67 Responses

1. Here’s why I support Katie McGinty:

   1. She’s brilliant
   2. She can motivate women voters
   3. She can raise money
   4. She has national connections to bring in better draws for fundraising events
   5. She was fantastic on the stump.

2. Philly Progressive (aka Philly Pedophile)-

   You seem to have some serious issues with name tags, for someone who remains anonymous.

   I’d give you your own name tag to quell your envy, except you’d probably try use it to lure children into your van.

3. As I said, McGinty and her advisors ran a disastrous campaign. Can one imagine how the State Democratic Party will be run under her????

4. Ok listen everyone just calm down. Reality check. NO ONE GIVES A CHIT ABOUT STATE COMM. It only means anything to the mutants who run for it and the chair. It never gets it right and can never decide 2/3 on anything. It’s a sham.

5. Here’s an interesting perspective: http://www.keystonepolitics.com

6. I am for Jim Burn also. McGinty and her campaign team were a disaster. Her advisors were whom? Can’t she find some other endeavor? I never even saw her in my county during her disastrous campaign, nor was she very accessible in other venues I attended.

7. I always thought Jim Burn had an ego. He seems smug and full of himself. Jim has the tendency to talk down to people thinking they are dumber than he is.

   The major point is that Casey did bail out the party in 2012. That was one of the reasons Casey’s race was so close. Most of his money went to the state party.

   Let’s mix it up and see what Katie can do. Although I would like to see her run for office (think the 7th Congressional district), she would make a fine party chair.

8. @ Practical;
   I don’t know what color the sky is in your world, but you’re not living in Allegheny County or planet earth of you believe that Burn was “forced” to step down as Allegheny chair. Forced by whom, exactly? Governor Corbett? Bob Casey? The state party chair? Nope – HE was the state chair. He was re-elected to both County and State chair in 2010, and volunarily stepped down, handing the gavel over to Mills.

   I’d really love to hear your vote count for McGinty out of Allegheny. When the votes are finally cast, maybe then your eyes will be opened. Until then, enjoy your fantasy world.

9. OK- Jim Burns is the man- but- If Wolf is elected I guess as the Dem party chair doesn’t have any reason make a recommendation on anything or to need to have a return phone call from the Gov or his administration.
   That thinking puts Jim’s ego above the Party and its elected state committee members.

10. Practical – Take a chill pill. One has to wonder why you (not Allegheny County) hates Jim Burn so much? Mills did not take a vote yesterday in the caucus because she knew she did not have the votes. Mills said she had not even spoken with McGinty/Wolf about this – either untrue or a real diss to the Chair of the second largest County. So who are Rendell/Wolf/McGinty talking to? My guess is the County Exec – and that is a real mistake.
    Also,didn’t McGinty come in fourth out of four when the State Committee tried to endorse back in February? Not sure how that translates into her ability to beat Burn. I will say it again. I like McGinty; but this is not the right battle. She will be damaged if she goes down this path.

11. The only way to know for sure who will win the Chairmanship will be to watch David Diano’s light-up name tag. It’s the PA Dems equivalent of watching for the papal smoke.

    (Just be careful, if you stare at the name tag for too long, you may be hypnotized into giving Diano all of your campaign money for a lousy voter file)

12. Jim Burn has visited my county; he has isited all 67 county committees. Jim Burn has taken the time to get to know Democrats in the “T.” JIm Burn was at the helm with the historic election that gave us Dems in the State Treasurer, Attorney General & Auditor General positions. Jim Burn has represented us well in the national media. Jim appears, to me, to be Party oriented as oppposed to candidate oriented. He is the best suited to lead the Party beyond just the next election. Another vote for Jim Burn.

13. Jim Burn has my vote along with all of the others in my county. Tom Wolf is exactly the politician he claimed he was not in his flashy ads. He is entrenched with the Rendell machine, as is McGinty. What a breath of fresh air Jim Burn has been; remember TJ Rooney? God, he was awful. I knew it would not be long before we saw Tom Wolf’s dirty politics side come out.

