Hateful

I’m afraid that exposure to your delusional rantings and embittered emotional state will infect my relatively rational mind.

Also, I am quite confident that those being paid to work full time in the media will be happy to print any substance to your rumors. So I’ll wait for those stories and for elephants to fly. Repeating charges, howsoever vehemently, does not make them true, although you don’t seem to reralize that.

As I’ve said before, to the best of my knowledge, Dan has not written anything even remotely confirming your perceived wrongdoing. So it’s weak of you to cite him as corroberating your (so far, at least) fantasy world.

NOTE TO DAN: you might want to make sure that you are not placed by others where you have not chosen to go.

For your own good, I suggest that you not get your hopes built up so high, that you have singlehandedly exposed the crime of the century, that you are not thrown into an unrecoverable depression when your allegations are not proven to be what you think they are. Remeber: hate, like love, is blind. Don’t let it lead you into peril.

Dave – Please show me opposing votes on any of those topics from Specter in the 2000-2007 time period. You know I was disappointed in Joe’s Iraq votes, but his overall record is stellar. In the end, he is a Democrat, Specter is a Republican.

Don’t take my word for it, compare their voting record:

According the Washington Post, as of last May, Sestak voted with his party 97.8 percent of the time.

And on the flip side, we have Arlen Specter, the gold-star poster boy for voting with the Bush Administration. Here’s what George had to say about his pal Arlen last time around:

“I can count on this man,” Mr. Bush said at a Pittsburgh gathering of Republicans the week before the 2004 primary, “He’s a firm ally when it matters most. I’m proud to tell you I think he’s earned another term in the United States Senate.”

Specter was so proud of Bush’s support that he used these quotes in a campaign television commercial. And now we want to re-elect him as a Democrat? Let’s borrow a line from another Republican: Just say no.

Bruce-
I don’t claim that Specter has been great on opposing Bush/Cheney, though I think he did make some attempts before the GOP slapped him down.

But, you wrote:
“Too bad Arlen Specter didn’t have the backbone to oppose what Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and rest of that cabal did.”
I was merely providing examples where Sestak spineless followed alone with Bush (or possibly eagerly followed).

Did you actually believe Bush when he called Specter a firm ally? Didn’t you think he really meant “I can’t stand this RINO, but I think he has a better shot than Toomey of keeping the seat.” The GOP hated Specter almost as much as Ted Kennedy.

Hey, McCain praised Bush publicly in 2000, but let slip that he and his wife voted against him in that election.

Joe’s 97% voting with the Dems is meaningless, because much of it is procedural votes and it’s probably typical.

But, Joe’s Iraq vote was the complete opposite of the one key position/promise that he got elected on. It was an unforgivable vote that none of his other votes can make up for. It showed that his promises are worthless and he can’t be trusted.

That vote was like a lead brick while his other votes were like feathers on a balance scale.

Dave Diano -

You are a certifiable nut (along with your alter-ego Hate Sestak).

“Joe’s 97% voting with the Dems is meaningless, because much of it is procedural votes and it’s probably typical.”

You just insulted every other elected Democratic Congressman across the country. If Sestak’s 97.8% voting record with the Democrats is “meaningless” then every other vote taken by a Democratic Congressman is meaningless.

Really, how much is Specter paying you??

By your standard, the votes of PA’s Democratic Congressmen Doyle, Holden, Altmire, Dalhkempier, Carney, Murphy, Sestak, Kanjorski, Schwartz, Brady, Fattah and the recently deceased Murtha are all “meaningless”. Why do we even need Congressman under your definition?

By the way, get your facts straight.

The House passed 290 Bills last year that are now stalled in the Senate, Politico just had an article on it. The Senate – they passed just 5 bills.

And thank God that we had people like Pennsylvania’s Colonel Murtha, Admiral Sestak, Captain Murphy, Commander Carney — all men who served in time of war — that with raging conflicts in Afghanistan & Iraq with troop’s in harm’s way, that it was better to supply, than not to supply, while politicians in DC, who never served a day, “dickered” over future Afghanistan & Iraq plans.

And if your criticizing Sestak, then you might as well criticize Atlmire, Carney & Murphy for their votes. They too ran on similar platforms as Sestak.

Bailey: Representative Sestak’s “overall record is stellar” according to whom? What, precisely, has Representative Sestak accomplished during his unremarkable tenure? Little, if anything, in actuality. As mentioned previously, the denizens of the 7th District have not benefited from Sestak’s supposed efforts. They are not better off now than they were prior to his ascension to office. Who could possibly argue otherwise?! In light of this, why would any rational adult cast their ballots for him? He has not advanced the interests of his constituents; indeed, by alienating the President of the United States and other critical decision-makers, he has undermined the interests of his constituents. Labor racketeers/gangsters would welcome a Sestak primary victory – the common man would most assuredly not.

