Tom Ridge considers run for U.S. Senate.
By on May 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Tom Ridge considers run for U.S. Senate.
Bush’s former Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, is considering a run for the Republican Senate nomination in his home state of Pennsylvania. Roll Call reports “Ridge’s moderate politics and national profile would make him a more viable candidate in the general election” against Arlen Specter, who recently switched to the Democratic Party because he feared that he would not be able to win the Republican primary. Several Democrats, including Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Pennsylvania Board of Education chair Joe Torsella, are considering competing against Specter in a primary. Specter has lined up the support of Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) and President Obama.
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tom ridge is the a-hole who signed the death warrant for mumia abu jamal.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 pmI live in Pa. and this is getting interesting.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:16 pm“Ridge’s moderate politics and national profile would make him a more viable candidate in the general election” against Arlen Specter, who recently switched to the Democratic Party because he feared that he would not be able to win the Republican primary.
This makes no sense to me. I thought Specter left the Republican Party because he was too moderate to win their nomination. So why would another moderate Republican stand a better chance of winning the nomination? I thought the Republican Party was purging itself of moderates.
TP, it’s not clear who you are quoting in this article.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 pmIs Tom Ridge another myopic thinker by any small chance?
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 pmWayne they should have put Fiscal Conservatives that’s what they’re calling themselves now.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 pmYeah, I can’t wait for his next coding of a threat lever; it will probably involve vegetables and/or fruit.
Low = parsley
Medium = tomato
High = onion
Oh, did I ask; did he put his kids through college yet? He must not need the money now.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:33 pmThat is odd that Ridge is being labeled a moderate. Ohhhh I see, he must be one of those “moderates” that Steele would like – one that sits at the table and goes along with the GOP program.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 pmEven though Specter is a “defector”, this guy has hardly any experience in the Senate or elected am office. He was a tool-boy for the Bushies in the HLS office and didn’t last very long. He resigned for the usual “need to spend more time with family” crap.
I don’t see this guy getting past the primaries…..
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 pmRidge is a “Moderate” Republican who, as former Head of Homeland Security, likely has all kinds of information on everybody, thanks to warrantless wiretaps. But rest assured, Ridge will be one “Moderate” Republican who will vote in lockstep with the Reich-Wing.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 pmIsn’t that picture enough to get this joker laughed out of any election?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 pmSpecter’s days as U.S. Senator are numbered.
The honorable thing for him to do would be to resign and let Gov. Rendell appoint his replacement.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pmoff topic.. Jack Kemp died.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 pmWhat makes moderate Tom Ridge think he could pass the Republican litmus test to make it through the Republican primary?
Isn’t that why the moderate Specter switched parties in the first place?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 pmIMO anyone who even remotely did anything for Bush/Cheney should not be allowed anywhere near public office…..the damage that whole crew did to this country is unforgivable.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:27 pmAtr@13, You may be right, but I live in PA and Ridge is repected by many Repugs(Don’t ask me why). I find thid interesting, especially since Sestack(I can’t spell his name) may run against Specter. This will be interesting.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 pmWell, I would like to see Sen. Specter lose and let another Democratic Senator have the opportunity. But, since President Obama and Governor Rendell have thrown their support behind Specter…it’s unlikely that another Democratic Senator will win.
At least I live in Senator Hagan’s district in Charlotte, NC. Hagan always votes the right way. Especially after we folks in East Char-town bombard her office with phone calls and emails – LOL
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 pmI remember Ridge, he’s the prick that kept up all those bogus warnings about another al qaeda stike during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. It was obvious what he was doing, but most Americans just didn’t get it until it was too late and cheney/bush jr., had another 4 years to wreck our beloved country.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 pmGood luck to those of you who live in PA – may the right person win for your sakes.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 pmhormiga@18, Thanks, we’ll need it. Think of all the attention we will get. The robocalls, the MSM, it’s gonna be fun.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 pmRoll Call says Ridge is a moderate….Limbaugh has yet to decide.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 pmXisithrus@20, LOL! Maybe Ridge has to go on bended knee to kiss Limbaugh’s ring? Lord knows Rush is the God of the Repugs. Poor souls.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 pmIsn’t Ridge the guy who told us all to buy plastic sheeting and duct tape. Yeah, that will look good in an opposition as campaign.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 pmRidge is, while a part of bigger government, also part of the fear factor. It will be interesting to watch the wingnuts tie themselves in hypocritical knots to support Ridge.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 pmDoodlebug@22, Yeah, he did. I live in PA. And after I saw my neighbors and fellow Pennsyvannians acting like hysterical idiots, Me and my husband never voted Repug again. I could tell the GOP was using the fear factor, and we never looked back.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 pmThat’s good P.D. he has lots of baggage.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pmPD and Spencer’s Mom, I’m from PA, too. Looks like the Senate race may be very interesting next year. If Specter votes no on health care reform, then I think that the PA committee people should storm the State Democratic Committee meeting in Harrisburg and demand that the State Democratic Party NOT support Specter. I’m just waiting on the sidelines.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 pmTakes real planning to plug holes in a sinking ship with jello.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:27 pmAs the iq bar contiually lowers for gopthingys can we begin to forget them and deal with their remains?
