The First Read — November 23, 2009

Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

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Sestak: Specter didn’t outflank me on Afghanistan
In some ways, the issue is one of careful political semantics. Both have couched their support for escalating the war on making sure it’s necessary to fight Al-Qaeda and both have harped on the importance of having an exit strategy. But it’s hard to argue that Sestak hasn’t staked out at least a marginally more hawkish position on Afghanistan than the one Specter took last week. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Specter signals opposition to Afghan troop buildup

Independent jumps into 7th District race
Jim Schneller, a former New York City worker who later worked as a marketing executive, will be running for the seat as an independent candidate. Read More

LEFTOVERS: Another Pike endorsement, another Scranton nod & some Dem sniping
Democrat Doug Pike announced the latest of many of endorsements in his 6th District Congressional bid, this one coming from former congressman and 9/11 commission member Lee Hamilton, one of the parties preeminent voices on foreign policy. Read More

Living testimony from a Pa. ghost employee
For decades, Pennsylvania government has been haunted by ghosts—the illegal kind embodied by patronage hires who, though flesh and blood, don’t do a stitch of work for their government salaries. But rarely do they unmask themselves for all to see as Sue Cornell has done. Read More

1,000 greet Palin at Washington County book signing
The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee stormed into town to hawk her new memoir, drawing more than 1,000 passionate supporters who stood in line for hours to get a peek at the one-time governor of Alaska. Read More

Sestak says ‘we oversold’ the stimulus
Republican Pat Toomey’s campaign is seizing upon comments Democrat Joe Sestak made about the economic stimulus package, in which Sestak said “there’s no such thing as a shovel-ready job.” Read More

The $613,000 question
In a Voices piece, Republican 6th District candidate Steven Welch argues that the economic stimulus package has failed. Read More

Philly Mayor Nutter helps Bloomberg paint a Bronx school to settle World Series bet
The terms of the bet dictated the losing mayor would travel to the winning city to join the winning mayor in a volunteer service project, while wearing the winning team’s jersey. Read More

Allegheny may offer reassessment guide for state
A Common Pleas judge’s four-year property reassessment plan for Allegheny County could serve as a blueprint for a statewide system, but lawmakers say they need more time to study all options. Read More

Two unions in Reading reject concessions plan; third won’t put it to vote
City firefighters and nonuniformed employees last week rejected concessions the city administration says it needs to balance the 2010 budget, and city police say they have no plans for concessions or a vote. Read More

Have a great day!

November 23, 2009 at 5:30 am

--pa2010.com Staff

Tags: The First Read