Toomey Talks About The Deficit, Sestak His Navy Life

Pennsylvania’s second and last senate debate saw Congressman Joe Sestak, the Democrat, refer to his Navy service in at least eight out of 11 question,  while former Congressman Pat Toomey, the Republican, brought home an absolutely terrifying point about federal deficit spending.

The men are seeking the seat held by Democrat Arlen Specter who lost his party’s nomination to Sestak in the primary election.

The debate took place last night at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh and was moderated by station news-anchor David Johnson. Its available on C-Span.

After introductory statements from each man, Johnson unveiled the first question which involved the labels they gave themselves and each other.

Johnson asked Toomey if he agreed that he was was a conservative and Toomey answered “right” and that Sestak was a liberal. and Toomey answered “um hum.”

He then addressed Sestak who said “I wouldn’t quite call (Toomey) a conservative but I do agree that he was on the fringe of his party. . .For me, I knew hundreds of fellow admirals. I’ve yet to meet one of them being a liberal.”

Sestak refused to allow himself to be labeled as a liberal.

Toomey noted that last year his opponent voted with Nancy Pelosi 100 percent of the time.

The second question was “was the stimulus working?”

Toomey said that Obama had promised that unemployment wouldn’t rise over 8 percent when it was passed but that it went “over 10 percent.”

“Rather than spend $800 billion that we didn’t have,” he said. “If we had across the board cuts in payroll tax for the workers and the matching employer share, then every worker would have had a take-home pay raise immediately, we wouldn’t have had to worry about shovel-ready projects and every employer would find it less expensive to keep and hire workers.

Sestak in his answer said the stimulus was Bush’s idea. He then referenced his Navy days. He then said the stimulus saved jobs and that Toomey wants to give the money to corporations.

The third question came via videotape from a Braddock woman who asked if the candidates supported drilling in  the Marcellus Shale natural gas fields, to which Johnson added if the they supported any tax on it.

Toomey noted that energy stored in the fields is equal to half of that in the Saudi Arabian oil fields and development of Marcellus Shale could be be best thing that happened to Pennsylvania economically in a century. He said all experts agreed that the drilling could and should be done in an environmentally responsible fashion. He said a tax should be expected on the gas but would leave it to Harrisburg to decided what it should be.

Sestak said that when he was in the Navy he patrolled the Persian Gulf oil lanes. He said he supported drilling but that the wanted to do it right “because that’s how I learned to do things in the Navy.”
 
The next question was from Facebook and was “What makes you more qualified than your opponent.”

Sestak said it was because “When I was in the U.S. military I learned to work across the aisle” and cited endorsements by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Sen. Chuck Hagel, both who ran on Republican tickets. He also said he was in the U.S. military where he “learned accountability.”

Toomey said it was the sum of his life experiences. He noted that he was born in a blue-collar household. His dad was a union worker. His mom was a part-time parish secretary. He grew up with five siblings, and the he’s the only candidate in the race that actually created jobs citing the restaurants he started with his brothers in Allentown.

Question four was from Johnson who wanted to know what taxes the candidates would cut.

Toomey said he would make the 2003 tax cuts permanent for everybody, and cut the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent along with lowering the capital gains tax rate.

Sestak said he wants a zero percent capital gains tax if invested in a small business. He said he wants to give a 15 percent tax credit to small business.

Sestak accused Toomey of supporting large corporations over small business, which was a theme he worked in several of his answers. Toomey  respond by again noting that he created and ran small businesses and that the bailouts supported by Sestak  didn’t go to small business but to giant banks.

“I was opposed to all of those bailouts. Joe voted for them. Who do you think is going to pay for them” Toomey said.

Johnson’s follow up question involved what programs to cut.

Sestak responded by saying that he voted for laws that would require a government to “live within its means. If you want new program cut another one.” He accused Toomey of leaving congress “with the largest deficit in the history of America” then going on television and saying “deficits weren’t important.”

Sestak said we needed caps on discretionary spending. He also said we shouldn’t buy any more F-22 fighters.

Toomey was incredulous at Sestak’s claims.

“This is amazing,” he  said. “Joe voted for every single bailout, introduced bailouts which would cost $100 billion of still more additional deficit spending; voted for the stimulus and giant omnibus spending and he’s pretending  that he’s the guy who wants to reduce spending. This is unbelievable. Let’s talk about deficits. During the six years I was in the House which ended six years ago, the average budget deficit was seven-tenths of 1 percent of our economy.  Joe’s voting for budget deficits that are now, each year, 10 percent of our economy — 15 times bigger. We are running one-and-a-half trillion dollar deficits and Joe says we haven’t spent enough.”

Toomey said he would end the bailouts, rescind the unspent portion of the stimulus bill and ban earmarks.

