When I went to bed late Tuesday night, Bob Casey Jr. had 80 percent of the votes for the Democratic nomination.
No way that can hold, I thought before I went to sleep. Fidel Castro doesn't get those kinds of numbers when he's up for office. Casey will win, but at least one of his opponents is going to get into double digits, I thought as I went to bed.
Wrong again!
The question now is: Will the left-wing of the party, which views Bob Casey Jr. as too Catholic, too conservative, and perhaps most of all, too dull, support him in the fall? Or will they pout and sit on their hands --- thus helping deliver the election to the junior senator from Penn Hills, Virginia, Rick Santorum (R-Inquisition)?
We've seen this before, and it may be the defining difference between Republicans and Democrats. Given a candidate they don't particularly like (say, Arlen Specter) conservative Republicans whine and complain, but come Election Day, they dutifully go to the polls and pull the lever ... er, touch the screen ... for the party's man.
Liberal Democrats like to stand on principle. They stay home, or they vote for a third-party candidate, or they attack the party's standard-bearer. Then, when the Democrat loses, they sit back smugly and say, "See? We told you he wasn't electable. You should have picked our guy instead." It's a nice self-fulfilling prophecy.
Too many Democratic "victories" on the national stage over the last decade have been "moral" ones. In other walks of life, they don't call those "moral victories." They call it "cutting off your nose to spite your face."
Some boil it down to an even simpler term: "Stupid."
Remember the 2000 presidential election? When the left said that there was "no difference" between Al Gore and George W. Bush? When a lot of liberals stayed home, or voted for Ralph Nader in protest?
Do you think President Gore would have named John Bolton to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Donald Rumsfeld to be Secretary of Defense? Would have cut taxes at the same time he was ramping up massive federal spending increases? Would have ... well, you get my drift. Of course there was a difference. Maybe it was a difference of a few degrees on many issues --- but politics, like life, is often about the subtleties.
John McIntire was right a few months ago when he wrote that "when (Casey) gives his stump speech, there's more charisma coming from the stump." And I found Casey's stealth campaign arrogant. He knew he had it buttoned up: Why bother breaking a sweat?
Why bother? Because you missed a wonderful chance to define the race, and the issues, on your terms when people were marginally interested. Now, you'll have to wait until September or October to get their attention again.
Santorum is weak right now, and he apparently has a strong taste for his own feet, but he's a very, very good campaigner, and the conservative Republican base loves him. The Christian right is going to put on a full-court grass-roots effort to re-elect him.
And Santorum is also folksy and charming enough (admittedly, in a Jim Nabors sort-of way) to appeal to many moderates. Casey is going to have to bring his A-game to beat him --- and he's going to need the support of the entire party.
You may not like the fact that Casey is anti-abortion, but on nearly every other traditional Democratic issue --- fair wage and labor practices, civil rights, community development, health and welfare --- he's far better than Santorum.
And I haven't heard anyone say he's not competent to be a U.S. senator. (I frankly think he's done a good job in his state positions, though they're jobs that require an administrator, not a visionary leader.)
Or is the Democratic Party only about abortion now? Is it --- to put it bluntly --- the "baby-killing" party? Because that's sure what the far right is trying to paint it as. Sometimes, I think they're onto something; abortion certainly seems to be one of the few issues that energize the left these days.
Now, I'll concede that there have to be more charismatic candidates around than Bob Casey Jr. The Democratic Party could do better.
But working-class Pennsylvanians could do much worse. Arguably, they have with Rick Santorum.
And imagine how Santorum might look in two years if he's re-elected to the Senate this year. Just how does "Vice President Rick Santorum" sound to you?
So, how now, Democrats? Are you going to take a powder on Casey? Or are you going to suck it up and move forward?
Because if you're not, you might as well just make a donation to Rick Santorum's re-election committee. At least there won't be any doubt as to where you stand.
I was talking with an informed source on Tuesday about the two hotly-contested Mon-Yough area state legislative races, for the Democratic nominations in the 35th and 38th districts.
My source --- a longtime observer of local politics in Pennsyltucky --- said he thought the Marc Gergely-George Matta fight was one of the "dirtiest races" he'd ever seen in the valley, if not the dirtiest race.
No, I said, it was one of the dirtiest races in our area where the dirtiness was out in the open. Mon Valley politics have often been nasty, but the really slimy things are usually done surreptitiously --- anonymous mailings, theft of campaign materials --- or as the result of back-room deals (running spoiler candidates, for instance).
So George Matta II should be congratulated for being very up front and candid with his methods. (Listen closely, and you can hear the sound of one hand, clapping.)
