BASTA!

I wish I had kept track of all the Onorato robo calls I've received.

Bizarro World Slate Card!

In the Bizarro World of "Htrae" ("Earth" spelled backwards), society is ruled by the Bizarro Code which states "Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate hacks and DINOs! Us love real Democrats!

Here is us Bizarro World ACDC slate card:



US Senate
Joe Sestak!

PA Governor
Joe Hoeffel!

4th Congressional District
Jason Altmire Franco Dok Harris! (Write-in)

40th State Senatorial District
Dan DeMarco! (Write-in)

20th State House District
Adam Ravenstahl Tim Tuinstra!

36th State House District
Harry Readshaw Write in us own names!.

Hoeffel in the House

Joe Hoeffel GOTV Rally in Pittsburgh Today

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Schenley Park Skating Rink, Banquet Hall, 1 Overlook Drive, Pittsburgh PA

Joe Hoeffel GOTV Rally in Pittsburgh

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Schenley Park Skating Rink, Banquet Hall

More info on Facebook here.

Joe Hoeffel to start airing TV ads tomorrow

The Hoeffel ad is called "Flip-flops" and according to the press release, "Joe Hoeffel's first TV ad highlights the differences between Joe and other candidates for governor of Pennsylvania."

See for yourself:


Text (via philly.com):

"Flip-flops are fine - for the beach. But as governor people need to know where you stand. Dan Onorato was anti-choice for years - until one day he wasn't. Tony Williams used to support public schools - now it's private schools. I have always supported a woman's right to choose and our public schools. And I have developed a detailed, comprehensive plan to help small businesses create new jobs. You want flip-flops - go to the beach. But if you want a governor who proudly stands up for our progressive values, then I'm your man."

It Ain't Easy Being Dan

It's all well and good being anti choice and not so benignly neglectful of LGBT issues when you're a Democratic politician in Southwestern PA, but take a campaign statewide and you're going to need to, say, broaden your horizons -- especially if you're running in a Democratic primary against real progressive Joe Hoeffel and pro choice Anthony Hardy Williams.

Onorato vs. Wagner is pretty much a wash on social issues, but Dan faces two more liberal candidates from the East so he's dancing as fast as he can and leading ever more to the left and ever more Big D Democratic (notice how his ad tag line is "The Democrat for Governor").

Dan's pretty much an unknown quantity in the rest of the state so he's taking advantage of the chance to reinvent himself.

Even here in the Burgh, Dan has gone all gay friendly (having a gay advisor donate a sound system for an LGBT group's endorsement meeting and helping to pack the vote, etc.), but now the abortion issue is coming back to bite Danny Boy on the ass.

As Chris Potter notes here, Dan was invited to the Americans for Christian Traditions in our Nation (ACTION) forum as a "pro life" candidate. Originally Onorato was sending a representative, but after Joe Hoeffel called him out on it, suddenly any participation by the Onorato campaign disappeared down the rabbit hole. (Nice going, Joe!)

By May, we expect Dan to be flashing peace signs and sporting a MoveOn button, then of course, a hard swing to the mighty right if he wins the primary.

PA politics right on schedule...

Joe Hoeffel Denounces Corbett's Health Care Lawsuit

Via the Joe Hoeffel campaign:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel today castigated Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett for “acting against the best interests of Pennsylvanians” by joining fellow right-wing attorneys general in a lawsuit against the new federal health care law.

At a press conference in the rotunda of the State Capitol, Hoeffel said that Corbett “is acting in collusion with a bloc of right-wing state attorneys general to advance an extremist agenda.”

Hoeffel went on to say that this is the fourth time Corbett has joined with his fellow conservative attorneys general to oppose legislation that would protect Pennsylvanians. Passing out a fact sheet detailing his charges, Hoeffel pointed out that on at least three other occasions Corbett has joined with the same 10 AGs to twice oppose protecting the safety of their citizens, protecting consumer rights, and, now, opposing critically needed health care reforms.

[snip]

The fact sheet distributed by the Hoeffel campaign showed that:

In 2008, Corbett joined attorneys general in supporting another lawsuit, supporting the effort to overturn the rights of citizens of Washington, DC, to protect themselves through enacting sensible gun safety legislation. Of the thirteen Attorneys General who filed the frivolous lawsuit against health care reform, eleven -- including Corbett -- opposed protecting the safety of citizens in their states.

In 2009, twenty-four attorneys general urged Senate and Congressional leaders to create a federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency -- an agency directly supporting the core role of state attorneys general. Again, of the thirteen Attorneys General who filed the frivolous lawsuit against health care reform, those same eleven --- including Corbett -- declined to sign this letter to protect the rights of consumers in their states.

And late last year, thirty-eight Attorneys General again supported the effort to overturn the rights of citizens to protect themselves through enacting sensible gun safety legislation, this time in Chicago. The bloc of eleven -- including Corbett -- united in opposition to protecting the safety of their citizens yet again.

You can read the entire release here.
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Who asked you, Corbett?

