Hill-adelphia helps Clinton carry PA

Hillary has done it - she has pulled off another victory here in Pennsylvania, but will it be enough? I don't think it will. Lost in all the hoopla of her victory, which by the latest count has her winning the state by 10 percent, is that it won't be significant enough to propel her to the nomination; she won 67 delegates tonight, but Obama won 51.

Of course, all day today, the press engaged in wild speculation about what Hillary should do if her victory wasn't big enough, if she won by x%, etc. I think all of that speculation was for naught, because Hillary isn't going anywhere, for now. There will be calls on both sides for the other to step aside, but that's easy for all of us to say, when they are both (but yet so far) from the Democratic nomination.

In state news, I was delighted to see that Johnny Dougherty lost his bid be the Democratic nominee to replace the outgoing State Senator Vince Fumo in Philadelphia's First District. Unfortunately, Larry Farnese was the winner, and not the candidate we supported - Anne Dicker. The district won with Dougherty's defeat, however.

Dicker distinguished herself in this campaign, and she certainly has a future in politics. I will support and vote for Farnese in the fall election.

The jury is still out, of course, for the Democratic nomination, but I just don't buy into the opinion that the dogfight between Clinton and Obama somehow will hurt the Democratic Nominee's chances against John McCain. Sure, I'd like to see a nominee raising money now, but I still believe the Democrats will win and win big this fall.

And I plan on spending lots of time and energy to help make that happen.

My ballot is cast...

I just cast my ballot at my polling place. It was quick and easy - absolutely no line. When the day comes when we move from our condo in Philly, I sure will miss how easy of a time I have to vote - it's literally one block away at an elementary school.

Anyway, it's official - I cast my vote for Obama. Despite my recent indecision about possibly voting for Hillary, I didn't waiver from my original pronouncement of supporting Obama. I believe Hillary is quite a strong candidate, but I simply think Obama can give politics in our poisoned nation's capital the swift kick in the butt that it needs.

I also cast my vote for Progressive Anne Dicker today for Pennsylvania's First District's State Senate race. She's in a dogfight with Johnny Dougherty and Larry Farnese. I'd like to say I'm confident she can pull it off, but in the last few weeks, I'm not so sure. But, I never considered voting for either of the other two.

Voter turnout here in Pennsylvania appears to be quite heavy indeed. I'll be back later with much more. If you live in Pa. and you're reading this - get out there and vote today - the earlier, the better. There have already been some reported problems with voting machines in South Philly. If you go early, you have a chance to get the problem fixed before the end of the day so your vote counts.

Hard to believe, but I agree with Fumo

Well, this must be a first. For the only time in memory, I find myself in agreement with outgoing Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo, whose recent message during a meeting at the 200 people at St. Andrew Lithuanian Church, was to not vote for John Dougherty, the business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

I couldn't agree more - I've written many times recently how I firmly believe that "Johnny Doc" represents the backward, brutal, thuggery politics of Philadelphia's past, and it's my hope the city can move past that. The outgoing Fumo agrees, calling Dougherty "a bully, a thug and evil." Wow, how do you really feel, Senator?

From Philly.com:

"I am not endorsing any candidates, but do not elect John Dougherty," Fumo said at a meeting of the Spring Garden Civic Association. "I do not want that to be my legacy. He is a bully, a thug and evil. Please vote against him."

[Snip]

"I got 16 members of the Senate to endorse Farnese and raise money for him," Fumo said. "Any kind of logic would lead you to vote for Farnese."

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is reason #1 (and numbers two and three) why I hope and pray that Farnese does not prevail in Tuesday's three-way race for the Democratic nomination in the election to replace Fumo this fall. The last thing I want the First District's new state Senator to have is any owed favors to the ethically challenged Vincent Fumo.

The only logical choice is Progressive Anne Dicker (above right). I'm disappointed but not surprised that The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board has endorsed Farnese. Considering that former Republican activist and hack Brian Tierney is running the Inky, and that he considers Rick Santorum worthy of a regular column on the paper's editorial page, it's no shock the paper doesn't recognize a true Progressive when there's one right in front of our noses, and that's Dicker.

Dougherty is under federal investigation for a myriad of ethical lapses, so the last thing we need is another state Senator being investigated; we've got that in Fumo now. And since Fumo is endorsing Farnese, he gets painted with the "guilt by association" brush. Hey, if you sleep with dogs, you're gonna get fleas.

We have supported Dicker a little bit by attending one of her fund raisers, and I'm trying to find time to be a poll worker this Tuesday, but that sort of activism is not the approach the Dougherty campaign is taking, and I found out about this by accident. Get this - the Dougherty campaign is paying people $150 to turn a shift as a poll worker. Hey, nothing buys sincerity like $150, right?

