Many of us in Delaware County that have seen Sestak’s double-dealing first hand are all to happy to replace him with Lentz. There are also many Dems that would support any Sestak Primary opponent to prevent him from becoming a PA Senator. Sestak has neither the temperament, judgment or Democratic values to be the kind of senator we need.
For many Delco Dems, this is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: get a good, decent man like Lentz in Congress, and rid ourselves of Sestak at the same time.

[...] If Sestak runs for Senate, Lentz likely to run for PA-7… [...]

sestak is with the brady bunch and has no chance in a close election.
chifton hts. pa

Dan-
GrassrootPA appears to be some internet robot posting dummy comments and linking to it’s own site (and advertising).

David,

Grassrootspa.com is the PA equivalent of the Drudgereport, but as in any blog like situation, when a site like pa2010 is linked to, this type of “robot posting dummy comments” occurs.

Does this blog software have a CAPTCHA (sp?) option, where you type letters from a distorted images? This would stop robot.

I am one of the people that hopes that Sestak runs for the US Senate. He has no idea how to be a congressman nor a Democrat. He has never had a real job in his life. Why should the fine people in the 7th CD continue to pay his way through life ?
I would be pleased to see a real Democrat like Bryan Lentz take the seat.

I take issue with Hirschorn’s assertion that Lentz may have political trouble because much of the district is historically conservative. First, Sestak won in the 7th CD twice now. Second, Lentz defeated a 28-year incumbent in a historically conservative district. In 2006, registered Republicans out numbered Democrats almost 2 to 1. Of all of the 2006 freshmen House Democrats, Lentz had the highest concentration of registered Republicans in his district. He subsequently went on to win reelection by 10%. Fourth, Lentz is an Iraq war veteran, former prosecuter and an avid fisher and hunter. I have to assume that atleast moderate Republicans would embrace a war veteran, tough on crime prosecuter and a gun owner. Finaly, Charlie Cook gives the 7th CD a “Cook Partisian Voting Index of D+3 (see the latest Almanac of American Politics). Compare that with a few years ago. The district is changing. If Sestak leaves, the 7th CD will remain blue.

Lana-
You sound like a girl after my own heart.

After campaigning on timetables, he voted with Bush and against timetables in May 2007. In June 2007, Sestak voted against his fellow Democrats and with Dick Cheney’s on funding VP’s office (after Cheney claimed he was his own fourth branch of government). So much for running on accountability.
Blue dog, red dog, green dog. Sestak’s a dog of a Democrat.

Guy-
Excellent points. Also, the local Dems like Lentz better because he hasn’t screwed them like Sestak has.

It’s with humor that I read some of the comments regarding Sestak, that apparently derive from “disgruntled” Democrats, and demonstrate why Lentz has no chance.

As a life-long Republican from Delaware County in Sestak’s District, I voted for Sestak in 2008 (I voted against him in 2006, Weldon was still my guy despite that “trumped-up” FBI investigation).

Why vote for Sestak 2 years later? Because in his first term, Sestak earned my respect and admiration for his tireless work ethic and principled stances – some of which I disagree with, but at least Sestak has had the decency and integrity to engage us on the “other side of the fence” in substantive discussions.

If a Congressman is measured by his work ethic, accessibility and constituent services then Sestak has passed the bar and then some.

Last month I went to Sestak’s Economic Summit that our local paper said over 1,000 people attended. The most startling thing I heard was Sestak say that in his first term his office had handled over 10,000 constituent cases; that the next highest congressional office had handled 3,700; and that the congressional average for that term was 3,300. If Sestak does run for Senate, I feel we all lose an outstanding Congressman for our District.

As for Lentz, the above posted comments exemplify why he has no chance — Dems attacking Dems, no organized Democratic party.

From my Democratic friends I heard that because the local Dem party existed in name only, Sestak and his team (including family members) built their dominating organization from scratch and that Sestak has a large devoted army of volunteers loyal to him, including many Republicans.

It is doubtful that Lentz can duplicate Sestak’s success, especially where our local Republican machine far surpasses the local Dem organization (and Lentz’s 2 house victories are not that impressive when you consider his district is almost ½ liberal i.e. Swathmore College and the surrounding area). Should Sestak run for Senate, we Republicans will be half-way home to recapturing this seat.

