The second post I made on this blog, roughly 3 months ago, was a story of how the opportunity to maybe become a congressman had come my way...and how I let it come and keep on going, not seizing the moment. I failed to "carpe diem."
That was early July. It is now early October. Does opportunity knock only but once?
Apparently, no, it does not, or at least that idea isn't chiseled in marble.
A few weeks ago the talk of me running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives started all over again. There's really not much cloak and dagger here, no great mystery meetings, or phone calls at odd hours from powerful yet relatively unknown political power brokers. It's pretty dull, pedestrian, not at all the stuff of great novels.
There was one phone call.
The phone rang, the right people were on both ends. Had that not happened, this post wouldn't be here. She was there, I was there, so here we are. I had one conversation. More than anything else, I was curious as to what it would take. Those who'd encouraged me before, encouraged me again. Last year, and it's not a secret, those same people put the congressional run on hold, and came at me about running for county commissioner. Thanks, I am flattered, truly.
Given the fact that my curiosity flared up during an idle moment when I felt a bit impulsive, it's proper to say that some "stars" did line up at the right time. Remove the idle moment, the curiosity, the impulsiveness, remove any one of them, and a run for congress wouldn't be even a minor consideration.
As of now, it is. As of now, it is under and open to discussion with certain parties on a local, state, and apparently national level.
This could be the start of something big...which is also the title to a marvelous song written by the late Steve Allen.
Am I running for congress? No.
Am I not running for congress? No.
Both are honest answers, not political subterfuge designed to mislead.
That being said, let's poke a bit more, ask and answer a few standard questions.
Q. Are you a declared candidate?
A. No. If I declare, it won't be a secret.
Q. Do you have an exploratory committee?
A. Not that I know, which doesn't mean none exists. Should there be a committee, it is without my knowledge and/or sanction. After a phone conversation this past Friday, I suspect several committees, ad hoc as they may be, do indeed exist.
Q. What makes you qualified to be a member of congress?
A. I'm an American who is registered to vote. In my opinion, that's how our marvelous system works; voters decide whether you're qualified on election day. It's their choice, no one else's.
Q. What is your political affiliation?
A. For many years, I was a Democrat. At present, I am registered Republican. I think of myself as what is alternately called a "Nelson Rockefeller Republican" or a "Bill Scranton Republican," meaning that my views are moderate. This nation needs to be governed from the middle, not from either extreme. Now, I'm making a speech. Now, I'll stop.
Q. Where are you on key issues?
A. It is far too early to wander down that path.
Q. Do you think name and face recognition play a role here?
A. It would be a lie for me to say otherwise. Yes, my being known throughout the 10th Congressional District is largely what is driving all of this. Plus, I'm a fairly bright guy with some depth.
Q. What would you do if elected?
A. Go to Washington and try like hell to represent the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania with dignity, respect, and integrity. However, please don't take that to mean that I think those virtues are presently lacking. I am criticizing no one.
Q. What would you do if not elected?
A. I'm a firm believer in the notion of, "In for a dime, in for a dollar." A commitment is a commitment. You don't do things half-ass. Should things work such that I do run for Congress, my intention is to win.
Q. Should you choose not to run, what then?
A. Continue working in a job I love deeply; being the Executive Director of The SPCA of Luzerne County. Before someone out there goes, "Ah, HAH!" - you are so right, the SPCA is not in the 10th Congressional District. I live in the 10th, and have for a long time.
Reasons to Run...
- There are a lot of things broken in this country, maybe I could make some small contribution to fixing a few of them.
- If enough people want me to run, I shouldn't ignore them.
- Being "Congressman Sweeney" has a nice sound to it. I am always honest, like right now; anyone who aspires to high office has to be at least a little in love with the notion of being important.
- Congressman are important - some for the right reasons, some for the wrong reasons.
- Fate, kismet, universal plan, whatever. Maybe this is what I should do. No point lying, I genuinely don't know.
- Public service has always appealed to me. It's a noble thing to do.
- The money, benefits, and perks are all pretty darned attractive.
- I'm neither stupid nor uninformed. I could do the job.
