Category: default || By jt3y

You've heard of the bluebird of happiness?

Call me the spatzie of negativity.

While pundits are predicting a major surge toward the center this fall --- and away from the borderline cuckoo far-right politics of the last few years --- I am already seeing signs that the Democrats, both in Pennsylvania and nationally, are well positioned to pull defeat from the jaws of victory.

In fact, I've been seething for several days over "Fast Eddie" Rendell and his idiotic comments to Selena Zito of the Tribune-Review. (Tip of the Tube City hard hat to Jonathan Potts' The Conversation.)

"Rick Santorum has proven that he gets the job done. Time and time again he has come through," Rendell told Zito. "I will eventually campaign with (Bob) Casey. But, no, you won't see me attack Santorum. I work well with him and (U.S. Sen. Arlen) Specter. When it comes to Pennsylvania, Santorum delivers."

Excellent fence-straddling, Ed! It's this kind of leadership that made Marshal Petain such a beloved figure in France, even to this day.

In a nutshell, Eddie's obviously not sure that Bob Casey can win. So he's hedging his bets and hoping that he'll be able to cooperate with Rick "Torquemada" Santorum, R-Inquisition, if he gets re-elected.

And after all, there's lots of reasons that Rendell should compromise and try to work with Santorum. Because, you know, Santorum has been the voice of calm moderation and bipartisan cooperation with liberals throughout his career.

(Erp! Excuse me, I just burped up some of last night's dinner.)

. . .

So, you stopped just short of endorsing Rick Santorum, Gov. Way to undermine your own hand-picked candidate. Way to hand Santorum a cudgel that he can use to bludgeon Casey in the fall.

There's an old British political joke (I think I heard Alexei Sayle tell it) that goes like this: "In America, they have the Republicans, who are like our Tories. They also have the Democrats, who are like our Tories."

In fact, Quislings like Ed Rendell (and Joe Lieberman) prove that there's some truth to the complaint of leftists that there's not a dime's bit of difference between Republicans and Democrats.

Many Democratic leaders stand for nothing except their own re-elections, which they try to ensure by voicing mealy-mouthed platitudes sure to offend no one.

Hey, dummies: You're in the opposition party. The other guys hold all of the marbles. They have absolutely no reason to cooperate with you, or grant you anything you want.

Therefore: It's not "optional" for you to oppose them --- it's your damned job, and if you don't want to stand up for the values that you supposedly endorse, then get out of the way.

. . .

Meanwhile, there's Casey. The more I've heard from him, the more I've warmed up to him --- I think he's a thoughtful, contemplative guy --- and I think he's done a good job in the state offices he's held.

Admittedly, they are administrative positions, where strong, visionary leadership is not required --- but on the other hand, try to find someone who will say positive things about Catherine Baker Knoll's term as state treasurer. (Besides Cathy, of course.)

Unfortunately, I'm not hearing nearly enough from Mr. Casey. Indeed, I sent his campaign office an email a while ago asking where I could get some Casey yard signs. I'm still waiting. You'd think someone there could answer those Internets, unless, of course, the tubes are clogged.

I want to see Casey holding noisy, colorful rallies in McKeesport and Greensburg and Washington and Monessen.

I want to see him giving Tricky Ricky, the junior senator from Virginia, what for.

I want to see some evidence --- any evidence --- that Bob Casey Jr. really wants to be a U.S. senator.

I mean, Santorum began running ads attacking Casey as soon as May's primary ended. Casey's responses have been weak and late by comparison.

. . .

Santorum is an excellent campaigner, and the people running his campaigns are ruthless. They are going to do anything --- say anything --- to get their man re-elected. (Case in point: The "Al Jazeera" crud they put out recently.)

At the same time, Ruthless Rick's hard-core supporters believe passionately that their man is standing on the side of the angels, defending the nation against Godless gay-marrying terror-appeasing baby-killers. Packs of wild dogs are not going to be able to keep them away from the polls.

Casey's support, in contrast, is a mile-wide but an inch deep. We need to see a little more of the fire in the belly from Casey, because he has got to motivate voters to get out in November. Simply being the "anti-Santorum" is not enough, in my estimation.

Don't believe me? John Kerry thought it was enough to be the "anti-Bush." Tell me how his presidency is going so far.

As for Rendell, I'm waiting for his endorsement of Lynn Swann. At least Benedict Arnold had the decency to flee to England.