No problem, jaz. I've not been around much or participating all that much either. Pretty busy these days.
Remember us discussing Gleason 4 years ago? We were saying the same thing about him then! He needs to go. He is a demonrat and does all he can to help them win, and as you say, lining his pockets as he does. No doubt about it. (channeling al-Murthawi)
Do I ever and for the life of me can't believe he's still there. He's the poster boy for the Repub establishment and it looks like the establishment has to go to get this turkey out.
This is the letter to the Editor I sent to the Washington Observer-Reporter on Sunday. For whatever reason, they chose not to publish it.....
Note to Republicans: Who will it be after John Murtha?
As of today, Sunday May 16th, the most recent poll showed Democrat Mark Critz leading Republican Tim Burns 44% to 38% in the May 18th special election and Bill Russell tied with Burns in the May 18th Republican primary. The poll was conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research, a Republican firm, and commissioned by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a conservative leaning newspaper that has already endorsed Tim Burns in the May 18th special election.
The poll reflects the recent polling trend of Critz pulling away from Burns. The poll tracks almost exactly with internal polling released by the Critz campaign. To my knowledge, the Burns campaign has not released details of it’s internal polling.
With Burns now dropping below 40% this late in the game, common sense Republican voters should look to Bill Russell in the Republican Primary if Republicans want a conservative representing this district next year.
One aspect of this special election that has been repeatedly overlooked or ignored by polling, partisan politicians, and much of the media is the fact that there are three candidates on the special election ballot; Critz, Burns, and Demo Agoris, the Libertarian Party candidate. Agoris has won township elections in the district and has a loyal following of supporters who will turn out to vote for him. Expect him to garner between 2-4% of the vote on May 18th. Those are votes that would normally go for the Republican candidate, Burns.
An additional factor that has actually been polled is the lingering affection for John Murtha. His approval rating among all voters remains at 55%. For many Democrats and a significant number of Republicans, the special election is about Murtha’s legacy and the desire to see it honored through the end of Murtha’s unfinished term. That is one of the major themes of the Critz campaign that Burns has had to tiptoe around. It’s also one of the main reasons the Democrat Party is pouring money in, and will pull out all the stops to see a Democrat complete Murtha’s term. In November, they won’t care as much, they’ll be too busy defending vulnerable Democrat seats all over the rest of the country. Remember, because of the census and redistricting, PA-12 will disappear in 2012, so it will not be a high priority for the Democrats.
Another factor overlooked, when it comes to local elections here in PA-12 is military service, it is almost an absolute must for a male candidate. Pennsylvanians are proud patriots, and folks here love the military and those who’ve served our nation. 18% of registered voters are veterans. There are VFW’s and American Legion Hall’s and War Memorials in virtually every township throughout this nine-county district. One of the largest VA cemetaries is here and nearby Pittsburgh is home to one of the top VA Hospitals in the country. Veterans and their spouses and voting age children are very important and influential throughout PA-12. More importantly, they vote in large numbers, they rightly see it as a civic duty, and they like candidates who’ve worn the uniform.
Murtha was a veteran, so is Critz. Of the six candidates in the PA-12 race in either the special election or primaries, all have prior military service except one, Burns. This could be a very real problem for Burns, both in the special election and the Republican primary.
These various factors taken separately might not influence the outcome, but taken together, they point to a clear victory for Mark Critz. Burns will have made a respectable showing, and it will be enough to give the Republican establishment elites who backed him some bragging room. That said, who should Republicans support in the Republican primary?
Knowing the most likely outcome of the special election , and knowing Critz will be the Democrat on the ballot again in November, Republicans need to make sure Bill Russell wins the Republican primary. A victory by Russell gives Republicans a fresh horse in the November race, when they will really need it, if they truly want to take back the House next year.