<p>ID, the only problem is, the Dems in general poll even lower than the Rs. They’re not presenting a cogent alternative, just whining. That’s a recipe for maintaining the status quo.</p>
<p>Driver, so what are your biggest issues?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t count Santorum out. He’ll get hit hard for his strange involvement/departure in the Dover case. But the election is a long way away. I personally like Casey though I disagree with him on several points – but his biggest problem is that he’s just not a very good campaigner. Santorum is no prize either – he comes off far too often as arrogant and condescending – but Casey is just terrible. </p>
<p>If the election were held today, Casey would probably win easily. But it’s not held today – this misstep by Santorum will fade away. Plenty of time for both of these guys to either screw up or surge before the election. </p>
<p>Driver, we have a far different opinion of Santorum – he’s a fairly junior senator, and I don’t think he has clout in the senate. He may have influence with conservative groups, but he’s going to have a hard time arguing that he has the type of influence to get things done for Pennsylvania that Specter does. In that sense, he’s very similar to Pat Toomey – conservative groups may love him, but he doesn’t have administrative clout. </p>
<p>My Betting Line: Casey 53/47</p>
<p>Actually, “whining” is a very effective strategy for an opposition party. That’s the tough part for the Republicans right now. Being in solid control of every branch of government, they have to run on their record.</p>
<p>And, if you don’t think Santorum perceives his religious-right creationism stance as a potential election liability, why is he running from it as fast as he can? I’ve followed politics long enough to recognize the backstroke when I see it.</p>
<p>Speaking of Spector: how did Pennsylvanians react to the right-wing leaders of the Republican party forcing Spector to publicly get on his hands and knees and grovel like a dog to keep his Judiciary Committee post?</p>
<p>As a PA resident, I have a very different perspective than Driver re: Santorum.</p>
<p>This past summer, the PA state legislature gave themselves, state judges and the Governor’s staff members a middle of the night pay raise with no public discussion.</p>
<p>The voting public revolted like I have never seen for this state, and after an incumbent state justice was voted out of office is the past election, the legislators recinded their pay raise.</p>
<p>My point is that the antics of the State legslature brought folks into the political process that have been sitting on the sidelines. </p>
<p>The mood in the state currently is anti-incumbent and Santorum has some black eyes in his home part of the state. I think enough of his pro life single issue voters will switch parties, plus the new anti-incumbent voters will result in a loss for old SANTa. </p>
<p>Also will be interesting how the independents will vote this time. The gave the repubs a free pass last election; I would not count on it in 06.</p>
<p>Re: Specter–I think his actions undercutting the president who saved his senate seat for him reminded many Pennsylvanians why they don’t like the man…you just can’t trust him. I know a lot of people who voted for him who were furious at Specter, and thought that groveling wasn’t enough–he should have been removed from his chairmanship on Judiciary.</p>
<p>Re Santorum: There’s no question that his utter lack of any semblance of humility is a deep and hurtful character defect. He’s a year or two younger than I am, and when I first met him we were in our late thirties. It was particularly unattractive back then, when he was so young. I believe it was former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey who once said: “Santorum…isn’t that Latin for a**hole?” I laughed out loud when I heard that. He’s even a jerk at his own fundraisers. However, he is relentless, both in the senate and on the campaign. His elections have been close…he beat Harris Wofford with only 49% in his first run…then he beat a no-name opponent last time, getting only 52%. As for having administrative clout, he’s Chair of the Republican Senate Conference, the #3 leadership position. It’s worth something. I also don’t see the public reaction against the state legislature’s pay raise turning into a general anti-incumbent wave against national figures.</p>
<p>Driver- interesting</p>
<p>You would rather have a jerk in power, who has major character defects because he can get you what you want?</p>