Lana – You could be the poster girl for “liberal Dems” saying that Sestak has “never held a real job in his life”. It’s nice to know that you think Sestak having served in our country’s military for over 3 decades; rising to the rank of a 3-star Admiral and commanding a carrier battle group, snd our brave young men and women, in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq does not qualify as a having a “real job”. As a navy vet myself, given your comment, is it any wonder that most vets are Republicans rather than Democrats?

Chris-
As life long Republican that voted for Weldon in the first place, you really haven’t the first clue about the Delaware County Dems.

1) NO Dem denies that Sestak is a hard worker. Unfortunately, he brutalizes his staff and treats them like slaves to get maximum output, which also results in high-turnover. This is consistent with how he mistreated those under his command.

2) Sestak’s pandering to the right-wing and caving on core Democratic party values and campaign promises (both public and private) has shown that is he not the “Progressive Democrat” he presented himself as. There are also indications that he sold out his fellow Dems for his own political gain.

3) In Delco, the gap between Rep and Dem registration is down to 14,000 (and there are 35,000 independents). The GOP machine is not what it once was and Williams lost to Sestak by 20 points. Voters like a congressman who is in the majority party of congress.

4) If Sestak runs for Senate, he’s got to work to maximize Delco Dem turnout with his existing infrastructure: which benefits Lentz.

5) I think what Lana may mean is that Sestak hasn’t held another job where he was answerable to the people. While I’d rather be rid of Sestak all together and have Lentz, I’d rather have Sestak in the house than the senate. In the house he can do less damage and he is accountable every two years instead of unchecked for six.

6) Sestak did build a “dominating organization” but only for himself, not the party. That will come back to haunt him.
However, when Sestak first arrived, hat in hand, it was the local Democratic organization that jump started his campaign and corrected his early mistakes. He didn’t even have a decent printer until he borrowed one from the local Dem office. (I know because I personally carried it over and installed it.)
Once the Delco Dems made him “viable” enough to bring in the big money, he abandoned them.
And, you know what, without Sestak’s help we still managed to make gains in local elections and turned townships “blue”.

7) As for Lentz’s district: it is 49% Republican and only 39% Democrat. Lentz can win.

Thank you for clearing up the statistical breakdown of the 161st, Dave. It seems Chris had a difficult time comprehending what I had posted earlier. One has to be naive to think that it is not impressive to defeat a 28-year incumbent in a district that has been held by Republicans for at least half a century.

Also, Chris, did you really just attempt to do a statistical analysis of the two blog posts here that were critical of Sestak? I think we can pretty much eliminate any credibility you might have in predicting electoral outcomes.

One more thing for Chris… The 161st was designed by Republicans for Gannon to keep his seat. Take a political science course, Chris. Why would Republicans draw a district to benefit a Democrat. Please. Stop with the nonsense.

Dave,

You’re right, I don’t have the “first clue” about the Delaware County Democratic Party, but you seem too.

I do know that Cliff Wilson is the Chairman; has been for some-time; and is not the most beloved figure We Republicans remain thankful every day that Wilson continues to run the local Dem Party. He neither raises money, nor recruits credible candidates. He just recycles candidates year-after-year or fails to field a full-slate of candidates. And Wilson can’t take credit for either Sestak or Lentz because from reading the local papers neither were recruited by him.

From what I’ve read and what my Democratic friends tell me is that the local Dem Party structure has remained stagnant under Wilson’s watch; that more than ½ of the committee slots remain unfilled; that Wilson’s leadership council is stuffed with his cronies, a bunch of “yes” individuals who support his agenda; and that despite being head of the Dem Party, Wilson has raised little or no money for the Dem party and its candidates. (Unlike Tom Judge, the Chairman of our local Republican Party, who raises money for both the party and its candidates, and as do Michael Steele for the RNC and Tim Keane for the DNC, as chairmen of their respective parties – its the number one responsibility of a chairman these days).

(1) As a Republican, I hate to admit this but your comments about Sestak and treatment of his staff “parrots the talking points” both Weldon and Williams attempted to use against Sestak but were never attributable to anyone who actually served with Sestak. I actually got one of Sestak’s mailers in the 2006 campaign that listed over 100 officers and sailors that served with Sestak and debunked that baseless attack (and as a navy vet, made me laugh, name me any naval officer that is not demanding, it goes with the turf – it is the military).

