Budget gambles, surprise demotions and suddenly sentient sneakers. See who made this week’s list!
Tom Wolf. Go big or go home. That appears to be the philosophy Governor Wolf is bringing into office. In his first budget address, the Gov proposed a variety of new measures, including significant changes to the tax structure. At the moment, Wolf enjoys high approval ratings but he has a bruising fight with a GOP legislature ahead of him. As a result, it’s important that he not make any unforced errors or rash moves.
Bill Green. Speaking of rash moves and possible unforced errors, the Governor shocked the the Keystone State Sunday night when it was revealed SRC Chair Bill Green had been demoted. Wolf choose Marjorie Neff to replace him. The change occurred after, and may well have been cause by, the decision of the SRC to open five more charter schools in Philadelphia. While Bill Green has vowed to fight on, it’s difficult to see how he wins this fight. The whole incident echoes the controversy over the Erik Arneson firing. Perhaps Arneson and Green will have the last laugh but, for better or worse, Wolf has proven he is no pushover.
Joe Sestak. Sestak has essentially been running for a 2016 rematch with Toomey since the day he lost in 2010. That’s why everyone was puzzled at his lackluster announcement ceremony. His speech in front of Independence Hall somehow was overshadowed by a faulty website and his sneakers. Additionally, Sestak seems to be needlessly antagonizing the DSCC. No one has really emerged to challenge him in the Democratic primary yet but after yesterday’s event it may be more, not less, likely that others jump into the race.
Kathleen Kane. Over the weekend we learned Attorney General Kathleen Kane lost yet another press secretary. The AG has seen quite a bit of turnover in her staff over her two-plus years. The reader may ask what significance this story has. Well, an orderly and loyal staff is usually a sign of a steady, competent public official. Too often chaos indicates problems at the top. Not to mention, for someone who is dealing with various investigations another ex-staffer is another potential source who can describe what is going on behind closed doors. Whether fair or not, the perception is that Kane’s career is spiraling out of control and news like this only feeds that feeling.
Bucks County GOP. Shaughnessy Naughton revealed that she will be running again in 2016 for Pennsylvania’s open 8th district seat. The 2014 candidate, who came up just 817 votes short of the Democratic nomination last year, also secured the endorsement of former Governor Ed Rendell. Naughton faces a tough challenger, though, in the experienced State Rep. Steve Santarsiero. Santarsiero countered Naughton’s entry with an extensive list of his own endorsements. Another competitive Democratic primary may very well benefit the Republican Party, especially if their nominee is former Lt. Governor Jim Cawley.
Chip Kelly. I can’t even…
The tweet of the week simply must go to Joe Sestak’s sneakers and the glorious moment they got mainstream attention.
@TheFix @sinderbrand We walk, therefore, we are.
— Joe Sestak's Shoes (@sestakssneaks) March 4, 2015
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5 Responses
everybody pays sales tax. the good guy, the bad guy. the under the table guy. sounds fair to me.
Stick to politics! Kelly is a genius.
DemsForPhilly-
There are several reasons:
1) Sestak, while a hard worker, is a TERRIBLE candidate.
a) He is bad in debates and his speeches are snooze-fests.
b) He refuses to work on coordinated campaigns thus hurting the entire ticket with wasted/duplicate efforts.
2) Sestak plans to serve for only one term, thus leaving the seat open in 2022 (non presidential year). The party needs a candidate who will hold the seat for at least two terms to get us to 2028.
3) Sestak is not a good Democrat, and is not really a progressive. (Ask REAL progressives what they think about him.) He’s been very hawkish, and tricked the peace movement into backing him in 2006, only to abandon/dismiss them once elected.
4) His fundraising has been fairly weak, due largely due to his unpopularity in the party, and a wait-and-see desire for a better candidate to come along. A fresh candidate should be able to overtake Sestak in fundraising quickly.
5) Sestak mistreats his employees and can’t get good staffers for campaigns or for congressional staff. The high turnover makes him ineffective as a legislator. I’ve talked to good activists who supported him in 2010 and won’t lift a finger for him again.
6) Since Sestak is a closet conservative, he doesn’t understand how to debate/deconstruct/attack Toomey, since he pretty much agrees with Toomey and would be voting for him over the Dem if he wasn’t a candidate himself. (Note: Actually, if he wasn’t a candidate, Sestak would probably drop the pretense of being a PA resident and vote out of Virginia where he actually lives.)
7) Given Presidential year Dem turnout, any decent Dem who can walk and chew gum at the same time could be Toomey. Why should the party settle for Sestak?
8) Sestak occasionally appears mentally unstable. His current kick-off and walking campaign boggles the imagination for the sheer looniness. Also, his history of wildly berating his employees has all the earmarks of a Jekyll-Hyde personality split.
why would anyone run for senate in a primary against sestak???
it is pointless and bad politics for dems
Joe’s sneakers should run. Joe should walk away.