Presenting “Republican Token-The Mod(erate) Squad.”
Considering the first version (Republican Token-Jungle Feeble) is turning out to be a political office flop, I’m surprised they’re able to even manage a sequel. I’m also surprised this crap keeps finding investors.
The main problem, of course, is that it’s the same script…
(’specially after that box office faceplant, ‘An American Carol.”)
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 pmthat little sucker joe sestak was sacked in his last navy assignment for poor command climate by then-cno adm. mike mullen. for that he couldn’t retain the rank of vice admiral in retirement. he also has high staff turnover because he has a temper and expects employees to labor for him 12 hours a day 7 hours a week. that’s a work/life balance democrat for you. he has no business holding public office let alone vying to be sen.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 pmRidge complained that 170K was not enough to send his kids to college, so he quit.
What’s a senator get paid? 176K?
Wayne at #3 is right, this makes no sense in terms of present and near-future GOP politics.
If Ridge really is contemplating a run then he’s as clueless now as he was as the head of DHS.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 pmIt may be that Roll Call is just trying to get noticed—as a source Roll Call has always been rubbish.
tom, pledge not to vote like a liberal baby killer on abortion and you will be the next united states senator from pennsylvania.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 pmI’m trying to understand:
Would Bush appoint a moderate to head of Fatherland Security ?
As head of Fatherland Security, wouldn’t Ridge be tainted by the questionable tactics used by the Bush Cabal – whether deserved or not ?
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 pmnope, he wouldn’t be tainted at all.
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 amSpecter is changing his party to keep the Democratic from getting a majority 60 votes in the Senate. His ideology hasn’t changed. All he has to do is look like and Dem, but vote against the issues that would propel President Obama’s agenda.
President Obama’s agenda is the Peoples agenda. Now we have a President who is of the people, for the people and by the people.
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 amforris: All he has to do is look like and Dem, but vote against the issues that would propel President Obama’s agenda.
yeah there’s that too.
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 amI THANK
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rightwing/leftwing@8:
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:48 amI am not sure what you mean by Ridge not having “hardly any experience in the Senate or elected am office” (whatever am office means). You must have no familiarity with Pennsylvania. Ridge was Pennsylvania governor for eight years, and a popular one, at that. While he is Catholic, he supports choice and was a Congressman and military guy before he ran for governor. He makes a very interesting candidate and certainly a viable alternative in a primary to right-wing wackos Pat Toomey and Peg Luksik. Moderate Republicans across the state will flock to him in the primary but whether they will be enough to counter the wingnuts remains to be seen.
PA Annie – I don’t believe there are enough moderate Republicans left in Pennsylvania. Ridge is trying to return to politics and the voters usually don’t support “returns”. Look what happened to Edwards. Gingrich is attempting a return and it won’t happen for him, either.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:18 amNow all he needs to do is convince Pennsylvania he wasn’t part of the failed Bush White House.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 amI’m not sure why Ridge thinks he can win a Republican primary any more than Specter could.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 amI hope a real Democrat runs in the primary, and I hope Pennslyvania has been paying attention.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:47 amCats r Flyfishn
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 am–
But he does have significant name recognition and there remain in PA as in all states those voters who cast votes based on nothing more…
Pennsylvanianne @ 37,
Sorry, I didn’t see that he was a governor as I was researching him. There was a type you noted and I can’t remember what I was driving at there. Oh, well. Thanks for the comment :)
P.S. I think seeing him with Chimpy pissed me off …… ;)
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 amJust what America needs..Another one of Bush’s cronies..
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 amTom Ridge will be the pro-torture-candidate! Nice. *rolling eyes*
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 amTom Ridge will be the “get them before they get us” candidate! Nice
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 am‘Moderate’ Republican..!!!
Is there such a thing….?
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 amI’ll bet the first thing Ridge would want to do is get rid of that picture. That will lose you votes!
Kemp got out of the draft and Vietnam because of his “bad knee”. Funny, his knee was no problem all those years in the AFL.
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:34 amI guess heckuva job Ridgey had enough of that “more time with the family” and “republic family values” crap. Time to get back in the fray of republic politics.
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:15 amRidge will be the “The End Times are near! Get your duct tape and plastic ready!” candidate! Nice. *rolling eyes*
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 amPA’s lucky there are no hurricanes or earth quakes or brush fires …. heckuva job.
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 amI don’t think Ridge’s candidacy merits an orange alert. Probably not even a yellow.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 pmCheck out the beginning of this post:
http://bigdanblogger.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-dans-big-news-may-3-2009.html
May 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm“tom ridge is the a-hole who signed the death warrant for mumia abu jamal.”
Wesley Cook is a worthless, cop-murdering pos and anyone who supports him is a stupid, pretentious pos.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pm