Rumors and gossip

I sit here in my little corner of Luzerne County and throw out some speculation and it gets all kinds of attention. If any of it's wrong I will post a correction, after all I don't want to violate any of Bernie's ethics rules.

My previous post about Joe Peters running in the 10th CD was picked up by Stanley at Keystone Politics in KP's Delegation '08 Blog but LVDem is not impressed by him noting that he got creamed in his AG run. The Yonk thinks he will cruise to victory but I doubt that my friend. 2008 is going to be another big year for the Democrats. His biggest fan is Bill Fitz who considers himself the kiss of death in these sort of things. He also posted it at PAWaterCooler.com which is hottest new PA website according to the Politico. Christopher Hackett, of One Source Staffing Solutions, has also been mentioned as the "true conservative" considering a run. But after the Mueser brothers catching flak about giving to Democrats his $5000 donation to Luzerne County Democratic Commissioner Greg Skrepnak will need to be explained. But just like Pride Mobility, One Source has to pay to play.

In the 11th CD it seems that Scranton Times columnist Chris Kelly reads Gort42 and cites my Chris Doherty post -without attribution: While supporters decried Judge Munley’s decision as a bitter defeat, it was the best possible outcome for Mayor Fife (Barletta), who some fans have dubbed “St. Lou.” His enhanced martyrdom will be invaluable next year when he’s running against Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty for the congressional seat now occupied by Rep. Paul Kanjorksi. GrassrootsPA points out a story of the the chairman of National Republican Congressional Committee knocking down Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta's door to get him to run against Kanjo. Lou is so coy. Another rally in support of Lou's law is planned for Nanticoke this Sunday. And just to add to the fire:

I drove past Senunas' Bar in W-B yesterday afternoon ...and spotted John Yudichak having a drink with Jim and Evie McNulty. I have a tendency to read into things, but I know Big Jim has done work for him in the past, and he's up for re-election next year ... but why meet at a bar that's not in his district or near South Scranton, where McNulty lives and has his office. Yudichak has always had ambitions to run for higher office, and I wonder if he's thinking about running for ether state senate against Musto or congress against Kanjo. It would be really interesting (and good for Kanjo) if both Doherty and Yudichak ran.

Joe Peters for Congress

Rumors. An unreliable source tells me that Joe Peters is thinking about running against Chris Carney in the Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District. He lost an Auditor General's race a few years ago. But some people like Bill Fitz thinks he is the cat's ass.

The Fourth Amendment

Do we really want to become a show me your papers society?

I'm a landlord and dealing with all the other regulations the last thing I want to do is check somebody's immigration status. I'm not qualified to to that and neither are the property owners of Hazleton.

Let's remember how this came about. Rick Santorum was looking for a campaign issue last year and put Barletta up to writing this ridiculous law. Two of his people set up the Small Town Defender site. Now it has taken on a life of it's own that just may bankrupt the taxpayers of Hazleton. Very few appeals are succesful in the 3rd Circuit . And I doubt if the Supreme Court will even hear it if it gets past that.

Back to the 4th:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


Believe it not everybody in the United States has rights. From the comments:


There are many solutions to the immigration problems that do not require the destruction of the bedrock of our great republic. The answers is NOT for local municipalities to ignore the U.S. Constitution. The answer is NOT to harass legal immigrants and naturalized citizens because of the color of their skin or accent in their speech. Is it just, is it proper to tell people to come to our country and follow our rules, but not provide them the protection of our laws? Do we tell the legal immigrants and naturalized citizens --If you come here legally and take the steps to become a citizen you will be subject to unreasonable search and seizure, you can be stopped any time and asked to produce your papers? If you want to buy a donut you have to show ID? If you need emergency medical care, we will only save your life if you can provide documentation? It is cliche but 2 wrongs don't make a right. This not about political correctness. This is about the bedrock of our republic, we are a nation of laws, those laws are based upon the U.S. Constitution, if the Constitution has no meaning then our laws have no meaning. Immigration enforcement is the role of the executive branch of our federal government. It is up to us to elect those who do their job and enforce our laws, If they do not then we must make a change through the elective process. I as much as anyone wants us to control our borders, I want us to stem the tide of illegal immigration. But I also want us to protect the rights o those who followed the laws to come here the right way. I want us to protect the rights of those who took the steps and worked towards becoming naturalized citizens. I do not want those who followed the rules, obeyed the laws and actually studied and worked to earn their citizenship to become collateral damage in one man's pursuit of higher office. It is so easy to toss aspersions and blame at those who don't look like us, who don't speak like us. It is easy cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. It is much more difficult to follow the laws, follow the constitution and defend democracy. The Pledge of Allegiance ends with, "and liberty and justice for all." not for all those who speak in perfect english, not for all those whose skin color is an identical match. Illegal immigration is a problem much deeper than a catch phrase. It will take serious deliberate people who love their country and their republic more than their ambitions to solve the problem.

