Geez, pardon me. If this is the "drunken display" I heard about, I'm not getting it.
I'm sure Sam was a little "refreshed," as I would have been under such difficult circumstance. She did not embarrass herself to the degree I expected (assuming I have just watched the correct clip). The clip I heard so much about.
Having worked with her, I can tell you . . . . that's pretty much Sam's natural demeanor.
But . . .
I do NOT plan to vote for Sam. I believe she needs much more experience and more distance from the POM controversy.
sorry, but you guys aren't understanding the dynamics of the 2008 election cycle.
if obama continues to bring in record numbers of new voters . . . and if pennsylvania goes for him by a reasonable margin ....then bennett wins.
think about this; we could face a situation where we have up to 20% of the vote comprised of people who are voting for congress the first time. they don't even know who charlie dent is. if most of them vote democratic and then bennett gets the bedrock 40% of the regular democratic vote ....then game over!
all these snarky witticisms ...enjoyable as they may be ....have no bearing on the election.
Jen Mann's expressions tell it all. She appears to be trying to figure out a graceful, exit stage left.
Politics is about perception. In this clip anyone who doesn't know what a smart, wonderful, beautiful, competent, level headed,etc,.etc, person she is will wonder what she was snorting.
So Bernie, Shaun Millen dropped it off at your place?
You could at least be honest about your source.
Anyone w/ $30 in his pocket could easily pick this up from WFMZ. I know a local Dem committeeman who claims to have acquired a copy for a LC elected official. That was over a year ago. I have been checking youtube every Friday since that time. It was posted to youtube by someone who could be from either party.
On Friday, it just magically appeared with this note: "Wow. wuh, wuh, wuh, wuh, wub, wub, wuh."
You are absolutely right. If you know this, I suspect that Team Dent knows it, too. You can expect Dent to run very hard.
Once a Congressman has been re-elected once, no matter which party, it's difficult to unseat him. But the voting pattern in 2008 is going to include many more Dems. What they will know about Dent is that he is an R. That will hurt. And that's why it's very important that tapes like this, which reveal a very strange side to Sam Bennett, be widely distributed.
Having worked with her, I can tell you . . . . that's pretty much Sam's natural demeanor.
Retired ASD Teach,
If this is her natural demeanor, I'd hate to see her when she is tipsy. She's not rolling down on the floor, but there were more than a few very odd statements and mannerisms.
Yes, from my memory, what you see here IS pretty much what you get.
I expected lots of slurred speech, inappropriate comments, maybe even a burp (sorry). I didn't view any of that.
Again, I believe Sam is over her head on this one, but interestingly, this Sam, and Sams like her, couldn't ask for a better playing field than the field that's here now.
Don't run on a positive agenda. Don't say what you will do.
Rely on a 7 year old tape to "prove" that the other person shouldn't be elected.
I heard many rumors about this tape - called a 'drunken babble'. Doesn't look like it to me.
I oppose everything Bennett stands for (and Jen Mann). But this is the typical political B.S. going on for the last decade or so.
I want to vote FOR someone, not AGAINST someone.
R's do it and so do the D's. Remember the "Hold all Republicans accountable" signs in Allentown? Dems, do you only vote D because you hate R's? R's, do you only vote.....
This election sucks because almost all candidates at most levels are absolutely and totally politicians instead of leaders.
A significant portion of the Republican base are not responding to the 'vote against the other person strategy anymore'. Look at the 3 straight special elections in huge Republican strongholds where Dems won. R's stayed home.
I don't support Dems. But I am tired of hearing that I have to support ANY R no matter what.....
I will say it againg - I want to vote FOR AN AGENDA, not AGAINST something.
Then that has been the problem with politics since it began. You confuse the importance and value of a negative campaign with the insulting nature of sleaze politics. In this case, that tape demonstrates clearly that Bennett simply lacks the gravitas to be in Congress. It is no sleaze attack bc she is being called to account for her own conduct and words. But it is a negative attack.
And that's fine with me. Just as there are some things we may be positive about, there are some things we really should be against. I am not against her bc she's a Democrat. I'm a Demoicrat. I'm against her bc she's a bad fit for this office. If this is her normal way of interacting, as some have said, God help us. It's something people need to know.
She's not rolling on the floor with a bottle of Jack Daniel,s but the behavior and antics are not thosde of someone I want to see In Congress.
Incidentally, the only way pawlkowski loses in 2009 is with a strong negative campaign. Democrats, who hold that city in increasing numbers, need a good reason to vote against him. I submit plenty of reasons exist, but no R will be elected by simply stating they are nice people.
The same is true w/ Bennett. Her campaign, and in fact, any camapaign against an incumbent must give the voter reasons to vote against the office holder.
Ignoring Bennett, as you would do, would be the worst mistake Dent could make. The reasons for that have been stated rather well by Consigliere.
I'm sorry half the democrats in the 15th congressional districts that vote in the primary that voted in every other race didn't vote for her in the primary.
With regards to the idealistic post of Joe Hilliard:
In 1992, Ross Perot spent tens of millions of dollars to purchase large stretches of network air time to present his agenda to the American people.
These were not flashy campaign ads designed by image consultants to sell Perot. Nor were they long attacks or diatribes fired at his opponents.
