Remember Joe, Scrooge Never Wins, Dig Deeper in those pockets, pay parity is what you need to do!

Better than not being paid at all!

As a Union fella, seeing sestak fans flock to Joe’s defense of Sestaks ill treatment of HIS OWN staff makes me well… sick. Id strike too.

B/t…. arent their Fair Labor Standards laws, if so, Sestak should be turned in. Nothing annoys me worse than a sleezbag employer. Or in this case a sleezstak employer.

Would Joe Sestak say that people who work in sweatshops are just dedicated to providing quality inexpensive clothing to the people of the world?

Would Dworkin say sweatshop workers are just dedicated to their employer and making sacrifices because they know how hard it is to get a good pair of knockoff jeans?

Conversely, are his siblings and family members who are raking in big cash not as dedicated to Joe? If anyone should be working for Joe for below minimum wage or free, it should be his own blood relatives. Hmm, not the case though, is it?

Specter needs to shut his decrepit mouth! These staffers aren’t slaves, and it’s pretty obvious that they can quit anytime they want. Specter needs to mind his own business and worry about his campaign because he’s in plenty of trouble. Of course, in Arlen’s senile old mind he probably thinks he’s up 15 on Toomey.

Hey Dave Diano — did you collect a royalty from Specter for doing his footwork? Was it above minimum wage?

This is hilarious, really. Diano creates the issue, Hirschhorn runs with it, and Specter then picks it up so that Hirshhorn can run with it some more and Specter staffers can post some more comments about it. Talk about an echo chamber.

Next up: thousands of more words about Joe’s jacket.

SPECTER CAMPAIGN-
The even bigger concern is that Sestak is paying his congressional staffers below minimum wage. Doesn’t this violate some federal guidelines, if not directly minimum wage laws?
If campaign staffers want to “volunteer” to work below minimum wage, it’s bad that Sestak would even allow it. But, the congressional staffers are federal employees and Pennsylvania also has minimum wage laws.

Frank-
They CAN quit anytime they want. That time happens to be NOW.

Dworkin-
Your statement about “dedication” fails on three levels:
1) It’s more appropriate for the unpaid volunteers.
2) It doesn’t explain why Joe’s 3 siblings account for 40% of the payroll and 12% of the over expenditures last quarter, and have made exorbitant salaries even in Dec 2008 and Jan 2009 when Joe wasn’t running.
3) “Everyone on this campaign could be making a lot more somewhere else” Yes. Including McDonalds, a car wash, pizza delivery or any other entry level job, except they would be treated to much less harassment.

Dan-
I have to disagree with you about: “Naturally, employees know what they will be making before they sign on.”
I doubt they realize EXACTLY how many hours, how much hard work and how many ethical compromises they have to make.
For example, I received an email from a former Sestak staffer about the 2009 campaigns. The staffer had advocated for devoting the field team to helping Jack Panella’s race the week of the election. The staffer was told, by Rich Culbert, NOT to help the judicial candidates except for that Monday and Tuesday. To his credit, the staffer defied orders and included Panella literature as part of his rounds dropping Sestak literature.
Of course, why the %&*#$ was Sestak’s campaign doing lit drops during the 2009 race when Joe pretends he’s a Dem that cares about the party and other candidates?

So, Dan, I disagree that staffers fully realize what they are getting into, or that the “best” staffers are being attracted to the campaign.

Stosh-
Sestak is clearly cut from the same cloth as the sweatshop owners that forced the necessity of Unions to protect worker rights.

Laurie-
It’s not ‘better than not being paid’ because people are leaving the pay behind preferring no pay and no Joe.

Bruce-
I didn’t make a dime when I spent a lot more time on the PA7Watch blog helping Joe and going after Weldon. Mostly going after Weldon, and praise for Joe being more relative by comparison. I worked my ass off to get rid of Weldon. I would have worked hard to have NO congressman rather than Weldon, so the bar was set very low for Sestak to get my support. During the campaign, I had made it clear to Rich that Joe was my third choice, because Lentz and Scoles had backed out.

I don’t pretend I’m thrilled with Specter. However, Sestak and Toomey are completely unacceptable (as was Weldon).

The issue of Joe’s turnover has been news for YEARS, particularly with his congressional staff.

