Senator Rick Santorum: Poster Boy for Obnoxious and Desperate Conservatism

[LynneSin]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_walter_c_060724_senator_rick_santoru.htm

Senator Rick Santorum: Poster Boy for Obnoxious and Desperate Conservatism

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by Walter C. Uhler

http://www.opednews.com

If Pennsylvanians are lucky, after November's elections the Keystone State will be rid of its junior U.S. Senator, Rick Santorum. It will not be a moment too soon. Such a blessing would radiate across the United States and, thus, the world.

Today, Mr. Santorum is the not-so-proud possessor of poor polling percentages, which indicate that even the good citizens of central and rural Pennsylvania (AKA the mostly "Alabamans" who live between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) have tired of his empty, "bogus nostalgia and right-wing extremist ideology" about "the traditional family" (see my article, "Rick Santorum Flunks 'The History of the American Family,'" http://www.walter-c-uhler.com/reviews/santorum.html ).

Thus, political desperation best explains Santorum's recent attempt to reframe the debate by announcing to Pennsylvanians and all Americans - during his speech to the National Press Club on July 20, 2006 - that "today the biggest issue facing our children's future is a war." However, with that speech - which was replete with reckless rhetoric designed to incite the mob and turn out the faithful on election day -- Santorum revalidated the timeless truth spoken by Samuel Johnson: "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrel."

The speech also proved that Santorum knows even less about foreign affairs and national security than he does about the traditional family - thus validating Jose Ortega y Gasset's timeless truth about the "learned ignoramus." ("He is a person who is ignorant, not in the fashion of the ignorant man, but with all the petulance of one who is learned in his own special line." Santorum, after all, is "learned" in duping social conservatives and the citizens of Pennsylvania.)

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[John1956PA]

1. I've posted it before, and I'll post it again: we may be in trouble in PA.

In a past post, I wrote that I fear that PA is going to wind up in the red column in 2006 and 2008. The Rethugs have been targeting this state for some time. In 2004, right-wing propaganda was being channeled through the church pulpits and publications. In the 2004 and 2005 general elections, I was a poll watcher in a rural precinct in which the Republican registration is 2-1 over the Democratic registration, and I got a glimpse into the mindset of the rural Republicans. For the most part, they will never vote Democratic. The majority of the rural populace is gun-owning, and the gun industry's message is that Democrats want to take firearms away from the public. Another ominous sign for the upcoming elections is that most of the counties have chosen to go with touch-screen electronic voting systems which, of course, are subject to chicanery. Given the apathy of the registered voters who make up our base and the political middle ground, I would have to say that we may in trouble in this state.

If anyone has ideas how we can take back this state, email me at [e-mail].

Thanks.

[bronxiteforever]

2. Ricky loses by 10% at least in fall

Rendell also wins reelction easily-Pa has gone both for Gore and Kerry and has elected a democratic guv from Philadelphia. This is most certainly not a repug year and Ricky is a bad candidate this time around-he loses the 5 counties around Philly by substantial margins. ricky also direspected his fellow weesterners with the awful school scam he pulled. he pissed on his home base. Cheer up on the state level I don't see any big R victories and we beat crazy Weldon yet!!!

[LynneSin]

3. It's not going to be an easy win but I think we'll be fine in 2006

I'm not sure why the other poster is hyperventilating. I mean, if this was Ohio I'd understand but remember that the democrats control the voting system in the state. The biggest fraud that goes on is voter harassment.

And Rick Santorum has absolutely no appeal in the Philadelphia region which will make it very difficult for him to overcome this election.

Plus the biggest fallacy about that post is gun control. Both Santorum and Casey have moderate stances on gun control which practically neutralizes the issue. And as for those gun toting rural Pennsylvanians (which I grew up in that area), I hate to say this but a minority governor is an extremely tough sell

[bronxiteforever]

4. you are right

Little Ricky is in big trouble, he even embarrased the western folks-i don't get the depression of the other poster either. Ricky has consistently ticked off moderates in the ring around Philly and you can't win the state if you lose those counties. The truth is he is a far right winger and the people of Pennsylvania have had it with him disgracing the Commonwealth. He ain't no Arlen Spector or Tom Ridge (as guv not DHS head). Plus Bob Casey is beloved in the Wyoming Valley with Wilkes Barre and Scranton which does bleed into the Lehigh Valley. Santorum may go negative but every expects him to and that just shows how classless he is.

