Rick lurking for govonor

[PADEMJES12]

Well it is quite apparent that Santorum and Toomey are lurking for govonor and would be the most favored GOP canidates. What kind of a Dems ticket would be good? (Govonor and Lt. Gov)... it is quite clear we're going to need a big name ticket. Rick scares the living heck outta me. The thought of him being in charge of PA... heck he'd try to have our state alone declare war on someone.

[livetohike]

1. I'd like to think Pennsylvanians are sick of him

I don't have any suggestions for a Dem. ticket right now. I just moved back to PA from living in CA for 6 years.

Welcome to DU :hi:.

[beastofbourbon]

2. Santorium is toast !

Not only Rick but all the fundie radicals are done............maybe not in some parts of the south or midwest , but they are through in Pa ............. by the time the primaries have established a candidate and Huck , Rooty , Mitt , Tancredo and the boys get done beating each other up over who's more narrow minded , the whole country will be more than sick of their kind , and their kind of arguments ......... A new day is coming......don't lose sleep about things like Santorium getting elected to anything bigger than the local school board .

[PADEMJES12]

3. Well said

We have naughty Tim Murphy in PA-18 who, according to PA-18 is battling his own corruption problems now. Looks like he and English may be burnt toast... I think Hafer could very easily can the consummate dope Murphy. Im annoyed with him here in Westmoreland.

As far as govonor and LT. Govonor, my picks are Onorato and Cunningham as potential govs Hafer and Shapiro may be lt. govs... it all depends. I could see a hafer or shapiro gov ticket too. whats everyone think? What's a great ticket to defeat the toomey santorum virus... literally thats their dream ticket.

[Yellow Horse]

11. NO ONORATO for Governor -- NO NO NO -- He is a huge DINO!

Onorato is anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-paperless electronic voting, arrogant (plays with his Palm Pilot while citizens are testifying, then tells them it doesn't matter what they say, the decision is HIS.)

Yup, he's a real DECIDER alright.

STEER CLEAR, Dems --we have much better candidates to put up for this than Dan Onorato.

[livetohike]

4. He can't even do that (school board)

:-).

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[PADEMJES12]

6. THANKS 4 THE WELCOME

:dem:

Now i need a cool name... maybe "westmoreland willie" or something.

[livetohike]

8. That works

:-)

[FREEWILL56]

9. Especially in Penn Hills.

[JPZenger]

5. Toomey Pretended to be Sane

When Toomey was a House member in the Lehigh Valley, he tried his best to be appear to be mainstream. However, when he ran against Specter for Senate in the Repub primary, his true self came out. He now runs the Club for Growth, which funds candidates who promise lower taxes, lower taxes and lower taxes. He has been actively opposing Huckabee as too liberal in spending and taxes.

[PADEMJES12]

7. Specter- Toomey primary

That primary was darn close if i recall. I also recall that Santorum literally may have saved Specter from defeat by endorsing him. Definitely their two "horses" if you want to call them that are Toomey and Rick... After that... their state party is utterly pathetic for the most part (on the national level). Onorato and Cunningham look like good gov picks. Dems could definitely put together a great ticket. Rick and Toomey are shameless... they'll be lurking.

[philly_bob]

10. What kind of Democratic Gov/Lt. Governor ticket? Can't think of one...

I don't recognize many PA names. In my area, promising (known) names are Hoeffel? Lois Murphy? Wofford?

Nutter has great potential, but we ain't giving him up.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Bob Casey, Jr. for Governor?

You know he wants the job.

[FREEWILL56]

13. I don't want him for the job.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. But he may want it

He ran for it once. Don't forget, his father lost three bids for Governor before he was elected.

[LynneSin]

15. Governor of Virginia?

I thought he had his permament home with family in VA where he can work as a Lobbyist for DC. I know they aren't living in that 3BR house in Penn Hills.

I can't see Rick running. Seriously that would mean up-rooting his family from their home in Virginia PLUS giving up the megabucks he's making as a Lobbyist.

[dajoki]

17. Little ricky scare's the crap out of me...

I wouldn't put anything past him. Being Governor of PA would put him back in the spotlight and give him the power he so craves. He can make up some of the lost money with the help of his fundie friends who would also be giddy with delight at the thought of that right wingnut in the position of power that comes along with being Gov. of PA.

[LynneSin]

22. Lost money? He's a lobbyist and raking in the big bucks

If he runs for governor he first needs to move his family completely back to Pennsylvania. I highly doubt that keystoners would apprciate their governor having a family residing in a $750k house in Leesburg, VA and trust me - the dem candidate that runs against him would use that to the hilt.