As far as the senate campaign, Joe’s lack of a professional campaign manager has been a legitimate concern about his strategy and viability. With Joe already having so many holes in his lineup, the quitting of 5 key staffers is more than just a little newsworthy.

Compensation represents a valid criticism and potential explanation.

Well, at least this charge against Sestak is based in verifiable documentation, as opposed to conspiracy theory BS.

Ed H: You want “conspiracy B.S.,” you say? How about a floundering Senate candidate who alleges that the incumbent President of the United States offered him a cabinet post – but furnishes no evidence whatsoever to substantiate this claim? None. Representative Sestak made an incendiary allegation about our President, but did not furnish any empirical facts of any kind to buttress this claim. No empirical facts of ANY kind, Ed. Now THAT is “conspiracy B.S.” And it is hardly the first instance in which Representative Sestak has made unsubstantiated claims concerning prominent members of his own political party. If “conspiracy B.S.” troubles you, Ed, then Representative Sestak is not the candidate for you.

Joe can solve the problem by having everyone on the minimum wage INCLUDING his family members.
Then fair and square. Then if you like and support him you work for him for that reason, but the law of compensation is followed. Campaign manager(if there ever is one) and communications director, field director or compensated appropriate to budget and industry standard negotiated between Joe and them.

Ed: Oh by the way, the remuneration of Sestak’s family members is one of the many issues currently being scrutinized by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) at present. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why Specter is broaching the topic. Representative Sestak and his siblings appear to have contravened both House Ethics Rules and federal laws.

And Ed – if this were entirely “conspiracy B.S.” I doubt Mr. Hirschhorn and others would permit me to touch on the subject. Clearly, there must be SOME credence to my contentions. I have provided Mr. Hirschhorn with some empirical facts to substantiate MY contentions. Sestak, meanwhile, (ridiculously) accuses the President of the United States of conspiring against him – and does not put forward ANY evidence whatsoever to corroborate this accusation. None. Ponder this before you make any further remarks.

And Ed – Representative Sestak has yet to take legal action against me, Mr. Diano, or any others who have called attention to the ongoing federal probes of Sestak for Congress. Why do you think this is, Ed? Maybe its because our allegations are TRUE.

Hater-
Sestak never specified the job, so I wouldn’t assume cabinet post. It’s also unclear whether this was an offer initiated by the WH or a counter-offer to an entreaty by Sestak.

Karl-
Maybe one of the unions can bring in a time clock and a shop steward.

This opened my eyes. I really have great respect for Sestak, but for the social agenda he speaks wouldn’t it be great to pay your own campaign? I know staff salaries shouldn’t be a big indication of whether a person if electable but, I can’t keep the facts out of my mind. PAY YOUR STAFF. Just as you harp on people needing healthcare thats cheaper because they can’t afford anything else, you need to provide a decent pay for YOUR staff Congressman, because you push them hard enough as it is.

wow-
It’s not just his campaign staff, but his congressional staff. How can he as a Federal employer consistently violate basic Federal minimum wage laws.

LOL! This is so funny! This is the best that Specter has?? OMG … so Sestak and Specter are both SOB’s. Got it. LOL! Got anything better “Snarlen Arlen”???

From Hill blog: “UPDATE: A tipster notes that Snarlin’ Arlen isn’t exactly Mr. Wonderful to his staff, either. Specter has frequently been ranked among the top three meanest bosses in the Senate by Washingtonian magazine, including at No. 1 in 2004. And that’s not the only publication to bestow such a designation on Specter.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/83731-sestak-says-staff-does-whats-required

Sestak may be an SOB, but at least he’s Democrat and a warrior. Sestak’s the only guy in the state with the balls to have stood up for the shenanigans that were played.

Specter’s the “meanest boss in DC” – a “school-yard bully” that walked away from a “GOP school-yard playground fight” because “boo hoo, he was afraid that big, bad Pat Toomey was going to beat him”.

Specter ran away from a fight and thought us Dems would roll-over and be patsies. We’re not.

You can talk all you want about personalities and votes, but no “smoke and mirrors” is ever going to erase from the voters’ minds that a sitting U.S. Senator “cut tail and ran” from a fight.

Voters will always chose the guy running into the fight, over the guy that’s running away from the fight.

Pennsylvanians are too proud to be represented by someone who “cut tail and ran”. Our heritage just does not support someone who did, and its why Joe Sestak will beat Arlen Specter.

