Poll-itics: Sestak Tied With Specter in Pennsylvania

By GottaLaff

Go Joe Sestak! He and Arlen Specter are now tied at 43% each with 13% still undecided.

This probably had a little something to do with it:



Tying Specter to Boy Georgie and Barbie McLipSchmutz in one 30 second ad? Ouch.

Part of his Wiki:

--Sestak has a 100% rating from NARAL and has stated his support for Roe v. Wade.^[12]

--He is the only Pennsylvanian congressman to have a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters and PennEnvironment. He has also been endorsed by the Sierra Club. He voted for the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 and the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act. He was also an original co-sponsor of the Climate Stewardship Act (H.R. 620) and the Safe Climate Act.^[16]

--Sestak supports gun control and has a 100% rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence ^[17] and an F rating from the National Rifle Association^[18]

Sestak has called for the reinstatement of the federal ban on assault weapons.^[19]

--Congressman Sestak is an original co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and supports the original version that includes card check. He created the Labor Advisory Committee to address the challenges facing working families in his district.^[22]

Win, baby, win.

Videos- Complete President Obama at Pennsylvania Town Hall, Greeting BCS Champions Alabama

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A few good lines

By GottaLaff

President Obama is in Glenside, Pennsylvania talking health care. A few lines stood out to me:

--To Republicans: You had 10 years, what happened?

--Anthem Blue Cross just jacked up premiums by nearly 40%. 40%! Anyone's paycheck gone up 40%?

--The U.S. Congress owes the American people an up or down vote on health care. The time for talk is over. We need to see where people stand.

--I wouldn't take advice about what's good for Democrats [from Mitch McConnell].

--Those of us in public office were not sent to Washington to do what's easy. We were sent there to take on the tough issues... to solve the big challenges. [This one got huge applause]

--I don't know how passing health care will play politically, but I do know it's the right thing to do. [Another one that got huge applause]

Murtha death triggers special election

By GottaLaff

Congressman John Murtha has died, as I posted earlier. As you might have figured out, that means a special election is in store for Pennsylvania's 12th district.

The governor has 10 days to pick a date, and the special election must not come before 60 days after that date has been set.

Chris Cillizza has more, including reporting that May 18, when federal primaries would take place, would be special election day, too:

The only semi-serious challenge to him in recent years came in a redistricting-forced primary race against then Rep. Frank Mascara in 2002, which Murtha won easily.

With Murtha gone, however, the special election will be seriously contested.

Here we go again.

John Murtha back in the hospital

Breaking quickie-

Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha was back in the hospital Tuesday after undergoing gall bladder surgery last week.

The Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington said that the 77-year-old Democrat was a patient in its intensive care unit but referred all questions about his condition to his family.

Murtha’s congressional office confirmed that he underwent scheduled laparoscopic surgery to remove his gallbladder at Bethesda Naval Hospital last week. But the congressman’s spokesman refused comment on the seriousness of his condition or any complication that required hospitalization.

VIDEO: President Obama in Allentown, PA on strengthening the economy

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

If you missed it this morning, my liveblog is here (including Q and A), and above is the video of his opening remarks.

Pennsylvania city torn by racial strife elects black mayor

Go read the whole story here (the background is fascinating). Every once in a while a story like this comes along to prove that it ain't all bad out there.

YORK, Pa.—A little girl who trembled in her house as a National Guard tank rumbled past during York's chaotic 1969 race riots has grown up to become the first black mayor of the central Pennsylvania city.

Kim Bracey, 45, an energetic veteran of the struggling manufacturing city's improvement efforts will take office in January, to the delight of many African-Americans who thought they would never see a black mayor.

(snip)

Rather, Bracey will inherit a city of 40,000 that is barely able to pay its bills as it loses the manufacturing jobs that helped build it up. Poverty is becoming as entrenched as the racial animosity that led to York's deadly riots 40 years ago.

U.S. census statistics show a city in which average family income is half of Pennsylvania's, while the poverty rate for children is three times as high, at 48 percent.

One unemployed city resident, Butch Maxfield, said race is less important to Yorkers than poverty, crime and how to help the city's aimless young people.

"Everybody's poor. There's no jobs," said the 58-year-old Maxfield, who is black. "Now it's about 'what can you do for me?'"

Still, Maxfield and many others view Bracey's election as an achievement in a city that has a legacy of racial strife.

The 1960s saw a buildup of black resentment against a city administration that they said systematically ignored their community's needs and a police force that used dogs and other tough tactics to antagonize blacks.

Video- Arlen Specter says GOP is party of obstruction

I hope Sestak wipes the floor with this bozo.

Video- President Obama stumps for Arlen Specter

I know it's part of the deal, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Video- Sights and Sounds From 9/11/01

Video- Craig Miller from Sen. Specter's Town Hall: Obama Broke Oath of Office by Appointing Czars

Oookay. Very hard to watch. Vid via FDL.

Joe Sestak Makes it Official

Just FYI, I will be shilling and doing all I can to get the former Vice Admiral elected. More from Sestak here.