If Tricky Rick wants to run for governor he's gonna have to give up his house in VA and move NOW, not during the race. Else he's gonna see if he can do worse than the 19% lose he did against Bob Casey Jr.

[Fabio]

16. Hmmm.

Any word on Chris Heinz? -- he'd be an interesting Lt. Gov candidate.

Is Katherine Baker Knoll retiring?

[MrMickeysMom]

18. Now Chris Heinz would be a name to toss in the hat, except...

I haven't heard that Katherine Baker Knoll would be retiring.

[PADEMJES12]

19. Chris Heinz will be a rising star

Chris will be a definite wave of the future. Definitely alot of clout for fundraising, but to just go and run when there are awesome candidates such as Dan Onorato, Don Cunningham, and Jack Wagner. I agree that Chris will be a wave of the future, a coming attraction (Shapiro will be too). Onorato, Cunningham, and Wagner are all much stronger gubernatorial candidates in my book than Knoll and I'd give strong consideration in supporting either of the 3 in the primary. I like any of the 3's chances against Knoll. Maybe we'll see Heinz in the us senate someday alongside John Kerry? Just a thought.

[PADEMJES12]

20. of course....

that's all assuming Knoll would run for govonor. Would it be wise to keep her on the ticket as Lt. Govonor?... I could see us coming up with a dynamite West-east combo.

[Fabio]

21. Sorry

I meant to ask if Katherine Baker Knoll is planning on staying as Lt Gov. If not, heinz running for lt gov was my suggestion. Good state wide office, but not as big a jump.

[LynneSin]

23. Catherine Baker Knoll is already in her 80s and should have retired in 2006

Biggest mistake of the party was keeping Knoll on the ticket. Don't get me wrong - she's a good lady but at age 77 I think she's way too old to be governor. She'll be 81 by the time she would be sworn in as governor.

She should have retired in 2006 and allow someone on the Lt. Governor ticket that could have feasibly run for govenor unless.....they're saving that slot for Casey. Casey did his job which was to remove Santorum from office. Casey spends a few years in DC biding his time until 2010 when he runs for governor. Then he can appoint his own replacement that would maintain that seat hopefully for years to come.

I'd love to see Heinz run for office. Rumors floated about he was going after Santorum but perhaps he could run against Spector

[MrMickeysMom]

24. I'd vote for Heinz, especially against Specter, but I'm a little offended about the age thing...

Maybe you are right about her age and what she SHOULD do. But, I think it's a little offensive to insist that someone retire based on age. I personally don't care how old YOU are, but there are a lot of 77 to 80 plus year olds who have far more wisdom than, say, you or I do.

That was JUST a little bit snarky, I'm in my 50's. Shit- I'm JUST GETTING started! By the time I'm 80, I plan to really kick some ass! :hi:

[LynneSin]

25. I appreciate your concerns and think you will kick alot of ass at 80 but...

I lived thru the Reagan years and the man was not mentally fit to run this country and I'm not talking just about his horrible policies.

It's one thing for someone who is 80 and out there kicking ass - it's your life and I hope I have the same spirit too (I'm not too far behind).

But it's another thing when your government is being run by someone who is 80. Perhaps we'll get someone with that same fighting spirit or perhaps we'll get a figurehead who allows the decisions be made by a committee who was NOT elected to that office. (ie Reagan and for that matter folks like Strom Thurmond).

So yes, age is a factor going against Knoll and for us to ignore it is not a smart move. Consider this - if McCain gets the nomination, you better believe the age factor will be trotted out there.

[Fabio]

26. I know 80 year olds who are sharp as a tack and

40 year olds dumber than doornails. While I dont think i agree that age should necessarily be a disqualifier, in the case of the LtGov, I think she may have lost more than one step. A fine lady though.

[LynneSin]

27. Absolutely - I agree 100%

It's unfortunate that age is a factor. And let's face it - we have no clue what 80 year olds will be sharp as tacks and which ones will be addled with a condition that could affect the way they serve their position.

Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms should have retired ages ago. I know we have some getting up there in age like Robert Byrd, and the 2 guys from Hawaii (Akaka and Inouye). Trust me - if they prove to be failing at their position due to age related concerns they should step down.

I think Knoll is a great lady and I just wish she could have gotten into this position about a decade earlier. She has every right to run for governor, but I truly think the age factor will hamper her

[FuzzyDicePHL]

28. OH HELL NO

There goes any good night's sleep for me for a few days.... :(