Arlen Specter Trying Hard to Reassure PA Dems
From what I hear, despite Arlen's efforts to reassure state Dems, Sestak is running anyway. Should be interesting!
A few days after he switched parties, Sen. Arlen Specter went on Meet the Press and hotly denied reports he had promised President Obama he would be a "loyal Democrat."
In dozens of conference calls and meetings since then, Specter has been trying to reassure Democratic elected officials, county chairs, and party activists around Pennsylvania of the opposite proposition: that he can be counted upon to support the president.
Participants in these efforts say that Specter has been relaxed and direct as he lays out his case, dwelling on instances in which he bucked his former Republican Party during a 29-year Senate career. Specter has been received well, they say, though some skeptics are eager for a Democrat with a more liberal record to challenge him in the 2010 primary.
"I've read about his diligence before, but I've been really impressed to see how they're reaching down to the very base of the grass roots," said Jack Hanna of Indiana County, chairman of the state party's Southwest caucus, who was on two conference calls with Specter. "The guy's on top of it."
This weekend, Specter faces the biggest public test so far of his appeal to party regulars, appearing at the Democratic State Committee spring meeting in Pittsburgh. He is scheduled to host a dessert reception after a fund-raising dinner tonight and to make a major speech tomorrow.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Delaware County, who has said he intends to run against Specter for the Democratic nomination, also plans to attend.
On Monday, Specter had a breakfast meeting with Democratic leaders in Montgomery County, moved on to Delaware County for lunch, and met with Chester County leaders in the evening.
At the Montgomery gathering, held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington, Specter faced a couple of challenging questions about his support for key elements of former President George W. Bush's agenda, including the tax cuts for the wealthy and the Iraq war.
"He was one of the enablers in the Senate because, as a moderate with a lot of seniority, he was in a position to stand up to Bush," said Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. "I have a hard time getting past that."
Way too "Old"...Way back type too-old. Perhaps he should just be a participant in his own "magic bullet" theroy. You know, shoot a rifle straight up in the air and let the bullet turn around and complete and self-inflict himself. He's just too "corrupt".
How do you trust a man that looks like that? His eyes are sunken and his cheeks are hollow. That's too old to follow. Too corrupt. Accept it: Specter is a corrupt republican. The stripes didn't change.
JFK
we have heard it all before. Beside Joe Sestak is a terrific replacement for the magic bullet man.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/27/joe-...
If I knew where to send him some money, I'd send it.
We need a MONEY BOMB FOR JOE SESTAK!!! just to let Arlen know he's officially toast.
Cha-ching!!!!
(Of course we'd have to pin our hopes on the fact that Obama and the DNC would have the decency to chalk this race into the category of, "We really can't choose in this one...")
But because of the seniority I believe Specter has maintained (just like the Dems let Lieberman have), they might decide it isn't worth it to endorse a freshman from the House and lose their coveted positions on the various committees.
Politics can be a bitch.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
"I've read about his diligence before, but I've been really impressed to see how they're reaching down to the very base of the grass roots,"
Yes, down at the grass roots where you'll also find the snakes...
Angry white caller and angry white talk show host have a theory about minorities being angry
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200906050024
I really like the angry white caller when she said "I've learned not to get pissed off!"
Glad you've managed your anger so well non-angry white caller.
Palm Beach Limbaugh slams podunk Republican. We can't all be cigar chewing, Escalade driving, Palm Beach multi-millionaire conservative elite like you Rush. Hear that dittoheads? Calling poor middle class slobs like yourselves "podunk". Lol! Is Rush still right? Sounds like he's got and anger problem too! Hahaha! http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200906050016
As one of the Democratic Party leaders he needs to impress, I uh, am unimpressed. Two things: A) he is the master of talking the talk but not walking the walk. He is all about himself, and relishes the center as a place where his vote often can be leveraged for personal gain. B) Sestak, though not around as long, is a real journeyman when it comes to party function. He always supports the down ticket, speaks at fundraisers, etc... Screw Specter, he's screwed me enough times.
"Talk the talk but not walk the walk." That should be front and center in Sestak's campaign.
Don't forget too, this is the prick that dragged Anita Hill over the coals for asshole Clarence Thomas
With freinds like specter we don't need any enemy's.
republicanism is a mental illness. specter is one sick puppy!
Let's hope they're too smart for him.
*
Like mcAncient, Specter is way beyond his prime...and his ability to lead for his constituents is past. Give it a rest Arlene. Retirement isn't all bad. You've been a "good republican"...and you even saw the light (even though I think it was more "cover my ass" than seeing any light).
The man is OLD. I am old. I know "old" when I see it. Arlene is old, old, old. Give it up to the new breed. Adios viejo.
That's just never going to happen. Never.
One of the major flaws with our system is that politicians are almost never held accountable for their actions (and inactions). PA needs to replace Specter with Sestak. (As a member of The Modern Republican Party, Toomey is not a viable possibility.) In six years, if Sestak isn't any good, then he'll have to be replaced, too. Voters have to realize that they are responsible for their political representatives. The "Lesser Evil" mindset has got to go!
We've got to end automatic incumbency. The best way to do that is to have a few successful high profile challenges. Pennsylvania in 2010 is a great place to begin.
But I am not reassured. If Sestak runs he is the best bet. He still appears on FOX all the time. Nothing has changed. Specter is just a Republican that can't get elected as a Republican and now wants to get elected as a Democrat and still vote Republican.
Democrats don't owe this traitor jack-shit. Arlen understands...he himself has played this musical chairs bullshit. Fuck him, he's done in 2010...Like an old washed up quarterback who can't help anyone anymore
I do not live in PA, I can only comment from one state over but, he is TOO DAMN OLD to care about any of you regular PA. folk.
IMHO that is what will get him if done right. He's TOO DAMN OLD!!
"He was one of the enablers in the Senate because, as a moderate with a lot of seniority, he was in a position to stand up to Bush," said Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. "I have a hard time getting past that."
He should NOT get past that.
Neither should we.
Neither should Obama and the Democrats.
Into the garbage heap of history with Specter.
It sounds to me as if Specter thinks he's cool to "be a maverick" by justifying his actions with "Well, I strayed from the Republican agenda, too."
Let him go stray somewhere else. We don't need an egotistical attention-grabber willing to wreck the party's agenda for his own self-important posturing.
I wouldn't trust this scum-bag as far as I can throw Mr. Piggy Limbaugh!
I've got a crazy, crazy, crazy idea. Why doesn't he lead the charge for public, universal health care? Hmmmmmm?
View this post about Arlen Specter, and remember that you could be passing up a fabulous Senator in Joe Sestak.
http://progressnotcongress.org/blog/?p=557
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