GOP Voters Rejecting Specter

From Thomas Fitzgerald at the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter trails a lesser-known challenger in the 2010 Republican primary, an indication of the political hit he has taken in his party's base for giving crucial support to the Democratic-drafted $787 billion economic stimulus, according to a new poll.
Former Rep. Pat Toomey, a conservative leader from the Lehigh Valley, leads Specter 41 to 27 percent in a hypothetical matchup in a Quinnipiac University survey released today.
Although Toomey came within 17,000 votes of beating Specter in the 2004 GOP primary, the poll found that 73 percent of Republican voters did not know enough about the likely challenger to form an opinion of him. Seventy-eight percent of all voters had not heard of Toomey.
"Pennsylvania Republicans are so unhappy with Sen. Specter's vote for President Barack Obama's stimulus package and so-called pork barrel spending that they are voting for a former congressman they hardly know," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Toomey came close last time and has strong conservative backing, but his challenge could be fractured if more Republicans crowd into the primary and split the anti-Specter vote."
Specter's support for the stimulus won 87 percent to 6 percent approval among Democrats; and 56 percent to 38 percent support among independents. Republican voters disapprove of that vote by a whopping 70 percent to 25 percent.
Overall, voters approve of the job Specter is doing 52 percent to 33 percent, boosted by strong support from Democrats and independents. That was nearly reversed among Republicans, however, with 36 percent approving Specter's performance and 52 percent disapproving.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,056 Pennsylvania voters by telephone from March 19 through March 23. Results are subject to a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points; the survey includes 423 Republicans, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points.

Former NFL Q'back Killed

From Patrick Walters at the Associated Press:
Pennsylvania authorities say a former NFL quarterback who failed to show for sentencing on drunken driving charges nearly four years ago has been killed in a car crash in Greece.
A Chester County detective says authorities had initially been skeptical about reports of William "Jeff" Komlo's death in a weekend crash. But acting chief county detective Jim Vito says the State Department used fingerprints to confirm the crash victim was indeed the 52-year-old fugitive.
Komlo played for the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over five NFL seasons from 1979 to 1983.
In July 2005, Komlo failed to show for sentencing on two drunken driving convictions.
Two months earlier, authorities had issued a warrant for Komlo when he didn't appear for a May 10 preliminary hearing on charges in an alleged assault on his girlfriend.
At the time he went missing, Komlo was under investigation for fires at his home in Chester Springs, Pa., and another home in Florida.
Komlo had lived in Chester Springs and worked as an insurance broker in the nearby Philadelphia suburb of Wayne. Authorities did not know what happened to him after he skipped the hearings in 2005.

Other People's Money

From the Philadelphia Daily News:

Powerful state Sen. Vince Fumo [shown leaving court with girlfriend Carolyn Zinni] lived like a prince on Other People's Money, the government charged in its corruption indictment against him.
Today, the Other People spoke: Guilty on all counts.
A federal jury, after five days of deliberations, found Fumo guilty of 137 counts of defrauding taxpayers, diverting money for his personal use from a non-profit he ran and obstruction of justice. Co-defendant Ruth Arnao, who once headed the non-profit, Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, was also found guilty of all 45 counts against her.
U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter scheduled a bail hearing for 2 p.m. when he will decided whether Fumo should be subject to electronic monitoring and house arrest while he awaits sentencing.
Fumo, 65, could get at least 10 in jail.

Photo: Tom Gralish/Inquirer

Fumo Guilty, Nutter Comments

A federal court jury today found former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo of Philadelphia guilty on all counts.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has just commented on the Fumo verdit calling it "stunning."
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Mayor Nutter commented on the verdict as he left his City Hall office to attend a ceremony for slain police officer John Pawlowski, who was shot to death 30 days ago.
"It's certainly kind of a stunning conclusion to what has been a pretty stunning trial. ... You know, the jury has spoken. We are a nation, state and city of laws. All of us are accountable to the law, especially those of us in public service who have, of course, a higher standard we all have to adhere to. ... It's just kind of a bit of a surprise, I guess. ... I certainly wish Sen. Fumo and his family the best in these very trying and difficult times. He in the true sense of public service certainly did many things beneficial to Philadelphia and our region and the Commonwealth. But I think that today's jury verdict is further evidence that no matter how much good you do in public life, no matter even what your good intentions may be, none of us, none of us, are above the law, and we'll all be held accountable for things that we do."
Nutter did not think Fumo's criminal actions would hurt Philadelphia's image.
"It's certainly not helpful, but I think the citizens of this city are smart enough to understand that what an individual may do is certainly not indicative of what generally goes on in the city of Philadelphia." The mayor also pointed out that Sen. Fumo was a state official, not a city official.
So what is Fumo's legacy now?
"It is not for me to write histories or legacies. ... This situation is certainly not good for those of us in public office and how the public thinks about people who are in high elected office. ... I would say, the system worked. It did what it was supposed to do. It held an official accountable."

