Hello Congressman Sestak,
Welcome to the Lake.

My question, as the widow of a US Vietnam vet who survived torture, is:
If you are elected to the Senate,

1) what will you DO to ensure that those responsible for torture under the
Bush regime are held responsible?

2) what will you DO to ensure that there is an independent, open and
thorough accounting of all those detained by the United States since
January 21, 2001, all those renditioned, and all those disappeared,
including the children.

Welcome Admiral, great to have you here. Our own FDL Navy Aviator wrote the other night about how the Republicans have cherry picked SERE training elements to justify waterboarding and other “enhanced” techniques to justify the Bush Administration’s policy. Can you comment?

Welcome back to Firedoglake, Joe, and thanks for joining us this evening. You were incredible CNN today and on Hardball the other night and I’m certain people may have some follow-up questions but, as you know, we asked you to come back to talk with us about changing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and about your role. I read that you’re going to be the lead spokesperson. Why you instead of Barney Frank, David Dreier, Tammy Baldwin or Jared Polis? Have you had a lot of discussion about it with active duty members of the military?

Welcome Admiral.

I wonder if you could comment on the size of the US Navy and its mission. It seems to me that we are spending (wasting??) enormous resources on very very expensive vessels… espeically carrier groups and subs.

Do you think we really need so many, so much? Who is the adversary at sea?

Welcome to Firedoglake, again!

just got back from single payer panel here in PA that Rep Sestak was on

not happy with Rep Sestak and his vision ofhealth care “reform” and judging from the body language of the audience, neither were they.

Congressman Sestak, if Jane and Howie think you are less bad than Sen. Spector, I am willing to follow their recommendation and provide an immediate $50 donation. I assume unions in Pennsylvania are understandably concerned about Sen. Spector as their representative. Without unions, all the money just flows to the top, which is pretty much what has happened since Reagan.

How much more I donate depends.

I must tell you Congressman, how very, very disappointed I was with your vote in support of Melissa Bean’s amendment on the TARP bonuses.

Democrats who joined with Republicans to pass Bean Amendment on TARP bonuses

We all understand that restricting TARP bonuses was largely symbolic.

The real looting of the taxpayers is being perpetrated by the FED and the Treasury providing about TWELVE TRILLION in loans and guarantees to banks. In 2010, just as you are ramping up your campaign against Sen. Spector, the too small $787 billion stimulus will be running out. We are very confident that the TWELVE TRILLION will be long gone. Why should it be any different than the billions of taxpayer dollars that were laundered through AIG?

Congressman, you can either nationalize the insolvent money center banks now and recover some of that TWELVE TRILLION, or you can nationalize them in 2010, when all our hard earned money is gone.

When the stimulus runs out the Chinese and the rest of the world won’t buy any more of our Tbills. It’s no fun being an elected representative when the government cannot afford basic services such as trash collection and food stamps.

Then the GOP will claim that the problem was tax and spend liberals like Joe Sestak and they will want to raid Social Security and Medicare. Based on your support of Bean’s amendment, I am very concerned that you will not raise a finger to stop them.

It’s just difficult to get excited about your candidacy when you vote for something as small and petty as a loophole so bankers can continue to personally pillage the taxpayers at the same time they pillage the taxpayers institutionaly through their banks. Your vote for Bean’s craven amendment can only be seen as a pitch for campaign contributions from the very bankers who are stealing it from us.

I was raised Republican. This isn’t about capitalism, your vote for Bean’s amendment protected criminal croneyism.

The government can make loans. The interest payments can go back to the government instead of being laundered for the super rich through the banks.

Banks that aren’t too big to fail and that are solvent should be privately owned.

I have no problem with the tough love that President Obama is giving Detroit, I’m wondering why he isn’t giving that same tough love to the banksters.

Wall Street used derivatives to swindle Americans out of the equity in their homes and their retirement accounts. Then Wall Street placed bets (Credit Default Swaps) on huge margins. It was our money that comprised those huge margins. When they were winning, Wall Street privatized their profits. They used corporate whores such as AIG and others to help them shield their PAPER income from the IRS. Unlike Detroit, Wall Street invested in nothing of VALUE. They engaged in “casino capitalism.”

Now that their bets (Credit Default Swaps) have gone south, they want us to bail them out again, socialize their paper losses with real cash, that should be spent on real stuff, such as cars.

And you’re letting the banksters get away with it.

Is responsibility just for the little people?

Democrats need to start listening to Professor Joseph Stiglitz, Professor James Galbraith, Professor Paul Krugman, Professor Nouriel Roubini and others who accurately predicted the economic meltdown. Larry (girls can‘t count) Summers and his pool boy, Tim (forgot to pay my taxes) Geithner, both missed the meltdown. Obama cannot fire both of them too quickly.

Welcome Mr. Sestak,

This whole Arlen deal seems rather screwy. There must be SOME deal that was struck for his vote on some issue. So far I see no change in Arlen’s position on EFCA or HealthCare reform the two big-ticket items.

I can’t believe the Obama administration would be duped so badly by Spector to go to the mat for him in 2010 without assurances.

Regardless, I say Run Joe, RUN!!

