Letters: ‘Oz Carpetbagger Act’ is now needed; Lack of red wave not surprising

‘Oz Carpetbagger Act’ is now needed

Now that the elections are over, and Dr. Oz is safely back home in New Jersey, it’s time to take a look at what happened.

It was obvious from the beginning that Oz had zero interest in Pennsylvania. He simply wanted to buy himself a Senate seat. He apparently thought he could bamboozle the people of Pennsylvania but our voters are smarter than he thought and sent him packing.

So, even though we’ll never see Oz again, he can still leave a positive legacy in Pennsylvania. It’s time for our legislature to pass the Dr. Oz Carpetbagger Act (DOCA) to prevent future candidates from rolling out a campaign in a state where they don’t belong.

The DOCA should have simple requirements that even practiced scam artists can’t evade: Would-be Pennsylvania candidates would be required to have established residency, voted and paid taxes in Pennsylvania, or in their target districts, for the number of years their term would run.

Thus, candidates for State Representative (like Justin Behrens) and Congress would be required to have residency, vote, and pay taxes in their proposed districts for two years, candidates for Pennsylvania Senate and Governor for four years — and candidates for U.S. Senate for six years.

It’s a safe bet that every current elected official in these offices easily meets these standards.

So, let’s remember the Oz and make the Dr. Oz Carpetbagger Act a requirement for all future candidates. It’s the least we can do to avoid getting carpetbagged again.

Lack of red wave not surprising

Of course there was no red wave. The Republican Party failed to make their case. No anti-abortion, little mention of the horrendous border problem or the cockeyed economy. The Democrats might as well have paraphrased Adm. Farragut: “Damn the fetuses; full speed ahead!” Not a word by either side about the voiceless third party in our national tide of feticide!

Then there was the loud mouth of DJT. Does no Republican recall Trump’s sadistic treatment of his fellow Republicans in 2016 or his damnation of his loyal vice president or his petulance in office, tweeting like a twit? Are you not turned off by his misogynistic rants and endless proclamations to being the greatest president ever (insulting our greatest leaders)? He sends me offers to give me signed pictures of himself (nothing more than hawking portraits for your campaign money!). Trump’s failings are why Joe Biden is behind the oval desk today. I do believe that our last two presidents were our worst two presidents.

Republicans should not feel confident that Joe Biden will be rejected in 2024. I’m convinced that he will keep the Republicans off guard and wait until the last moment to say he will not run. That will give Democrats the perfect opportunity to select a sure vote getter like Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Mark my word.

Corman’s real legacy

In a recent issue of the CDT Senator Corman penned a piece highlighting his time in the State Senate. He reviewed all his legislative accomplishments, including even those for which he just took credit. I am sure he is hoping that when we look back at his time in the Senate these are the things we will remember.

Unfortunately for him, that is not the case for me, and I am sure many others. What we will remember is how he facilitated the efforts of his fellow Republicans’ to overturn the voting results in Pennsylvania’s 2020 election.

The other thing that comes to mind is that during Trump’s tenure as President as well as in the years before and afterwards he has never publicly been critical of any of Trump horrendous actions and statements or even his part in the January 6 insurrection.

Will I think of him as a great legislator? No! He will be remembered as just another toady to Donald Trump.