Time for some grownups

So Mike Flynn was fired as National Security Advisor. Expect more staff changes in the Trump Whitehouse. Priebus, Conway, Bannon, Miller, etc. have no experience in government and it has showed in the first 3 weeks.  I expect that some people from the Dubya years will be brought in to restore some order. But who would want the jobs when you have to deal with Twitty.

We had an election and nobody got killed. We got through it

For every apocalyptic prediction in the aftermath of the election yesterday I want to remind my friends that we will get through it. Depending on your point of view either Dubya or O'Bummer was the worst thing that has ever happened to this country. Somehow we got through it.

That being said there is some real danger out there.

Trump doesn't seem to be interested in public policy unless it can be reduced to a sound bite so the Republican Congress will set the agenda and he will go along with most of it.



Just on Healthcare. 

They will repeal the Affordable Care Act ( Obamacare) leaving over 20 million people without health insurance.  They have to do this, the base will rebel if they don't.

Speaker Paul Ryan's budget outlined a plan to close the VA Medical Centers and make Medicare into something of a coupon system. They call it premium support. Frank Luntz is a master of language

Changing Medicaid to a block grant to give states "flexibility. "  Most of the money (over 60%)  pays for people in Nursing Homes  like my Mom.

Obamacare is opposed until you tell people that you kids can stay on your policy until they are 26 or preventive procedures are covered with no deductible. If you have an illness (preexisting condition)  you can't be denied coverage.

The headlines tell us that  premiums have increased dramatically this year but how much  would they go up without this law? No one knows.

The Debt Limit Farce

Up until 2011 the raising of the debt limit was just a a housekeeping chore that Congress had to go through occasionally. Whichever party that was  in power would vote to raise it  and the opposition against, usually unanimous on both sides. The debt limit was raised 18 times under President Reagan and 7 times when Dubya occupied the the White House

Saint Ronny even warned against not raising the limit:

"The full consequences of a default -- or even the serious prospect of default -- by the United States are impossible to predict and awesome to contemplate. Denigration of the full faith and credit of the United States would have substantial effects on the domestic financial markets and the value of the dollar."

When the Republicans took control of the Senate after the 1980 election it was time to raise the debt limit again and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker met with his caucus and told them they had to vote to raise the debt ceiling. He got the usual objections from his members like "I never voted to increase the debt limit in my life", etc.  His response was the American people elected us to govern and now we must show them we are fit to govern. The Republicans then  all voted to increase it and all the Democrats voted against it. 

Now the Republicans are moving on from shutting down the government to threatening to blow up the world economy if they don't get their way. Do you know how many financial instruments are tied to the 30 year T-Bill? Not only in this country but around the world. If the Treasury has to decide between paying the interest on  the debt or issuing Social Security checks or paying other obligations there will be chaos not seen since 1929.

As I have said before these Tea Party people are not conservatives. They are anti-government anarchists. 

There is a way out of this ridiculous situation and Sen. Mitch McConnell of all people came up with it in 2011:

HP:
Under current law, Congress raises the debt ceiling, which allows the Treasury Department to issue more bonds to pay off debts and fund projects that Congress has already authorized. Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize or appropriate new spending, but merely settles old bills. 

Yet under McConnell's plan, which he called his "last-choice option," the White House would request an increase in the debt ceiling and Congress could only block that request with a veto-proof super majority -- effectively ceding control over the debt limit to the White House. A super majority would likely be difficult to amass, especially when neither party's leadership genuinely wants the nation to default.

Veterans Day

This a repost from 2 years ago.

I always joke that I expect a call from the White House on Veterans Day.

I understand why the last occupant of the place never called since he didn't give a shit about the people that were killed and maimed as a result of his Oedipal complex and my opposition to it. I voted for Barry and expected better from him but he continues the ill fated adventure in Afghanistan. Clinton waged a half assed effort in the Balkans and his predecessor had a violent reaction when oil supplies were threatened as any (oil) junkie would.

Some of you know that I wore the uniform of the United States Air Force after high school.

