Some harsh words from Allentown's Morning Call regarding Governor Tom Corbett (R. PA) and his best buddy Governor Chris Christie (R. NJ):
http://articles.mcall.com/...
Even if he turns out to have put the orange cones out on the George Washington Bridge himself, I'd far rather have Chris Christie as our governor than Tom Corbett.
Christie is a bright, persuasive guy with a can-do spirit, a successful Republican in a Democratic state. Corbett is a corporate puppet who can't get his fellow Republicans, let alone Democrats, to support his ideas, even on the rare occasions when they make sense.
Christie's appointees made people in one town suffer for a few days. Corbett's policies have made the people of Pennsylvania suffer for three years and counting.
I've focused a lot on what's happening to public education, particularly in poorer districts now that we've abandoned the idea of equalizing funding so students in less affluent areas aren't shortchanged. Get ready for another year of discouraging budget stories out of Allentown, Easton and especially Philadelphia. I think about him every time I see one of them.
But education is far from his only failing. Corbett, confronted with a new year of difficult budget choices and so many people who need more help, continues to rule out state income tax increases, closing corporations' gaping loopholes or taxing gas drillers as every other state does.
Why is it OK to tax all of us more for taking gas from our pumps, but wrong to tax drillers for taking gas from our ground? We're all bearing the burden for his twisted priorities and lack of effective leadership.
I'm not suggesting for a minute that Chris Christie shouldn't be embarrassed about what his administration did to exact a ridiculous measure of political revenge. It was appalling.
But I suspect I'm not the only Pennsylvanian who would trade governors in a blink. - The Morning Call, 1/13/14
Again, ouch! If you're Tom Corbett, you don't want to hear that the big name Republican and potential Presidential candidate caught in a big scandal would be a better governor than you. But that's not stopping Corbett from wanting Christie, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, from campaign for him:
http://www.keystonepolitics.com/...
Although New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is struggling to sidestep a damaging political payback scandal, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has no plans to distance himself from his embattled neighboring Republican chief executive.
Corbett Campaign Manager Mike Barley said Corbett would embrace a Christie visit to the Keystone.
“Gov. Corbett will absolutely welcome and appreciate Gov. Christie’s support on the campaign trail this year,” Barley said.
In his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie is expected to campaign for party gubernatorial candidates in 2014. - Keystone Politicis, 1/10/14
And of course Pennsylvania Democrats are doing their part to remind voters that Corbett and Christie are BFFs:
http://www.pennlive.com/...
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn said Corbett should be ashamed to stand with Christie.
“This morning Tom Corbett revealed that he is excited to have his self described ‘role model,’ Chris Christie, campaign for him, despite the growing Bridgegate scandal,” Burn said through a spokesman. “Though Corbett should be embarrassed to have Christie campaign for him, it appears that Corbett will shamelessly relish the campaign support of almost anyone.”
Burn said the fidelity was a sign of Corbett’s desperation.
“Tom Corbett will take all the friends he get – even ones engulfed in scandal and plagued with allegations of corruption,” he said. - The Patriot-News, 1/10/14
PA Democrats don't need Christie to help tank Corbett, Corbett's already doing a good job tanking his re-election chances all by himself. But with Christie as the RGA chairman and he has quite a few vulnerable Republican governors like Corbett this election cycle, we shall see if Christie will be toxic for guys like Corbett.
I'll be having a diary out very soon about the Democratic primary in this race. But until then, if you'd like to get involved with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, you can do so here:
http://www.padems.com/