Saturday pet blogging

Humphrey had a good vacation. At left he is checking out some lovely filth at Lake Gerar in Rehoboth Beach. Then he had to rest up after spending the morning chasing ducks and romping around. He is our second Golden and arriving at the name was a subject of long negotiation in the Gort household. Some of the choices shot down were Sputnik and Fillmore but Mrs G came up with Humphrey. David will be happy to know that he is named after our 38th Vice President although she had this Humphrey in mind.

Other pet blogs this week include Ol' Froth's photos of the whole menagerie and Daddy Democrat says goodbye to an old friend.

Hazelton, Mayor Lou Barletta and Illegal immigrants

My first post on this subject asked Can a small city in Pennsylvania do something about illegal immigrants? Probably not but Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta is trying to make it an issue locally. Somehow I'm skeptical of his efforts. As far as I know only the federal government can make and enforce the immigration laws.

Today the Federal Court agreed with me. Simply put, the City of Hazleton exceeded it's authority. A small town in Pennsylvania cannot make immigration policy. Judge Munley cited the Supremacy clause of the Constitution (page 92 of the decision) to strike down the Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

CV: In his decision, Munley contends that all people must have their rights protected regardless of their legality. The ordinance could harm legal residents of the community as well, he ruled.
'“The genius of our Constitution is that it provides rights even to those who evoke the least sympathy from the general public,” he wrote. “Hazleton, in its zeal to control the presence of a group deemed undesirable, violated the rights of such people, as well as others within the community.”

For all the people who say keep saying "illegal is illegal" and think that immigrants don't have constitutional rights this is a lesson in civics. Everyone in the United States has rights. Not that any of you who think otherwise will bother to check it out.

In response to that I say unconstitutional is unconstitutional.

Danny and John have more and Slobby goes into detail.

Today is the Day

CV: A federal judge is expected to rule today on the constitutionality of Hazleton’s illegal immigration ordinance, setting the stage for a long-awaited decision that could affect dozens of communities locally and hundreds more around the country.

I predict that Judge Munley will throw it out as unconstitutional.


UPDATE: As predicted Munley has struck down the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, ruling Hazleton's proposed crackdown on landlords and employers doing business with illegal immigrants is unconstitutional. Read the decision here.

Buyer's remorse

"ES&S misleads its customers in the Commonwealth, and judging from conversations with other election directors at a recent election officials’ conference in Portland, Oregon — other jurisdictions as well”

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-Luzerne County Election Bureau Director Leonard Piazza

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After spending over $2 million for these things the company that sold them to us won't guarantee them for more than a year without buying an extended warranty plan. It's like they bought them at Best Buy. It was a rushed decision to buy theses machines in the first place because the county was afraid of losing the federal funding to pay for them. As with most hasty decisions the details come back to bite you in the ass. Now ESS wants another $300,000 to extend the warranty for just 3 years and will want more after that warranty period runs out.

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This whole electronic voting machine thing has always struck me as a complicated solution to a simple problem. As I've said before; Every level of society has become technology drunk. Why use a pencil and paper when you can use a $3000 machine to do the same thing?

Not a bad idea

Luzerne County's "balanced budget"

County: $4.3M of land can be sold

Luzerne County officials say they’re well aware that $4.3 million in county-owned land must be sold to stay within budget.
The dollar amount is realistic and attainable, but the challenge will be making it happen before the end of the year, county Chief Clerk/Manager Sam Guesto said Monday.

They're also counting on $3 million from "beefed-up tax collection," how's that going? This year's budget was full of holes that counted on $7 million of questionable revenues and included pushing off bond obligations to get a break this year. With $309 million in debt and the need to borrow another $100 million to build a new jail our commissioners are not going to be able to pull that rabbit out of the hat again.

I've been involved in a few real estate transactions and know that it takes time to work out the details and finally close the deal. With a government agency involved it has to be even more complicated and time consuming. And if they can't sell the land the land by the end of the year I'm sure they will float yet another bond to meet payroll just like every other year. If they do find a buyer look for the new owner getting a ten year property tax break because the property will be developed and provide "good jobs."

