I like a good joke with a cup o' tea

I spotted this at PoliticsPA

A Primary Challenge for Casey?

Add another Tea Party name to the growing list of candidates for U.S. Senate, with a caveat: this one’s a Democrat and a former candidate for Congress.
Brian Kelly, a retired software engineer and former assistant professor from Wilkes-Barre, is planning to throw his hat in the ring against Senator Bob Casey.

You may remember that Kelly ran in the 2010 Democratic 11th CD primary against incumbent Paul Kanjorski and Lackawanna County Commmissioner Corey O'Brien. I anticipated another candidate to enter that race to difuse the anti-Kanjo vote and he was it. Kelly spent very little money and still managed to get 17% to O'Brien's 34% holding Kanjo under 50% that was an indication that Uncle Paul was in trouble going into the fall. That was a fluke that won't be repeated in the Senate race next year.

Kelly has some interesting views for someone running in a Democratic primary. He will be lucky to get 5% from people who just don't like Senator Bob Casey for one reason or another.

I think that Casey has been an outstanding Senator and will be easily reelected.

Dan Hirshhorn has a survey of the legitimate Republican field

GOP fissures hurt Pa. Senate hopes

The TL covers Republican candidate Tom Smith's visit to the area

Tea party leader challenges Casey


The Yonk has more

DINOs endorse Barletta

Most endorsements are good for a press release and not much more so I'll play along.

Lou Barletta held a press conference yesterday at Genetti's in Wilkes-Barre to unveil a new Web site-www.DemocratsForBarletta.com. Unfortunately he didn't bring along any Democrats to bolster his argument. The two people who appeared with him were Scranton City Councilman Pat Rogan and primary candidate Brian Kelly and that was it. These guys may be registered Democrats but it is hard to take them seriously as they both had previously endorsed Barletta.

According to NEPArtisan Rogan supported Barletta actively in 2002 and 2006 against Kanjorski. He ran for city council as a Republican in 2007 and lost so he switched his registration but still campaigned on an illegal immigration platform. Tom thinks he won his seat because he was part of the Janet Evans slate.

Brian Kelly got votes in the primary because his name wasn't Kanjorski or O'Brien but if you look at his platform (his site won't load) he is no Democrat. From a previous post:


He says he has been influenced by the writings of Allan Keyes saying that they think alike.
Abortion is "prohibited" in Declaration of Independence , Public display of the Ten Commandments is a state’s right, This is a Christian Nation, Sex education if it exists at all, should be abstinence-based, Drill here, Drill now, No U.S. citizenship for “anchor babies” of non-citizens, Repeal the Sixteenth Amendment, Constitution does not require separation of church and state

He also had imaginary conversations with the ghost of Dan Flood.

Both of them are frauds and I expect better from Lou.

I also expect better from the Times-Leader after seeing this headline



2 leading Dems jump ship, back Barletta

Bill O'Boyle's reporting was solid as always and I'm sure an editor wrote the headline. Leading Dems my ass.

Sallie Mae

Lou Barletta and Paul Kanjorski yesterday sent out press releases about the loss of 100 jobs at the Sallie Mae student loan processing center in Hanover Twp.

Barletta

100 Sallie Mae jobs lost because Kanjorski chose Pelosi politics over employees

Kanjo

Kanjorski Statement on Sallie Mae Jobs

This is an easy shot by Barletta because he has never been put in the position of weighing a
parochial interest against the greater good of the country. Yes, Kanjorski voted for Health Care Reform that also changed the way the student loan program is administered. On a stand alone vote Kanjorski was one of the few Democrats that voted against it. But governing is about choices and compromise then voting for the greater good.

I have to say that they are both wrong on this issue. The US Government supplies the money and guarantees the loans so the lenders don't have any risk and are just middlemen. It's just more Corporate Welfare. Cutting out companies like Sallie Mae means more money can actually go to students to pay tuition instead of interest.

Saddling our college grads with a mountain of debt has to be one of the most self defeating things we do as a nation. As one of my political hero's, George McGovern, once told me about the post WWII GI Bill it paid for itself 10 times over because the taxes collected from the higher salaries of a college educated workforce far exceeded the cost of the program.

Barletta looks to the fall

I had a brief chat on the phone today with 11th CD Republican nominee Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta. I didn't record the conversation so his answers are paraphrased but certainly not taken out of context.

After last nights results you must be feeling good about your chances in November.

Five months is an eternity in politics so there is no telling what will happen but I certainly like the numbers. 51% of Democrats voted against Paul Kanjorski and think that is a good indicator. I was surprised by the votes that Brian Kelly got and realize that people may not have bought into his message but just didn't want to vote for Kanjorski or Corey O'Brien. I will be looking to sway his voters and the independents that couldn't vote in the primary. Last time I was supported by many independents and Democrats. I can get those voters again.

