Posted on 05/30/2004 8:54:37 PM PDT by Badray
Party over Principle?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
This past Friday morning, Arlen Specter was at a town hall meeting in Ross Township (suburb north of Pittsburgh PA). According to Specter staffer Justin Lokay, this was at the suggestion of Lou Nudi, the Ross Committee Chairman.
There were about 35 people in attendance including the Senator and 5 or 6 staffers and interns. Also there was Congresswoman Melissa Hart, State Senator John Pippy, former Hart staffer and 16th state house district candidate Pat Geho, former row office candidate Becky Toomey (oh, the irony, but she is still the prettiest, and my favorite Specter supporter), Lou Nudi, as well as some various other local committee people. Arriving late as usual was State Representative Jeff Habay. More on him later.
I arrived shortly before the meeting started and checked to see if I was on the PNG (persona non grata) list, but was welcomed in, much to my surprise because I have been barred from previous events. I sat and listened to how conservative values were important to Arlen, how much he enjoys being around G.W.Bush, and how we must defeat the Democrats.
This is a pretty stock speech when he tries to court Republicans. Sadly too many pubbies have short memories and actually believe Arlen when he speaks. He invoked the name of his recent challenger, Pat Toomey and says that he enjoys his support because the Dem candidate is so bad. Yada, yada, yada . . .
He then tried to ingratiate himself by mentioning the names of several people in the crowd. There names were conveniently written on the cue card in his hand. The whole thing was a sad charade, but that didn't stop many from sucking it up. I don't know if they were all die hard supporters or simply supporting the "R" against the horrible "D" that looms ahead if we don't support Arlen.
He then 'yielded' to Melissa Hart. She yucked it up with him for a moment (Think Sonny and Cher, except that Sonny was the conservative, not Cher.) before he stepped aside. About now, there should have been a commercial break, but they continued anyway. Melissa then spoke in glowing terms of Arlen and how important it was to put Arlen into office so that he could chair the Judiciary Committee and help get Bush's judicial nominees approved. She cited the brave defense of former PA Attorney General Mike Fisher when some Democrats posed some minor opposition to Mike's approval. Thank God, Arlen was there to save the day and he convinced the Dems not to block him. BTW, Fisher was supported in his quest for the bench by his recent opponent for the Governor's office - Democrat Governor Ed Rendell. Gee, that must have been a tough fight, Arlen.
What no Borking of Fisher? Don't worry, if Mike starts to make some sound judgements, you can bet that Arlen will apologize like he did after fighting for Clarence Thomas.
Melissa was about 3 minutes into her praise when I just couldn't take it any longer. There she was defending the man that has been pissing on us for years and she was calling it rain. I walked out. On the way out, I said to her brother that I just couldn't stand the BS.
I stayed outside for the remainder of the meeting. I missed the Q and A session, but was told that there was only one tough question asked and that Arlen spent about ten minutes addressing it. The question may have hit a nerve, but I doubt that he will do anything more than pay lip service to it.
Some good news. There was some who expressed continued opposition to him despite coming to be convinced that they should now be supporting him.
I did tell Melissa's aide that I was not alone in my displeasure with her support of Arlen. She may or may not care, but I am sure that I am quite right in my assessment. She is putting the party before any principle she ever espoused and this will cost her later.
Another person that I engaged was Rep. Habay. He arrived only after I had left the meeting and was outside for about 15 minutes. He approached me as he entered the building and I greeted him with a snide remark that he resembled a man that I used to know and told him that I was disappointed in his support for Arlen. He told me that Arlen helped him early in his 'career' (God, I hate that word when applied to politicians.) and that he was repaying the favor. (Doesn't the mob do favors now for favors in the future too?) I told him that that is what happens when you get into bed with the wrong people. He started getting testy at that point (I have to keep the BAD in badray, ya know) and retorted that he wasn't in bed with anyone, but that he would be glad to sit down and discuss the issue with me. I said OK, but he needed to dig himself out of a big hole. Walking away, he said that he was very comfortable in his position. I thanked him for telling me what I needed to know as he turned the corner (more than metaphorically?).
Just before Arlen came out, I spoke to County GOP Chairman Rich Stampahar and he tried to convince me that Specter was the man to support. His pleas fell on deaf ears, but they were overheard by an intern of Specter's who wimpily came over to tell me that this was a private event and asked me not to create a disturbance. I replied only that I was talking to people that knew me and approached me and wasn't talking to any one else. Can you imagine anyone thinking that I would cause a disturbance? LOL Not me, I'm too shy.
