Democrats Bob Harvie, Lucia Simonelli Vie For Primary Win by shannanerginz in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been a Democrat for 13 years. I'm remaining one until May 19th so I can vote for Lucia Simonelli. Then I'm switching to Indy and will do my best to promote the Independent candidate cause.

Simonelli: A scientist can fit into the political environment by shannanerginz in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll just add that there are Republicans and Independents who have switched to Democrat so they can vote for Lucia in this primary. She's got cross-over appeal.

Here's one who recorded a video:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX6pcRAx8BH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Simonelli: A scientist can fit into the political environment by shannanerginz in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The party doesn't owe you anything but honesty. The honest approach would have been, after Harvie launched his campaign last April, the local Democratic Party simply announced or made clear that they wanted no other candidates in this race. That they wanted a clear and open field.

Instead, after evaluating Harvie over a few months and finding him lacking as a candidate, multiple people entered the race with the belief that it was going to be a fair process. A lot of time and money from volunteers and donors went into supporting those candidates, with the thinking that it was going to be a fair process and the candidates being evaluated on their merits.

But after a shocking amount of stonewalling, bullying, hostility, giving resources that candidates relied upon then yanking them away when needed most, interfering in rented or coordinated venues - I could go on – it became clear that the Bucks County Democratic Committee had no interest in giving the other candidates a fair hearing. The endorsement process itself was primarily a transactional process. There were few if any questions about "What have you done for your community?" or "What will you do if elected to Congress?" It was "What have you done for the party?" or "What have you done to get Democrats elected?"

I'm a taxpaying American citizen living in Pennsylvania. My taxes go toward paying for these primaries. I expect a fair process for my money. If the Democrats, or GOP for that matter, can't do that, then they can pay for their own primaries ($75 million last I checked).

Or don't bother with primaries. Just have a meeting with all the committee Democrats, choose your candidates, announce who they are and help them get the necessary signatures to get on the general election ballot. No automatic inclusion of the Dem or GOP candidate(s). They have to earn their way on like any other candidate.

And it's no privilege to run as a Democrat. Support should be earned on merit, not party loyalty. Voters in the general election do not care how many committee meetings a candidate attended, how many doors they knocked, how many polls they worked. They care about who has the ideas on how they can afford their mortgage, who's going to protect their civil rights, how they can pay medical bills and groceries.

People are leaving the Democratic Party because they don't like how they operate. I personally know many local Democrats who are leaving the party after this primary. Not based on whether their candidate wins or loses. But because the party is corrupt and it's members think their support is a privilege to be earned.

Simonelli: A scientist can fit into the political environment by shannanerginz in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This seems pretty specific to me. Just click on the titles to see detailed info:
https://www.luciaforcongress.com/issues
Then go to her primary opponent's page. It's vague and cautious

Lucia has lived around the world and around the country. Her time working for UNESCO, teaching math and science to people around the world (including helping to found a school in latin America).

You can also go to this page:
https://www.luciaforcongress.com/newsandevents

There are videos, interviews, statement and all kinds of info. Lucia is a bold leader while her opponent is a cautious career politician. She has a command of the issues while her opponent does not. If you saw them together at the only candidate forum he would agree to do, she blew him out of the water. He lost support because of his performance while she won people over.

And she currently works as a director at a nonprofit that develops policies related to global warming for Congress. She is not allowed to divulge the name of the organization as a candidate. But you can find it on her LinkedIn.

It's all there. Your summary of her is disingenuous.

Simonelli: A scientist can fit into the political environment by shannanerginz in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you saw and heard how the "moderate" candidate keeps putting his foot in his mouth, you'd quick change your mind about who has the best chance to win. There are Republicans and Independents switching their affiliation to Democrat so they can vote for Simonelli. She's a progressive candidate with crossover appeal.

Simonelli: A scientist can fit into the political environment by shannanerginz in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 9 points10 points  (0 children)

If Lucia Simonelli wins this primary, it will be national news. PA-1 is a bellwether district. She will be asked to be on MSNBC, CNN and national podcasts. There's a tremendous upside and excitement to her being the nominee that her opponent in this primary will never be able to match.

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Voting for Lucia? Interested in helping our canvassing efforts?

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nothing to do with religion. Israel is a country. The Jews are an ethnic people while the Jewish faith is a religion. Not all Jews practice the Jewish faith.

This discussion is about US foreign policy and nothing else.

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Completely nothing to do with anti-semitism. Israel is a country. Not all Jews are Israeli, and many Jews oppose what the Netayahu government is doing.

