It's One-Party Rule and We'll Cry If We Want To

The Post-Gazette's Dan Simpson has some pungent thoughts on Pittsburgh's history of one-party rule. Particularly with regard to where that party appears to be going with Mayor Ravenstahl at the helm.

When Mr. Ravenstahl grows up he might make a decent mayor. At 27, being 27, as he tells us when we the media point out what he is doing, he feels free to accept gifts from the Penguins and UPMC and to commit the typical cardinal sin of officials in a one-party state -- employing public assets for his private use. Only someone who knows he will get elected no matter what he does would use a Department of Homeland Security-provided vehicle to go on a recreational outing with his wife. But that is normal behavior in a one-party state.

Ouch.

2 Political Junkies offers some excellent commentary on Simpson's piece.

The only chance DeSantis has, I think, is if a large portion of Democrats can separate themselves from their party affiliation long enough to consider the possibility that a vote for a Republican might actually be in the long-term interests of the Democratic party. That is, given the disparity in party affiliations in the city, it seems unlikely that a victorious DeSantis would be the first member of a long-term Republican dynasty. But he might be there long enough to shake things up with the powers that be. Perhaps enough that a guy like Peduto or any of the others could at least CONSIDER making a run in future elections.

So yeah. Maybe we could convince them that a vote for DeSantis is actually a vote for Peduto, or some such.

Of course, all of this fails to consider the possibility that a lot of people have a vested interest in NOT shaking things up. At all. The system does serve some people well. I think a lot of us are SHOCKED that things are the way they are, and spend a lot of time thinking about how the system has failed. But has it? People are allowed to vote. They do vote. They just appear to prefer candidates that a lot of bloggers and other chatty folks don't like.

In my eyes, the election is not about who I prefer. I am voting AGAINST the 70-year dynasty Simpson takes to task. If my best option for toppling that dynasty was a vote for Peduto, I'd vote for him. Same with DeSantis. (Although I do happen to like some of the things he's said so far.) But if my only option were a Libertarian candidate, or a Green candidate, or any other, that's whom I would vote for. Even if I thought the guy was a dangerous goon. Because it would amount to a vote against the entrenched--and increasingly preposterous--local elite.

Comments

[Smittyfromtheflats]

You're correct.DeSantis is not going to be the first in a long line of GOP mayor's.But he would be a great lessons for those Dems who just pull that lever year after year regardless of the candidates.However,a vote for DeSantis is not a vote for Peduto.You can still write in Peduto,but he has stayed out of this election opting to blog with pretty Justine while DeSantis does the heavy lifting.

[Mark Rauterkus]

The idea of a write in vote for Peduto is cute. Not nearly as cute as Justine, but cute. Heck, might as well go to the heart of the matter and just write in Justine for Mayor. That gets you cute squared.

As for the 'goon' remark, I might resemble that only option, twice, on the local ballot -- once in the city-wide ballot.

Dangerous doesn't fit me, I dare say.

[Paul]

Like Dan, and I, pointed out... Bill Peduto is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Anyone who looks at his background and believes otherwise is simply in denial or doesn't get what's at the root of the problem.

[Sam M]

I'm not making any claims about Peduto. I am saying that for DeSantis to stand a chance, he's going to need support from Democrats. And they are not going to support him unless they can think of some way in which a Ravenstahl loss would be good for their party.

I happen to think it would be good for their party. Any kind of shake-up would be good. I mean... the fact that Peduto wouldn't even ATTEMPT to take on an un-elected 27-year-old speaks volumes about the dangers of seven decades of one-party rule.

[Paul]

And all I'm saying given my past experience I doubt DeSantis will be able to muster enough to make a difference.

People keep scratching their heads and wondering how it is that Democrats have managed to secure such a grip on city politics and Bill Peduto is an example of how and why.

Because it has become so engrained in the attitudes of city voters that Republicans (really any non-Democrat) are so inherently evil that it is easier to ignore Peduto's background, past actions and political connections and choose to believe what he says he's about than to even consider a vote for the member of another party.

At the end of day though Bill Peduto is still an integral part of the Democrat's local machine and any vote for him is a vote to perpetuate it.

[Nike Jordan]

Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck.