Who Runs Gov

The Plum LineGreg Sargent's blog

Joe Sestak’s Hamlet Act Wearing Thin

Okay, this is beyond parody at this point. Yesterday I reported that Joe Sestak, who has said a conversation with his family is all that’s standing between him and a challenge to Arlen Specter, had gotten the thumbs up from his father to run.

Now Sestak is letting it be known that his wife, too, has given her blessing. So is he running? Well, maybe, pending what his daughter has to say about it:

He said his daughter has “got to know that I’m going to have an 11-and-a-half month deployment throughout the Keystone State.”

“She understands that I’m about to leave her,” he said. “Her last day of school was yesterday. We’re finishing up our discussions and she’ll be there.”

I totally sympathize with this, but really, does every single bit of agonizing have to be dribbled out for public consumption? Admiral, if you’re gonna run, just run already. Jeez.

This blog’s homepage is here. RSS feed here. Twitter feed here. Email me here.

Posted by Greg Sargent | 06/26/2009, 09:52 AM EST | Categories: House Dems, Senate Dems, campaigns

17 Responses

  1. sgwhiteinfla | June 26th, 2009 at 09:56 am

    I think you are getting what I was saying a couple weeks back about the act wearing thin. Its so d@mned melodramatic.

  2. Bernie Latham | June 26th, 2009 at 10:02 am

    Yet, he knows a hawk from a handsaw.

  3. huh? what? | June 26th, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Sestak lacks name recognition in PA and nationally. All the stories (including this one) about his flirtation with getting into the race help to raise his profile, and not in a negative way. If you’re growing weary, Greg, write about something else. Sestak is thinking several moves ahead of you.

  4. Andrew | June 26th, 2009 at 10:12 am

    Agreed.

  5. alan | June 26th, 2009 at 10:46 am

    I am left wondering how Mr Sestak made Admiral. Was he going to consult everyone in his command team before giving the order to fire? Let’s hope the dog does not have a say.

  6. Tena | June 26th, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Who does Sestak think he is, Michael Jackson? Why do I care what his father or wife want him to do? This is silly, frankly, and makes me think Arlen is almost a better choice.

  7. Phil Bill | June 26th, 2009 at 10:52 am

    How is it you are suddenly a Specter supporter? Joe Sestak is what PA needs – someone with values. Specter is all about Specter – talk about someone wearing thin – that old lech is done.

  8. TFisher | June 26th, 2009 at 11:18 am

    Phil Bill reminds me of Greg Sargent’s glory days at TPM. As soon as he criticized one candidate, comments would start coming in about how he was “in the tank” for the other candidate or candidates. Evidently he is now in the tank for Arlen Specter. I doubt that and Sargent is right about Sestak regardless of what tank Sargent is in.

    Sestak should already be on the ground proving he can raise money in a race against the incumbent in his own party. I really admired his Sestak’s first campaign, but the bold and humerous Sestak seems to have given way to someone who does not want to risk his house seat.

    This campaign looked fun at the beginning, but is probably already over. Sargent’s Hamlet line is the funniest illustration of Sestak’s campaign problem–put down the skull and move on.

  9. TFisher | June 26th, 2009 at 11:20 am

    “humorous” (spelling counts.)

  10. Daniel | June 26th, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Yeah, someone needs to tell Joe that he’s milked all there is in this cow. Also, “He said his daughter has “got to know that I’m going to have an 11-and-a-half month deployment throughout the Keystone State.””
    I hope he doesn’t use military lingo like “deployment” all the time. That too could get tiresome fast.

  11. jzap | June 26th, 2009 at 02:17 pm

    I suspect it’s playing just fine for him in PA.  He’s milking it, sure, but that cow is NOT dry yet — not even close.

  12. Elliott | June 26th, 2009 at 05:32 pm

    ain’t this the truth. COMMIT.

  13. Derek Young | June 26th, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    It might be annoying to those of us who are political junkies and notice how long these things drag out… but for the average joe, it takes several of these appearances to sink in.

    Can’t really blame him given the level of voter apathy in this country. He’s got to get his name ID up to raise enough money to mount a primary challenge a powerful incumbent, even if the guy is new to the party.

  14. David Diano | June 27th, 2009 at 03:01 pm

    I’ve been pointing out this phoniness for months now. He keeps saying he has to ask his kid, but why wouldn’t he do that FIRST before appearing on TV with “non-announcements”, sending out hundreds (thousands?) of donor letters and email, while raising over a million dollars? He’s been planning this for over six months, so he’s wasting the time, money and energy of a lot of people supposedly waiting for an eight year old to tell him what he can/cannot do.

    What if his daughter looks at the June 30th fundraising numbers and says, “Sorry, Daddy, your numbers are too weak to challenge Specter and waste all that time away from home. Give the money back to all those nice people and tell them you can’t run. Let’s play catch instead.”

    The bottom line is that Sestak isn’t even a liberal or progressive Democrat in the first place. He voted for Bush’s war funding (twice), voted for telecom immunity and warrantless wiretaps, as well as funding Cheney’s office. The difference between Sestak and a Lefter Specter is too thin to waste tens of millions of dollars on a fruitless Primary battle. The “winner” will be broke, damaged, and facing a fully funded Toomey. The Progressive Left Dems should instead be spending their money helping the top 10 toughest Senate races. Drop a million on each of those and we could have 63 Dems (instead of wasting on a PA Primary and winding up with 57 Dems).

  15. skippy | June 27th, 2009 at 08:41 pm

    personally, i’m 1000% behind sleestak.

    am i spelling that right?

  16. Shakespeare Redux | June 28th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    To run, or not to run?.. That is the question …(to ask my daughter)

  17. Adamwestiii | July 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    I would prefer Admiral Sestak over Specter anyday. Why did Specter change from Rep to Dem? There is no difference between Liberman & Specter who just want to continue serving the public! There are better people more qualified than those two! I’m from the Pittsburgh area and my family agrees with my comments.

Leave a Reply


Please email us at profiles@whorunsgov.com to bring to our attention any content or conduct that you believe violates our Discussion and Submission Policy.