Sestak’s responded by saying that Toomey only wants to help big corporations and while he would support legislation to  end earmarks.

In response, Toomey  pointed out that Sestak was getting earmarks for supporters in blatant violations of a pledge he made.

The next question was from a Pittsburgh man about why bus services to needy neighborhoods seem to be cut soon that services to other neighborhoods. Johnson expanded the question to all services.

Sestak said he would make it so that local grants must be associated with “minority-serving institutions” and wanted to spend more money on public transportation.

Toomey said he understood the complaint and that it speaks to the incredible inefficiency of government. He cited earmarks as a example in which federal politicians bestow money on favored people and programs, and that it typically doesn’t occur in the neighborhoods that needed it the most.

He said a better way to get federal money to needy neighborhoods would be be prioritize by category the need then allocate the money via grants to state and local governments to use.

Question seven was from Facebook and asked if stimulus spending increased unemployment longer than if the markets were let to work things out.

“We would be much better off if we hadn’t launched the giant stimulus bill,” Toomey said.
We can’t borrow and spend our way to prosperity. If that were going to work then Greece would have the most successful economy in the world.”

He reiterated his belief that a payroll tax cut would have been far more effective.

“We could have cut payroll taxes roughly in half for about three years. Every single worker would have had a immediate pay raise.”

Sestak said without the stimulus bill eight million workers would have lost their jobs.

Next question also from Facebook asked the men to state their most obvious fault and biggest strength.
Sestak said his biggest fault was that “he tries to do to much” and that his biggest asset was his wife. And “what I learned in the U.S. military”

Toomey said his biggest fault was that he tries “to have too many balls in the air at the same time” which the moderator jokingly pointed out was the same answer as Sestak’s.

Toomey then also said that his biggest asset is his wife, but that on a more personal level it was the humility he learned in trying to run his family businesses. He said it made him willing to listen rather than dictate.

The next question was via a videotape from a woman who grew up in the Middle East “where there is no separation of church and state” and who wanted to know what the candidates thought should be the role of religion in government.

Toomey cited the Establishment Clause of the Constitution from memory and said he supported it totally. He did, however, said that it shouldn’t be interpreted in such a way that it denies our Judeo-Christian heritage is an important part of who we are and that it forms the basis of many of our laws.  He also said the Establishment Clause does not require a denial of faith or religion. He referenced his support for school choice as something the Establishment Clause should not be used against.

Sestak said the Constitution calls for the separation of church and state and he supports it unlike “some extreme candidates like Eileen (sic) O’Donnell in Delaware that think there might be a state-mandated religion”

He then brought up the Navy again.

The next question concerned their ads. Johnson asked if they ever got feedback on them.

Toomey said most people he hears from like his ads.  The moderator said that he hears different but then said he was referring to political ads general. Toomey then said he got his point and that the tone of campaigns in general and this one in particular where unfortunate.

He said his campaign’s first ad was complementary about Sestak’s character and simply highlighted their difference on issues, and the hoped to have a more substantive discussion on issues. He said his following ads also were directed at policy differences rather than personal attacks. He said, however, that “Joe has chosen to go down a different road”.

Sestak agreed that the tone was unfortunate. “Congressman Toomey said it well in his book ‘truth is the casualty of elections'”.  

“I appreciate you selling my book Joe,” Toomey broke in

Sestak laughed and said “It’s a pretty scary book, you can read it on Halloween.” Toomey laughed. Sestak laughed too and said “He’s not a witch but boy is his book pretty scary”.

“It’s called the Road to Prosperity,” Toomey answered.

“That’s what it’s called,” Sestak said which might have been the one point upon which they agreed.

Returning the question at hand, Sestak said he was upset at a Toomey ad that accused him of wanting to do away with private insurance in reference to his support for Obamacare since he used private insurance to pay for the care of his daughter when she had a life-threatening illness.

“So I don’t think either of us should be pointing at one another,” he said.

Sestak said Toomey was a good guy and he actually he had a beer with him.

Toomey said that he defended Sestak when Arlen Specter attacked him in the primary.

The last question involved gun laws.

Toomey said he supported the Second Amendment and was grateful for the NRA’s endorsement noting that Sestak had an F rating from the group. He said the gun laws needed not significant changes.

Sestak said he also supported the Second Amendment but was concerned about dangers posed to law enforcement personnel. He said he would bring back the mid-90s “assault rifle” ban. In his answer, he again referred to his military service.

Toomey responded by noting that he also had the endorsements of the major police organizations.

The 57-minute debate ended with final statements from both men.

Ras Has Toomey Up 48-44

The latest Rasmussen poll has Republican Pat Toomey up 48-44 percent over Congressman Joe Sestak in the race to replace Arlen Specter as senator from Pennsylvania.

