PA Bob Casey discloses plan for ethics reform at Abramoff's old restaurant

[LynneSin]

You know, I've been kind of backing off on the PA democratic primaries. As a former Pennsylvania who tried to work on the dismal campaign of Ron Klink (he ran against Santorum in 2000), I'm just dying to get back to Pennsylvania and dig my teeth into a major fight to see this candidate gone.

My attitude is let the Pennsylvanians decide who is best and then help out in the general election. But I found this little gem and just had to share it with everyone. In a nutshell - Bob Casey Jr, the frontrunner and very popular democratic candidate running for US Senate disclosed his ethnics reform plan. And the guy is killer by having this meeting in a restaurant formerly owned by the notorious Jack Abramof (One wonders how much money Tricky Rick got from ole Jack)

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/113205029420910.xml&coll=1

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
BY BRETT LIEBERMAN
Of Our Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Robert P. Casey Jr. took aim yesterday at U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and Washington's "culture of corruption" as he unveiled an ethics reform plan yesterday.

In a back room of the Washington restaurant once owned by a powerhouse lobbyist who is under indictment, Casey called for same-day reporting by lobbyists of their contacts with lawmakers and requiring politicians to pay the full costs of private jets they use.

He was especially critical of the "K Street Project." Casey called for an end to a "sinister and dangerous" Republican program led by Santorum, R-Pa., that reportedly pressures businesses and interest groups to hire GOP loyalists.

[meow2u3]

1. Now that's what I call strategy

Or should I say, stragety.

WTG, Casey! Hit Tricky Ricky right where it counts! :woohoo:

[WCGreen]

2. Finally.....

A dem with balls....

[shance]

3. How would you explain Casey's contributions from Halliburton?

Casey may not be as mean and hostile as Santorum, but he's a Republican all the same.

Look at his support of the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Look at both his and his father controlling views regarding the governmental control of womens bodies and dictating to us what we should and should not do with it.

[LynneSin]

4. First and foremost he is not a republican

How annoying that we just label anyone a republican because they don't agree with me. I don't like Zell Miller but the man is still a democrat. Same with Joe Lieberman. But no, this is DU and god forbid someone actually posts something about a democrat that maybe they like so we slap the ole 'republican' tag on them.

Yes, I know that Casey is pro-life. I'd rather see Casey as a pro-life senator that god forbid a pro-life democrat (which btw, you can guarentee you'll have in 2010 if he doesn't get senator. Where Bob Casey fails in choice he has shown strong democratic values with Education, Environment and even fiscal spending.

Oh and as for Iraq, I'm guess you don't read much of the Philly Inquirer do you?

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/12429559.htm

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's leading Democratic opponent, state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., accused the senator this week of remaining silent while the U.S. death toll in Iraq rises.

After months of maintaining a low profile, Casey said the Republican senator was being too focused on "partisanship and ideology" to go after President Bush with the fervor he showed during the 1999 U.S.-led raids of Kosovo under President Bill Clinton.

"The U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, who is third in the leadership, says one of the reasons people should vote for him is because he is in leadership," Casey said in an interview Thursday. "But he is not asking the tough questions."

Yesterday, Santorum disputed Casey's characterization, saying he had raised concerns about military and diplomatic progress in Iraq with administration officials, spoken publicly about intelligence failings that preceded the 9/11 attacks, and bucked the President in pushing for measures that crack down on Syria and Iran, which have been blamed for aiding insurgents.

As for Halliburtons, Enrons, and even Jack Abramoff - it seems that a bulk of our democrats have received some sort of contribution from these campaigns. But you know, it's just fricking lazier to post craps and insinuations about the guy you don't want then it is to do a bit of research to find out the truth.

I posted this because I thought it was great for Casey to use such a forum to discuss his ethics reform. But as I mentioned, I'm not getting involved with Pennsylvania til after the primaries. But I'll be glad that the PA statehouse is protected from Casey having it for at least 6-12 years. Casey fits the senate much better than he would as a governor

[meow2u3]

5. Casey is an old-school liberal

before liberal meant pro-choice.

[hopein08]

6. Well put...n/t

[shance]

7. I guess that was before liberal meant pro-war as well?

I don't see him as being what I would consider a Democrat in any capacity.

Remember, simply because someone describes themselves as a Democrat, doesnt mean they truly are a Democrat.

Look at the vast collection of DINO's we have in our party's establishment. Is it any wonder individuals like Chuck Schumer and Governor Rendell are annointing candidates with such conservative stances.

Its not Democratic and if you choose to believe it is, then that is your problem and if you live in Pennsylvania, you will certainly see that little if any change will come from electing a man so alligned with Republican top issues like Casey is.

[LynneSin]

8. I've lived in Pennsylvania and that was the dumbest statement ever

First Casey hasn't lined up behind Lieberman. I'm suspecting he'll jump on the "make a plan deadline" And second, it's just so easy when you support another candidate in the primary to say silly statements like "You won't see a difference between Santorum and Casey". Here's a concept - I even see differences between Lieberman and Santorum but maybe that's because I take my damn blinders off and look at ALL of the issues and not just one or two. So if worst case scenario Casey turns out to be another Lieberman, a man with a 75% rating from the ADA and 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters (yeah we're not getting 100% like Joe has from NARAL) - guess what? We just did a hell of alot better than Rick Santorum. AND Casey would support Harry Reid as the Majority leader NOT whomever Republicans go for in 2006 which would either be Mitch McConnell or Trent Lott.

And finally Murtha was a "Casey Democrat" one of those Western PA democrats who was pro-life and voted for the war in 2002. Guess he's no better than Santorum either.

[meow2u3]

9. Well said, Lynne

Only a one- or two-issue voter would consider "Casey Democrats" DINOs. These old-school, "guns-and-butter" liberals, of whom I regard myself as a member, are fierce economic liberals, and are in right-center field only on certain social issues. Michael Lind, of "Up from Conservatism" fame, calls them "national liberals" or "radical centrists."

Old-school liberals, AKA paleoliberals or OSLs, do not have adequate representation in the House and practically no representation in the Senate. OSLs are looking up to Casey to champion their causes.

[LynneSin]

10. Thanks!!

I just get irritated with statements like "Casey is a republican" or "Casey is no different than Santorum" because it screams out "I really only care about 1 or 2 issues and I'm just too lazy to sit down and figure out the rest". Better yet it says that you're so desparate with your candidate that instead of debating the issues you go with the go the low & dirty road of mudslinging. Better to call Casey a republican or Santorum than god forbid - debate the issues.

Here's a concept - I like all 3 of the candidates running for democratic nomination in Pennsylvania and I would never in a million years think to be insultive about any of the candidates simply because I might be choosing one over the other. In fact I like all 3 well enough that I've decided not to do any campaigning in the primaries since I'm not living in Pennsylvania (born and lived there most of my live but I live in Delaware now). Let the Pennsylvanians decide at the polls and we'll fight from there.

But the reason I seem more pro-Casey than the others is because we were burned in 2000. I was living in PA at the time and we had too many candidates on the ticket including several from major urban areas like Philly & Pittsburgh. I know there were 2 candidates from the Philly region and their votes combined was more than any other candidate. But those 2 candidates split the Philly vote and a lesser known candidate, Ron Klink got the victory.

Now I know what some folks might say - Ron Klink is one of those Casey Democrats and his moderate stance on several issues probably cost the election. Well it didn't.

Living in the Philadelphia metro area and a regular TV watcher I never saw any camapaigns for Ron Klink in the Philadelphia metro area but I saw tons of Rick Santorum ones where Rick was warm & fuzzy and Ron Klink was the devil reincarninate. Ron Klink ran out of money and ran a poor campaign strategy of "I'll win the rest of PA and not bother with Philly". That had to be the dumbest strategy because Philly is the largest Metro region in the state and you just don't try and win it with one tiny office in the city and no TV ads. Democrats will always win the Philadephia Region even if they don't campaign there but if you want to win the state of Pennsylvania you need to pull strong turnout numbers and have a great enough distance between your opponent in order to make up ground from the rural part of the state which votes very red. Because it was a presidental election year Klink got the turnout, but he didn't get a high enough percentage of the votes to makeup for lost ground throughout the rest of the state. See one other thing about Philadelphia - they'll easily split there vote which explains why democratic presidental candidates win but democrats lose.

Casey is polling strong and he (or whomever the nominee is) will get strong support in Philadelphia with popular Philadelphia Ed Rendell up for re-election for governor.

I don't want another repeat of 2000. I don't want another candidate to come into that race underfinanced to run against Santorum, who will have a massive war chest. So I like Casey a bit more than the others, I guess it's because I do see the difference between Casey and Santorum and this year I want to win!

[shance]

12. Lynn, you go ahead. Be proud youre voting against your own best interests.

and women and childrens interests across the country. But like you said, what are such petty issues like war, Halliburton contributions, and a women's right to control her own body?

How pathetic you ignore such important issues. How utterly ignorant and simplistic. Is it all about the money for you? Like so many conservatives, YOU think YOU are getting such a better deal. Knock yourself out darlin.

There is another Democratic candidate you know, but you ignore him.

Why?

[No Exit]

11. Wow... next thing you know, they'll be talking about ethics at the White

House!

Oh, wait, I forgot! They already are! I heard Scooter (who's currently in the ethics Alternative School, having been suspended from the WH school) had to write 100 times: "I must not get caught".