Yesterday, a vehicle rolling down our street with a loudspeaker extolling the virtues of Dougherty, and I wish I would have been on street level when it rolled on by. What's more, I wish I had one of those electronic megaphones so I could drive after it and shout out the virtues of Dicker. Okay, I probably wouldn't, but I'd be tempted. I'm not above a good 'ole metaphorical political street fight.

Please visit Dicker's Website to donate time and/or money to try and help her get elected to the state Senate.

Johnny Doc... what a crock

I've been following my state senate race very closely this spring, and I'm still crossing my fingers that Progressive Anne Dicker (right) can beat out the well-funded, ethically challenged John Dougherty and the outgoing Sen. Vince Fumo's hand-picked successor, Larry Farnese, a week from this Tuesday.

This morning, Philadelphia Inky columnist Monica Yant Kinney had some interesting things to say about Johnny Doc in her column:

It's 2005. You earn $175,000 that year and decide to renovate your home.

Do you (a) rent a place for the duration of the messy six-month project or (b) live for free at a luxury waterfront apartment building owned by a prominent developer?

John Dougherty chose b.

Personally, if I wore as many hats as Dougherty does and wanted to hold office, I'd jump into the Delaware before taking a gift like that.

Dougherty, business manager for Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Democratic candidate for the First District's state Senate seat, seems to have no problem with sweet deals that to voters may taste sour.

In 2003, according to federal authorities, he bought a North Wildwood condo from an electrician pal for $24,000 less than what you or I would have had to pay because he could, never mind that the law forbids contractors from plying union leaders with gifts.

Investigators are also concerned whether, a year later, the same contractor did work gratis on Dougherty's home in South Philly.

Now we learn that during the renovation, developer Peter DePaul gave Dougherty a key to a $3,000-a-month unit in the Dockside Luxury Apartments.

Inside the complex - which resembles a cruise ship and boasts of offering "a sea of amenities" - Dougherty had granite counter tops, a private terrace, and the use of an indoor pool.

This was a freebie, Dougherty freely acknowledged. Now if it was only clear why he had taken it in the first place.

This is one in a seemingly endless examples of why Dougherty should be shown the door, not given the keys to the First District's state Senate seat. I've said it many times, and it certainly bears repeating - Dougherty represents the sleaziness and questionable ethics that have stained Vince Fumo's tenure in the state Senate. In order to move forward, I really do hope and pray that voters send Dicker to the fall election with a primary victory, not Farnese or (heaven forbid) Johnny Dougherty.

There seems to be a good amount of money to throw around (and away) on the part of Farnese and Dougherty - in the past few weeks, I've gotten more mail fliers from these two than Publisher's Clearing House. I don't mind receiving it, because we are already casting our votes for Dicker, so they're simply wasting their money.

Probably my favorite piece of direct mail came from Larry Farnese, boasting about how when his father got cancer, he successfully fought his dad's HMO about one thing or another. Hmm - that's a pretty honorable thing to do - using your father's cancer on campaign literature. I guess it didn't occur to his campaign handlers to include a picture of Farnese helping an old lady across the street.

The irony isn't lost on me that Farnese has gained the support of the Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, either. Farnese and Dicker both support gay marriage, so I give Farnese credit for that, but I'm unsure why Farnese has otherwise received the club's support.

Dicker, open bisexual, has amazingly been derided by some critics as making that fact public for political reasons. I guess I must be living in an alternate universe, because I must have missed the political development when it became political advantageous to be anything other than straight, in Philadelphia or any other city. My guess is that Dicker did it for two reasons - so her opponents couldn't dig up that dirt on her, and to indicate to voters of all sexual orientations that she can appreciate some of the issues they face today. In one of the Philadelphia weeklies that one of the leaders of a Philadelphia gay group slammed Dicker for never having been a member or being vocal about her sexual orientation before running for the state Senate. In a word - preposterous. I'm a straight man, so perhaps I cannot totally appreciate what gays go through, but since when is anyone who is gay obligated to be actively involved in gay community groups? Just a thought.

Anyway, I urge all Democratic voters in Philadelphia's First District to cast their vote for Dicker. She has received a very high number of endorsements, including The Philadelphia Inquirer. Drop by her Website to find out more.

You can print out Dicker window signs like the one at left, too - I have two on my car.

Get a color sign Here (PDF for download).

Get a black and white sign Here (PDF for download).

Dicker appeared on WHYY's Radio Times to debate Farnese and Dougherty last week. Clearly, she was on her A-game, while Dougherty and Farnese didn't sound as good to me. Click Here to listen to the debate.

In fairness, I liked several things about all of the candidates, and it's safe to say that whomever wins the April 22 Democratic primary, I will vote for in November (although I'd hold my nose voting for Dougherty).

