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 | No Pennsylvanian Supreme Court Justice has ever lost a retention election. Until now. |
(Democrat) Justice Russell Nigro was voted out. Justice Sandra Schultz Newman was narrowly retained, mostly because of a Republican effort to get their party members out to vote. Former PA Governor and former Head of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, helped with a television campaign to retain Justice Newman. She will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2007.
I hope that every single politician in Harrisburg takes notice.
In a related issue: I have a friend who I describe as a militant athetist who has been working hard with the PA Cleansweep organization. Carl attended the Monday night legistlative session that we all hoped would result in a repeal of the payraise (it didn't). He sat up in the visitor's gallery (up high, similar to the Federal Capitol's). The session began with a prayer and the Pledge, with Speaker Perzel having everyone stand up first. Carl sat quietly up in the gallery - didn't stand up, didn't speak.
Perzel noticed and sent one of his flunkies up to demand that Carl get to his feet. Carl politely said no. The Flunkie told him he had to stand or to get out. I can imagine Carl's eyebrows going straight up as he informed the Flunkie to read the Constitution. The Flunkie flew back down to the floor and informed Perzel. Perzel pointedly looked up at the gallery, gesturing and obviously angry. Carl was amused, and afterwards told our representative about the incident. Our Rep shook his head and said that he would both speak to the Speaker and send a letter about it.
There's a wonderful photo of Perzel that appeared in our local paper - he's in an elementary schoolroom, and the bulletin board behind him is full of pink pigs. What a photo op! And the kids were something - read about it here. You see, the anti-payraise groups have been using this huge inflated pink pig at the rallies. Just too perfect an image. Can't believe that he didn't realize what was behind him when the photographers started to snap.
ADDENDUM: I forgot to post about this - many of you have probably heard about the Intelligent Design vs Evolution battle in Dover School District, here in the federal court in Harrisburg, PA.
Well, the entire school board was voted out in yesterday's election.
YAY!
posted by dddragon at 10:13 AM
10 Comments:
Golly! He stood in front of a wall of pigs? You should make up a t-shirt with that image right now.
Oh that is too perfect! Tell Carl he's got a fan in Virginia.
Yep. They're all scared now. If any of them had been up for election yesterday, they would have lost.
I can't believe that Sandra Schultz Newman was retained. I have plenty of friends with whom I do NOT see eye-to-eye with on things political, and all of them, TO A WOMAN, all of them voted not to retain either judge. In fact at my ward, both political parties were handing out cards saying to vote NO on both judges. I've never seen anything like that!
We also have a major issue going on here in Hillsborough County.
The Board took away religious holidays after the Muslim community asked for one of their own, then reinstated them based on community reaction. It's been a very divisive issue.
Check it out here. It's been a bizarre week around this county.
geez, Fred, you're right. And I've heard now that Kansas has voted to include Intelligent Design/Creationism in schools.
Speaker Perzel is quite the pompous ass, isn't he? Thanks for the political rundown, ddd. I love this stuff. xoxo
We the people have to rise up every now and then and kick some elected butt. There are bad eggs out there in both parties and I'm glad for people who will not be apathetic about it.
Pretty amazing.
Wow, the ENTIRE school board? That's great!
My gosh, I love when elected officials lose their jobs.
Great start, now all you have to do is get rid of all traces of Tom Ridge, and recall that other goon that was retained.
Great job booting the entire school board!
Maybe you will not need my axe handle and touch carrying mob after all.
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