Dan-
Since Specter helped Iovino get her appointment, I would think that’s the bigger irony/hypocrisy by Sestak when he questions actions/decisions by Specter.

That Sestak hired a Bush Administration official (and registered Republican) shouldn’t be an issue, since Sestak himself touts how he was put in charge of “Deep Blue” (under the Bush Administration). Seems to me that Sestak’s was a bigger part of the Bush administration than Iovino.

Sestak had his office open delayed because of Murtha funeral, as well as some Women’s meeting/event until 3:45. Sestak had to burn some cash on an airplane trip to get back to Delaware County for the nominating convention. Sestak showed up in his green navy jacket. That appears to be his new campaign uniform since he got slaughtered 3-1 at state committee.

(sorry for three posts in a row, but the blog software was giving some weird error, so I split up my post)

BTW, I just saw this on Specter’s twitter page:
http://twitter.com/SenArlenSpecter

“Welcome to Pittsburgh, @Sestak2010. After 6 months here, was beginning to wonder if we’d see you.”

Now, that’s funny!

Dan, given David’s 4 posts in a row, you must have hit a nerve.

Frankly, you must have noticed prior to this the aggressive nature of Specter’s campaign. Whether
it benefits Specter or harms him can be argued, but it is clear that he has made it a practice to intrude upon Sestak whenever he has the opportunity. Recall Specter walking onto the stage during Setak’s closing remarks at The Progressive Summit last month. That was classy.

I’d prefer to see an issues based campaign; but attacks, even when they are hypocritical (or, as you noted, the pot calling the kettle black) seem to be the paramount tactic chosen by Specter. Evidently, Specter has decided that it benefits him more to try to cloud Sestak’s message than to promote Specter’s own message.

Which prompts me again to ask: when are we going to see Sestak begin spending some of that money in his coffers on tv ads to define himself (rather than allow Specter to attempt to define him)?

Lee-
Seriously, it was ONE post, that generated an error, so I split it up into 3 posts. I even sent Dan an email with the full posting, before I hit on the idea of splitting it.
The 4th post about the twitter, technically is my second post, but only because I didn’t see it until after my original and I thought it was too good to leave out.

As for Specter/Sestak and negative attacks, Specter has been running on the progressive votes he made while a Republican, and the progressive votes he’s made a as Democrat. The attacks on Sestak are smaller by comparison and more jabs at his style.

I think disrupting Sestak to throw off his timing is very effective with a good bang-for-the-buck for Specter. Though I agree, it was a bit of a cheap shot to show up when Sestak was still on stage (it was still fun to watch).

At the PA Progressive summit, people were turned off by Sestak’s attacks on Specter and his integrity/sincerity as a Dem. Also, by the fact that Sestak often didn’t answer the question he was asked directly, but just recited talking points from his stump speech.

Ironically, Sestak’s strange speaking style and run-on word salad is really starting to sound more Palin-like all the time. Seriously, listen to a Sestak speech, then Palin, and focus on the wording style, pacing and sloganeering (and ignore the particular issues).

Sestak’s got enough money for only one month of TV ads, and the election is three months away. Do the math.

LOL!!! Specter can write-off the 9 counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland) of Murtha’s Congressional District — and his senate career.

Unbelievable … this has to be the bone-headed move of this election cycle.

Put Specter right up there with Martha Coakley in Massachusetts calling Curt Schilling a big Yankee fan — causing her to loose the support of Dems, and her senate race.

Specter just dished the entire Southwestern part of PA, by not showing up to Murtha’s funeral (as well as veterans throughout the state) .

Let’s see, former President Clinton shows up; Speaker Pelosi; Defense Secretary Gates, CIA Director Panetta; WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel; members of the Joint Chief of Staffs all showed up. Who else showed up? Senator Bob Casey, the PA Congressional Delegation….and oh yeah, Congressman (Admiral) Joe Sestak, who just clinched the Southwestern part of the state for his senate race.

Even funnier — Specter tried to cover-up he was out in California raising $$$ by tweeting Sestak about opening a Pittsburgh office, as if implying Specter was in-state. LOL — Specter got caught in his own-interview in a phone call with reporters!!! So funny, LOL. This guy is soooooooo out of touch

You think Murtha Dems are going to want to have anything to do with this guy?? LOL!

