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By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue May 18, 2010 at 07:18:07 PM EST
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I'm following the results closely - who will get the first pick in the NBA draft and then the right to draft the great John Wall? Oh you aren't following that? Maybe you were more interested in Dave Zabriskie's win in Stage 3 of the Tour of California? No? Yanks-Sox? Celts-Magic? No?

Dancing With The Stars? Lost penultimate episode? No?

Well there are some election results in PA, KY and AR too. I'd like to see Halter beat Lincoln, but a runoff is likely. Other than that? Meh.

You can keep us informed in the comments.

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    CNN calls Kentucky primary (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 07:26:19 PM EST
    on the (R) side for? the Tea Party.

    The Ron Paul fans are a bulwark of the Tea Party?

    So many factions, so little time for me to follow it all.  Looking like the 1840s.  Call me in a decade, when I can figure out who's who and what's what.

    Paul's positions (none / 0) (#3)
    by christinep on Tue May 18, 2010 at 07:59:25 PM EST
    Before the next decade--if Paul is elected--he can be expected to support the abolition of the education, commerce, and energy departments. Etc. (EPA, too, I believe.) It does sorta look like the 1840s...except, it is now and becoming real. Ah, the Libertarians (the me, mine, and more of mine group.)

    Parent
    He also said he wants to balancethe Fed budget in (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by jawbone on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:16:55 PM EST
    ONE year. Like that'll happen.

    Parent
    Look at the bright side... (none / 0) (#87)
    by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 08:52:38 AM EST
    if he's gonna try the occupations must end, the empire must close up shop...which is better than anything any dems are selling.  I assume a surrender in the war on drugs too...sellers & users win!

    If by some miracle he did battle with the machine and won on those two fronts, I'd vote for him 100 times if I could...but we all know he'd die a mysterious death before any of that happened, so don't worry Dems.

    Parent

    Disregard... (none / 0) (#90)
    by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 10:19:55 AM EST
    did a little research and this guy has piker written all over him...how can a libertarian be pro-drug war and pro-immigration crackdown?  I smell fraud.

    Parent
    kdog: check NYT Dining section re (none / 0) (#91)
    by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 11:14:31 AM EST
    restaurants that use marijuana in their cuisiine.  

    Parent
    The first name is a tip off (none / 0) (#93)
    by jondee on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:30:32 PM EST


    Parent
    He musta missed... (none / 0) (#94)
    by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:44:57 PM EST
    this gem from old Ayn...a personal fave.

    "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."

    There goes Rand Paul for christs sake, advocating for the continued creation of the criminal.  The "illegal".  The "drug dealer". The "dope fiend". And if he really had his day, "the abortion provider".

    Show me an honest human human being and I'll show you somebody who wouldn't be caught dead running for office...we've got a real pickle on our hands here.

    Parent

    As I recall (none / 0) (#95)
    by jondee on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:53:37 PM EST
    even Madame Freedom was pro-Cold War, which, in actual practice means pro MIC, pro national security state and a thousand other assorted devils in it's train..

    The deal is, no one gets anywhere these days without the big D or the big R, or some very compromising deal with their mutual platforms.

    Hence the continued disappointment.  

    Parent

    Senate and House... (none / 0) (#96)
    by kdog on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:58:41 PM EST
    terms by draft, like jury duty...best solution I can come up with.

    Parent
    rigged game (none / 0) (#97)
    by jondee on Wed May 19, 2010 at 04:59:02 PM EST
    as R.P McMurphy so eloquently put it.

    Parent
    Have you read anything (none / 0) (#98)
    by jondee on Wed May 19, 2010 at 05:03:41 PM EST
    by a certain local yokel out this way named Bill Kaufman? Look Homeward, America is a good read. Check it out if you have the inclination.

    Parent
    Will Tea Partiers get clobbered in the (none / 0) (#4)
    by observed on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:01:40 PM EST
    general election, generally speaking?


    Parent
    Yes, but not everywhere (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:03:36 PM EST
    Certainly not in Kentucky.

