Oh! What a tangled web we weave!

Early this morning, Keystone Politics editors received and released a poll by McCulloch Research and Polling showing that Rick Santorum was within 4 points of retaining his Senate seat. Further research into McCulloch Research and Polling shows that Rod McCulloch, principal at the firm, has been indicted in voter fraud and forgery in Illinois.

Driving home from work this afternoon, I heard this poll cited on Right-wing Talk Radio. I expect it is being used to rally the troops.

If Rick Santorum comes within 5 percentage points of Bob Casey, I will not only eat my hat, but post a photo here of me eating said hat.

That doesn't mean we don't all need to turn out and vote tomorrow. There are vital races for the house (PA and US) as well as the governor's race and the larger the margin of victory, the more resounding the message we will send to Harrisburg and Washington, DC.

So, tomorrow--VOTE. Just go and vote. People all over the world have died in the past couple centuries for this right, and even if the candidates aren't 100% in line with your own politics, it's still vital that you show up and exercise your rights as a citizen in a democracy.

I think everyone should vote if they've at least taken a look at the candidates and ballot intiatives, and have an opinion.

But if you are too oblivious or cynical to have an opinion, then don't bother.
Just, also don't bother to complain about anything. Because you can talk to the hand, if you don't vote.

And don't forget--the big national races and the governor races get all the press, but the thing that MOST affects your day to day life is your very local elections.

Who will be your county commissioners? Your Sheriff?

Your township supervisors?

Your Board of Education?

Your judges?

Bonds for schools and infrastructure?

Bonuses for those who served in past conflicts?

Open Space Initiatives?

Even if you think the two-party system leaves you out in the cold--you should STILL educate yourself about the local candidates and issues. Up here, it has a lot to do with whether your streets get plowed first or last after a snow storm, whether your kid is taught creationism, psuedo-science, or evolution, whether that unsafe intersection gets a stoplight, and whether or not there will be a new 300 house development going in on that farm that's up for sale which will drive your property taxes up because they'll need to build a new high school.


VOTE!


Just do it.

Good luck to all our candidates tomorrow, and may the best candidates win.

Karen L.

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Lois Herr Picks Up Key Endorsements!!

Lois Herr’s commitment to preserve and protect the safety net of Social Security and Medicare has garnered endorsements from retirees and labor in her run for US Congress. Herr is vying for the 16th-District seat against five-term incumbent Joseph R. Pitts, of Chester County. Herr’s election to Congress, according to the Alliance for Retired Americans, would “enhance the quality of life for older Americans,” citing Herr’s “leadership on issues such as the need for comprehensive prescription drug benefit plan under Medicare that benefits seniors—not insurance and drug companies.” Herr has campaigned on a universal, single-payer health care system to relieve the burden of soaring health care costs, and government negotiation of prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Rep. Pitts backed the Bush Administration’s Medicare Part B legislation that has proved confusing to seniors and has left gaping holes in coverage. He has also voted against re-importation of prescription drugs that would put competitive pressure on drug costs in this country. The United Labor Council of Reading and Berks Counties, the American Postal Workers Union Local 95, and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States joined other union organizations in supporting Herr’s candidacy. Herr favors fair trade agreements that protect workers’ rights and an increase in the federal minimum wage. The Sierra Club, the nation’s oldest and largest environmental advocacy group, also extended its endorsement for her “commitment to protecting America’s environment.”

Lois also picked up the endorsement of the Lancaster Intelligencer.

Last night, I was privileged to meet Lois again and hear her speak at the home of an Ox-Grove Democrats member. I came away even more impressed with Lois. She is sharp, an excellent listener, a lifelong student, and a good teacher. I'm relatively new to this part of the country, but I have come to appreciate what I think of as the quintessential Southeastern Pennsylvanian, and the values of those who live in this beautiful little corner of the country. I feel strongly that Lois Herr represents the values and character of the voters of our district and deserves everyone's strongest consideration and support. Joe Pitts said he wouldn't serve more than five terms, and now he has gone back on that promise by running for his sixth. Unlike Joe Pitts, she will not go to Washington and try to turn it into a career--she has already had a fine career, has retired, and is motivated to become part of the political process by her sense of civic responsibility. She is running because of her deep convictions that the current course of the country and the policies of the Bush Administration and their rubber-stamp congress are unacceptable and disastrous, and she feels strongly about changing the policies which have brought us so many things which are now deeply unpopular with Pennsylvania voters.

If you go to the polls next week to vote for Ed Rendell and Bob Casey, Jr. and we certainly hope that anyone who reads this blog will be planning to do that, it makes no sense to vote for Joe Pitts when you're done punching the Casey and Rendell buttons. If every voter in the 16th who votes for Casey and Rendell would vote for Lois, we could shock the pundits who have written us off as a safe Republican seat because of Pitts' war chest and his lack of a personal scandal a la Weldon and Don Sherwood. Wouldn't it be great to hear our district called out on Election night as a "shocker"?

Lois can do this, with your help.

Karen L.

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