Speaking of health care… why do we need insurance companies in the mix whose SOLE purpose is profit? Isn’t insurance just a useless administrative waste? But aren’t these companies what is standing in the way of single payer? They don’t want to lose the cash flow.

Congressman,

The very best we can hope for is that Specter turns out to be another Lieberman. With us on most issues, but a real pain in the ass that the party, arguably, would be better off without. I, for one, would really like Specter to be unceremoniously forced into he history books.

My question is this: what would the downside be for you? Is it that if you run in the Senate primary you have to give up House seat? Are there other consequences that may be imposed by the national or state Democratic Party? If so, what would those be?

One thing is for certain: if you run, there is virtually no doubt that you’ll have the overwhelming support of the netroots. And you should feel free to consult with Ned Lamont… I think he’ll tell you that the energy you’d get from us is worth at least as much as the significant number of dollars you’d raise from us.

Welcome, Admiral. Thanks for joining us tonight. I look forward to hearing your strategy for ending DADT; it has caused far too much damage. Just the loss of Arabic translators alone has hurt intelligence gathering immensely.

It hardly seems like the primary will be a fair fight, with Arlen saying today “I did not say I would be a loyal Democrat”. I’ll bet that’s not the last gift he gives you before November, 2010.

Not to mention lining them all up at certain naval bases forms quite an attractive target, for terrorists or others.

Specter is a spineless weasle who is in it for no one but himself. Who needs that?

Thanks for coming by.
Specter’s earned his retirement

Run Joe Run.

Thank you.

I am very sorry to hear this.

If it’s not single payer, it’s not reform.

Hello Congressman Sestak,

Welcome to the Lake.

My question, as the widow of a Vietnam vet who survived torture, is:

If you are elected to the Senate,

1) what will you DO to ensure that those responsible for the torture under the Bush regime are held legally accountable?

2) what will you SO to ensure that there is an independent, open and thorough accounting of all those detained under US custody since January 21, 2001, all those renditioned, and all those disappeared, incuding the children.

With gratitude,
For Dan,
Heather

Yea they are kinda slow to get going and make pretty easy targets I would think in port.

I think Congressman Sestak is answering a few questions @ Oxdown under Elliot’s thread. I commented we were awaiting him here.

Thank you Congressman Sestak. And thank you Boo Radley.

What Arlen Specter encouraged as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee under Bush Cheney must not go unchallenged. Any and all encouragement or complicity in the D party on that point alone must also be challenged.

hi joe….

what will you do to help the ordinary people? to stop helping the bankers? to nationalize any banks the u.s. taxpayers give money to?

what will you do to institute laws with teeth for the re-regulations of the banks and investment houses?

what will you do to bring the ordinary good people of america who are dying from insurance company decisions based on profits SINGLE PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE?

Mr. Sestak-
In Feb 2006, Ed Rendell convinced Bryan Lentz to drop out and you avoided a Primary fight.
Please explain why Rendell’s trying to clear the field for Specter is any different.

Didn’t he do a super job of oversight of the DOJ during BushCo?

Joe’s been in Oxdown responding to questions there. He’ll be here in a second and he’s going to stay longer than originally planned

Rep Sestak is not only not for single payer but he doesn’t seem to want a public option either.

Sorry everyone I had initially been sending my answers on the wrong thread. I need to let my fingers do the talking more. I’ll repost the answers I already gave. Meanwhile, I think it is a total misrepresentation to say that we “tortured” our own American service members and, therefore, the same techniques were not torture on non-US citizens. SERE training does not put our service members through the entire methods. And one knows without a question that it will end. It is to give them a taste of what they might undergo. I do not agree at all that we have enhanced our security or even our intelligence gathering by torture. I also believe it has placed our service members in the future at greater danger of being tortured as countries that do it now can say, “See, even the US did it.”

I ported this over from Oxdown, so the Congressman would not have to retype it.

JoeSestak May 3rd, 2009 at 5:06 pm 15
In response to Leen @ 5 (show text)
Hi, glad to be back to FDL. Thanks for the question with regard to torture. As I have said on TV, I think there should be 2 approaches. One is that if the Justice Department in its review, finds criminal activity, then it should be referred to the courts for those that designed the policy. Second, I believe that a commission of retired judges should be convened to look at the “whole fabric” of what occurred from the executive through the congressional branch. We need to learn how/why this occurred including oversight from Congress, and apply the lessons learned.

I continue to look forward to, and support, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

How can one go to war knowing from surveys that there are gay service members with you and come home after they have served heroically and not say they deserve equal rights? It’s that simple.

I would like to take the lead on this issue, ideally alongside several cosponsors like Pat Murphy and John Murtha so we can get this bill through with the recognition that we Veterans think this is wrong.

Did we (the US) torture prisoners, and was it a crime?

Thanks Howie, just this morning, I was wondering if Admiral Sestak was one of the good guys or a BlueDog. This answers my question.

Admiral/Congressman Sestak, puleeze do us all a big favor and primary Specter.

We did and it was, But in America we don’t believe in accountability in all cases. Justice is not blind and justice is not equal and WE ARE NOT A NATION OF LAWS.