Sestak for Senate is now a fiasco – disgruntled staffers abruptly relinquishing their posts, dismal poll numbers, diminished fundraising, uninspired oratory and inertia. It is a political debacle unlike any we have witnessed recently. It is a camapaign destined to end in utter failure – just as the Admiral’s unexceptional military career did.

WestPaDem…whatever: Recently, a “certifiable nut” accused the incumbent Democratic President of the United States of interfering with the electoral process. That “certifiable nut,” however, did not furnish any empirical evidence whatsoever to support his absurd claims. The “certifiable nut” also did not put forward any explantion for his ludicrous, unfounded claims. The “certifiable nut” in question was Representative Sestak. His behavior was both irrational and counterproductive, and in no way furthered the interests of the Democratic Party or his constituents. His words were those of demented, distraught man – a man driven mad by an ongoing Federal Bureau of Inestigation (FBI)probe, an Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) inquiry, and the grim realization that his political career will end in disgrace.

Levan: Mr. Hirschhorn is the founder of one the most phenomenally successful sites in PA. He certainly does not appear to be in need of any input or advice from you. He is perfectly capable of determining whether the empirical evidence that has been submitted to him is sound. Incidentally, Mr. Hirschhorn is not the only reputable journalist delving into Sestak’s many improprieties. And the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is not the only federal agaency involved in this evolving scandal, either.

If “delusions” intrigue you so, Representative Sestak’s imaginary job offer from the White House must have piqued your interest! And his continuing delusions of grandeur must appeal to you also.

The idea that Joe Sestak is paying his family more than he’s paying his staffers really gives you an idea of who this guy is. It definitely makes me rethink supporting him because he sounds like a jerk. I would think your family would want to work for nothing instead of grabbing so boldly for the money pot while hard working staff people are given the short end. I think it stinks.

WestPaDemBlueDog-
Hater and I are not the same people and I have no idea of Hater’s identity. His revelations regarding Sestak came as a complete shock to me.

You actually helped make my point about “meaningless”, because if scores above 95% are typical (due to all the procedural votes) then it’s pretty much par for the course and nothing particularly special about Sestak.
On CRUCIAL progressive votes, Sestak is with us only 72.8% of the time, and ranks 162nd out of 255 House Dems. So, he’s solidly in the bottom half. Maybe that’s why a “Blue Dog” likes him.

As for the House/Senate bills ratio you can’t blame Specter for the Republican’s filibustering.

Carney, Murphy, Altmire have been Blue Dog’s undermining the Democratic agenda. On the progressive scale: Murphy: 210, Carney: 239 Altmire: 243
They are practically Republicans. I would like to see all three of them replaced with reliable Dems. No wonder you like a fake progressive like Sestak, if these are your heroes. Also, it’s been the Senate Blue Dogs providing support to the GOP in watering down House Bills.

I have to wonder if “Sestak hater” is one of Republican Arlen Spector’s former Republican staffers. What kind of Democrat could stand to support Arlen,he has already stated he won’t be a loyal Democrat. Arlen’s only alliegence is to Arlen.As for Congrssman Sestak’s staffers,I’m not aware of any of them being shanghaided and being forced to work for him, they know what they are going to be paid when they are hired,if they are willing to work for less to see a real Democrat elected,rather than a republican hack like Spector,more power to them.

True Dem-
As far as I’ve been able to pierce the veil of Hater’s identity, I’m confident that he has no connection to Specter.
To the best of my understanding, Hater is a colleague (or student) of a local professor who’s wife has presented charges against Sestak and Young, and believes she has suffered harassment in retaliation. Hater appears to believe he’s sticking up for his friends.

As for Sestak’s staffers, their willingness to be paid less than minimum wage does not prevent Sestak from adhering to the law an paying them at least minimum wage, especially with how hard he works them.

What’s the point of having minimum wage laws at all if employers are going to come up with excuses to underpay their staffs? Talk to some labor leaders about how many bad bosses make that argument.

Also, this pay issue is also a problem with his CONGRESSIONAL STAFF. These are professional men and women, in a career, doing important work as Federal employees.

the underpay charges don’t seem to be supported by the facts.go to ligistorm.com and compare what Sestak pays his staffers with the salaries paid to other congressional staffers.

True Dem-
Do you realize that the salaries for Sestak on Legistorm are quarterly totals? You have to divided by 3 to get the monthly, 13 to get the weekly or multiply by 4 to get the annual?