WestPaDemBlueDog-
According to Sestak’s OWN ACCOUNT, he ran away from the fight by claiming the Dem Senate committee came to him in Jan 2009.

At that time, Toomey was going for Gov, and Specter had a clear field. So, Sestak (supposedly) was offered the chance to be the Dems standard bearer against Specter, and Joe p*ssied out.

“Sestak may be an SOB, but at least he’s Democrat and a warrior. Sestak’s the only guy in the state with the balls to have stood up for the shenanigans that were played.”

Well, I agree he’s an SOB.
The balls to stand up to what “shenanigans”? Please list each shenanigan.
It can’t be having Rendell clear the field, because Rendell did it for both Joe and Casey in 2006, and I’ve yet to hear a syllable of complaint from Joe.
It can’t be about endorsements, because Joe has sought endorsements (to the point of claiming that Obama secretly endorsed Joe in his “heart of hearts”).
It can’t be about not enough debates, because Sestak refused to give his 2008 candidate more than one debate.
It can’t be about big money politics, because Joe relentless raised $3 million more dollars than he needed for his 2008 campaign (only to divert it away from the district).

No “smoke and mirrors” is going to change who Joe is behind the curtain.

A sitting U.S Senator “cut tail and ran” from one man, Pat Toomey.

One man caused a sitting U.S. Senator to “cut tail and run” from a fight. Just one man.

Out here we call that being a coward.

Throughout Pennsylvania we call that being a loser.

Across the nation, they call that being an embarrassment.

Come May 18th, we’ll be able to thank Joe Sestak for removing that embarrassment.

I can’t wait until this nonsense is over come May. The bottom line is that no true Democrat will be running on the Democratic Party ticket for United States Senator from Pennsylvania in the general election. We’ll either have a turn coat or an opportunist that will say anything to get elected. I’m focusing my time and energy on the governor’s race because this is quickly turning into a lost cause.

“Representative Sestak has yet to take legal action against me.” How could he hater your not using your real name.

“I doubt Mr. Hirschhorn and others would permit me to touch on the subject.” I remember him saying when you first started to STATE your name because you started conspiracy quest.

“Mr. Hirschhorn with some empirical facts to substantiate MY contentions.”
Let’s all see it

TB
Either Specter or Sestak is better than Toomey. Both are Moderates politicaly neither one is Con or Liberal. Read the posts attacking Sestak about his votes on the war and you will see what I mean.

Sestak’s attacks on Specter prove that Specter is a Mod as well. Moderates are what we need in Govt.

Why is Toyota backing Tommey it’s because just maybe they can get cheap land in Pa. to make a cars. They have done this in other states. Sweetheart deals for land.

And the other companies It’s all about natural gas boom in the state they want the state to get off their back so they can do what they want. And the hell with the evrivoment and your drinking water

WestPaDemBlueDog-
Specter was recruited from the GOP. Don’t forget, hundreds of thousands of moderate Republicans switched to Dem in 2008.
Why do you consider it a character flaw for Specter to leave the even more radicalized GOP? Or to avoid a fight he couldn’t win with a GOP base that doesn’t represent his values?
Seriously. It would have been more foolish of him to fight Toomey for the GOP primary. So, NOT being a fool and NOT engaging in a pointless primary is a flaw in your mind?
No wonder you like Sestak.

TB-
You make a good point about the lack of a real Dem on our side this time. I agree. So then it comes done to who can win in November. Despite weak numbers for Specter, he still has the better shot of stopping Toomey. Plus, we pretty much know all of Specter’s negatives.
The Toomey campaign isn’t stupid. They wouldn’t be propping up Sestak if it wasn’t to their advantage.

dave lewis-
Behind the scenes, Hater provided documentation to Dan regarding some of his claims. Beyond that, Dan will be getting direct access to the original, non-anonymous Source of Hater’s information.
So, despite Hater’s over-the-top presentation, Dan will soon have a non-anonymous, first-hand Source speaking to him on-the-record, who will substantiate what Hater has been saying.

This is funny:

Joe’s have a “Young Professional’s Event” down in Philly on March 8th.

This is from his Facebook announcement:

“Come to network, mix and mingle, and enjoy free food and drink at Con Murphy’s. Cost: $50″

Wow! A $50 “free” event.

Diano-

That’s not funny. With all the material you have from the past few days, you’re just scraping the bottom of the barrel with that.