Interesting question because when I was a 2 star, I actually did the analysis that showed the Navy needed not 316 ships but 240-260 as long as the correct cyberspace (knowledge-based capability) was also procured. I then tried to institute that as a 3 star, in fact the 30 year shipbuilding report to Congress my last year, represented that build rate. Imagine if we had had an unmanned air vehicle flying 24 hours off Somalia today sending its radar picture to small ships, with helicopters to intercept the pirates. This is just one small example where numerous billion dollar ships would not be needed. I have spoken strongly in support of Sec. Gates’ recent proposal to transform the military to where it is not numbers, but capability, to which we need to measure the military, even though several of the proposals do impact my District.

Thanks for the answer. It seems that the hardware has remained largely in WWII thinking and that needs to change.

I simply don’t get “fighter aircraft” in the age of remote guided capabilities.

Standing behind Specter, what is in it for the Democrats?

What do you think about Specter? Are you up for a race against him?

Unless we want to wind up a nation that commits and covers up torture, we better follow the laws.
My torture test is simple: would we prosecute enemy soldiers (as torturers/war-criminals) if they performed the SAME techniques on our soldiers? (this includes waterboarding someone 183 times in one month)

Yes, that was one of several events this afternoon and this evening when I was asked in a meeting of single payer supporters two months ago if they could put together a panel to discuss it. Knowing that since the day I got into politics that I supported a plan similar to the Mass. health plan, which is also President Obama’s proposal. I fully support Medicare, Medicaid, and public plan standards but I come from the federal government after 31 years in the military and have seen where a one billion dollar DDG-1000 ship is now costing $5 billion apiece and $240 million small ship is costing half a billion. I believe President Obama’s campaign proposals which are now working though Congress will cover everyone (simply a must since I got into politics 3 years ago for healthcare because of my experience with my daughter’s brain tumor in the hospital and saw others not as fortunate to have health insurance like we in the military had.) I have worked hard on this and have researched, read and will continue to listen as I did today, but I still presently agree with Pres. Obama’s positions which were mine 3 years ago. Thank you for this question and I left that event with more material to read.

I think its a fig leaf if we get government healthcare the private companies can’t compete on cost so we will end up with government healthcare.
Unless the GOP makes sure tat the program is limited in some fashion and or run badly.

My best guess is that Specter can vote on either side of an issue as long as he stops any filibusters, so the Dem majority can work.

ALSO, if the Dems take more seats in 2010, Specter won’t be needed for us to have 60.

I think this is a very specific deal to get a year and a half of Specter votes on key issues, until we win more Senate seats.

Congressman Sestak, welcome back to FDL.

What were your thoughts when you heard that Senator Reid, President Obama, VP Biden and Governor Rendell had “promised” Snarlin’ Arlen that he would not be primaried by a “strong” Democrat if he switched parties? And tht he would keep his seniority in the Senate?

Especially in light of his vows to NOT support any of the supposed to be priorities of the Democratic Party such as EFCA and such.

Hi Joe, thanks so much for being here.

Are you hearing from Democrats in Pennsylvania that they’re happy to inherit Arlen Specter like a used kleenex?

Specter has already vowed not to support cloture on a number of issues so that wish is out the window.

Welcome Congressman: in his interview today, Specter listed all of the ways he’s been an “independent” vote. Did you find that credible?

which issues?

BTW, Dems are already going to adjust EFCA to avoid Specter supporting filibuster.

Obama may be taking the long way round to get there letting the bad stuff fall away as it is shown to be insupportable. Tacking hard over doesn’t seem to be the change we were thinking, he’s warping the ship of state if you get my drift.

This PA Democrat right here is excited, because if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s loyal Democrats.

What is your attitude toward surge in Afghanistan. How to deal with Pakistan How will we REALLY extricate sanely from Iraq? 3 easy questions. :) What about the military budget?

Yuck, don’t squeeze the Charmin.

Welcome back, Rep. Sestak. I contributed to your last campaign and would be happy to do so again. I am offended (to put it mildly) that Spector thinks he can just become a Dem and automatically get re-elected without having to vote with us. I hope you will decide to primary him and defeat his plan. Thanks for being here.

I have a problem with narrowly saying Arlen’s agenda is all about Arlen

Remember what Arlen accomplished by inserting language into the Patriot Act. It enabled the firing of U.S attorneys . Sign of an agenda much larger than someone who is just looking out for their own self interest.

In his new book, Bloggers on The Bus, Eric Boehlert mentioned something about Jane having a way with words. I think this is what he meant.

Hi Congressman Sestak,

Thanks for taking time out of your day to join us.

I just have a few simple questions about positions that could define a race between you and Sen. Specter. Thanks in advance for any answers.

What is your position on:

Healthcare reform in general and in particular a public plan modeled off Medicare to lower costs for consumers and ensure competition?

The Waxman-Markey climate bill and a cap and trade solution to the climate crises?

The nomination of Dawn Johnsen to serve as OLC head?

Marriage equality for same-sex couples?

Comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship, tougher enforcement and stronger border security?

Thanks for showing independence and thinking about this race. At the very least it’s good to heave healthy competition and debate within the party. I hope you decide to get in the race. You’ll have plenty of support if you do.

The economy is in trouble we need the same plan France and Japan has they spend less money than us per person and they outlive us.
Imagine what all that money saved on healthcare could do for the economy.
Or we could pass a tax increase to pay for more bank bailouts which we all know are coming.

What Twain said. I really don’t want to be stuck with Specter for another six years just because Reid and Rendell don’t care about anything but the letter after Arlen’s name.

Frankly, I have had my career. It’s over after 31 years in the military. I have simply looked at politics as a passion to pay back the country after my daughter’s tumor when this nation was there for us. Good governance is not supposed to be about “me” but rather how can one help. Maybe that’s why I feel so strongly that something just “doesn’t feel right” about the decision regarding Arlen. The final decision needs to be made I think regardless of restrictions by state or national if it is the right thing to do.

His move to the Dems was all about Arlan.

He needs to be primaried and not “appointed” by leadership. This is supposed to be a democracy.

Mr. Sestak-
If you run for Senate, what plans to you have to keep the 7th District in Dem hands? My mom’s friend LOVES you, but wants you to stay in the 7th so we don’t get another Weldon.

I prefer quick change too but can we pass National healthcare right now with the votes we have?

Well Specter has already stated that he is not changing his position on EFCA and voting for cloture so appeasing him on that one seems to be a non-starter.

He has also said that he will continue to oppose Dawn Johnsen as (I believe it is) the DoJ OPR.

His No vote on the Budget is already out there.

It seems pretty obvious that Specter is going to work very hard to be to the right of the current right wing Dems such as Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh, Lieberman, Pryor, Lincoln, etc.

He wants the Democratic imprimatur without actually supporting any Democratic Party positions.

Add-on: The only “modification” to EFCA that I’ve seen brunted about are pretty much worthless in that they would eviscerate the main components. Of course this modification is usually enought to gain the support of the Bayhs/Pryors/etc.

If Specter deal NOW gets Obama’s health care and stem cell research through, isn’t that worth it for the next person’s little girl that gets new treatments and cures?

I honestly did not understand why it was done. I did feel as though there was a decision made largely outside PA that appeared to be short term in its viewpoint without regard to where would Arlen be voting 3, 4, 5 or 6 years from now. I heard him say what was in it for him this morning in terms of his entitlement to seniority when he switched. But I have not heard what is in it for us as Pennsylvanians and the Democratic Party. I will be listening. I owe the leadership that. But I am doubtful that this is the right choice to carry the mantle of Democratic leadership.

Any support for a truth commission in the house like South Africa had? We could get all the low level people to confess everything under oath or face charges later if we find out they did not confess stuff.
Then we can investigate and try the High Level guys like Bush.
This way we take away a GOP talking point about prosecuting the troops and we get C-Span to cover the truth commission confessions.
This way we build up public support for prosecuting Bush.

Congressman Sestak, what will you say to Harry Reid or Ed Rendell if they ask you to bow out of the primary, or threaten to choke off your support?

How strong is your relationship with Labor? How large a factor do you think they’ll be?

Specter also stated a few months ago that he wasn’t going to switch parties either.

Specter wants reelection and knows where the boundaries are. If he supports any GOP filibuster, he’s DEAD in the Dem primary. That would not be a recoverable error.

Hi, Congressman. Thanks for taking the time today and thank you for not automatically making way for Specter as so many others would apparently like you to do. I know you voted for EFCA in 2007 and you’ve reiterated your support for a public health care option in the thread above, but can you for the record, answer would vote/would have voted as Senator on the following?

Employee Free Choice Act
public health care option
Obama’s budget resolution (support use of reconciliation to pass health care?)
Cramdown
Cap and trade (not sure how Specter would vote, but curious your position)

Thanks!

While good points, healthcare reform passage has been virtually guaranteed by the budget resolution including “reconciliation” only requiring 51 votes to pass it without needing 60 votes for cloture. (That’s why I am unsure why they did this.) We also have passed stem cell legislation that was signed by the President earlier this year. It’s great having President Obama there.

Welcome Congressman, and thank you for your time. I see people are already asking about the Specter of Arlen as a Democrat for Pennsylvania. Frankly I am no so thrilled, and I am wondering what the the early feel is on this there in your district and state. There is momentum for a change going, are the voters of Pennsylvania so used to Arlen that they would take him over another Dem more aligned with the current trend in the party and nation?

Holy crap! I didn’t know Sestak was an Admiral. That is too cool for words. Gotta say I like the cut of his jib. And if he enters the primary, I will send him a check.

I will probably say the same thing I said to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee when I informed them that I was getting into the 7th District Race 3 years ago, and they told me “they don’t want me”…and called back the next day to say that again, saying they already had someone else in the race. I said I had called to inform them, not to ask permission, although I respected their opinion. I do respect the Democratic leadership but this is really about us in PA and how it affects the nation. While we may disagree, I think we can still do it respecting one another.

I believe I have a very good relationship with labor per my voting record and co-sponsorship of EFCA.

Congressman, how do you feel about gun control?

Hello Rep. Sestak,

Please run against Specter. I’ll work for you in the deeply red NW Penna. Crawford County. I’ll start tomorrow.

Sorry if someone already asked this, but hope your daughter is doing ok.

Is the House going to start looking at KBR and their electric shower problem? Whats the current number of troops dead at now?
Bullet proof vests armored humvees that took forever to get to Iraq late delivery of product in the real world normally means you lose the contract.
Why does KBR and company still have military contracts?

