Crying in my beer

In a big disappointment to me and the rest of the blogosphere Rick Santorum was on the Sue Henry show yesterday and said he was not running for Governor in 2010.

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The Phillies got clobbered by the Rockies to go down 2-0 and now have to win the last 3. But the Red Sox won the opener and the Evil Empire was smoked, Go Indians.

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At least the state legislature is looking at making it easier to buy Duff Beer in various quantities from different outlets. That will help me drown my sorrows.

Urban Terrorist in Luzerne County

But that terrorist is a retired Marine officer and elected official. Poor choice of words Greg.

According to the CV Luzerne County Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Steve Urban got into another argument about reassessment that included Skrepenak calling Urban "a terrorist" for trying to "strike fear" into county residents.

Urban has oppossed Skrep's plan to send out a notice of assessed property values without telling the homeowners how it will affect their taxes. What is the sense of telling you how much the local government thinks how much your house is worth but not tell you if your taxes are going up or down, and by how much?

Skrep has criticised Urban's management of the reassessment process and took the project away from him then told everyone he has restored calm to the process. He said "That's the sign of a leader"

Urban responded... "He's not a leader. He's a bully."

And what is this about Democratic appointed commissioner Rose Tucker showing up at a fundraiser for Republican commissioner candidate Bill Jones?

Paul Swiderski for Congress

We have another Republican candidate in the Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District. At rate this is going we could have a primary with so many candidates that 25% of the vote could win the nomination.


That makes 4 declared candidates, the others are John Scott, Don Ely and Chris Hackett. A few others are thinking about a run including Dan Meuser, who made news this week by buying a new house that is actually in the district. He is moving from his $2 million digs in Jackson Twp that is just outside the district into a more modest $500,000 adobe in Harveys Lake.


Here is Paul Swiderski's email announcement via a few friends:

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am writing to introduce myself as a GOP candidate for U.S.Representative for Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District and to request your support.

Among the candidates competing for the opportunity to take back the seat lost to Chris Carney last election, only I can relate to, in all respects, the people, values and issues impacting the people of the 10th Congressional District. I am a small business owner who has the same concerns as most of the people in the district. The need for affordable quality health insurance, lower gas prices and home heating costs, lower taxes, and accountability in government top the list of concerns. I truly care about the people and future of northeastern Pennsylvania(NEPA).

There is a lack of good paying professional jobs in the region,which is causing our young talent who were born in, grew up in, and went to school in NEPA to leave the area, and in most cases, the commonwealth of PA altogether. There is also a growing elderly population in NEPA, and if people are leaving because of a lack of professional jobs, there will be a lack of tax revenue needed to effectively sustain the economy and our parents and grandparents.

The Wilkes-Barre and other local Chambers of Business and Industry (AKA, Chamber of Commerce), together with area democrats, have stood in the way of economic growth. If this trend continues, our area's economy will continue to move on a downward spiral.

In short, I am running for Congress because I want a better, stronger, healthier United States of America and a better NEPA. I am respectfully requesting your consideration to endorse my candidacy and support this campaign. Feel free to contact me to inquire about my position on the issues and/or to arrange for a meeting.

Sincerely,

Paul R. Swiderski, MBA

Candidate for U.S. Representative10th Congressional District (Pennsylvania)

He is also the first Republican candidate with a website: www.abetternepa.org

The site has a campaign blog that throws the first punch in the race:

Dan Meuser doesn't represent the people of PA 10th District

Dan Meuser is a very wealthy man who is willing to spend over $1.2 million of his own money to run for U.S. Representative in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District. The majority of the people living in the district do not have anywhere near that amount of money to use as discretionary funds. I don't think he can relate to the average voter when he brags about how much money he has to spend on a campaign out of pocket.

Dan Meuser does not live in the 10th District, but he did casually mention that would just buy another home in the district to run. I'm certain that the average voter in the 10th District can't just buy a second home at free will. Many of the voters whom I spoke to occasionally have problems keeping up with their mortgage and monthly bills. Meuser sounds like a man who doesn't know what it's like to be in a tight money situation when it comes to personal finance.

Dan Meuser contributes money to democrats like Hillary Clinton, Charlie Rangel, Paul Kanjorski and many more, but he's considering running on the republican ticket. Dan Meuser isn't interested in representing the people of the 10th District. He just wants to buy his way into office. Is this the man you want representing you in Congress?

Oh Blackwater keep on runnin' Green

In the Blackwater hearings today Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) quized Blackwater CEO Erik Prince about his political contributions trying to show that he and other company executives gave to candidates other than Republicans. Prince and other well connected contractors from companies such as Haliburton indeed funneled money to the Green Party or maybe just one particular Green Party candidate in Pennsylvania.

