GOP Now Controls PA State House by 20 votes, Senate by 10 votes

[JPZenger]

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F1288758312196630.xml&coll=1

With a couple races yet to be finalized, it looks like the Republicans will have at least a 20 vote margin in the PA State House vs. the current Democratic control by a few votes. The State Senate is unchanged, with the continuation of a 10 vote Repub margin.

Redistricting of US Congressional districts and State Senate and House seats is going to be incredibly bloody and one-sided, with absolutely no checks and balances. That is because the Gov, State House, State Senate and State Supreme Court are all controlled by Repubs. They will squeeze all the minority voters into a couple 100% minority districts, and put Democratic incumbents into races against each other. If you thought the shapes of the districts that came out of the 2002 redistricting were absurd, you haven't seen anything yet.

Because of redistricting, PA will lose at least one US House member - which will probably be newly elected Democratic Congressman Critz from the Johnstown area.

[Glassunion]

1. Sweet....

We eff'd

[old mark]

2. It was pointed out to me this aftenoon that there are over 1 million

more registered Democratic voters here in PA than there are registered republicans, and yet we let them take effective control of the entire state political system from school boards and county sheriffs through the Senate.

Why?

Did the GOP's heavily funded bullshit media campaign telling us we had no chance to win actually influence so many people that they just did not bother?

Are there SO MANY angry progressives in PA that wanted to "teach the Dems a lesson"?

Are that many Democrats just too fucking lazy to vote or don't even give a shit?

In 2008, I saw and interview with a GOP party guy who was amazed that so many Dems voted that year - he stated that Dems usually DO NOT VOTE, or if they do do not vote straight Democratic, thus giving the edge to the minority GOP...they KNOW THIS FROM LONG EXPERIENCE, AND THEY COUNT ON IT!!! AND THEY ARE USUALLY RIGHT!!!
What is the answer?
What is wrong with Democrats that they can't be bothered to look after their own interests?

It is frustrating beyond words.

mark

[wisteria]

3. Up my way-Western Pa, Democrats vote Republican and have been for a few years now.

They get their news from a steady stream of talk radio- from Quinn in the Morning, to Beck, to Limbaugh, to Hannity and then Savage. And, to cement the brainwashing they read the Republican rag- Tribune Review owned by Richard Mellon Scaife, who has now expanded his paper into West Virgina and Ohio. Scaife endorsed Repubs in races in PA, West Virginia and Ohio.
They seem to have a lock on most media outlets and they all repeat the same anti-Dem-pro-capitalist crap all day long, as well as the God Bless America and Republicans stand for everything right and just BS.
I really fear, we will continue to lose unless we find a way to counter all this saturation of Republican/corporate ideals.

That said, with Repubs controlling everything, there is no one else to blame but them, if they screw up-and they will, the people will turn on them.

[Cosmocat]

4. This and ...

I think you have a lot more of (and I hate this term with a passion, but it is best to describe it in this situation) the "reagen democrats" in Pa than most states - old blue collar type Ds, who will break to R at times ... Really, more slightly conservative independents than "progressives" to be sure ...

Also, the districts are set up to pile in as many really true democrats as possible into a few districts, like Delay did in Texas ...

[old mark]

11. I AM an "Old blue collar Dem", but I never voted for a republican in my life-

I do know many others who have, and who seem to think the current GOP clowns and crooks are worthy to lead our state...a lot of it has to do with Dems being seen, true or not, as "anti-gun" or "anti-religious", and of course the GOPers push those themes at every turn.

I agree we may be in for a long haul before we get azny kind of control here again...we are already thinking of moving elsewhere, like Costa Rica...


mark

[blue neen]

5. I'm going to lose my congressman.

I wonder what would have happened if Murtha was still with us.

[demodonkey]

6. When it happens we need to start repeating over and over & over in Westmoreland, Cambria, etc. etc.

...that the Republicans are stealing OUR seat, dumping OUR Congressman, and they are taking away OUR voice in government. Republicans don't care about Western PA.

Tell this over and over to these Democrats and working class folks in our area who are listening to Fox and voting GOP.

Murtha would probably face the same thing, BTW. Look at what happened in 2001.

[blue neen]

7. I remember that Murtha had to go up against Frank Mascara for that seat.

You're right...it keeps happening here.

We're probably going to end up in Tim Murphy's district...great; all he cares about is getting his staffers to work on his campaigns.

[demodonkey]

8. I'm actually already in Murphy's district...

...my part of Westmoreland is in the 18th.

To his credit, Tim Murphy has actually been very responsive and his staff has been very responsive when we've contacted them. Have met with him personally several times.

But anyone that gets rolled into the 5th or the 9th... god help them. Unlikely they would reach out that far for much of our area though, however one precinct in Westmoreland County is already in the 9th.

[Divernan]

9. Altmire in the 4th District should be protected by the GOP

in the redistricting. He's a blue dog whose vote they can count on.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Actually, Altmire votes with House Democrats more than 88% of the time:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/111/house/party-voters/

[Jordan Gwendolyn]

12. I think they should eliminate Altmire's district

Create a wealthy North Hills/South Hills district around Doyle's district; Altmire is a DINO and if we need to sacrifice a Dem, Altmire should be it.