    Not really sure how far Rand Paul would have gotten if he weren't a sort of known quantity through his father.

    Parent

    As we ponder (none / 0) (#25)
    by reslez on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:25:55 PM EST
    the results of the primaries it's important to remember that voters are turning to candidates like Rand Paul out of frustration with the status quo, not out of some deeply considered sympathy with Austrian/libertarian economic views. These are the people who marched to get "government's hands off my Medicare". The best way to silence Tea Party extremists is to start creating well-paying jobs.

    These voters are upset at excessive government spending. Well, who wouldn't be upset at bailouts for bankers, billions for unending war and (for the disciplinarians among them) the undeserving poor? (The poor are always undeserving, unless they're you or someone in your immediate family.) The argument that the federal budget ought to be balanced even in the midst of an unprecedented financial crisis is convincing to people with a strongly moralistic/judgmental bent who know that something is wrong, even if they don't quite know how to fix it.

    History never repeats but it rhymes. In the 1930s the countries who strongly defended balanced budgets, a strong currency and the gold standard were the ones worst afflicted. "Only the governments who abandoned the gold standard early enough survived with democracy intact." (my emphasis, link) I feel tremendously worried for the future of our country when I consider the extreme political movements inspired by the depression of the 1930s and the widening inequality in our society today. Popular revolt may demand a balanced federal budget; I pray our politicians aren't foolish enough to give in.

    Parent

    Interesting comment (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by Spamlet on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:48:29 PM EST
    Two reflections.

    One, the American educational system has no stake in producing financially/fiscally literate citizens, and so of course people don't generally understand why government stimulus might be what's needed in a deep enough recession.

    Two, the left blogs and the Obama-smitten media have made much of the "government's hands off my Medicare" meme, sneering that the (working-class) people who say this are speaking from within a fundamental contradiction, if not from ignorance. But in fact we all need to worry about "government" getting its hands on our Medicare and Social Security. The government we have today is not the government that created those programs.

    But apparently it's more fun to skewer the rubes than face up to how the Stevenson Democrats brought us an administration that's Republican lite when it's not busy out Cheney-ing former President Cheney.

    Parent

    Personally (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by reslez on Wed May 19, 2010 at 03:40:42 AM EST
    I don't feel the need to lay blame on the U.S. educational system for not teaching students economics. And I don't find fault with individual voters who don't know much. People are busy, they have lives to lead and they specialize in other fields (nursing, roofing, astrophysics). People who are interested can research it on their own.

    What I do expect is for experts in economics to tell us ways to improve our lives, not ways to slavishly adhere to theories that ruin everyone for the short-term benefit of a few.

    Instead we have Krugman as the lone voice of reason -- and the best he can do is say deficits don't matter right now while the rest of the world pictures him jousting at windmills. And we end up with IMF-sponsored assassinations of developing economies and places like Latvia proudly enduring 25% plunges in GDP and horrific unemployment. The societal and human effects will ripple down the generations. If this is what economics preaches will cure the economy, I'll take the poison. There has to be another way.

    The best outcome I see at this point is a constitutional convention. I think Lessig is right. Pas de replâtrage, la structure est pourrie.

    Parent

    Lawrence O'Donnell (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:32:21 PM EST
    says the vaunted Obama "political operation is reeling" tonight, and he said much more that really blasted the White House -- a really blistering analysis.

    Wanna fix it, White House?  Jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs -- can you hear us now?

    What horsesh*t (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:34:38 PM EST
    What precisely did they expect "the Obama machine" to do exactly?

    In PA, this was anti-Specter (not surprising in a Dem primary) and an indictment of Rendell's machine.

    In any event, this is a good night for the blogs but these candidates will get crushed in November.

    Parent

    Ironic that Obama will get (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:37:04 PM EST
    blamed again in the fall if they lose.

    I agree with CC that jobs are the only answer.

    Parent

    Obama can do one thing (none / 0) (#41)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:43:50 PM EST
    to help Dems - be on the ballot.

    he can't do that again until 2012.