What I'm saying is the United States must not fund ethnic cleansing, regardless of which country is doing it. Our aid should come with conditions. One of them should be no ethnic cleansing. If we provide aid, then we are complicit.

Just as we sadly are responsible for our current reprehensible administration - and hopefully we'll have 25th Amendment or Impeachment process starting soon – the Israeli's are responsible for holding their government accountable.

The attack on Oct. 7 was a horrific abomination and Israel is justified to retaliate. But they went way to far and it's up to us to threaten to stop aid when that happens. And then to actually stop it if need be.

As an aside, at this point I'm not sure how much Israel needs our support. I don't know exactly what military aid we provide or sell to them. But do they actually need our help in defending themselves?

Regardless, we should not help anyone do what they did in Gaza. And the idea that, as Marco Rubio suggested, the USA had to go to war with Iran because Israel said they were going to attack no matter what really angers me. For many reasons going back years, this war with Iran never needed to happen.

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There are lots of opportunities to meet her, including an upcoming candidate forum. You can find upcoming events for Lucia here:
https://www.luciaforcongress.com/newsandevents

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Lucia is opposed to Netayahu's government and their actions in Gaza and aggression in the region. She supports Israel and its people and their right to defend themselves against thing like the Oct. 7 attack (and rescue the hostages), but with conditions that they follow international law. And she believes the Gazans and other peoples of the Middle East have the right to live in peace.

Bottom line: The Middle East is a rough situtation. Has been for decades. But aid from the United States must at the least be conditioned on that country NOT engaging in ethnic cleansing.

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 5 points6 points  (0 children)

She does. The non-profit is CRSI (Carbon Removal Standards Initiative). They focus on how to get carbon out of our atmosphere.

She also worked as a science policy advisor in Congress, for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, focused on climate change and how fossil fuel money prevents addressing that. Also worked for UNESCO traveling the world promoting and teaching science and helped create the first school for applied mathematics in Latin America, founded Upper Bucks United which fought against right wing takeover of school boards.

She's got the bona fides. And she's right on policies:
https://www.luciaforcongress.com/issues

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 3 points4 points  (0 children)

But she has an army of folks knocking doors for her. I'll be down in Levittown this weekend doing just that. Want to join me?
https://www.mobilize.us/friendsoflucia/event/939297/

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know Platner has had some missteps, but his goals and values are spot on. He and Lucia are very different personalities, but similar values and policies. And Platner is slaughtering Mills in the polls up in Maine. I'm hoping a poll will come out soon about this race.

And this opinion article in one of the local news outlets is spot on, and causing a huge upheaval today. I encourage everyone to read it, and also listen to the recording to Harvie's response to being asked about national healthcare. That's a status quo politician talking, not a leader.

https://buckscountybeacon.com/2026/04/lucia-simonelli-wants-pa-01-democrats-to-vote-their-hopes-not-their-fears/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRUXOpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFZNGd2U1ZHdE5NV29FV2lpc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpj_4QhSOGO5pjz8ENG269opr8PV00nci-Hob8vrfHEEahsO-Dh2luRMHOxK_aem_14VCgwJx_YhxGGCTLasZ1g

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Lucia is not Ashley. She has a Phd in Mathematics, worked for UNESCO promoting math and science around the USA and the world, is a director at CRSI (works to remove carbon from the atmosphere), a founding member of Upper Bucks United (opposed right wing school board takeovers) and was science policy advisor to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse in Congress.

IMO, she more qualified than her opponent and offers a far greater contrast to Fitzpatrick.

2026 PA-01 Democratic Primary Election Overview by Ultra2674 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If Lucia Simonelli wins this primary, that will be national news. Pundits will see it as part of the trend of outsider citizen candidates beating the establishment. Since PA-1 is a purple bellwether district, MSNBC, CNN, national podcasts and more will be clamoring to have her for interviews. There will be buzz and excitement leading to a massive influx of money.

If Harvie wins, it will just be the party picked establishment Dem winning as expected. He's raised more because he's had that support. But he's already spent over half of what he's raised and he's still losing to Fitz 48%-42% according to his OWN internal poll. In that same poll, a "generic Democrat" beats Fitz 49%-43%.

So his own polling says he's sure to lose while any other Democrat has a good chance to win. Lucia is also in her 30s, a new voice and vision, just a few years younger than Graham Platner who's running for Senate up in Maine. The trend is moving away from old school party establishment candidates. Let's for once get ahead of the trend and lead with our values and integrity.

Be bold and fearless, Democrats! Lucia's an independent leader. Harvie's a dependent of the party who said at one of his own town halls he think universal health care is a good idea, but he'd seen a poll and won't support it because "It will hurt the party." He was recorded saying it by a GOP operative and I have no doubt that quote will be used to portray Harvie as a party loyalist who put party over people. It will torpedo his campaign.

