SantorumBlog

That’s what some in Philly ask.

On Friday night, the local NAACP chapter hosted a candidates’ forum where Gov. Ed Rendell and challenger Lynn Swann dropped in, as did Santorum but, much to the dismay of some, Casey was nowhere to be found.

“I am peeved he did not show up,” said J. Whyatt Mondesire, chapter president.

Eleanor Dezzi, a volunteer spokesperson for Casey, said he tried to make the event but was also scheduled for a rally in Pittsburgh with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama that night.

Hmm. All I could find were these two events.

Wednesday October 11th in Pittsburgh

Saturday October 21st in Philly.

There is another Obama “rub off some charisma” rally for Bob Casey planned for this weekend. But last friday?

It doesn’t look it, at least not a public event. Googling around doesn’t yield anything.

Update: Senator Barack Obama was in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA on Friday night.

He had kind of a full day.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is scheduled to appear at rallies at USC Friday on behalf of Proposition 87 and the statewide Democratic ticket.

Obama is expected to be joined by actors Ben Affleck and Salma Hayek in backing Proposition 87, which would raise taxes on oil companies to fund research into alternative energy. Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore also have prominently supported Proposition 87, with both recording TV ads.

Later Friday, Obama will join Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, at a California Democratic Party get-out-the-vote rally.

Update: I just called the Philly NAACP office. The candidates forum was on October 27th.

Why is Bob Casey hiding from Philadelphia’s black community? Where was he friday night? Why hide behind Senator Obama?

Hitching Rick Santorum to George Bush’s policies is one thing (if exactly backwards), but hitching his own star to Barack Obama smells of political opportunism, for one, and cowardice for two. He can’t stand on his own?

-=-=

Dan Riehl links and says…

Then he did a Cut and Run on the NAACP, just like Ben Cardin. Hey, what do we need Blacks for? We get their votes and according to Cut and Run Kerry, those people are only good enough to fight our wars. Welcome to the Democrat Party of 2006, just as elitist and racist as they’ve always been, despite their attempts to couch it in high minded, but ultimately empty rhetoric.

First lady Laura Bush is scheduled to attend a rally for the Pennsylvania Republican ticket between 9 a.m. and noon today at The Great Hall on Perry Highway in the Perrysville area of Ross.Karen Santorum, wife of Sen. Rick Santorum, and Cherena Swann, wife of Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann, also are slated to appear, said Luke Myslinski, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods. Hart and U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, also will attend.

Up to 400 are expected to attend the free ticketed event, which is not open to the public.

The White House must think Republicans have a chance in the Keystone State to send in America’s most popular Republican.

Vote Republican / Vote Swann and Santorum

Cross-Posted at Swannblog

Sunday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has three (!) pro-Santorum/anti-Casey letters in it. Keep up the good work, folks! The P-G must be getting bombarded by our letters giving a more conservative point of view:

“The PG endorsement of Bob Casey Jr. is no great surprise (”Casey for Senate: Santorum Exemplifies the Worst of Washington,” Oct. 22). However, it is a shame that the hometown newspaper of the third-ranking senator in the United States does not acknowledge what it means to the region to have the third-ranking senator represent this state.

We all know about the 911th Airlift Wing that Sen. Rick Santorum worked to save. Sen. Santorum secured funding for educational programs at the Pittsburgh Symphony, the African American Cultural Center, the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the National Aviary, the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Sen. Santorum also has secured more than $11 million for adult stem-cell research, helping to transform Pittsburgh from a steel town into a biotechnology research leader.

Additionally, he was instrumental in funding of the renovations to the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Hospital, construction of a parking facility at the hospital and increased operational funding, which has resulted in vastly improved patient care.

The PG said Bob Casey Jr. could do those things, also. He may want to do those things but he will not be able to get them done, because he will be a freshman senator. I plan on supporting Sen. Rick Santorum because he has been a true fighter for Pittsburgh and we all have benefited from his efforts.”

LOU NUDI
Vietnam Veteran
Ross

“So the PG endorsed Bob Casey Jr. for senator … what a surprise! And what an endorsement. About 70 percent of your editorial was about Sen. Rick Santorum.

Let’s review what you cite about Mr. Casey. He and Mr. Santorum are about the same on Iraq, pro-gun, pro-death penalty and anti-abortion.

Mr. Casey has no clue concerning Social Security and wants to do something about health care. And, of course, the coup de grace — he wants to increase the minimum wage! That will solve all the nation’s problems.