During my time in the service the United States engaged in 3 significant military actions on the orders of President Reagan. The bombing of Libya was justified but didn't deter them from taking down an airliner over Scotland a few years later. I knew the navigator in the F-111 that went down. Although I didn't know it at the time I was part of the planning of the raid. In the Beirut fiasco a good friend who was a load master on a C-130 got shot up on the tarmac of the airport, 241 Marines later died when their barracks was blown up after the US took sides in a civil war. The next day the US invaded Grenada.

I hate war.

Bush voted for Obama

Oops.

George Bush Accidentally Votes For Obama

  Former U.S. president George W. Bush accidentally voted for Barack Obama today at a polling place near his Crawford, TX home.

According to local reports, the two-term Republican was confused by the instructions on his electronic voting machine and mistakenly cast a ballot he intended to discard.
Witnesses say Bush argued with poll workers for several minutes afterwards in a effort to redo his vote, but in accordance with state law they ultimately denied his request.

A touch of the screen to Big Dan for passing this along.

Rick Perry in town today

Texas  Governor Rick Perry will be at the Wilkes-Barre GOP
Victory Center (34 S. Main St.) Saturday, November 3, 2012, along with GOP Senate candidate Tom Smith.  The event begins at 10am.




Joe Biden's visit got washed out by the storm but the Big Dog will be in Scranton Monday. TL: Former President Bill Clinton will be in Scranton Monday on the campaign trail, according to Democratic Party sources. Details to follow.

In another iteration of Lucy teeing up the football Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will also be in PA over the weekend.  PoliticsPA has the details.

MB:

In 2008, John McCain visited Pennsylvania the Sunday before the election, but Obama won the state.

In 2004, George W. Bush visited Pennsylvania the day before the election, but John Kerry won the state.

In 1996, Bob Dole visited Pennsylvania the Friday before the election, but Bill Clinton won the state.

In 1992, George H.W. Bush visited Pennsylvania the day of the election, but Bill Clinton won the state.

Charlie Brown never kicks the ball.

Sarah Palin said some nice things about Rick Santorum

Sarah Palin said some nice things about Rick Santorum (R-VA) on Fox News that he touting in a fundraising email.

Gort
“If voters start shifting gears and deciding they want ideological consistency, then they’re going to start paying attention to say, Rick Santorum.”
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said that last night on Fox News about me, and I wanted to make sure you heard about it as well.
I am grateful for those kind words from a strong conservative like Governor Palin. And it’s becoming more clear that other conservatives are starting to rally around our message of passionate conservatism.

I love it when a politician sends a personalized email when hitting me up for money but I'm unclear what the difference is between a passionate conservative and a compassionate conservative like Bush advertised. I think it might be something akin to being a benevolent axe murderer as Mike McGlynn once said in the CV.




Michelle Bachman said she would consider him for VP.




CNN: Bachmann threw out a few names Wednesday when asked who her potential vice-president would be, including fellow candidate Rick Santorum...The congresswoman from Minnesota also floated Santorum as a potential attorney general, saying his legal acumen was top notch.
"I think that Rick Santorum is a wonderful man personally, but also, I think that he's very gifted when it comes to the area of legal issues."




Rick is charming all the girls saying "I’m the one you want to take home to Mom.”




Rick Santorum a Hit With the Ladies

It's Rick Santorum's turn to be the flavor of the month

The race for the Republican Presidential nomination continues to be a search for an alternative to Mitt Romney. It's been one flame out after another.

First it was Michelle Bachman winning the Iowa straw poll who's understanding of American history confirmed that our school systems are failing. Then Governor Rick Perry's inability to speak in complete sentences in the debates burst his bubble and shamed his English teachers. Nobody wants another Texas Governor that murders the English language. Next was pizza guy Herman Cain who is mired in sexual harassment charges and seems to think that his ignorance of foreign policy is a plus. Right now Newt Gingrich is topping some polls but was paid over $1 million by conservative boogie man Freddie Mac and is haunted by his past events like serving divorce papers to his 1st wife when she was in the hospital recovering from cancer and being forced to resign from being Speaker of the House because of ethics issues. Not to mention the Tiffany's thing.