Kean: NJ Slips Further

New Jersey Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-21) responded to a report in Crain’s Insider titled “Nearby states doing worse than New York.” The March 13, 2009 report, published in the highly respected and influential business publication, noted that New Jersey experienced a 6.8% drop in tax revenue in the 4th quarter of 2008, while New York experienced a dramatically lower reduction of just 0.2%, despite serious problems in the financial sector.
The report also noted that Pennsylvania experienced a 2.4% decline in 4th quarter 2008 tax revenues, and a 50-state average decline of 3.6% during the same period.
“While Governor Corzine has repeatedly maintained that his efforts to sustain state spending have put New Jersey closer to economic recovery than other states, the data shows that New Jersey is actually doing much worse than our neighbors and the nation as a whole,” said Kean. “Governor Corzine’s proposal to increase business taxes by $350 million, while cutting thousands of dollars of rebates and property tax deductions for middle-class families, will only ensure that the New Jersey economy continues to suffer unnecessarily.”
Senator Kean is the primary sponsor of the “Economic Development Promotion Act,” S-281, which would make New Jersey job growth programs more efficient, target high paying industries, and give middle class families the economic security of a stronger job market.

Who Was That PR Guy?

Did you see that front page USA Today story by Susan Page out of Exton, PA yesterday that detailed the economic slide in human terms and quoted Pennsylvania State Senator Andy Dinniman?
Here's what Senator Dinniman had to say: "The current recession hits everyone and spares no one. The bottom line is: industrial worker, professional worker — we're all in this together."
Dinniman's comments are well taken and knowledgeable.
In fact, this marks the second time of late that the fine Senator has been quoted in USA Today.
Well, Dinniman is not just an accomplished public servant but also a professor of global studies at West Chester University. He knows what he's talking about and he certainly seems to deserve the attention.
Still, you may be wondering: Who does Senator Dinniman's PR, anyway? Who's his Communications Director?
Now, allow me to proudly whisper the answer (but don't tell a soul!)
The guy's name is Adam Cirucci!

Facts Speak Volumes

Some startling facts to consider:
--The nation's 100 largest banks are worth about $300 billion yet the federal TARP legislation spends $700 billion to try to "fix" those banks.
--The Obama Stimulus Act will cost America more than the entire federal budget for the year 1982 ( the second year of the Reagan Administration).
--New Jersey has a larger state budget than Pennsylvania even though Pennsylvania is six times bigger and has 40% more people.

Specter Support Dwindling

From Rasmussen and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Senator Arlen Specter is one of only three Republicans to support the economic stimulus bill in Congress, and the latest Rasmussen Reports survey in Pennsylvania shows that his position is costing him support back home.
Just 31percent of Keystone State voters say are more likely to vote for Specter because of his position on the stimulus package while 40 percent are less likely to do so. A look inside the numbers shows the problem for Specter may be even more significant. Fifty-eight percent of Republican voters in the state are less likely to vote for Specter. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, just 27 percent are more likely to support the long-time incumbent while 48% are less likely to do so.
These numbers are not surprising given the partisan response to the stimulus bill itself. Nationwide, support for the stimulus legislation increased following President Obama’s nationally televised press conference earlier this week. Still, the legislation is perceived as being what Democrats want rather than a bipartisan product.
In Pennsylvania, 69 percent of Republicans oppose the package while 73 percent of Democrats favor it. Those not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided. That partisan divide places Specter in a difficult position. Even though Specter has aligned himself with the president and other Democrats on the stimulus, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has announced that the Pennsylvania Republican is one of their top targets for the 2010 election cycle.
Specter won re-election in 2004 by a 53 percent to 42 percent margin. However, Specter barely survived a conservative primary challenge from then-Congressman Pat Toomey. Even though he had the support of the state’s Republican establishment, Specter was able to defeat Toomey only by two points, 51 percent to 49 percent.
Overall, Pennsylvania voters support the stimulus measure by a 47 percent to 41 percent margin. Still, 52 percent say the legislation is at least somewhat likely to make things worse instead of better.

The Grand Opera

From Christine Flowers at the Philadelphia Daily News:
With a name like Flowers, you wouldn't think I was Italian.
Don't be fooled. While only half my DNA qualifies me for paisana status, it's the dominant part of my personality.
Which, in simple terms, means every emotion I've ever had has been pumped up on steroids. Italians don't feel, we emote. We don't hate, we despise. We don't love, we adore. And we don't steal. We plunder.
To us, life is an opera. . . .
To read the rest of Christine's wonderful column, click here.