Works for me. I think you would get Lamont-type love from PA Democrats, and the Lieberman general election play doesn’t work here.

How do you square this answer, with Rendell getting Lentz to back out?

KBR needs to get prosecuted for war profiteering

EFCA- Yes- co-sponsor of it.
Public Health Option- Yes, but best by public healthcare standards for every plan.
Budget- Yes and I voted for it. However, I believed reconciliation should have been done on a second budget resolution if necessary. The reason is that, while I would never sacrifice good policy at the altar of bipartisanship, I believe that per President Obama’s statement (that everyone should be around the table, at least at the beginning) the congregation should begin praying together and not have a schism before they even begin. At least some effort should have been made and, as necessary, pass the second budget resolution, which we could readily do with reconciliation.
Cramdowns- Yes. Voted for it.
Cap and trade- Yes. Cosponsor of it.

Agreed I would watch that hearing with Pizza and Popcorn!

Thanks for asking. We had her 8th birthday 2 weeks ago and First Communion yesterday. She’s doing tremendous and while it is a malignant one, it only emphasizes how much we must move quickly on health care for everyone.

Do you support an International War Crimes Tribunal ,Nuremburg 2?
If not who brings the people outside the Government to the bar of justice?
Like Tom Freedman, david Brooks, the doctors and mental health experts involved in the war/ torture mess.
If Nuremburg was the example shouldn’t we , the USA, submit to the same review open to the world?

Joe, since coming to Congress what has been the most difficult decision you’ve had to make on a vote? Is there one that gave you a really hard time? I’d like to know what your thought process was on one that was tough for you.

Good answers. Just a further inquiry. Which cap and trade bill are you a co-sponsor of? I didn’t know that and I am (pleasantly) suprised.

Congressman,

I agree with firedem that

KBR needs to get prosecuted for war profiteering

.

Also Vice-President Cheney, Judge Bybee, and all the other Bush officials, who conspired to commit war crimes need to remember, “don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.”

i asked earlier, but haven’t yet received a response -
where do you stand on re-regulating banks and investment houses? on taking over ownership of any banks to whom we give money?

Bryan was kind enough to call me after I had given him my cell number before I got in, ask to see me one evening, and say he was losing support and was going to be getting out and would be talking with the Governor. I never asked anyone for anything (nor did I know anyone to even ask).

I understand from Arlen on TV this morning that it was important for him to ensure his seniority, which he called his “entitlement” today.

Congressman, What might make you decide to not run for Senate?

Cap and trade if a big power company goes over its emission limit they pay a fine and then pass the cost onto consumers right?
Or you threaten to shut down the power plant and they say fine then we must charge consumers more to buy power or we black out Chicago.
I presume that older more polluting plants will be grandfathered in so rather than build a new more expensive plant with the latest clean power tech the power companies will retro fit and then max out their old plants because its cheaper.
Also who will monitor the plants emissions the government has done a great job of watching our pet food for mercury, our banks for honesty, etc.
I want to start seeing some government enforcement.

Congressman, clearly you have Jane and Howie’s support. That carries enormous weight with me.

I think President Obama’s support of Spector is a huge mistake. I blame all Obama’s mistakes on Rahm Emanuel.

Jane Hamsher picked Ned Lamont to beat Lieberman in the Democratic primary, when only 9% of the people in Connecticut knew who Ned was.

I think the economy will be doing so poorly by November 2010, that the winner of the Democratic primary will be the defacto winner of the U.S. Senate seat. I think you can beat Arlen in the Democratic primary. I know it won’t be easy, but I definitely think you can do it.

Without a question it was the very first vote in September on what many have called the “bailout” bill. 90% of the more than 4000 emails, letters, and phone calls I had received said “don’t dare vote for it.” However, I had written a letter to Sec. Paulson and Mr. Bernanke the previous March asking for such intervention when PHEAA had stopped giving college loans to PA college-bound students because they could no longer issue bonds due to the gathering mortgage crisis. I had done research (my PhD is in political economy) and the models showed that this bill was absolutely critical. I tried not to be an ideologue, but pragmatic, and then let the chips fall as they might. If anything, Congress was not bold, aggressive or courageous enough and when that vote failed, we moved from financial crisis to financial panic.

Any chance of getting the Congressmen and Senators who approved the war profiteering contracts and then failed to investigate, provide oversight, pull those contracts on trial?

Congressman,

Did you see question #1, my question about torture and accountability?
I would be grateful if you would read and answer it.

Sincerely,
For Dan,
Heather

I strongly believe that because of the failure of not having a “referee on the football field” financial disaster ensued. We had no transparency over the 67 trillion dollars of derivatives and I’ve learned in the Navy “Expect what you inspect.” We need a “systemic regulator” properly housed, I believe, in the Federal Reserve. We must also regulate all institutions, with the proper reserves, transparency, and reporting of trades. I would like to commend Ms. Brofsky of the CFTC, who in 1998 appears to be almost the sole leader in government who tried to institute what so many now see as necessary in terms of proper regulation. I expect to see bills presently being developed out soon on these issues.

