Things to ponder, Oct. 21
From the windmill of my mind … The election is just 17 days away, and as of Wednesday 129 state legislators and challengers had signed on in support of “Brighter Pennsylvania,” the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s concerted attempt to make government meetings and records more accessible to the public. (The list of signees, which is regularly updated, can be found at the Web address
“http://www.pa-newspaper.org/web/2006/09/brighter_pennsylvania_supporters.aspx
Thus far these are the candidates to be commended for making the pledge and thus proving they want to work for you: State Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (D-32) and state House challengers William Earnesty (Republican, 52nd District), Deberah Kula (Democrat, 52nd District), Greg Hopkins (Republican, 50th District), and John “Sonny” Mikita (Republican, 51st District).
Here’s the big question: If a veteran senator like Kasunic sees the light and is on the list, why aren’t long-time state Reps. Bill DeWeese of Waynesburg (D-50), Pete Daley of California (D-49) and Jess Stairs of Acme (R-59) on it? The same goes for challenger Timothy S. Mahoney, the Democrat who’s running against Mikita to succeed retiring state Rep. Larry Roberts in the 51st District. We’re watching that list – and so should you.
We recently filmed a state legislative candidate forum with two Republican challengers who aren’t running against each other: Hopkins, who is challenging DeWeese in the 50th District, and nurse Ed Angell, who is Daley’s opponent in the 49th District. It will air on HSTV. The first question we asked each of them: Why do you think your Democratic opponent declined the invitation to appear in this forum, and what question would you ask him if he were here? You might be interested in tuning in to hear their answers.
I saw President Bill Clinton on C-SPAN giving a talk at Georgetown University, and in assessing the philosophical difference between the political parties, he said, “Poor people are just as smart as the rest of us. They just haven’t had the same breaks.” For the most part, I can agree with him. But some just don’t look for those breaks.