Instead, an unquestioned success in the business world sat down at a desk, armed with charts and graphs and explained coherently how he intended to grow the national economy, reduce debt and spending and basically outlined his plans for running the country if he were to be elected.
These ads were not aired at the beginning of Perot's campaign.
In the beginning of Perot's campaign, he was an electrifying presence whom the American Public gravitated to as soon as he indicated a desire to run. Some early polls in June of that year had the race as Perot 39, Bush 31 and Clinton 25.
America was in love with the choice, the "change" that Perot represented.
Of course, you may remember just as Perot seemed on his way to changing American politics he dropped out of the race in July, long before the charts and graph presentations in the half-hour long infomercials.
He then re-entered the race in October and revealed to 60 Minutes that the reason he dropped out was because Republican campaign operatives were going to try and release negative information about his daughter. Why? Because they were hatching a diabolical scheme to disrupt her wedding.
When Perot himself revealed the reason for his exit on an interview with 60 Minutes it caused more than a few of his supporters to question their candidate's temperament for the job. His support fell quickly in the polls from his high water mark 39 to around 20 to 22. He ended up with 19 percent of the popular vote.
Later, an FBI investigation revealed that Perot had actually been tricked by a shady political operative, indeed a Perot supporter, who was trying to run a reverse dirty tricks campaign to damage President Bush’s candidacy. Perot was completely fooled by a low-level charlatan.
According to someone like Joe Hilliard, Perot's abrupt exit from and entrance back into the Presidential campaign shouldn't have mattered.
He was the man with the plan. He laid out a positive agenda of why people should vote for him. He wasn't negative.
But he was also revealed to be something of a nut, and almost certainly not someone ready to serve as the Executive of the United States.
Candidates can disqualify themselves with their own behavior. As much as Joe Hilliard might wish that every campaign be a management briefing to the public -- they never will be.
People vote on their emotions and their gut instincts as much if not more than on policy positions. Oftentimes, they vote against someone rather than for someone.
In the case of the Ross Perot, they were not wrong to do so.
Based on six minutes of Bennett speaking to supporters where she ranges from arrogant, to smarmy, to condescending, to creepy, to demeaning, to unintelligible -- voters would not be wrong to immediately disqualify Sam Bennett either.
I'm unclear as to what her performance in the clip has to do with the issues of this election.
She seems annoying and condescending, but I fail to see fault with any stand on the issues.
It seems like a nasty little "gotcha" piece from a blog that usually sticks to issues. Oh well, another source purporting to advance better government succumbs to the temptation. All in good fun, I guess.
This country has accepted as president, a philandering hillbilly who diddled the help with cigars, and a blithering former alcoholic and cokehead who can't form English sentences.
What is the point here, Bernie? Or would you like to get back to the very serious issues to be debated in this important campaign?
I was amused for about 20 seconds; then just disappointed.
I agree with what Joe said. It is the ideal to vote for someone and not against another. Perhaps we should all try to strive for that more.
I lost all respect for Jenn Mann when she was running against Pat Browne and brought up a personal issue in his life.
Many will say "but that was just a strategy". My belief is once you turn down a road and start the walk it sets up a pattern. Thank God it did not work for her.
As for Sam Bennett. She comes across as a nut in my book in that video. Being intoxicated might be a plausible excuse for her actions and attitudes.
What scares me is she is not drunk and as Bernie pointed out this is a good example of the behavior she evidently will emerge upon assumption of office should that travesty occur.
I still see little she has done in the community outside of actions to help others but most of all to promote herself.
Too many guys fall prey to the Blondie routine and I think that is what is at play here. Some are taken in by what they perceive consciously or not as a certain charisma. This is dangerous.
In the absence of any really credible resume to support a congressional position, it is important to really examine our motives why we are attracted to a figure. That is if we have the cojones to be that honest with ourselves.
I had high hopes for her but they were dashed when I saw her performance in this campaign and then in her second losing campaign for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Allentown.
In fact, the really scary part is the that is the way she is sober -- and she does drink a lot.
Drunk or sober she is still an arrogant, self-absorbed, out of control lunatic who will do anything to stay in the spotlight.
She lives for the attention and doesn't really care about anything but being the center of attention.
God help us if she gets elected to Congress -- and I'm a Democrat, but I absolutely won't vote for her.
It seems like a nasty little "gotcha" piece from a blog that usually sticks to issues. Oh well, another source purporting to advance better government succumbs to the temptation. All in good fun, I guess.
Temptation to do what? Bennett's character is very much one of the issues in this race. These are her own words and behavior. Is good government served by her election?
"Bennett's character is very much one of the issues in this race."
I'm not a fan, but what character traits were exposed in this six year old video that would preclude her from representing her constituents?
Are you saying she was intoxicated? Or perhaps she was just too "bitchy?"
I'd prefer to stick to issues - upon which I couldn't disagree more with her.
If you wish to cast aspersions on her character, at least have the balls to say what you think.
The temptation mentioned is one toward media insinuation without having the guts to say what you think. Don't feel too badly, though. Your kind is legion among bloggers and MSM types. You're more the rule than exception.
If you wish to cast aspersions on her character, at least have the balls to say what you think.