Do you ever think how it reflects on your business the way you post here? I have my own reservations about Sestak, but I think you might be legitimately crazy.

Jake-
Not only is my business doing great, but others who share my view of Sestak appreciate my standing up against him. They even recommend me, because I’ve helped then more than Sestak.

As for the $50 thing, it’s judt a mild, playful jab for a change of pace.

The bigger story that Hater and I have discussed here IS being looked into by real reporters. I’ve passed on the contact information to the relevant parties, and the ball is in motion, and picking up momentum.
It’s out of my hands, and in the hands of objective professionals.

Dave Lewis: Rather than press me for details, why don’t you pose the question to Representative Sestak and his labor racketeer allies? Simply contact the 7th District charlatan and ask him pointedly: are you aware of any Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probes pertaining to you, Sir? Has the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) launched an inquiry into your relationship with labor racketeers, Sir? Contravened any federal laws during your unremarkable tenure, Sir? It is Representative Sestak that owes his constitutents an explanation, not yours truly.

Jake: Mr. Diano (sound of mind or not) is not an elected official. The sanity, lucidity and stability of Representative Sestak, on the other hand, is a legitimate concern. This deranged office-holder recently made irresponsible, paranoid accusations against the incumbent Democratic President of the United States – and provided no empirical evidence whatsoever to substantiate his preposterous claims. The delusions, phobias, and neuroses of this man are beyond belief. He is unfit for duty – and members of his inner circle (those that have yet to flee) know it.

TB

I understand your frustartion about the tone of the comments. IMO, they have achieved their goal by turning you off.

Driving down the vote and enthusiasm for the primary election is how Specter intends to win. He will have a turnout for himself driven by the state party establishment. He has little chance to expand his support among the general Democratic voters; so he wants to make this a negative and petty campaign to discourage those non-establishment voters from turning out. He is counting upon a low turnout to achieve victory.

Sestak appears to playing right into his hands. Instead of spending his $5,000,000 plus campaign chest to introduce himself in the media and tell us the positive things he will do as a senator, he’s hoarding his money and allowing Specter to draw him into an incessant negative exchange.

It’s another case of one candidate being the better person for the job but the worse campaigner.

Lee-
First of all, Sestak is the one who has waged a never ending campaign of attacks on Specter since Specter switched to the Dems. Sestak has called him a “flight risk” since day one, questioning his integrity to the promises he made to Obama, Biden, etc. when he came to our side. Sestak’s acted like a spoiled child who watched a shiny bike he refused going to another kid, so suddenly he plays the victim who deserved the bike.

Also, Sestak’s not spending a dime of his $5 million going after Toomey for the extremist he is. Instead, he is helping Toomey with a second debate which servers only to raise Toomey’s profile.

Anyway, Lee, all of this is moot.

I doubt Sestak is going to make it to the Primary. He probably won’t even make it to the first debate. Stay tuned to this site, your local papers, local news and national news.

Dave, it’s put up or shut up time with this Sestak slander. And I don’t mean offering to let me take a peak if I’m sworn to secrecy. If this is something you constantly refer to in virtually every comment you leave about the Senate race, put the facts on the table. Name names and spell out the supposed instances where laws were broken and who broke them. If you can’t or won’t do that, then drop your off-handed references to this stuff until such time that it ever sees the light of day. By constantly playing this coy little game where you only go so far as to toe the line, you ARE — as much as you want to deny it — playing the same kind of dirty trick that Lee Atwater and Karl Rove did so well. If someone has made a statement and made sure that it got into as many hands as you say it has, name them and tell us about these so-called terrible acts.

Otherwise, it is time to dismiss this and move on. And time for the person running this site to delete each and every post that references this topic.

Heard that Specter has pissed off enough Democrats over the years in Bucks that he is going to get swamped today. Based on historic Bucks results, this should be interesting.

Bruce Bailey: Spare us with the “Sestak slander” poppycock. Representative Sestak is an unprincipled, venal politician with links to lawbreaking labor union racketeers. I will not accord respect to an indidivual under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). Such an individual is underserving and unworthy of my respect – our yours. Sestak is not a venerable public figure. He is a wrongdoer who adamantly refuses to adhere to the law. And he is being treated accordingly by many in this forum.

