PA Gov Running for Prez?

[Sugarcoated]

I could've sworn I caught a bit of this on Al Franken's show yesterday. Or is Rendell just thinking about running? Or is this just the media trying to generate news? I love Ed, but don't know if he should run. He's certainly got the smarts and personality, but I've heard some things that might work against him. And, I hate to ask this, but could he win in a red state? :dilemma:

I think he'd definitely be an asset as a VP choice - Wes Clark/Ed Rendell anyone???

[LynneSin]

1. We need Fast Eddie on the big ticket

This man has something that Clinton had and both Gore & Kerry lacked - Charisma. I'm looking forward to supporting the Ed Rendell for president! Don't go making him second fiddle just yet or better yet, how about Rendell/Clark '08

:bounce:

[lenidog]

4. Yeah, he has charisma because he is a BS artist from Philly

The last thing we need for president is an ex-Philly mayor.

[LynneSin]

8. Excuse me, Eddie turned around the city of Philadelphia

I moved to the area before Rendell was mayor and that city was a dump. Hell the previous mayor, Wilson Goode, actually firebombed an entire city block!

Rendell came in there and turn around the city. He cleaned up downtown and brought new projects to the city including 3 new stadiums and the convention center. All of this meant more jobs & money for the area. Too bad John STreet is an ass who I can't wait is out of the mayor's office.

When REndell ran for the primaries, finally the people living in the suburbs could vote for Ed and they did - overwhelmingly. In the primaries, he got 75% of the vote in Philadelphia county and 85% in the Suburbs.

Ed is working hard to do the same thing for the state now that he is governor. I think he would make a fabulous president. Obviously your attitude leaves me to believe that you weren't around in the Philly area before or during REndell's term!

[MarianJack]

15. As a Former Philly Resident,...

...I think that Rendell and Richardson Dilworth are the 2 greatest mayors Philly EVER HAD. One is #1, the other #2.

If he goes for the big prize, get ready for A LOT of anti-semitisn, but Ed is one tough dude, and can handle any bullshit thrown at him and still look good and have the other guy look like a fool.

Ed wasn't at the top of my list before reading this thread, because I didn't think he was interested (I saw him as a possible Attorney General). If he ran, he'd be one of my favorites!

[Coastie for Truth]

12. Actually Pennsylvania has had some good governors

Dave Lawrence - altho the ultimate "Big Machine Machine Politician" was the best mayor Pittsburgh ever had (Joe Barr was an old drunk, and Pete Flaherty destroyed the city - I am a "Flaherty hater").

Milt Shapp - really good. A little bit of a kook - but good. (Milt invented CATV, the precursor of cable tv - he was the "Jerrold" (his middle name) of Jerrold Electronics and the Jerrold Electronics cable set top box).

Lawrence and Shapp turned public education - and public higher education around in PA.

[saracat]

6. Not really. He is okay but he can be boring as well.

And he dances in the middle too much.

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. He is one of the most charismatic guys in the business, but

charisma only goes so far. What has he accomplished as Governor? His biggest accomplishment, the slots for school plan, is being rejected by almost every school district in the state.

He would be an excellent pick for VP, but he's need to have more concrete accomplishments under his belt if he want to be on the top of the ticket.

[Renew Deal]

2. I kind of hope not.

I never had that good of a feeling about him. I felt like he is kinda cruising along. I also don't think he's nearly sharp enough to be a presidential contender.

[Sugarcoated]

5. He's got pretty sharp skates

I've definitely seen him have off days, but I think he rises to the occasion when he needs to. But, yeah, he'd have to sharpen those skates to a fine razor sharp sheen. But he has it in him.

[LynneSin]

9. Well the bar has been lowered to below sea level for sharpness

I mean, compared to what we have now!!

[Sugarcoated]

11. True, but

it's the Repug party itself - a finely oiled attack machine. A good charismatic BSer can deflect and make up for alot. And he does have creds behind the charm - he's solved some pretty heavy duty problems here in PA, especially in Philly, made some questionable trade offs as well.

