Pennsylvania Governor Schweiker Shows Republicans How to be a Leader

Republican Governor's Association ^ | today | HighWheeler

[HighWheeler]

The last few days of turmoil, sweat, fear, despair and finally, the unbounded joy in Pennsylvania have been keeping America holding their breath.

But in the swirl of confusion, the unknown, the awful thoughts that the worst was yet to come, he was standing strong and creating the calm center in the storm. He was the Republican Governor Mark Schweiker. He inspired. He motivated. He only talked in terms of success. His focused conviction that the rescuers would be successful didn't cease.

He even jumped in and helped carry out the last miner on a stretcher.

He sure showed the world how to be a real leader.

The Republicans in Federal positions should take a cue; perhaps attend a few classes in leadership and how to stand up to fear. The Democrats, who are too spineless anyway, could at least stand quietly in awe. The Dims should be showing up at the scene shortly to take credit somehow.

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It is rather interesting that Lance Armstrong also won the Tour de France this day. At 25 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to Lance's abdomen, lungs, and brain. From the beginning, he didn’t want to be a cancer victim. Instead he called himself a cancer survivor, even while he was undergoing painful aggressive treatment.

Today marks the 4th time in row he has won the Tour. Four times in a row, he has beaten the world’s best cyclists.

It's quite a showcase today for people overcoming their terrible fears, and grabbing victory as they faced down their own death.

[HighWheeler]

Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker (2L) helps carry out the last of the trapped miners at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pennsylvania, July 28, 2002. Nine Pennsylvania coal miners who were trapped for three days in a flooded mine traveled one-by-one to safety on Sunday in a cramped yellow rescue cage hauled up through a 26-inch (66-cm) wide rescue shaft. REUTERS/POOL-Steve Helber

[Aim small miss small]

Kudos to the Governor. As a California resident all I can say is , wow that's what a real governor acts like? Also hats off to Police Chief Carona in Orange county who helped find Samantha's killer.

[HumanaeVitae]

Too bad Rendell will probably win the next election.

[Chairman Fred]

And what are Schweiker's positions on thing like taxes, schooling, the judiciary, abortion, etc. (I don't know them, myself.) I assume he's the son of Russ Schweiker, who was Ronald Reagan's intended running mate in 1976.

With this kind of publicity there certainly will be calls for him to advance into national politics (unless he's actually conservative, at which point the press will run away from him). I'd like to know just what we might have in store for the future.

IN the meantime God bless the miners, their families and their rescuers. Also kudos to the Governor, who did not try to hog the limelight the way that a certain Governor of California would have.

[HighWheeler]

Rendell is going to now have an uphill battle.

I heard a clip of a miner leader about 45 minutes ago on FOX. This union guy couldn't heap enough praise on the governor. He went on and on about how the governor acted, and was finally impressed that Schweiker would step up and carry out the last miner.

[HighWheeler]

Also kudos to the Governor, who did not try to hog the limelight the way that a certain Governor of California would have.

Well you nailed that one! I can also think of a certain ex-governor of Arkansas who would do the same thing.

[Torie]

Schweiker isn't running for election.

[proudofthesouth]

I heard on FOX last night that Schweiker isn't running for election. That he has choosen to step out of the limelight so he can spend more time with his family.

[HighWheeler]

Why not? Can he change his mind?

[Torie]

Someone else has the GOP nomination.

[daler]

I didn't know he was a Republican (until now).

I had ASSUMED he was, however, since he seemed to present himself quite well, and none of the articles or TV clips I watched made any reference to his political affiliation.

They only seem to do that when a Republican is indicted or under investigation, and then it's included in the first sentence of the story.

[Smile-n-Win]

Pennsylvania Governor Schweiker Shows Republicans How to be a Leader

About time.

(Actually, Reagan showed'em how to lead all right, but they seem to need to be reminded of it!)

[berned]

Schweiker isn't running for election.

Sadly, this is the key point. When politicians are NOT running for election, they become braver, and their actions are truer to honesty and justice. Running for election phonies up everybody.

You know the old joke. Politicians are like bananas. They start out green, eventually turn yellow, and if they hang around long enough, they all go rotten.

[Symix]

I just wonder - sooner or later there will be a proposal
to make a statue of the coraugeous nine - but with a PC slant of course -
Now the group will include:
a Black;
a Hispanic;
an Asian American;
a couple females of course;
a cripple;
four hidden homosexuals;
three Muslims;
eight members of the Democratic Party.

Would there be room for married White Christian Republicans? Your guess is as good as mine.

[HighWheeler]

This is a terrible day for the libs.

The union miners love the Republican governor, and the survivors are talking about praying to God, loving and kissing their own wives, and missing and loving their kids.

What a great day.

[thepitts]

I thought Governor Mark Schweiker set an excellent example for all politicians, and told him so.

http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/organization.html

[HighWheeler]

Your list looks like it should be a fair, balanced, accurate portrayal of the survivors. But all the guys I saw coming up were black.

[Victoria Delsoul]

It's quite a showcase today for people overcoming their terrible fears, and grabbing victory as they faced down their own death.

That's so true. Thanks for posting this article, HW.

Bump.

[jimkress]

Republican Leader = oxyomoron

[ex-snook]

"I assume he's the son of Russ Schweiker, who was Ronald Reagan's intended running mate in 1976. "

Nah, the Governor grew up in Levittown of working class parents. He was in local politics and was the running mate of Gov Ridge and became Governor when Ridge went to Washington. He is probably too pro-life and not RINO enough for today's GOP. He has already bought a house not too far from Levittown where he plans to provide for his family.

[Fintan]

Too bad Rendell will probably win the next election.

Unless, of course, we vote.

