What was she thinking?

March 11, 2010 at 9:47 am

Dropping out of the race in the 12th Congressional District is probably the best thing Barbara Hafer could have done—for herself.

From announcing her candidacy before John Murtha’s family had even had a chance to hold his funeral, to besmirching Murtha’s legacy in the eyes of many of his loyalists in the process of trying to smear her opponent, long-time Murtha aide Mark Critz, to decrying and questioning the fairness of…

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Critz? Really?

March 8, 2010 at 8:00 am

I was just a bit surprised when I received the breaking news Saturday that local Democrats in the 12th Congressional District, had voted to support Mark Critz, a longtime aide to the late Congressman John Murtha, as their preferred nominee for the special election to serve out the remainder of Murtha’s term. This less than two days after reports surfaced that Critz once served as the business manager and bookkeeper for…

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Texas? Really?

March 7, 2010 at 11:03 am

We learned last week that Texas attorney Ron Mackell Jr., apparently also a former resident of Johnstown, has thrown his hat in the ring for the May Democratic primary here in the 12th Congressional District.

Really? Texas?

Man, they’re really coming out of the woodwork to try and score themselves a seat in Congress, aren’t they?

Uh, what I meant to say was, to seek the opportunity to have the honor of serving…

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That oversized legislature of ours

March 1, 2010 at 9:15 am

So recently, I got this e-mail alerting me to the recently announced candidacy of Democrat Andrea Baptiste in the 150th Legislative District.

I have no problem whatsoever with Baptiste. On the contrary. I checked out her Web site, and her credentials and she seems to me to be a very strong candidate and a very impressive woman. Apparently, the Montgomery County Area 4 Democrats felt the same way when they endorsed her.…

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Don’t count on quelling that conservative revolt

February 25, 2010 at 2:22 pm

This week pa2010.com reported that the GOP’s plan for an open, inclusive process for selecting a special election candidate in the 12th Congressional District could be enough to ward off any revolt from conservative base.

I wouldn’t be so sure.

These Tea Partying types aren’t your garden variety conservatives. They seem to want to be angry at someone about something at all times. They are always looking for a scapegoat to blame for…

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Musings on Murtha—and the political etiquette of death

February 24, 2010 at 10:34 am

As a constituent of the long-serving Congressman John Murtha (D-12), I was both shocked and saddened by his recent death.

My colleague here at pa2010.com, Michael Livingston, was probably right when he stated that Murtha’s gruff, no-nonsense, non-ideological style will likely be buried with him, and that’s sad. While there are those who will criticize many of Murtha’s policies, actions and associations over the years, he was always a tireless fighter for the…

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A nice mess (a weather rant)

February 16, 2010 at 9:45 am

Greetings, readers!

Many of you may be wondering where I’ve been lately.

Well, let me explain.

After spending a bit of time under the weather, metaphorically, I spent a bit more under the weather, literally!

I am one of the unfortunate thousands here in the southwestern corner of the state who lost electricity, heat, hot water, internet access, cable service—you know, all of those things that not only make life worth living but are absolute…

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Rooney’s right: Sestak should pull a Gerlach

January 22, 2010 at 7:30 am

My fellow pa2010.com blogger Laura Vecsey reveals that Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney is renewing the push for Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) to drop out of the Senate primary against Arlen Specter and go back to defend his House seat instead.

I agree.

When I first heard that Sestak would be challenging Specter for the Democratic nomination, I thought it would make the race interesting. Sestak would bring a fresh look and,…

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Dems have no one but themselves to blame in Massachusetts

January 21, 2010 at 8:00 am

Back when Barack Obama won the White House and Democrats solidified their control of both houses of Congress—and intermittently since then—I heard everyone from progressive pundits to Democratic leaders to members of the media talking about how the country had changed, how ideological and political leanings had shifted under the feet of a Republican Party that was now out of touch, regional, and slowly becoming irrelevant, and how we were in a new, post-modern era,…

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For your listening pleasure…

January 17, 2010 at 3:01 pm

I had the great honor of being a call-in guest on The Rick Smith Show Saturday on WHYL 960AM.

We covered a number of topics from Tom Corbett and how the Bonusgate investigation might impact the governor’s race to the recent revelations involving alleged campaign work done in Jane Orie’s office.

If you missed the show or live outside the area and would like to listen to the interview, you can check…

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