Lee Levan: Sestak is not the “better candidate.” Representative Sestak has achieved nothing during his unremakable tenure. Aside from his grossly overpaid siblings and various labor racketteers, who has benefited from Sestak’s supposed efforts? Certainly not the denizens of the 7th District. A Republican presidential front-runner once famously posed the question “are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?” After over 3 years of Representative Joe Sestak, the denizens of the 7th District are not “better off” – in any way, shape or form. In truth, Joe Sestak has accomplished little, if anything as an office-holder – precisely why he constantly blathers on about his daughter’s medical woes, his undistinguished military carrer, etc., etc. He has no attainments to point to.

Bruce-
Your point is well taken. I had actually expected the story to be broken by now. Unfortunately, Dan got tied up on a previous assignment and hasn’t gotten a chance to interview the principles yet. So, that has delayed things by a few days.
In the meantime, a reporter from a major paper contacted me about interviewing the principles, so I’ve passed his contact information along to facilitate that process.

Also there is a pending legal case at the heart of this whose status is changing, apparently as a result of pressure from the discussions here. All the more reason for me to be circumspect and leave this to the pros.

So, Bruce, I’m holding back so that qualified journalists can break the story and interview all the parties involved. It’s not like I can call up Sestak’s office, or a local D.A., or a Union boss, etc. to get a quote (or denial) addressing the issues or even an official “no comment”.

I’ve seen and heard enough to be convinced this is a real story with real fallout. So, while I might get credited with “an assist”, the final shot/goal/basket/home-run has to come from a licensed journalist. That’s already been set in motion.
So, it’s either going to be debunked as a dirty trick or confirmed as a serious breach of public trust.

I offered to show you the info I had confidentially, rather than post it, because it contains some personal address and other information regarding witnesses that would normally be redacted in a publication.

This story is like a watched pot that’s taking long to boil, but don’t worry, it’s going to boil.

Dave Diano-
This story aside…

Sestak doesn’t have a viable campaign. Specter has considerable more funds on hand. Specter has competant, experienced, and professional staffers while Sestak’s are all leaving. (Sestak cannot rely solely on his siblings). Specter has long championed the citizens of PA while Sestak has not. (He’s an egomaniac who only looks out for himself.) Specter has a large double-digit lead over Sestak, and can beat Toomey.

Also, the bulk of Sestak’s $5 million was left over from his congressional campaign. His access to campaign funds from Democratic sources has pretty well dried up.

So no wonder that he doesn’t pay his staffers “jack” or waited far too long to open offices in Philly and Pittsburgh. Sestak has to conserve his resources. If he actually hired competant and professional staffers, paid his people the market rate, and opened well-staffed offices throughout the staff – he most certainly wouldn’t have any where close to the $5 million he currently has. Sestak’s campaign is doomed.

Furthermore, Sestak has seriously angered the Democratic establishment. He’s pissed off the President and the rest of the party. How can he expect to work with these individuals in the future? He’s gone waaaay overboard with his anti-establishment message. He’s a sitting congressman and a part of the establishment. Sestak was only elected in 2006 because of the party establishment and support.

Being a Senator obviously requires excellent people and social skills to build relationships, support, and coalitions. Skills that Sestak clearly lacks.

Chesco Dem

How dare you.

You can fight political battles here all you want, no one is going to challenge your right to do that. But when you malign the 30-year record of an American Naval officer, one whose brains and energy worked tirelessly in defense of our nation, I have to say you’ve crossed a line.

“Sestak has not” championed the citizens of PA? Serving in the military, fighting terrorism, actively commanding a battle-ready fleet is not serving Pennsylvania? Did you spit on Vietnam Veterans, too?

“He’s an egomaniac who only looks out for himself.” Yeah, I guess that’s obvious, since the military pays so much more than the private sector, especially for Harvard PhDs like Joe.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself for even trying to make that argument.

You can hammer away at Sestak for being a tough boss, I think that there’s plenty of evidence for that (though many would say that’s an argument FOR rather than against Joe’s fitness as a Congressman). But when you attack his service record, you are going to offend a great many voters who believe that their time in the military was spent serving their fellow citizens.

I for one salute Joe Sestak and thank him for his 30 years of working in my behalf in the Navy, as well as his stellar record afterwards as a Congressman.

Bruce -
What do you plan on doing once Sestak drops out or loses? Will you work for Specter? Do nothing? Or help Toomey? I think all Dems need to ask each other these questions.