Specter in San Fran and not New Hope?

Isn’t our own little San Francisco on the Delaware the perfect place to start to ingratiate himself with the Alternative Lifestylers since he came out of the closet as a Democrat?

If he wants to raise funds in either place, he could set up a fundraising kissing booth!!!

I think Joe Sestak serving his country as he did when called upon by George Bush in the uncertain times after 911 is a sign that Joe puts the security of our country first and politics second.

Johnny: Representative Sestak serves the interests of Wendell Young IV and other corrupt labor union chieftains – not the interests of the common man. People who “serve the country” are not targeted by federal authorities, and do not contravene the law. And given that Sestak was ignominiously OUSTED from the U.S. Armed Forces, it should be evident that his “service” was hardly deemed essential to U.S. national security. This man contributed nothing to the security of the United States. He was not an asset to the military – he was a liabilty. And the Armed Forces acted accordingly. So enough poppycock. Sestak is a crime suspect, not a “hero.”

What’s next, by the way? Will Sestak’s desperate lackeys remind us once again that his daughter has been grievously ill in times past? The same meaningless platitudes time and again. Rather than regurgitate the same balderdash, why doesn’t Representative Sestak discuss the ongoing Office of Congressional Ethics probe of his campaign finances and other improprieties? Why doesn’t Representative Sestak explain why money “contributed” to him by labor unions was never reported to the FEC? Why doesn’t Representative Sestak explain why he has repeatedly done the bidding of Wendell Young IV (including intervening in a labor dispute in open violation of House Ethics Rules)? Our much-ballyhooed “hero” has considerable explaining to do.

Of course, the many disgruntled Sestak staffers will provide the feds with all the information needed…

BlueDog-
I doubt the election will hinge upon who attended the funeral. What’s Sestak going to do? Spend $5 million on ads about the funeral in an attempt to exploit it?

Johnny-
He was already serving, and got fired for serving badly and creating a “poor command climate”. Sestak has claimed that he opposed the war in Iraq and other Bush policies, but every indication has been that Sestak is actually pro-war. My point has been that Sestak is a closet Republican who has less “core” than he accuses Specter of having.

Hater-
I think you should start a franchise selling “Sestak for Convict” buttons and t-shirts.

Doesn’t surprise me that ol’ pile of bones called a Senator has to go to San Fran to get some money since nobody in PA outside of David Diano will give him a dime. Specter, Rendell, Donovan McNabb…has anyone with talent and character ever came out of Philadelphia? What an embarrassment of a city, which is a good hometown for the embarrassment of a senator and gov that we have.

Tom-

Ben Franklin?

Diano:

There’s no sense in wearing an army green jacket unless Sestak is either promoting teh war in Afghanistan, or recruiting for the army.

Sestak was 10 points behind Murtha, and 12 points behind Spector in the last AP poll, and I suspect even with Murtha dead, he would be even further behind.

Sestak lost a few staffers, but primarily for personal reasons, and they left only to return on a strictly volunteerism basis.

So it is clear that Sestak is the dark horse, and god loves, kids drunks and dark horses.

Also, you completely discount the Toomey factor, and the populist tea party surge behind Spector, which may wind up propelling Sestak into office.

I find it ironic that you think supporting a Bush appointee is either neutral or bad for either candidate – these political favors are repaid is spades….

By the way, your point about Palin is wildly off topic. (as are most of the other points)

Tom-
Me and my family. We’re all from Philly. Tons of talent and character.

As for going outside of PA, Sestak’s had to go outside of PA for endorsements (Frank and Lamont). Joe’s brother moved back here from California, but gets a lot of fundraising for Joe from CA. I think it may even be the biggest non-PA source for Joe.

KG-
Ben’s one of my heroes, too.

Mancini-
I have to ask: Do you post under the influence of alcohol or a narcotic?
Sestak was 10 points behind Murtha??

Murtha was congressman for the 12th congressional district. He wasn’t running against Joe, Specter or anyone else for Senate. Even if you made a typo and meant “Toomey”, that wouldn’t explain you then going on about running against a dead man.