Not that Gergely's allies were as pure as the driven snow. I don't know who the "Coalition For The Mon Valley" is --- that's the group that set up the "Stop Matta" website --- but hiding in the shadows didn't help their credibility. (The Pennsylvania Department of State doesn't have them registered as a political committee, and there's no way online to find out if they're registered with the county. I suppose I could make a trip to the courthouse and poke around to ask some questions, and as soon as I start to be paid a salary from the Almanac, I'll get right on that.)
But Gergely's official advertising and campaign materials (at least the things I saw) were mostly positive and upbeat, if a little bit bland. They focused on his record, and on the issues in the district.
Matta's advertising was occasionally nasty, often misleading or plain wrong, and sometimes just funny.
Take Matta's campaign commercials. One of them talked about how as mayor, he had "improved Duquesne." Tell that to the people in Duquesne! I realize that the mayor of any third-class city in Pennsylvania has limited authority, but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone (save Matta's allies) that would argue that Duquesne is getting better in measurable ways.
Another of Matta's ads carried the tagline, "Where he goes, good things grow." Ah, so he's kind of like fertilizer.
And Matta made an extremely bad tactical error when he tried to blunt the "Stop Matta" attacks: He ran ads that looked like the "Stop Matta" campaign's materials, which merely gave it more exposure.
Then, in the closing days of the campaign, Matta dragged a family squabble into the campaign and had Gergely's sister-in-law endorse attack ads in The Daily News and The Valley Mirror. That was embarrassing to everyone involved. It may have set a new low for nastiness in local politics.
Indeed, I'd call Matta's behavior at times positively Nixonesque. So I hope the Washington Post and the late, great editorial cartoonist Herb Block will forgive me if I parody "Herblock's" infamous 1954 cartoon of Nixon making a campaign appearance.
Gergely's challenge, assuming he's re-elected in November (no Republican filed to run), is to prove that he deserved the voters' trust, and to become a more pro-active legislator. Though I think he's been a good representative, I don't know if he's been producing the kind of legislative initiatives, and the regional leadership, that the Mon-Yough area needs.
State Sen. Sean Logan and state Rep. Jim Casorio grab headlines because they speak their mind and get out in front of issues in their communities. It wouldn't hurt for Marc Gergely and his staff to take a page from their playbooks. He needs to use his next term wisely, and to grow as a legislator. He needs to be someone who leads, rather than someone who reacts. If nothing else, Gergely is going to have to work twice as hard to overcome the negative advertising thrown at him this year.
As for George Matta, I've lost a fair deal of respect for him. Through his political and volunteer work, he's often been a very active and positive force for change in the Mon-Yough area, but his conduct during this campaign left a sour taste in my mouth. I suspect I'm not alone.
...
On the opposite side of the river, Ken Ruffing's loss of the Democratic nomination in the 38th District is surprising mainly for Bill Kortz's margin of victory.
I don't doubt that Ruffing campaigned sincerely and worked hard, but from the outside, his efforts seemed half-hearted and haphazard. His responses to the charges and counter-charges made by the press and his opponents were disorganized and petulant, and I couldn't believe he skipped his meeting with the Post-Gazette's editorial board.
Frankly, I was also astonished at how badly he answered questions about the pay raise money that he says he donated to autism research.
I will be interested to see if Kortz and his expected Republican opponent, Daniel Davis, take the high road and discuss the issues. From what I've read about both men, I have reason to hope that they will. The Mon-Yough area has seen enough mudslinging for this year.
Frankly, I think you have to vote for him. He already went out and bought the hat.
Incidentally, I'm pretty sure that's the "Bill Hill" who used to own Hill's Restaurant on Main Street in New Eagle. And this concludes today's Trivia Corner for all of the Almanac's readers in Bunola, Pangburn Hollow and Gallatin-Sunnyside!
Anyway, this is a reminder for everyone to go out and exercise your right to vote for the candidate who least turns your stomach. If nothing else, you'll get a chance to try out the new iVotronic voting machines. Frankly, I thought it was easy, but it's a little bit discomfiting, and I still find the lack of a paper trail disturbing.
(By the way, I'd like to thank my former county councilman for not responding to the letter I sent him on this subject. Don't worry, I remembered you at the polls today.)
I can also confirm that there are no secret moves to increase your high score on the machine --- I tried. However, tapping the "confirm" button twice while holding your pinky and thumb exactly 2.56 cm apart in the upper right hand corner of the touch screen will give you a free game.
