Author Archives: Karl

More on the election and some on Philly

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The Rittenhouse Review says it’s time for Democrats to take Republicans seriously. He lays a good smack down on certain misguided Libertarians as well. Check out his collection of perspectives on the election while you’re at it.

Glenn Frazier says that running on the economy was the wrong platform. I repectfully disagree with my fellow Philly blogger. Did you honestly hear any ideas for fixing the economy? There was finger pointing. I think we agree on this – It’s the ideas that count. Not political bickering. If there were ideas, they didn’t get thru. Contrast with Rendell who put something on the table.

Eric Raymond says the Dems have been victims of their own postmodern politics. I disagree with a lot here, but he makes some thought provoking points.

Garret says the Dems need some new blood. I agree.

I know how you feel Bill 🙂

Three Philly bloggers and two ex-Jersey guys. Not bad at all.

The Inquirer reports that Rendell won by Republicans voting for him in key districts. A politician that appeals across party lines. Imagine that! The Inquirer explains how. The also posted Rendell’s first post election interview.

The Urban Warrior makes a call to arms to sell our city.

Republicans Control Senate And House, Lessons For Dems In Rendell Win

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And the Presidency, and the Supreme Court. What does that mean since it is but the slightest of majorities? According to the NYTimes:

…in symbolic terms, controlling the White House and both houses of Congress would count for a lot. And even if pushing some major legislation through remains beyond the President’s capacity, he will no doubt take yesterday’s voting pattern as a mandate to pursue his goal of ousting President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, by force if need be. Control of the Senate would also give Mr. Bush a better shot at winning confirmation for any conservative nominees he may choose in the event of Supreme Court vacancies.

Two years from now, yesterday’s contests for governor may seem to have been more important than those for Congress. Excluded for years from the governor’s mansions in many of the states with large blocks of electoral votes, the Democrats regained several of them, which should greatly assist their 2004 presidential campaign. Democrats swept back into power in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois, the kind of Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states that have formed the engine-room of American politics for generations.

Andrew Sullivan calls it Bush’s Triumph. Mickey Kaus says this points to the fallacy of the 50-50 nation.

Closer to how I feel, William Saletan says the big story is that the Democrats have no story and John Marshall agrees.

Along the same lines is Oliver Willis who always takes the words right out of my mouth – put away the thoughts of “mandate” you Righties. It was way, way too close. What’s to blame is weak national Democratic leadership. Very weak, wishy-washy, what-do-they-care-about national leadership.

By the way… one kick ass Democrat did win for governor here in PA

…You may not remember this, but I do: When the year began, the near-unanimous consensus was that Philadelphia’s former mayor would not be the state’s next governor. Bob Casey? Probably. Mike Fisher? Perhaps. Ed Rendell? Not likely.

The man was too brash and too urban, too liberal on social issues, too daring in his policies, too closely identified with the big city, a place still held in contempt by the conservative, gun-loving hinterlands.

He wouldn’t win. Check that. He couldn’t win. He might run a respectable race. But he’d never make it over the top. His flaws were fundamental.

Or so it seemed to politicians, journalists – myself included, and even to some of Rendell’s own closest advisers.

So what happened? How did the man wind up turning conventional wisdom on its head?

I’ve worked and lived in the ‘burbs just outside Philly. Hatred for the city loomed large in many conversations. It was always dangerous exposing my roots. Yesterday much bad blood was overcome.

According to the Daily News, you don’t need to worry about any favoring of Philly going forward. It’s just common sense. Fisher tried hard to use that as a scare tactic. Didn’t work. It might have if the Democrats tried to push some lessor candidate though.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: voters at the center of both parties tended to side with Rendell. Think you national Democrats!

The Daily News has some fun explaining the Ed Rendell style. He’s down to earth. A real guy.

After doing some surfing at Google News I found this perfect quote from The Oregonian:

Senate Majority Leader (at least as of Tuesday morning) Tom Daschle, and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt campaigned through the country for their candidates, but had little to say where they arrived. In a Daschle visit to Oregon in August, the majority leader listened to Oregon Senate candidate Bill Bradbury attack Bush’s economic policy, nodded — and said nothing.

When you say nothing, sometimes people hear you.

…Most candidates for governor — such as Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania — have to actually say something about what they plan to do. When they say it strongly, voters often respond.

Democratic leaders not only need to think about something to do next. They need to think of something to say.

They should get some help from their governors, from people like Rendell, who not only spoke out firmly this year, but spent the 2000 campaign, when he was the Democratic national chairman, warning that Gore wasn’t saying anything and was going to pay for it.

It turned out he’s been right twice.