From TPMMuckraker:

...he (Prince) and his wife shelled out $10,000 in contributions for a Green.It was part of an effort by connected Republicans (lobbyists and millionaire CEOs among them) to recruit Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli to enter the 2006 Senate race. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) was trailing Dem moderate Bob Casey in the polls -- and Romanelli, the scheme went, could take some of those liberal votes away from Casey...Ultimately Republicans raised more than $150,000 for Romanelli.

It's always good to find a local connection to a national story. Lehigh Valley Ramblings had all the details last fall.

The Phargon Phils are in the Phlayoffs

Jimmy Rollins for MVP! Just look at what he did in this game. 2 stolen bases in the 1st inning that manufactured a run and a triple and a run scored. Plus every ball that was hit at him resulted in an out.


Ryan Howard hit a homer, Jamie Moyer was the veteran pitcher you expect and the bullpen was lights out.


It also helped that the Mets had a collapse akin to to the 1964 Phillies.

It's been Phourteen years since the last post season.

The Judge Ann Lokuta trial

What makes you think she is a witch?

Well, she turned me into a newt.

A newt?

I got better.

Burn her anyway!

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That's about the only kind of hearsay that Lokuta hasn't endured in the Court of Judicial Discipline this week. Most of the testimony seems to be "she hurt my feelings." But no paper trail was offered to support the allegations of rude behavior or inefficient administration of her courtroom. One witness said she called then President Judge Mike Conahan a few names which might be the reason for all of this. The rumours of a federal corruption probe at the courthouse didn't come up but that can of worms might be opened when Lokuta gets to present her defense in December.

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The play by play can be found at The Lu Lac Political Letter.

He's such a tease

Please tell me it's true.

GrassrootsPA found this tidbit that speculates that Rick Santorum is considering a run for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2010. What a gift that would be to the blogosphere and columnists in the papers. The great mentioner has also plugged him for UN Ambassador, Attorney General and in real fit of delusion even a Supreme Court nominee, among other posts.

My fellow bloggers wasted no time commenting on such an endeavor.

Pennsyltucky Politics

First he'd have to move back to Pennsylvania

The inevitable press releases and stories can almost write themselves. There's the cyber school controversy in which Pennsylvania taxpayers footed the bill to educate his kids while living in Virginia. The residency issue alone will fill enough newspaper stories to kill a decent size forest. President Bush won't be in office, but there will no doubt be plenty of reminders of his unyielding loyalty to the unpopular president, the Iraq war and calling former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld a great leader. There's his role in the K Street Project.
Oh, we could go on...

Capitol Ideas points out that Santorum... now makes his living scaring people to death for a right-wing think-tank...Some, however, were spinning it as the beginning of a comeback tour that'll probably last longer than The Eagles.

The Pennsylvania Progressive:

Santorum doesn't seem to grasp how disliked he is in Pennsylvania. Perhaps if he lived here the last numerous years he'd have a clue. Of course he'd have to abandon his nice digs in Virginia and relocate to the Keystone State to even qualify.

Even my friends over at the PAWatercooler are skepticle.

... Rick was smeared so viciously by the far-left over the past four years that a huge majority of Pennsylvanians voted against him in 2006. Let’s face facts - most people who pulled the lever for Casey in November weren’t voting for Casey; they were voting against Santorum. And they voted against him largely because of nonsense spread by the far-left pro-aborts and shameless radical homosexuals who are apparently incapable of honesty. If Rick does run for Governor, I will gladly support him, but realistically speaking, I can’t see the people of PA voting for him any time soon...

However, I do think that Rick would make an excellent presidential candidate.

Speaking for the "the far-left pro-aborts and shameless radical homosexuals" that comprise the 59% of Pennsylvanians that voted against Santorum I think he hung himself in the last election. The old rule of politics is that challengers don't win elections but incumbents lose them. I think he would make a great Presidential candidate because he says what is on his mind and that would be refreshing.

Walter Griffith for Wilkes-Barre City Council

Walter has a website. And he is hot about a barber shop that has zoning problems.

Here is his take:

...I as a Candidate for City Council District A would work with the City to help make this type of Mom and Pop Business be welcomed into our City

...This is the same candidate that said at a South Wilkes Barre Business meeting that he wants to encourage small business ...

Where was Rick Cronauer when the City Council threatened the Master Chemical Co...and almost shut this 35 year business down and force them out of the City..

Where was Rick Cronauer when the City Council levied a 2.57% BID Tax on the Downtown merchants???

