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12/9 Ups & Downs

Jim Matthews. Some weeks, the Ups and Downs are difficult to choose. This is not one of those weeks. Matthews was arrested Tuesday on charges of perjury over an issue of campaign finances. Matthews is already considered a pariah by many in the GOP; this makes a private sector career difficult and a return to elected office nearly impossible.
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Bob Casey. If Democrats have a PR edge on the payroll tax cut extension, Casey has that plus tons of good press as a would-be compromiser. He had a dozen solid national media hits this week as he pushed his own, more moderate version of the tax cut (which ultimately failed in the Senate on Thursday).
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Sam Rohrer. The former state Rep. faces two tough questions on his bid for U.S. Senate: Can he attract mainstream support, and can he raise money? He gave a convincing answer to both this week when he announced that Pa. Manufacturing Association leader Fred Anton will serve as his Honorary Finance Chairman.
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Bill Vinsko. The Wilkes-Barre attorney is a few days from becoming yet another Democratic candidate redistricted away from the incumbent he intended to challenge. The latest intel on the congressional maps is that his part of Luzerne will be split out of Rep. Barletta’s district in an effort to shore up Lou.
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Dominic Pileggi. We weren’t sure whether to give Pileggi a down for not waiting until after his Pa. Society event to end this U.S. Senate buzz; or an up because so many of us (PoliticsPA included) bit on the tease. At the end of the day, he gets the up because he put himself on the map as a future statewide candidate and made himself look bigger without really any penalty.
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Pa Society complainers. Boo hoo, it’s in New York City instead of Pennsylvania. It’s a century-old tradition, and everyone deserves a chance to get away from time to time.  Get over it.

7 Responses

  1. Please keep in mind not ALL of the political class goes to the PA Society. Many of us (I’m a Democratic county chair and State Committee Regional Caucus chair) see our roles s being advocates of the grass roots. Therefore, the folks I listen to and based where I live. True, I don’t rub the same elbows as the well connected, but I’m happy to be rubbing the elbows of the working people of my district.

    I think most of you would be surprised to know that the vast number of
    Democratic County chairs fall in the same category as me. So, be careful who you lump into the “Political Class.”

  2. “Pa Society complainers. Boo hoo, it’s in New York City instead of Pennsylvania. It’s a century-old tradition, and everyone deserves a chance to get away from time to time. Get over it.”

    Yes, the political class has it sooooo rough. *sniff*

  3. And how about that Jim Matthews, huh? That Bob Asher really knows how to pick ’em. How’d that power sharing thing work out for you Montgomery County? You’re broke. We Democrats are now officially in charge. And the Matthews guy, three term incumbent, LG candidate etc. is going to jail on the same charge that his mentor Asher was put behind bars for. Absolutely amazing.

  4. You’re right, people who can’t afford weekend jaunts away to The Waldorf shouldn’t complain about PA Society, we’re just jealous proletarians. I should’ve seen if someone could’ve taken me along as a lady’s made or to carry their baggage.

  5. I am wrong about Senator John Yudichak—he has an even district number (14th) and just won last year. With a four-year Senate term, he COULD run for Congress and have his Senate seat to fall back upon. If he would be successful, that would result in a special Senate election.

  6. Vinsko can still legally run against Barletta but faces a tougher district. Commonwealth law is much laxer on Congressional seats versus state legislative seats. District residency is not required—only Commonwealth. Yudichak and the Democratic State Reps face re-election.

  7. So five years into his term, Senator Casey gets some good PR for posing as a compromiser. He is posing as a Senator as well. Here’s to hoping he gets lots of time to play roundball with O.

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