The LuLac Edition #1089, Feb. 7th, 2010
PHOTO INDEX: PENNSYLVANIA AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER AND SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER.
THE BIG MEETING
The Democrats met in snowy Lancaster Saturday and were one for two in endorsing candidates for state office. Sen. Arlen Specter picked up the endorsement of Pennsylvania’s Democratic State Committee on Saturday — a political prize that should bolster his campaign for a sixth term in a party that he joined less than a year ago. Specter’s foe in the May 18 primary, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, garnered just 72 votes in the secret balloting. Specter, who will turn 80, said he has always been “an independent voice in the Senate” and defended a 30-year voting record that he said was often in sync with the Democrats, including abortion rights, increases in the minimum wage and helping to sink Robert Bork’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the wide open race for the gubernatorial nomination, the committee failed to agree on an endorsement. Four people competed for the endorsement: state Auditor General Jack Wagner of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, former U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel and state Sen. Anthony Williams of Philadelphia, who said Friday he has filed papers that allow him to raise money for a prospective campaign. Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty has declared his candidacy, but did not compete for the endorsement Saturday fueling speculation that he is rea;lly angling for the Ltn. Governor's nod. Hoeffel was eliminated on the first ballot as the low vote-getter. On the second and final ballot, Wagner received the most votes — more than half of those cast, but far short of a two-thirds majority. Wagner's people were touting the vote total by the Auditor General as significant and Dan Onorato, the presumed leader tried to put the best face on his second place showing. An open primary for the Democratic nomination is upon us and it looks like the slow and steady pace of Jack Wagner is paying off for his effort.
BIG UGLIES CLOSED
If you want to go to Big Uglies on this Super Bowl Sunday, you better plan on tail gating because the popular sports bar owned by ex Commissioner Greg Skerepenak's dad is closed. Until further notice. No notice seems far off either.
SUPER SUNDAY
Colts 41-Saints 38. Manning on the last play throws a bomb. Enjoy this unique great American holiday.
posted by David Yonki @ 11:21 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
For those who can't count, Arlen Specter will be 86 years old in the last year of his next term. Are you people crazy? Giving Specter the Demo nod is nothing less than handing the seat to the Republicans.
Joe Sestak is an outstanding individual and if the Dems got behind him and gave him enough time in the public eye, he would be unbeatable. Typical Democratic F--Up. Only the Democratic leadership is capable of snatching defeat from the hands of victory. Just look at the local Party leadership. Now that's funny, real funny.
OK all you idiot Democrats, let's get Arlen a good start on the November election. He has already gotten past some major hurdles such as 2 battles with cancer and I have no doubt that his standup comedian act will go a long way in keeping the jokes away from his age. Don't get me wrong, there is a place for 80+ year olds but the US Senate isn't one of them. Maybe somebody can send Arlen a card from Miami. Now there's an idea I could get behind. Let's run Arlen for president of the Miami Retirement Club. Sad, oh so very sad.
Back Jack. Word is in Wilkes-Barre that the mayor is all in for senate.
With the mayor in and Yudichak also in the run, I call it a win for the mayor.
Jack Wanger is the Auditor Gereral in PA, He did not do a good job watching the good old boys with our money in Luzerne County. Maybe he turn his head and look the other way, because the good old boys were from his own party!!!!!
The League fo Women Voters did a forum and Specter and Sestak both spoke. Specter as would be expected did very well on his feet just as he should have. He is aprofession politician. The only problem is his age and he sings the same ole song. Sestak on the other hand came off as a very sincere and intelligent choice to replace Specter. Arlen shold do the right thing by not running and putting his support behind Sestak. Everyone has their day and his is past. He was a good Senator, worked from the middle of the road so he saw both sides of the left and right and now should step aside with grace. I've been a strong supporter of Arlen but now I'm suporting Joe Sestak.
Big uglys closes and the next week the FBI raids Pat Patties Sports Bar any connection ? Things are going to break with the books and files taken by the feds from the bar. Wonder what Wilkes Barre big wigs will fall?
Apparently, Specter has nothing to worry about...a democratic insider (David Diano) posted info on www.pa2010.com about an FBI investigation into Sestak.
David Diano
Feb 13th, 2010
James-
Do you have the first clue in realizing that it was the Republican deregulation policies, irresponsible tax cuts to the rich and massive war spending, and lack of attention to job growth that caused the economic crisis and deprived states like Pennsylvania of federal funds?
Toomey is for the rich (like himself) and Wall Street over Main Street.
gophawk-
I liked your take on Morris. It’s one of the rare posts where you and I agree 100%.
BTW, in case you didn’t know, Morris was one of the pervy neocons bringing Palin to the national stage. Around Jan 2008, he and a bunch of other neocons were on some Alaska cruise. Palin invited them to a lunch or dinner event. They all fell in love with her (especially Morris) and began promoting her for VP behind the scenes.
Delco Mod-
As far as I can tell, the following accusations have been made and submitted to the FBI (I don’t know the status, just the accusations):
1) That in 2006 the UFCW Local 1776 granted bonuses to top union executives and employees for the purpose of them being rolled over (ie laundered) into contributions to Sestak’s 2006 campaign through their Credit Union. Further, the accusation is that this was orchestrated by Wendell Young IV.
If this accusation is true, it was a subversion of campaign finance limits. The FBI was asked to investigate the books, bank records, amounts and the timing of checks.
Again, I have no idea of the outcome of such an investigation, but the accusation was not an anonymous one. It was made, signed, and notarized by a former official with the Credit Union. So, the accuser is making a pretty strong claim and backing it up with their own name and reputation. So, it’s a lot more than idle rumor, but it still falls to the FBI to get the records and verify the claims.
2) Wendell Young IV was appointed to Sestak’s 7-member transition team in November 2006.
The list, as published in the 11/24/2006 Delco times is:
Bill Walsh (campaign manager, and became head of local district office)
Richard Sestak (brother, worked on campaign)
Elizabeth Sestak (sister, worked on campaign)
Greg Vitali – St Rep
Connie Williams – St. Senator
Scott Jenkins – co-chair of Sestak finance committee
Wendell Young – President of UCFW local 1776
The contention/accusation is that this was some kind of improper political favor, payback, quid-pro-quo for the actions alleged in #1.
3) In July 2009, Sestak announced that he had played a role in helping UCFW negotiate a deal with ACME. The accusation that has been leveled is that this was outside of his district and purview, and was a form of political favoritism to Wendell Young and the UCFW.
ACME Market’s Center of Operations is located in the 6th congressional district and UCFW Local 1776’s main office is the 13th district. There are also some rules governing the use of resources, specifically the House Ethics manual warns that Members: “should not devote official resources to casework for individuals who live outside the district”. Also, that House Members “should be aware of the appearance of impropriety that could arise from championing the causes of contributors and take care not to show favoritism to them over other constituents.”
Basically, the accusations allege a pattern of behavior resulting from the initial (and more serious) accusation of #1. If Sestak reciprocated with #2 and #3, then it’s a bit more serious.
#2 and #3 are a matter of public record. It would probably take a federal warrant to verify the claims in #1 (although Joe did vote for warrantless wiretapping).
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