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Pennsylvania: Tom Ridge

August 20, 2009 - 02:00 pm
NEWS FEED: 2 Political Junkies

Tom Ridge Confirms It

By dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe)

From USNews:
Tom Ridge, the first head of the 9/11-inspired Department of Homeland Security, wasn't keen on writing a tell-all. But in The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege...and How We Can Be Safe Again, out September 1, Ridge says he wants to shake "public complacency" over security. And to do that, well, he needs to tell all. Especially about the infighting he saw that frustrated his attempts to build a smooth-running department. Among the headlines promoted by publisher Thomas Dunne Books: Ridge was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings; was "blindsided" by the FBI in morning Oval Office meetings because the agency withheld critical information from him; found his urgings to block Michael Brown from being named head of the emergency agency blamed for the Hurricane Katrina disaster ignored; and was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over.

Read More at 2 Political Junkies >
There have been 57 comments posted in response to this story.

May 7, 2009 - 11:44 am
NEWS FEED: 2 Political Junkies

BREAKING - Ridge WON'T Run

By dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe)

A Statement from Ridge (from Pa2010):

WASHINGTON, May 7—Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania, issued the following statement today on his decision not to seek the Republican nomination for Senate in his home state of Pennsylvania.

“After careful consideration and many conversations with friends and family and the leadership of my party, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for Senate.

“I am enormously grateful for the confidence my party expressed in me, the encouragement and kindness of my fellow citizens in Pennsylvania and the valuable counsel I received from so many of my party colleagues.

Read More at 2 Political Junkies >
There have been 102 comments posted in response to this story.

May 7, 2009 - 08:10 am
NEWS FEED: 2 Political Junkies

Tom Ridge And The Fairness Doctrine

By dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe)

The GOP circular firing squad is aiming at Tom Ridge. As usual the GOP gets its history wrong and their media mouthpieces (in this case the Tribune-Review) omits some important data.

From Washington Monthly:
Arlen Specter left the Republican Party when Pennsylvania Republicans rejected his relative moderation. Pessimistic about Pat Toomey's chances, GOP leaders have been scrambling, looking for a credible Republican alternative.

It appears the party has rallied behind former Gov. Tom Ridge (R) as their new go-to guy. Ridge, a two-term chief executive and the first DHS Secretary, is probably the only Republican with a realistic shot at winning the statewide race.

Read More at 2 Political Junkies >
There have been 303 comments posted in response to this story.

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:43

Ridge: GOP too partisan, too focused on social issues

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

Former Governor Tom Ridge is advocating the GOP create a "bigger tent" as it tries to reconstruct itself after this month's Election Day defeat.

"Forget about the finger-pointing, and start figuring out the way to a future that makes us relevant not just to our traditional constituency but to independents and independent-thinking Republicans and Democrats," Ridge, himself a moderate Republican, told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

There have been 43 comments posted in response to this story.
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 15:26

Ridge says Palin comment was taken out of context

By Dan Hirschhorn, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

Clarifying once again his comment that his presence on the GOP presidential ticket would have changed the dynamic of the race in Pennsylvania, former Gov. Tom Ridge issued a statement late Friday saying his words had been taken "completely out of context."

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There have been 54 comments posted in response to this story.
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 12:28

Ridge defends Palin, but still touts his own electability

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

CHAMBERSBURG -- Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R) Friday afternoon defended comments he made earlier in the day that his inclusion on the Republican presidential ticket would change the "dynamics" of the race in Pennsylvania.

"If Senator Obama takes (as vice president) a former governor of another state, would he be doing better in that part of the state than he is today?" Ridge asked. "Probably."

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There have been 55 comments posted in response to this story.
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 18:22

Rendell: McCain has 'looked like a chicken with his head cut off'

By Dan Hirschhorn, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

Criticizing John McCain's response to the financial crisis, Gov. Ed Rendell on Thursday offered up a colorful metaphor to describe the GOP nominee's political performance.

"He's looked like a chicken with his head cut off," Rendell said on MSNBC's Hardball.

The Democratic governor also expanded on his recent comment that he's nervous about the race for Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes.

There have been 40 comments posted in response to this story.
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 19:32

Ridge ‘sick and tired’ of attacks from both sides, wants McCain to focus ‘stark contrasts’ with Obama

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

Former Gov. Tom Ridge said he doesn't think John McCain is losing in Pennsylvania by double digits as some polls suggest, but told PolitickerPA.com Wednesday the succession of polls showing the presidential nominee losing ground bears some truth.

"We've got a margin to overcome," he said.

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There have been 40 comments posted in response to this story.
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 16:36

In defense of Obama, Rendell hits McCain’s ‘consistent pattern of lies’

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

HARRISBURG - How many times and can you call someone a liar during a 20-minute press conference?

Gov. Ed Rendell tried to find out Wednesday when he launched a blunt attack on what he called John McCain's "consistent pattern of lies" at press conference at an Obama campaign office. The governor repeated his accusation seemingly every other breath, referring to the GOP presidential nominee's campaign tactics as "as sin," "the kitchen sink strategy," "bull," and "a pattern of lies and deceit."

There have been 49 comments posted in response to this story.
Sat, 09/27/2008 - 02:14

Pa. insiders react to debate

By Dan Hirschhorn, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

The presidential candidates had barely left the stage of their first debate Friday night when their respective campaigns and surrogates tried to claim victory.

Below are statements from local insiders on the debate.

Gov. Ed Rendell (D):

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There have been 41 comments posted in response to this story.