I don't know what blog you've been reading, but I never hesitate to say what I think. I think her behavior was bizarre and that was evident from my post. I did not say more bc I did not know more. Now we have heard from several who were there. They claim Bennett was sober. This means her personality is not appropriate for Congress.
I'm sorry, but her character is an issue in this race. From POM to the MC news carrier to this speech, she's very questionable.
what character traits were exposed in this six year old video that would preclude her from representing her constituents?
Hubris, narcissistic, out of control, strange gutteral expressions, to name a few. There is no statute of limitations on those qualities.
The poll is on my left sidebar. It is alive and well. This is the second time I've checked since your first comment. If you don't see it, it's bc of your Internet settings. Either that or you need glasses. It's a poll run thru polldaddy.com. I imagine that, if they go down, so does the poll. But I've seen it everytime I've checked.
I just checked and it's not there. i went to polldaddy.com and it is still listed and open. I assume the RSS feed has been disrupted temporarily, which happens.
"Hubris, narcissistic, out of control, strange gutteral (sic) expressions, to name a few. There is no statute of limitations on those qualities."
Sounds like America's first black president, Bill Clinton. He seemed to function well and was very popular among those don't like the same traits in Sam.
As I recall, very many people were concerned about Clinton's character, too. Still are. Some of them used to work for him. There was an interesting article about that recently in The Atlantic. So I don't see what point you're trying to make, other than proving that I mispelled a word.
There are all kinds of warning signs from Bennett, from POM to two failed mayoral bids to the MC news carrier mugged outside her home to her inconsistent explanations. This speech is just another one of those warning signs. Ignore it if you wish.
Wow! I see this as a passionate speech. Where was the meltdown you speak of? I did see some passion when she was acknowledging folks that put their hearts into the campaign. When she talked about the campaign and the City, I saw a fighter.
I did not know Sam then. I did see her sometime after that when she was campaigning for others....with the same passion....and Sam was not in the race.
Now BO, you can crack all the fun you want, but wouldn't you agree that Allentown would have been better off with a differnt outcome in that race.
I wish some of our pols had that much passion.
Those that call this a drunken breakdown are jus swift boating and this does absolutly nothing about solving problems.
I want to hear both candidates on the issues.
When is the Dent interview? I'd like to see the format just like the SB interview. More about the candidate and less about the opponent.
1) I do agree that A-town would have been better off if Bennett had defeated Pawlowski.
2) I do think her performance in this video is bizarre.
3) I will be doing a Charlie Dent interview. The only reason it has not been done is bc I have not yet scheduled the interview. His office has indicated he is willing to sit down. Once I have a definite date, I will do a post that seeks questions from readers like you, and I will pose them to Dent just like they were posed to Bennett.
One giveth, then taketh away.Boo. All in all, this tape isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was. Unless you deleted something it appears to be long and mostly boring. It doesn't say much other than after a long campaign she was tired and said much more than she needed to. Sam still, in my opinion, would do well in Congress. In regard to most issues she is lock step with most of the Valley's voters. He isn't. It's that simple. Charlie's a very nice guy. No question. But he has voted with Bush too much and too long. That might be his only fault, but it's a big one.
If this is her natural demeanor, I'd hate to see her when she is tipsy. She's not rolling down on the floor, but there were more than a few very odd statements and mannerisms.
That's a reach. Was Howard Dean drunk when he did his yelp? I watched Bennett closely and she did not appear to annunciate in a drunken manner at all. She had the one weird phrasing but that appeared to be her trying to be sarcastic.
Didn't think you'd be Dent's muckraker, BOH. And then to perpetuate it by seeing things that aren't there?
That's a reach. Was Howard Dean drunk when he did his yelp?
A perfect analogy, Hayshaker. Whatever he was, that goofy scream cost Dean.
Bennett pays the same price for her own words and mannerisms. Some people aren't that bothered by it, but it will end up costing her. I think it makes her look bizarre, or as one commenter noted, strange. I also think it's fair to point out.
The "yelp" was exaggerated by the MSM to the point that it was ridiculous. It was merely an unfortunate expression. Sound bites and 24 hour news made it a mountain out of a molehill.
the coach - Why do you call yourself sexist? I don't see any remark you made that would come off as such. Wow, Bennett phrased something weird. She mush be a narcissistic power monger drunk with hubris and alcohol. Give me a break.
Nice to see Dent's minions take snide potshots here.
The Dent campaign has nothing. I too was wondering about this infamous drunken speech and waited for over 6 minutes for absolutely nothing. What? Is Dent going to play that weird "inside game" line on a commercial and expect it to convince anyone?
Bennett will run commercials much more effectlively: Dent = Bush. Dent = Bush. Maybe Charlie can wear a flight suit and fly into Baghdad.
I expect to see Charlie Dent run a very effective campaign. I suspect that Bennett has made herself one of the issues. I'd guess that portions of that video will be seen or heard again.
You can tell everyone it does not matter. Ask Dean how that worked out for him.
I guess we can expect Dent to start robo-calling soon enough. Can't wait.
Dent should hope that Bennett's odd phrasing will trump the 17,000 newly registered Democrats this cycle and Dent's association with George W. Bush whom he voted with most of the time.