14. For those who don’t know, Jim Burn is closely tied to a group in Pittsburgh called “the network.” Unfortunately they are all major Corbett donors. Google It

15. One of the major jobs the chair does is raise money. Why did Bob Casey have to raise the money to keep the party afloat in 2012? Because nobody respects Jim. He’s a lousy fundraiser

16. State Dem – Jim Burn as no more than 8 votes from Allegheny County out of 33. If He’s doing such a great job, why isn’t money flowing into the county parties? Why do you rarely see state committee members volunteering on campaigns? Please note that many members do volunteer but most do not.

    The dirty little secret is that Burn was forced to step down as Allegheny Chair. He wanted to keep both positions but stepped down when he realized he was as good as gone. They let him save face and announced that he was stepping down to focus on the state party.

    Another dirty little secret is that he lied when he ran for chair in 2010. He was telling people that he was Onorato’s guy when Onorato wanted someone else.

    Speaking of which, why do elected leaders want a chair other than Jim? He’s now 2 for 2

17. only 1 question
    WHY ?????? JB has my vote!!!
    Are we now to appease the primary race losers??? This is a real party splitter not a move of unification. Sorry Wolfman, I thought you were different.

18. Just a simple majority. Best of luck Jim! Not to sound like a self-hating Democrat or anything, but we have this weird habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Mr. Burn has been a terrific Chair and should remain as such.

19. Quick question does the chair need 2/3 votes like those who receive the endorsement or just a simple majority?

20. Yo Practical, what makes you think I support endorsements by State Committee? Not all State Committee members believe in endorsements.

    And even if one does support party endorsement, there is a difference between the normal endorsement process and some well-funded pol using his campaign cash and email data to get a one-sided, so-called “endorsement” for someone over the internet.

    Jim Burn still has my vote, and he has that of every other State Committee person I spoke with by phone this evening. And I was on the phone for several hours.

21. I think we should all vote for Jim Burn and dump Tom Wolf cuz of the two terms thingie! Then get ready for the 2016 election when the state goes GOP and the nation elects as president anyone but that ineffective , work challenged, leftist loser from Chicago. No not Barack , but it does match up for him too, nope talking about Mrs. Clinton! Frack on!

22. @Practical
    I was at that meeting too – overwhelming support for Burn. You need to work on counting votes.

    There are only a few people Mills has influence with in that delegation, and the rest will be solidly with Burn. Take it to the bank!! To suggest “everybody hates” Burn in Allegheny County is a joke.

23. There’s a reason it’s called UPMC. U pay more cash. Swallow that why don’t you. 🙂

24. C’mon Wolf, Katie “underperforming” McGinty
    and Jake “the Flake” Wheatley? That’s a frigging comedy team, not a state chair and vice! Mr. Wolf is starting to believe his own commercials. Come November, Corbett will have a lead in the polls and win reelection! MCGinty will go protest some energy producing site with the former President of Pittsburgh council, um, what his name no not Ravenstahl , the old guy, never mind ! Wheatley will do what he does best, nada!

25. @Paindy1
    Don’t berate people everyone’s opinion here is valuable except your stupid scrolling. We tolerate your crazy a$$ try to reciprocate.
    Chairman Bob Brady and Jim Burn are great friends. It’s gonna be an ugly show now that didn’t need to occur. I’m not seeing how it helps??? It’s a Rendell special. BEWARE ALL BRACE FOR IMPACT. And note to self : email fast Fracking Eddie he ain’t running for Governor!! 3..2..1.. Cue Paindy1

26. Jim Burn has done a fantastic job as party chair and needs to continue his work. McGinty is squandering her opportunity by taking this job, and Wheatley should be ashamed to call himself a Democrat- he’s anti-teacher and has a dark record. Good job, Wolf. Way to start a party fight in the middle of a gubernatorial election.

27. State Committee Member – if endorsing someone is forcing their choice on someone, why do you support State Committee endorsing?

    I was at today’s meeting in Allegheny County. Burn is lucky if 1/3 of the room backs him.