So that leaves former PA Senator and Virginia resident Rick Santorum who is banking on a good showing in Iowa to keep his campaign alive until he drops out after South Carolina or Florida. He is only polling 3% in Iowa but polls in a caucus state don't always predict the outcome. Iowa Republicans are known for their religious conservatism and his hawkish foreign policy stances play well. Santorum has always been a consistent abortion opponent who wants to turn the clock back on gay rights and thinks starting a war with Iran is a good idea feeding off the end of times Israel can do no wrong fundamentalism.



His camp is actually touting an interview with Glen Beck of all people. Beck was kicked off FOX News for being even to nuts for them. He also said that Penn State shouldn't go to a Bowl game and Sarah Palin disagreed "It's not the players' fault that they have a perverted former assistant coach," she told Fox News host Greta Van Susteren. "I would like to see the players not suffer more than they have suffered."

Troops coming home from Iraq

When Bush decided to invade Iraq I asked the question "what are we going to do 2 or 3 years from now when they are still shooting at our people?" It's been 9 years after a colossal waste of blood and treasure it will finally end. One of the biggest reasons I voted for Obama was his promise to get our troops out of the middle east.

Atrios tagged those of us who opposed the war as "dirty fucking hippies" who should listen to "the very serious people" even after it was obvious that this was one of the worst foreign policy blunders in the history of the United States. The 101st Keyboard Brigade and other chickenhawks counseled that we should give it one more Friedman Unit to turn things around.

Polling shows that the American people overwhelmingly favors this decision. It looks like the hippies were right. Mitt Romney and the rest of the Republican presidential field put out statements opposing the decision but they would want to outlaw velcro if it came out the President wore basketball sneakers with it instead of laces.

The charge that Obama is weak on national security is laughable just ask Osama, Qaddafi and all those people that have been blown up by drone attacks.

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. As a candidate for President, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end -- for the sake of our national security and to strengthen American leadership around the world. After taking office, I announced a new strategy that would end our combat mission in Iraq and remove all of our troops by the end of 2011.

As Commander-in-Chief, ensuring the success of this strategy has been one of my highest national security priorities. Last year, I announced the end to our combat mission in Iraq. And to date, we’ve removed more than 100,000 troops. Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their country’s security.

A few hours ago I spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki. I reaffirmed that the United States keeps its commitments. He spoke of the determination of the Iraqi people to forge their own future. We are in full agreement about how to move forward.

So today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over.

Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq -- tens of thousands of them -- will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home. The last American soldier[s] will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops. That is how America’s military efforts in Iraq will end.

But even as we mark this important milestone, we’re also moving into a new phase in the relationship between the United States and Iraq. As of January 1st, and in keeping with our Strategic Framework Agreement with Iraq, it will be a normal relationship between sovereign nations, an equal partnership based on mutual interests and mutual respect.

In today’s conversation, Prime Minister Maliki and I agreed that a meeting of the Higher Coordinating Committee of the Strategic Framework Agreement will convene in the coming weeks. And I invited the Prime Minister to come to the White House in December, as we plan for all the important work that we have to do together. This will be a strong and enduring partnership. With our diplomats and civilian advisors in the lead, we’ll help Iraqis strengthen institutions that are just, representative and accountable. We’ll build new ties of trade and of commerce, culture and education, that unleash the potential of the Iraqi people. We’ll partner with an Iraq that contributes to regional security and peace, just as we insist that other nations respect Iraq’s sovereignty.

As I told Prime Minister Maliki, we will continue discussions on how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces -- again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world. After all, there will be some difficult days ahead for Iraq, and the United States will continue to have an interest in an Iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant. Just as Iraqis have persevered through war, I’m confident that they can build a future worthy of their history as a cradle of civilization.

Here at home, the coming months will be another season of homecomings. Across America, our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families. Today, I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays.

This December will be a time to reflect on all that we’ve been though in this war. I’ll join the American people in paying tribute to the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Iraq. We’ll honor our many wounded warriors and the nearly 4,500 American patriots -- and their Iraqi and coalition partners -- who gave their lives to this effort.

