Rendell says Hazleton ordinance feeds off hatred : The Morning Call Online - Most pols are careful to avoid controversial issues. I wasn't proud of the way Rendell handled the midnight legislative payraise.
But today he took a hard stand on a very divisive issue, illegal immigration. "The only ones I want to hear speaking up and complaining about immigration are the Native Americans who we screwed." Now there's a leader, someone who doesn't back away from the Santorums or Barletta who are being heralded by our 21st Century nativists. That's the Rendell I remember. That's the Rendell I voted for.
Way to go, Eddie! Your next cheesesteak's on me.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Friday, July 21, 2006
23 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Thank God somebody finally told these people off. Thank you Ed
ReplyDeleteAnd ironically, today a friend should be an informational flier sent to her by Congressmen Dent, at our expense, that tells us about those horrible illegals and proudly admits he would make anyone who assists an illegal guilty of a felony, which sure makes that Good Samaritan look the fool.
ReplyDeleteRight noiw that's the in thing to do. Just look at the comments on the mcall.com web site and look at some of the horrible things peple say about fellow human beings. I feel ashamed when I read those comments.
Rendell, who's no fool knew it had to be very risky to make such a statement. But he did and I'm proud of him. He can drive 110 mph all he wants. My vote goes to him. I would never have voted for Swann anyway, but wasn't too thrilled w/ Rendell. That changed today.
That took Ed Rendell sized guts to do this. I'm sure he'll take heat from some people, but leadership isn't easy and Rendell step to the plate today. If one Republican in PA had similar balls, I'd send him/her a check and proudly post an endorsement any where I can find space. This issue plays to core fears of uncertainty (which the GOP does so well) and instead of playing political football with it, how about easing fears and reminding people that uncertainty has helped to shape our nation for the better in the past and will do so again in the future.
ReplyDeleteLVDem, Thanks for your comments. That's more or less what I was trying to say in my earlier post about illegal immigrants being the "new Jew." Rendell said it better and a little more succinctly.
ReplyDeleteAnd Team Swann is already saying that Rendell is "out of step" with the voters. They remind me of the General who said, "There go my soldiers. I must follow them." Leaders lead. It's very easy to appeal to the dark side of human nature. What happened to the Germans could easily happen to us. But that WON'T happen so long as someone like Rendell, for all his flaws, reminds us of our shared humanity.
Actually, it's Rendell's flaws that have always made me like him. He doesn't hide them and he doesn't apologize for them. He is human and like the rest of us, he has traits that are less than appealing. Politicians that try to feed toward people's lofty expectations of "perfect politicians" frankly are the scariest of the lot. I really feel that is why Rick Santorum is having so many problems. He always came off as the perfect person: family values, honest and trustworthy. Now that the residency spat has become public and he gave his man on dog line, people are inclined to reevaluate that. Once they begin to see the perfect as imperfect, they lose faith. Well, Rendell will drive you nuts with his flaws, but you will never lose faith because of him. If anything, you realize just how similar these people are to you and me. As a very imperfect person that is somewhat scary, but at the same time, those imperfections have lead our country for more than 200 years and we continue to thrive. Perhaps instead of being frightened by those flaws, we should be impressed that our democracy is what it is b/c of those flaws.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll stop. I'm starting to ramble like Billy.
LVDem, Well said, and from your heart.
ReplyDeletelvdem:
ReplyDeleteWell put! Bravo!! People don't expect politicians to be perfect. They will accept mistakes, as long as their representative learns from them.
Unfortunately, today too many politicians rely on polls and professional handlers to decide what their priorities should be.
People will follow any elected official who is passionate about leading folks in the right direction and who knows what's the right thing to do AND THEN DOES IT, regardless of the personal or political consequences!
Barletta will regret that ordinance when he loses the coming lawsuit over violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Local taxpayers will have to pay higher taxes to defend the legal challenge, even if the city settles.
Interesting thoughts about perfection/flaws. Can they be applied to Dent? It seems to me that he has cultivated an image of perfection to perfection. Is`it ripe for puncture?
ReplyDeleteMy thinking is that someone who really nailed him on his support of the Iraq War just might be able to do it. Other thoughts?
As far as Rendell, I couldn't believe that he added that part about screwing the American Indians. So true, and truth like that is rarely heard in politics these days.
FtnHillDem, It was raw, politically dangerous, and I LOVED it. Rendell's handlers are already trying to tone things down. Maybe he should handle them.
ReplyDeleteAs for Dent, a very good friend who is registered R showed me a mailer she received yesterday from squeaky. This campaign propoganda, sent at our own expense, gives her the "facts" on illegal immigration and how tough Chharlie is on the subject. He's playing to the crowd, and is also trying to give Santorum a little boost.
Well, I came home last night, and I didn't get a flier. Did you? I think he's targeting this supposed "informational" mailer. Gee, don't I need this info, too? Did you get a mailer recently from Dent? I wonder if LVDem did?