After months of hinting, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) formally announced this morning he would challenge Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Philadelphia senator pushes bill to allow gay marriage

By GottaLaff

Inch by inch, state by state, Senator by Senator:

When it comes to the subject of legalizing gay and lesbian marriage in Pennsylvania, two state senators are going in totally opposite directions.

Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, today announced plans to introduce a bill that would offer "full and equal marriage rights to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania." The measure also would recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other states.

"There has never been a more propitious time for Pennsylvania to embrace equality and enshrine the civil right of all Pennsylvanians to marry," Mr. Leach said.

But don't tell that to Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Blair. He wants to strengthen Pennsylvania's 1996 law, the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as only permitted between one man and one woman.

A little "brotherly" love never hurt anyone, right?

Joe Sestak Says He's Running Against Specter

I really like Sestak (even if he does act a little dicky sometimes) and I like the idea of a primary even more, but I can't see this going very far considering the promises that I'm sure had to be made between Obama and Specter.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) is privately telling supporters that he intends to run for the U.S. Senate, reports TPM. Sestak would challenge Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) in a Democratic primary.

That's probably why he's not returning phones calls from DSCC Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

Poll: Specter's party switch pays off

I get more and more queasy about Specter's change, especially after pretty solid proof that he fabricated the "I did not say I would be a loyal Democrat" statement.

A new poll shows Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) ahead in two general election match-ups following his party switch, but suggests the contest would become instantly competitive if former Gov. Tom Ridge (R ) entered the race.

The Quinnipiac poll of Pennsylvania voters shows Specter leading Ridge, the former governor and Homeland Security secretary, 46-43.

Specter would look much stronger, however, if the GOP nominee winds up being his 2004 primary opponent, former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). In that matchup, Specter leads 53-33. The margin is particularly interesting given that, in previous polls when Specter was still a Republican, Quinnipiac had shown Toomey with a wide lead in their primary matchup.

Independent voters favor Specter by nine points over Toomey, but those voters flip for Ridge, preferring him by a 10-point margin over Specter.

It appears there is little nostalgia for Specter among Republicans, as he takes just 10 percent of the GOP vote against Ridge and 18 percent against Toomey.

Cartoon via.

CNN- Rep. Joe Sestak on Sen. Specter's 'party switch'

Don't know about the President and the rest, but I'm behind Sestak unless Arlen does something HUGE to prove himself.

GOP using Specter's own campaign ads against him

I don't think Arlen thought this all the way thru. Seems Democrats aren't happy about the deal and Republicans are gleeful about sticking it to him.

(CNN) – After Arlen Specter bolted the GOP Tuesday, Republicans like party chair Michael Steele attacked him as a "leftist" with a history of "left-wing" stands.

That was yesterday.

Twenty-four hours later, his former colleagues in the Senate GOP are rushing to embrace Specter's past in a new campaign designed to highlight the consistency of his Republican record.

"In light of Senator Specter's changing political party, we felt it was our civic duty to adequately inform Pennsylvania Democrat primary voters about their new Senator's record and his close relationship with our former President George W. Bush," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson said in a Wednesday announcement.

The effort includes a Web page featuring YouTube clips of Specter's positive comments about conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Rick Santorum, and criticism of Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid. It also involves robocalls to Pennsylvania voters to "help you welcome your newest Democrat senator" that use audio from Specter's old campaign ads — audio featuring what the NRSC describes as "glowing support" from former President George W. Bush.

Shooter thought Obama would ban guns

By GottaLaff

Remember, everyone: If you think there is a law about to be passed that affects you, break it before it takes hold. If that means mass murder, so be it:

Police did not immediately release the gunman's identity, but his friends identified him as Richard Poplawski, 23. They described him as a young man who thought the Obama administration would ban guns.

One friend, Edward Perkovic, said Poplawski feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon." Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said Poplawski feared that President Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he "wasn't violently against Obama."

Problem? Solution: Bang, bang. Problem solved. And now he's so dead he won't be able to see the error (understatement) of his ways/logic. [Laffy Note--CORRECTION: He is not dead. Getting my shooters mixed up. Plus, as Paddy just pointed out, the text of the article I quoted here has changed, too. All of it's a bit confusing, but I made my point.]

Then again, he had no ability to reason.

To make matters worse, this is typical of how some people see the president and his policies, despite how many times he's explained them. It's criminal... literally.

Chris Matthews Still Weighing Senate Run

By GottaLaff

"Senator Tweety" is still a possiblity:

A tipster tells FishbowlDC that NBC News has given Hardball host Chris Matthews until after the holidays to consider their contract offer.

According to a leak a few days ago, a new deal with Matthews was supposed to be announced this week -- which means he's probably still considering running for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania.

Phil Singer: "It seems to me that someone leaked disinformation to quell concerns about the ethics of allowing Matthews to stay on the air while he contemplates going for the senate seat."

And here we thought the Big Tease was over.

Squelching the Senator Matthews rumor

By GottaLaff

This should do it...

According to Mike Allen, Chris Matthews will reportedly announce the signing of a new contract with MSNBC which would effectively end the talk about his potential Senate bid in Pennsylvania.

...unless this, too, is a rumor. Wink.