And finally, I would note that the end of war in Iraq reflects a larger transition. The tide of war is receding. The drawdown in Iraq allowed us to refocus our fight against al Qaeda and achieve major victories against its leadership -- including Osama bin Laden. Now, even as we remove our last troops from Iraq, we’re beginning to bring our troops home from Afghanistan, where we’ve begun a transition to Afghan security and leadership. When I took office, roughly 180,000 troops were deployed in both these wars. And by the end of this year that number will be cut in half, and make no mistake: It will continue to go down.

Meanwhile, yesterday marked the definitive end of the Qaddafi regime in Libya. And there, too, our military played a critical role in shaping a situation on the ground in which the Libyan people can build their own future. Today, NATO is working to bring this successful mission to a close.

So to sum up, the United States is moving forward from a position of strength. The long war in Iraq will come to an end by the end of this year. The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward, and our troops are finally coming home. As they do, fewer deployments and more time training will help keep our military the very best in the world. And as we welcome home our newest veterans, we’ll never stop working to give them and their families the care, the benefits and the opportunities that they have earned.

This includes enlisting our veterans in the greatest challenge that we now face as a nation -- creating opportunity and jobs in this country. Because after a decade of war, the nation that we need to build -- and the nation that we will build -- is our own; an America that sees its economic strength restored just as we’ve restored our leadership around the globe.

Thank you very much.





<

Veterans Day

I always joke that I expect a call from the White House on Veterans Day.

I understand why the last occupant of the place never called since he didn't give a shit about the people that were killed and maimed as a result of his Oedipal complex and my opposition to it. I voted for Barry and expected better from him but he continues the ill fated adventure in Afghanistan. Clinton waged a half assed effort in the Balkans and his predecessor had a violent reaction when oil supplies were threatened as any (oil) junkie would.

Some of you know that I wore the uniform of the United States Air Force after high school.

During my time in the service the United States engaged in 3 significant military actions on the orders of President Reagan. The bombing of Libya was justified but didn't deter them from taking down an airliner over Scotland a few years later. I knew the navigator in the F-111 that went down. Although I didn't know it at the time I was part of the planning of the raid. In the Beirut fiasco a good friend who was a load master on a C-130 got shot up on the tarmac of the airport, 241 Marines later died when their barracks was blown up after the US took sides in a civil war. The next day the US invaded Grenada.

I hate war.

Weak tea

This is just the beginning.

Is Rand Paul Already Selling Out?

So Rand Paul talked the talk on earmarks but says he will "fight for Kentucky’s share of earmarks and federal pork, as long as it’s doled out transparently at the committee level and not parachuted in in the dead of night. “I will advocate for Kentucky’s interests,” he says."

The senior Senator from Kentucky agrees “As I think all of you know, you can eliminate every congressional earmark and save no money,” the Republican leader said. “It’s really an argument about discretion.”

I think McConnell is right about the arithmetic but the symbolism is deadly.

This is just the beginning of a string of broken promises by the newly empowered Republicans. The question is will the tea party voters call them on it or will they just lay down and be trampled on like what happened under Bush because it's OK if you are a Republican to break your word.

Marino almost got fired before he quit

Reading the press reports today it has become clear that not only is Tom Marino a liar but his superiors in the Department of Justice thought he was incompetent.


Marino's effectiveness questioned

A senior Justice Department official recommended firing Marino in September 2006, saying he "perceived that Marino was not leading his office," according to the report, which has taken on fresh relevance as the Republican challenges Democratic incumbent Chris Carney in the 10th Congressional District.

D. Kyle Sampson, the chief of staff to then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, subsequently placed Marino's name on a list of U.S. Attorneys he said the department, "should consider pushing out," based on "problems" he learned about in summer 2006, according to the report.

You can read the report at this link.

The only thing that saved his tail was the Justice Department didn't want to piss off Senator Arlen Specter.

REPORT: Political ties kept Marino from termination


A report timeline shows that Marino was recommended for termination weeks after he provided a personal reference on a gambling license application for a convicted felon who was under investigation by Marino’s office.

Marino and one other attorney were removed from the list “not because anyone disagreed with the removal recommendation...because both were believed to have the political support of their home-state Senators and the judgment was made not to risk a fight with the Senators over the proposed removals,” according to the report.


