Free Republic

Jim Matthews betrays Republican voters By Tony Phyrillas, tphyrillas@pottsmerc.com "A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, is sly whispers rustling through the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in...

Alliance in Montco reflects party shift Republicans will share power. By Emilie Lounsberry Inquirer Staff Writer The surprise move by Republican Jim Matthews and Democrat Joe Hoeffel to share power as Montgomery County commissioners reflects a stunning reversal of fortune for the GOP. For decades, the county Republican Party enjoyed a reputation as an efficient and powerful political machine, demonstrated by its control of the courthouse for more than a century. But yesterday's bipartisan news conference showed that was no more - especially after Democrats won five of nine county row offices in November. Matthews will be chairman and Hoeffel...

U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel, D-Montgomery, is exploring a challenge to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's 2004 re-election bid. Hoeffel, who was elected in a Republican-leaning district in a series of expensive, targeted, high-profile elections, said, "I'm taking a look at it, looking at some polling data that shows the senator is vulnerable. "I have some more people to talk to, some more issues to consider," the Abington Twp. Democrat said. "It's a little premature to talk about this, people are talking to me about running, but my current plan is to run for re-election to Congress." Specter, a Republican, has an...