Comment Please by Univest: Darryl's Blog

Big changes here at WNPV as iconic sportscaster Jim Church leaves hosting duties On The Bench.   I'll join Jim this Saturday for his final broadcast and we'll open up the phone lines.   I've been here for 25 years and Jim was an institution when I arrived!   I look forward to chatting with Jim, a few special guests and especially those folks who have been listeners during the many years he's been On The Bench.  Join us this Saturday morning at 9:05!

2010 is likely to get down and dirty!   There will be (and has been) a ton of money spent in the Keystone State on the political brawls for governor, senate, congress, state senate and state house.  Locally I'm guessing the 8th district clash between Patrick Murphy and Mike Fitzpatrick will be the most expensive congressional race in Pa history.   The GOP certainly thinks the seat is up for grabs and the national money will come pouring in---on both sides.   I don't think the polls were even closed Tuesday when Murphy's folks sent out an email dubbing his opponent 'Fitz-flop'...kinda sets the tone.  It's not going to be real polite, but it should be real interesting.

With a little over a week before the primary election, longtime US Senator Arlen Specter might be heading toward a loss next
Tuesday.   Polls and momentum seem to be favoring Joe Sestak.   Specter is the prototypical DC insider, the kind that voters seem to have in the cross-hairs this political season.   Specter was a democrat when he was Philly DA, became a republican to run for the senate and switched back to save his political skin when polls indicated he couldn't win the GOP primary against Pat Toomey.   Obama-Rendell and other political power players did what they could to get Sestak out of the race.  Specter has been running lots of TV spots questioning Sestak's military service and congressional attendance.   The negative ads are the evidence that internally the Specter camp thinks things will not go well next Tuesday.   Sestak is a creditable candidate and has run a decent campaign, but once again this is a race about the incumbent and the strong political current against DC insiders!

North Penn teachers returned to the classrooms today.  Parents see a return to normalcy, but what has been gained over the past week?   There seems to be simmering hostility between the two sides.   I don't know if the strike hurt the relationship, but it certainly didn't help.  Outside of the teaching community, I don't think more than 15 percent of district residents support the teachers push for higher salaries.   Eventually there will be a contract settlement, there always is.  I just don't think the job action moved the two sides closer to it.