On the way out, Arlen either didn't recognize me or thought that I went over to the dark side and was now a supporter. He approached me to shake my hand, but I politely declined. I reserve my handshake for those that I respect.
Maybe I'm just not a 'good republican'. Maybe I'm an 'unappeasable'. Maybe I am a purist. I've been called all of these things and more. And worse.
What I do know is that I cannot support this man. Not for party loyalty, not even for the Senate majority (we do not effectively have it now because of people like Specter). I also know that it is not out of bitterness or hatred. It's just principle. He doesn't believe the things that I believe. He doesn't value the things that I value. His vision of America is not my vision.
This November, a vote for Democrat Joe Hoeffel is a vote to put a true conservative, a true Republican in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm voting for Joe.
Ray Horvath
Yes. It's all about me. It's always been about me. I've gotten fabulously wealthy devoting my time to this effort. Next, I want power. I want to rule the world. ROFLMAO
Dane, are you that worthless? Tell me that you have a better argument against my proposal than that I want attention.
Whaaa???? You two watching an evil Republican Prsident's actions basically about D-day, will wonders ever cease.
Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you, Dane. If we don't agree with you we are Demo. hacks ? Pour another glass of Kool-aid !
You're welcome! I sAw Selleck on Tv this week, and is proud of the film.
And it'd be the wrong guess;-) I'm not a pilot, but like you I hold in the very highest esteem those who serve, have served, and have sacrificed all on our behalf.
and what state are you from?
Thank you for correcting my spelling, oh, perfect one. Sometime us "Rendellites" have a problem when we are looking at more important things, such as the future of our Judicial System. Have some more Kool-aid to cool off. BTW, who did you work for in the Specter-Toomey race ? I am guessing Specter. And I can't wait to see when Fast Eddie endorses him.
Those that know that, know it because I have posted it countless times. They also know that Kyl is a 97 on that same scale. That's why I want him to chair the SJC instead of weak sister Specter who is a 43.
Do the math:
Specter (43) - Hoeffel (8) = 35.
Kyl (97) - Specter (43) = 54.
54 - 35 = 21.
Seems that it is a net gain where it really counts. Yep, I'm voting for Hoeffel.
Since my last statement about you spamming your own thread with your replies the percentatge of the replies being yours(Badray's) is peobably down to the low 30's, thanks to your DNC talking points brothers in arms(F16fighter and smokeyb). BTW, Ray don't you trust Pippy(whom you mentioned in this thread). Afterall he was the person whose miltary service was made an issue by his worthless demo opponent.
Why are you all of the sudden silent about that?
But Dane -- Ike was a real Republican...
And Specter looks and quacks like a duck Democrat.
What's a conservative to do?
EZ call to make.
Specter (43) - Hoeffel (8) = 35.
Kyl (97) - Specter (43) = 54.
54 - 35 = 21.
Seems that it is a net gain where it really counts. Yep, I'm voting for Hoeffel."
LOL -- d@mn, that was good!
And now you resort to accusations and lies. You are pathetic. I supported Lazio. Next time, at least try to pick a situation that somehow resembles the one that we are discussing and have some facts to make your case. It's about the committee chair.
Thank you, fighter.
I caught Selleck on Dennis Miller's show talking about 'Ike' -- yeah, he seemed very proud of the movie. And he still had time to launch a few salvos at the RAT pacifists as well, evoking a nice applause from the audience.
In any case, everyone would be well served to read, digest, internalize and take to heart Geroge Washington's entire farewell speech.
BTW, you have regular email.
What state are you from? You didn't fill out your info.
I trust those who deserve trust.
When a politician lies and flip flops, they no longer have my trust. I was at a recent YR meeting and Pippy was pimping for Specter and told us how good Specter was and that he supported him. I wish I had a camera to capture the embarassment on his face when I pointed out a few areas where Specter went against Pippy, the military, and things that Pippy claims to be for. It was priceless. But Capt Pippy was told that he was supporting Specter, so he did. Apparently Melissa was too.
You can put your trust in people like this, but I won't.
well, brothers, he figured us out ! (LOL)
Dane, I worked my butt off for Toomey, hardly a DNC plant. Who did you work for ? Specter ? The RINO ?
And, IMO, Joe Pippy doesn't gain your trust even though he was basically lambasted by his demo opponent over serving his country.
BTW, to all lurkers one only has to look up "Pippy" in the FR search engine to see the dispicalble campaign his demo opponent waged.
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