He has political experience but no legislative experience. Let’s face it: Bob Casey doesn’t have the guts to tell us how he will make a difference. That is probably why the PG endorsed him; he will be a faithful foot soldier for the Democrats.”

ROBERT McGRATH
Wilkins

“Surprise: The PG did not endorse Rick Santorum. But you might have had the decency to acknowledge that the weary slurs trotted out yet again have all been answered. If you find the answers lacking, you have an obligation to acknowledge the answers and identify any weakness. The fact that you did not do so points to the hypocrisy of the PG, not Rick Santorum.

Take, for example, the tired charge that Mr. Santorum’s residence situation as senator is just like Doug Walgren’s. When Mr. Santorum ran against Mr. Walgren for the House, he correctly pointed out that Mr. Walgren did not live in the district, or in Pennsylvania. When Mr. Santorum represented his district in the House, he lived in the district. When he was elected to the Senate, the situation changed: He no longer represented one district but the whole state — and promised to visit every county every year (a promise kept).

There’s another difference: The Senate is in session 70 to 80 days per year more than the House — a huge difference for a family with young children. A weekly commute from Pittsburgh would take a toll on the family and on his commitment to visit every county. The Santorums did the responsible thing as parents: Like many Senate families, they got a second residence in the D.C. area. That residence does not replace the Penn Hills home — where they vote, pay their taxes, serve jury duty and maintain their official residence.

The PG knows these facts and ignores them, yet charges hypocrisy?

Likewise the silliness about using the Pennsylvania cyber school: The Santorums are lifelong residents of Pennsylvania, where they vote and pay taxes. By what state should their children be educated?

It’s bad enough to distort his record. Why make his family a political football?”

JOHN KAUFMANN
Murrysville

And there’s another pro-Santorum letter in Sunday’s Patriot News:

“In recent months there has been a steady drumbeat of criticism directed at Sen. Rick Santorum, ranging from the trivial to the downright dishonest. Most of it is partisan in nature.

Let’s get down to facts. Santorum is the third-ranking senator, has a national following and is considered to be presidential timber. In his position of leadership, he is poised to do more for the state than any newcomer possibly could.

Even if you think his opponent in the current campaign, Bob Casey, has the right values, you might as well be voting for Teddy Kennedy because Casey would vote with Kennedy, as a member of the Democratic caucus, on most issues.

In addition, Santorum is a zealous and outspoken advocate. Casey, on the other hand, gives every indication of being a mild-mannered backbencher. And his work ethic or lack thereof is a matter of record.

We need to keep Santorum working for us in the Senate.”

JOHN SOPENSKY
Mechanicsburg

Pocono Record Letter to the Editor

Based on what Bobby Casey Jr. has stated in debates and on his Web site, he has no conflicts with national Democrats on many issues facing the country today.

Casey supports:

Obstructionist tactics that prevent qualified judges from getting up or down votes in the Senate, partial-birth abortion, judges imposing gay marriage on states, and giving amnesty to illegal aliens.

Casey is against: building a wall to protect our borders, and acting now to save Social Security resulting in automatic benefit cuts by law.

On Nov. 7 ask yourself, do I want to support Bobby Casey who goes along with the crowd and signed the checks for an illegal pay raise, or do I want a true leader in Senator Rick Santorum, who has been fighting for Pennsylvanians on all these issues?

Do we Pennsylvanians want to trade number 2 in the majority for number 48 in the minority?

Tribune-Review

Westmoreland County Democrats are hoping to recapture the magic from 15 years ago, when local politicos gathered for a midnight rally at the courthouse in Greensburg.

“That’s the whole purpose for it,” said Democratic Party Chairman Dante Bertani of another rally planned for the witching hour tonight in support of Senate candidate Bob Casey.

They’re going to support the stealth candidate at midnight so that no one will be able to hear or see his positions.

Really now, how much foot traffic is on Greenburg’s streets at midnight?

The American Spectator has a great story about the man behind the wrench in the machine, Chris Lilik.

But it also talks about the Senate race.

Unlike many Republicans who will automatically vote the GOP ticket regardless of who is on the ballot, Lilik is genuinely disappointed that Casey, who is pro-life, has wasted a “tremendous opportunity” to pull the increasingly far-left party more towards the center. Reading of Casey’s support for death taxes and raising taxes in general, Lilik, like Casey a Scranton native, says simply: “I’m disappointed.”

As you read this, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is suddenly being flooded with Lilik radio ads relentlessly educating voters on Casey’s decidedly non-conservative positions on everything from illegal immigration to welfare reform, raising taxes, and Social Security.