Sorry, I had answered a similar question, saying I believe and have been advocating, inside Congress as well as on TV (especially on FOX where I like to go to present our viewpoints) that we need a commission to find out what occurred and apply the lessons learned, including the failure on Congressional oversight. Also, if the ongoing review of the DOJ finds criminal activity, it should be turned over to the justice system for those that designed the policy.

Mr Patrick Murphy another congressman will not respond to my request for a Nuremburg Tribunal.
Up or down and why?

If Arlen Specter truly embraces the principles and policies necessary for good governance and the economic, health, energy/environment, education, and defense securities needed by Pennsylvanians and by our nation…and we believe he will stick to them for the full 6 years.

Thank you.

I presume that older more polluting plants will be grandfathered in so rather than build a new more expensive plant with the latest clean power tech the power companies will retro fit and then max out their old plants because its cheaper.

I wonder how many coal burning power plants were grandfathered in before the 1970’s pollution control measures?
I wonder how many power plants are 50, 75 years old? I wonder how many old, wasting power, leaking pollution like a sieve, 100 year old coal plants are still up and running in America?
I wonder if they will be Grandfathered/Capped?

Sounds like you are IN THE RACE!! Can you tell us anything about Specter that makes him right for the Democratic nomination? I can’t think of anything at all.

And one other thing. Orrin Hatch, vice-chair of the NRSC, says that Toomey is a non-starter and that the GOP will find a better candidate. I hear he has Ridge on the verge on jumping in. Does that change your own calculus?

Although at times people may have lost faith in the 3 branches of our government, I am a strong believer that our forefathers did it right, in particular with the judiciary branch being the final adjudicator of our laws within the Constitution. I believe that that branch is more than adequate — and constitutionally-sited — to handle any criminal activity that arises from the DOJ’s review. Because of our Constitution, we are a nation of laws, not men. Therefore, I believe we should use the judiciary branch in the review of laws that might have been broken.

I co-sponsored Henry Waxman’s and one other (I think it was Markey’s) last year and this year, co-sponsored their joint bill.

* Laughing * Well sir, welcome to your senate campaign. I sure hope the DC Dems don’t start raising money for Arlen…. particularly thinking about V.P. Biden’s enthusiastic support.. and Independent Joe Lieberman as well.

What is going on with Glaxo and flu serum right now?

I honestly believe that you run for something, not against someone. Therefore, any decision I make will be predicated on running for the right things, not because of who else is in the race.

I’m watching a History Channel program on Sun Tzu and Ike’s World War II strategies. Sun Tzu said lavishly try to recruit captured enemies/spies, don’t torture them.

How would Sun Tzu have rated the Iraq War?
How would Sun Tzu rate the recruitment of Specter?

When coal is used for electricity generation, it is usually pulverized and then burned in a furnace with a boiler. The furnace heat converts boiler water to steam, which is then used to spin turbines which turn generators and create electricity. The thermodynamic efficiency of this process has been improved over time. “Standard” steam turbines have topped out with some of the most advanced reaching about 35% thermodynamic efficiency for the entire process, although newer combined cycle plants can reach efficiencies as high as 58%. Increasing the combustion temperature can boost this efficiency even further.[11] Old coal power plants, especially “grandfathered” plants, are significantly less efficient and produce higher levels of waste heat. About 40% of the world’s electricity comes from coal,[12] and approximately 49% of the United States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal

My Bolds for Cap and Trade to work we need to get rid of the old coal plants.

I support the re-institution of the assault weapons ban. Items like child locks and ATF surprise inspections seem to me natural items that can and should be done.

Great Question I would love a book club just on that Joe would you like to lead that talk or know anyone good who would be willing.
Lots of Sun Tze fans here be prepared for lots of questions!:)

I strongly believe that because of the failure of not having a “referee on the football field” financial disaster ensued. We had no transparency over the 67 trillion dollars of derivatives and I’ve learned in the Navy “Expect what you inspect.” We need a “systemic regulator” properly housed, I believe, in the Federal Reserve. We must also regulate all institutions, with the proper reserves, transparency, and reporting of trades. I would like to commend Ms. Brofsky of the CFTC, who in 1998 appears to be almost the sole leader in government who tried to institute what so many now see as necessary in terms of proper regulation. I expect to see bills presently being developed out soon on these issues.

i think you must be referring to brooksley born (not brofsky) at the cftc. before her there was also charles bowsher (comptroller general of the united states) who’s 1994 gao report (FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES Actions Needed to protect the Financial System) was excellent.

more importantly, i hope you will reconsider the fed as the systemic regulator and at least read what william black had to say about that. better yet, i hope you will talk with him (contact info). the fed as systemic regulator may be one of the worst options.

thank you.

Just because there is counterinsurgency strategy, does that mean the U.S. should engage in counterinsurgency?

How would Sun Tze rate the plan for war?
How would Sun Tze rate the way the military changed the plan to adopt for conditions on the ground?

What was Deep Blue?

Well put, thank you.

icymi, I through in the kitchen sink in comment number seven.

In Chicago we ask whats in it for me? After 8? years what have we gained fighting these wars Ossama is in Pakistan and we gave up trying to get him years ago.
Counterinsurgency sounds to me like throwing more cash down the drain without even trying to get Ossama.
Ossama is what sold me on war in the first place when we stopped going after Ossama and started a war for oil is when I gave up supporting the war.