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How is fundraising going?

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We got some online donors overnight and being part of the Young Guns program has helped a lot. We will have enough money to compete in the fall.

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I love that picture of you and your grandson Gabriel voting with you.

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I think it looks like he is telling me who to vote for. You'll be happy to know that I am teaching him to be a Yankees fan. Having a grandchild really makes you think about what government and politics is about. Our responsibility is to leave a better country to him than what we found. Just like our parents did.

Kanjo on the air, Corey pounds the pavement

Congressman Paul Kanjorski is running just his 2nd spot of the campaign. It is a positive ad reminding us of his support for veterans. The fact that he is staying positive suggest to me that his polling shows him to be in good shape. If his camp was worried about his challenger they would be on the air ripping him a new asshole.





For what he lacks in cash Lackawanna Commissioner Corey O'Brien is making it up with shoe leather and a great field operation.

From pa2010.com


But O’Brien is unfazed, confident—and more full of energy than one is used to seeing in politics. He’s been called the most competitive House primary challenger in the country, and while conventional wisdom says he’ll get blown out of the water on Tuesday, O’Brien says his upset win will be nothing but expected.

“I don’t care what some pundits might say about the race,” O’Brien told pa2010.com while riding on his campaign RV earlier this month. “I see it every day. People are going to say on May 18 that this is ‘a shocker, a surprise.’ I’m not going to be surprised.”



The third candidate in the race is Brian Kelly who will hurt O'Brien by siphoning off some of the anti-Kanjo vote.

The TL earlier endorsed O'Brien but the Citizens Voice recommends sticking with the devil you know.


Endorsement: Paul Kanjorski

While Kanjorski has made missteps in his long tenure – chief among them the federal funding that he directed toward a company owned by family members – voters have had several election cycles to consider those missteps and have continued to support him...Because of his efforts to secure development in the district, the benefits of his seniority and his key role in finance-industry reform efforts aimed at protecting consumers and taxpayers in his district and beyond, Kanjorski deserves his party’s nomination.

The winner of the Democratic nomination will face Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta in the fall. Barletta had some fun this week sending out this snarky press release.

Kanjorski and O'Brien agree neither can beat Barletta in November
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May 13th

Hazleton, PA – Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s primary election, 11th Congressional District candidate Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will win in November.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what the campaigns of Paul Kanjorski and Corey O’Brien said about Lou’s chances in the fall:

“There is zero chance Paul Kanjorski defeats Lou Barletta. Zero. Paul Kanjorski doesn’t have Barack Obama [on the ballot] and without Barack Obama and the way the country is swinging with Massachusetts, at the end of the day, this is an easy pickup for the Republican Party.” Corey O’Brien, Politico, February 3, 2010.

"Our polling data not only shows Kanjorski crushing O'Brien in the primary, but Barletta crushing O'Brien in the general." Kanjorski campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell, Scranton Times, March 4, 2010.

And here’s what Kanjorski himself said about his re-election chances this fall: “If the election is decided as a referendum on the last 14 months, this coming November, the Democrats are going to lose.” (Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Feb. 18, 2010)

“We’re grateful for the endorsements of both the Kanjorski and O’Brien campaigns. Lou Barletta is gaining momentum every single day, and Lou will be ready to take on the winner of Tuesday’s primary,” said Vince Galko, campaign spokesman for Mayor Barletta. “Of course, there’s much work yet to be done, and Lou Barletta will be out meeting with voters, talking about issues, raising money, and criss-crossing the 11th Congressional District. Lou will work hard for every vote.

“We’d like to wish all candidates luck, and we encourage everyone to get out and vote on Tuesday.”

A further indication that Kanjo is confidant is that he will be in Washington this week doing his job instead of doing a last minute campaign push in the district. Corey O'Brien has invited his supporters to join him at at P.J.'s 1910 Pub in the Hilton Scranton, 100 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA. The event is slated to begin at 8:00 pm. Brian Kelly hasn't announced any election night plans but will probably sipping a cup of tea somewhere.

Vote in the 11th CD poll

The candidates are Congressman Paul Kanjorski, Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien and Teabagger Brian Kelly.


Kelly's only function in this race is to try to diffuse the anti-Kanjo vote. The Morning Call has the latest argument over campaign contributions. O'Brien has disappeared from the airwaves indicating that he is tapped out and Kanjo has a big warchest financed by people who have an interest in his committee assignments.


Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.

Here is a picture of Corey and Kanjo in happier times (2008)

El alcalde Lou Barletta quiere ver sus papeles

Lou Barletta strongly supports Arizona law against illegal immigration

Mayor: Where do Kanjorski, O'Brien, Kelly stand on the new law?
May 3rd

Hazleton, PA – Today, Hazleton Mayor and 11th Congressional District Candidate Lou Barletta strongly endorsed the Arizona law that cracks down against illegal immigration.