28. The more I hear, the more Jim Burn has my vote. I’m not changing it. JB has worked hard and has done everything he can to build the party in all 67 counties including areas that have traditionally been traditionally ignored by the party insiders from Philly and Allegheny County. For that reason alone he deserves reelection, but there are many other reasons to support Jim Burn.

    I am frankly appalled and insulted that Tom Wolf wasted his campaign’s money (and the goodwill of State Committee members and others who worked for him) sending emails to his mailing list asking people to “endorse” his choice to try and force his will onto something that is ultimately the State Committee’s decision to make. I frankly don’t care if Wolf is the presumptive Governor. I ran for State Committee to be an active member and vote my conscience, not to be a patsy rubber stamp for Tom Wolf or anyone else.

    Also, if Katie McGinty wins, and she actually gives Party Chair position anywhere near the time and attention it needs, that will be it for Katie McGinty. She will advance no further. In the process we will lose a female rising star that should be getting a far greater position in the Wolf administration than Party Chair.

    I was so excited by Tom Wolf and I worked for him in the Primary. But if he is going to lead by the tired old method of being a Party Boss running the machine, well there are downticket Democratic candidates who need my help for November.

29. If You Cling To Your Guns and Your Bibles Then Former Lower Merion Constable Eric Bradway is your Man for Governor in Pennsylvania Write him in For Governor On Both Ballots

30. From my playlist, as UNITY PA DEM Chairman candidate (I’m only heeding the call of the people!): http://youtu.be/xFpW8g83g6E By the way: I would hope that those shameless UPMC trolls would stop trying to steal my brand! I know you all were promised a promotion to be the latrine cleaner on World Class UPMC’s Jeff Romoff’s yacht, but you are not doing the indispensable Hospital Administrator any favors!

31. Practical . . . not sure where you get your info but as far as Allegheny County goes, if they had allowed a straw poll at their meeting, Burn would have won going away. Burn was elected Mayor of a small town before he was 30, he was elected to Allegheny County Council, and he was the elected Allegheny County Chair. He VOLUNTARILY gave up the last two when he became State Chair so he could concentrate his efforts there. Sure doesn’t sound to me like someone who is – to use your words – “hated in Allegheny County.” As for your charge that Jim thinks he is more important than the Democratic nominee for Governor, I would suggest that the Democratic Party ELECTS Chairs, it doesn’t crown them.

32. Jim Burn is a bright guy, passionate about our party and is a leader. He absolutely represented us well as a County.Councilman, County Chair and.State Chair. Wolf is free.to appoint McGinty. Both.her and.JB are free to run. My vote would be for JB.

33. I heartily accept your call to be the UNITY CANDIDATE for the Democratic Chair of the PADEMS.. I have taken heroic measures to offer free advice to the PAGOP to protect the two party system but they fail to heed my warnings! Bon Temps Roullez! Here is my campaign theme song to bring peace, unity and VICTORY to the PA DEMS!! http://youtu.be/aCgwojKpStg

34. It’s a shame that Jim Burn thinks he’s more important than the Democratic nominee for governor.

35. @BigDem and Observer, completely agree.

    You! Yes… you behind the grey shed! Stand still Paindy!

    For the record: Floyd > Dre

36. I’ve known Jim for the past few years and have found him very approachable and appreciative of candor. During the 2012 election, he was a great spokesperson for the party on national TV.

    If he is to remain chairman, he should STRONGLY consider replacing his key staffers. He is has not been well served by their lack of strategic ability. They are great at planning parties, but not so at running a party.

    The HDCC has left a dozen Republican st leg seats unchallenged, despite democratic registration advantages. This is unacceptable.

    I sent the HDCC an email two weeks ago asking for an explanation, and haven’t received a reply.

    I suggest that Jim had relied upon the wrong people to oversee this. Supporters of McGinty might argue the failure belongs to Jim. That is certainly an argument to have in a debate about what Jim would change and what McGinty would change.