The poll taken Thursday night surveyed 750 likely voters and has a plus-minus of 4 percent. Seven percent of voters said they were undecided while 1 percent said they liked another candidate.

While unlike other recent polls it still showed Toomey with a lead it was the closest Rasmussen poll between the two since May.

The previous Rasmussen poll , taken Oct. 12, showed Toomey ahead 49-39 percent.

A Ride Through Delaware

Take it for what it’s worth but I took a ride this morning down Naamans Road in Delaware between Route 202 and Route 261 and saw oodles of political signs for Glen Urquhart, the Republican congressional candidate; and John Carney, the Democrat congressional candidate; and state rep. candidates Democrat Dennis E. Williams and Republican Robert Rhodunda; and, of course, Christine O’Donnell; and various line offices.

But only one rather small one for Chris Coons.

Karl Denniger, Founder of Tea Party Blasts Tea Party

Karl Denniger, Founder of Tea Party Blasts Tea Party — Karl Denniger, founder of the Tea Party,  renounced is new direction on MSN.  Denniger reminded us the Tea Party began as a challenge to the 700 Billion Dollar bailout for Wall Street and the banks, and the lack of aid to the citizens with foreclosures.  The Tea Party demanded a clearer separation between Corporation and State and more regulation to protect the citizenry.

“Within one month,” Denniger says, “The people with the big money came in, paid for the buses, paid for the signs, and led the Tea Party in a totally different direction.  Instead of fighting for policing and regulation the Tea Party is now fighting against policing and regulation.”   This fighting against policing and regulation would permit the same people who received the bailouts and unprecedented power through corporate lobbyists and buying power to do as they will and take away the power of the average citizen to participate in the business world, the social life of the country, and in the political life in any effective manor.
The major feature that stands out most about the Tea Party is they have not spoken out about: unlimited corporate contributions permitted for campaigning; holding the banks accountable for the 700 Billion Dollars they received; the actions of the federal reserve; corporate lobbying; or anything related to the buying of the government through the weaving of corporations, corporate executives and the US Government; the very principles and cause on which the party was founded.  A successful coup has taken place in the Tea Party.  “It is amazing at how quickly it was taken over,” Denninger said.  “We may need to start over completely.”
Karl Denniger, Founder of Tea Party Blasts Tea Party

Soros Edition Or All Things Soros

Soros Edition Or All Things Soros — National Public Radio fired commentator Juan Williams last night after he said on The O’Reilly Factor two nights earlier that “. . .when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.

So much for the principle of speaking one’s mind without fear.

NPR does not, however, have to worry about funding for a replacement. The night Williams was speaking truth to power it was reported Nazi collaborator and big-time Democrat Party supporter George Soros had made a $1.8 million contribution to the organization.

NPR is non-profit membership media syndicator. Despite its non-profit status it had net income of $18.9 million last year . Public funding accounts for about 16 percent of its member stations’ income albeit some stations in rural areas get 70 percent of its revenue from taxpayers.

In Fall 2008, NPR programming reached  27.5 million people weekly with Morning Edition and the afternoon All Things Considered. Five years ago the Harris Poll showed it to be the must trusted source for news.

 

Soros Edition Or All Things Soros

O’Donnell Scores One and Nobody Even Notices

O’Donnell Scores One and Nobody Even Notices — The liberal, social media lit up with news of the Christine O’ Donnell/Chris Coon debate in Delaware concerning a discussion on separation of church and state.  Mr. Coons pointed out that the constitution said there should be separation of church and state.  Ms. O’Donnell asked if he was sure.  The crowd laughed.  He later pointed out, in the debate, that the First Amendment was about separation of church and state.  Ms. O’Donnell asked him if that was the truth.  Everyone laughed.  To be truthful, however, the Constitution of the U.S. does not stipulate separation of church and state, it says that the state cannot establish any state religion. 

 
The history of this amendment goes back to Thomas Jefferson when he, on the behest of a new religion called the Baptist Religion, fought to make it possible for Baptists to preach and form religious communities while he, at the same time, worked to stop the state from supporting the Anglican Church (The State Church in Virginia) through taxation.  He won the case and the church became separated from the state in that way, which was described much later as building a wall between the church and state.  The constitution, however, says nothing about the separation of church and state and according to the spirit of the amendment pushed through by Jefferson, the state could not outlaw any religion that was civil and lawful.  In other words the outlawing of people practicing their religions openly in schools or having religious symbols in public federal buildings is unconstitutional because it hinders the freedom of people to practice their religion.  It seems, therefor, that O’Donnell is right.  I guess even a broken clock is right at least twice a day.