Dent is using our tax money to send out propaganda to certain voters instead of sending information to all of his constituents.
Guess what I'll be blogging about on Monday?
I am not a huge fan of Rendell -- it's not so much his politics as his machine-like use of power.
ReplyDeleteBut, when I read these comments in this morning's paper I was very very impressed. I, also, saw that it took some cajones to take that righteous position in the midst of a campaign.
I'd like to see Bob Casey come out with a similar statement -- after all, Hazleton is in his neck of the woods and the english-language issue isn't going away -- but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Good post.
To A Big Fat Slob, (I feel a little weird writing that way). Thanks for your comments, buddy. You and Gort have had some fine posts on the immigration topic. As the neocons told us to be very afraid of the terrorists and implemented all kinds of Code Yellows, they are now pointing to a new enemy, the illegal immigrant, who might also be a terrorist. This "be very afraid" kind of talk can really get us in trouble even though it is quite popular right now. That's why it was so refreshing to hear a sitting Governor, who is in a re-election campaign, take the bull by the horns, and in the very country where all kinds of municipalities are now considering the anti-immigration ordinances.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your post, and recommend your blog to those who read this comment. This guy is from Gort's neck of the woods - coal country.
FTnHillDem, I think Dent is using his franking privilege to target specific voters right before the 90 day prohibition kicks in. And what's the issue he's using? Illegal immigration. Gee, isn't it odd that Dent is singing the same tune as Santorum? He and GOP strategists have obviously polled the issue and think it will play well. That's also why a Republican committee used Morganelli testify before them about the illegal immigration issue last week. That's going to be their issue. They think it will sell, even though it's mostly horseshit.
ReplyDeleteIn steps Rendell, who lays them out for what they're really doing - playing the politics of fear. And you know, I think most Americans will recognize they're being playerd when someone like Rebdell points it out.
I don't have anything against a Republican who believes in less gov't, fiscal conservatism, etc. I respect that. But I resent guys from eithert party who try to play me. And Dent is trying to play some voters w/ his "facts" about illegal immigration flier.
John Morganelli may have let himself be played as well. But I think he's as guilty as Dent for using this issue to cause divisiveness.
I didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteFor as much as Rapid Edward has diapointed me over the last 3 years I still like the guy. I always admire a politician who will speak his mind and tell the mob that they are wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting is that most of the horrible comments I've read against illegal immigrants seem to be coming from the religious right.
ReplyDeleteIt's also interesting how the religious right has made Jesus into a Republican. That's idolatry. To recreate Jesus in your own image rather than allowing yourself to be created in Jesus' image is what's wrong with politics. Jesus called us to love our neighbor, love our enemy, care for the poor, care for the outcast, and that's really the moral core of where this nation ought to go.
It kills me when either side, left or right, Republican or Democrat, Muslim or Christian, brings God into political questions with certain knowledge about what God would do. They make the classic mistake of thinking finite minds can understand the infinite.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jesus was a pretty scary guy, when you come right down to it. He was never "respectable." Were he walking among us today, the nation's leaders would shrink from this "wild ragged figure."
So I'll try to never make the mistake of predicting how God or Jesus ever comes down on any issue, whether it is immigration or global warming.
I'm in enough trouble.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteVery true! As, one of my favorite priests who taught me in high school was fond of saying, "In the Bible, it never says that Jesus was nice..."
I think the G.O.P. believing they are "God's own Party" is closer to the truth than anyone wants to admit. They need to stop quoting Jesus, and start acting like him. My Dad always told me, "words are nuthin, it's what you do that counts", I think the words and actions of Republicans paint a very clear picture of divisiveness in our country.
ReplyDeleteChris, You certainly make a valid point and I thank you. But to be fair, both sides are guilty, as I'm sure you'd agree. How many JESUS WAS A LIBERAL bumper stickers have you seen? I don't think the GOP is printing those. Now if you'll excuse me, God's on the phone again. I wish he'd leave me alone for just one day.
ReplyDeleteBernie, what kind of brownies did you have after dinner.
ReplyDeleteDamn Phillies just gave up a go ahead run in the 9th... fdsl;akfjsd;l
Bernie, I don't believe any one has a private blessing from God to use him in politics, I find the Jesus was a liberal stickers just as annoying. I spent 4 years at a Catholic, all boys College Preparatory school, and while I don't openly practice Catholicism, I believe that St. Thomas Aquinas, in his great Summa on the logic of God, did argue, much to the chagrin of the Church Hierarchy, that God did not favor any particular sect over another.
ReplyDeleteSo it can be argued that politicians are mistaken to argue that God favors one party or the other. I would argue that Jesus was a patriot. He did teach, "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, render unto God that which is God's." amazing to me how both many claim God as their ally, at their side, neglecting to remember that the idea of God is of a God whose commandments are to be followed.
Don't mean to go alol holy on you, I don't regularly attend Mass, but I remember my theology.
By the way, can have some of those Brownies?
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your site, very nice graphics!
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