<p>That sounds selfish and shallow to me</p>
<p>Just because someone has clout doesn’t mean they should keep it</p>
<p>So much for compassion</p>
<p>“And, if you don’t think Santorum perceives his religious-right creationism stance as a potential election liability, why is he running from it as fast as he can?”</p>
<p>Maybe because of a failure of intelligence? (or maybe just because he is a bald-faced liar? ;))</p>
<p>
That was laugh out loud funny! Care to address the nature of Santorum’s character defects with those of Bill Clinton’s and then tell us how you voted?</p>
<p>I should have said “personality” defect, not “character.” His character’s fine. He’s just a bit full of himself. I also think that the the “running from Dover” idea is being overplayed. I’m well aware of Dover and the controversy, but had never heard anything about a Santorum connection. I suspect this is being ginned up for political purposes, which is fine. I just don’t see it being as big a deal in PA as it apparently is in liberal MA and WA.</p>
<p>
Exactly why I wanted Specter out, regardless of clout. We’re talking speculatively about electoral politics here, CGM…keep your personal insults to yourself.</p>
<p>“Care to address the nature of Santorum’s character defects with those of Bill Clinton’s and then tell us how you voted?”</p>
<p>Why would anyone want to do that?</p>
<p>Ugh, no connection between Santorum and the creationist lobby?</p>
<p>He was on the advisory board of the Thomas More Law Center which advised the Dover School Board on the drafting of their creationish curriculum and provided their legal defense:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.thomasmore.org/[/url]”>http://www.thomasmore.org/</a></p>
<p>It would be hard to imagine a Senator more connected with the fundamentalist religious groups on the US political scene.</p>
<p>He was incredibly connected.</p>
<p>Let’s not change the facts when making our arguments.</p>
<p>“It would be hard to imagine a Senator more connected with the fundamentalist religious groups on the US political scene.”</p>
<p>But “he was troubled by testimony indicating religion motivated some board members to adopt the policy.”</p>
<p>Maybe he was troubled by the fact that only SOME board members were motivated by religion to adopt the policy? ;)</p>
<p>
Agreed; let’s not. I didn’t say there wasn’t a connection to the Thomas More Law Center (which I had never heard of)…I said I was unaware of a Santorum connection to the Dover School Board case. And if it’s not on my radar screen, I doubt it’s going to matter one way or another here in PA. That’s all.</p>
<p>It’ll matter if Casey does the smart thing and beats Santorum over the head with it.</p>
<p>Santorum is obviously concerned that it might matter. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be shuckin’ and jivin’ at a full-sprint to disassociate himself from the flat-earth society folk.</p>
<p>It wasn’t ginned up, it was true, he made a big deal of spporting the dteaching of ID and know will not stand by his “convictions” as it is politically not good for him</p>
<p>YES CLINTON HAD SEX WITH THAT WOMAN!!! OMG</p>
<p>And yes I voted for Clinton, and yes, besides the sex stuff, what other stuff you got, after years and years and millions of dollars and investigations up the wazu, what else did he do wrong</p>
<p>And nice diversion, but not suprising, if you have no other choice, you attack Clinton, whom George Sr, seems to have no problem with, btw</p>
<p>As for Santorum, he’s a politician who didn’t do his research, he believes in bad science, and even though it was public knowledge that the school board people in Dover lied over and over, he did not distance himself until the judge made his ruling</p>
<p>And, Driver, I was using your words, that he has power and clout- being a jerk isn’t worth anything, unless, I guess, if he is on one’s side</p>
<p>
ID,
If Casey is any kind of a politicianthe kind that likes to winhe wouldnt dare; he needs the votes of those blue collar dems who vote Republican for traditional and sane reasons. If only the smarty-pants set got to vote in Penn that would be a different story.</p>
<p>The last paragraph of the quote in my post#28 in the other thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=128658[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=128658</a> gave me a whole new perspective on the ID issue and makes me less inclined to attack like I was before. Perhaps we’re not so far apart as we think; perhaps we have some of the same concerns; but perhaps the ID people are just attacking the wrong target:</p>
<p>
</p>