Arizona’s SB 1070 gives local and state law enforcement officials more authority to query the federal government about a person's immigration status.

“Four years ago, the failure of the federal government to address the problems created by millions of illegal aliens led me to introduce and champion the Illegal Immigration Relief Act in Hazleton. It's amazing to me that now, four years later, the federal government has still failed to secure our borders and deal with the drain of illegal immigration on municipalities and states,” Mayor Barletta said. “I commend Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona for signing into law what her courageous legislators passed. I understand the pressure they will now be under because I faced that very same pressure in Hazleton by the very same groups. I was called some of the very same names they’re being called right now.



“But, after reviewing the law and speaking with experts who helped draft the legislation, I am confident that the Arizona law includes sufficient safeguards against racial profiling and protects the rights of legal American citizens,” Mayor Barletta continued. “Just like the people of Hazleton several years ago, the people of Arizona were confronted with a dangerous problem and they looked to their elected officials for leadership. I’m proud to say I led the fight here in Hazleton, and I congratulate Gov. Brewer and Arizona lawmakers for standing tall in the face of misguided criticism.

“I'm disappointed but not surprised that the federal government is not taking any steps to stem the flow of illegal aliens into the United States,” Mayor Barletta added. “Our borders remain wide open to those wishing to sneak into this country. That poses an incredible threat to our national security. And, in these difficult economic times, the underground workforce of illegal aliens is taking jobs away from newly arrived legal immigrants, high school graduates, and other Pennsylvanians who desperately need a job.

Mayor Barletta started the national debate about illegal immigration in June 2006, when he proposed and spearheaded the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, an ordinance passed by the Hazleton City Council that requires all employers in the city to check the immigration status of all of its employees and for all landlords to keep on file a city-issued permit for all tenants. The ordinances also made English the language of official city business in Hazleton.

On the eve of the introduction of Pennsylvania’s own law, Mayor Barletta also asked where his opponents in the 11th Congressional District race – Rep. Paul Kanjorski, Corey O'Brien, and Brian Kelly – stand on the Arizona law.

“For more than a week, this legislation has been in the forefront of American debate, yet Mr. Kanjorski, Mr. O'Brien, and Mr. Kelly remain woefully silent on this critical national issue,” Mayor Barletta said. It's time they take a public position on this bill.

“I'd especially like to hear from Mr. Kanjorski, who absolutely needs to explain his inaction in securing our borders and stopping the flow of illegal aliens into the United States, Pennsylvania, and the 11th District. “He cannot continue to hide behind spokesmen. Let's hear from him directly.”

Kanjo on the air

Congressman Paul Kanjorski released his first primary TV spot today.





His challenger Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien has been running this coffee shop spot for a few weeks.





The third candidate in the race is Brian Kelly.

What's up in the 11th CD

Mayor Lou Barletta defended the honor of Hazleton before the students of Temple University last week. Today he is touting his fundraising prowess claiming to have raised $300,000 this cycle. The FEC reports are not online yet so we have to wait to see where the money came from and how much cash he has on hand or if he incurred any more debt. Yesterday another one one of the increasingly frequent raids by federal agents swarmed the offices of a firm involved in one his pet projects. He denies any knowledge of wrongdoing.


Dredge-site firms eyed


“I surely don’t want to speculate on what’s happening. … We need to wait and see if there was any wrongdoing. … I hope the reclamation of the minelands will continue and that the amphitheater project also will continue,” Barletta said.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski has been busy defending his vote for Health Care reform to just about every group that will listen to him. He also came up with one of his big ideas like Wall Street West


Kanjorski: W-B could host energy institute

I think this idea has merit in the long run but the potential damage that gas drilling can do to the area can't wait to be addressed. The gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale will happen no matter how much me and other bloggers rail against it. The challenge is to get the federal and state governments to put in tough regulations to protect the water supply.

Corey O'Brien is making hay out of the rift between Kanjo and neighboring Congressman Chris Carney over the Appropriation Committee seat that came open when Jack Murtha died. The long and short of it is Carney thinks that Kanjorski screwed him over when Kanjo voted for Patrick Murphy instead of him to replace Murtha on the committee.

I got this release from the O'Brien camp:


The fallout from Paul Kanjorski’s betrayal of Northeastern Pennsylvania continues – today, Politico reported that Kanjorski is to blame for igniting “open warfare” on Congressman Carney. According to a chief of staff to a member of the Pennsylvania delegation “The person to blame for this … is Kanjorski.”

Paul Kanjorski voted against Chris Carney for a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and in doing so, cost our region hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite Congressman Carney’s requests for an explanation, Kanjorski has failed to provide a reason for his betrayal and instead continues to hide behind secret ballots and lame excuses.