Big Ten and Comcast not close to a deal

Lafayette Journal & Courier

When the Big Ten Network makes its debut Aug. 30, Comcast cable customers could be in the dark because the new network and the cable corporation are at an impasse in negotiations. "I can tell you, if Comcast is agreeable to putting it in basic carriage, we can sit down behind closed doors and negotiate a deal with them,” Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman said Monday.“If they're adamant about (the BTN) only being on a sports tier, then we're in a stalemate."We have told them if they're willing to talk about being on expanded basic we can sit down and get this thing going. And they have said, as of last week, publicly, it's sports tier or nothing."

The college football season is coming up fast and it looks like 3 Penn State games may be out of reach for the average fan unless one of the local broadcast stations makes a deal to carry them. Another argument over money between 2 giant corporations and we get screwed. Yes people, the Big Ten Conference is a big corporation that has always been a collection of football/basketball factories and now has it's own TV network. Now tell me why the players shouldn't be paid?

David Madeira passes on 10th CD run

From GrassrootsPA:


After looking at the field of potential candidates very closely, I have decided not to run, but I am going to be involved and throw my full support behind an as-yet-unannounced candidate who meets all these criteria. He will be announcing in several weeks and I will publicly announce my support at that time. I will be working closely with him and will be asking you to join in our efforts to put our party back on track.
Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me to run and rest assured I will continue to fight for our values, just not as a candidate at this time.
Till next time…

I'm actually disappointed by this news. He impressed me with his performance last year in the 20th Senatorial District race by coming in a surprising 2nd. I disagree with Dr. Madeira on just about everything but admire his willingness to stick to his principles.

It looks like the field is being cleared for Hillary Clinton supporter Dan Meuser, Chairman and CEO of Pride Mobility. Hopefully Pride has fixed the defects in their products.

TPM Cafe: Meuser's company has settled a contentious lawsuit over the death of an elderly man using their wheelchair, in which plaintiffs alleged that a defective battery caused a fire. From the Monterey County Herald, January 9, 2007: "Had the case gone to trial, according to court records and statements in court, jurors may have heard evidence that Pride Mobility was aware of at least 18 other fires in its wheelchairs and scooters with identical battery packs since 2002. Ten of those fires destroyed dwellings and five were fatal." (From Nexis).

Nobody has ever accused Pride of any wrongdoing but the the power wheelchair business is a hotbed of Medicare fraud.

Mueser is probably the best candidate the GOP can find mainly because he can self-finance a campaign. If I remember right Don Sherwood spent over $2 million of his own money in his first run against Pat Casey. The state and national Republicans are going to need to spend money playing defense on seats held by Charlie Dent, Jim Gerlach and Phil English in PA and other vulnerable incumbents across the country. He will need deep pockets as Chris Carney has raised $535,000 so far this year.

Catching up

No papers or TV news for a week. We only watched the Weather Channel, Baseball and Sportscenter . I highly recommend it.

Now back to the world that we live in as Jennifer reminded me that Phils lost the 10,000th game when I was away. The Luzerne Co. commissioners hired two law firms to continue the pissing contest with the Lackawanna Co. Comish's over the baseball team. And Bob Cordaro is getting whacked again because he can't fill out some forms properly. Or maybe he doesn't want to. Bill Fitz is a big Ryan Howard fan but doesn't like soccer. "The MLS makes the WNBA seem like the NFL." Slobby calls out Hillary O. Edwards. Bernie defends the flag. Froth has had enough of the Star Spangled Banner getting murdered, Amen to that. Jane has a rundown of the 2nd quarter finance reports, I'll be looking at the 10th and 11th districts in the coming days. Another Monkey has some time on his hands and started a few more blogs. She who hunts Whales needs a vacation and Kat just got back from one. Green Dog dem figured out that Bush is pushing the end of the Iraq occupation on to the next guy. Randy and Rick are still MIA. Mark tells us about the latest Firehouse controversy in W-B that reminds me of Richard Nixon because it involves Ping Pong and politics. The Lu Lac picked up on my Chris Doherty speculation and found the Hot for Hillary video. Thanks for the link. John Micek has been freed from the hostage situation of the budget in Harrisburg. And Michael Vick endorsed Mitt Romney for President.

I brought back tee shirts for Brett and Patricia because they asked. You just have to come get them. Unlike some people I know I actually took the week off from the news and the Internet and enjoyed our time away. I think our ridiculous retriever (above) had the best time of all. More about him next Saturday.

