To borrow from supporters of cranky Vermont socialist senator Bernie “Feel the Bern” Sanders, today is Feel the Burns time in these parts.
The laborious Cambria County vote-counting procedure that was conducted in the wake of a technical and leadership failure on election day, at last has produced a verdict. According to several media sources, most notably the Associated Press, Frank Burns has beaten back a concerted effort by outside interests to replace Burns with Amy Bradley for the seat representing the 72nd Legislative District.
Bradley now can retreat to her place in the area’s elite power base that controls non-profits, not-for-profits, charities, foundations and other behind-the-scenes groups.
Meanwhile, Burns will keep working for the area — right out in the public.
I have written that Burns is a Donald Trump-like figure in his party. Neither is true to traditional party policies and methods, but both win elections by connecting with the people, not party leaders.
To quote from the Associated Press story reporting the Burns win, “Burns, a conservative Democrat who supports gun rights and opposes abortion, has regularly found himself voting against his fellow House Democrats. He has long been an electoral target of Republicans, while many other similarly situated western Pennsylvania districts long ago flipped to the GOP.”
Burns staying in office is a triumph for many, a repudiation of area elitists, and a positive reflection on Trump Make America Great Again supporters who didn’t blindly vote for Bradley even if she did have ads touting a Trump endorsement.
I voted for Trump. I did not vote for Bradley. Apparently, judging by the many Republicans for Burns yard signs I saw in past months, I was not alone in making this calculation.
Count me in the group that believes, had Trump known of Amy’s association with once-secret plans to bring Afghan refugees to Johnstown, he might not have been offering an endorsement.
But even if Trump was fully aware, this is what’s great about MAGA people. Despite assertions to the contrary made by LameStream media and leftist zealots, we are not in a cult. We do reserve the right to think for ourselves.
We did exactly that in the race between Burns and Bradley.
Common sense has prevailed, and yet another candidate endorsed by our local Woke Gazette has lost. These election gifts keep on coming.
Sam Ross Jr's site 