Of course, there are the sadists that voted for Bush in 2004 even in the face of obvious incompetence. Hell, he was polled as someone you'd want to have a BBQ with....that's what counts, right?
BOH, does the Dent campaign pay you and if they do or will in the future, will you disclose that?
BOH, does the Dent campaign pay you and if they do or will in the future, will you disclose that?
My sole income from blogging is derived from google ads, which are solicited and placed by google with no interference from me.
The Dent campaign DOES NOT pay me. No campaign pays me. I write what I think. If that bothers you, too bad. If I think Sam Bennett sounds like a stark, raving lunatic, I will say so. She does sound bizarre in that video, and I fully expect to see the Dent campaign take segments of it and play it for every political mile. It will do so because most people will shake their head at Bennett's performance and, like it or not, her character is very much one of the issues in this race. Dent did not force her to take that high salary at POM. He did not twist her arm to give inconsistent statements about a MC carrier mugged outside her home.
If I were to accept money from any source involved in local politics, I would be ethically bound to disclose that and would disclose it. But I would accept no money from anyone, whether on the right or left, involved in the local political process.
What you read here is the independent thinking of one person who leans to the left on most issues. I do like Dent. I even like Bennett. But I will vote for Dent, who is the only serious candidate in this race.
Frankly, Hayshaker, you should know me better than to make that suggestion. I believe polibloggers have an obligation to be ethical. Many polibloggers do exactly what you suggest. Accepting money to shill for a candidate, even one I like, would be the worst form of dishonesty.
Frankly, Hayshaker, you should know me better than to make that suggestion. I believe polibloggers have an obligation to be ethical. Many polibloggers do exactly what you suggest. Accepting money to shill for a candidate, even one I like, would be the worst form of dishonesty.
As you say, many bloggers do as I suggested. I just asked the question because it had to be asked. I take you at your word.
This piece seemed custom made for Dent minions to come in and write some hit and run comments.
I just asked the question because it had to be asked. I take you at your word.
Fair enough. I like Charlie Dent, but didn't start out that way over two years ago. I have met with him a few times and make no secret that I support his candidacy.
But the notion of accepting money from anyone for my opinions would be wrong.
Some silly video is no reason to send a 84% party-line neocon back to Washington. Yuck. She can drink all she wants as long as she votes with progressives on repealing the Bush tax cuts, ending the war, and passing universal health care.
I was there too. This wasn't the whole speech, there was much more to it, and believe me it got worse, she was outrageous. I left with my head in my hands that night...
Why does this person (Bennett) keep running for offices when she can't clearly win??? I know, the Valley is tired of her. This video just goes to show that she is not really stable and the voters have figured that out. Nice post Bernie!!
75 comments:
I was wondering when this was going to pop up again.
All I can say to "wuh, wuh, wuh, wuh, wub, wub, wuh" is nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
I think I'd change the Headline to the Sam Bennett Snoredown.
She's gotta be related to Ben Stein.
Buehler?
Buehler?
Anyone?
Buehler?
Buh Bye Lunesta.
Ahh gots me a Sammy Bennett sleepy time loop.
Bernie you’ve out done yourself! Where do you dig up this muck it has to be at least two years old! It's from the elections of 2006!
2001, actually.
I was wondering when this was going to pop up again.
If I have it, you can bet you'll be seeing portions on TV ads down the road. Wow. wuh, wuh, wuh, wuh, wub, wub, wuh.
Bernie, how did you get a copy of this tape?
Bernie, how did you get a copy of this tape?
It magically appeared out of thin air! There was also a note that said, "Wow. wuh, wuh, wuh, wuh, wub, wub, wuh. wub. wub"
I deleted a comment, posted 7:54, making an unnecessary sexual slur.
If Susan Powter were there, I could see her standing up and screaming "Stop the Maddness!!"
...Yawn
I'm still going with none of the above.
and what election year is this where "Coach" Bonnie Hunt, is doing her best Hillary underdog speech?
(No Wendy Davis is a clue its got to be a decent age. Plus I know That mayor left office four years ago?)
Apparently had Senator Clinton not yelled at her rallies they would have been more like this?
I do not see this as a meltdown. I see it as someone who stays in to the end and does not give up. Someone like that is needed in Congress!
Hmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! We are playing a very tight game-ahhhhhhh. She's my coach.
"I do not see this as a meltdown. I see it as someone who stays in to the end and does not give up. Someone like that is needed in Congress!"
May I borrow your rose-colored glasses?
So this is Sam "what have I ever done" Bennett at her finest?
May God save us from this woman.
Her arrogance and profound expression of self-entitlement is narcissism at it's finest.
She should team up with the "Blond" from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
But then they probably get their $300 hair done at the same place.
A total lack of humility will do her in. Not to worry.
Retired ASD teacher here.
Geez, pardon me. If this is the "drunken display" I heard about, I'm not getting it.
I'm sure Sam was a little "refreshed," as I would have been under such difficult circumstance. She did not embarrass herself to the degree I expected (assuming I have just watched the correct clip). The clip I heard so much about.
Having worked with her, I can tell you . . . .
that's pretty much Sam's natural demeanor.
But . . .
I do NOT plan to vote for Sam. I believe she needs much more experience and more distance from the POM controversy.