I was Democratic Voter No. 12 at North Bittyburg Borough's Ward 3, Precinct 1 as of 8 a.m., and when I asked the judge of elections if she expected it to be this slow all day, she sort of rolled her eyes. That bodes well for the incumbents, I'll bet, which means those pay-grabbing perk-hogs in the state Legislature are going to cruise to re-election.
The bad news: Crummy government will persist in Pennsylvania, at least until the last citizen not in public office moves away from the state. (There goes another one! I think he's leaving because we don't have a new arena for the Pens.)
The good news: I can continue to complain.
On second thought: There is no good news, at least for you.
"But Almanac guy," I hear you say, "I don't remember if my legislator voted for the pay raise or not?"
Luckily for you, Mr. or Ms. Average Mon-Yough Area Citizen, there's a convenient list for you to print out and take with you to the polls!
And if he's (they're all "he's" in our area) unopposed in the primary, I say write your own name in. Just don't use "white out" on the screen. It drives the poll workers nuts. (Take a permanent marker instead.)
Important Disclaimer: I do not endorse or recommend the use of permanent markers on touch-screen voting machines. That would obviously be a bad thing to do. I have no opinion on glitter pens, however. If you try one, make sure and email me when you're released from custody.
In reality, this page will explain everything you need to know about the voting machines. They're not quite as easy to use as the "M-T-O" machine at Sheetz, but they're easier than most drive-up ATMs.
(Update: I had misspelled the name of the machines Allegheny County has purchased. Mr. Grumpy corrected me. Mea culpa.)
Well, this is really what the 10th Ward needed, if you ask me. Beemer's, the restaurant on West Fifth Avenue that was at one time Doneldo's (and I can't remember what was at that location before that), has converted itself into a "gentlemen's club."
And "gentlemen's club" is a euphemism for "strippers," just in case you thought a "gentlemen's club" was a place where men wearing top hats and monocles sipped dry martinis and discussed global politics.
At a gentlemen's club, the featured performers may, in fact, wear top hats and monocles, but there isn't any place for them to attach their pocket watches, if you get my drift.
Visitors entering (no jokes, please) Our Fair City from the west will now welcomed by a junkyard (excuse me, "a metal recycling center"), a dirty book store (an "adult novelties emporium") and a strip club (a "nudie bar").
Yeah, that'll help McKeesport's image.
On the other hand, we need more retail establishments in town, and there's a certain amount of synergy available between the dirty book store and the nudie bar. Maybe they should pass coupons for the book store out at Beemers ... "Stop on your way home and pick up something for later!" They could print them on Kleenex tissues.
Incidentally, I often stop for gas at the 7-Eleven station at the end of the Mansfield Bridge --- just across the street from the book store --- and I frequently see near-accidents at the store's driveway. If someone gets T-boned (again, please, no jokes) in front of the store, how do they explain that to the wife or girlfriend? ("I thought it was where the bible readings were being held! Honest!")
When I was a little kid, I asked what they sold at the "adult newsstand." I was told "out-of-town newspapers." To show you just how dumb I am, I believed that for a long, long time.
Well, they may sell something there called the "Filly Inquirer" there, but let me tell you, it don't have much of an editorial page. (But it does carry box scores. Bada-bing! Am I right?)
Anyway, I ate at Beemer's on a few occasions. I found the food a little pricey for the quality, and the menu fairly limited, and although the atmosphere was nice, it wasn't great. So I'm not surprised that the parking lot seemed empty many nights.
Now, far be it from me to tell anyone how to run their business (too late!), but perhaps someone should have addressed the prices, and the menu, before deciding to throw in the towel ... or the thong, as it were.
But since they're going down this road, let me make a modest suggestion to the proprietors, if they happen to read this.
Fellas, "Beemer's" doesn't really mean anything to your loyal clientele.
Why not rename your club something that harkens back to McKeesport's heritage?
A name that is appropriate to the industry you've chosen but reflective of McKeesport's glorious traditions?
A name which can't help but conjure up memories rich with history, nostalgia, passion and penicillin among several generations of McKeesporters?
Call it "Brick Alley," the name of McKeesport's notorious red-light district in the '30s, '40s, '50s and '60s (as well as a pretty good novel by David Chacko set in said red-light district).
But wait! Oops! I just did a search on "Brick Alley" and "McKeesport" and found out it's the name of an aspiring hip-hop group. Their webpage is complete with a background of picture of Brick Alley its own self, and you can listen to some of their music.
Well, how about "National Tube: The Perfect Place to Erect Some Pipe"?
No?
On second thought, maybe I should quit while I'm ahead.
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