This is not good news for Casey. In the words of one long-time correspondent for the liberal Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the State Treasurer has so far been going through his Senate campaign “like smoke,” avoiding issues and even, until recently, debates with the experienced Santorum.

While Santorum has cut Casey’s lead in more than half, the last several polls having him down anywhere from two to nine points, there has been increasing speculation among Pennsylvania political observers that Casey could actually get elected without mounting a serious issues campaign at all, in spite of being what Toomey calls a “big liberal.”

The ads are available here.

It’s pretty funny.

…. and if you want to donate. Go here.

RedState/SwannBlog’s Mark Kilmer is also blogging about the effort.

[Disclosure: Chris Lilik was the founder of SantorumBlog.com. But is not longer involved in it’s production.]

Published by RonaldGreiner October 23rd, 2006 in ed rendell

Too late guys, sorry.

Knowledge is more powerful than money.

At least Rendell has a grin on his face. (Clinton is still there)

It’s Mark the Shark, trust me.

Deaniacs have a long history of losing.  It’s a pattern.

The ShockWave of Reform / Vote Swann

Is that a wolf or what? Maybe it’s a Donkey.

What is the hidden message here?

Answer:  Ed Rendell reads Swannblog.  For FREE I might add.

Is this a Rendell Cheesy Warning?

When the Deaniacs took over for “Caster the Disaster” VS My main man Mel “The Uniter” Martinez

We knew we had won.  Deaniacs always lose, it’s a rule. 

Vote Swann / Rendell is too Pathetic.

Der Feind sieht Dein Licht!

Attack!

The Eagle landed in Tampa Bay and met Ronde, the good looking Barber!

The Philly coach is a walking heart attack much like Ed Rendell.

Just one heart beat away!

Lucky for Eagle fans that if their obese coach dies, his replacement is not Rendell’s Running Mate!!

Edward G. Robinson knows what we mean.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

This is America and it happens that way sometimes.  Possibilities!

It’s time for a change.

Vote Swann / Steadfast leadership in a time of change.

Also poted at Swannblog.com

Santorum Press Release

At a news conference today, Senator Rick Santorum and former Lehigh Valley Congressman Pat Toomey joined together to urge Bob Casey Jr. to put an end to his campaign of hypocrisy, particularly on the issue of outsourcing.

During the October 12th debate on KDKA-TV, Bob Casey Jr. demonstrated blatant hypocrisy on the issue of outsourcing. Casey openly acknowledged that he supports the outsourcing of Pennsylvania jobs, because he sits on the Pennsylvania Public School Employee Retirement System’s (PSERS) Board and the State Employee Retirement System’s (SERS) Board. Together, more than $10 billion of these pension funds are invested in companies that send jobs overseas.

And when asked by Senator Santorum at the debate if Casey knew just how much of the pensions that were invested in outsourcing companies, he was clueless. His answer verbatim was, “I don’t know that number.” These are the very companies that are on both the AFL-CIO and Lou Dobbs’ list of the most notorious outsourcers, yet Casey didn’t know about them.

Casey, Jr. talks tough on outsourcing even going so far by saying that he’ll ‘oppose any trade law that sends American jobs overseas’ in a recent campaign commercial,’ but how can that be when he supports investing in companies that promote the very concept that he is campaigning against?

“Plain and simple, this is an issue of hypocrisy, because Bob Casey Jr. says one thing and does another. If Casey thinks that outsourcing jobs overseas is so terrible, then why would he actively support the investment of pension funds in these very companies? Maybe if Bob Casey showed up for work more, he would know this,” said Pat Toomey, former Lehigh Valley Congressman. “If Bob Casey is asleep at the switch at his current job, how can we expect him to fight for Pennsylvania as a U.S. Senator?”

“What’s more is that Bob Casey is now stalling to release where the Pennsylvania Treasury invests its money. Surely the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a third quarter report that details their investments — stocks and bonds - that is readily available. Even a mutual fund details this information. There is a reason Casey is hiding the information, because the very agency that he oversees is investing our taxpayer dollars in companies that send jobs overseas. Casey needs to come clean and release this information,” said Senator Rick Santorum.

Click here to view correspondence between Vince Galko, campaign manager for Santorum 2006 and Treasury Department: www.RickSantorum.com/Media/PDF/Press/2006-10-18.pdf. The letter dated October 18 details that they are stalling on releasing the Treasury Department’s holdings.

As a PA Taxpayer, I’d like to know where that money’s at. Nevermind the political implications.

Heh.

Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin is suing the state court system, saying court officials violated her rights by refusing to let her decline a 15 percent pay raise.
The lawsuit in Commonwealth Court ultimately could go before the same state Supreme Court that reinstated the controversial pay raise for 1,100 judges last month.