It's little wonder that Dougherty only wanted to spend a half hour on the show, because he virtually spent the entire half hour of the debate on the defensive, and he has a lot to answer for. Scheduling conflict my ass. I find it OUTRAGEOUS that Dougherty wants to remain on in his post with IBEW Local 98. Dicker was spot on when she said she doesn't believe that IBEW Local 98 deserves its own Senate seat. It does not, and it had ought to be a much bigger campaign issue than it is been thus far.

Another thing I love about Dicker is that she is vehemently anti-casino, as the founder of Casino Free Philadelphia. Good on her, because I firmly believe that casinos are the last thing we need in Philadelphia.

Nine days to go 'til the primary, and we must support and elect smart, bright, determined and motivated Progressives like Anne Dicker. Please support her campaign with time or money - every little bit helps.

Yes! Dicker gets key endorsement

Anne Dicker, a candidate I'm whole-heartedly supporting for Pennsylvania State Senate in my home district, the First District in Philadelphia, picked up a key endorsement today. The national board of Democracy for America gave Dicker its first non-federal endorsement in the mid-Atlantic region, and I'm very happy to hear it. Dicker needs all the support she can get - not because she's a weak candidate - not at all - but it's that she's up against big labor in Philadelphia, and that can be tough to beat. But, I'm very confident she's going to do it. Between Dicker, Johnny Dougherty and Larry Farnese, she's easily the strongest candidate of the three. Take a minute to visit her Website when you have a minute and see what she's all about, and go to one of her local events in the coming days and weeks. Tomorrow it will be exactly three weeks until the Democratic Primary - click on her Website to donate, if you can - even $5 will help if that's all you can spare.

Of course, the Democratic battle between Hillary and Obama is getting most of the local and regional press, but who wins and controls the Senate in Harrisburg is at the very least as important to all Pennsylvanians. We need new, Progressive blood in Harrisburg, and Anne more than fits the bill.

Even better news - I received a fundraising letter in the mail from the Dicker campaign today, and according to her letter, she's very close to Dougherty and well ahead of Farnese, which I'm happy to hear, because Farnese, by most accounts, is the departing Senator Vince Fumo's man, and Fumo puts the sleaze in sleazy.

I'll be blogging plenty about this race in the coming days, so stay tuned. My wife and I also hope to be doing some volunteer work for the Dicker campaign as well - we've signed up and we're waiting to hear from them.

My wish list for my next state senator

I've mentioned before how my wife and I support Anne Dicker (left) for the Pennsylvania State Senate. We live in the First District, which encompasses parts of south and west Philadelphia.

Dicker's opponents in the April 22 Democratic Primary are Johnny Dougherty and Larry Farnese. I won't even consider voting for either one, however. Dougherty is disqualified because he represents the thuggish ways of Philadelphia's labor politics, a time period I can only hope is fading into history (but not nearly quickly enough). Farnese gets my immediate disqualification because, by all appearances, he is the departing Vince Fumo's choice, and I despise Fumo, so Farnese loses by association. I've been receiving a lot of junk mail campaign literature from both Dougherty and Farnese, and I barely give it a look. I have to mention that I think it's funny that Farnese's flier that arrived yesterday didn't mention anywhere that he's running for State Senate. How funny is that? Talk about amateur hour.

Anyway, here is my wish list for the candidates in the First District (and I will e-mail this to all of the candidates).

Mass Transit, Traffic & Infrastructure
It's amazing to me how this is not much of an issue at the state and national levels. With rumors of gas prices rising to $4 per gallon, federal and state governments have basically yawned their collective mouths toward mass transit. Put simply, mass transit must be a much larger part of our multi-plan goal of energy independence.

For instance, here in Pennsylvania, the oft-discussed and nearly abandoned Schuylkill Valley Metro would make a world of sense. Of course, the federal government has denied funding, and Governor Rendell has been less than helpful. A few years ago, he announced the funding would not be forthcoming and that the project should be considered dead. Lots of anger ensued, so Rendell backpedaled somewhat, blaming the federal government for lack of funding. I'd take that at face value, except that in light of the federal government's tax deferment rebate checks economic stimulus plan, it was reported that the powers that be in Harrisburg are considering a similar plan. Of course I'd like another rebate - who wouldn't? But, as I sit in a traffic jam on I-76 tomorrow morning, thoughts of being able to take the train to work will be dancing in my head. Instead of the politically beneficial yet fiscally stupid decision of giving a few hundred dollars four tanks of gas back to taxpayers, how about addressing congestion and traffic issues? Better yet, how about elected officials in Harrisburg do what they are really elected to do - look out for out best interests? Since Pennsylvania has so many infrastructure issues, it sure would be refreshing to hear all legislators make a promise not to vote themselves a pay raise for five years. Better yet, maybe a pay cut to finance some of our needed infrastructure improvements? Yea, I know, fat chance.

