Pennsylvania State Representative Gib Armstrong, who has been David Horowitz's main backer in the PA legislature, lost his primary yesterday. This leaves David Horowitz deprvied of the most ardent supporter of his campaign to suppress the free exchange of ideas on college campuses in Pennsylvania.

Rep. Tom Stevenson, the Republican leader of the PA House and chair of the academic freedom committee, also lost. Rep. Stevenson will be missed; unlike Armstrong, Stevenson was a thoughtful guy who seemed to do his best to look out for Pennsylvanians' best interests. He was the kind of conservative you could have a thoughtful discussion with and agree to disagree (unlike Horowitz and Armstrong). Unfortunately, Stevenson was defeated by an opponent who is significantly farther to the right than he is.

According to the media coverage leading up to the primary, the fatal flaw of Stevenson, Armstrong and a lot of the other incumbents who lost yesterday was voting to give themselves a pay raise at a time when PA voters are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet.