With apologies to my mother, Pennsylvania Democrats voted out two of the shittiest incumbent members of the House of Representatives. Both Jason Altimire and Tim Holden are now looking for work. Altmire, who represents parts of Pittsburgh and its suburbs, got his start working for the loathsome Pete Peterson before becoming a lobbyist for the hospital industry. Unsurprisingly, he voted against the Affordable Care Act. Tim Holden, who represents Schuylkill County and surrounding areas, is a former real estate agent, insurance salesman, and sheriff. To his credit, he has managed to win a lot of elections in very red territory. Nonetheless, he voted to invade Iraq, for Bush’s bankruptcy bill, against the Affordable Care Act, and sponsored the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). We will hold both these seats, too, which makes it easier to gloat. Altmire was redistricted into a contest with the late Jack Murtha’s protege, so we won’t be gaining much on social issues. In fact, on that front, this is a loss. But the labor unions went big for Rep. Mark Critz because Almire is a total tool of corporate America. Meanwhile, you can begin donating to Matt Cartwright, who defeated Tim Holden tonight. He’ll be a very solid progressive voice in DC.
I am sorry to see that former Rep. Patrick Murphy narrowly lost his bid for the nomination as Attorney General. A bright career has taken a big hit tonight.
sorry to hear about Murphy
He got really killed everywhere outside of the Philly area (except in Happy Valley where Penn State is and in Pittsburgh where he ran close). The people of this state hate Philly so much that they didn’t even give him a chance.
Did he even run any ads any other places besides Happy Valley, Pittsburgh and Philly? And speaking of elections, you’ll never guess who I had lunch with today. Someone interesting!
I really don’t know who bought ads where. I saw very little advertising.
.
Did Murphy with all his political experience underestimate the tenacity of an AG? Kathleen Kane’s link to Hillary Clinton.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."I have often wondered what would happen if Philly was able to economically secede from PA. Maybe hold all our state taxes in escrow or something until Harrisburg stops fucking with us.
That’s awfully sad to hear that Murphy lost the primary. I’m not really sure what the next step is for him, but I thought he was a lock for something bigger after working my tail off for him in 2006.
Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, but that’s a damn shame. Both he and Sestak deserved better.
Bill Clinton endorsed Murphy’s opponent.
I don’t know much about Murphy, just that he was a Blue Dog. Any particular reason you supported him, or was it mostly a vote against Kathleen Kane?
Many reasons I supported him.
He bought me beer.
He always spent extra time with my parents.
He was a strong pro-choice voice.
He was the leader of the repeal of DADT in the house.
He’s a good person and a good man.
He never fucked us on anything that mattered.
His wife is a sweetheart.
His heart is in the right place.
He’s pure Philly working class in his roots.
Shall I go on?
Yeah I know about DADT, but I didn’t know you had as much personal ties. I wasn’t criticizing you, just inquiring because all I know of him was that he was a Blue Dog. If I were in PA, I probably would have made the same decision (as I’d have researched).
However, another incriminating thing I found out about Kane after your post was that she donated $500 to Corbett in 2010. Was that made an issue of by Murphy? Did you know about that? Wtf is Bill Clinton thinking?
Yes .. IIRC .. Murphy mentioned that in his ads .. and Kane then ran ads saying Murphy was lying .. and WTF was Bill Clinton thinking? Part of it was that Murphy endorsed Obama in ’08 .. but also .. remember something .. Clinton is/was a DLC’er .. which is just as bad as a Blue Dog(and I don’t know why Murphy was one .. since he sure didn’t act like one)
This is why I don’t understand the retro-active Bill Clinton worship. I respect that he was the first successful Democratic president in my lifetime. But, he was the quintessential DLC President. It’s true that he fought on some issues but a lot of times it was for the wrong ones.
he ran a largely ethical administration for eight years that didn’t screw anything up too badly, at least while he was in office. Of course, deregulating the banking industry came back to bite us in a HUGE way, and one in five kids in this country are now hungry, so welfare reform wasn’t as great as the media (and both parties) want you to believe.
So, not a great record. And then there are his personal failings that led directly to Bush/Cheney. He’s lucky that true Democrats don’t slap his face on sight.
DLC’er he may be, but he’s no Republican. I wouldn’t think “you endorsed Hillary” would outweigh “you supported Republicans”. But I guess that was decisive for him. Shame.
“he never fucked us on anythign that mattered”.
well, excep on FISA. and retroactive immunity for telecoms that broke the law. civil liberties, what do they matter?
Okay, FISA, and aqueducts and roads and sanitation. But other than that….
on roads and aqueducts too?
Jeez. His defeat back then shows what happens when you tell everyone you’re a Blue Dog.
I think he woulda been a good AG, with the possible exception of immigration.
you got the joke, right?
missed it i guess.
oh wait, just got it.
heh. indeed.
OT: The POTUS with the Mostest
is the general heating up already?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAFQIciWsF4&feature=player_embedded
I couldn’t read your post because it is plastered with Windows messages “The server at www,facebook.com is taking too long to respond.” I don’t even know if I typed this correctly because the messages are covering this screen also.
I don’t even have a facebook account and don’t want one.
Somewhere in a cave in Afghanistan:
Al Queada Guy #1: I’ve got a sleeper cell ready to go in Pittsburgh.
Al Queada Guy #2: Fantastic! What’s the plan?
Al Queada Guy #1: We’re going big this time. No more pussyfooting around.
Al Queada Guy #2: Praise the lord! I can’t wait! What are they going to do?
Al Queada Guy #1: They’re going to vote.
Al Queada Guy #2: They’re going to what?
Al Queada Guy #1: They’re going vote. It’s gonna be great. They’re going to cast at least three fraudulent votes for dogcatcher. Nobody will know. It’ll be epic.
Al Queada Guy #2: Wow, I mean, uh, ok. You sure that’s it? They’re not going to blow anything up?
Al Queada Guy #1: Haven’t you seen that Homeland tv show on Showtime? Blowing people up is old hat. It’s all about the influence now. Besides, we’ve got to do it before they pass those voter ID laws. If there’s one thing that will stop us in our tracks, it’s our complete and total inability to secure a fake ID.
Al Queada Guy #2: Got it.
oops, wrong thread!