Word count: 386 | Reading time: 2 min read
City Beat
Vote like it matters on Tuesday.
Yeah, we got screwed.
The fleeting early promise of an exciting Democratic presidential primary fizzled as the party’s front-loaded schedule — and the unscheduled ugly Iowa implosion of Dr. Dean — conspired to leave Pennsylvania voters with John Kerry as the last one standing (apologies to Dennis Kucinich, a man of fine ideals but no shot).
So the party ended before we got to pop the cork.
But that’s no excuse to stay home on Tuesday.
There are still some very important local races.
Allyson Schwartz against Joe Torsella in the race for the state’s 13th U.S. House District –a seat vacated by Joe Hoeffel, who’s leaving Congress to run against Arlen Specter — pits two of the most qualified candidates ever to go head to head, and it is a tough choice.
Former City Council staffer Sheila Ballen is challenging incumbent Marie Lederer in the state House’s 175th District. Former Rendell deputy commerce director Terry Gillen and wonderboy Andrew Hohns are running against incumbent state Rep. Babette Josephs 182nd District. And Ralph Collazo is leading the charge over apparitional incumbent Bill Rieger in the state House’s 179th District. Republicans have a choice of incumbent Specter and challenger Pat Toomey.
But beyond the local races, there is a lot at stake for our state and our nation, and going out to the polls will help send an early message about your feelings on our place in the world.
Which brings us to this week’s cover package.
We look at the ineptitude in Iraq in a groundbreaking story being run in alternative newsweeklies across the country. We look at the true root causes of jihadist terror from a local man who testified before the 9/11 Commission. And, lest you think us too partisan, we reveal how the local Vietnamese community sees Kerry as a traitor and the ridiculous ways both parties are raising funds through merchandising.
As the cover says, the U.S. is in critical condition right now.
Staying home on Tuesday won’t improve matters.
Agree or disagree with the war in Iraq — and we vehemently oppose this mess — our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, friends and neighbors are dying and killing.
We do them no honor by taking a pass on democracy.
