The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 12)

br> Re: David Holman's Toomey Defeats Specter : /p>

I read a lot of the pre-election coverage of the Pennsylvania elections, especially in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (staunchly conservative and even sometimes libertarian) and occasionally the Pittsburgh Putz-Gazette (self-ordained as "One of America's Great Newspapers," and predictably, socialist in tenor). In contrast to the ravings of Chris Lilik (Chairman of the Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania), I can't recall a single mention of Pat Toomey having had a significant impact on the election.

Could I have been so careless a reader?

I may be wrong, and I'm no professional political analyst, but it seems to me that, if the central part of the state is anything like the southwest (from which regions emanated all or most of the damage to incumbents), the results of the election were driven by relentless pressure from the likes of the Trib. I doubt that a day has gone by since the July "pay-jacking" that they haven't made an issue of it. That's quite a streak, especially in Allegheny County, where machine Democratic politics have reigned for generations, with only a relatively recent hiccup or two.

The Trib has been a great friend of Mr. Toomey, but have they highlighted his role in the recent election? I missed it, if so. Certainly, Mr. Toomey had no effect in sending packing Democrat Ken Ruffing here in the 38th Legislative District at the hands of PA Clean Sweep's candidate Bill Kortz (Pennsylvania has a closed primary).

As an aside, to quote the deposed Mr. Jubilirer as a "commentator" rather than a principal is weak. Of course he wants to blame national issues for his debacle! He enumerated "the war and gas prices to immigration," among the "everything" responsible for his demise. A more objective commentator might have noted such specific examples of "everything" as the spectacularly bloated size of our legislature and their major league pay and perks (think Yankees or Red Sox); legislative and executive connivance with the state Supreme Court; the flagrant flouting of the state Constitution in the dead of night without debate, and the sheer magnitude of the rape, with raises from 16% to 54% for our illuminati. A more cynical objective commentator might have mentioned his arrogance and haste to be pals with Democratic godfather and governor "Fast Eddie" Rendell at taxpayer expense.

Whether the election was a rebuke to Senator "Scottish Law" [Specter] or not, what's the difference other than to provide a logical link to mention Mr. Toomey? He defeated Mr. Toomey in the primary two years ago with the hearty support of Senator Santorum and one G.W. Bush, and is again safely ensconced as the Republicrat from Pennsylvania to wreak yet more havoc upon conservative initiatives. I strongly doubt that the senior Senator from Pennsylvania gives a tinker's damn about the election fiasco, other than some concern about the November fate of his Philadelphia compadre, "Fast Eddie," for another term as governor...

Don't get me wrong. I was a Pat Toomey fan in the last election, and may be again. I'm suspicious of the whole "Club for Growth" thing, though, and note that his endorsements were issued only as an individual rather than as its president. To his credit, he deflected accolades for his role in the upheaval last Tuesday. I see him in a tough role, getting powerful in Washington while struggling to maintain his appeal to Pennsylvania's precious few conservatives.

To put a point on it, I don't think the election results reflect on more than state politics. If they did, Senator Santorum would be in the catbird seat, and he isn't. Mr. Toomey would like to be sent to Washington in 2010. Mr. Holman has written a nice piece in furtherance of that end, but, from here inside the storm, it rings as bandwagon jumping after hiding out in the tall grass during the fight.

Let us see how prominent may be Mr. Toomey and the Club for Growth between now and November. There remains a huge battle to be fought, with gains for conservative principles available on both sides of the aisle. I shall be watching closely, now that the issue has been raised. I may even subscribe to the Putz-Gazette daily, but I can't promise that I'll be able to bear reading it that much.

p>Maybe someone with Lexis/Nexis access will prove me wrong about Mr. Toomey's perceived low profile in the primary election battles. I'm willing to be shown the error of my perceptions and conclusions. It's been ten months since the pay-jacking and I haven't kept notes. All I can swear to is the steady drumbeat from the Trib

topics:
Taxes, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Social Security, Religion, Islam, Books, Constitution, Law, Supreme Court, Military, Israel, NATO, Immigration