When you read this story, on the surface it’s certainly seems plausible, but then little tidbits like Veon’s
“hands shaking” seem to me a bit too contrived. I’ve
been in the Red Onion. There’s really no place to hide, not even the corner booths and it’s pretty busy on a Saturday lunch time. It’s hard for me to believe Veon could show up there and the only person who noticed him was a waitress. Frankly I wouldn’t know Donatella and Paisley from Adam, but Veon’s pretty recognizable. It’s interesting that the Times hasn’t gotten any other confirmation of the meeting from other diners, IMO.

I just can’t see Veon being especially afraid of Paisley, especially in view of Paisely’s own failed candidacies.

pd

The fear, in my mind, would be justified based on polling. We saw that one poll that showed Veon in trouble, but Veon’s campaign claims to have their own poll showing Mike with a significant lead. Since it is an internal document, they’ll never release it.

I honestly believe there will be races where the incumbent falls b/c of the “anybody but…” mentality that seems to be going across the state. Does Veon fall into that class? I don’t know, but if I where him I’d be acting like it could happen, which leads me to place some trust in the content of the above article. If I’m afraid that I“m going to lose, I find a way to win, including getting rid of my opponents if I have the ability.

I agree that Veon might want to try and get Paisley to withdraw, but while, as I said, I find the story quite
plausible, it’s the details describing Veon’s appearance that give me pause. I just don’t see Mike quaking in his boots over Paisley. Given your background, do you?

Anectdotally, I don’t think many, if any, of my BeaverCo kin will be voting for Paisley. Veon just does too much for his district.

pd

It all comes back to the strength of the “anybody but…” mentality. Given the 2005 judicial retention results in Western PA, I think Veon will be working like a dog to ensure his reelection. He has a ton of cash on hand and will probably do everything in his power to reenforce the perception that he is indispensible to the district.

Paisley, however, can point to a very simple message: only person to vote against repealing the pay raise. That’s cheap voter contact. It will be all about the pay raise.

Well, maybe, but Beaver County has been down and out for a long time and Veon has been a big factor in the growth that has occurred. I don’t think his constituents will forget that. Plus the fact that Veon stood his ground on the pay raise probably will work in his favor. Whether you agree with the raise or not, I think Veon will get points for sticking to his position even if it was tres unpopular. There is at least some principle in doing that and not reversing field in the face of the outcry over the raise.

Further, my sense is the voter outrage probably peaked with the judicial retention vote.

pd

Not familiar enough with Beaver County to comment on the work he has done in bringing reinvestment to the region. On the “sticking to his guns” part, I want to point out the PA voters didn’t buy it for Bush who created his whole image around the “right or wrong, he sticks to what he believes.” Besides, if that is the princple that Veon wants to be known for, then he just doesn’t understand public service. Late night votes for personal gain don’t show good principles.

Lastly, we won’t know about the extent of voter outrage until after the primary. One election is an indicator. Without a second or third, we can’t really speculate on trends. I’m guessing there is an “anybody but…” mentality, not just for this race, but also for Senate, Congress (see Gerlach in particular) and possibly governor and lt. gov (though Rendell seems to be in okay shape compared to other incumbents).

What growth in Beaver County are you talking about? If there is any, GWB has about as much to do with it as Veon.

This deal WAS offered – there are other witnesses – but I am not sure why it was offered. Polling data on Veon’s side must be worse then he is saying.

Best regards,

Beaver Co. Resident (long time lurker, second time poster)

By the way, Dan, why didn’t you just say you were there, but no deal was offered (2 aginst 1)? Now once they link you to the meeting, why would anyone believe you?

