Eddie & the Dems
Rendell and other Philly Dems have plenty say despite being, in his case, out of office, in their case, out of power.
Eddie & the Dems
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Former Guv and current Daily News sports columnist (among many other things) Ed Rendell may be out of office but he isn't out of voice.
His Edness, also a former Dem National Committee chairman, held a phone "news" conference with the media yesterday to "comment" on Mitt Romney's visit to Allentown and trash the presumed GOP Obama opponent's "failed economic record."
Soon after the DNC announced the call, the Romney campaign issued a press release detailing how Rendell worked against Obama in Pennsylvania in `08 while supporting Hillary Clinton and how Ed often (and recently) praised Romney as a "good governor" and "competent" and tough to beat.
I can add that way back in `07, Rendell said all candidates in both parties then running or thinking of running for president were flawed "with the possible exception of Gov. Romney, who I have a huge regard for."
As I've pointed out in the past, Ed says a lot of things.
(He even appeared in the Washington Post crossword puzzle yesterday: the clue for 25 across was "Pols Koch and Rendell" and the answer, of course, was Eds.)
Meanwhile, Philly Democrats in the legislature may be out of power but they're not out of comments. Several issued press releases complaining about the new state budget, which every House Democrat voted against.
"Bad for education," said Rep. James Roebuck. "Mean-spirited," said Rep. Cherelle Parker. "Bad deal for most Pennsylvanians," said Rep. Michelle Brownlee. "Hurts poor and seniors," said Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown. "Hurts students, working families," said Rep. Kenyatta Johnson.
But the winning release, in my view, came from Montco Rep. Larry Curry who said Corbett and the GOP brought "shark week" to the state by launching "a great white shark attack on seniors, using citizens as chum for their friends in big business."
Curry is among those arguing that state cuts in education will lead to local property tax hikes by school districts, which will hit home-owning seniors on fixed incomes at the same time business interests, especially natural gas drillers, get tax breaks.
All this proves two things: Ed is NEVER going away; and while the majority will have its way, the minority can still have its say.
Chum. I like that. Grrrr.
Can't he just go away? The only good thing about the NFL lockout is that he loses his forum for displaying his sports ignorance. Draft Ricky Williams!! Don't trade McNabb! Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. Great politician, lousy commentator.— sloweddie- Rendell is THE most disgusting, corrupt politician of my lifetime. He is our own Pennsylvanian version of Huey Long. I've never seen a pol with his grubby finger in so many pies - from PHA to BRT to PPA to PIDC to SRC to who knows what other agency. Him and his lawyer buddies like David Cohen, Jim Eisenhower et al lead Philly for the past twenty years or so right down the drain! Why doesn't he just GO AWAY?— The Monk
Comment removed.- Agree with @The Monk. In the corruption scandals that dominate the news, all roads lead back to Rendell. Carl Green, the monster and sexual harasser from the PHA? Rendell's pick. Ackerman of the PSD? Rendell's. Add to this the crooked law firms that Rendell works for or is buddies with that are overbilling the taxpayers at these institutions. It never ends.— localdesigner
- He is an adulterer, and don't deserve the coverage.— Francis J Graff
John is the author of the book "On The Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting" (The History Press, 2012). Reach John at baerj@phillynews.com.