Ingraham Nails Specter

From Jeff Poor at NewsBusters:
It's a question we've all been waiting to hear answered. Unfortunately, it took a conservative talk radio host to ask it and didn't come from the mainstream media.
In an interview with Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, Pa., on Feb. 9, talk show host Laura Ingraham asked why he and Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are the only three out of 229 Republican members of Congress to support the stimulus. She inquired if it might have had something to do with being invited to the White House by President Barack Obama.
"Is it nice to be wined and dined at the White House?" Ingraham asked. "And, you're treated pretty well when you're a Republican bucking other Republicans, right Senator?"
Specter told Ingraham he wasn't being "wined and dined" by the Obama White House. Specter wasn't on the guest list of one infamous White House party that included several Republican and Democrat members of Congress, which included cocktails and wagyu beef. However, Specter did attend a Super Bowl party hosted by the White House on Feb. 1 as the only Republican member in attendance.
"Now let's get off it Laura," Specter replied. "I'm not drinking any wine at the White House and I don't dine at the White House. If the president wants to talk to me - I talk to him and I make my own independent judgment. Don't give me the wine and dine baloney young lady."
Ingraham challenged Specter again by asking him if that had any effect on his position on the stimulus, which he outlined in a Feb. 9 Washington Post op-ed.
"Absolutely not, anymore than talking to anybody else," Specter said. "He's the president and I talk to him. I talked to people who were opposed to it and talk to everybody. I got a pretty good record, Laura for making up my own mind."
According to Specter, the legislation will create jobs immediately in his state and cited Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and a mayor of "a major city" as evidence.
"Laura, we have a big chunk of this money going to roads, highways and mass transit," Specter said. "I talked to the governor of my state and he said we could do it in nine months. And I said, ‘That's really not good enough.' And he said, ‘If we really twist and turn we can cut it back to six months. And I talked to the mayor of a major city this morning that has a parking plot going up, which is out of money and the work can go forward this afternoon."
"And there are projects, shovel-ready, which can be put to good use immediately and put people to work," Specter said.

Altoona Geek Bowl

One of the funniest newsclips of the weekend shows Obama bowling in working-class Altoona, Pennsylvania with his new pal Bob Casey.

Obama's the only guy I know who bowls with a dress shirt and tie (not to mention the perfectly pressed dress pants). And Casey was right alongside him (equally stuff-shirted) cheering him on. They looked like a couple of certified geeks. Yo, O: Loosen your tie. Lighten up a bit.

It's clear that Obama is using Casey. And it's equally clear that Casey is allowing himself to be used.

Figuring out why Casey is such a willing and nerdy looking participant may be as easy as figuring out how long it takes to climb on a bandwagon. Casey wants to ride the wave. Trouble is, nobody's going to mistake him for some kewl surfer anytime soon.

Casey To The Left

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey's endorsement today of Obama represents Casey's swing to the extreme left as he embraces the nation's most liberal senator.
One can't help but wonder if Casey's late father, Governor Bob Casey, would have followed this course. Governor Casey was, after all, the man who attempted to challenge the Democrat party from the right and nudge the party toward more reasonable positions on a whole range of issues. Casey The Elder was an old-line labor Democrat who seemed more attuned to the more centrist views of the Clintons.
The son's movement away from the more centrist views of his father also represents a movement away from those all-important "Casey Democrats" who one would figure would be more kindly disposed toward Hillary Clinton. These old-line, labor-oriented working class Dems are not always quick to endorse the social reconstructionist view of Obamaniacs.
But Casey The Younger has cast his lot. He's placed his bet.
Now, let the chips fall where they may.

Inspiring Kickoff!

Last night we attended a swell kickoff party for the Wally Zimolong campaign at Urban Saloon in Philly's Art Museum neighborhood. Wally (shown with Kelley Bromley) is a Philadelphia lawyer who is seeking election to Pennsylvania's House of Representatives in the 182nd legislative district covering much of center city Philadelphia and parts of Bella Vista, Fairmount, Gray's Ferry and South Philadelphia.

Wally graduated Bishop Eustace, Villanova University, and Villanova Law School. Wally is the first member of his family to graduate from law school and he is admitted to practice in all courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
As an attorney, Wally practices construction litigation and construction law. His clients include general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, who have helped build many of the City’s landmarks.

Wally believes in community. He sits on the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association Real Property Section and is also on the Board of Directors of the Blue White Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization providing scholarships to Villanova University students. Wally is also a member of the Union League of Philadelphia.
Wally resides in South Philadelphia just off 9th Street in the heart of the Italian Market area with Bubba, his black Labrador retriever.

It's great to see young people like Wally becoming involved in politics. Last night's event was a fun affair with plenty of young professionals on hand to lend their support to Wally and his campaign. We'll keep you posted on the Zimolong campaign as it moves forward.