Reasons to Not Run...
- Given the enormous responsibility involved, that money, those perks and benefits, might not be enough of an incentive.
- The idea of traveling constantly from home to Washington and back is unappealing. Then when home, traveling all over the 10th District is every bit as unappealing. Unappealing but very necessary. Being a congressman from Nebraska is probably easier, at least you can fly, have a drink or three, and take a nap while you travel. Ideally, being the congressman from a NYC or Philly district would be perfect. I could travel on Amtrak's Acela to and from D.C. at a 100+ mph.
- It could be that there'll a lot of people who'll want me to run for their own reasons, reasons presently unknown to me. I learned a long time ago that things are often not what they appear to be.
- Politics can be slimy, dirty, nasty, hurtful. I am none of those things. Forging ahead while saying, "It's just politics..." is something that may not be within me.
- Connected to the above comment is what might be my complete disinterest in the lies, innuendo, and other assorted bullshit that will rain down on me should I run. Hey, remember, I was "just a weatherman." Now, I'm just a guy who works for a non-profit. I haven't spent the last 20 years of my life building a political base, which should be an enormous plus.
Two candidates, both declared, have "reached out" to me. What's on their minds, I don't know, we've failed to connect. One of them called me directly twice, and twice I've returned his call. We've managed to get no further than voice-mail so far. The other has tried to contact me in a rather indirect way. I'm not in hiding. I'll speak with anyone.
For now, that's about it. Consider this an open post, though, one I will update until I come to some sort of a decision.
Where Things Stand as of 10/19...
My phone is ringing selectively. That's OK. Some think I'm in the race, some think it's a done-deal...and some think I am already a congressman. That's scary. Actually, it should frighten a lot of us as Americans that people, intelligent people, "think" they know things that are simply not true.
Media interest in my possibly being a candidate for a seat in The U.S House of Representatives is startlingly one-sided. One influential media outlet in particular seems keenly interested in my intentions. Other outlets seem, at best, disinterested. Seeing who's interested, and who's not, is helpful; it gives me an indication of who might have a horse in this race. What their motives for wanting to be a force in who goes to Washington is an unknown.
There is one steady and common theme to any and all remarks regarding a run by me - it will be a costly campaign. Curious, don't you think? I keep hearing, "Well, you know, this is going to be an expensive campaign." Fine.
That getting elected to CONGRESS ain't a matter of running a few bake sales and asking your neighbors for five bucks isn't exactly news. Money, lots of money, tons of money, money from everyone and everywhere - all legal, of course - is key. Why I keep hearing how expensive this will be tells me one thing; certain parties want to know what kind of money I have should I seek election. For now, here's the answer: If I run, my life and finances, are an open book. And that is a solemn promise.
10/26...Anything new? Yes, a few things. I'm still thinking, trying to weigh all I'm capable of weighing. Coming up this week, a few things worthy of a mention.
Early in the week, a meeting with a declared candidate. While I have no doubt the meeting will be cordial, maybe even downright friendly and complete with plenty of laughs, the purpose and topic(s)of discussion remain unknown to me.
A little later in the week, the Luzerne County GOP holds its annual dinner. I've been encouraged to attend.
A number of people have approached me about "wanting in" should I decide to run. Thanks. At least one mentor who thought I was nuts to even consider congress is now saying to me, "You know, I think you could do this." While that's encouraging, it's also a little unsettling.
Also this past week I learned that one media outlet in the 10th isn't mentioning me as a potential candidate solely for the purpose of forcing me to show my hand. I would really think that most people at newspapers, television and radio stations, are smart enough to realize I spent over 30 years of my life in the news business. Those years were spread geographically from Honesdale to Williamsport to Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. My point? My point should be beyond obvious; I have contacts inside the media all over the 10th. It forever amuses me how some fail to see what is right in front of them. "Failing to see the forest for the trees..." happens all the time.
Finally this time around, I've familiarized myself with all the FEC rules and regs as they pertain to running for federal office. Interestingly, almost funny really, is that they devote a chapter to "testing the waters." And they call it just that, "testing the waters."
Thanks for reading!