Help Toomey? I’d sooner eat ground glass.

If Sestak loses the primary, I’ll vote for Specter as much the lesser evil. But I could never work for him.

However, I don’t think I’ll need to make that choice. I do believe that in the end, Democrats will vote for a Democrat and Sestak will be the nominee.

Chesco Dem-
Bruce is a solid Democrat. If Specter is victorious, Bruce will support him vigorously over Toomey and support the ENTIRE ticket (especially the winner of the 7th CD primary). So, please don’t worry about Bruce’s commitment.

Bruce-
The bulk of this discussion is about Sestak’s post-Navy record.

But, there definitely are some unanswered questions about exactly why Sestak was relieved of command. His 31-years of service don’t automatically shield him from criticism nor prove that he was always an asset. The “poor command climate” rationale indicates that Mullen believed Sestak had become a detriment for some time. Though, I’m willing to concede that Sestak actually believed his hard-ass style was good for the country, I’m going to side with Mullen that Sestak was “mistaken” in his approach.

Back to the Politics: I don’t believe for even one second that Sestak is actually in this Senate race for the good of the Democratic party. His attacks on the “establishment” ring hollow, since he likes to talk about how he “was” the establishment (and declined) before Specter got in. So, the establishment is now sour grapes to him? Does ANYONE believe he’d be making the same criticisms if he was the pick?
Joe also likes to pretend that he still is Obama’s preferred pick. That’s just plain delusional.

Character flaws aside (and that’s a lot to put aside), Sestak is just running an abysmal campaign. He’s got no infrastructure. He couldn’t win the support of the key Unions. He’s got no message. (3-stars, sick daughter, and “new leadership” aren’t a message). He’s bleeding key members from his already incomplete and inexperienced staff. He underpays the staff and can’t attract top talent. He’s alienated top supporters from previous campaigns, who are now working on helping other candidates (or working against him).
Despite an early media bump when he entered the race in May, Sestak squandered that bump by refusing to announce officially until August, when no one was paying attention and it wasn’t “news”. It’s been one gimmick after another. 67-county tour in 21-days (no time to really learn anything). Kitchen Calls. Debates with Toomey. etc.

Even though Sestak does espouse the correct Democratic policy points, there is no sense that he’s doing anything more than recited scripted lines that he’s memorized, rather than learned over years of political fights.

Hateful:

To be honest, I seldom read your rantings. How can I take seriously someone who glories in hate?

Yet, I have never suggested that you don’t have a right to express your own opinion; only that it would be beneficial to rational discussion if you stuck to the facts instead of making them up as it suits your, evidently singular, emotion.

However, it seems that you do not respect my right to the opinion that Sestak is the far better choice to serve the people of Pennsylvania in the senate. I suppose that both love and hate are blind and that you don’t even realize the double standard that you practice.

BTW, for the good of your own long term health, you might want to consult a physician or psychologist. Hate, like stress, is a very self-destructive condition.

Bruce Bailey: If you will recall, Representative Sestak was ignominiously BOOTED OUT of the U.S. Armed Forces. Apparently, Sestak’s contribution to the U.S. military was not looked upon as essential or vital to national security. Sestak was a LIABILITY to the U.S. Armed Forces – not an asset. So enough balderdash. Being a disgraced veteran hardly qualifies one to serve as a U.S. Senator. You can “salute” Representative Sestak all you want, Bruce baby – but neither the U.S. Armed Forces nor the general public shares your enthusiasm. Thankfully.

Lee Levan: Hello. The difference between my opinion and your opinion is that I hold an INFORMED opinion. Perhaps you should confer with Mr. Hirschhorn, the founder of this site, so you can formulate an INFORMED opinion concerning Representative Sestak. Once you become aware of the serious allegations (including bribery) pending against Sestak, once you are apprised that Sestak’s allies have targeted innocent people for acts of retaliation (including lodging unfounded criminal charges), once you realize that Sestak has aligned himself with corrupt labor union racketeers, perhaps you too will hold an informed opinion.