So Bernie, Shaun Millen dropped it off at your place?
You could at least be honest about your source.
sorry, but you guys aren't understanding the dynamics of the 2008 election cycle.
if obama continues to bring in record numbers of new voters . . . and if pennsylvania goes for him by a reasonable margin ....then bennett wins.
think about this; we could face a situation where we have up to 20% of the vote comprised of people who are voting for congress the first time. they don't even know who charlie dent is. if most of them vote democratic and then bennett gets the bedrock 40% of the regular democratic vote ....then game over!
all these snarky witticisms ...enjoyable as they may be ....have no bearing on the election.
Jen Mann's expressions tell it all. She appears to be trying to figure out a graceful, exit stage left.
Politics is about perception. In this clip anyone who doesn't know what a smart, wonderful, beautiful, competent, level headed,etc,.etc, person she is will wonder what she was snorting.
So Bernie, Shaun Millen dropped it off at your place?
You could at least be honest about your source.
Anyone w/ $30 in his pocket could easily pick this up from WFMZ. I know a local Dem committeeman who claims to have acquired a copy for a LC elected official. That was over a year ago. I have been checking youtube every Friday since that time. It was posted to youtube by someone who could be from either party.
On Friday, it just magically appeared with this note: "Wow. wuh, wuh, wuh, wuh, wub, wub, wuh."
"Having worked with her, I can tell you . . . .
that's pretty much Sam's natural demeanor."
Jeez, that's an even better reason to vote against her. She's a goofball all the time is what you're saying.
Consigliere,
You are absolutely right. If you know this, I suspect that Team Dent knows it, too. You can expect Dent to run very hard.
Once a Congressman has been re-elected once, no matter which party, it's difficult to unseat him. But the voting pattern in 2008 is going to include many more Dems. What they will know about Dent is that he is an R. That will hurt. And that's why it's very important that tapes like this, which reveal a very strange side to Sam Bennett, be widely distributed.
Having worked with her, I can tell you . . . .
that's pretty much Sam's natural demeanor.
Retired ASD Teach,
If this is her natural demeanor, I'd hate to see her when she is tipsy. She's not rolling down on the floor, but there were more than a few very odd statements and mannerisms.
Bernie,
Retired ASD teacher here.
Yes, from my memory, what you see here IS pretty much what you get.
I expected lots of slurred speech, inappropriate comments, maybe even a burp (sorry). I didn't view any of that.
Again, I believe Sam is over her head on this one, but interestingly, this Sam, and Sams like her, couldn't ask for a better playing field than the field that's here now.
Sam Bennett - Why? Is this the best the Democrats can offer?
let's leave it like this. when sam was young and wild . . .she was really young and wild
It's like she's trying to channel Janis Joplin.
An extremely-deranged Janis Joplin.
I was there that night.
She wasn't drunk. That is just the way she is when she is out of range of her controllers.
She is just plain nuts
"She wasn't drunk. That is just the way she is when she is out of range of her controllers.
She is just plain nuts."
What a campaign slogan!
Bennett. Not drunk. Just nuts.
This is the problem with politics today.
Don't run on a positive agenda. Don't say what you will do.
Rely on a 7 year old tape to "prove" that the other person shouldn't be elected.
I heard many rumors about this tape - called a 'drunken babble'. Doesn't look like it to me.
I oppose everything Bennett stands for (and Jen Mann). But this is the typical political B.S. going on for the last decade or so.
I want to vote FOR someone, not AGAINST someone.
R's do it and so do the D's. Remember the "Hold all Republicans accountable" signs in Allentown? Dems, do you only vote D because you hate R's? R's, do you only vote.....
This election sucks because almost all candidates at most levels are absolutely and totally politicians instead of leaders.
A significant portion of the Republican base are not responding to the 'vote against the other person strategy anymore'. Look at the 3 straight special elections in huge Republican strongholds where Dems won. R's stayed home.
I don't support Dems. But I am tired of hearing that I have to support ANY R no matter what.....
I will say it againg - I want to vote FOR AN AGENDA, not AGAINST something.
Then that has been the problem with politics since it began. You confuse the importance and value of a negative campaign with the insulting nature of sleaze politics. In this case, that tape demonstrates clearly that Bennett simply lacks the gravitas to be in Congress. It is no sleaze attack bc she is being called to account for her own conduct and words. But it is a negative attack.
And that's fine with me. Just as there are some things we may be positive about, there are some things we really should be against. I am not against her bc she's a Democrat. I'm a Demoicrat. I'm against her bc she's a bad fit for this office. If this is her normal way of interacting, as some have said, God help us. It's something people need to know.
She's not rolling on the floor with a bottle of Jack Daniel,s but the behavior and antics are not thosde of someone I want to see In Congress.
Incidentally, the only way pawlkowski loses in 2009 is with a strong negative campaign. Democrats, who hold that city in increasing numbers, need a good reason to vote against him. I submit plenty of reasons exist, but no R will be elected by simply stating they are nice people.
The same is true w/ Bennett. Her campaign, and in fact, any camapaign against an incumbent must give the voter reasons to vote against the office holder.
Ignoring Bennett, as you would do, would be the worst mistake Dent could make. The reasons for that have been stated rather well by Consigliere.