Pennsylvania Dems feud over seat

My advice to Kanjo and Carney is to stop it. It doesn't help you or you constituents.

This one is rich.

Kanjo's pollster actually called Corey O'Brien.

via Mark

The first rule of polling is “make sure the pollster doesn’t call your opponent’s house.” To that rule I would add “…especially when the campaign manager is sitting next to the phone.”

But last week, Team Kanjo broke this rule, and in doing so, revealed just how low he will sink in his desperate attempt to keep his seat. Not only did the poll seek to find ways of tearing down Corey O’Brien, it also tested just how angry voters are with Paul Kanjorski.

The set of questions written by Kanjorski’s own team says it all. The pollster asked “if any of the following would be a reason not to vote for someone”:

1. Paul Kanjorski is a professional politician.

2. Paul Kanjorski has voted for pay raise after pay raise after pay raise, while we struggle with unemployment and stagnant job creation.

3. Eleven Democrats, including Paul Kanjorski, voted against the stimulus package. Now Paul Kanjorski is trying to take credit for its success.

4. Paul Kanjorski was the architect of the bailout and defends the bailout. (Campaign manager’s note to pollster -- you should also ask whether taking campaign contributions from bailed out banks only two weeks after the multi-billion dollar bailout would be a reason “not to vote for someone”).

5. Paul Kanjorski was named by a journalist as a corrupt Member of Congress because he funneled $10 million to his daughter and son-in-law’s company, Cornerstone.Team Kanjo: In case the answer wasn’t clear from your poll, please stay tuned for May 18th.

Stop Twisting the Truth

Perhaps a telling omen of what Kanjorski’s smear machine will look like, the pollster also made a series of misleading, negative attacks on Corey O’Brien:

The fact that Corey and his wife have debt was twisted into “a lack of fiscal discipline,” even though the debt is from student loans for law school, Corey’s wife’s small business, and child care expenses.

Corey’s career as a community banking attorney became “representing Wall Street” (those are your donors, Congressman).


There is another candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination. Brian Kelly thinks that the world should be made safe to drink tea and talks to the ghost of Dan Flood.

Ballot Challenges

According to the PA Department of State website 11th CD Republican candidate Chris Paige's nominating petitions are being challenged by Wm Maughan, Maureen Ace and Robert Ace. According to pa2010.com One of them is being represented by Lawrence Tabas, a Philadelphia lawyer who also serves as general counsel to the state GOP, which is firmly behind Barletta.

No surprise really because trying to knock your primary opponents is part of the game. I expected the Corey O'Brien camp to challenge Brian Kelly's signatures.


Paige responded to the challenge in the pa2010 comments:

Since I haven’t been served with either complaint, I can’t comment beyond the obvious: this is a deplorable cowardly move that flatly contradicts Mr. Barletta’s frequent comments to the media that he welcomed additional challengers into the race. Assuming this report is correct, we are pleased that discovery will allow us to investigate Mr. Barletta’s own activities.

McGruff admits that the Barletta campaign has information that provide the basis for the challenge.

In the Senate race Joe Sestak wants Joe Vodvarka off the ballot so people don't have 2 choices in voting against Arlen Specter.

New 11th CD candidate

“A regular person holding an office becomes a politician when trying to be re-elected.”- Brian Kelly





Brian Kelly is a retired IBM executive and assistant professor at Marywood University in Scranton. He will not accept campaign donations and vows to serve only one term if elected. If he actually gets on the ballot it is good news for Congressman Kanjorski because the anti-Kanjo voters will have another choice other than Corey O'Brien. The Machiavelli in me has been expecting another Scranton area Democrat to get into the race.

He has a website
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Brian Kelly for Congress
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Reading his Patform Bullets he takes some interesting postions for someone calling himself a Democrat, to put it mildly. He says he has been influenced by the writings of Allan Keyes saying that they think alike.
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Some of his positions:


Abortion is "prohibited" in Declaration of Independence

Public display of the Ten Commandments is a state’s right.

Official Language of US is English.

Marriage is between a man and a woman.

This is a Christian Nation.. Prayers to Christ should not be barred.

Schools forfeit funds if they expose kids to gay propaganda / pornography.

Sex education if it exists at all, should be abstinence-based

Eliminate Department of Education

Drill here, Drill now

Global Warming is a hoax

CAFE standards kill people in crashes - abolish them

Recognize the UN as an anti-US agency

Repeal all aspects of Obamacare including the "Porkulus" bureaucracy

Seal the borders of the United States

No U.S. citizenship for “anchor babies” of non-citizens

Repeal the Sixteenth Amendment

Abolish the income tax and IRS and spend money responsibly

Constitution does not require separation of church and state

TL: 11th needs non-politico, Kelly says