[paineinthearse]

3. I hope he appoints Don Sherwoods replacement first.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3589530&mesg_id=3589530

[Sugarcoated]

7. Hmmmm . . .

Juicy

[LynneSin]

10. Representatives aren't replaced, only senators

Representatives who leave before their term is completed either have a special election to have them filled or stay empty if it's close to the main election.

However, that area is predominantly and overwhelmingly republican. Sherwood will probably be replaced by another. Of course I could just take up residency at our family house up in Lycoming county and hell I could run for the seat :eyes:

[Sugarcoated]

13. LynneSin -

Is the upstate part of PA, how red is it? I'm always hearing it's the most conservative part of the country. Do you get that sense? I'm from Philly area, I just drive through every once in awhile. I talked with a couple dozen people in the Reading area, they seemed somewhat conservative reasonable - not extreme.

[lenidog]

14. Basically the state is blue

around Philly and up throught the cities of Scranton and Easton. Then its blue again in Pittsburgh and the surrounding suburbs. The rest of it usually goes Red in any election

[LynneSin]

16. You get to the "T" of Pennsylvania and you're hitting a whole new world

Here's an example:

About 10 years ago, 60 minutes did an expose about Bud Shuster (R-Tyrone) about the kickbacks he was getting as the chairman of the transportation committee. IT was a very powerful piece and ultimately Bud stepped down from his position.

So knowing that their representative was filled with scandal what did the good people of PA-9th do about replacing Bud Shuster? They elected his son to the position. Pretty much Bud continues to do the job through his son, the puppet.

PA-9 encompasses about 15 counties between Pittsburgh & Harrisburg region http://www.house.gov/shuster/counties.htm. The region is very similiar to PA-10 which is just north of there.

I mean, you think if you have someone in office who is scandal ridden that there would be an opportunity for fresh blood from the other party to take over the seat? Not so in Pennsylvania, the people that live in these areas just keep pulling the Repuke lever dispite who is running. For all I know there is another Sherwood ready to replace Don when he steps down.

Pennsylvania does have opportunities to pick up some additional congressional seats most notably PA-6 in Chester County and maybe, must maybe PA-4 and Melissa Hart's seat. Hart & Gerlach have been linked to Tom Delay and both are in districts neighboring larger Urban Areas (Gerlach is near Philly, Hart near Pittsburgh).

Let's just keep our fingers cross.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Gerlach is much more vulnrable than Hart

He has barely won two elections in a row. Hart, conversely, has never had a close election for her Congressional seat.

[LynneSin]

20. There have been some ads running in both districts

since both have been associated with Tom Delay and the Scandal, but you're right Gerlich should be a dem pickup

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. I never said that it should be a Dem pick up

Only that it is much more likely. There is very little chance of Hart losing next year. Gerlach definitely has a big bulls-eye on his back, but him losing is far from a sure thing. the longer these guys are in the harder it is to dislodge them.

[Sugarcoated]

23. Ick

I hope Dems are gonna be more involved in places like that a la Dean's new leadership. During the election I attended meetings a little further out from Philly to lend my support. It just wasn't as pivitol nearer the city. I intend to stay involved out there (North Wales/Landsdale - North Penn District?) We have to have a face out there, show the country folks we've got their back, cause we actually really do.

[paineinthearse]

24. You're absolutely right.

I forgot, duh!!!!

[malachi]

17. Ah, Ed's Jewish. Yeah, I can see him run for prez in the good

Ol' US of J. As a VP candidate, maybe, but folks in this ass backward
country will never vote for a Jewish candidate for Pres.

[Sugarcoated]

22. Unfortunately, that's true.

But he doesn't wear it on his sleeve like Lieberman.

[bleedingheart]

25. Currently Rendell is getting the shit kicked out of him in the PA Assembly

the GOP is taking every Democratic Bill they find and rewriting the ones the like and then passing them so that it makes the Democrats look like they aren't doing anything.

The PAGOP has been screwing this state for more than 10 years and they are doing their best to not give Rendell anything he wants and even thought Rendell is trying his best, he is not getting any good press in some cases for the stuff he does accomplish.