"I could tell little stories all night about all of you."
I bet that goes both ways.
I'm sorry half the democrats in the 15th congressional districts that vote in the primary that voted in every other race didn't vote for her in the primary.
With regards to the idealistic post of Joe Hilliard:
In 1992, Ross Perot spent tens of millions of dollars to purchase large stretches of network air time to present his agenda to the American people.
These were not flashy campaign ads designed by image consultants to sell Perot. Nor were they long attacks or diatribes fired at his opponents.
Instead, an unquestioned success in the business world sat down at a desk, armed with charts and graphs and explained coherently how he intended to grow the national economy, reduce debt and spending and basically outlined his plans for running the country if he were to be elected.
These ads were not aired at the beginning of Perot's campaign.
In the beginning of Perot's campaign, he was an electrifying presence whom the American Public gravitated to as soon as he indicated a desire to run. Some early polls in June of that year had the race as Perot 39, Bush 31 and Clinton 25.
America was in love with the choice, the "change" that Perot represented.
Of course, you may remember just as Perot seemed on his way to changing American politics he dropped out of the race in July, long before the charts and graph presentations in the half-hour long infomercials.
He then re-entered the race in October and revealed to 60 Minutes that the reason he dropped out was because Republican campaign operatives were going to try and release negative information about his daughter. Why? Because they were hatching a diabolical scheme to disrupt her wedding.
When Perot himself revealed the reason for his exit on an interview with 60 Minutes it caused more than a few of his supporters to question their candidate's temperament for the job. His support fell quickly in the polls from his high water mark 39 to around 20 to 22. He ended up with 19 percent of the popular vote.
Later, an FBI investigation revealed that Perot had actually been tricked by a shady political operative, indeed a Perot supporter, who was trying to run a reverse dirty tricks campaign to damage President Bush’s candidacy. Perot was completely fooled by a low-level charlatan.
According to someone like Joe Hilliard, Perot's abrupt exit from and entrance back into the Presidential campaign shouldn't have mattered.
He was the man with the plan. He laid out a positive agenda of why people should vote for him. He wasn't negative.
But he was also revealed to be something of a nut, and almost certainly not someone ready to serve as the Executive of the United States.
Candidates can disqualify themselves with their own behavior. As much as Joe Hilliard might wish that every campaign be a management briefing to the public -- they never will be.
People vote on their emotions and their gut instincts as much if not more than on policy positions. Oftentimes, they vote against someone rather than for someone.
In the case of the Ross Perot, they were not wrong to do so.
Based on six minutes of Bennett speaking to supporters where she ranges from arrogant, to smarmy, to condescending, to creepy, to demeaning, to unintelligible -- voters would not be wrong to immediately disqualify Sam Bennett either.
congratulation Joe long for making sure we have 2 more years of Charlie Dent. I can't even vote for her and I always vote straight ticket.
I'm unclear as to what her performance in the clip has to do with the issues of this election.
She seems annoying and condescending, but I fail to see fault with any stand on the issues.
It seems like a nasty little "gotcha" piece from a blog that usually sticks to issues. Oh well, another source purporting to advance better government succumbs to the temptation. All in good fun, I guess.
This country has accepted as president, a philandering hillbilly who diddled the help with cigars, and a blithering former alcoholic and cokehead who can't form English sentences.
What is the point here, Bernie? Or would you like to get back to the very serious issues to be debated in this important campaign?
I was amused for about 20 seconds; then just disappointed.
anon 12:08
Perot saw black helicopters. Sam may just have had a few too many toddies. Are you saying that intoxication and insanity are the same?
I agree with what Joe said. It is the ideal to vote for someone and not against another. Perhaps we should all try to strive for that more.
I lost all respect for Jenn Mann when she was running against Pat Browne and brought up a personal issue in his life.
Many will say "but that was just a strategy". My belief is once you turn down a road and start the walk it sets up a pattern. Thank God it did not work for her.
As for Sam Bennett. She comes across as a nut in my book in that video. Being intoxicated might be a plausible excuse for her actions and attitudes.
What scares me is she is not drunk and as Bernie pointed out this is a good example of the behavior she evidently will emerge upon assumption of office should that travesty occur.
I still see little she has done in the community outside of actions to help others but most of all to promote herself.
Too many guys fall prey to the Blondie routine and I think that is what is at play here. Some are taken in by what they perceive consciously or not as a certain charisma. This is dangerous.
In the absence of any really credible resume to support a congressional position, it is important to really examine our motives why we are attracted to a figure. That is if we have the cojones to be that honest with ourselves.
I was there, too, and she was stone sober.
I had high hopes for her but they were dashed when I saw her performance in this campaign and then in her second losing campaign for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Allentown.
In fact, the really scary part is the that is the way she is sober -- and she does drink a lot.
Drunk or sober she is still an arrogant, self-absorbed, out of control lunatic who will do anything to stay in the spotlight.
She lives for the attention and doesn't really care about anything but being the center of attention.
God help us if she gets elected to Congress -- and I'm a Democrat, but I absolutely won't vote for her.
It seems like a nasty little "gotcha" piece from a blog that usually sticks to issues. Oh well, another source purporting to advance better government succumbs to the temptation. All in good fun, I guess.
