Friday, January 15, 2010

Civera Sits Down, Blasts Off

I met with State Rep/Delco Councilman Mario Civera this morning to go over the continuing controversy of his continuing to hold both offices.

A couple of impressions.

First off, it seems increasingly plausible that Civera had no particular intention of misleading voters or the Daily Times over when he would step down from his legislative seat. He says he is now only staying in it to prevent the Democratic leadership in Harrisburg from scheduling the special election to coincide with the scorching hot Democratic primary that will pit Sen. Arlen Specter against Joe Sestak. It is sure to bring Democratic voters out in droves.

Civera's mad about being portrayed as not keeping his word and he blaming Democrats, from Rendell to Bryan Lentz to Specter and Sestak, for cynically accusing him of playing politics to hold seat when that's exactly what they're doing to grab it.

"They want to steal the election," he said. "It's blatant to that."

"Steal?" I said. "Is that the word you want to use?"

"What they put me through and what they're trying to do," he said, "they're trying to steal the election."

I'll have more on this in my print column Sunday.

8 Comments:

Blogger steve mcdonald said...

again, this is the risk delco republicans had to take if they wanted civera on the ticket. civera could have withdrawn from the county election after arlen switched sides and joe announced his candidacy. civera's no better than any of the democrats looks for an easy win.

January 15, 2010 at 1:46 PM 
Blogger bundo said...

I don't believe any of these politicians. They want the "BURGER KING"politics,have it their way. Would history change if Civera were to leave now? Can't the Republican Machine handle anything without Him? What happened to the people are the Goverment? Who are these people?

January 15, 2010 at 7:19 PM 
Blogger Pro Christ Pro Gun said...

They are drunk with the power and most importantly, the benefits of office. I just finished defending the 80 year old man who was sued by Philadelphia City Councilman, Jack Kelly, for defamation contained in a voter alert that almost made Kelly a former councilman. Free speech won, as did standing up to career politicians. Government will never be by the people until we throw out the career politicians and replace them with ordinary men and women.

January 17, 2010 at 11:15 AM 
Blogger bundo said...

No politician should hold an office
for no more than two terms. Or for that fact be able to hold to offices at the same time, regardless of not drawing a second pay.

January 17, 2010 at 4:43 PM 
Blogger steve mcdonald said...

I agree bundo. holding two offices at the same time is a conflict of interest and a disservice to the constituents. Civera makes no bones about it - he's holding the seat because the democrats want an easy walk in the primary. However, he created this situation by running for county council and promising the resign from the State Rep seat. Poor planning by the County GOP on this one; the political games being played will resonate.

January 18, 2010 at 8:21 AM 
Blogger jake said...

I'm normally with you Steve, but not so much on Mario. I don't see how the residents/taxpayers are being hurt. It's not like there's not enough time to do both jobs.

It's just election gamesmanship, only made into an issue by the liberal inclinations of the press. Just look at every picture of Mario versus any Democrat politician to see the bias.

Political animal Ed Rendell flip-flops on his request for Mario to continue. Big surprise that the former chair of the DNCC is now calling for Mario to step down so the Democrats have a partisan advantage in the May Primary. Doesn't hurt that he has a former staffer who wants the job.

Admiral Shipwreck jumps in to say that Mario ought to step down. This from the guy who was such a carpetbagger he didn't even know the township where he lived. He thinks he's done such a good job in Congress for two years he deserves to be promoted to the Senate. What a pompous, little fraud.

And Benedict Specter sucks up to his new Democrat friends by piling on Mario, too.

How could these legislative con men find the time to comment on Mario, yet not offer any objections to the Massachusetts Democrat plans to delay certification of Scott Brown, should he win?

In the big picture of things, stopping the Obama/Pelosi/Reid tax-and spend overreaching has much more impact on our lives and wallets. The subject of Mario is so much less important, it shouldn't even warrant our attention.

January 18, 2010 at 11:22 AM 
Blogger steve mcdonald said...

Jake, if this was a democrat doing the same thing we'd be all over it and rightfully so. I can't buy into giving Civera a pass because there's a host of National Democratic Party foibles to cancel the issue out, that's for the Diano's of the world who can't make arguements without them. What he's doing isn't illegal, but ethically, its horrendous in that he's playing political games on his own, all the while forgetting that by his 'chess' actions, the people of his district are going without a voice. I don't care if he held both positions for free, Civera's limiting the Freedoms of his constituents.

Politically, he's taking a gamble that's going to backfire not only on him but on his fellow photo-op seekers on county council. This has been enough of an issue to grab attention in the Delaware Valley, its going to resonate in 2011 as the Democratic candidates have been given an easy talking point to convince coters that some changes may be needed. Seeing that registration has been shifting to the left, they're got a good shot next year.

January 20, 2010 at 7:51 AM 
Blogger bundo said...

I think these politicians should be governed more as to their actions of voting themselves raises and their performance as an elected official. Elected by the people.

January 20, 2010 at 6:39 PM 

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