Thanks very much.

With gratitude,
For Dan,
Heather

Congressman, do you think Pennsylvanians will worry about Specter’s age and health? (Not to mention his opportunism)

We gave birth to the Nuremburg process that exposed the evil that lurked in men’s hearts and it worked rather well. Geneva is part of our constitution . I do not trust us to try us, judging from the light sentences we pass out in Iraq.

Torture and wars of aggression need more justice than we are willing to suffer.

Joe, thanks for coming over to FDL again. And thanks for the honest, straight forward answers. Even when we don’t agree on every single particular and every single approach, we always know where we stand with you. You should teach that to some of your colleagues. Let us know as soon as you want us to start raising campaign funds. You have a lot of friends in this community– and Specter has none, as you may have noticed.

So how many years before the dying torture victim sees the inside of a court room for their tiny dose of justice.
Justice delayed is justice denied.

I think our redeployment from Iraq is proper, as I said we needed to do 3 years ago. This will take time because a redeployment is the hardest thing for a military to do, particularly for what is called a “non-permissive” environment, ie hostile. I was also on the ground in Afghanistan shortly after the war began (I headed the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit after 9/11) and saw what had to be done and we were doing it. I then led my carrier battle group for the retaliatory air strikes but was told to take it back to the Persian Gulf for what some thought would be a “running start” to the Iraq War. However, I returned to Afghanistan over a year later and saw what we had failed to accomplish because of the tragic misadventure in Iraq when attention and resources were taken away from Afghanistan. The challenge now is that al-Qaeda has a “safe haven” in Pakistan, and our military is not able to operate there without inflaming passions to a breaking point. We must, therefore, get Pakistan to stop viewing India as its number one threat, rather than the Taliban/al-Qaeda insurgency it has. Ironically, as the Taliban now leave the Swat Valley and approach Islamabad, this may be the necessary “leverage” to force the Pakistani leadership (divided among the military, intelligence service, and civilian elected officials) to come together and refocus their military on counterinsurgency training and place the resources necessary to stop this insurgency. Meanwhile, we must support this nation with development assistance in the tribal regions. This is ultimately, as we blunt the insurgency, a battle for “hearts and minds.” Meanwhile, we cannot permit Afghanistan to slip any further because it cannot become a base again for the 1/3 of the Taliban that have become “al-Qaeda-ized”. It is not our principle focus, Pakistan is. But it could become our principle focus again if we don’t secure it.

I answered the military budget question earlier, saying I am a full supporter of Sec Gates’ proposal to transform the military. It will give us a more cost-efficient and effective force.

Thank you everyone. I truly enjoyed this and would be honored to come back again soon.

Congressman,

Do you believe the Senate has the votes to repeal DADT? If not, who would you think would be the prime individuals holding it up?

Thanks,

Chris

Thank you so much Congressman for such a thoughtful answer. Do you carry hope in resolving Israel/Palestine conflict which would be the root easer for such MidEast distrust for us.

I can’t seem to find any records of a Waxman climate bill from last year and Markey’s didn’t have any co-sponsors from what I can find. Are you referring to the letter they sent outlining principles for cap and trade legislation? After looking it up it seems that you did sign that.

In any case I’m glad to hear you support bold climate action that’s consistent with what science tells us is needed to preserve our way of life. If you run you will find enthusiastic support from the youth climate movement, myself included.

Having a undemocratic process in which a Senator who doesn’t stand for Democratic values and is wrong on the most important issues of our time doesn’t serve anyone. I’d urge you strongly to run, you’ll get a lot of backing from us and I believe you can beat Specter. You’ve served your country long and well in many roles, time to step up to the plate again.

Thanks for joining us Admiral. Please run!

i like your sink. didn’t see a reply though (might have missed it as i came late).

Thank you, Congressman. Grace under pressure on Colbert last year and FDL today!

i live in MA and if you think that’s a good model for national health care reform, i’d like some of what you are smoking.

ok, not really.

but single payer would save the most money – and allow us to approach universal coverage for about the same cost. why do we need to put private insurance companies at the center of health care reform and spend hundreds of billions of dollars unnecessarily? haven’t we bailed out the financial services industry enough already?

more importantly, i hope you will read this report from physicians for a national health program about the MA reform. and then i hope to see your name on the list of co-sponsors for h.r.676

thank you.

How many billions have been wasted in aid money that the Pakistani military has stole?
They got enough money tell them to get Ossama and use their own money to help their own people.
Or else we will back India.
Bush gave them 8? years of Carrots its time for the stick!
Freeze the general’s overseas bank accounts and stop letting the elite educate their kids in America and Europe declare them a nation that supports terror.
Their Intelligence Service set up the Taliban they helped Ossama get his start so lets treat them like terrorists!
I am tired of America being Played like we were Chumps!

Thank you.

Specter would be what 81 to 87 yrs old if he won another term? He needs to retire. These old pols are what put this country in the crapper, why in the world will they not retire? To me, this deal is similar to the one with Blagojevich, selling a Senate seat. I assume Specter was told he’d get funds from the Dem’s campaign fund in 2010. Just selling another Senate seat. This deal with Specter is wrong.

