Ridge Not Running
 |
James Joyner | Thursday, May 7, 2009 |
The good news keeps pouring in for Arlen Specter. A day after it looked as if his Senate career had blown up in his face, with the Democrats stripping Specter of his seniority and polls showing that Tom Ridge would crush him in a head-to-head matchup, he’s been given the chairmanship of the most important Judiciary subcommittee and Ridge has announced that he won’t run.
A shame. Ridge’s beating Specter would have both been a just comeuppance for one of the most opportunistic members of the Senate — and that’s saying something — and helped restablish the Republican Moderate caucus on the Hill. Ridge instead prefers to try to affect that change from the private sector.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
Follow James on FriendFeed | Twitter | Digg
- Ridge Not Running
- Tom Ridge Senate Bid?
- Arlen Specter Gets Crime and Drugs
- Tom Ridge Maryland Resident, Pennsylvanian?
- Toomey Leads Specter 48-36 (Rasmussen)
- Specter Stripped of Seniority
- Arlen Specter Switching Parties – ‘Loyal Democrat’
- Chris Matthews for Senate?
- American Political Math
- Health Care Reform Fate Still Mystery
- OTB Latenight – r.e.m.
- Krugman on the Debt and Deficits
- A Question About Bonuses and Bailouts
- Republican Purity and Conservatism
- SNL Obama China Skit
- Journalistic Ethics and Illegally Acquired Documents
- National Debt Hysteria?
- Educating Illegal Immigrants
- Caption Contest
- Nathalie Blanchard Facebook Smile Leaves Her Depressed
James, I got to tell you I love this one:
Ridge’s beating Specter would have… helped restablish the Republican Moderate caucus on the Hill. Ridge instead prefers to try to affect that change from the private sector.
Really, a Republican Moderate caucus? Identified by what, lack of a Southern accent? The two ladies from the great State of Maine and…??? Oh, I know, all those Senators who decided to vote in favor of Obama's stimulus package. Some adolescent explained to them that an attitude that would ”let Bank of America and AIG and others fail and let the chips fall where they may”, just might infuriate those who had contributed, or where living off their IRA.
My view, the only two candidates that might prevent a Democratic blow out in 2012 are Charlie Crist or Tom Ridge. Without a National Stage, there is no way that Ridge could in any way modify the Republican Party.
My view, the only two candidates that might prevent a Democratic blow out in 2012 are Charlie Crist or Tom Ridge.
Florida is not the south. Crist won't be popular among the national GOP base.
You got that one right Michael (May 7, 2009 | 05:50 pm). And that is why in a previous post (OP, at May 6, 2009 | 12:13 pm) I voiced the opinion that the Democrats would rule for a minimum of two Presidential cycles (12 to 16 years). The Republicans have no one in their stable for 2012 that can "unify" the crumbling three legged stool.
A successful two term cycle for Obama, with significant legislative achievement (health care, infrastructure repair, recovered economy, etc) will clear the path for the next Democratic Presidential candidate, with a clear cut agenda set in stone...
Comments are Closed
