Things to ponder, Dec. 16
From the windmill of my mind … Do you think all Republicans are really hoping that South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson makes a full and speedy recovery from emergency brain surgery? If Johnson croaks, the Democrats’ one-vote majority in the U.S. Senate would likely evaporate, as his replacement would be named by South Dakota’s governor, who happens to be a Republican. If that happens, Republican Vice President Dick Cheney will be the tiebreaker vote in a Senate divided 50-50, robbing Democrats of the advantage they earned on Nov. 7. With so much power at stake, I think some people have their fingers crossed behind their backs when mouthing words of goodwill for Johnson.
Everybody knows Vincent Zapotosky is running for a Democratic nomination for Fayette County commissioner in next year’s primary election. This week a sign for his campaign headquarters was even erected at the entrance of the South Union Township Fire Hall. He’s also hosting a Christmas party Dec. 21 at Summer’s night club in Uniontown, the site of his political ally Timothy S. Mahoney’s November election night victory party, which is another tell-tale sign. V Zap should just come out and announce, because there’s no secret or suspense involved.
In a “Behind the Scenes” television show we taped Friday, state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (D-Dunbar) credits Fayette County Democratic Party Chairman Fred L. Lebder for the turnout that guaranteed another term for state Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Waynesburg). While DeWeese lost his native county by 500-some votes, he carried his section of Fayette by nearly 1,000. It appears that when Lebder said before the election, “Vote straight ticket Democrat . It’s the easiest thing to do,” many people listened.
A postscript to this newspaper’s open records lawsuit against state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union): Although the state Supreme Court ruled against us in our quest to have Roberts’ taxpayer-subsidized telephone records made public, the legal fight dragged on for six years. We paid our attorney out of our own pocket during that time. Roberts’ legal counsel was paid by you, the taxpayer, out of state House of Representatives funds. It would be interesting to know what that legal bill came to. If you think legislative spending is transparent and accessible, why don’t you try finding out the total. I’ll drive my car on the Mon-Fayette Expressway from Pittsburgh to Morgantown before any of you can get and give me that number and its supporting documentation.
Do you think things in Fayette County are better, worse or the same as perhaps 20 years ago? Some days I think they’re better, some days worse and some days I think nothing’s changed.
I agree with Lebder that voting a straight Democrat (or Republican) ticket is the easiest thing to do. However, I don’t think that it’s always the smartest thing to do. If it were, Fayette County would have been on the move a long, long time ago. Competition and genuine fear of losing at the ballot box is what makes politicians at all levels better performers.
Somebody give me a nudge when the Fayette County Republican Party gets serious about offering Lebder and the Democrats some real competition. Until then, I’ll keep hitting the snooze button.
Here’s when I’ll proclaim that Fayette and Greene counties have turned the economic corner: When people who moved out of the area start moving back to take available jobs, and when recent college graduates are able to stay here because they’ve found work in their chosen fields. Oh, yes, and when people I know start quitting one job because they’ve found a better one. How many times have you seen that happen?
Anybody still think that I was fired?
Paul Sunyak is editorial page editor of the Herald-Standard. Reach him at 724-439-7577 or psunyak@heraldstandard.com