Back On Earth
Well, I guess I’m back.
After moving servers from left-wing California to the much more “murican” Dallas, Texas — I decided to delete my old site and replace it with one that I could more easily update and write snarky stuff about various things within and without politics, more personal, say than the things I write for my various commercial Web sites.
So, after a summer of physical illness (not entirely resolved, but working its way through to a conclusion) and adjustments to my business plan (no more magazines, just Web sites and a novel, due in 2007). I’ve enjoyed the isolation a bit, the time to reflect about my time in politics and whether I might return and the time with my family and kids and has been a Godsend.
As for seeking elective office, I don’t think I will again, to be honest. Aside from the obvious issues a fat, white guy has in politics — I’ve discovered that for the most part, you have to be a kind of person to be in politics, a kind of person I’m not very good at being. The people who are best at it are mostly engaged by the process, not the outcome. I tend to be the opposite — and other than speaking in public, I really don’t enjoy the process, especially fund raising and the party infighting.
I naively thought that if I was smarter and better on the issues, it might matter. But in truth, it doesn’t. If you have a large wad of cash — and incumbency it’s damned hard to lose. I hope this year is an exception to that rule — but it’s a pretty good primer.
I don’t think I will return to being active in the Chester County Democratic Party anytime soon, either. While there are, and will be, candidates I support, the party organization doesn’t deserve my time, my effort or my support. I’m wildly disappointed by the actions of the leaders of both factions — both of whom have acted beyond the pale, and worse, treated the county party like it is a high school organization.
At this point, the best long-term hope for the party is a nasty, public scorched-earth civil war. I don’t think it will happen as well-meaning types will continue to duct tape the corners and soothe tattered feelings — keeping the party from imploding. Unfortunately, the old-growth needs a wildfire to allow for renewal and new growth, both of which continue to be choked off.
I’ve been asked to join two other parties, one slightly more powerful, one slightly less — but I don’t think I can see doing that, as neither really has room for my particular idology.
Now as for the fall races: Rick Santorum is an embarrassment and a thug. His vile attacks on Bob Casey, a man of good character, makes the people of this state look like idiots. Keep in mind, Santorum has so little respect for the people of Pennsylvania that he doesn’t live in the state. Pennsylvania and the U.S. will be much better off with Bob Casey in the U.S. Senate.
The gubernatorial race is a joke. Lynn Swann is a joke. But for the sake of the state, I wish the GOP had nominated a credible candidate to make Ed Rendell answer for some of the shortcomings of his first term. As someone who pounded the pavement for Rendell in 2002, I’m barely able to even vote for him in 2006. Sure, Rendell has been an upgrade from Tom Ridge — but hasn’t lived up to the hype, hasn’t used his power to build a lasting legacy, either in the state or the state Democratic Party. I hope his second term brings something to the table.
Congress: I’m very worried about the race in the sixth district. From looking at all the of the polling data, it looks like once again Jim Gerlach is going to squeek out a win. I like Lois Murphy, but for the second straight cycle, she’s made bad choices in terms of staffing, particularly in Chester County. The seventh district race looks much stronger, even though few thought long-time congressman Curt Weldon could be taken out. Joe Sestak is one of the best candidates I’ve seen in a long time — and the repudiation of the “Able Danger” crap, along with continuing questions about Weldon’s ties to foreign countries, has him trailing in what has been a very well run race by Sestak’s team — which uses a lot more local talent than Murphy’s race does.
State Rep: I’ve got my fingers crossed for my friends Barbara McIllvane Smith and Anne Crowley — they have super close races for state house and are exceptionally hard workers and great people. I think both will be outstanding in Harrisburg.
Here in the 160th, we’re lucky to have Shawn Diggory following in my footsteps. He’s another talented, smart guy who would make all of us proud serving in Harrisburg. But he needs your help click here to contribute what you can to his race - as I have – because we all deserve better representation than what we’ve gotten from Steve Barrar.
Shawn and his campaign are too nice, too dignified to say it, but I will: Barrar is wildy incompetent, voted for the middle of the night pay-raise, and continues to spend your tax money to campaign for office, despite taking big corporate donations. He is on the record lying — he pledged never to vote for a tax hike, even signed that pledge, and then traded his vote to save his seat. This isn’t the kind of guy we need in Harrisburg — heck, he shouldn’t even be a dog catcher.
If you want to help our district, our state, please support and help Shawn Diggory.