Fun & Games -- PA style

Ah, Pennsylvania politics.

I knew that things were about to get interesting in Harrisburg when I read this article, Perzel fights to hold speaker's post, in the Philadelphia Inquirer a few weeks ago about John Perzel's quest to retain the position of Speaker of the House. Then came the news that Reading Representative Tom Caltagirone was about to support John Perzel for Speaker.

Even though the Democrats ended up winning a majority in the state House, Perzel didn't want to give up his post, going so far as to refuse to vacate his offices when the session ended. See Despite party's loss, GOP state House speaker won't give up his office. Both Perzel and his Democratic counterpart, Bill DeWeese, are egotistical leaders who exercise power with arrogance and hubris (remind you of anyone else in charge?). In the end, many members of the House wanted neither, and a major power play ensued. Colleagues: Pa. House switch is revenge.

The Pennsylvania Progressive has been following the political power struggle, starting with Caltagirone a Traitor, blogger John Morgan attended the New Year's day Rally against Caltagirone, and was in Harrisburg yesterday to witness the The Speaker Election. Political writer Mario Cattabiani of the Inquirer even started a blog, Battle for the Gavel, to cover the vote.

As Morgan summed it up:

If I'd told you a Republican from Philadelphia was elected Speaker of the House today you'd assume it was John Perzel. It wasn't. Last minute maneuvering resulted in Bill DeWeese stepping aside and nominating Philadelphia Republican Dennis O'Brien for Speaker. He was elected after a good bit of stalling and scrambling by the GOP 105-97.

Neither Perzel nor DeWeese, two old pols corrupted by hubris and arrogance, could muster enough votes to win. Only one, DeWeese found a solution. Perzel's mulishness cost the GOP the Speakership. Or did he.... O'Brien, after all, IS a Republican. My sources say he will switch Parties.

Who is Dennis O'Brien? He's a conservative guy, he voted for the pay raise and he's anti-choice.

And as an aside, even worse, O'Brien's not interested in considering any gun control measures to help stop the violence in the streets of Philly. See, Liberal Doomsayer, My Bang-Up New Year's Wish.

Chris Casey provided the "literary" description of the maneuverings:

A few days ago, Iraq hung a tyrant, today, in Harrisburg, a Tyrant hung himself. John Perzel had been grinning from ear to ear all weekend after conning Tom Caltagirone into betraying his Democratic brethren. Perzel thought he had secured another term as Tyrant, er Speaker of the House, but all his Machiavellian machinations came to nothing.

Or as the Patriot-News so aptly put it:

Payback can be hell.

Just ask Bill DeWeese and John Perzel.

In Humbled DeWeese trumped GOP's Perzel, the paper notes:

DeWeese, the House Democratic leader on the verge of leading his flock of 101 colleagues out of 12 years in minority exile, was elated when Barbara McIlvaine Smith won a Chester County race to give Democrats a one-seat majority.

But then DeWeese's past came back to haunt him as "personal vendettas trumped rationale," one Democrat observed.

Though an effective minority leader, DeWeese's use -- some might say abuse -- of perks, committee assignments and money had earned the enmity of many of his colleagues.

* * * *

But in a move that surprised colleagues and especially Republicans, DeWeese showed true leadership by taking one for the team.

Caltagirone's defection meant DeWeese didn't have enough Democratic votes. He knew he couldn't garner GOP support.

So he fell on his sword, offering to step aside. Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, approached Philadelphia Republican Rep. Dennis O'Brien about becoming speaker.

O'Brien liked what he heard about working across party lines, giving dissident Republicans a speaker nominee they could support, Democrats majority control and helping DeWeese deny Perzel the speakership.

"Perzel overestimated Bill DeWeese's ego and forgot that he was a Marine. He didn't think [DeWeese] would step aside," Democratic consultant Larry Ceisler said.

"These were his best 24 hours," Gov. Ed Rendell said. "He put his own personal desires and wants aside in the name of the House of Representatives producing a better product for the people of Pennsylvania."

It's certainly a bittersweet, glass-is-half-full result for DeWeese, who will be majority leader, assuming Democrats maintain their tenuous majority.

See also John Baer's Daily News column, Dems ambush Perzel, & O'Brien inserts the shiv.

I realize that there's a lot of important issues that have not been attended to, but at least this silly stuff provides some amusement.

Tags: Pennsylvania, Politics