The Hill Street Blahg

Peter Panepento pointed out today on his Outside Erie Blog, that Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge was ruled out as John McCain’s VP. Peter noted a statement he previously made “[…] Ridge’s pro-choice background could be a sticking point for McCain, who is trying to maintain his support from conservatives.” Never were truer words spoken.

I’ve known Tom Ridge since the 1960’s when we were both young caddies at the Kahkwa Club. In later years, our lockers were nearly side by side at the Downtown YMCA Businessmen’s Club where we would chat on occasion prior to our workouts. I especially recall Tom’s concerns over his vote to go to war during the first Gulf War in 1991. Like many of our generation, he knew the horrors of war and it showed on his face and to some extent it does to this day. We both attended Mass at St. Judes Catholic Church, where it was whispered the reason he didn’t bother to receive communion was because of Bishop Trautman displeasure with him over his pro-choice stance. Tom is a man of principals. He’s also a man of great courage, a true patriot, and a person the citizens of Erie, PA are obviously very proud of.

On the downside, Tom unfortunately made some poor choices in friends while becoming a rising political star. They were part of the presumptuous movers and shakers who make things happen in the Erie banking and business community. To the best of my knowledge, Tom never turned his back on these less than respectable friends when they predictably ended up being an embarrassment to him. Nonetheless, these friendships could come back to haunt him, if they haven’t already.

I like Tom Ridge and I’ve always voted for him, however, he is not ready for the big leagues. He undoubtedly proved that while serving as the first Secretary of Homeland Security. There was more to his resignation than meets the eye and my guess it was Donald Rumsfeld. Tom calls himself a good Republican, but so does Senator Arlen Specter call himself a good Republican. Congressman Tom opposed Ronald Reagan on most all of his cold war initiatives and often sided with the Erie Democrats and their hair brained schemes dreamed up in the smoke filled back rooms of several well known Erie taverns. Governor Tom sold the taxpayers of Pennsylvania a bill of goods when he succumbed to the powerful Pennsylvania State Education Associations (PAC) incredible pension demands, which the taxpayers of Pennsylvania are still paying the price for. In my humble opinion, Governor Tom was also no friend to the Senior Citizens in Pennsylvania. Tom’s one and one-half term as Governor was nothing to brag about other than the movers and shakers of Erie had some bragging rights and were always invited to his gala gubernatorial events. Everyone in Erie, I guess myself included, was all of a sudden Toms long lost friend.

John McCain made a very wise decision not to choose Tom Ridge as his running mate. If Mr. McCain wants to choose a good Conservative running mate from the Keystone State, he should choose Rick Santorum and offer Tom a non conspicuous cabinet post. Tom would make a great college president, but a not a Vice-President next in line for the highest office in the land.