But where is GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett on making sure that those jobs to go to Pennsylvanians? He’s nowhere to be found, of course. While jobs are going to those from Oklahoma, Texas and other southern states, Corbett remains mum on the subject. Democrat Dan Onorato, on the other hand, has been vocal about making sure that these jobs go to skilled Pennsylanians.

And while we’re on the topic of natural gas, it should be noted that Corbett has largely ignored environmental concerns and the benefit of taxing Marcellus Shale. But who could blame him? After all, his campaign has benefited from well over $350,000 in campaign contributions from industry interests, making him by far the biggest beneficiary of those natural gas tycoons.

Corbett and his campaign have a lot of explaining to do on this issue.

With all deference and respect to my friends who happen to be Cubs fans, the quote resonates with me. With all of the talk about polling, trends and “voter enthusiasm,” way too many pundits are basically playing “taps” for Democrats. The last time I checked, there were no crystal balls in Harrisburg or anyplace else in Pennsylvania. As someone who has been around politics for more than 20 years, one thing I know for certain is that no poll ever took the place of good, old fashioned turnout efforts and organization. Polls take the temperature of the voters at a specific time given a specific set of circumstances—that’s all.

I know it looks bleak for Democrats right now. But we’re several days away from Labor Day and families are still at the beach enjoying their last few days of tranquility before the summer season wraps up. The polls will tighten, the ads will fly, the mailings will be sent and the candidates will debate. I don’t know too many Democrats in any campaign who are strapping on the Cubbies pinstripes for a home game.

If anything, the dismal polls should energize people even more to work harder, smarter and more efficiently. I have yet to hear a compelling argument to elect Republicans in Pennsylvania. Their message is either negative or nonexistent.

Democrats will be like the Fightin’ Phillies. They’ll be there in the end.

During these past few months, I’ve missed the exchanges and ability to directly comment on this year’s important races. Once again, I welcome the opportunity to provide input on contests up and down the ballot. As Chris Matthews pointed out in his book several years ago, you don’t allow any shots to go unanswered.

Rest assured that The BlueBlast will not allow shots to go unanswered, particularly with less than 70 days before the big day and so much to talk about.

I’d like to thank editor Dan Hirschhorn and all of the fine people who make pa2010.com happen for allowing me to return down the stretch. I also want to thank the growing number of readers that have made pa2010.com a success not just in Pennsylvania, but in political circles throughout the countries.

I look forward to once again contributing regularly.

I’d like to thank the readers, those who added their own thoughts into the mix and everyone else who took an interest.

I’ll miss talking to you, but will remain involved in the political process quite a bit for the guys and gals in the construction trades.

And keep that browser on pa2010.com—you’ll be hearing from my successor at the party soon.

Again, thanks a million. See you on the campaign trail.

That goes for everyone, not just Democrats.

What we saw on Tuesday was more anxiety about how Washington conducts its business. Middle class voters came out and spoke about their frustrations. But no one is more frustrated about the conditions of the nation than the President who has worked tirelessly to make strides.

Let’s be clear about two things: Tuesday was not about the President and it was not about health care.

President Obama still enjoys a 60 percent popularity rating in Massachusetts. In addition, the state’s health care program is as close to universal care as it gets in the nation. In other words, they have theirs already and were not overly concerned about the health care bill. Senator-elect Brown didn’t use health care once in any of his television ads. That should tell you something.

While this election was peculiar, the sky is not falling. No one is panicking and Democrats still control the White House, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. While Republicans insist on playing “Taps” on their trumpets, they have no track record to stand on themselves.

In fact, they’re going nuts over the fact that they can now filibuster. Let’s hear it for the obstructionists!

There were 51 Senators that passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that helps women earn better pay. There were 58 Democratic Senators that passed extensions to the State Children’s Health Care Program and 58 also voted for the economic stimulus bill that now showing results as we just saw the first quarter of economic growth in two years.

So while Republicans crow about their win, they should also remember that Brown didn’t mention the word “Republican” once in his victory speech.

Not once. This was his win. Not theirs.

The first two to sign up were Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ).

The pledge reads: “I hereby pledge to the people of my state/district to sponsor and support legislation to repeal any federal health care takeover passed in 2010, and replace it with real reforms that lower health care costs without growing government.”

Since the Republicans have done absolutely nothing in the way of providing substantive health care proposals, it boggles the mind as to how the Club for Growth could take the lead for repeal of sensible health care legislation.

One also has to wonder where the Club for Growth’s “wunderkind” Pat Toomey is on all of this. Of course, it would come as no surprise if he supported the idea based upon his love of Wall Street and disdain for average, working Americans.

