Ed Rendell's 'national embarrassment'

I've used a few choice words through the years to describe Ed Rendell's numerous shortcomings as governor of Pennsylvania. For the longest time, I was a lone voice crying in the wilderness as Rendell fooled millions of Pennsylvanians into thinking he knew what he was doing.

At least 2.5 million voters were dumb enough to re-elect Rendell to a second term. But Pennsylvanians are finally waking up from their stupor. The Rendell administration's handling of the Valentine's Day ice storm on Interstate 78 has brought many to their senses.

The smoke and mirrors that Ed Rendell used so often during his first term are gone. Pennsylvania residents now see Rendell as a charlatan who routinely fills key state positions with political cronies.

Rendell thinks that a public apology (a day late), a hastily assembled investigation and what I predict will be the sudden "retirement" of several of his top political appointees will make his problem go away.

The governor still doesn't realize how seriously the I-78 fiasco has wounded him politically.

It's one thing to lie to people about tax reform, but leaving hundreds of people stranded on your state's highways without food, water, heat or fuel for days is something you can't sugarcoat. Even by a master spinmeister like Rendell.

Less than a month into his second four-year term as governor, the people have lost faith in Ed Rendell.

Republican State Committee Chairman Robert Gleason Jr. called Rendell's leadership during the snow and ice storm deplorable, adding that "the governor's inattention and failure to act promptly led to messy roads, delays in commerce and hundreds of stranded motorists."

"Someone needs to remind the governor that he sets the direction for the entire administration, including PennDOT, and that he has the final say over how PennDOT operates, especially in response to an emergency situation," Gleason said. "The governor's failure to act more promptly should be investigated. When Pennsylvania needed someone to step up and lead, Gov. Rendell was watching a college basketball game. "

If the state can't respond to a winter snowstorm, what would happen if Pennsylvania was the target of a terrorist attack?

How could anybody survive an emergency evacuation from areas around the state's nuclear plants?

How would the state respond to a natural disaster more severe than a snowstorm in the middle of February?

The Associated Press filed a story the other day recounting some of the e-mails sent to members of the Pennsylvania Legislature about the stranded motorists. One e-mail in particular stood out. I think it speaks for most Pennsylvania residents.

The lack of a coordinated plan, according to a Pennsylvania resident, "was more than a national embarrassment."

"I am prepared to manage my household if and when the next disaster hits," wrote the Saylorsburg resident, "because I have learned that the government of Pennsylvania is completely unprepared."

The ice storm will be remembered as Rendell's personal Valentine's Day Massacre. His grand agenda for his second term died on the frozen lanes of Interstate 78 on Feb. 14-16.