What's todays date?

We went to the beach and tuned out all news except baseball. The Phillies still stink and the Yankees gained ground on the Red Sox. No papers or cable nonsense following a car down the highway. Nothing exciting seemed to happen locally. I'm checking out my Blog Buddies to get me up to speed.

Off to the beach

See you in a week. Thanks to J-Walk for the pic.

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Before I go there a few things on my mind. Chris Carney continues to disappoint me. The slots money keeps going to everything but what it was intended for including convention centers, the Penguins and a fantasy Airport. Can anyone say property tax relief?

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The W-B city council dismissed a proposal for a skate park for the kids but then voted to look for more corporate welfare to develop the Murray complex. They also need a pool at Coal St Park.

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I can't get the Phillies game on TV tonight because Comcast dropped UPN-57 from my lineup. And someone forgot to throw the switch at our local local radio station that carries the Phillies games so we're still getting the national feed. Heads should roll!

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A week can be a long time in politics so if anything interesting happens while I'm gone please let me know in the comments or email. Mrs G has outlawed computers while we are away.

Chris Doherty for Congress?

Normally I wouldn't even post a rumor like this until I could check it out further. But I'm pressed for time because I'm busy packing for the dog's vacation and will be gone for a week. If it's wrong no harm done but if it's right you read it here first.

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I got an email:

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Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty is preparing a run for Congress against Paul Kanjorski. Also, Doherty has an agreement with Lacka. Cty. Commissioner Bob Cordaro NOT to raise a dime for Washo-O'Brien in exchange for Cordaro steering donors Chris's way for his primary campaign against Kanjo. This info is 100% accurate. I heard it from Tim xxx and Sarah xxx

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I'm just as sceptical as you are about this. Kanjorski has over a $1 million cash on hand according to his latest FEC report. Unless he retires I think it would be a suicide mission but one of my favorite political prognosticators disagrees:

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He'd beat him big time. He'd carry all of Lackawanna County and those Dems from Luzerne who are dying for an alternative, any alternative. A Kanjo-Barletta race gives him the edge because no one wants to vote for Lou except his crowd. Kanjo wins by default. BUT if Doherrty takes on Kanjo, that gives folks a choice in the primary and neutralizes Barletta in the general.

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I don't think so.

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Another view:

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For the last several years, Chris has been wanting to run for Congress--even though it makes less political sense than other offices. ...He is planning on running on the corruption issue (grant for Kanjo's nephew). However, Doherty is refusing to raise money for Washo and O'Brien because he has a deal with Cordaro that he'll stay out and Cordaro will funnel donors to him in exchange (heard that from Cordaro himself).

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I've never heard of any animosity between Doherty and Kanjorski, quite the opposite. And Doherty running against corruption will get some howls from these people. Corruption has never been an impediment to our local Congressmen. If I recall both Dan Flood and Joe McDade were reelected after an indictment.

They may want to rethink the smoking ban

This is something straight out of Sleeper.

Science Daily — A pooled analysis of data from previous studies suggests that cigarette smoking appears to be associated with a reduced risk for developing Parkinson's disease, with long-term and current smokers at the lowest risk, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology.


The next thing you know they will say red meat is good for you.

How do you avoid information in the information age?

I taped the MLB All-Star game tonight while I was at work tonight hoping no one would tell me the score before I went home. Nobody told me the result at work but when I got home I made the mistake of turning on the computer and the score jumped out at me. The headline was Ichiro's inside the park HR leading the AL to yet another win. Oh well. When will the National League win one of these?

Rumors of corruption and Lokuta tries to save her robes

Court filing: Lokuta will testify on ‘apparent’ federal probe

Luzerne County Judge Ann H. Lokuta is volunteering to testify about her participation in an “apparent” federal investigation related to the county courthouse, according to a document filed Friday in the judge’s misconduct case.

The document outlines the reasons why Lokuta plans to call 70 witnesses in her case, but does not divulge the focus of the “apparent” investigation or what division of county government, if any, may be involved.

The rumor of a FBI probe into the doings of the Luzerne County Judges have been rampant for some time. Some of it is just crazy with reports of 30 agents hanging around the courthouse like that many strange faces wouldn't be noticed. There are even stories of people wearing wires talking to our local Solomons hoping to get the goods on them. There is supposed to be a Grand Jury empaneled that will soon return indictments for influence peddling and outright bribery.

We will see.