37. People who are saying this will split the party are buffoons. Jim Burn is hated in Allegheny County – where he is from.

    There is precedent of the Dem nominee selecting who they want. I don’t think this will split the party but if anyone is splitting it, it’s Burn.

    Committee people – ask yourself this, is Jim Burn REALLY worth a fight?

38. Bad moves by both Wolf and McGinty. They are squandering all the good will that they had built up by being both a gracious winner (Wolf) and a gracious loser (McGinty). Weren’t they all at the “unity breakfast” with Brady a few weeks ago? This is just going to split the party and Wolf – even with all his money – is going to need the party in the fall. McGinty was being talked about as a US Senate candidate in two years – the ill will this generates is not going to help her get there. Someone wrote on here that this is Rendell’s doing – pushing his own agenda. Hate to say it, but Wolf and McGinty are being played – Burn has many many votes locked up.

39. In 2002 Rendell got his choice even though he only won 10 counties. How does state committee not give Wolf his choice when he won all 67?

40. If Wolf wins, which he will, give her a cabinet spot. Jim Burn has done a great job and will continue to do a great job. I like her, but I think Burns is the best choice.

41. @ DemCommittee
    Tom Wolf isn’t behind this. It’s Ed Rendell. Katie McGinty has gone to the Dark Side. Support Jim Burns to stop Ed Rendells a Frack attack on citizens of PA. Corbett Rendell all in it together
    http://my.firedoglake.com/thirdandstate/2013/04/02/ed-rendells-frack-attack/

42. Forgot About PAINDY

    Y’all know me, still PAINDY
    But I been low key
    Hated on by most these posters
    With no fees, no MontgoCo GOPs,
    No Baby Nutts, no Scott Bakers, no UPMCs
    Mad at me
    ‘Cause I can finally afford to provide PoliticsPA with commentaries.

43. The point of having party reorganization now is so that the Guv nominee can put his own team in place. The fact that he asked McGinty, when everybody at the last State Committee meeting saw how desperately Burn wanted another term, showed where Wolf’s confidence lies.
    Besides, it’s past time a woman was party chair, and Wolf is to be given credit for knowing it.

44. What will the teachers unions and other labor think? “All Republicans on the education committee voted to advance the bill. Two Democrats, James Clay, D- Philadelphia, and Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, joined them.” http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/68852-bill-that-aims-to-curtail-teacher-seniority-clears-hurdle-in-the-pa-house

45. Also – whatever happened with this? http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/09/29/pittsburgh-city-councilman-facing-charges/

46. Wheatley? Um… http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/05/04/charge-filed-against-state-rep-jake-wheatley/

47. Dem State Committeewoman – Tom Wolf already asked her to run for chair. Historically, the gubernatorial nominee chooses who the like.

    Why would the party split over Jim Burn? Real voters can care less about him.

48. If the job of the State Chairman is to GROW the party, and be out front on issues that Motivate the Base – then Burns is an abject failure. He may be tight with his cronies on the state committee, but the average voter has NO idea who he is, even after all these years. We need someone who is the FACE of the Democratic Party in PA – can anyone honestly say they have ever seens Burns on TV or in the paper, much less on the Internet? And there is another area of failure – I get TONS more info and contact from the state chairs of, for example, Wisconsin, Maryland, Florida, Washington state, and Arizona, than I EVER did from my own state committee. The boy is stuck in 20th century politics, and that is a recipe for defeat (which is ALL we have experienced under his watch, if you look at the legislature and governor’s mansion).
    I’m not sure McGinty is any better, but she sure cannot be any worse!

49. Our party is doing OK under Jim Burn, so let’s not split it at a time when we need unity. And let’s not waste Katie McGinty’s considerable talents. She should be in the running for a major cabinet post in the Wolf administration, not as a partisan party chair.

    Please Katie, don’t run for this. Tom Wolf and Ed Rendell, please don’t ask her to.

50. Jim Burn has been an outstanding Democratic Party Chairman and deserves to be re-elected for four more years. Jim has visited every county and is a strong supporter of local committees