Posted on 09/05/2004 1:15:34 PM PDT by Kuksool
PITTSBURGH—Re-ordained in Manhattan, George W. Bush headed for his 34th presidential visit to Pennsylvania. Tony Podesta dourly says Bush cabinet members are so thick on the Pennsylvania ground, "He could have a quorum for a cabinet meeting here." Podesta's job is to see that Bush's courtship of this state becomes, like Quasimodo's ardor for Esmeralda, a famous episode of unrequited love.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
The Keystone State is a state that we can't afford to blowoff. Sure, Bush may be re-elected without the Great Lakes states, but that is too close for comfort. If the GOP can win the Great Lakes states on a regular basis, then we would have an electoral lock on the political landscape for many years. Unfortunately, the strong presence of labor unions in the Midwest are preventing my dream from becoming true. There are too many social conservatives who obey the unions without much thought.
As I said in another thread: If the BC/'04 campaign want to put this thing away, work behind the scenes to help states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin put a referendum on gay marriage on the November 2 ballot. That will bring the conservatives out in droves and you can turn out the lights. The party WILL be over.
There is a fabulous story in the (EXtremely pro-Kerry) Philadelphia Inquirer today, with interviews with local voters. Both an undecided independent and a Democrat said they were solidly behind President Bush as a result of the two conventions, and even the pro-Kerry voter said she was left to hoping that Bush "stumbles through the debates." Nearly all the voters said they now expect President Bush to win. Even the letters to the Inquirer today were more pro-Bush than pro-Kerry. I have just moved to the Philly area, but it sure seems to me like the Democrats here seem to be in disarray. If Kerry cannot mobilize a heavy Democrat turnout in Philadelphia, he is not going to win Pennsylvania.
My county is pretty solid Bush country, so I decided to put boots on the ground in Harrisburg. There is too much at stake and too much corrupt power in Philly not to give it 110% effort where it will have the most chance of impact.
In 2000, Gore was able to carry PA and MI because he managed to mobilize the minority communities in Detroit and Philly to flock to the polls for you. This time around, minorities are cool to Kerry. They see him as a rich, elist white man. Votes for Kerry are more anti-Bush than pro-Kerry. As result, the huge minority turnout that Gore received may not materialize for Kerry.
I hope BC'04 is all over Philly like a cheap suit. There are too many precincts with voting machines in someone's basement and a 102% voter turnout. You can bet Rendell getting slot machines in PA is going to "energize the Dem base" in Philly and the Mafia's reward money will be greasing the voting machine levers.
{flock to the polls for you.}
Correction: flock to the polls for him.
I am originally from Philadelphia (Manayunk) but I live in Florida now after retiring from 22 years USN. A lot of Philly folks get hypnotized by the Dems because most hold on to the old democrats values. I think Zell Miller did a lot to convince swing voters and some Dems in Philly that the party is not what it once was. Especially..not this new progressive crap.... but... the true patriotic spirit has always been alive in the city of brotherly love and that Patriotic spirit will definately shift to GW come NOV. How could they possibly vote for Kerry after they see his 1971 testimony... Philadelphia needs to be a key advertising area for the swifties #2 video.... It hits home in a lot of ways in Philly.
"....The maternal side of my family hails from the southwest corner, Fayette country, one of the poorest counties in the state.."
My mother grew up in Point Marion, on Blosser Hill. (Along with 4 siblings and a chronically ill mother, in a 2-room shack with one coal stove in the kitchen for heat, one coal-oil lamp in each room for light, and no indoor plumbing.) Wonder if we're related??
bump from a PA-born FReeper
Sisku, I just got home from your great state 2 hours ago. We are looking to live in the Mechanisburg'Camp Hill, area - SOON. My husband moved to CA several years ago and is not happy here. The schools in PA are so much nicer, and it is so green. We also visited Pittsburg where my daughter will attend school.
I was AMAZED at the number of Bush/Cheney stickers on the vehicles as well as the lawn signs that appeared to adorn every major road. They far outnumbered the Kerry signs.
merry, I grew up near Pittsburgh, and still have many family members near there. My stepmother lived in Camp Hill for years.
Much of PA is Conservative, but there will always be enough voters in the cemeteries in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to keep the state solidly Dem.
ping
Someone stole ours down here in York but that isn't going to change that York County is 65% to 70% Bush and most of the Kerry votes is Dem folks from Merryland.
My daughter will attend Western PA school for the Deaf which is a very, very good school for deaf kids. I am so excited. As I flew into LAX yesterday I was amazed at the LACK of greenery here. I hope we can all meet.
The key will be voters in western Pennsylvania. It's filled with nominal Democrats who are socially conservative and pro-military, but strongly anti-free trade and pro-union. Bush made some inroads in 2000, but was defeated by a huge Gore margin & turnout in Philadelphia.
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