    Parent

    Oh, he can do more than that. (5.00 / 4) (#51)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:57:24 PM EST


    Parent
    Not more than one thing at a time though. (5.00 / 2) (#75)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:47:06 AM EST
     

    Parent
    Ouch (none / 0) (#49)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:53:49 PM EST
    At this rate that is not going to help them either.

    Parent
    Him (none / 0) (#82)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 19, 2010 at 05:56:44 AM EST
    being on the ballot may not be a positive.

    Parent
    Sestak only trails Toomey by (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by tigercourse on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:49:46 PM EST
    an average of 2.5 points. I don't think that's an insurmountable lead.

    Parent
    Now (none / 0) (#48)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:52:14 PM EST
    he only trails him by in some polls.

    Creigh Deeds only trailed by . . .  too.

    Blowout.

    Parent

    Maybe, looking it up, Deeds was ahead (none / 0) (#52)
    by tigercourse on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:57:24 PM EST
    of McDonell in June of last year before Bob took the lead and kept it.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#55)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:03:02 PM EST


    Parent
    Can't the Obama machine, the POTUS, get (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:59:54 AM EST
    somebody other than Obama elected?

    Parent
    So far, no (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Spamlet on Wed May 19, 2010 at 03:03:52 AM EST
    Predictably enough.

    Parent
    That's what I meant. (none / 0) (#92)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:16:13 PM EST


    Parent
    The (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 19, 2010 at 05:58:30 AM EST
    "vaunted Obama political machine" is a myth.

    Parent
    Clever. But I'll be following Giants/Padres. (none / 0) (#2)
    by oculus on Tue May 18, 2010 at 07:41:56 PM EST


    Who took 12 innings to lose to the Giants (none / 0) (#79)
    by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:24:13 AM EST
    7-6.

    Parent
    Dave Z (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jim in AZ on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:07:43 PM EST
    He timed that finish perfectly.  Levi is quite disappointed according to his tweet.

    The real story was Versus switching to the hockey pre-game show, with one mile (less than 2 minutes!) left in the race.  At least they gave us plenty of warning so we could watch the online version (complete with French notation).  I do have to say, the Tour of California folks were smart bringing in ASO (the Tour de France people) to produce the television pictures.  So much more beautiful than last year.

    I head to California on Thursday to catch the last three stages.

    Go Levi!

    Versus's action was senseless (none / 0) (#13)
    by cymro on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:58:15 PM EST
    Why do cycling fans get no respect? If the order of the programs were reversed, they'd stay with hockey for a shootout to decide a game, or at least show a split screen. Cutting away 2 minutes from the climax of an exciting race between three of the top contenders, just to go to a pre-game segment, makes no sense.

    Are there really rabid hockey fans who would complain about having to watch 3-5 minutes of a bike race instead of the hockey commentators with their entirely predictable pre-game routines? Personally, I always record the games just so that I can skip over that boring stuff and get straight the actual game.

    Parent

    A guy at Giants/Padres game last (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:10:43 PM EST
    night was wearing his purple/gold Bryant shirt.  I wanted to debrief him but he got away.

    Neil Patrick Harris on Glee? No? (none / 0) (#7)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:20:49 PM EST


    Think auto-tune! (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:35:46 PM EST


    Parent
    Noooooo! (none / 0) (#12)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:57:47 PM EST
    And wow, Idina Menzel could be Lea Michelle's mother!

    Parent
    with 36% of the PA vote counted (none / 0) (#9)
    by Peter G on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:51:27 PM EST
    it's 50-50 exactly between Specter-Sestak in the Demo primary for U.S. Senate.

    Specter is done (none / 0) (#10)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:55:28 PM EST
    unless there is some miraculous and massive turnaround in the Philly burbs.

    Neil Oxman ran a great race for Sestak.

    Saints be praised (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:05:43 PM EST
    I know the danger in the general election, but Arlen Specter winning a Dem primary was just unthinkable to me. The fact that it was thinkable to the Dem establishment? Well I guess they are a lot more open minded than I.

    Parent
    I voted a couple of weeks ago (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:12:52 PM EST
    for Specter. He's been well-behaved since the switch.

