Saturday, December 30, 2006

ONE RIGHT WING DEMOCRAT DERAILS THE WHOLE PARTY IN PA-- MEET THOMAS CALTAGIRONE, REACTIONARY AND TRAITOR

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You may have noticed that sometimes I talk about "faithless Democrats," folks who get elected as Democrats but then vote with the Republicans on important, even crucial, issues. Last year we did our best to disrupt the happy lives of some of the worst of this lot: Holy Joe Lieberman (the worst of the worst), Jane Harman, Henry Cuellar, Al Wynn and I had plenty of unpleasantness to say about Democrats who generally support corporate legislation over the interests of workers and consumers, like the two awful Senators Nelsons and the half dozen Democratic House members who most consistently voted the GOP line, Gene Taylor (MS), Dan Boren (OK), Bud Cramer (AL) Collin Peterson (MN; just rewarded for his treachery and reactionary politics with the chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee), Ike Skelton (MO) and Mike McIntyre (NC).

But it turns out there are worse Democrats than these. On election day the news from Pennsylvania was really good, really, really good. Democrats, independents and moderates got together and ousted far right senatorial dingbat Rick Santorum, as well as 4 Republican congressmen (the most of any state): Melissa Hart, Crazy Curt Weldon, Mike Fitzpatrick, and sexual predator Don Sherwood. Meanwhile incumbent Democratic governor Ed Rendell swamped GOP challenger Lynn Swann 60/40 and Rendell's coattails helped the Democrats gain a one vote majority in the State House, their first since 1994.

Enter Thomas Caltagirone (D-Reading), a spoiler and the ultimate faithless Democrat. Caltagirone is reactionary and a vicious homophobe who has no place in the Democratic Party to begin with. He's announced that he's casting his vote next week for Republican John Perzel for Speaker, in effect throwing all the committee chairs and all the power in the House to the Republicans. The anti-choice Caltagirone had previously joined forces with Perzel when they passed the violently unpopular legislative pay-raise last year.

All the Pennsylvania blogs are going bonkers over this and several have vowed to find and help finance a primary opponent for Caltagirone (if he has the gumption to even run again, which is doubtful). This is heartbreaking for Pennsylvania Democrats, not just because control of one of the 2 houses of the state legislature would have made it infinitely easier for Rendell to move his agenda but also because Perzel is widely considered the most loathsome person in state politics. DWT will help.


UPDATE: HALF A DOZEN REFORM-MINDED REPUBLICANS TO THE RESCUE?

Better than a partridge in a pear tree, it looks like Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese may get the Speaker's job afterall. Six Republicans, who are as disgusted with Perzel as most Pennsylvanians, have announced that they will not vote for him despite Caltagirone's treachery. (Meanwhile Perzel is trying to lure more Democrats like Caltagirone with promises of chairmanships... what a mad house!)

8 Comments:

At 7:53 PM, Blogger PA progressive said...

Thanks so much. We need to set up an Act Blue page and I already emailed the guys there. Living here where Caltagirone is I sincerely doubt he intends to retire. He has too much power and he loves his power.

 
At 9:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I voted for rep Caltagirone. I know him well and he is a good man. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and see where this goes.

 
At 10:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yea I live in Reading toooooo and believe Caltagirone needs to be taken down along with all his cohorts! Benefit of the doubt ..... not likely as he gives NO ONE the same benefit!

 
At 11:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

there's always a pig louse in the mix, may he .............let me stop here.

 
At 7:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My sympathies. But you seem to think this matters.

Voting is immoral and a sham. Who did you think were candidates offered to you to vote for? Mother Terresa?

Your choices are ALWAYS for the evil of two lessers. The only legitimate vote is NOT to vote at all.

To cease participating in a process whereby the majority steal the property and liberty of ALL (assuming you believe the vote count in the first place). And where, no matter who is the candidate, the plunder continues. The process is fixed. And your voting merely lends credence to the theft.

Still Voting?

 
At 8:10 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The process is fixed. And your voting merely lends credence to the theft.

Still Voting?


Fascist Nation: There is only one thing worse than a fascist. That being someone who urges people to NOT participate in their own democracy.

Shame on you.

 
At 11:05 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

More and more it appears that the PA Democratic party has been completely infested with and is currently dominated by 'centrists' like Lieberman and religious right wackos like Casey Jr. While this is generally true, I would take particular care before endorsing or throwing money towards any candidate in that state.

 
At 11:57 AM, Blogger Timcanhear said...

WOW! HOT STORY!

 

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