This is going to be fun

The DC Madame's phone records were posted on the Internet today and the first one to fess up to using her services was a Republican Senator from Louisiana that preaches family values.

WaPo: Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized last night after his telephone number appeared in the phone records of the woman dubbed the "D.C. Madam," making him the first member of Congress to become ensnared in the high-profile case. The statement containing Vitter's apology said his telephone number was included on phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates dating from before he ran for the Senate in 2004.

The service's proprietor, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, 51, faces federal charges of racketeering for allegedly running a prostitution ring out of homes and hotel rooms in the Washington area. Authorities say the business netted more than $2 million over 13 years beginning in 1993. Palfrey contends that her escort service was a legitimate business.

His website has a statement about Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage. But he means that gays are an abomination but adultery is OK.

He may want avoid his wife for a while.

From FDL: His wife, Wendy, was asked by the Newhouse News reporter: If her husband was as unfaithful as former President Bill Clinton, would she be as forgiving as Hillary Clinton?
“I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary,” Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News. “If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.”

This has the potential of ensnaring many Washington big-wigs. Democrat and Republican alike. I'm sure there are many people pouring over those phone records right now trying to connect the dots. Forget starting wars on invented evidence, illegal wiretaps and suspending habeas corpus, etc. A good old fashion sex scandal just might take some people down.

The Bond Brothers exposed

Jennifer Learn-Andes has a great story in the Times-Leader today about how the commissioners have been borrowing money left and right. I've been complaining about this practice since I started blogging. They keep borrowing for one purpose then spend it on another.

They have borrowed $29.5 million to cover general fund budget deficits and $11 million to fund the so called Life Transition Plan that resulted in all the people that had been let go being hired back through OneSource Staffing Solutions.

That's $40 million bucks to just meet expenses that will be have to be paid backed later.

Some highlights:

The county already owes roughly $309 million in bond principal and interest over the next 19 years.

Commissioners could have opted to return that $10 million in unneeded bond money but have apparently decided to use it for other things. The county gets away with this deviation by adding a clause in most bond documents that gives commissioners freedom to add or subtract capital projects.

The county’s master capital plan prepared by Skrepenak and Vonderheid calls for the county to take on another $161.4 million in new bond debt from 2007 through 2011 – $100 million for a new prison and $61.4 million for other projects.


$9.2 million in bond money that had been earmarked for a new juvenile detention center has already been spent on other projects because Skrepenak and Vonderheid decided to lease a facility in Pittston Township.

And on and on.


$309 million in debt and they want to add more.

Free Micek!

Harrisburg held hostage. The usual State budget impass is underway and all anybody seems to be worried about is that the slots parlors may have to close. Let them close, they haven't lowered my property taxes. The Republicans try to spin it by saying the state parks will also have to close as pointed out in this video. I don't remember the last time they passed a budget on time. I'm sure there are work arounds that will avoid laying off people. John has a caption contest that has a pic of Rendell looking like a rapper.

Blogging about Blogging

All sorts of stuff has been flying around the Intertubes lately. On the local scene Danny Bauder is back with a great post about prospective 10th CD Republican candidate Scott Meuser giving money to Hillary and other Democrats. Dr Rick had a burst then stopped but Bill Fitz might be around for a while. The Blogfather seems to be losing his enthiasiam but Al Gore always stirs him. Another Monkey needs a job but that gives him time to do some great research on gasoline. When they figure out that I've had the winning Powerball numbers for the last 5 years I'll start my own media company and hire all my blog buddies .

Suburban Guerilla has some thoughts on blogger economics and Althouse comments on commenters.

Fun with telemarketers

I just got a call from the Knowledge Network wanting my opinion on something or other. We had a bad connection and I thought the young man was asking my opinion of meat. I replied that I thought most of our meat is tainted so I don't eat it. He then said he wanted my opinion about the media, not meat, particularly TV and radio. I told him that I don't plan to eat my TV anytime in the future. He seemed confused by that answer. After a few minutes of back and forth he hung up on me. Oh well.

Cat-urday pet blogging

Ptolemy found us about 4 years ago. He was living in an abandoned car in an alley about a block away when Mrs. G's best friend found out about it and knocked on our door telling us of his plight. Our dog was telling us he wanted a kitty and this was our opportunity to add a member to our family. We brought him home and he lived in the drop ceiling in the basement for a few days before deciding to join us.

I've had cats all my life and this is the only one I've ever had to keep a litter box. Not only inside but on the porch. It's a long story involving FUS. He snuggles up to my feet at night and jumps into Mrs G's lap in the morning and we always refer to him as "your cat." You don't get a cat, they find you.