There have been numerous proposals to expand routes 422 and I-76, and each and every time, the word "funding" gets in the way. There have been numerous proposals to add an upper deck to I-76, with light rail on top (part of the Schuylkill Valley Metro) in the middle and four new lanes on I-76. Route 422 should also be expanded. And if anyone reading this thinks I'm off my rocker, try getting from Pottstown to Philadelphia at around 7:30 in the morning. Then do it again. And again. And again. Do it for a week, and you'd be as frustrated as I am. My point is that expanding either I-76 or 422 won't get it done, because both of these highways are extremely congested. I'd really like to see the SVM get built AND see expanded highway capacity. The Philadelphia area needs both to serve current needs, much less to allow for growth in the area. The city is always saying how it wants to attract businesses, and I wonder how many have looked at the traffic situation and said, "No thanks"?

This decade, I've written dozens and dozens of letters to my federal, state and local representatives, begging for some solutions, and I mostly get nothing in return. Andrew Warren, when he was the Philadelphia region's PENNDOT director, finally called me on the telephone one day while I was working for Lucent, explaining that PENNDOT is pushing mass transit as a solution to Philly's traffic problems. Fine, but it sounded to me like he was passing the buck a little bit, too. I basically got the impression that he was irritated with all of my letter writing, which made me even more irritated than he was. I was crestfallen that Warren ended up running for public office after I moved from Bensalem, because I was looking forward to voting against him. He lost anyway.

I also heard from Senator Roger A. Madigan, the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, who wrote me a letter saying that I was basically proposing a bridge from King of Prussia to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia that would cost several billion dollars. As I read the letter, I smiled, and said out loud, "Yep, that's exactly what I'm proposing."

Anyway, mass transit must be at the forefront of the energy independence and climate crisis debates.

Closely related to that is the need to upgrade our infrastructure. It angers me that so many of our bridges and highways have been neglected for so long. I just heard on the radio the other day that over 20 percent of Philadelphia area bridges are "structurally deficient," but PENNDOT states they are "still safe." I guess I need to go back to grade school, because I learned that "deficient" means lacking in some way. Quickly now, are any of you comfortable knowing that one quarter of our area bridges need attention? I'm no engineer, but there certainly is an unpredictability factor to these issues as well, as evidenced by the sudden I-95 closure last week because large cracks began appearing in a critical support column. I suppose we should all be thankful that it was caught in time to avoid catastrophe, but that's another thing that won't be too comforting as I travel over and under dozens of bridges on my commute tomorrow.

Speaking of I-95, that needs major upgrades as well. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Here's a very real hypothetical, however - imagine two critical closures happening at once in Philadelphia? For instance, I-95 has another structure issue, and there's a bad traffic accident on the collision-prone Schuylkill Expressway (or worse, a simultaneous structure issue) - can you imagine what it would be like in the Philadelphia area? Forget about work, errands or entertainment - staying home would be the only sane option for anyone who commutes. But, if we had more mass transit options...

Gay Marriage
Dicker has solid credentials on this issue, since she is openly bisexual. I'm not interesting in exploring her sex life, unlike many on the radical religious right who go on a self-righteous crusade against people who have choices that differ from theirs. Sadly, it takes courage to be open about such things in our society, and definitely in our state. We may have a Democratic governor, but it wasn't all that long ago when we had a Republican governor and two Republican U.S. Senators. My point here is that Pennsylvania is a moderate state on many issues, but conservative on many social issues.

I'm really hoping that Pennsylvania gets on board the tolerance train and passes a civil union law. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm not giving up, either. Dicker has plenty of leverage on this issue. Any people in the GLBT community who are voting for anyone other than Dicker in the primary really ought to rethink their choice.

Casinos
Dicker has been in the anti-casino fight for some time now, and I've got absolutely no problem with that. I see very little benefit to having casinos in Philadelphia - history has shown that there are as many disadvantages as advantages to having them in a city. Yes, we would receive more tax revenue, but also increased traffic, crime and all of the other unattractive things that come with casinos. What's more, Farnese is openly pro-casino, and for the life of me I can't find anything on Dougherty's Website about casinos as of this writing, so it's another reason to cast your ballot for Anne Dicker.

Healthcare
Anne Dicker has talked openly about getting universal healthcare for all Pennsylvanians, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. What's more, she isn't hiding behind the pipe dream of the federal government enacting uni healthcare, which may never happen.

Transparency
I'm skeptical whenever I hear politicians talk about openness and transparency in government. Usually, it's a nice campaign meme, but I believe Dicker more than the others; Dougherty is old school Philly, and as I've written on numerous occasions, we need to do away with that; and Farnese is Fumo's hand-picked successor, and I've never confused Fumo with someone who uses his best judgment.

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More about this Pa. State Senate race in the coming days.