Do you have even the first clue as to which parties Sestak, Specter and Toomey belong as well as which ideologies and movements support each? Your “Tea Party” references get more bizarre each time. Do you now think there is Tea Party support for Specter?

You are making Palin look like a genius by comparison.

Representative Sestak’s futile efforts to blackmail the Democratic Party continue unabated. Confronted with the inevitability of federal charges, Sestak clings to the vain hope that he can compel prominent Dems to intercede on his behalf with the Justice Department and others. He’ll bring his floundering Senate bid to a close (and end his adverse criticisms of Senator Specter), if prominent Dems help bring the various investigations to a halt. Coercion – the only strategy Representative Sestak has mastered. And it is not serving him well.

Odd that Sestak has not launched any advertisements by the way. But ads would exhaust his campaign funds – funds that will be needed for his legal defense.

Diano:

Well played.

Yes, I am merely trying to keep up with the numerous changes that occur on a daily basis in our political lanscape.

Last I checked Specter was a Republican, but now he’s switched to independant, with a lean to democrat. Sestak was an independent with a lean to republican, but now he’s switched to democrat with a populist libertarian focus.

But I do find that the points you make about Spector and Toomey indicate that perhaps it is you who has been smoking the peace pipe lately.

Mancini-
Specter’s got a 30 year history of voting with the Dems on key social issues, despite being an “R”. If the “last time you checked” on Specter, then it was before April 2009. It was really quite a big news story when he became a Dem and kind of hard to miss if you weren’t in a cave or passed out at a bar.
Specter’s always been in the middle. He’s liberal on social issues and conservative on business/military stuff.

Toomey is a far right-winger who is more conservative than Rick Santorum. That hasn’t changed.

Sestak still leans Republican, but is voting what he thinks will get him elected. No change there either.

Even Rick Santorum would be better than Toomey, and Rick’s a disaster. Specter simply has a better chance than Sestak of taking out Toomey.

It’s really not that hard to keep up with.

Oh, in case you missed the news: the Earth is round AND it revolves around the Sun.

Lee-
“Evidently, Specter has decided that it benefits him more to try to cloud Sestak’s message than to promote Specter’s own message.”

What exactly is “Sestak’s message?” He doesn’t have a message to cloud. The man is a walking platitude. And if mentions his daughter’s illness one more time – I’ll scream.

He has done nothing for the 7th District and he’ll accomplish nothing as a Senator. He’s only hurting the Democratic Party by staying in this race. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

HateSestak is clearly a Toomey plant who knows that Sestak is the stronger candidate to go after Toomey. Through slander he is trying to destroy a very good man.

HateSestak is also a coward making libelous comments and hiding behind a fake name. Come out of your cave tough guy and admit who you are.

Until then, these unsubstantiated charges should be deleted. HS is presenting them as fact, not opinion. You better have documentation to back up your facts buddy.

Diano:

I think Specter and Sestak both have the political jujitsu down to a science.

Having said that, I dont think Toomey is further to the right and Santorum. Santorum was actually pretty liberal on some issues, and now looks to be making a come-back as an independent.

All this points to a Honorato – Corbett runoff in November. Honroato obviously has the hispanic and minority vote, but the question is, will the Sestak-Spector duel hurt (or help) him.

Can you read those tea-leaves?

And by the way, I’m new to the world of politics talk. I used to be an atheist.

rplinpa-
Would Mr. Hirschhorn be tolerating Hater’s remarks and comments if Hater didn’t have proof or documentation?!?

I recall Mr. Hirschhorn and David Diano asking Hater (on this very site) to substantiate his claims. Hater responded to Diano by stating that he had forwarded the information to Mr. Hirschhorn. And Mr. Hirschhorn has not deleted one of Hater’s postings! Also, Diano seems to know a lot about these allegatons.

Ergo, Hater has provided documentation to Mr. Hirschhorn (and maybe Diano too).

Hater doesn’t sound like a Toomey plant to me (he doesn’t seem to discuss him much). He seems to be another person that Sestak has pissed off.

I just double checked Diano’s posting about the allegations. He said they weren’t anonymous. He stated that it was signed and notarized too. This sounds pretty credible to me.