Orie Melvin, of Marshall, cited her “moral convictions” in seeking an injunction that would force officials to deduct the raise from her paycheck. The suit names state Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. and the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts, an arm of the Supreme Court.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by her brother, Pittsburgh lawyer Jack Orie, said Orie Melvin believes she has “an absolute right to decline any increases in the salary she originally agreed to accept.”

Depending on how your read this, of course.

Three out of five likely voters surveyed in a new, non-partisan statewide poll say an incumbent legislator’s vote for the recently repealed state pay raise will not be the determining factor when they go to the polls on Nov. 7.

The survey, released today by Triad Strategies, LLC, and Susquehanna Polling and Research, asked 700 voters statewide how they viewed the state pay raise as a decision factor in the Nov. 7 election.

A significant majority - 59 percent - said they “plan to consider my senator or representative’s position on other issues before making my final decision.” A total of 22 percent said they would vote against pay raise supporters no matter what. A total of 15 percent said they would vote for their incumbent legislator “in spite of their position on the pay raise.”

Pay raise concerns seem to be centered most strongly in the Southwestern Pennsylvania counties around Pittsburgh where 33 percent of voters say they will vote against those who voted for the legislation no matter what, said Roy Wells, President of Triad Strategies. “It means that it could be a factor in some races but it’s not going to be the sea change we saw in the primaries,” Wells said. Strong concerns were also evident in South Central Pennsylvania and North Central Pennsylvania counties where anti-pay-raise sentiments were registered by 29 percent of the voters contacted.

Bob Casey placed his signatures on all of those checks. Before he decided he was against them.

Philly Newspaper tells truth, don’t be shocked.

Santorum, after running an aggressive, smart campaign, after beating Casey on points and substance in four debates, after desperately fighting for a job he loves, is going to [lose]. (Wishful thinking but wrong)

And Casey’s going to win a job he never wanted in a city where he doesn’t want to be and in a way in which few will give him credit.

It must be frustrating for both.

Casey will never make it another 20 days.

Winning election to high public office ought to be about winning the confidence of voters on the basis of leadership, ideas and achievement, not about following a strategy of how best not to lose.

Casey: Breath in, breath out, move on.

20 days is a long way to go for Mumbling Bobby (Bozo) the Clown.

I bet Governor Rendell made the Philly Newspaper ENDORSE Santorum!! (Rendell loves Santorum).

Some politicians are too confused.

Fewer Politicians / More Patriots - Vote Swann and Santorum

The Political Strategist writes on what Santorum campaigns next move needs to be.

Santorum should launch an advertising campaign around the Casey is a liberal theme. It’s not hard. Casey opposed welfare reform, Casey supports amnesty, Casey has promised to raise taxes. Now obviously there are nuances to these positions but tactically they are reasonable and defensible lines of attack. Aside from the amnesty one, Santorum has ignored these punches. (Amnesty, as an issue standing alone, doen’t sway many voters. It does however appeal to conservatives. Amnesty combined with other examples of liberalism would potentially sway more voters.)

This theme should be two fold for the different parts of the state. In the Philadelphia suburbs, Santorum should lead with the fact that Casey wants to raise taxes. These areas have shifted Democrat over the past 14 years but all that was premised on social liberalism. A liberalism that Casey seemingly lacks. Casey has all the political vices of Democrats in this area but none of the virtues. (i.e. he is pro-life pro-gun AND pro- tax and spend.)

On the other side of the state, Santorum needs to brand Casey as out of touch with Pennsylvania values. The Pittsburgh area is one of the areas where the Casey Brand is strongest. Voters need to be told of the differences on gay marriage and life issues. Casey has played off both sides on the abortion issue and this is where bringing that back to haunt him would boost Santorum. At the least it would remind voters that Casey is not his father, and for Santorum that can only be a good thing (Reminder Casey Senior was staunchly and unequivocally pro-life, he carried 66 out of 67 counties in the governor’s race 16 years ago.) Additionally this is one of the areas where the state legislature’s controverisal and illegal pay raise provoked the deepest outrage and resenment. Casey, as treasuer, signed those pay checks. He later declared himself opposed to the payraise and challenged it in court but that was well after public outrage had decidely shown who was on the wrong side. Casey, “Too liberal, too late” might be a way to go.

Why is this possible on October 18th? Because Casey has not defined himself, Santorum has. I don’t know if Santorum can pull it out but the opening remains, if Santorum takes it.

We’ve, of course, been banging those those drums the whole time.