Pat… where are you?

Republican congressmen, such as Charlie Dent and Jim Gerlach, turned their backs on hard working men and women and voted to allow the financial sector to continue unchecked and risky business practices.

Every single Republican member voted AGAINST the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009. This bill would will help stabilize our economy and reign in the irresponsible Wall Street practices that put our economy on the brink of collapse. It would protect families and small businesses from greed and unfair practices that helped send our economy into a tailspin in the first place.

It goes to show how Republicans continue to be part of the problem rather than the solution. It also reminds me of what my father would say in Spanish “No comen y no dejan comer” (They won’t eat but they won’t allow anyone else to either).

In 2010, Republicans will be reminded of their votes against working families and will have to answer to them at the polls in Pennsylvania. It is unconscionable that NO Republican voted with President Obama and Congressional Democrats on a bill that would PROTECT the little guy.

Unbelievable.

But when you examine his record and his statements, you find another kind of Toomey—a rather extremist kind of Republican who isn’t ready to represent working families throughout Pennsylvania.

Here’s just a sampling of what he’s done:

-Was a Wall Street derivative trader.
-Defended the interests of Wall Street as a congressman.
-Served as president of the ultra-conservative Club for Growth.
-Said he would penalize doctors who perform safe and legal abortions.
-Received a 97 percent rating from the American Conservative Union (former Senator Rick Santorum received an 88.1 percent rating).
-Opposed a bill that would have taxed bonuses for executives at those at bailed-out banks.

It’s no wonder that Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), vice chairman of the National Republican Senatatorial Committee, once said of Toomey: “I don’t think there’s anyone in the world who believes he can get elected Senator here.”

Ouch.

The problem with another candidacy for the Mayor of Hazleton is that he doesn’t offer anything new. He’s still lumped in with Washington Republicans and the Party of NO that doesn’t listen to needs of the residents of the 11th District.

Today, state Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney offered the following statement on another Barletta candidacy against Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11):

“With national and state Republicans offering no solutions to the problems they created, Lou Barletta is thinking that a third run for Congress will be the charm.

“The voters of the 11th District have scrutinized Barletta’s positions and his failed record closely on two separate occasions and rejected him twice. I’m confident they will again.

“Tax cuts for the rich, privatizing Social Security, ignoring the health care crisis in our country and offering no credible solutions to create jobs, will not answer the nation’s problems. Barletta has never offered alternatives to the Republican partisan spin on these issues. He gets stars in his eyes, mimics Republican talking points sent from Washington and forgets about those that he’s running to represent to try and score cheap political points. It’s classic Lou Barletta.

“Residents of the 11th District deserve much better than that.”

Toomey must think he has an inside track on the war in Afghanistan. In fact, he seems to think he has better intelligence than President Obama and, therefore, is now lecturing him on Iran. In his hubris, Toomey fails to hit the mark with his “advice.” Frankly, it seems as though Toomey hasn’t been keeping up on the national security issues he is espousing.

First, to clarify, contrary to Toomey’s assertion, Obama supports sanctions against Iran and has been working toward them, both domestically and internationally.

Toomey has failed to recognize that the the Obama administration has been rightfully keeping a low profile on the congressional sanctions efforts in order to be able to continue his administration’s good-faith negotiations with Iran on its nuclear materials. Rather, the president has been focusing the efforts of his efforts on the potential source which is in greater jeopardy—that of the United Nations. In fact, just this week Obama pressed the issue of sanctions against Iran with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan at a meeting at the White House; Turkey currently has a seat and a vote in the UN Security Council.

Second, it is difficult to understand how Toomey can possibly lump Iran and Afghanistan together in terms of a threat to U.S. national security.

The attacks of 9/11 were plotted and executed by Taliban-shielded Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. President Obama’s new strategy seeks to target some of those same perpetrators, who now reside along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. Toomey also incorrectly describes the perceived threat in Afghanistan as the Taliban. The president was clear on that—the primary focus of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan is to root out al-Qaeda.

Finally, the most disturbing element of Toomey’s op-ed by is his fear-mongering rhetoric—words that echo the language used by the Bush administration in describing the alleged “weapons of mass destruction” prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. That fear-mongering led us into a $700-billion war—while the Bush administration ignored Afghanistan.

And although Iran has made it clear it seeks to develop nuclear weapons—which should not be tolerated by the U.S. or the international community—anti-Americanism should not be cited as a reason to impose sanctions on or preemptively go to war with another country.

Perhaps Toomey needs to brush up on his foreign policy with his handlers in Washington before he makes inaccurate pronouncements, logical missteps, and second-guesses President Obama again.