As to his Congressional staff I did read 2 years ago that there was turn-over early in his first 6 months office, but I attribute that to growing-pains in any new organization/office that staffs up. Since that time I have not read of any other turn-over. I’ve actually visited his district office on 3 separate occasions in the past year and each time have found his office to be humming, and his staff energetic, pleasant and courteous. If his staff was unhappy, I’m sure that would have been apparent, especially given the 10,000 case files they’ve handled – which is 3 times the national average for a congressional office. Trust me, neither Weldon was, nor is Specter, pleasant people to work for.

(2) It seems to me that you are on the “far left” of the Democratic Party because you use the term “progressive” which is code word for “liberal”. There is no doubt that Sestak is a moderate and that his views suit the majority of the District, which is one of the reasons he won his re-election so handily. To me he’s been a principled guy, and would appear to be consistent with Democratic values. I don’t know what Democratic value/campaign pledge you are unhappy with. During the Dem primary last year, I saw him constantly shrilling for Clinton on TV, and later in the general doing the same thing for Obama.

(3) You are right the registration numbers are closing between our respective parties, but I attribute most of that due to last year’s Democratic presidential primary between Obama and Clinton and the voter registration drives they ran. We’ll halt that narrowing this year though and maybe increase Republican registration given that local boy Pat Meehan is running for Governor and Specter is putting money into getting moderate Republicans back into the fold who switched parties last year to vote in the Dem primary.

(4) Your point confirms what I previously posted – Lentz can’t win because he doesn’t have the talent or enthusiastic volunteer organization that Sestak has. His only hope is to ride “Sestak’s coat-tails”, but doubtful since Republicans still hold the voter registration advantage in the District and will be voting for local boy Meehan for Governor; splitting their votes between Sestak/Specter for Senate; and voting for the Republican candidate for Congress, probably Williams again.

(5) “Holding a job answerable to the people”? Obviously, I can tell by your statement that you have never served in the military. I don’t know how you could hold any job that is not more “answerable to the people” than being a commanding officer in our military. I heard Sestak speak at the Veteran’s Day parade in Media, during his first year in office and his statement that day is probably when my partisan views of him began to soften. I’m paraphrasing, but something to the effect of “there is no higher honor this country can bestow than being charged with the responsibility for leading young men and women into harm’s way, and bringing them home safely to their families”. How true Sestak’s statement is.

(6). You’ve got it all wrong, which is why Republicans continue to win the local races and we ‘re thankful Cliff Wilson remains Dem Party chairman.

As a candidate for office, Sestak’s responsibility – as it is for any good candidate – is to build a “dominating organization” for himself to get elected . That’s exactly what Obama did to win, if you noticed.

On the other hand, the responsibility to build a “dominant party organization” is charged to the chairman of the party. (i.e Dean’s 50-state strategy). Locally, the Republican Party has been the dominant organization because of the efforts of Tom Judge, Charlie Sexton, and John McNichol – all unelected officials and all party chairmen – who have raised money and put the time and energy and necessary resources into making our party the dominant organization that it is. I can’t understand how Cliff Wilson, the long-time Chairman of the local Dem Party, has not raised the money or put the time and energy into building a “dominating organization” during his tenure (especially given the dismantling of Republicans in the last 2 election cycles – which will be reversd this election cycle)? You Dems elected Wilson. You put all your gripes on Sestak, whose only been in office for 2 years and whom you admit is a tireless worker, and yet its Wilson who has controlled the local Dem Party organization for many years and whom you fail to hold accountable. Why is it you fail to hold Wilson accountable for your party’s lack of organizational strength?

(7) My “sense” (and my apology to your buddy Guy, I don’t do statistical analysis but apparently you do Dave) is that Lentz will have a hard time winning the 7th District because Reps will be fighting hard to re-gain the seat. Lentz only wins if Sestak’s “coat-tails” are big enough. You’ve already admitted that Lentz will be the beneficiary of Sestak’s “dominating Delco organization/infrastructure”.

In the end, it all comes down to the voters and not statistics, as it should be. Just remember all the “egg” on the faces of reporters/pollsters who predicted Clinton’s demise in New Hampshire last year simply based on statistically polling.

It’s good the voters will decide the election!

“Lentz will have a hard time winning the 7th District because Reps will be fighting hard to re-gain the seat.”

Hey, Chris–Does this mean that Republicans were not trying the past two years? I have to admit, you’re not the best spokesman for your party.