Temptation to do what? Bennett's character is very much one of the issues in this race. These are her own words and behavior. Is good government served by her election?
Gee, Bernie, I wonder what babble will Dent utter after his last ditch mudslinging fails.
Hasn't change my mind, Dent is out!
"Gee, Bernie, I wonder what babble will Dent utter after his last ditch mudslinging fails."
Maybe he'll make strange gutteral noises, sway back and forth and refer to his opponent in a demeaning fashion?
But I doubt you'll have your question answered because he ain't going to lose to this lady.
Yo Mad Hatter, What happened to the Northampton County executive Poll?
"Bennett's character is very much one of the issues in this race."
I'm not a fan, but what character traits were exposed in this six year old video that would preclude her from representing her constituents?
Are you saying she was intoxicated? Or perhaps she was just too "bitchy?"
I'd prefer to stick to issues - upon which I couldn't disagree more with her.
If you wish to cast aspersions on her character, at least have the balls to say what you think.
The temptation mentioned is one toward media insinuation without having the guts to say what you think. Don't feel too badly, though. Your kind is legion among bloggers and MSM types. You're more the rule than exception.
You're OT. That poll is still on my left sidebar. It will be up until Tuesday night. Then I'll post the results.
If you wish to cast aspersions on her character, at least have the balls to say what you think.
I don't know what blog you've been reading, but I never hesitate to say what I think. I think her behavior was bizarre and that was evident from my post. I did not say more bc I did not know more. Now we have heard from several who were there. They claim Bennett was sober. This means her personality is not appropriate for Congress.
I'm sorry, but her character is an issue in this race. From POM to the MC news carrier to this speech, she's very questionable.
what character traits were exposed in this six year old video that would preclude her from representing her constituents?
Hubris, narcissistic, out of control, strange gutteral expressions, to name a few. There is no statute of limitations on those qualities.
OT or not the poll is gone.
Dude,
The poll is on my left sidebar. It is alive and well. This is the second time I've checked since your first comment. If you don't see it, it's bc of your Internet settings. Either that or you need glasses. It's a poll run thru polldaddy.com. I imagine that, if they go down, so does the poll. But I've seen it everytime I've checked.
Your drinks are stopped.
My drinks are stopped, too.
I just checked and it's not there. i went to polldaddy.com and it is still listed and open. I assume the RSS feed has been disrupted temporarily, which happens.
"Hubris, narcissistic, out of control, strange gutteral (sic) expressions, to name a few. There is no statute of limitations on those qualities."
Sounds like America's first black president, Bill Clinton. He seemed to function well and was very popular among those don't like the same traits in Sam.
As I recall, very many people were concerned about Clinton's character, too. Still are. Some of them used to work for him. There was an interesting article about that recently in The Atlantic. So I don't see what point you're trying to make, other than proving that I mispelled a word.
There are all kinds of warning signs from Bennett, from POM to two failed mayoral bids to the MC news carrier mugged outside her home to her inconsistent explanations. This speech is just another one of those warning signs. Ignore it if you wish.
Bennett is unpalatable as a candidate.
One gets the sense that she's interested in public service for one reason and one reason only -- the greater good of Siobhan Bennett.
The aphorism "A mile wide and an inch deep" was invented for people like Siobhan.
Wow!
I see this as a passionate speech. Where was the meltdown you speak of? I did see some passion when she was acknowledging folks that put their hearts into the campaign. When she talked about the campaign and the City, I saw a fighter.
I did not know Sam then. I did see her sometime after that when she was campaigning for others....with the same passion....and Sam was not in the race.
Now BO, you can crack all the fun you want, but wouldn't you agree that Allentown would have been better off with a differnt outcome in that race.
I wish some of our pols had that much passion.
Those that call this a drunken breakdown are jus swift boating and this does absolutly nothing about solving problems.
I want to hear both candidates on the issues.
When is the Dent interview? I'd like to see the format just like the SB interview. More about the candidate and less about the opponent.
Thanks for posting the vid.
1) I do agree that A-town would have been better off if Bennett had defeated Pawlowski.
2) I do think her performance in this video is bizarre.
3) I will be doing a Charlie Dent interview. The only reason it has not been done is bc I have not yet scheduled the interview. His office has indicated he is willing to sit down. Once I have a definite date, I will do a post that seeks questions from readers like you, and I will pose them to Dent just like they were posed to Bennett.
One giveth, then taketh away.Boo.
All in all, this tape isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was. Unless you deleted something it appears to be long and mostly boring. It doesn't say much other than after a long campaign she was tired and said much more than she needed to.
Sam still, in my opinion, would do well in Congress. In regard to most issues she is lock step with most of the Valley's voters. He isn't. It's that simple. Charlie's a very nice guy. No question. But he has voted with Bush too much and too long. That might be his only fault, but it's a big one.
This woman is nuts!!!
Never saw that. Where exactly is the meltdown? Seems pretty rational to me.
So this is Sam "what have I ever done" Bennett at her finest?
May God save us from this woman.
Her arrogance and profound expression of self-entitlement is narcissism at it's finest.
She should team up with the "Blond" from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
But then they probably get their $300 hair done at the same place.
