Another great moment in Pennsylvania political history . . .
. . . from the state that brought you President James Buchanan (who recently lost his one historical distinction, the Worst President Ever crown, to the current illustrious occupant), Lincoln’s corrupt & incompetent war secretary Simon Cameron, Boss Matt Quay, Boies Penrose*, Frank “I’m so tough I’m gonna make Attila the Hun look like a f—-t” Rizzo, and the MOVE bombing, just for starters. It’s been (almost) all downhill since the state inaugurated competitive presidential politics by swinging to Jefferson in 1796. In 1800, the Federalists in the state senate stopped a state presidential election from even being held.
Actually just looking up some of the guys listed above, I realized how hopeless this was for Obama from the beginning. I do wish Hillary luck with those Rizzoheads in November. She will need them once she finishes completely alienating younger voters (than 50!) and the African-American base.
Pennsylvania also brought the nation Ben Franklin, Wilt Chamberlin, Joseph S. Clark
Honus Wagner, Johnny U. and Joe Namth. ALSO O BAMA WON THE NOMINATION NOT CLINTON!
Comment by Joe Clark — August 6, 2008 @ 10:51 am
I was a little depressed back when I wrote this, but I am a big fan of PA and Barack Obama. Also, Ben Franklin was originally from Boston, and I was not including sports. You could have thrown Joe Montana and Stan Musial on there too. But then you would have to answer for the 1964 Phillies.
As for my being a fan (and sometime historian) of Philly and PA, see this post: http://www.common-place.dreamhost.com/pasley/?p=123 .
Comment by Jeff Pasley — August 6, 2008 @ 12:45 pm