[LynneSin]

9. Seriously, that's going to be a bigger issue in Western PA than guns

his own 'home' district is polling badly against Rick Santorum because of how he is stealing tax dollars from their school system to educate his Virginia raised children

[John1956PA]

7. Lynne, you missed my point about the gun propaganda.

With all due respect, Lynn, there is no fallacy in my point that, in the upcoming campaign, the gun industry will unfairly paint Democrats as having designs on confiscating guns. The gun industry does not want to lose Santorum, and it will portray Casey as being soft on the right to bear arms. Many gun-lovers want the right to own rifles which are automatic (not just semi-automatic) as well as rifles which fire 0.50 caliber or greater rounds. Santorum, not Casey, would be the Senator to vote to allow unfettered ownership of such extreme weapons. Neither the gun industry or the gun-lovers care if Casey is moderately-to-strongly pro-gun. The gun industry is big business, and, as such would back the Republican for a myriad of reasons even if Second Amendment rights were not part of the calculus. As for the gun-lovers, most of them will never hear that Casey is basically pro-gun; all that they will hear is the industry propaganda that it is necessary to vote for Santorum in order to keep their guns. Remember, Klink was pro-gun, but Santorum's giant billboard messages (Santorum, Protecting Your Freedoms) tipped the election.

Finally, as for your assertion that the Democrats control the state voting system, I disagree. Sanchez (I think that is is name) is the Republican tool who was in charge of certifying voting systems, and he shot down all efforts to certify machines which would have produced a paper trail. The coming election may be stolen because of fraud with the touch-screen machines, and we will never be able to prove it.

[LynneSin]

8. They will but it won't work this time

Casey received more votes statewide of ANY candidate including presidental votes. Your sense of paranoia is nothing more than a defeatist attitude. Casey doesn't need to win the rural votes - just stay close. You worry to much about large areas of land where Casey will still manage to get 40-45% of the vote. But not only in Urban Pennsylvania but Suburban areas to boot (areas which gun laws are pretty much a moot point), Santorum will be lucky if he gets 40-45% of the vote. And since the bulk of PA votes are coming from the urban areas, we should (and I stress should) have no problems.

To top things off, having a strong governor candidate on your ticket will help increase the Philly area vote.

Stop panicking over this non-issue.

And remember - Pennsylvania is a Union state and they love Casey.

I'd appreciate if you'd also learn to spell my name right

[Freedomofspeech]

5. I live in SW, PA....

I have only seen 3 RICK bumper stickers around here. Yes, they just say RICK, like Cher, Prince, etc. I will be working for Casey and I feel pretty confident. Everyone is sick of RICK around here.
My biggest problem with Casey is that he is not pro-choice, but he is our only option. I am insulted by being called an "Alabaman", but we do have lots of gun totin' rednecks around here, with rebel flags on their trucks!? If you're in the area on election night, stop in 'cause we are gonna be drinkin' some moonshine to celebrate Casey's victory (lol). My only fear is that the bastards will try to steal this election, too.

[dajoki]

6. I live in...

the lower anthracite region, which, thanks to redistricting is now represented by Sherwood(alleged woman beater). Our district is now 52%-38% republican and Chris Carny is noticeably quiet in my area(the only Dem area of the district). The worst part is that I have watched my county go from strongly Democratic in registration to a Thug advantage over the last twenty years. I tried numerous times to get in touch with our Dem county chairman and, get this, THE PHONES ARE DISCONNECTED, UNBELIEVABLE!! As for little pRicky I'm cautiously optimistic that he will be voted out, everytime he opens his mouth, he makes an ass of himself. But I at least hope Sherwood gets a run for his money.

[LynneSin]

10. Hey, there is someone from the Carney campaign who posts in this form

I forget his name but he does post here.

Redistricting does suck but the fact that Carney is at 38% in a county that is overwhelmingly republican is a major step up. I'm hoping that the Carney people can chip away at Sherwood and press the sex scandal in a county that is on the surface pretty moralistic.

My family is from the Hughesville area of PA-10. WE still have a family home up in Unityville, but we were always in Sherwood's district

[dajoki]

11. I'm from the southeastern...

tip of Northumberland county, about 45 miles south of Hughsville. Kanjorski was our rep before redistricting. Like I said I hope Carney can give him a run.

[GreenTea]

12. Watch for the real slime, TV & radio ads, right before the election.