Myself and many others have had lenghty discussions about the poltiics of this area. As some of you know, there is an ongoing battle in the Times' op-eds about a woman's right to choose. If you look at who's representing us, it seems there's a wide range of opinions as well on this and many other issues. I knw the NE is generally sympatheic towards labor, but socially some people can be quite conservative.

My opinion- I'd say generally left-center economically and centrist socially. Lean to strong Democratic. However, the Catholic church has a strong influence. I just want to know what everyone thinks about the NE and their own opinons.

I think your assessment is pretty good. Kind of very Bob Casey-like in much of the NE. That's not the whole picture though. There are close to 400,000 people in the NE and lots of political diversity these days. I think there are quite a few moderate to conservative republicans, especially in the far northeast. Also, there is a fast growing minority population which tends almost entirely democratic. Street lost some wards by a whisker in 2003 that Katz easily carried in 1999.

I do think you miss the boat a tad, I do believe that there are a good amount of Conservative Republicans, but I do not think they are necessarily in the Far Northeast, rather Mayfair and Winchester Park have a lot of conservatives.
Nevertheless, the Catholic Church does have a strong influence.
Also, left to center economically? How about just center? Yes many people are pro union and would like the price of their prescrription drugs paid, but lets be honest, how many times have you heard someone in the Northeast bitch about paying for something that other people didn't have to pay for, ie Gas. Also, while Mayor street and his local constituents get their trash picked up twice a week, they are closing the mini city hall. I think the Northeast alot of times would rather let the people take care of themselves and do with their own money, then have our Mayor decide what is right.
I do not think there is a person in the Northeast that 1. agrees with the city wage tax or 2. thinks John Street can do better for them with that money.

Many times. In fact, there was at least one forum held here in the Northeast that was packed so full, a second one had to be scheduled, if I am not mistaken. There was also a commotion at the one forum on PGW's suggestion that others foot the bill for deadbeats.

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PGP key: 0xB69AE59B
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| "When you choose your friends, don't get
| short-changed by choosing personality
| over character." ... - W. Somerset Maugham
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John John managed to demonstrate, quite clearly and loudly, that the closing of the mini City Hall was entirely political, with absolutely nothing to do with the $50,000 in costs, as he maintained. How did he do this? If I am not mistaken, it was Perzel who offered to foot the bill to keep the facility open. For the city, it was a windfall, as that facility generates how many millions of dollars each year for the city?

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PGP key: 0xB69AE59B
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| "When you choose your friends, don't get
| short-changed by choosing personality
| over character." ... - W. Somerset Maugham
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I would agree with you on the PGW issue. On a national scale however, yes the NE is left of center. However, on local issues such as deadbeats on gas bills and handouts, etc. which compared to the national level is excessive, even I agree with the conservatives. I was a Katz Demcorat in 2003 myself because Street doesn't do crap for this area.

I think Geno put it very well.

There probably was no more popular local pol in the North East than Bob Borski . . . and he was as Pro-Life as they come . . . and a good, traditional liberal.

Casey's somewhat the same, I think. Lots of ways, he's more liberal than Rendell or the Clinton crowd. Folks just can't get over his stand on abortion.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Which pretty much conforms with Guiness' theory.

Absolutely. Funny thing is, that I don't think Schwartz or Hoeffel could have ever been elected councilman(woman) or Assembly Representative from NE.

They were acceptable because they had the D nomination. But, they weren't from the NE.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

I hate to say it you're right. Well, I think Schwartz or Hoeffel could win Mark Cohen's (D-202nd) or Alan Butkovitz's (D-174th) Districts. I think Hoeffel could also pluck off Mike McGeehan's (D-173rd) or even John Taylor's (R-177th) in an open contest. Otherwise, it'd have to be a cold day in hell. If you ever look at the 170th, which is George Kenney's, that could go Dem and may very well with Brendan Boyle if he had significant party support and some cash.

Denny O'Brien and John Perzel's (thanks to Fox Chase gerrymandering)districts are rock solid and will probably remain GOP for quite some time.