Well, IMO, once the momentum against the pay raise was
unstoppable, pols had two choices: run for cover by
reversing their support of the raise or continue to
support it. Veon apparently sincerely believes the legislature deserved a raise. If that’s his belief, then he’s being true to himself by continuing to say so and let the chips fall where they may. I don’t agree with that position, but I can respect the consistency of sticking to it.

pd

Sadly not enough going on to help the old mill towns like BF, NB, Aliquippa, et al, but look at Bridgewater, Center, Moon, Chippewa to name a few areas. I know Mike does keep his office in downtown BF to try and help the city out some and he probably had something to do with the decision to build the county human services building in BF.

Assuming you’re right about other witnesses, why weren’t they cited by the Times? I mean why would anyone pick a public place like the Red Onion to offer what is basically a bribe? If Donatella was the “go between”, why not arrange a more discreet meeting in Beaver? Did Donatella tell Paisley Veon wanted to offer him a job and Paisley was savvy enough to want to meet in a public place? You can’t tell me Mike is that dumb. Is it logical that Veon wouldn’t be accosted in a restaurant by people mad about the raise if the public is still angry about that? That he could just saunter in and get a booth and no one notices or speaks to him?

I can tell you here in Philly, Mark Cohen has a challenger and he told his opponent, don’t run against me because if you do, you’ll be crushed.

pd

Moon? Not even covered by Veon’s District, get your facts straight. As far as the Human Services building in Beaver Falls – it is a county building with no affiliation with the State. Other witnesses – how would the Times get a hold of them until after they first publish this article? I am sure there is more to come.

As far as the Mark Cohen comment – What in the world does that have to do with this?

Moon was an example of a mill town… there are dozens across the state. The county building is a county building but pd said that Veon probably had something to do with it… say state grants to the county to cover construction costs. No crap its a county building, but county buildings often get state funding for construction. Other witnesses I can agree with but if this is a place with regulars, a reporter should be able to talk to the regulars who might have seen something. The Cohen comment was reference to the leadership in general. If you knew that Cohen is part of the leadership team, you might understand.

I assume, since you respect Veon’s “consistency”, that Republicans who stuck by the raise should be shoo-ins come November as well? In my opinion, Veon and DeWeese (along with Perzel and Senator Jublirer), are slime and should be handed their walking papers this year, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the pay raise fiasco.

OK, Moon is near the border out there by the airport, but not in Beaver Co although I’m sure Beaver Co gets some economic benefits from the growth there.

Yes, the human services building is a county building, but it’s not in Beaver with the rest of the county buildings is it? Donatella is a Veon ally and the building ends up in BF. Might there be a connection?

As for witness, the Red Onion is a pretty popular spot. It wasn’t busy on a Saturday afternoon? A well-known local pol could walk in and no one besides a waitress notices? Did the Times bother to ask the waitresses on duty if there were any regulars there
who could confirm the meeting? I believe there a fair number of waitresses and hostesses who have been with that restaurant for a long time and probably know the people who come in all the time or at the same time every day or week.

I put Cohen’s comments in to show that politicians
can ask opponents to ask them to withdraw since you said you had no idea why Veon would make Paisley an offer. Maybe the conversation was along the lines of Cohen’s: get out because you’re going to lose, but I’ll also see what I can do for you if you’re really
interested in a second career in politics.

pd

Oddly, I have less respect for the pols who did suddenly reverse field when the heat got hot, but really my comment was meant to address political strategy, not the correctness or not of the raise.

Let’s face it, once the hue and cry got too much to bear, the pols only had two bad strategic choices: change positions or keep supporting the unpopular raise. IMHO, pols who reversed field open themselves up for the charge they really did intend to slip the raise through in the middle of the night hoping no one would notice, which is sleazy and what caused all the uproar in the first place. Veon’s the only one who took the other tack and stayed true to, presumably, his conviction the legislators deserved a raise. IMO, from a strategic perspective, that’s an easier position to defend.

pd

Why the hostile tone? If I knew Cohen is part of the leadership team I might understand? What the fuck is that? One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Moon is NOT a mill town. Not even close. There isn’t one mill in the town. Get your facts straight before you post – that’s right, you never do, you are just quick to post in support of ANY democrat, right or wrong.