Pa. GOP honcho blasts right wing, switches parties

[quaoar]

Don't see this often enough:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06022005-497208.html

Andy Warren quits GOP

By SARAH LARSON AND BRIAN CALLAWAY
Bucks County Courier Times

Calling Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick a "DeLay Disciple" and decrying the Republican Party's move to the right, former Republican Bucks County commissioner Andy Warren on Wednesday announced he has become a Democrat and is not ruling out a run for office.

Warren, the longest-serving commissioner in county history and now head of the regional state transportation office, said he switched his party registration over the weekend.

The change comes, Warren said, after years of watching the national Republican Party move further and further to the right.

"When one finds that his philosophy is so out of step with the organization, you either sit silently by, hypocritically, or you do something about it," he said. "It was time to move on. So I did."

[NMDemDist2]

1. woohoo!!, is the worm finally starting to turn? nominated n/t

[whistle]

2. Ahaaaa, I thought you were going to name Arlene Specter as the...

...GOP defector.

[FtWayneBlue]

3. Good for you, Andy Warren!

I hope you win the seat, if you decide to seek it.

[deadparrot]

4. Niiiice.

Gotta love stories like this.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. I hope he is getting more supporting maiil than hate mail.

Freepers really know how to hit that "send" button when they're spewing venom. This act took courage and he deserves support for it, to be shown he's moving TOWARD something positive instead of just away from something he could no longer accept. And that in a nutshell is what we must do for ALL GOP voters who are uneasy with what the Bush admin is doing but don't see an alternative they can turn to.

We must provide a positive, well-planned, well-presented ALTERNATIVE to the GOP. Just opposing isn't enough, there must be something positive to turn to or there is only despair.

[bunny planet]

6. You are so right Hope. How do we find the guy. I guess I'll start googling

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. Hello Bunny, here is what I am doing- I just sent an email to the coauthor

(to: [e-mail])

Re: Your story on Commissioner Andy Warren changing to the Dem party

Dear Ms. Larson:

Thank you for reporting on this story. I heard about it because it was the subject of a Democratic Underground thread here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1825375

Several of us would like to be able to send messages of support to Mr. Warren, but we do not have an email address for him, nor would we want to put that address out where malicious people might find it. So could we send a few messages of support to him through you at this email address? Or can you suggest another approach?

What he did took integrity and courage, and we want him to feel that he is not just moving AWAY from something he can no longer believe in, he is moving TOWARD something positive that he can help to bring about. He deserves support for what he has done. Far too many politicians are, as he says, "sitting silently by, hypocritically." If more can search their conscience and do what they know is right despite their fear of stepping out of line, this country will be in far better hands.

Thank you again for this story,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[bunny planet]

9. Super. I'll wait and see what he replys. Thanks for doing that Hope.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. I chose the female coauthor, thinking she might be more open to

the suggestion. Who knows. We'll see. I'll post here again and PM you if I hear from her.

Been too long, Bunny! :hi:

[bunny planet]

16. Hi back atcha!

:hi:

[starroute]

29. Here's the staff page for PennDOT District 6

http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/districts/district6.nsf/home?OpenFrameSet&Frame=main&Src=_r5to6arjechnn8br4d5pn8sj9cdq76br4d5pn8sj9cdq3cbjeedj2us35e9pmurjeclm3ukj5c5i4crridkj42tbkdt374obdcli00_

No email addresses except for the webmaster, though. (What century are they living in?) But there's both a general address for the district and a phone number for Warren.

I'm in Bucks County, and this is good news. Warren's name is well-known around here, and it's bound to make an impact.

[KnaveRupe]

10. Couldn't agree more.

You are exactly right.

Let the freepers spew the hate - and let people see, by the extreme contrast, how vile the party they've left behind has become.

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. Welcome to DU, KnaveRupe! Always a treat to see a new person's post

I hope you enjoy and come to value the unique DU community as much as we "oldtimers" do.
:toast: :hi:

edited to add: Don't feel that there's much difference - like many, I became a member in November, not that long ago. No truly "new kids on the block" around here!

[jhain]

7. nice counterpart to this story

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/11792157.htm

Posted on Thu, Jun. 02, 2005

Bush marks date in June for Santorum fund-raiser

The President will be in Montco, showing early support for what is being called a priority race.

By Carrie Budoff

Inquirer Staff Writer

The White House hasn't been coy in showing its affection for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's 2006 reelection bid. Chief strategist Karl Rove went so far as to suggest that conservatives book a Motel 6 here next year and get to work.