Yeah, but Sestak (like obama) voted for warrantless wiretaps. We need a better Democrat

Oh that’s easy. Just call 1-800-Electable-liberal.

It’s a two-horse race. If you’re not 110% behind Sestak, you’re 200% behind Specter, Obama, and Rahm.

Liberals and progressives cannot make progress on the broad front of all our issues without union support. Sestak is pro EFCA. Arlen is not. Pennsylvania has 900,000 union members and this is a closed primary.

Sestak is taking a huge political risk in taking on Obama. He’s better than Arlen on GLBT issues, torture, and the environment in a state that’s arm-pit deep in coal.

I agree Sestak’s a blue dog. See my very long comment at seven. He’s just significantly less blue than Arlen.

Today, the Democratic primary for Senate in PA is the front line in the national struggle against wingnuts. It’s the single best chance that liberals and progressives have to move Obama and Rahm a step further away from the wingnuts on the extreme right.

There isn’t anyone in Pennsylvania who has anything close to Sestak’s credentials.

If you’re not 110% behind Sestak, you’re 200% behind Specter, Obama, and Rahm.

no. that’s just not so. there are other races (and causes) that need our time and money, and people have a right to have lines they will not cross.

booradley, i won’t give you a hard time about supporting a candidate i find unacceptable. in fact, i will support you in your choice. but likewise i expect not to be told i have to get behind your candidate. i have seriously OD’ed on being told i must get behind someone else’s choice or else i am a supporter of something worse.

i was not pro-saddam hussein because i was against the iraq war.

and i am not pro-specter if i don’t support sestak.

selise, you’re absolutely right.

I was out of line and that was not the way I intended it.

FWIW, I donate $240 bucks a year to FDL. When I have something left over, I’ll give it to a candidate.

If you know of a better cause to support that has more “reach,” I’m interested. A lot of this is about accessibility.

It’s hard to get large groups of people excited about Elizabeth Warren. That’s not right and it’s not fair, but it’s the way it is.

I think the Pennsylvania Senate primary makes sense, because it gives us a chance to support unions in a Democratic primary. That drives union solidarity and awareness NATIONALLY in the Democratic party. I just don’t see liberals and progressives going anywhere without strong union support and without a VERY strong union voice inside the Democratic party. My guess is that they defected heavily from Ned in the General.

I think supporting Sestak will draw blue dog resources away from fighting better reps such as Donna Edwards. It’s a primary so the rules are different. We have to take our opportunities where they come.

If we’re fortunate enough to get an electable candidate such as Sestak to run, we also force the banksters to donate both to Specter and to Sestak. That’s a big plus.

(((booradley)))

thanks.

if supporting sestak makes sense to you, then i really do think that’s what you should do.

(((SELISE)))

IMHO, Arlen came begging to Rahm. Instead of telling Arlen he could have BO’s support in return for EFCA, BO and Rahm decided to use PA as a NATIONAL opportunity to enforce party discipline on the unions and the left wing of the party. BO wants to send a message. He can march into a heavily union state and shove an anti-union candidate down the party’s throat. Blue dogs love this.

This is why I think Pennsylvania’s primary is so critical to all the other issues we care so much about. If Obama/Rahm/Spector win, it’s a huge victory for blue dogs. It makes it “safe” for a lot of Republicans all over the country to join the Democratic party and make it even more blue than it already is.

I want Republicans to join the Democratic party. I just don’t want them to think they can bring GOP policies with them.

What I wrote:

It makes it “safe” for a lot of Republicans all over the country to join the Democratic party and make it even more blue than it already is.

What I meant to say:

It makes it “safe” for a lot of Republicans all over the country to join the Democratic party and make it even more blue dog than it already is.

Great post. Welcome Congressman Sestak. Please run against Specter.

So, you saw how well a government run healthcare program works in your own family — but you would deny the rest of us that option?

You have seen how private insurers don’t serve those with major illnesses — and you would force us to continue that death dealing farce?

I’m 59 and without health insurance, or the hope of it before I reach 65 and qualify for government coverage.

I’ve spent 10 years in what I think of as the health insurance wars: desperately trying to get, and retain private health insurance, and somehow force those insurance companies to cover the treatments I require.

I’ve had an insurance company drop everyone in my state, another that turned out to be fraudulent, taking my payments, but never turning over dollar one to my doctors, had Cigna raise my rates on an individual policy for just me to $1,000 a month.

Been denied by Blue Cross because I then simply required one (inexpensive)prescription a month.

I’ve read that the Massacheusett’s plan is a boondoggle — I’m sure it serves the health insurance companies well, but I’ve read that it doesn’t serve the patients.

I have a friend losing his sight, but he’s 63 and hasn’t gotten work in over a year has nowhere to get insurance, and can only hope he doesn’t go blind before he reaches 65.

I also envy my friends and neighbors who can get on Medical and Medicare.

Why would you deny us, and the millions more who need real health care, the public option?

Apparently, I got into this discussion after Sestak left — what’s the best way to reach him (other than the emails on his website, which I know he’ll never read.)

Run Joe Run! Don’t let the DC-ocrats run the party into ruin. Let the dems of Pennsylvania have their say on who is their true nominee.