PA Attorney General Tom Corbett says, "Stop in the name of partisan politics..my campaign..the law."

Dear Attorney General Corbett:

I know you're a Republican running for Governor, but Pennsylvania is a BLUE state that voted for Barack Obama for President who ran on health care reform so, please, STOP YOUR FUCKING PARTISAN POLITICS.

That is all.

Sincerely,
Maria
Pittsburgh, PA
__________________________________________________________

Petition to Stop Tom Corbett here.

Joe Hoeffel on Corbett's move here.

PA Sen. Daylin Leach & others' letter to Corbett here (which notes that if the lawsuit is successful, "it will cost Pennsylvania approximately 102 Million Dollars in the 2010-2011 fiscal year and billions more in the short term.")

George Washington on health care reform’s constitutionality here.
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Here We Go Again: Onorato Challenging Hoeffel's Petitions

Via the Trib:

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato has challenged the nominating petitions of Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, one of his competitors in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Hoeffel's campaign called the attempt to knock Hoeffel off the ballot "cowardly."

I called it "Douchebaggery" back when Acklin did it to Harris. I'll stand by that designation in this case too.
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Democracy for Pgh Endorses Sestak & Hoeffel, NOW Endorses Sestak

...
A couple of Joes
The Allegheny County Democratic Committee (ACDC) is holding their primary endorsement process right now, but progressives may want to consider these recent endorsements:

NOW PAC has endorsed Rep. Joe Sestak for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania.

Democracy for Pittsburgh has endorsed Rep. Joe Sestak for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania.

Democracy for Pittsburgh has endorsed Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel for Governor of Pennsylvania

http://joehoeffel2010.com

http://joesestak.com
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Democracy for Pittsburgh Endorsements

Democracy for Pittsburgh (DfP) is holding their endorsement votes this week. You qualify to vote if you have been to two DfP meetups and/or DfP sponsored events since Feb. 2009.

The vote will be held at Tazza d’Oro on March 3rd. However, if you can't make that, you can mail in your vote (better make it fast!). Instructions and ballot are here.

Also -- of interest to non DfP members -- you can find candidate responses to DfP's questionnaire at that same link.
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Hoeffel Web Ad Displays His Progressive Bona Fides

Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel embraces his progressive side:


Click here to donate/volunteer/share this ad.
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PA Gubernatorial Race News

First, PCN-TV (Channel 48 on Comcast) will broadcast yesterday's 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Forum (pictured above) tonight at 8:00 PM.

Next, Chris Potter blogs at Slag Heap on reports that gubernatorial candidate -- and current Scranton mayor -- Chris Doherty may be dropping out of the race, but taking a run at lieutenant governor while backing Dan Onorato (in a deal being brokered by Gov. Rendell). Potter notes:

Doherty was emphasizing a progressive platform ... his departure from the race would, in theory, help solidify progressive voters behind Joe Hoeffel, the Montgomery County Commissioner who has been the most strident voice on the left so far. Onorato and Auditor General Jack Wagner would be left to fight over moderate-to-conservative Dems in the western part of the state. That said, the stars seem to be aligning in Onorato's favor lately.

Early Returns posts on Dan's stars that Onorato has lots of cash -- double that of likely GOP candidate Tom Corbett.

And, speaking of Corbett, PoliticsPA reports that, "Former Democratic Attorney General candidate John Morganelli said Thursday that Dan Onorato, the party’s gubernatorial front-runner, secretly supported a Republican during the 2008 attorney general’s race."

The undercover bff Republican in question? Tom Corbett.
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PA: Senatorial Forum Televised Tonight & Gubernatorial Forum In Pgh Tomorrow

Democratic Senatorial Forum Tonight On PCN-TV, 7:30 PM
(Channel 48 on Comcast Cable in Pgh)

Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak will take questions at the PA progressive Summit. You can tweet questions @ http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23pasenforum

14th Ward Independent Democratic Club Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Wightman School Community Building, 5604 Solway Street, in Squirrel Hill.

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and the Pitt College Democrats are co-sponsoring the event. KDKA-TV Political Editor Jon Delano will be the moderator.

Appearing: Chris Doherty, Joe Hoeffel, Dan Onorato and Jack Wagner.
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Joe Hoeffel Kicks-off Gubernatorial Campaign In Pittsburgh Tomorrow With Peduto Endorsement

Progressive Democrat Joe Hoeffel -- former State Representative, former U.S. Congressman, and current Montgomery County Commissioner -- will kick-off his gubernatorial campaign in Pittsburgh tomorrow.

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto will announce his endorsement and introduce Hoeffel in front of the City-County Building at 8:00 AM:

“Joe Hoeffel is a progressive leader who will fight for Pennsylvania,” Peduto said. “I am supporting Joe, because he understands the challenges facing communities like Pittsburgh, and he isn’t afraid to make the tough decisions to change the direction of our economy for the benefit of working families. He has a record in support of reforming state government to make it more transparent and accountable to the people. He knows how to balance the tough financial issues that Pennsylvania faces with a progressive agenda to build a 21st Century economy.”

