Lynn Swann for Governor

I thought I'd take a look at the Lynn Swann campaign page to see what this guy's about and if he's gonna be in town and what his issues are. First off, I think that's a goofy banner. What's the deal with that red PA [I get the red part] graphic cutting into Swann in between the "A" and the first "N" - weird looking.

The Calendar. Ha. Nothing planned between today and April 17, 2006, the last day to register before the Republican Primary. I know that he only announced the first week of January, but come fucking on. Have some kind of schedule laid out for people to be able to try to see what you're about. I will say that even having a 'calendar' page is better than what Bob Casey has put on his site - he doesn't have any upcoming dates that I could see.

Swann calls his issues page his vision. There, on the vision page are three links. Creating economic opportunities, preparing our children to compete and Pennsylvania values.

On his economic page, he discusses lowering taxes for businesses and corporations. I'm not a tax maven, but I'd rather see corporations pay more for just about everything. Well, not exactly. I'd rather see the workers get paid more and the consumer get better deals while the fat guys and gals at the top of the food chain stop worrying about how they will pay for their next trip to Fiji.

On his preparing children page, he discusses the education system. I'm with him that the children are our future, philosophically and literally. He wants to increase accountability [yay!] and standards [boo!]. I'm not one for standardized tests. I think they're stupid. But I hate tests in general. I'm in that hippie learning camp. Grades suck. But hey, I guess we all need grades to measure stuff. In my high school in NY, there was an alternative school [the A-School] where grades were not given, assessments were. Most of those kids went to Brown where they also have the option to forego standard grades and get written assessments [I think this is still true]. I didn't go that route, but I think more systems like that are better. Granted, the higher education institutions will have to do more work, but hey, the kids are the fucking future, right? Get the cream of the crop, those written assessments will tell more than "Jane Doe, 3.6 GPA" ever will.

And then the values section. He says he's a fiscal conservative. He wants to spend and tax less. Hard to do. Me, I'd rather pay into the system and help out those who need it. Progressive tax rates. Richer pay more, lower income pay less. And then there's the doozy, Lynn Swann is anti-choice.

As Governor, Lynn Swann would support extending protections to the unborn. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe. Vs. Wade, Lynn Swann would sign a bill the legislature sends him extending additional protections to the unborn.

Until that time, Lynn Swann will continue attempting to create a culture of life, both by using legislation as well as using the bully pulpit of the office. He will work to reduce the numbers of abortions by encouraging alternatives, including adoption and abstinence.

I wonder if he's even thinking about sex ed. Education is the best tool. The worst thing you tell a kid is "Don't do ____" I know from experience. It's just what kids do. Rebel. You reduce the number of abortions by education and access to contraception. Abstinence-only education is a sham. And encouraging adoption is great, but what happens when mom is going to die if she takes the fetus to term? Choice has to be an option. If Roe v Wade is overturned [and I believe that people like Bob Casey will help do so whereas Senator Pennacchio will fight to preserve this right], the decision on the legality of abortion will be turned over to the states and as Governor, Swann would be lobbying for the banning of it. Governor Ed Rendell would not. Governor Rendell will fight to keep choice as an option.

As much as I loathe Rendell for throwing his [hoagie induced] weight behind Bob Casey, I'm more aligned with him and his accomplishments than I think I ever will be with Swannie. But jeez, those photos on his site are crap. Need a campaign photographer?!

Comments

[mac]

Swann's schtick isn't playing so well outside Pittsburgh, I don't think. I discussed this with my mom and stepdad over the weekend - they distrust Swann because he's a quasi-celebrity with no real experience in much of anything.

[Mark Rauterkus]

With the Steelers in the Super Bowl, #88 gets a lot of buzz. He didn't list his going to the game on his 'agenda?' Weird.

Time will tell.

[John Featherman]

I saw Swann and Scranton in a forum in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. Other than his pro-life and pro-death penalty stances, I know very little about Swann's political platform. He's got charisma and is telegenic, but I don't know what's beneath the surface, if anything. Scranton is polished, clear about where he stands, and feisty. One's a celebrity; the other is an aristocrat.

Since I am a Republican, I am open minded and would like to hear more about the third candidate, Jim Panyard (http://www.panyard4gov.com/), who is not seeking the GOP endorsement, although some of his views on mixing politics and religion concern me (http://www.panyard4gov.com/news/index.php?fuseAction=story&archives=&ngID=9&nsID=39&PHPSESSID=e97796456a89556e29f666fb82747fb2).

John Featherman
Republican Candidate, US Senate-PA
www.featherman.com