Since Sestak has stated in numerous interviews that his Congressional staffers are expected to work 12 hour days, 6 days a week, that’s 72 hours per week (that Sestak admits to).
72 * $7.25 * 13 = $6,786 for three months
($4,524 for two months)

http://www.legistorm.com/member/861/Rep_Joe_Sestak/64.html
District Representatives: 07/01/2009 to 09/30/2009
Abbott, Mary M $5,499.99
Heppler, Susan $6,000
Massa, Eve M $5,499.99
Ridewood, Charles F $6,000
Sandals, Nathan A $6,750 (legislative correspondent)
District Representative: 07/01/2009 to 08/31/2009
Larson, Brittany R $3,440

Of course, if they got time and a half for overtime we’d have

(40* $7.25 + 32 * $7.25 * 1.5) * 13 = $8,294

Anyway, check out Specter’s for a six-month period where the staffers aren’t working nearly as many hours.
http://www.legistorm.com/member/90/Sen_Arlen_Specter/65.html
A “Mailroom Assistant/Temporary Employee” made $3,600 for a month and half.
Legislative Assistant for 6 months made $16,800 (=$8,400 per quarter).
and that’s one of the lower salaries.

I’ve known many Sestak staffers personally since the 2006 Campaign. True Democrat is correct. All hired staffers know from the first meeting, what they are paid and what they will be doing. The work is hard, the hours are long. The rewards are great. Staff does leave. Just like everyone else they have personal, family problems, they find out that this is REALLY NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. Some of this very young staff find they personally cannot work with other staff or the hundreds of volunteers that work on the campaign. Many staffers go back to school, or are finishing school. Many finish school and come back to the Campaign office or have been hired in the District Office. And yes–some find out that although they thought they could work with the salary paid, circumstances changed, or they find that this is not going to work for them. Has anyone here left a job because they found out they are just not making enough money, although they first thought it would work out? I have. Focusing on this, you miss the point. Pennsylvania needs a leader and a public servant–and unless you didn’t notice, that isn’t Arlen Specter!!!!

GP-
The primary reasons people leave is because Sestak is a terrible boss or they discover he’s in it for himself and won’t help out other Dems.

As for not really want they want to do: plenty of them go on to do the exact same job, just for a different candidate or elected official.

I bet the majority of ex-staffers won’t even vote for him.

I’ll take that bet David.

true dem-
You’d lose. But, we’d have to put them on lie detectors since some might be afraid to admit it while Sestak is in position of power.

well just keep up your support for that 90 year old republican Arlen Dave,that will give you something to whine about till he resigns or dies, and Toomey is appointed to fill his seat. Too bad you don’t support a real Democrat for the Senate.

true democrat-
Sestak is NOT a real Democrat (but he sometimes plays one on TV). If you are so worried about Specter being replaced in office, then work on electing a Democratic Governor.
Sestak’s not going to make it to the Primary. He’ll be lucky to make it to the end of Petitions next week before his campaign collapses.

Richard Mills-
Please undo the caps-lock on your keyboard.

Lol Sesetak not a Democrat but Arlen Specter is? Ill stick with Joe. I’m not really concerned about that republican dieing or retireing during a sixth term as Senator since I don’t expect him to win the primary let alone the general election. I plan to be in Washington D.C. when Joe Sestak is elected as Pennsylvania’a Senator.

true dem-
You are planning? Your calendar must contain the 5th of the month of Never.

Sestak’s going to lose the primary by at least 20 points, and probably by 25. It’s going to be a blow out (if Sestak even makes it to the primary).

Dino Dave you are delusional. See you in D.C. in 2011, I’ll be celebrating with Joe. I’d rather have a Democrat for the future, than a Republican from the past. Arlen is going down.

If Joe’s going to be a Democrat, then that will have to occur in the future, because he hasn’t been in the past.

The Rise and Fall of a Female Captain Bligh

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1969602,00.html?xid=huffpo-direct

I wonder if she’s available to work on Sestak campaign?

I guess a “true democrat” would believe what Sestak says, which is he was offered a White House job to drop out of the race. The definition of that is racketeering! The White House has been dodging the question. What is your conclusion?

Friends don’t let friends donate to HSUS and PETA.

Wilben-
It’s quite possible that the WH offered a job to stay out the race. I’m not convinced that such an offer is improper or illegal. So, I think there is a lot of conservative fake outrage over it.

Also, it’s not clear whether Sestak reached out, asking for deal to drop out, and merely found the offer inadequate.

Equally reasonable is that Joe was told, “We think you are going to lose the race and be out of a job. You can save yourself and everyone else a lot of trouble by getting out of the race, now. There are plenty of jobs within government that would be available to you, after you leave office, given your background in the Navy and Congress. For example, X, Y and Z.” Add a wink and a nod, if you feel like it.

Deals like this are the very nature of politics and government. If they were to invent a “new” position for no-show job. Then, yes, that would be wrong.
Despite the speculation, I doubt Joe would be offered Secretary of the Navy while Admiral Mullen is alive and breathing.

BTW, the “definition of that is racketeering” has nothing to do with this.
Racketeering is associated with organized crime running a “racket” like a protection racket, numbers running, extortion, etc.

This is why Sestak has not come out in support of professors in his district who do not have unions or systems of tenure in his congressional district, struggling to make ends meet.