    I told my parents to vote for Sestak, though.

    Parent

    I forgive you :-) (none / 0) (#21)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:17:13 PM EST
    I knew the laws of nature would prevail.

    Parent
    Yep, AP has called it (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:21:00 PM EST
    to my glee.  I have been waiting 19 years for this.

    Parent
    Anita Hill (5.00 / 5) (#54)
    by Peter G on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:02:19 PM EST


    Parent
    Right on (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Spamlet on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:06:34 PM EST
    Never forget.

    Parent
    yup (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:07:44 PM EST


    Parent
    Yep. I thought of Prof. Hill tonight (5.00 / 4) (#62)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:13:43 PM EST
    and I expect that she also never will forget Specter accusing her of perjury.

    You can bet that I never forget.  Never.  Nor do others.  Got a call from an old friend tonight, haven't heard from her in a while.  We went through those hearings together on the phone, night after night.  So we felt the need to talk again tonight.

    We reviewed our list.  Still some names on it that have got to go.  By the way, I'm still not a fan of Biden, either.

    Parent

    I Believe Anita Hill (still got the bumpersticker) (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 19, 2010 at 01:50:22 AM EST


    Parent
    Still a little hard to believe, (none / 0) (#68)
    by brodie on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:24:20 PM EST
    given that it's Specter involved, someone who always seemed to survive, but it looks like we might finally be rid of him after 30 yrs.  

    The infamous MBT, Uncle Thomas, Bush endorsement and tax cuts for the rich, the Iraq War, Scalia, Roberts and Alito.  

    I'll give him his quirky "not proved" vote on Clinton.  And that he didn't give a Snarlin' Arlen exit speech.

     

    Parent

    Oh, and thankfully (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 08:55:56 PM EST
    Jack Conway looks to be winning his primary.

    Dr. Dan was UNACCEPTABLE.

    Same feeling here. (none / 0) (#19)
    by IndiDemGirl on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:14:35 PM EST
    Coudn't stand the thought of Dan winning a Dem Primary.

    Parent
    Cubs 3 Rockies 2 in the 7th (none / 0) (#16)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:10:08 PM EST
    Could the Cubs take 2 in a row? Well, probably not.

    Cubs win! (none / 0) (#70)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:36:41 PM EST
    sestak wins
    Glee was good
    I have Justifed to watch tomorrow

    But sweet Jesus I hate the Celtics

    Parent

    Stupid Cubs. (none / 0) (#86)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed May 19, 2010 at 08:17:08 AM EST
    Pretty funny that on the morning news, they were suggesting that Vail's own Lindsey Vonn was a traitor for throwing out the first pitch and singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley.

    Guess they forgot that there are many, many transplanted Cubs fans here.  At the Rox game Sunday, I saw two little boys wearing Rockies shirts and Cubs hats.  

    Parent

    Celts up 2 over Magic at the half (none / 0) (#17)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:11:24 PM EST
    Go Magic!!

    The blimp pictures of Orlando at night (none / 0) (#27)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:28:33 PM EST
    crack me up. They try pretty hard to make it look like something, but downtown Orladno at night is sooo dead. The stadium is a lit up spot in a sea of mostly darkness.

    Parent
    Magic shooting bricks- down by 5 (none / 0) (#31)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:33:35 PM EST


    Parent
    Dwight Howard (none / 0) (#33)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:35:28 PM EST
    is a chump.

    I thought he was really good.

    He really isn't.

    Parent

    I thought it was just me (none / 0) (#37)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:39:39 PM EST
    When I read the paper here I think he must be wonderful, but every time I watch a game, I'm going 'huh?'

    Parent
    If he can't overpower his man (none / 0) (#39)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:42:07 PM EST
    he has no plan B.

    I detest Mark Jackson and Van Gundy, but Jackson makes a great point - you simply ca not run your offense through Howard, he is terrible with the ball.

    Pick and roll, offensive rebounding and defense is what he can do.

    Post up? Are you kidding me? Just awful.