Chesco-
What is anonymous is the identity of Hater. Hater has provided documents identifying a non-anonymous person that has made claims against Sestak with various authorities. The documents look authentic, and the names match ones I’ve gotten independently. However, Dan Hirschhorn has to be careful using any documentation from an anonymous source. Dan can reach out to the person making the allegations, but I don’t know what, if any, gag orders may be in place.

The credible thing is that someone is putting their career, name and reputation behind making charges against Sestak with legal authorities.

Whether or not these authorities found the information credible, verifiable, criminal or prosecutable is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT question.

Hater certainly seems to be convinced of not only the charges, but the outcome.

Verifying any of this is beyond my means, and is properly done by professional reporters who can shield their sources and have other protections and methods I don’t.

Doherty is out,he is having an announcement party in Scranton tonight at Kildare’s pub for the run of Mellow’s position.He can’t make up his mind.First Gov,than Lt Gov.now this how many times can you ask for money?

Phillip-
I don’t recall Doherty asking for money for Lt Gov. It’s not a question of being to make up his mind. He’s too far behind to win the Gov primary, so he’s dropping down to a lower race. It’s not that complicated.

Arlen, when you build your 30 year career in the Senate on support for the Reagan and Bush agendas, you have no room to criticize anyone for hiring a low level Bush staffer.

Matt-
They were criticizing Sestak’s hypocrisy, after all Joe’s complaints about Specter’s associations.

Why does Sestak even remain in this race? His poll numbers are bleak, his fundraising lags behind Specter, and his campaign staffers are resigning. I’m beginning to think some of what HateSestak is saying is true – maybe Sestak really is just blackmailing the the Democratic Party.

AnotherDem-
I don’t know if the allegations are true. But, it’s clear that Sestak has a giant ego, and, like the alien plant in “Little Shop of Horrors” it needs constant feeding.

Diano-
You said you were at the Delco convention on Tuesday. Do you think Sestak has any clue that people are talking about him? You mentioned that people were approaching you and shaking your hand. Surely he must have some idea that these allegations have surfaced. I’d like him to address these matters.

A few of these things are public record as you stated. I double checked and realized that it was inappropriate for him to get involved in a labor dispute of any kind – especially if it was outside his own district.

He should address these issues before they hit the press.

I’m not for flip-flop Specter::Am evaluating Sestak::Toomey, Santorum are retreads–were there promoting war-tax cuts for rich–running USA into the mess we are in now::Not for the people::Remember people Santorum tried to rip of Penn Hills school district for his kids education in Virginia::Handed out federal money for a tunnel to nowhere under the Allegheny river–that we the tax payers are stuck for locally and having to waste recovery act money on!!People were against this project–but Ricky waved the $ sign and silly politicians jumped–including Onarato!!!I personally need a strong Senatoral candidate!! Wagner for governor!!Would Rendell make a better Senator for us!!

David Diano

Your comment “I doubt the election will hinge upon who attended the funeral” is off the mark.

Specter’s absence from Congressman Murtha’s funeral has been the talk out here for the past week. All politics is local. We’re not smucks. Missing Congressman Mutha’s funeral for a fundraiser — my gosh what does that say about the character of Specter?

From our Tribune-Democrat:

“Specter conspicuous by funeral no-show”

When U.S. Rep. John Murtha died, we lost someone who was truly committed to serving his constituency. I join others in extending my gratitude to the Murtha family for being true to this commitment and bringing our advocate home to us.

It was moving and profoundly impressive to see such a large group of dignitaries brave a daunting flight in precarious weather to share our sorrow.

We also learned what U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter values. While dignitaries, children, elderly, physically challenged and others braved hazardous weather to honor our leader, Specter was basking in the warmth of California sun and campaign donors.

For him, attending a fundraiser in San Francisco was more important than joining our community’s grieving circle and supporting the Murtha family.

Years ago, when Specter was a Republican, he vigorously participated in the hearings for Clarence Thomas’ nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

My mother, a friend and I wrote letters to former Sen. Harris Wofford and Specter. I still have the response Wofford sent me. He also responded to my mother and our friend.

Specter could not be bothered to respond.

In my experience, Murtha always responded to his constituents. He earned the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Thank you, Congressman and Mrs. Murtha, for your service and dedication.

Jayne Highlands

Johnstown

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/editorials/local_story_050104748.html