[Temple Owl]

He decided to put his family first. No, it is too late for him to change his mind to run for Governor ( he took over when Ridge went to Washington), but maybe, hopefully, he will, in the future run for U.S. Senator to take Wishy Washy Specters seat, With Schweiker and Santorum, Pennsylvania would have to the two best senators in the country.

State Attorney General Mike Fisher is trailing Ed Rendell by double digits in the race for governor, but the GOP has yet to launch a campaign. Hopefully things will change once the Republicans decide to spend some campaign money.

[Spyder]

I saw people on another website last night whining that he was only active at the mine for political reasons, that he was so transparent, etc., etc. The posters ate their words pretty quickly when someone set them straight that he wasn't even running for governor, hence his motives had nothing to do with getting his face out in front of the cameras.

[Redleg Duke]

My congrats! It take a real jerk to come up with a negative comment during a moment of triumph.

Yo moma mus' be so proud a ya!

[Fracas]

In Philadelphia, they'll vote till they get Rendell elected.

[Temple Owl]

TERM LIMITS!!!!!!

[Symix]

I don't care if they were b(B)lack - the history will be rewritten to serve the media purpose.

[Pining_4_TX]

How about a little more cold water? Why was the governor there? He has no expertise in this matter. The people in charge of the rescue could have spoken to the press as easily as the gov did. Doesn't he have a state to run? Or is it that every politician sees what an opportunity a tragedy gives to a political career if one can insinuate oneself into the situation? Sorry, but I guess I just don't see what he did except to grandstand. He could have been as supportive from his office where his job is.

[USMA '71]

I live in PA and this was nothing more than typical political grandstanding. Schweiker knows nothing about mining - he was simply in front of the cameras for face time. Why wasn't the president of the mining company allowed to take the lead? His ass would have been the one receiving all the blame if the miners had died - why shouldn't he have been the guy dealing with the media all along???

Besides, Schweiker is as Socialist! He stands no more for conservative Republican ideas than Bill Clinton did. I can't wait for him to go. At least I expect Rendell to be a leftist - and I'm sure he won't let me down.

[Symix]

>Republican Leader = oxyomoron

We know that the Democrats' Leaders are there to destroy America - we don't even argue the fact.

It stands to reason that those who oppose them are patriots and fight against evil - so the Republicans should be just that. Taking this premise further one would start looking for the courageous Republican Leaders - but... there is none - at least not at the top, known to the public.

There is this shady crowd in the Congress we call Republicans that consistantly vote more Democratic than even the Democrats. Take the Trafficant case - how could ALL Republicans vote to expel him? Not because of the accusations - they are all guilty of much greater sins. Is it because he was too LOUD and could expose EVERY member of the Congress?

There is only one courageous Republican Leader who stands for something - Alan Keyes, a two-times Presidential candidate- but apparently he scare Republicans even more then Democrats - how come Bush does not invite his talents?
I bet he would be the real Secretary of State!

[cva66snipe]

He could have been as supportive from his office where his job is.

It was his responsibility to be there if he could help. As governor and on site he could cut through the chase and get such matters as equipment and assistance on site faster. Communication direct communications in a resuce operation is necessary. The longer you have to wait for info to be channeled through the chain of command or political chain the longer it takes to see results. He knew first hand on site what was happening and could respond quickly to coordinate solving logistical problems like other agencies response.

As well there were federal officals involved and many state agencies. I salute him for not hiding behind the desk and taking charge for the better or worse as so few elected are willing to do these days. Keep in mind had it been a failure it would as well have reflected on him. Or he could have stayed home risking no personal or political damage from it at all.

[HighWheeler]

Your post reminded me of the last major screwup by a leader trying to run operations from his desk. It was Carter trying to run the hostage rescue in 1980. The entire operation was completely his fault, down to HIS selection of helos. He also insisted on approving every minor thing in real time, causing a major communication bottleneck and delaying the start. What an idiot.

[Redleg Duke]

Obviously you have never been a commander or if you had, you must have slept through the leadership instruction.

A good commander is there, if for no other reason that to show the troops he is there. You obviiously have a real problem with this guy in particular and Republicans in general. I am sure that if Clinton had been there, you would have thought that entirely appropriate and inspiring.

Face it, Junior! You just don't get it!

[Kaslin]

You know the old joke. Politicians are like bananas. They start out green, eventually turn yellow, and if they hang around long enough, they all go rotten.

That's why in general I never vote for anyone more then twice

[Miss Marple]

The Fire Chief of Sipesville in two separate interviews yesterday said that if it weren't for the work of two memn they would not have been able to rescue the miners, because they did not have the resources to coordinate such a massive rescue.

The two men he credited were Governor Schweiker and President Bush.

Governor Schweiker was there both for moral support and to coordinate things with the feds, including cutting red tape and calling federal agencies to request things like the navy rescue team. President Bush gave the ok to pump the water from the mine directly into the creek, sent the helicopters for transportation and medical evacuation, waived permits for heavy equipment transport, etc.

Governor Schweiker was appreciated by the people in the area. He always credited the actual rescuers. I also saw the mine spokesman on TV quite a bit, although at times he was so upset he couldn't talk much.

Schweiker is not running for any elective office; he is returning to private life. In my opinion he unified and encouraged the effort, as well as doing a lot of plain old paperwork stuff. The Fire Chief was quite inpressed with a governor who would wade through the slurry, jump up on drill rigs, and ask questions. He thought the governor was great, and so do I.

[Pining_4_TX]

Hey, I can accept your disagreement with my opinion. That's what FR is all about. But don't accuse me of being a Dem or a Clinton fan. It shows you know nothing about me.

Oh, and thanks for calling me junior. Nobody's called me that in many years. :)

[Redleg Duke]

My pleasure. Always glad to make someone happy.