I never expected Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania for run to reelection in 2022, but that’s because I anticipated he’d run for governor instead. Now he’s announced that he will not run for either. All across the Commonwealth there is much mirth and rejoicing!
I can only speculate on what has led Toomey to terminate his political career, although it’s not completely over since he intends to serve out his present Senate term. The most obvious scenario is that he took a look at Trump’s 2:1 deficit in the Philadelphia suburbs and concluded that the Pennsylvania GOP is headed for a long trip to the wilderness. But there could be personal or health reasons for him to announce this now. Or he could just be disgusted with the present state and direction of his party in general. We may get some hints when he makes this all official in a scheduled press conference on Monday.
I’ve long dreaded a Toomey run for governor of my home state, largely because I consider him a formidable candidate, and it’s never easy to replace a two-term governor with a governor of the same party. So, I am very relieved to learn that doesn’t intend to run.
Toomey was one of the quieter enablers with an occasional bipartisan veneer of respectability. But an enabler is still an enabler. I tend to think of politicos like him as Vichy Republicans.
I tend to think of politicos like him as psychopaths.
At this point in the game, October of 2020, if you still put a (R) after your name, you’re an enabler and are not fit to “serve the public”.
Any particular reason why he’d make an announcement with 2+ years to go on his current term? Doesn’t seem like there’d be any cause for hurry.
Giving advanced notice to another Republican piece of shit to start collecting bribes to run for his seat.
Martin, you may have seen this reporting from yesterday on an issue which you have written about specifically:
https://fusion.inquirer.com/politics/election/rural-pennsylvania-voters-trump-biden-clinton-20201004.html
I’m interested in seeing if you have any recent experiences which might add to this reporting.
What’s up center? Good to see you still out there. What was that nickname? Centristfield! LOL! The good old days might not have been that good, but they are now old.