This seems to be different than the dismissal of other US Attorney's at the time who were booted for political reasons by Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and Karl Rove. Why Karl Rove was making personnel decisions at DOJ is a subject that has been covered by many other bloggers at the time. Instead of getting rid of him because he wouldn't toe the party line like they did to the others they just thought he was a putz.

Tom Marino continues to be Chris Carney's biggest asset in this election and the Carney camp let him have it in a press release:


CLARKS SUMMIT -- This morning, news broke in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice and the Scranton Times-Tribune about a Department of Justice report that provides searing evidence that Tom Marino was unfit to serve as U.S. attorney and was recommended for firing before his abrupt 2007 resignation. The report shows that Marino was singled out for firing just weeks after he had provided a personal reference for a convicted felon who was under investigation by Marino's office.

The following is a statement in response to the news from Josh Drobnyk, campaign spokesman for Congressman Chris Carney (Pa-10):


"The facts speak for themselves. The report from the Justice Department makes it clear that Tom Marino lacks the essential qualities that people on all sides of the political spectrum deserve in an elected official: leadership, integrity and competence. This Department of Justice report states in no uncertain terms that Marino failed to lead his office. He has lied about the controversial reference he provided for a convicted felon who was under investigation by his office. And it is now clear that he lied about his record at as U.S. attorney. The question that he must answer is what else is Tom Marino hiding? It is time for him to truthfully account for his record and stop deliberately misleading the public."


Marino's mouthpiece did his best to minimize the damage.


A spokesman for Marino's Congressional campaign, Jason Fitzgerald, dismissed the revelations in the Justice Department report as another distraction in a race that has centered more on missteps and personal defects than social issues and policy positions.

"We're really not going to play in the mud on this stuff," Fitzgerald said Wednesday. "Those claims are totally without merit. Tom Marino was a distinguished prosecutor."

He also added that Nancy Pelosi is a liberal.

After talking with Chris Hackett and Dan Meuser last Friday I keep thinking what if those guys had held off running until this year.


Marino timeline

2002: Tom Marino is sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania, which includes Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Harrisburg.

2004: Federal authorities launch an investigation into allegations Dunmore businessman Louis DeNaples used a middleman to make campaign contributions to Gov. Ed Rendell.

December 2005: Marino serves as a personal reference for DeNaples' application for a license to operate the Mount Airy Casino in Monroe County.

January 2006: A Justice Department official includes Marino on a list of "problem" prosecutors and tells a colleague she is "not sure about" him.

September 2006: Marino makes private decision to resign, does not set specific date.

September 13, 2006: D. Kyle Sampson, the chief of staff to then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, places Marino's name on a list of U.S. Attorneys the department "should consider pushing out."

November 2006: Sampson places Marino's name on another list of targeted prosecutors.

January 2007: Marino discloses relationship with DeNaples to the Justice Department and is ordered to withdraw from the investigation into DeNaples.

Sept. 21, 2007: Marino announces resignation, which takes effect Oct. 12, 2007.

January 2008: Marino starts working for DeNaples, earning $249,999-per-year as the full-time counsel for his non-casino interests.

DNC ad

We won't be fooled again

via HuffPo

...the DNC's first television ad directly related to the midterms.

"This fall, America faces a big choice: Do we continue to move forward like the Democrats are doing? Investing in education for every child, manufacturing right here at home, clean energy powering a new economy. Do we put Main Street ahead of Wall Street; do we hold big business accountable when they've gone to far? Or do we go back to the same Republican policies that got us into this mess?" the spot reads before fading to audio of Bush proclaiming "you can't get fooled again."

Commander Carney reports for duty

Chris Carney will again spend his summer vacation blowing up things in Afghanistan by remote control. The Iraq war is winding down and hopefully we can start bringing our people home from Afghanistan in 2011 as promised by the President.



Washington, D.C.—Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10) reported today for active duty at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where he will serve through Aug. 8. One of only four Members of the U.S. House of Representatives currently serving in uniform, Congressman Carney joined the Navy Reserve in 1995. He was promoted to the rank of Commander in 2008.

“Congressman Carney is proud to serve our country in uniform in the Navy Reserve,” said Josh Drobnyk, Congressman Carney’s communications director. “The congressman’s service requires that he report for multiple weeks of Reserve duty every year, a commitment he takes very seriously.”