The name. Ptolemy was General in the army of Alexander the Great who declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt after Alexander's death and founded a dynasty that lasted until Cleopatra VII had a fling with Julius Caesar.

The Yonk joins in pet blogging by telling us about McKinley. I almost forgot to mention that Fred the Cat has a regular Friday gig at Morning Martini (with pics).

Hot for Hillary

First Obama Girl now this




h/t to Oliver

Lou Barletta ponders his future

A story in the Morning Call on Tuesday says he is giving a run for Congress "serious consideration" and will make up his mind by the beginning of next year. It said he is also contemplating a run for statewide office, such as treasurer, lieutenant governor or governor. But then in The Standard Speaker he hedges “I’m not really thinking much about it.”Barletta is serving out his second term as Hazleton mayor and awaiting his third.“Apparently my name has been dropped in circles in Washington,” Barletta said, adding that wherever he goes people ask him to run for a higher office in the commonwealth.“I’m flattered, but my answer is always the same: I will consider it, but I’m focusing on my job as mayor,” he said.

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Is this a reaction to this fiction?

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A National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman says the committee is taking a serious look at backing a challenger against U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski next year.

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A similar story was put out by the NRCC about this time in 2005. In 2002 Barletta ran against Paul Kanjorski and lost by 14 percentage points despite raising over a million dollars. I doubt if Mayor Lou would be willing to go on another suicide mission. My gut tells me that 2008 will be another big year for the Democrats taking back the White House and increasing their majorities in the House and Senate. The GOP will be playing defense in Pennsylvania trying to defend seats held by Charlie Dent, Jim Gerlach and Phil English with nominal efforts aimed at freshmen Patrick Murphy and Joseph Sestak.

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They all think that Chris Carney is vulnerable but they will have to find a candidate that doesn't own a company that makes wheelchairs that blow up, killing people or burn down their houses.

Happy 4th

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.—

Mitt Romney says dog enjoyed it

After unleashing howls of protest after reports that he strapped a dog carrier — with the family dog Seamus, an Irish Setter, in it — to the roof of the family station wagon Romney tried to dismiss the controversy with a jab at PETA.

CNN: “He scrambled up there every time we went on trips, got in all by himself and enjoyed it,” Romney said of the Irish Setter.
Romney also conceded any endorsement of his candidacy by the group was unlikely.
“PETA has not been my fan over the years. PETA was after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics,” he said in reference to his role as chief executive of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. “PETA was unhappy when I went quail hunting in Georgia, and they’re not happy that my dog likes fresh air.”

Some are still all up in paws over the incident.

Dogs Against Romney

Hi, I'm Rusty. I am afraid of high speeds. In fact, high speeds scare the crap out of me. My owner is helping me get the word out against Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is mean to dogs. He scares us. Help me get my message out.

Electronic recycling

We recently took an old computer and a few other broken electronic devices to the Hanover Area High School for the annual Luzerne County electronic recycling. I thought it was a good way to get rid of some junk in an environmentally safe manor as did some other people. Then I read this at Self Defense for Identity Theft :

If you still think that way today about disposing of that old PC, don’t! Yes you want to do the right thing, help out, be conscious of the environment, or any other good reason you may come up with for not just discarding it. But before you take that step, think about identity theft first. Your personal information from the last few years is somewhere on that hard drive. Sure you deleted it, formatted it, cleaned it, but to a persistent thief, they can dig up anything with a little effort, and they do.

And Michael gives us a few hints to protect yourself before you get rid of that old machine. He says you should chop the thing apart and take a sledge hammer to the hard drive then get rid of it.

Bill Fitz is back

A regular commenter on this blog and many others decided to start posting on his flagship again.

Check out My Take. And he's putting people on notice. Mrs G wants to see you so come back to us.

Phargon Phils

Coming into this weekend the Phillies were 3 games out of first and at the end of it they're 5 back after dropping 3 out of 4 to the Mets. The bright spot is Kyle "unbeatable" Kendrick. 4 starts and 4 wins for the Phils. His ERA is high at 4.38 but he has pitched well enough to give his team a chance.

Chase Utley will be the only Phillie starting the All-star game with pitcher Cole Hamels with 9 wins making the squad. Aaron Rowand is having a career year and he will be there. Good for our guys.

I can't argue with the All-Star teams except that Gregg Maddox wasn't picked.