A total lack of humility will do her in. Not to worry.
You sound pretty sexist, Squirrel. I assume a woman is not allowed to show confidence?
If this is her natural demeanor, I'd hate to see her when she is tipsy. She's not rolling down on the floor, but there were more than a few very odd statements and mannerisms.
That's a reach. Was Howard Dean drunk when he did his yelp? I watched Bennett closely and she did not appear to annunciate in a drunken manner at all. She had the one weird phrasing but that appeared to be her trying to be sarcastic.
Didn't think you'd be Dent's muckraker, BOH. And then to perpetuate it by seeing things that aren't there?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! We are playing a very tight game-ahhhhhhh. I must be a sexist, too!
I agree. She does not seem drunk. She is slightly "off" though. It's like she's putting on a performance.
It is strange.
Hayshaker writes:
"Was Howard Dean drunk when he did his yelp?"
Did Dean's "yelp" help his campaign or did it bottom him out because people saw he was a whack-a-mole game?
That's a reach. Was Howard Dean drunk when he did his yelp?
A perfect analogy, Hayshaker. Whatever he was, that goofy scream cost Dean.
Bennett pays the same price for her own words and mannerisms. Some people aren't that bothered by it, but it will end up costing her. I think it makes her look bizarre, or as one commenter noted, strange. I also think it's fair to point out.
The "yelp" was exaggerated by the MSM to the point that it was ridiculous. It was merely an unfortunate expression. Sound bites and 24 hour news made it a mountain out of a molehill.
the coach - Why do you call yourself sexist? I don't see any remark you made that would come off as such. Wow, Bennett phrased something weird. She mush be a narcissistic power monger drunk with hubris and alcohol. Give me a break.
Nice to see Dent's minions take snide potshots here.
The Dent campaign has nothing. I too was wondering about this infamous drunken speech and waited for over 6 minutes for absolutely nothing. What? Is Dent going to play that weird "inside game" line on a commercial and expect it to convince anyone?
Bennett will run commercials much more effectlively:
Dent = Bush. Dent = Bush. Maybe Charlie can wear a flight suit and fly into Baghdad.
I expect to see Charlie Dent run a very effective campaign. I suspect that Bennett has made herself one of the issues. I'd guess that portions of that video will be seen or heard again.
You can tell everyone it does not matter. Ask Dean how that worked out for him.
I guess we can expect Dent to start robo-calling soon enough. Can't wait.
Dent should hope that Bennett's odd phrasing will trump the 17,000 newly registered Democrats this cycle and Dent's association with George W. Bush whom he voted with most of the time.
Of course, there are the sadists that voted for Bush in 2004 even in the face of obvious incompetence. Hell, he was polled as someone you'd want to have a BBQ with....that's what counts, right?
BOH, does the Dent campaign pay you and if they do or will in the future, will you disclose that?
BOH, does the Dent campaign pay you and if they do or will in the future, will you disclose that?
My sole income from blogging is derived from google ads, which are solicited and placed by google with no interference from me.
The Dent campaign DOES NOT pay me. No campaign pays me. I write what I think. If that bothers you, too bad. If I think Sam Bennett sounds like a stark, raving lunatic, I will say so. She does sound bizarre in that video, and I fully expect to see the Dent campaign take segments of it and play it for every political mile. It will do so because most people will shake their head at Bennett's performance and, like it or not, her character is very much one of the issues in this race. Dent did not force her to take that high salary at POM. He did not twist her arm to give inconsistent statements about a MC carrier mugged outside her home.
If I were to accept money from any source involved in local politics, I would be ethically bound to disclose that and would disclose it. But I would accept no money from anyone, whether on the right or left, involved in the local political process.
What you read here is the independent thinking of one person who leans to the left on most issues. I do like Dent. I even like Bennett. But I will vote for Dent, who is the only serious candidate in this race.
Frankly, Hayshaker, you should know me better than to make that suggestion. I believe polibloggers have an obligation to be ethical. Many polibloggers do exactly what you suggest. Accepting money to shill for a candidate, even one I like, would be the worst form of dishonesty.
Frankly, Hayshaker, you should know me better than to make that suggestion. I believe polibloggers have an obligation to be ethical. Many polibloggers do exactly what you suggest. Accepting money to shill for a candidate, even one I like, would be the worst form of dishonesty.
As you say, many bloggers do as I suggested. I just asked the question because it had to be asked. I take you at your word.
This piece seemed custom made for Dent minions to come in and write some hit and run comments.
I just asked the question because it had to be asked. I take you at your word.
Fair enough. I like Charlie Dent, but didn't start out that way over two years ago. I have met with him a few times and make no secret that I support his candidacy.
But the notion of accepting money from anyone for my opinions would be wrong.
Some silly video is no reason to send a 84% party-line neocon back to Washington. Yuck. She can drink all she wants as long as she votes with progressives on repealing the Bush tax cuts, ending the war, and passing universal health care.
I was there too. This wasn't the whole speech, there was much more to it, and believe me it got worse, she was outrageous. I left with my head in my hands that night...
Why does this person (Bennett) keep running for offices when she can't clearly win??? I know, the Valley is tired of her. This video just goes to show that she is not really stable and the voters have figured that out. Nice post Bernie!!
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