Coons Political Vengeance 2-1 Record

Coons Political Vengeance 2-1 RecordDelaware Democrat senate nominee Christopher Coons is 2-1 in lawsuits accusing him of taking political  vengeance regarding county employees  shortly after assuming the role of executive director of New Castle County in 2005.

Coons was named in lawsuits filed by Trinidad Navarro and Joseph Freeberry in 2005 and by Dennis E. Parkstone 3rd in 2007. All were supporters of Sherry Freeberry who Coons defeated in a contentious Democrat primary election in 2004.

Freeberry, Sherry’s brother, accused Coons of violating his civil rights after firing him as the general manager of the county’s Department of Special Services. Freeberry was appointed to the post in 1997 after serving 13 years as the county’s superintendent of parks. State law was changed in 1997 to provide the general manager slot with merit system protection. Coons began lobbying to change the law in 2003  and got Dover to do so in 2005 making the post one filled at the pleasure of the executive director.

At which point he gave Freeberry the option to retire, resign or be fired. Freeberry chose firing and sued. The federal courts ruled in favor of Coons.

Navarro was a corporal with the New Castle County Police Department. He accused Coons and others of failing to promote him to sergeant because he supported  Ms. Freeberry.

In 2007, the county settled with Navarro agreeing to pay him $100,000 plus $40,000 for legal fees and provide him with a $60,000 annuity fund to give him a sergeant’s retirement benefits.

Parkstone was a crew chief with the Deparement of Special Services and president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 459. He also supported Ms. Freeberry. He sued after he was fired for allowing his computer at the union office to be used to view pornography and to send lewd emails. While an investigation revealed  the computer had been used to access porn websites on days when Parkstone was not there, it was determined that Parkstone had failed to properly secure his machine which is also a violation.

Parkstone’s initial discipline was a suspension providing he waive his right to file a grievance, which he waived. However, Parkstone became incensed upon learning that another employee who had been a Coons supporter and  was the source of the obscene emails was not going to be punished.

So Parkstone filed a grievance and was fired.

The Coons supporter did receive a five-day suspension after the grievance was filed.

The United States District Court for Delaware granted summary judgment to Coons in April 2009.

Coons Political Vengeance 2-1 Record

 

Embattled DCCC Cuts Back In Philly Market

The Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is cutting back its Philadelphia television ad buys until the final week of the campaign which starts Oct. 26. The plan originally called for heavy advertising for the last two weeks.

The DCCC is the national campaign arm for Democrat U.S. House Candidates.

The market which includes New Jersey and northern Delaware  has numerous endangered Democrat seats including Pa7 where former federal prosecutor  Republican Pat Meehan is fighting Democrat state Rep. Bryan Lentz for the seat being giving up by Democrat Joe Sestak; Pa8 where Democrat incumbent Patrick Murphy is down in the polls to Republican challenger Mike Fitzpatrick; Pa13 where Democrat incumbent Allyson Schwartz has found herself wary over-the-shoulder glances at Republican Dee Adock; and NJ3 where incumbent Democrat John Adler is taking desperate measures against Republican challenger John Runyan.

And of course in Delaware there is a Republican-held seat being given up by Mike castle which is contested by Republican  Republican Glen Urquhart and  Democrat Lt. Gov. John Carney.

Hat tip to mcall.com

Burns Has Money Edge In Homestretch

GOP Challenger Tim Burns has the edge in dollars for the final sprint in Pennsylvania’s 12 District congressional race.

As of Sept. 30, he had $409,735 in the bank compared to $263,182 for incumbent Democrat Mark Critz, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Critz outraised Burns $478,769 to $257,966 but has been spending it much faster. About half of Critz’s money have come from political action committees.

Critz beat Burns in a special election May 18 to fill the remainder of the term of Democrat John Murtha who died Feb. 8.

A Democrat pollster had Critz leading 48 to 41 percent in early September. A Republican poll from about the same time had Burns up 48 to 43 percent.

Joe “I Want To Be A Millionaire” Sestak

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Why Joe “Not Really One Of Us” Sestak, who has been making a issue of the net worth of his GOP opponent in Pennsylvania’s senate race.

It turns out that Sestak has disclosed assets  of between $2,103,000 and $3,856,000, including two homes. This is in the same ballpark as Pat Toomey’s reported assets of $2.02 million and $4.9 million.

A million dollars isn’t what it used to be and neither disclosure is outside the realm of the expected — Sestak is a congressman and retired rear admiral, while Toomey has held many jobs including Wall Street currency trader, Allentown restaurateur, congressman and think tank president.

OTOH, a rich Democrat playing the class envy card is not outside the realm of the expected either.

Hey Joe, how about Wheel of Fortune? For the grand prize what is hyp_cr_t_.

You got the money to buy the vowels.

Hat tip Newsmax.com