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By John Baer
In the event you sense your self this vacation season trying to find issues to be pleased about — I imply aside from household, associates, life itself — you would possibly discover small solace in Pennsylvania politics.
I do know this appears unlikely. However take a big-picture look. Compared with politics in D.C. and different states, an argument could be made: we’re not all the time worst.
Take into account.
Did Gov. Tom Wolf ship the worst gubernatorial pandemic message by marching in a Black Dwell Matter protest after telling us to remain out of crowds? Or did California Gov. Gavin Newsom?
The Democratic former San Francisco mayor not too long ago loved mid-pandemic eating with lobbyists in a non-public room within the French Laundry, a well-known, ultra-posh Napa Valley restaurant, the place the tasting menu runs to $450 per individual.
I’m betting a lot of Californians stated greater than bon appetit.
OK, you say, however we’ve definitely acquired America’s worst legislature. You make a superb level.
However Wisconsin’s legislature, mid-pandemic, hasn’t met since April. And Wisconsin has greater than double Pennsylvania’s coronavirus instances per 100,000 residents.
Appears Wisconsin’s state motto, “Ahead,” means forwarding issues elsewhere.
(I shouldn’t have to say Congress, which is meant to characterize the most effective in us. So, within the spirit of the season, I gained’t.)
What about our U.S. senators?
Given the state’s partisan cut up, it is sensible we’ve one from every get together. This implies perhaps half the state doesn’t a lot take care of one or the opposite.
However are they the worst? Hardly.
Take Democrat Bob Casey. As soon as described by Philadelphia Magazine as “the U.S. Senator no one seen,” he’s not too long ago gotten loads of discover associated to the presidential election — together with in a video of him chugging a celebratory beer the morning Pa. licensed election outcomes for Joe Biden — all whereas sustaining his nice-guy picture.
Nonetheless don’t like him? Effectively, he’s not Bob Menendez, New Jersey’s Democratic senator, who was charged with bribery, fraud and conspiracy (his 2017 trial ended with a deadlocked jury), and stays within the Senate the place, in response to Morning Seek the advice of rankings, he’s the least common Democrat.
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey?
He’s disdained by many on the left for too usually standing with President Trump (he voted the president’s position 88% of the time), and infrequently standing in opposition to him; this after promising in 2016 to be “an unbiased voice” for Pennsylvania.
Nonetheless, Toomey, who’s not in search of reelection in 2022, has all the time been a considerate, unapologetic conservative and financial coverage wonk not given to grandstanding or overtly silly statements.
In different phrases, he’s not Ted Cruz. The more-conservative Texas Republican senator in July “assured” that the week after the November elections, coronavirus restrictions would finish.
“Out of the blue, all these Democratic governors, all these Democratic mayors, will say, `Every part is magically higher. Return to work, return to high school.’ Out of the blue, the issues are solved,” Cruz stated.
Yeah. I want.
Talking of Texas, one other of its pols helps one other of ours.
Our Sheetz-loving Lt. Gov. John Fetterman attracts criticism from the proper for always pushing for authorized weed and hanging flags from his Capitol workplace balcony in assist of similar, and of LGBTQ rights.
GOP lawmakers simply used finances laws to ban such shows. They don’t approve of authorized grass or of placing LGBTQ antidiscrimination into state legislation; and, I think, aren’t any followers of Fetterman.
However the unconventional LG, folks hero to some, far-lefty to others, used unpretentious straight speak throughout tons of election-related information appearances to garner wider attention nationally, even within the U.Okay. — a fairly good signal he’ll run for increased workplace.
And if some discover Pennsylvania’s “official state dude” annoying, repetitive or inappropriate, simply keep in mind, he’s not Dan Patrick.
As lieutenant governor of Texas, Patrick made a reputation for himself by telling Fox Information that to save lots of the financial system throughout coronavirus, folks should be prepared to die as a result of, “There are extra vital issues than dwelling.”
Possibly he’s acquired a cranium and crossbones flag.
Now, I’m not calling our state politics worthy of celebration.
I’m suggesting when instances are powerful, there’s some consolation in figuring out issues may very well be worse. And today even that’s one thing to be pleased about.
John Baer could also be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com
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