Tube City Almanac

February 04, 2008

Briefly Noted

Category: History, Politics || By


Today's the birthday of one of the Mon Valley's most famous natives.

Ninety years ago today, Mr. and Mrs. Chedwick of Homestead, Pa., celebrated the birth of a baby boy they named George Jacob Chedwick.

But his mom called him "Porky."

You can read Ed Weigle's 2001 tribute at Pittsburgh Radio & TV Online, and make sure to view Dave Crawley's story from KDKA-TV.

. . .

In Other Business: Jack Bogut of WJAS (1320) notes that tomorrow is Mardi Gras and "Super Tuesday." "Let's all get drunk and choose the next president!" he says.

Has he looked at the candidates? If that doesn't drive you to drink, nothing will.

. . .

Speaking of Politics: Ken Ruffing has announced that he's going to challenge state Sen. Jay Costa Jr. in the Democratic primary.

You'll remember Ruffing as the former state representative from West Mifflin who lost his re-election bid to current state Rep. Bill Kortz.

Ruffing was one of the legislators who voted for the controversial state legislative pay raise, later overturned. But Ruffing refused to give back his raise, saying he had "donated it to charity."

The charity turned out to be his son's school, and the donation turned out to be his son's tuition.

After the primary defeat, Ruffing was accused of backing into a parked car at a church festival and driving away. When Munhall police caught up with him, they accused him of driving with a blood-alcohol level four times the state's limit for intoxication. Ruffing was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

I'm no big fan of Costa, who also voted for the pay raise (you might remember the sarcastic letter I sent him, and his response) but unlike Ruffing, at least he had the courage to admit he'd made a mistake by voting for the pay raise, and he apologized. (It's between him and his conscience to determine if the apology was sincere.)

We're still waiting to see some contrition from Ruffing, who last week told Pat Cloonan and Michael Divittorio of the Daily News that he's running for Costa's seat because he wants to see change in Harrisburg.

We all want to see change in Harrisburg, but Ruffing's record makes unlikely that he's the one who can deliver that change.

Maybe this is the year that Mon Valley Republicans put up a viable candidate for Costa's seat --- and one who's not an ultraconservative religious whack-job in the Peg Luksik/Pat Toomey mold.

Otherwise, I don't know if I want to vote for Costa, but Ruffing doesn't offer much of an alternative.






Your Comments are Welcome!

Sometimes I wonder what some people are thinking. Why subject yourself to the embarrassment and loss of time and money from a race you can’t possibly win?

I don’t like to see Democrats taking on Democrats either unless the incumbent has really screwed up and the seat needs policing.

Many a fighter, has come back for one too many fights. I hear that Mr. Ruffing likens himself to James J. Braddock (aka “The Cinderella Man”). If he were to win this race, he’d be correct in his assessment.

I wish Mr. Ruffing and his family all of the good fortune in the world. If he asked my counsel, which he won’t, I’d tell him to get on with his life’s work.

I hear some folks may challenge my good friend Bill Kortz for his seat in the 38th….Good luck to themas well. Billy is the hardest working man in Rock and Roll and I have NEVER heard one constituent who is unhappy with his performance.

Ego and arrogance can be the down fall of us all. Just ask Coach Belichek ..:)

-Councilman Shelly
Paul Shelly (URL) - February 04, 2008



Happy Birthday Porky!!! Shame on you, though, for putting your fingers right on the grooves. My mommy taught me at the age of 5 to always hold from the outside edge. tsk tsk

Hmm…maybe I should run for for the senate. I don’t have much leadership experience, but hey, Luke Ravenschaffer pull it off why not I?
The Dude from West Mifflin - February 04, 2008



“Maybe this is the year that Mon Valley Republicans put up a viable candidate for Costa’s seat —- and one who’s not an ultraconservative religious whack-job in the Peg Luksik/Pat Toomey mold.”

Sorry Juan McCain is busy at the moment.
doug - February 04, 2008



Thanks, Doug. Here’s your rimshot:

http://unclebubby.com/wav/wav/SOUNDFX/rimshot.wav

I don’t know. I think a John Heinz/Dick Thornburgh Republican is very electable to a state Senate seat from the Mon Valley.

In fact, there are two notable Republicans from the Mon Valley who in recent memory won county-wide office — White Oak’s Dr. William Hunt and the woman he called “the little nurse from Elizabeth,” Barbara Hafer.

Personally, I could support someone like Hunt or Hafer, or Heinz or Thornburgh.

But I couldn’t vote for someone whose entire platform consisted of banning gay marriage, legalizing school prayer, and anti-abortion legislation. And those are the kind of people who flocked to Luksik and Toomey.
Webmaster - February 04, 2008



So – as a fellow resident of Costa’s district, what’s wrong with him? Why aren’t you sure you’d like to vote for him?
Andrea Boykowycz (URL) - February 04, 2008



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