A former intelligence analyst, Congressman Carney is the only Navy officer and only Member of Congress who serves as a Combat Mission Commander for Predator and Reaper Missions in Afghanistan. He will be involved with the Predator Missions in Afghanistan while on active duty. He was activated for Operations Southern Watch, Nobel Eagle, and Enduring Freedom.

While in uniform, Congressman Carney and his staff will not be able to comment on political matters. All of Congressman Carney's offices in Pennsylvania and Washington, DC will remain open to assist constituents.



Carney always lives up to his military obligations unlike some others.

President Clinton backs Doherty

Former President Bill Clinton has endorsed Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty in the PA Senate 22nd district race. It is unheard of for a former President to get involved in a local primary election.

Clinton was a successful President who left office with the country at peace with the finances in order. In 2000 there was a budget surplus that his successor blew all to hell so maybe the Teabaggers who are all worried about the deficits that Bush gave us should want him back in the White House.

The message from the Doherty camp crowing about it:


There won't be a bigger endorsement in the state senate campaign than this:

Former President Bill Clinton is supporting Mayor Doherty in the May 18 primary!

Starting today, we're launching a campaign to highlight President Clinton's support.

So, please listen to his endorsement here, then forward this e-mail to three of your friends right now to help spread the word.

As you know, the Clintons have always had a special connection to Scranton. Secretary of State Clinton's family hails from the area, and both of them have made several trips to Northeast Pennsylvania on various campaigns over the years.

As the president says in his endorsement, Chis Doherty "helped to turn the city [of Scranton] around," and "he'll bring the same energy and dedication to all of Northeast Pennsylvania" as he works to bring good paying jobs into the district and to clean up Harrisburg.

We couldn't be more proud to receive President Clinton's support.

Listen to the Big Dog

Senate race tightens

Capitol Ideas reports today that the Morning Call/Muhlenberg College tracking poll shows that Joe Sestak has opened up a 4 point lead (46-42) in his quest to replace Arlen Specter in the US Senate. Sestak has been trending up all week in this poll and we will see if the other polling oufits confirm it.


Sestak will be in Wilkes-Barre again tomorrow

Date: Monday, May 10, 2010
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Luzerne County Court House
Street: 200 N River St
City/Town: Wilkes-Barre, PA

I think Specter's Captain Queeg ad may have backfired, especially with veterans, and the spot tieing Specter to Bush is devastating. The Pennsylvania Progressive reminds Democrats of all the bad things Specter has voted for in the last few years.

One of the things I will give props to Specter for is his support of medical research and being the champion of National Institutes of Health even when his then Republican collegues wanted to cut funding for the agency.

Michael J Fox agrees

Santorum's greatest pics

From the comments


Big Dan said...
Where's your patented picture of Santorum with the PINK SUIT on???


Big Dan said...
I WANT THE PINK SUIT PICTURE!!!!

Calm down pal. Mrs. G tells me that the suit is actually powder blue and the tie is pink. Shades are not my strong suit so I stick to primary colors. I think he looks rather dashing in this getup with the cross thing on the lapel. Because of you I didn't write up some insightful and well researched post about local politics tonight. Instead I went on a picture hunt.







I always liked this photo of Ricky, Dubya and Arlen Specter from 2004.

Lou Barletta teamed with Rick Santorum when Santorum was looking for an issue to scare the pants off of people and has run with it since.

My apologies to Gomer Pyle.

The "SMALL GOVERNMENT" Senator injected himself and the federal government into one of the most painful decisions a family can face and helped to make it into a circus.

Specter with Bush ad

With the polls closing to single digits in the Pennsylvania US Senate Democratic primary race between Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak the long awaited TV spot highlighting Specter's last campaign in 2004 when he was selling himself as a loyal Republican being backed by GW Bush and Rick Santorum finally aired.


It is not on Sestak's website or YouTube channel which shows how incompetent the Sestak campaign has been. Liberal bloggers all over the state and country would link to it if it was available giving them all sorts of free media. Maybe tomorrow.

Blog buddy Dan Hirschorn of pa2010.com has the video that looks like somebody pointed a camera at a TV .