Most important, as the Inquirer concludes:

…now a Philadelphian has won, big, by calling for robust action. Pigs have flown; the conventional wisdom is scrambled. Maybe, just maybe, lawmakers will find that speaking up for genuine solutions is less risky in the long run than sticking to the old, sniping ways.

Rendell Wins!

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One of the few politicians that have ever given me any kind of hope has won for governor of Pennsylvania. And it wasn’t even close.

Can’t say that about most of the other big elections taking place across the country. Looks like the Republicans are having a good night.

It will be interesting to read how turnout was.

RIP Jam Master Jay – Jason Mizell

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It isn’t right. Not at all. God bless you and your family. You are going to be missed.

“Jam Master Jay”

Kick off shoes jump on the jock
Listen to the Jam Master as he starts to rock
His name is Jay and he’s on his way
To be the best DJ in the US of A

J a y are the letters of his name
Cutting and scratching are the aspects of his game
So check out the Master as he cuts these jams
And look at us with the mics in our hands
Then take a count 1 2 3
Jam Master Jay Run D.M.C.

He’s Jam Master Jay the big beat blaster
He gets better cause he knows he has to
In ’84 he’ll be a little faster
And only practice makes a real Jam Master

We’re live as can be but we’re not singing the blues
We got to tell all y’all the good news
The good news is that there is a crew
Not 5, not 4, not 3, just 2
2 MC’s who are claiming the fame
And all other things won’t be the same
Beacause it’s about time for a brand new group
Run-D.M.C. to put you up on the scoop
We make the fly girls scream in ecstacy
We rock the freshest rhymes at a party
We put all the fellas in a daze
It’s everyone that we amaze
And we got the master of a disco scratch
There’s not a break that he can’t catch
Jam Master Jay that is his name
And all wild DJ’s he will tame
Behind the turntables is where he stands
Then there is the movement of his hands
So when asked who’s the best, y’all should say:
“Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay”

Jam Master Jay is the one in charge
It’s up to him to rock beats that are truly large
He is the master of the scratch and cut
So move your arms, so move your legs
So won’t you move your butt

We’re not talking ground, we’re not talking sky
We’re not talking low, we’re not talking high
We’re not talking big, we’re not talking small
We want all of the people on off the wall
We’re not talking night, we’re not talking day
But we’re talking bout Jam Master Jay

I turn to MTV upon hearing the news… and MTV is not covering a thing. Of course, what should I have expected? MTV stopped being about music along time ago. Looks like their website is more focused then their TV station these days.

Run D.M.C. was different. Forget the “Walk this Way” cover. They were a million times more then that. It wouldn’t have happened without Jam Master Jay.

“It’s Like That”

[Run]
Unemployment at a record highs
People coming people going people born to die
Don’t ask me because I don’t know why
But it’s like that and that’s the way it is

[D.M.C.]
People in the world tryin to make ends meet
You try to ride car train bus or feet
I said you got to work hard you want to compete
It’s like that and that’s the way it is
Huh!

[Run & D.M.C. alternate lines for the remainder of the song]
Money is the key to end all your woes
Your ups, your downs, your highs and your lows
Won’t you tell me the last time that love bought you clothes?
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is

Bills rise higher every day
We receive much lower pay
I’d rather stay young, go out and play
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!

Wars going on across the sea
Street soldiers killing the elderly
Whatever happened to unity?
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is

Disillusion is the word
That’s used by me when I’m not heard
I just go through life with my glasses blurred
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!

You can see a lot in this lifespan
Like a bum eating out of a garbage can
You noticed one time he was your man
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is

You should have gone to school, you could’ve learned a trade
But you laid in the bed where the bums have laid
Now all the time you’re crying that you’re underpaid
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!

One thing I know is that life is short
So listen up homeboy, give this a thought
The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught?
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is

If you really think about it times aren’t that bad
The one that flexes with successes will make you glad
Stop playing start praying, you won’t be sad
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!

When you feel you fail sometimes it hurts
For a meaning in life is why you search
Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is

Here’s another point in life you should not miss
Do not be a fool who’s prejudiced
Because we’re all written down on the same list
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!

You know it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Because it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
(Repeat these lines til fade)

Check out other tributes at their official site

Read more lyrics at at Leo’s Lyrics.

Get out and vote – ignore that story!

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I love the Daily News, it really does capture the spirit of the city. I’m a little worried about today’s headline though.

Ya see, people in Philly appreciate a good fight. If it looks like a sure thing, whether it be in sports games, development deals, or political campaigns, we don’t show up, or do so half heartedly. Yeah, it makes no sense. But that’s the way we are. We fight for the underdog.

So get out and vote. Ignore that story! This race is going to be way harder then it seems.

Here is the the Inquirer’s Voter’s Guide.

Here is The League of Women’s Voters information portal.