|
Edited on Thu Mar-15-07 10:32 PM by Penndems
:hi:
There is no offense taken by your comments. We DUers love a spirited discussion, as long as it's done with intelligence, facts and consideration for others' viewpoints. I look forward to reading and responding to more of your observations.
Off-topic: Please pardon me if I'm just a little bit giddy here, but Virginia Commonwealth University just beat Duke by a whisker (79-77), knocking them out of the NCAA playoffs. Woohoo! :woohoo:
On the outset, congratulations on the new arena. This has been a long time coming and you - the fans - made it happen. What a wonderful revenue generator this will be for Pittsburgh. The pride is back! ;)
First (and I'll keep this short, because all the PA DUers already know this; don't want to bore anyone): I worked on Ed Rendell's first gubernatorial campaign in the Harrisburg office back in '02, so I know the man fairly well, and suspect he did his damnedest to work out a deal that was satisfactory to all parties concerned.
Time and time again, and reading the "Letters to the Editor" in the Pittsburgh papers, Yinzers have opined that Ed Rendell is a crook. They are entitled to their opinions, but I know differently. The man is busting his ass traveling around Pennsylvania handing out checks, talking to people, addressing hundreds of civic groups and associations outside the state, attending trade shows where he can personally market PA, and getting involved in the state tourism industry - all in an effort to get vacationers and businesses to come and spend money. With the possible exception of the late Milton Shapp, IMHO no other Pennsylvania Governor has made the efforts Ed Rendell has to improve that state. Is he perfect? No, but the man has a vision and, come hell or high water, he's gonna drag Pennsylvania into the twenty-first century kicking and screaming - and you'll be the better for it by the time he leaves office.
Full disclosure moment: I received a wonderful letter from The Guv back in August 2006. Normally when I send a candidate a contribution, s/he sends me a nice form letter with a hand-written signature and a "Thank you!" notation. This letter came straight from the Governor's Office, addressed me by my first name, "thanks for helping us to move Pennsylvania forward", etc. After the closing, he wrote in his own hand, "(my first name), thanks for being my out-of-state volunteer!" Four years have passed, I've moved back to my home state of Virginia, and he still remembered me. Is it any wonder the man keeps getting reelected?
Mayor Ravenstahl is running for a full four-year mayoral term, and County Executive Onorato is considering a run for Governor in 2010, so yes - there are political implications here. They would be extremely foolish not to bring politics into the picture!
Secondly, I respectfully stand by my comment regarding Mr. Lemieux. He walked out of negotiations twice - not a very mature nor businesslike deed on Mario's part. If he had been truly concerned with keeping the Pens in Pittsburgh, Mr. Lemieux would've stayed at that table, night and day, hammering out a deal. He could sit down and make time to meet with Isle of Capri investors and work out an agreement with them even before the PGCB awarded the first licenses, but he didn't have the patience to convene with state and local officials in long-term discussions?
To reiterate an earlier point, something else that miffed me was Mr. Lemieux's obstinate insistence on the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania providing him with a sports/entertainment venue. Pittsburgh has been in receivership for the past few years. Restoring that city to full solvency, keeping it afloat on a day-to-day basis and securing financing for mass transit and the highway infrastructure, have been Priority One. Negotiating with the team for a new edifice had to go on the back burner. If Mario didn't take that into consideration, then yes, I do believe he was being a jackass - or a "jagoff", in Pittsburgh parlance.
Yes, Mario does have the right to contribute to whichever candidate he chooses with his own money. Unfortunately, he wrote a check to Rick Santorum's campaign, a man who was despised not only statewide, but nationally. Hope he gave to Bob Casey this time around!
Well, I've gotten long-winded and I apologize for that. The bottom line is that an agreement was finalized to bring Pittsburgh a beautiful new venue it can be proud of, and that will generate much-needed proceeds to the city. Between that and the new Majestic Star casino, "da Burgh" has a bright future, and something that just might give young adults another reason to stay! :)
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