    Pau Gasol is tons better imo.

    Parent

    Dwight is hardly awful... (none / 0) (#89)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:05:34 AM EST
    ...his post-up skills are certainly unpolished, but he is still just a kid.  

    He may not be ready to be the centerpiece of a fanchise, but I'd take him playing center on the Nuggets in a heartbeat.

    Parent

    Magic down by 11 (none / 0) (#53)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:57:56 PM EST
    Time to watch my tivo'd 'justified'.

    Time it took me to type that, Magic scored 5. Guess I'll watch some more.

    Parent

    Wow, magic close to 4 with (none / 0) (#59)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:10:37 PM EST
    6 minutes left. I'm gonna be up way too late.

    Parent
    Van Gundy has (none / 0) (#61)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:13:20 PM EST
    the wrong lineup out there.

    Nelson is killing them.

    Parent

    Carter wakes up (none / 0) (#65)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:20:20 PM EST
    Magic up by 1!

    Parent
    And how has Howard scored 30? (none / 0) (#66)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:22:04 PM EST
    He must score whenever I read a post and am not looking.

    Parent
    AP calls it for Sestak (none / 0) (#20)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:15:42 PM EST
    Wow.

    Can he beat Toomey?

    Yes (none / 0) (#22)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:18:17 PM EST
    I'd say it's even money.

    Neil Oxman is a genius, and he's working for Sestak.

    Parent

    What would you say makes him (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:24:38 PM EST
    so good? And is he free to run a presidential primary challenge in '12? Don't really care for who the candidate is.

    Parent
    I'd say he is a dead duck (none / 0) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:26:53 PM EST
    No chance at all. Gets beat by double digits.

    The good news tonight for the blogs is all their candidates did good tonight (if Halter can keep Lincoln under 50) but all of them will lose in November so they will not be casting any embarrassing votes.

    Parent

    Well, PA doesn't have a tradition (none / 0) (#28)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:29:29 PM EST
    of electing Democratic Senators. One to a full term since the 60s.

    But I still say Sestak has a shot.

    Parent

    I don't see it (none / 0) (#30)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:32:30 PM EST
    Sestak did not win tonight.

    Specter lost.

    Turnout was unebelievably low.

    But hell, here's hoping.

    Parent

    Good point--really low turnout (none / 0) (#34)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:36:33 PM EST
    But Oxman shoved Specter off the ledge.

    Parent
    In a Dem primary (none / 0) (#36)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:39:13 PM EST
    and Specter not on the ballot in November.

    Props to Sestak for winning, but personally, I saw nothing in that campaign that made me think - yeah that Sestak is a real vote getter.

    Toomey is a good pol in a bad Dem year in a state where Republicans win their fair share.

    Sestak is not much of  a candidate imo.

    I see him getting blown out.  
     

    Parent

    Hard to disagree (none / 0) (#38)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:41:40 PM EST
    but it's also hard to see Sestak as Deeds II.

    Parent
    Great analogy (none / 0) (#40)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:42:58 PM EST
    He is PRECISELY Deeds II.

    Great thought.

    Parent

    Ugh (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:45:31 PM EST
    Honestly, Specter was kind of an institution. It's hard to fathom that he actually lost.

    Parent
    I remember when Gaylord Nelson lost (none / 0) (#45)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:50:31 PM EST
    in an anti-Washington mood in my state.  It was as if the earth shifted on its axis when the founder of Earth Day went down.

    His replacement was absolutely awful -- as too often happens when the mood is "anybody but ___."  I hope better for Pennsylvania.

    Parent

    In a Dem primary? (none / 0) (#46)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:51:13 PM EST
    I admit I am surprised SESTAK beat him because Sestak is such a crappy candidate.

    But you hit the nail on the head.

    Deeds II.

    Toomey as McDonnel.

    Parent

    Yeah. . . (none / 0) (#50)
    by andgarden on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:55:17 PM EST


    Parent
    In waht way do you think Sestak is a (none / 0) (#56)
    by tigercourse on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:03:19 PM EST
    bad candidate?