I repeate: Charlie Cook gives the 7th CD a “Cook Partisian Voting Index of D+3 (see the latest Almanac of American Politics). Compare that with a few years ago. The district is changing. If Sestak leaves, the 7th CD will remain blue.

Chris, I’m sure you thought Sestak was unelectable in 2006, and I’m sure you thought Sestak was going to lose in 2008 too (despite your revisionist history now). How did those elections turn out for your ultra-powerful Delco GOP?

Meehan MAY be the Republican candidate for Governor in 2010. But, as of right now, Tom Corbett is the frontrunner, especially if Jim Gerlach gets into the primary and draws from Meehan’s geographic base. Also, it seems very unlikely that Arlen Specter will be the GOP candidate for US Senate, as it looks like Pat Toomey will be the favorite in the GOP primary.

How does your theory work if Sestak is the Dem candidate for US Senate, and Corbett the GOP candidate for Governor in 2010? You still think the ultra-powerful Delco GOP will be able to rally tremendous GOP support in order to keep Delco from going Democratic to support Sestak over Toomey.

You need to start thinking with your head rather than with the pieces of paper Tom Judge gives you.

David Diano is a hate filled stalker pest.

he should just go back to the daily kos and rant there…

he is such a pathetic loser.

I do not seek to denigrate Rep. Sestak’s long service to this country in uniform — I am grateful for it. In addition, I applaud Rep. Sestak’s decision to continue his public service by running for office, rather than going to work in a well-compensated position on the board of a Defense contractor (as many if not most retired flag and general officers do).

However, I served as well, and I know that VADMs are not usually relieved from high-profile positions simply for being “hard-charging,” as then CNO (and current CJCS) ADM Mike Mullen did when he relieved then-VADM Sestak in 2005. I’ve talked to some uniformed folks I know who served in the Pentagon, and they had low marks for then-VADM Sestak as a naval leader (obviously it is impossible to determine the opinion of EVERY person who served in the Pentagon under then-VADM Sestak).

All this does not mean Rep. Sestak has not been a good Congressman, or will not be a good U.S. Senator (Congressional and Senatorial staffs are much smaller than the staff then-VADM Sestak led in the Pentagon); it simply goes to show that people should not blindly lionize former military members who run for office just because they served. No former military member can have it both ways — if you hold up your military service as a qualification for elected office, you should expect to receive at least some scrutiny of your military record.

Not sure who you spoke to in the Pentagon, but I was stationed there when Admiral Mike Mullen replaced Admiral Vern Clarke as the Navy’s CNO.

Then VADM Sestak was the right-hand man of CNO Admiral Vern Clark, responsible for implementing Admiral Clark’s vision of the Navy’s future. When Admiral Clark retired and Admiral Mike Mullen became CNO, he came in with his own vision of where the Navy should go and replaced VADM Sestak with one of his own people.

If you talk to any of the flag officers who were around at the time, most of them saw the move for what it was – Admiral Mullen putting his own stamp on the Navy’s future; basically, Mullen doing his impression of a convict in prison on his first day taking out the biggest guy (Sestak)in the yard to make his mark. In the end, useless!

Obviously, sailors will have different impressions of the officers they serve under. Sestak was a Naval Leader, make no mistake about it. After 9/11, he was the individual the Navy selected to establish Deep Blue, our Navy’s anti-terrorim unit, and prior to that he had command of the GW carrier battle group. The Navy just doesn’t give command of those out like candy – there’s only 11 in the country, and the Navy sure as hell doesn’t entrust all that firepower and sailors’ lifes to Rear Admirals unless the Rear Admiral is a Naval leader.

There’s no doubt that Sestak worked hard; he’s done that his whole military career – its the only way you make it to VADM. Sestak never asked anything of his men he wouldn’t ask of himself. He was one of the finest officers that I had the honor of serving with in our US Navy; he would be an honorable addition to the US Senate.

Here’s what another 20+ year Navy vet who served with Sestak wrote(link posted below):

“Sea Stories: Nicknames Are Bad

After 24 years of naval service, I feel comfortable providing an addendum to the standard Laws of the Navy; Excepting aviators, it is nearly always a bad sign if your boss has a nickname. Smokin Joe. Iron Mike. Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler. If assigned to a ship with one of these bastards in charge, you are well and truly screwed. While our pilots get cute “call signs” e.g., Maverick or Walleye, assigned during their training process, black shoe officers will only receive a nickname in the course of a lengthy career of memorable behavior, such as certifiable insanity, slave-driving brutality, or spectacular hair-trigger temper.

