It would seem one of the easiest things to do would be to relocate and become a resident of a new state or commonwealth.

We shook our heads when Hillary Clinton decided to represent New York as a senator, even though she wasn’t really a New York resident. It just happened to be an easy race for her to win based on the strength of her husband’s pre-sexcapades scandal. So, a New Yorker she became.

Now, possibly mistaking Pennsylvania for Kansas, Dr. Oz wants to be Sen. Oz for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Don’t let the fact that he lives in New Jersey and is a registered voter in New Jersey bother you. Everyone else is running for senator, so why shouldn’t he? What qualifications does he have? With all due respect to Ronald Reagan, he has as much to offer as any other television character, including Mr. Ed and Lassie.

You have a much better chance of seeing one of them on Main Street in Butler.

There is a chance he is the best doctor to ever exist or he could be the best script reader since President Reagan. Does he know anything at all about politics or did someone just convince him that being a senator would go a long way toward satisfying his needs for attention and ego?

We have local candidates who have lost every election they ever entered who might be better qualified just because they are almost sure where they live. We don’t want to be represented by an outsider with nothing but expanding his power base as his purpose in running. We have often commented that politicians from the Philly side of Pennsylvania have no idea where Butler is or how to get here, even if we put them on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and aimed them west.

We doubt the good doctor from the Emerald City knows Pittsburgh has an airport that doesn’t only cater to flying monkeys.

Don’t we have any residency rules about this? Shouldn’t a candidate have to reside full-time in Pennsylvania for two to five years and pay taxes to support the liquor control board and the turnpike commission before he tries to become the one appointing his friends to those boards?

In fairness, Oz isn’t the only joker throwing his hat in the ring. He is just the one with the worst case to present for why he should represent Pennsylvania.

One thing is certain: He will need a lot of schooling before he is able to claim to be a Yinzer, a member of Franco’s Army or a fan of Story Book Forest or belong in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood. But with all of his acting credits, he will probably finish a strong second and get credit for being the first loser rather than the biggest loser. Spin control in elections is important for future efforts in politics.

— RV