    Parent
    No issues (none / 0) (#60)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:12:21 PM EST
    No charisma.

    No likeability.

    Comes across as a blowhard.

    To me, he is sort of the anti-Bill Clinton. Sort of a poor man's John Kerry.

    Let me ask you this, describe Sestak to me.

    Parent

    No charisma, not likable, (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by brodie on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:40:18 PM EST
    and a blowhard -- gee, sounds just like the guy PAians elected 5 times statewide, namely Snarlin' Arlen Specter.

    Of course others called Specter smug, arrogant and insufferable.  

    With the bar set that low, and with the low-wattage Bob Casey already elected to office, Sestak just by showing up was easily able to come across as personable, dynamic and appropriately self-confident.  

    Parent

    I'm not a Penn voter (none / 0) (#73)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:48:23 PM EST
    but every time I've seen Sestak on TV, he's made my teeth ache, he's so incredibly unpleasant and clangingly artificial.  Arlen does actually have a sort of quirky charm about him, Sestak just makes me want to run in the other direction to get away from him.

    For whatever that's worth, which is exactly nuthin'.

    Parent

    The only thing charming (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by brodie on Tue May 18, 2010 at 11:00:10 PM EST
    I've seen about Arlen in the past 30 yrs was his fairly graceful concession speech tonight.  I mean, at least he didn't pull a Nixon and snarl at the press.

    Otherwise, I find him about as charming in a quirky way as his fellow small town Kansan Bob Dole.

    Well, Dole wasn't charming, but he did have a wicked sense of humor.

    Never associated Arlen with humor, somehow ...

    Parent

    Interesting- I've mostly jeered him on the (none / 0) (#84)
    by ruffian on Wed May 19, 2010 at 06:40:30 AM EST
    radio, and I never get that impression. Always came across pretty well to me, like he has thought out opinions and not just talking points.

     Not sure I would know him if I saw him on TV without a name tag. I'm sure I'll be seeing him a lot more now. I may change my mind soon.

    Parent

    Gawd. Once again my spell check knows best (none / 0) (#85)
    by ruffian on Wed May 19, 2010 at 06:41:40 AM EST
    I've heard him on the radio- not jeered him. Yet.

    Parent
    I can only describe what wikipedia tells (none / 0) (#69)
    by tigercourse on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:27:05 PM EST
    me about him. I've seen alot of politicians who fit the bill you described yet managed to get elected. Anyway, I don't think he'll win either. I just believe it could be close.

    Parent
    What we might forget (none / 0) (#67)
    by christinep on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:22:26 PM EST
    is that Toomey has had an easy run of it to date. While history favors a Republican senator, the state of things now is that Toomey may have to show himself a bit earlier than the ersatz Santorum; and, Sestak has a habit of pulling things out when the odds are against him. I'm waiting to see this play out a bit more in my original home state.

    Parent
    The retired Admiral sounds like (none / 0) (#72)
    by hairspray on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:42:43 PM EST
    it could help a lot.  When I lived in Philly I was aware of how big the city was for military. I don't know about western PA.

    Parent
    Washington gets 1st NBA draft pick (none / 0) (#47)
    by ruffian on Tue May 18, 2010 at 09:52:04 PM EST


    CNN projects Arkansas runoff (none / 0) (#63)
    by Cream City on Tue May 18, 2010 at 10:15:31 PM EST
    as even the name of Lincoln doesn't do it tonight.

    Obama may want to switch his (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by oculus on Wed May 19, 2010 at 02:22:12 AM EST
    mentor to Washington.

    Parent
    Results (none / 0) (#88)
    by CST on Wed May 19, 2010 at 09:04:48 AM EST
    Celtics up 2 games to none.  But due to the complete lack of sleep I've gotten in the last week, I got home last night at 7:30, instantly fell asleep and didn't wake up for 12 hours.

    I can't feel that bad though.  My splitting headache is completely gone and I really really needed that.

    Glad to wake up to two big wins though.  Looks like I missed a great game.

    Results Thread | 98 comments (98 topical)

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