His play by play


It’s the campaign ad everyone knew was coming—and it was only a matter of time.

The latest TV spot by Democrat Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign highlights former President George W. Bush’s support for Senator Arlen Specter during the 2004 campaign, as well Specter’s support for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008. It also twice plays a clip of Specter saying that “my change in party will enable me to be reelected.”

The 30-second spot aired Wednesday night on CBS in the Philadelphia media market, appearing on “CSI: NY” and later on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Sestak has harped on Specter’s party-switch throughout the campaign, but the new ad is the first time he’s taken that message to the airwaves.

“For 45 years, Arlen Specter has been a Republican politician,” a narrator says.

The footage of Bush endorsing Specter—”I can count on this man,” Bush says with former Senator Rick Santorum at his side—is taken from one of Specter’s own 2004 campaign ads.

The ad closes with a shot of Specter standing with Palin. “Arlen Specter switched parties to save one job,” the narrator says. “His, not yours.”

Joe Biden visit Friday

If you want to see our always colorful Vice President who is never at a loss for words on Friday at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport you will need a ticket. They can be obtained at the Arlen Specter Scranton office today and tomorrow located at 520 Spruce St, 2nd floor in Biden's hometown of Scranton between 10AM and 5PM. The rally will be in one of the hangers just follow the signs and look for lots of law enforcement types. Doors open at 12:30PM and the program is scheduled to start at 2PM but they always run late. This is a BFD.

Update from Herself: For folks from Luzerne County and other areas who can't make it to Scranton there will be a ticket pickup for Friday's event in Wilkes-Barre as well:

DAY/DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 22nd
TIME: 12pm to 6pm
PLACE: BARNES & NOBLE ON PUBLIC SQUARE in WILKES-BARRE-- 7 S. Main St.



Specter's Democratic primary opponent was in Wilkes-Barre yesterday saying small businesses should have greater access to federal contracts decrying the influence of big business in the US Senate. Joe Sestak slammed Specter

CV: "I believe that the Democratic establishment in Washington, D.C., supported by the Democratic establishment in Harrisburg, got off track when it felt it had to make a political deal with Arlen Specter so he could try to keep his job because he couldn't win in the Republican primary," Sestak said.

Sestak finally dipped into his $5 Million warchest to go up on the the air with this bio ad




Specter had 2 positive ads running over the weekend but now is up with a spot that starts off calling Sestak Captain Queeg. If I didn't know better I would think that Capitol Ideas helped write the script. What about the strawberry's? Then he accuses him of being AWOL from Congress. Specter has switched to the Dems but this ad is out of the Karl Rove playbook. Attack your opponent's strength. Just like Bush tore down John Kerry's military service Specter is trying to do the same to Sestak.

YouTube weekend

Heck of a job Bushie.

These numbers are a few days old and get worse with every passing day.

From NBC: What the United States looked like when Bush was entering office and what it looks like now as he's leaving. The "Then" is the best-available figure as Bush was taking office in 2001. The "Now" is the most recent figure


UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Then: 4.2% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2001)

Now: 6.7% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2008)

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE

Then: 10,587 (close of Friday, Jan. 19, 2001)

Now: 9,015 (close of Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009)

SATISFIED WITH THE NATION'S DIRECTION

Then: 45% (1/01 NBC/WSJ poll)

Now: 26% (12/08 NBC/WSJ poll)


CONSUMER CONFIDENCE (1985=100)

Then: 115.7 (Conference Board, January 2001)

Now: 38.0, which is an all-time low (Conference Board, December 2008)


FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY

Then: 6.4 million (Census numbers for 2000)

Now: 7.6 million (Census numbers for 2007 -- most recent numbers available)


AMERICANS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE

Then: 39.8 million (Census numbers for 2000)

Now: 45.7 million (Census numbers for 2007 -- most recent available)

U.S. BUDGETT

Then: +236.2 billion (2000, Congressional Budget Office)

Now: -$1.2 trillion (projected figure for 2009, Congressional Budget Office)



Metallica - King Nothing






Black Sabbath-War Pigs





We still have 10 days left until the End of Days.

The Day After (Attack Segment)