Don’t get me wrong: These guys are almost always supremely competent and highly effective in the right circumstances. Frequently they are assigned to a specific unit because of their reputation, perhaps as a “fixer” for a ship or command experiencing a particularly troubling problem. I have worked for several nicknames. In the late 1990’s, I was in a squadron of destroyers and frigates lead by Commodore Smokin’ Joe.

Smokin Joe was a bit of an anomaly: unfailingly polite, relentlessly calm, unflappable. I can recall no instance in which he raised his voice or cursed any sailor. He was an intellectual, brilliant, highly educated, and in continual need of a haircut. He was possessed of a work ethic like I have never seen. He had the energy of three men, all of it directed exclusively into his job. And as a matter of deeply held faith, Smokin’ Joe believed that everyone else in his sphere of influence should as well. He worked constantly, and so did his staff. He had no known outside activities. Even while in port, a light week at the office included 80 hours with some of it on Sunday. Out of desperation, a group of junior officers seeking to distract him bought him a puppy. It ended up back at the pound within a week. When we heard he had married, we assumed it must have been an arranged marriage or perhaps a mail order; we could see no way in which he had time for courtship.

His direct staff, a dozen or so officers and chiefs, were continually at the edge of exhaustion. We lucky ones, merely stationed on one of his ships and thus protected by the sovereignty of our Captains and a couple of layers of command, both pitied and hated them. The Commodore’s remorseless pursuit of squadron perfection came at us via these staffers. Their interference with our daily routine was constant and aggressive. During the standard in port workday, we fielded a continual stream of queries, “requests” for information, direction on specific issues, interrogatives as to when they might expect the next update, and firm “recommendations” on appropriate courses for any and all planned activity. After standard working hours, this continued unabated into the night, forcing the 24-hour rotating duty section to respond as best they could or stiff-arm if possible. God, how we cursed them. The Commodore himself was so damn likeable; we directed much of our irritation towards his minions. They were not “The Staff,” or “the DesRon” (Destroyer Squadron), they were “The Fucking Staff.” And they were on the phone. Again. It became normal. And we were the best damn squadron in the Navy. We just didn’t realize it.

When he left, the officer wardrooms of four navy ships breathed a collective sigh of relief. Finally, we could operate like a normal squadron. We could run our ships and departments, rather than the Commodore trying to do it by proxy. We were happy as clams. At first.

It started with little things; queries to DesRon went unanswered. The Staff seemed unaware of significant events happening on our ships despite standard reporting. Long term multi-ship planning slacked off. And almost without even realizing it, certainly without recognizing the absurdity of it, we caught ourselves noting aloud that “This wouldn’t have happened under Smokin’ Joe.” Against all odds, we missed our old staff. We missed their near infallibility, their supreme competence, their constant push for better and more.”

Link: http://thecrossedpond.com/?p=2864

I think this analysis leaves out important characteristics of 2006, 2008:

Terrible climate for Republicans. In 2006, the sitting Congressman was taken down in scandal. In 2008, Sestak surged as expected b/c of the districts veterans, a slimmer registration advantage, and the hatred of George W and Sarah Palin in this district. Don’t forget however, at the local level at Republicans held on to their seat. Miccarelli even picked up a seat. While I do believe this seat will be hard for the R’s to win back, it’s certainly going to be close. We always leave out that the 7th has two other counties that encompass it, Chester and Montco. Seeing as such they make up 30% of the district. From 2006 to 08 Sestak actually did slightly worse in these parts.

I think a Repubilcan could lose Delco 51-49, keep it close and surge in these places like Curt Weldon did w/o his scandal attached to him and you win. Especially a guy like Pat Meehan or Steve Welch.

I worked for Sleestak back when he was DESRON FOURTEEN Commander. The more the public gets to know him the less they will like him. No wonder he can’t keep a staffer the way he treats his people. You buy into the 24 hour “Smokin’ Joe Show” or you are dirt in his tread. No suprise he is heading up repleal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, his beard was always a little thin while he was on active duty and now that he is in the civilian sector his roots are really showing.

I want to listen good music!

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