And, if like me you're pining for some pol -- any pol -- in Pennsylvania who you can vote for who is pro choice, know that Joe has appointed Kate Michelman, past president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, to head up “Women for Hoeffel.”

Joe Hoeffel Statewide Campaign Kick-off!
Tuesday January 26th
Pittsburgh
8:00 am – 9:00 am
City-County Building Portico
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh PA 15219

You can RSVP to this event here.

Campaign web site: http://joehoeffel2010.com
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Hoeffel Denounces New Year's Eve Veto of Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage Bill

From Joe Hoeffel, PA Democratic gubernatorial candidate:

"I was disappointed to see 2009 end with the vetoing of Pittsburgh's prevailing wage bill. The bill had been passed unanimously by Pittsburgh's city council and has received support from labor groups, environmental groups, and other progressives from across the City. The bill has been seen across the state as holding the potential for being a model for economic development reform. The last-minute veto - made at a time when council members had already recessed for the New Year - flies in the face of progressive values and of open and transparent government. "

" I urge Chris Doherty, Tom Knox, Dan Onorato, and Jack Wagner to join me in standing up for those who care about good government and about economic justice by denouncing this move. It is my sincere hope that when Pittsburgh's City Council convenes in 2010, they bring this bill up once again for reconsideration and pass it again with a veto-proof majority."

www.joehoeffel2010.com
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Keeping on Arlen's @ss

There are a few:

Labor

On Saturday, PA's newly Democratic Senator, Arlen Specter, was in town to address the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee but first he had to face Labor.

SEIU, PA AFL-CIO, the Allegheny County Labor Council, the Communication Workers of America, Local 13000 and others rallied for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) before the committee meeting and Specter spoke to the union members. There's video of his speech below courtesy of a Daily Kos diary.

Specter said that he is "'committed to finding an answer' on legislation making it easier to organize unions" and "If you want to become elected in this state, you have to come to labor, and I know that."

Some in the crowd were less than impressed. From pa2010:

But that wasn’t good enough for many rank-and-file union members in the crowd—some groaned in displeasure, some booed, and at least one hurled an epithet at Specter.

“You want my vote? I want yours!” John Heinlein, 20 a retired ironworker, shouted repeatedly until Specter was forced to acknowledge him.

Attempting to calm the crowd, Specter said: “I understand your job’s on the line and I understand that my job’s on the line. I understand that, and I believe that you’ll be satisfied with my vote on this issue. And if you’re not, I recognize your right in a free society to cast your vote as you choose.”

Later, after Specter left the makeshift stage to chants of “Free Choice Act,” Heinlein told pa2010.com that Specter was on thin ice.

“I voted for him in the past,” Heinlein said. “But he can’t fence-ride on this. If he wants our support, he has to vote for this. If he votes against this, he’ll never get my vote again.

You can see Heinlein make his point at around 4:52 in the second video (you can also see Rob Frank who recently ran for City Council standing in front of him).

Specter Scorecard

Keystone Progress (http://www.keystoneprogress.org/), Penn Action (http://www.pennaction.org/), ProgressNow (http://www.progressnow.org/) and True Majority (http://www.truemajority.org/) have joined forces to create the Specter Scorecard web site (http://www.specterscorecard.org/ ). The sponsors of the site say:

“We'll keep you informed about key upcoming votes where Sen. Specter's vote will be vital to the success of the progressive position. We'll give you accurate information about the issue and we'll provide you with the opportunity to take action to help persuade Arlen to do the right thing.”

And “We'll let you know how Sen. Specter has voted on important progressive issues since he made the switch. We'll display his ‘progressive batting average’ and keep it updated when he takes votes on those issues.”

Joe Hoeffel

Joe Hoeffel, Montgomery County Commissioner, who ran against Specter in 2004 sent out the following in his newsletter under the title "Darlin' Arlen or Snarlin' Arlen?":

We have a long way to go before the Senate primary in 2010. Give our new Democratic Senator a chance to prove that he will support the President's agenda on the floor of the Senate, both on the merits and on procedural votes.

Congressman Joe Sestak is indicating he is likely to run for the Senate next year. Joe Sestak would be a great candidate and would pose a terrific primary challenge to Arlen Specter.

Let's make sure we nominate a candidate for the Senate in 2010 from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.

(NOTE: At about 3:45 in the 2nd video Arlen puts on the charm. While talking about the chemotherapy he had, he notes that you lose all your hair but "Of course you can become a sex symbol like Joe Hoeffel.")

Joe Sestak

From pa2010:

Short of divine intervention, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) is running for Senate.

“It would take an act of God for me to not get in now,” Sestak told a Democratic State Committeeman Saturday morning within earshot of reporters.

Hearing his quote read back to him, Sestak cringed.

“That sounds blasphemous,” he said, not denying that he said it—and has said it before.

But he reiterated to pa2010.com that the final decision rests with his family—not the Lord Almighty.

“I want us to be in this together,” he said.

C'mon, Joe, take the plunge!

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