Rather than lambaste the upstanding people who are trying to caution the public about this venal politician, why don’t you conduct some research of your own? Pay a visit to the Federal Election Commisssion (FEC) site. Ask yourself why Sestak’s most critical labor union ally, Wendell Young IV, never actually legally contributed to Sestak for Congress in 2006. Young IV was appointed to Sestak’s Transition Team, but made no contributions to his campaign. Rather odd, don’t you think? What’s the matter, Lee – afraid of what you might discover? So consumed by trepidation that you dare not confront empirical reality? How bout’ those folks still working on Sestak’s behalf – are you prepared to pay a visit to the FEC site?

By the way – some major news organizations have finally mustered up the courage to divulge this story. When they do, an apology should be forthcoming.

Mike Mullen’s very first action upon being appointed by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld was to fire Joe Sestak. Joe was looked upon as a weak link in the Bush united front since he had worked in the Clinton White House. I can imagine that Bush greeted Mullen afterwards with something like “Heckuva job, Mikey.”

I can think of no higher praise than being told you weren’t fit to work for the Bush-Cheney team.
If I was Joe Sestak, I would wear that dismissal as a badge of honor.

Too bad Arlen Specter didn’t have the backbone to oppose what Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and rest of that cabal did.

To the Admiral: Hey – did you hear the story about the politically-connected labor union that violated the USA Patriot Act by trying to recruit illegal aliens as members? No? You really never heard that story? Really? Well, got bad news for ya’ Admiral – other people in high places have heard that story. And they’ve heard lots of other stories, too. And they’ve already CONFIRMED much of what they’ve heard. And they don’t like it – not one bit.

Bruce-
The story that Joe “didn’t fit in” just doesn’t hold any water. I realize that’s the story Joe’s been peddling, but it no longer is believable.
Joe was given that position in Deep Blue BY the Bush/Cheney administration. So, it doesn’t make sense for them to want to subsequently remove him from it because of his association with Clinton’s White House a decade earlier, after Joe had been in the job for a few years.

The story, as reported in The Hill, was that Sestak had treated the men in his command in a way that sounds a lot like the way he’s been treating both his congressional staff and his campaign staff. Now, the kind of turnover rates that Sestak’s engenders are simply unacceptable in a military environment. And since the military officers can’t just up-and-leave the way civilians can, the natural result would be low morale.
Back in 2006, we didn’t know enough about Joe to evaluate a story about how treated the men under his command. But, NOW, we’ve got 3 years of staff turnovers from TWO different types of operations (congress and campaign). Considering how consistent the ex-staffers stories are, it’s pretty good empirical evidence that Sestak was the same in the Navy.
Finally, Sestak claimed that it wasn’t Bush/Cheney politics that torpedoed him, but the “changes” he was suggesting to trim operations. But Joe also added the (now familiar) refrain: “I worked hard, and I did not ask anyone to work harder than me.” This seems to be his standard excuse when he pushes people too hard. But, see, when JOE is working hard, no one is riding his ass the whole time, micro-managing him, screaming at him for minor stuff, and treating him like a slave.

Besides, there is not ONE single shred of evidence that Sestak had ANY opposition to the policies of Bush/Cheney while in the Navy. Sestak was involved with some missions/fighting for Afghanistan and Iraq. If he had really objected to the wars, he could have resigned. But, no, he resigned when his protector, Vern Clark, left and the pent up demand for Joe’s removal was finally satisfied.

Bruce, do you HONESTLY believe that Sestak was any different as a boss when he was in the Navy than he is now?

To the Admiral: Hey – did you ever hear the story about the labor union boss that tried to frame an innocent woman for a crime she did not commit? And the labor union boss did not realize that in the process of framing this woman, he violated numerous federal laws? And the labor union boss also did not realize that the feds were investigating his frame-up of this woman? Ever hear that story, Admiral? No? Well, lots of people in high places have heard that story – and its one of their FAVORITES.

Mr. Diano: Amen.

Bruce-
BTW, as a congressman, exactly what did Sestak oppose?
1) He voted for Bush’s Iraq blank check, without timetables, twice (May and Dec, 2007)
2) He voted to fund Cheney’s office, when Cheney claimed the executive branch rules for handling secret documents didn’t apply since Cheney was “his own 4th branch of government”. (June 2007)
3) Joe voted for warrantless wiretaps
4) Joe voted for telecom immunity.

So, where was Joe’s backbone on these key Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld issues?

Only two reasonable conclusions to draw:
1) Sestak has no backbone
OR
2) Sestak agrees with these terrible policies, and his backbone is used to defy the voters and his promises.