Now, President Bush will back up his support with an appearance at a June 14 Santorum fund-raiser in Bryn Mawr, the senator's campaign confirmed yesterday.

The event's early timing and pricey tickets - $250 for entrance, $10,000 for a picture - underline Bush's focus on the reelection of Santorum, a member of the Senate Republican leadership and ally of the President's.

"This is the President's way of showing this race will be fought at the highest level," said Kenneth E. Davis, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. "Other people will take notice and behave accordingly. They are going to have to be prepared to spend a lot of money."

[dweller]

18. $10,000 for a picture???????

excuse me while i behave accordingly
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

dp

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Behave accordingly??

[sellitman]

12. I guess he is off Santorum's Christmas card list.

:patriot:

[GetTheRightVote]

13. See there are good people in the repub party but should not be

they are a changing their way of viewing political life ......

:kick:

[Gregory1230]

15. Is this for State or US House?

[faithnotgreed]

19. hi gregory1230 - glad youre here (sorry i couldnt answer the question!)

[Nothing Without Hope]

22. Hello Gregory1230 - and welcome to DU! From the article in the opening,

post, it's neither. He's apparently a well-known local politician, and he's "not ruling out" running for office as a Democrat:

...former Republican Bucks County commissioner Andy Warren on Wednesday announced he has become a Democrat and is not ruling out a run for office.

Warren, the longest-serving commissioner in county history and now head of the regional state transportation office, said he switched his party registration over the weekend.

So this story is more about a philosophical change that happens when a person of integrity looks closely to what his long-term party has become than about any strategic benefit in our present battles in Congress. We can hope many people are inspired by his example or are following the same path in parallel.

[Gregory1230]

23. Ahh!

Thanks for welcome. :) I see about Warren. Welcome to friendly party! :kick:

I hope another will follow.

[quaoar]

27. According to Kos

Warren is thinking of running against Fitzpatrick for Congress.

[wicket]

17. Welcome to the party Mr. Warren!

:kick:

[FreedomAngel82]

20. I wish him luck

The republicans don't take light to people they deem traitors. I'm glad he finally saw through all of their hypocriacy. Good luck to him!

[Eloriel]

24. Here are a few other "convert" stories I've collected recently

Republican says his party has been taken over by "a bunch of kooks"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1811231

Are we witnessing the collapse of the Republican Party?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3732175

The Good Republicans (Plaid Adder)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3729680#3733287

Post in this thread:
Voinovich is in tears on Senate floor!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1809081&mesg_id=1809207

A Voter Switches Party Affiliation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1803102&mesg_id=1803102

Something in the air? Lots of converted Repubs....
(links to the following three threads)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3654563

New to DU by reformedrepub (14 posts at the time)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1780575

OMG - my parents LEAVE the Republican Party!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3652906

Hi, my name is Stacy, and I'm a recovering Republican...................
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3651186&mesg_id=3651186&page=

[Nothing Without Hope]

25. This is an EXCELLENT compliation, Eloriel! Thank you for this!

definitely saving this one.
:toast:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

33. Another one for your collection....

I posted it mid-May:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1795344

[reformedrepub]

26. Just Like Me

Way to go Warren!!

[quaoar]

28. Welcome to DU

And welcome to the light.

[BlueIris]

30. Yes, welcome.

It's a hard thing, admitting that the party you've pledged your support to is no longer serving your needs (or anyone else's either). Good for you, and long may you post at DU.

[xchrom]

31. welcome to the Light.

[CWebster]

32. Howdy Dowdy is what we used to call Warren

There was an environmental movement years ago in Bucks County to protest the pumping of Delaware River water for a nuclear power facility and to provide for massive development of the upper County. Warren stood against the people. That is hard to forget but maybe he has learned something since then.

Ironically, Fitzpatrick has a great record on environmental issues.

[enough]

35. Thanks for reminding us of this background.

Takes me back.

[starroute]

36. In all fairness . . .

My recollection is that the Republican commissioners thought they were standing up for fiscal responsibility, in that it would have cost the county a lot to pull out once the contracts had been signed and wouldn't necessarily have stopped the project.

Of course, they should never have involved the county in the deal to begin with, but I'm willing to chalk it up to conventional thinking rather than deliberate against-the-people-ness.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

34. It's really catching on here in PA...the GOP bleed

Myself included, along with 4 other Republicans in PA leaving the GOP due to the crazy right wing zealots and warmongering neocons. Glad Mr Warren decided to take make the move.:toast: