next time you post this kind of vanity.

And I don't live in Indiana.

[rightwingbob]

Specter is a moderate, true. He only votes party line half the time.

But, if Toomey were to win the primary, we'd have to focus a lot of NRSC funds towards defending that seat. Besides, the 15th district which Toomey represents went for Gore.
We'd probably lose the house district, lose NRSC money which we could use to beat Barbara Boxer or some other slime, and might have some democrat in specter's place.

[BillyBoy]

According to Americans for Democratic action, Arlen "Scottish Law" Specter votes THEIR perfered position 60% of the time. The American Conservative Union says the same thing, noting he votes with conservative Republicans a lifetime average of 42%

So ideological groups have proven that your "loyal Republican" votes with the DEMOCRATS the MAJORITY of the time. If you want to re-elect a "Republican" who acts like Robert Byrd, that's your buisness.

I'm betting the rest of the Pennsyvania GOP will come to their sences in 2004 and choose a Senator who doesn't work for the enemy.

Specter, who raised $11 million for his 1992 re-election bid, received less than $3 million from contributors over the course of his presidential campaign. Polls showed his support stuck at 2% or less. He was the most outspoken abortion-rights supporter in the GOP field, and his views...did not sit well with the Republican Party's conservatives. Still, he said he would try to change the party's anti-abortion plank at the national convention in San Diego. Specter is the second declared candidate to drop out "I'm not suspending my strong voice. ... My voice is still strong," said Specter
---------------========================----------------------------------- --USA TODAY, Election '96

[The Old Hoosier]

I think any amount of money is worth keeping this RINO out of the chairmanship of the judiciary committee--which is where he'll be soon if re-elected.

[exile]

Sorry, I can't vote for Specter again after his "Scottish Law" gibberish. I have never and will never vote for a Democrat, but I'm going Libertarian on this one.

[republicanwizard]

Let me try to unconvince you.

Arlen Specter was a District Attorney who was in charge of one the largest criminal caseload in the country. How could he, in all honesty, vote in a criminal trial in which no evidence was presented. Does not the Constitution call for witnesses, etc? Specter, as an honest man, had no choice to vote not proven in that fraud. He didn't say Clinton was not guilty. He simply said it was not proven, and it wasn't, in the constitutional sense.

[republicanwizard]

Watch us get rid of Pat Toomey very easily.

Specter's warchest is so large that Toomey won't have a prayer.

[republicanwizard]

If you look at every vote down the line lately, Specter has voted correctly every key moment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/23/national/23ROLL.html

If you have several million to spend defeating a Republican Senator, please spend it in Arizona. Again, STAY OUT OF MY STATE!

[LdSentinal]

Didn't Arlen Specter defend that murdering leftie, Ira Einhorn?

[The Old Hoosier]

We'll see...

Of course, he's never faced a serious GOP opponent before...

[republicanwizard]

Yes, and Pat Toomey isn't my idea of a serious challenger. Could you explain to me how Toomey would have a chance against Specter when an overwhelming majority of Republicans approve of Specter's performance?

This isn't Bob Smith you know. If you ask me, the Republican I would most like to get rid of is John McCain. I wonder whether Bush can find a place for him. Perhaps if Rumsfeld were to leave, Bush can put McCain at the Pentagon. He would be forced to support the President, and it would be fitting end to his once very distinguished career of service to his country.

Then Flake or one of the congressmen could get to that seat before Napolitano, or whatever her name is, gets to take a shot in 2010. Ideas?

[wyopa]

Did any of you read the article in Atlantic Monthly (about 2 years ago) comparing Franklin County PA with Mongtomery County MD? It was a great article (and not available online, alas).

The section that stuck with me from it was this: In Pennsylvania you have Pittsburgh on one side, Philadelphia on the other, and Alabama in between.

The article included political commentary on the vast sections of PA that voted for Bush. :)