Gotta give old man Specter some props

[AllentownJake]

From simply the game of politics. The democratic party in Pennsylvania has ran 4 candidates against Arlen since 1980. Yesterday he received their endorsement over a primary challenger at the party convention. Shame I didn't brave the weather to go on Friday.

As a veteran of PA democratic primary politics in 3 election cycles now, the party machine is extremely powerful in primaries and a state committee endorsement is virtually impossible to overcome in a primary.

Hillary beat Barack here by 9 points and she didn't have one (she just had Ed Rendell).

I really think Joe Sestak should consider dropping from the race at this point and re-running for his seat in the House. It would be a move that would be appreciated and it would earn him many friends if we were to lose the Governor's race in 2010 (which we have about a 60% chance of doing) it would open him up as the top candidate for Governor in 2014. It would also make him the logical person to replace Arlen if we win the Governor's mansion and in the next 6 years age would unfortunately catch up with him.

If Joe Sestak can beat Arlen Specter in a primary with Joe Biden, Ed Rendell, Barack Obama, most of the Democratic Mayors and County Executives in the state, and the PA Democratic party working for Arlen, it will be the most stunning feat in PA political history.

[napi21]

1. Ever since I heard Sestak was part oif "The Family"

I don't want him to win. We don't need any more of THEM in the Senate!

[biscotti]

9. I think you are thinking

of Bart Stupak( D Mi) who is a member of "the family".

[AllentownJake]

10. Sestak has some serious issues

If you examine him prior to his recruitment for the congressional race in 2006.

I like Joe, he's been a good party soldier, and he seems like a decent man.

That being said, I approached his campaign in July, August, and September. They were an unmitigated organization disaster and quite arrogant.

They kept sending the person in the Lehigh Valley to events as their representative that has a conviction for beating up a girlfriend and is persona non-grata with local politicos due to his propensity to do hateful evil things and blow up and yell and scream in public.

This was discussed with them on numerous occasions, when I was a party officer, and my successor in that role who is my closest friend in politics. They ignored us.

I offered to sit down with his field people to discuss the lay of the land on several occasions, I was ignored after receiving a phone call from his brother.

I ran the Obama campaign for 3 townships and a good portion of the city of Allentown in both a primary and general election. I out performed in every precinct and in volunteer recruitment and contacts made as did my successor in my former party officer role.

We are the type of people you listen to, if you have a brain in your head.

[Fla Dem]

13. You sound like a good person to have in your corner. Thanks for the hard work. n/t

[AllentownJake]

14. When I'm offering someone something for free

That other people have paid for, I generally scratch my head when they ignore it.

They were shocked and angry a month later when my succesor endorsed Specter, whose people were very eager to talk.

[PCIntern]

16. you probably know my cousin from Emmaus...

she's been active for a couple generations in Allentown politics...

[spanone]

2. he's a career politician with an emphasis on career. a lieberman wannabe.

[AllentownJake]

3. He just convinced people that have been nominating

opponents of his in general elections to endorse him with 77% of the vote over a Democratic Congressman from Bucks County.

Even if you don't like him personally, that is quite a remarkable political feat.

Joe is done, the machine has endorsed Arlen. The machine can lose general elections, it doesn't lose primaries. All of the committee and precinct captains have their orders now.

[T Wolf]

4. Even though Magic Bullet Specte is endorsed by every Dem power-broker in PA,

he will never get MY vote, as little as that means.

PA survived Sanitorium and Spectre - we will survive Casey and Toomey.

Voting for this repuke POS only solidifies the DINOs' control over the party.

[AllentownJake]

5. Talk to President Obama and Joe Biden about this

I personally was gearing up to work for Josh Shapiro and Josh was ready to declare when they brought Arlen into the party.

The State Committee has just followed the wishes of the President of the United States and leader of the party.

[T Wolf]

7. they will be "as pleased to work with" a puke as they would with their buddy Arlen.

A real Democrat - they would have trouble with.

I am far beyond taking a lead from those two who have taken a golden opportunity for progress and turned it into a corportist wet dream. Though, in fairness, Biden only gets a little blame because he is simply a mouthpiece for Obama's center-reich actions and has no power on his own. The former Senator from BofA and the rest knows his role and cannot really be faulted for that.

[AllentownJake]

8. This deal was more Joe and Ed than it was Barack

Joe and Rendell went to Barack with the deal.

We had a potential for a divisive competitive primary between the wingnuts and the reasonable in the GOP.

Barack made the deal for Health Care. We all know how this has turned out, a Republican in Teddy's seat killing his bad bill, and a competitive democratic primary.

I hope Barack has learned his lesson in meddling in our state's politics.

PA has been an enigma to him since Hillary and Rendell beat him up all across the state for 6 weeks.

[AllentownJake]

6. I'd prefer if John Heinz was joining the party right now

That being said, if it wasn't for the tragedy, he probably would have been President of the United States.

One of the few republicans I've really liked and respected.

[JVS]

11. We're so going to end up with a Republican like in MA

[AllentownJake]

12. Possibly either way

I'm severely unimpressed with Joe Sestak's campaign team and their ground game.

[philly_bob]

15. "Sestak should re-run for his seat in the House." Good advice, AJ. /nt