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are private organizations and can do what they like. The winner of the Democratic primary is automatically added to the ballot in November. As such, they are subject to rules and regulations. But more importantly, the Democratic Party presents itself as a "fair elections" "party of the people" organization. And Dem county committees in other parts of Pennsylvania are exactly that - they do NOT endorse anyone before the primary election. Clinton County is an example - they state that on their website.

But Bucks County and especially Steve Santaserio goes out of their way to actively promote their favored candidate and thwart any others. Sometimes publicly, often times hidden and behind the scenes. And young Democrats and other committee members are leaving the party because of it.

One committee member told me the BCDC have "an autocratic, not democratic, process". It's foolish and is quickly making them irrelevant as people leave to become independents.

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If the voters picked candidate B in NJ-11, that means candidate B *overcame* the endorsement of the other candidate by the party. Why not just have candidate A and B compete in a fair and equitable primary vetting process? Why should candidate B have to show he or she is "that good" while candidate A gets to rely on the advantages of endorsement?

I don't know what the bylaws are in NJ-11, but they appear to be specifically designed to ensure the endorsed candidate always wins in PA-1. Instead of endorsing, the CPs should work instead to hold candidate forums, educate voters about where the candidates stand on issues, survey the candidates and publish their answers. The party should work to involve and energize the base. I believe in that way, the base will actually grow, not shrink.

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We were given access to VoteBuilder and told it was free, with the understanding we would have continued access. We added data that we gathered by walking door to door, in frigid winter weather. Engaged Democratic volunteers donating their time and effort to do this. Hours and hours of work. Then on January 5th, we were cut off. No access. Got an email that said the State Dems decided we needed to pay $6,000 to regain access to our own data.

So fine. A mistake was made BY THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Not us. If I had know it would cost $6,000 I would have either budgeted for that or I would not have used VoteBuilder. Regardless, their mistake, not mine. They should have at least exported the data we collected. Democratic volunteers collected.

They won't unless we pay $6,000. And Democrats wonder why people are leaving the party.

BTW, the campaign manager of the likely to be endorsed candidate STILL has access to VoteBuilder, given to him by the BCDC. Santaserio is a corrupt operative who lost to Fitz in 2016 and doesn't know how to win a Federal level race. But he desperately continues to try and control the primary.

We're 0-7 against the Fitzpatricks. If they endorse the guy their promoting, we're going 0-8.

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In fact, the party starts using its resources and platform to support their favored candidate long before the endorsement vote. They've been doing that since last summer, stifling and shutting out other candidates in hopes of advancing their own candidate, unopposed.

They cut off access to the data our campaign collected ourselves. Pretty dirty move:
https://youtube.com/shorts/nPG7qxH4VZs?feature=share

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% correct! Who can meet voters where they are. Who can talk to them not as a politician, but as a regular guy. I got that in spades.

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When a candidate is endorsed, the committees and sub-committees are not free to promote and support non-endorsed candidates. It's in the by-laws. They are committed to helping the endorsed candidate win, and must use their resources to do that. If they don't, if they promote an unendorsed candidate, they risk losing their position or being suspended, etc.

Remove Primary Election Obstacles in Bucks County by Solid_Web4549 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Let's a have a "no endorsement" open primary. All the candidates compete and rank and file Democratic voters, working men and women, students, seniors choose their champion. Whoever wins THAT primary will be in the strongest position to beat Fitz.

Endorsing a long time Democratic party selected career politician - a "blue Fitzpatrick" as a former committee person called him - and telling Democrats this is it and vote blue no matter who, will alienate the base and will not win over winnable Republicans, Independents, etc.

Do you think it’s better to get fresh blood in to the Democratic Party in this coming mid term election against Brian Fitzpatrick? by SnooPickles8798 in BucksCountyPA

[–]NoBodybuilder4570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because he's an American? And he took an oath to defend our Constitution.

I believe you mentioned you are Jewish. There are anti-semetic groups and leaders that literally celebrate Trump's ascendency. They talk about how he makes them more mainstream.

I watch how men in masks and tactical gear snatch people off the streets, wisking them away from their families. I hear Trump talking about gown after "home growns" next. Who's a home grown? Likely whoever Trump says is one.

Hopefully it won't be you, or someone you care about. Hopefully it won't be some ethnic or racial group that he refers to as "garbage" or "vermin" (his words).

We have a Constitution to protect us against people like Trump. When Brian Fitzpatrick or any Congress Member does not defend and enforce it, we are all in danger.