PA in WSJ

Going through last week's Wall Street Journal I found the following Pennsylvania references.

PA Politics

“Republican Advantage on Issue of National Security Erodes,” by Jackie Calmes (9/01/06)

Excerpt:

A laboratory for how that fight plays out is suburban Philadelphia. Ten-term Republican Rep. Curt Weldon, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, is running his toughest reelection campaign yet, with full-throated support for the Iraq war. “We either fight them there,” Mr. Weldon said, “or we fight them here in the supermarkets and streets here.” He still insisters there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.”

Stuart Rothenberg, a veteran nonpartisan handicapper of congressional races, recently rated Mr. Weldon’s a tossup. The Democratic challenger is Joe Sestak, a former vice admiral who served in Afghanistan. Two weeks ago, Democratic leaders tapped him to deliver the party’s weekly response to Mr. Brush’s weekly radio address. Mr. Sestak charged that the administration, by its attention to Iraq, had ignored Iran “as it developed a nuclear capability,” as well as North Korea, “now launching missiles.” Recalling his own stint in Afghanistan, he said that country now “is in danger of once again falling prey to terrorists.” And the alleged terrorist plot in London, Mr. Sestak added, “forces us to ask: Are we doing everything possible to make America safe?”

Later, in a list of key races, the 7th (Weldon / Sestak) and 8th (Fitzpatrick / Patrick Murphy) are included: In historically Republican-friendly districts, a reaction against war and social conservatism could displace incumbents such as Curt Weldon and Mike Fitzpatrick.

“Why Senate Will Be Tougher For Democrats to Take Back,” by Jackie Calmes (9/01/06)

This year’s most vulnerable Republicans are Pennsylvania’s Rick Santorum, Ohio’s Mike DeWine, Missouri’s Jim Talent, Montana’s Conrad Burns, and Rhode Isalnd’s Lincoln Chafee, who first faces a tough party primary challenge Sept. 12.

PA Businesses

“Desperate for a Cure,” by Geeta Anand (adapted from her book The Cure). Mentions Neose Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Horsham. Real tearjerker, keep tissues handy if you read the article or the book.

“Wall Street Plays the Markets,” by Aaron Lucchetti (8/30/06). Mentions the Philadelphia Stock Eschange.

Other PA

“New Gene Therapy Appears to Shrink Tumors in Two Cases,” by Mark Schoops (9/01/06)

Still, over the past few years, research teams in Europe and the U.S. have reported success using gene therapy to treat a variety of inherited immune disorders. And this spring, a team at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and Stanford University came tantalizingly close to alleviating hemophilia: they were able to prompt the body of one patient to produce enough blood-clotting factor on its own so that for 10 weeks he had no bleeding episodes of any need to have infusions of clotting medicine.

“Making the Grade,” by Chris Whittle (8/29/06). Whittle is the founder and CEO of Edison Schools, which manages 20 public schools in Philadelphia. His editorial discusses the increased test scores in Philadelphia and New York.

“Doctor-Owned Speciality Hospitals Get a New Lease on Life,” by David Armstrong (9/29/06). Mentions that doctor-owned hospitals are being developed in Pennsylvania but no specifics are given.