GD-P post on Joe Sestak: The Season of Swift Boat is Here Again

[MH1]

Joe Sestak is my candidate in PA-7. I thought you all might be interested in this because Joe is a candidate JK is supporting. And JK jumped aboard Joe's campaign fast. Don't know what that means but it can't be a bad sign. Joe was a late entry in the race because he had to retire from the Navy before he could do anything. But with JK's help he's gotten off the ground very quickly with his fundraising.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2553517&mesg_id=2553517

You gotta read the linked articles. Just gotta. The DU post doesn't make the "swift" reference fully clear but that is a good call by the op, imo. Read the Hill article for the lowdown on the swiftie redux.

BTW Joe is doing good in blogworld - front page at kos yesterday (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/4/155251/7839), now Atrios does a great post and adds him to the Eschaton page at ActBlue! Cool!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Pls consider k&r on the DU thread so more people see it. (where's that begging smiley when I need it?)

I know some folks already donated to Joe so you can ignore that part. Unless of course you're feeling flush. :-)

Sorry for the choppiness of this post, I can see there will not be much sleep between now and November. Gotta run now to spruce up some IT for my candidate. I'll try to check in later if I can keep my eyes open. :-)

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. How's he looking in the polls?

Does he have a long way to go before catching up to the Repuke, or is it a tight race, or is he significantly out in front?

[MH1]

6. I can't find a poll yet

But there's this:

Former Vice Adm. Looks to Unseat Pa. Rep.

Apr 1st, 2006

By Kimberly Hefling
The Associated Press.

SWARTHMORE, Pa. (AP) - A rushed morning commuter barely looked up as recently retired Navy Vice Adm. Joe Sestak handed him campaign material at a train station. Two minutes later, the commuter was back. "Are you Joe? ... What year did you graduate from the academy?" Wayne Barner, 68, asked Sestak after noticing in the brochure that the Democratic candidate was a fellow graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

The political novice's military resume is attracting attention in his bid to unseat 10-term Rep. Curt Weldon, the second-ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee who has strong national security credentials and is fluent in Russian.

In recent months, however, Weldon's claims about the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have stirred talk of conspiracy theories and left the incumbent open to ridicule.

Several military veterans have grabbed the spotlight with congressional bids this election; the 54-year-old Sestak easily outranks them. He commanded an aircraft carrier battlegroup in the Afghanistan fight and one in the Persian Gulf in the lead-up to the Iraq war.

The 31-year Navy veteran has degrees from Harvard and worked as director for defense policy in the Clinton White House.

"There's no question about my defense security credentials," Sestak said. "We recognized in the military that the health of our individuals in body, and in mind by education, is key to our national security. People are our national treasure, and this Congress has eroded that security by their policies."

Democrats impressed with Sestak's credentials pushed aside Iraq war veteran Bryan Lentz, a likable candidate who raised nearly as much money as Weldon in the last fundraising quarter. Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District comprises Philadelphia suburbs, which increasingly have grown Democratic and favored the party's nominee in the last three presidential elections.

Weldon, who won with 59 percent of the vote in 2004 - his lowest percentage in 10 elections - recognizes he faces his toughest fight yet.

Weldon has already agreed to debate Sestak - he's always refused to debate the Dem candidate in the past, as I understand.

So I'd call it uphill, but maybe less a climb than a steep walk. And Sestak's in pretty good shape for that hike. (And have you taken a look at Weldon lately..no, don't hurt your eyes like that...)

[Island Blue]

2. Thanks for posting the links MH.

I can see where JK would feel a great deal of solidarity for Sestak. (For many reasons.) I hope he kicks ass in November!

[TayTay]

3. The post got pumped up at DKos

It's now on the front page.

I compeltely agree. How low can these people go?

[karynnj]

4. I don't think we want to challange them

This is absolutely disgusting.

[MH1]

5. Cool!

Someone at HQ mentioned being on dailykos but I didn't hear "again" so I thought it was yesterday's post they were talking about! Joe's been front page on kos two days in a row! OMG!

Seriously Joe is a NICE guy BUT he works very hard - amazing energy. And he talks constantly about how he learned in the military that it isn't the equipment that makes the military strong - although you've got to have it - it's the people.

I'm going to be proud to have him as my Congressman!!

[whometense]

7. Nice post up at the Carpetbagger Report

Curt Weldon gives up on decency

Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) is no doubt feeling some pressure. He's one of the more vulnerable House GOP incumbents this year and he's facing recently-retired three-star Vice Adm. Joseph Sestak (D), who's been making real strides in the district.

But there are some places candidates just can't go, no matter how desperate they are to win. Criticizing an opponent for where he treated his cancer-stricken 5-year-old daughter is simply beyond the pale. And yet, Weldon is just craven enough to make the attack anyway...

[whometense]

8. Horrible.

But on the bright side, I've read more about Sestak in the past 24 hours than in the previous months. This stunt might just boomerang on Weldon and turn out to be his downfall. If so, couldn't happen to a more deserving a**hole.

[MH1]

9. Boomerang - yes

There are tons of posts on dkos saying they're going to contribute to Sestak's campaign now.

Joe was already doing super in the fund-raising department, considering he got a late start and is a first-time campaigner.* And he seems very at peace and positive about his daughter's situation and the decisions he and his family made. Finally, he spent 30 years in the military so is no stranger to slings and arrows, I can tell you.

Yep, this could turn out to be a real gift from Curt. :D

* (Don't want to get overconfident on the fundraising though - Joe had help from Kerry, but Curt has lots of "friends" who want to keep him in office, so Curt still out-fundraised him for the 1st quarter).