Why hasn't Rick Cronauer come to a City Council meeting regarding the Solid Cactus Co. moving out of Wilkes Barre ...

This City Council Candidate seems to think like the City Council and Administration that we have at the present time....maybe there is some truth to the rumor about how he won the Primary against a 2 term incumbent...




The following story is a shock to me...I don't understand the mind set here...a business wants to come to South Wilkes Barre and Rick Cronauer spearheads the charge to stop it....He is a member of our business community and wants to stop a small business from coming to the area...??????

I think this type of thinking is exactly what we don't need in City Hall...Lets try to encourage everyone to open a business in South Wilkes Barre ...not discourage them ...that was an old insurance office....there was a lot of foot traffic and parking...I wonder who the 10 residents were Tom Leighton, and his political "Boys" ...I guess it is more of the same in Wilkes Barre...where was this guy when they were trying to put Master Chemical out of business...??? I think these issues need to be addressed at the next meeting...

The city's zoning board rejected an out-of-town landlord's plan to rent space to two Spanish-speaking New York residents to open a barbershop at 198 Old River Road.


The board denied Brooklyn, N.Y., resident Paul Jacobs' plan last week after Rick Cronauer, the Democratic candidate for city council in District A; Bob Hogan, owner of the Riverside Cafe, and about 10 other South Wilkes-Barre residents opposed it. Jacobs hoped to rent the space to Mercedes Rodriguez, who would have been the manager. Jacobs was joined by a barber and his daughter at the zoning meeting. Cronauer, Hogan and other residents expressed concerns about a lack of parking on Old River Road and an increase in traffic.In its written decision, the board stated a change from an insurance office to a barbershop with two seats will "increase traffic generation, including both vehicular and pedestrian traffic."Jacobs said he doesn't understand the decision, asking why another barbershop was allowed to open in the neighborhood. The Riverside Cafe already brings in a lot of traffic, he said. Cronauer said he was skeptical about a new barbershop opening on Old River Road. He thought any future plan should be thoroughly investigated. Only one zoning member, William Harvey, voted in favor of approving the barbershop. Richard Chukonis, Hayden White and John Yencha, the Republican city council candidate in District E, denied it. Jacobs has 30 days to appeal the board's decision.

The Death Penalty

The face of evil, George Banks.

25 years later the case of George Banks is in the news again. The latest controversy revolves around the question of whether he is sane enough to execute. Anyone spending 25 years on death row has to be nuts.

That's what is wrong with the system. You go through appeal after appeal in a pretty cut and dry case. There is no doubt that this guy committed the crimes he has been convicted of but some sort of technicality or legal argument will delay carrying out the sentence of DEATH. And that is the way it should be. Just eliminate the death penalty, the cost to the system and the families is not worth the retribution.

So many times we later found out that an innocent person was executed. The death penalty belongs to another era. I don't often agree with Bill O'Reilly often but he once said that convicted murderers should be put in a prison on the North Slope of Alaska and if they get out they will have to deal with the elements or Polar Bears.

Executing George Banks doesn't accomplish anything. It doesn't make us any safer.

John Scott for Congress

I don't know much about this guy. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think he was state senator in New Jersey then moved to our neck of the woods.


Friends,

After thoughtful discussion with my family and local and national Republican leaders, I filed the necessary papers with the Federal Election Commission to become a candidate Congress in the 10th Congressional District. I believe we must have representation in Washington that will stand up to the bureaucrats and be willing to withstand the pressures of entrenched special interests. Democrats will be nasty and ready to spend whatever it takes to keep this seat. That is why I am asking for your support today.

Working families deserve better than liberal Chris Carney. He and his Democrat cronies mock the values that our brave soldiers fight to protect, and will destroy our economy if given the chance. This is a Republican district and we must take it back now.


In recent weeks, I have met with Republican leaders in Washington and around our district. As a former State Senator, I have withstood attack after attack and won in a heavily Democratic district.


I am running for Congress because we need a representative dedicated to protecting our shared conservative values. My proven record as a former State Senator shows that I have not compromised my principles to be an effective legislator. Based on my proven record of protecting our Constitutional rights, I will be the highest rated candidate by the NRA in this race.

Thank you,


Hon. John P. Scott

That makes 3 declared Republican candidates in the 10th CD in PA. The other 2 are Don Ely and Chris Hackett.

Still no websites.

Where's Lefty when you need him

We went to the Bank to see a couple of games and came away with a split. The place was electric on Tuesday but the air seemed to be out of the balloon on Wednesday after the 10-6 loss on Tuesday. I'll spare you the play by play but CB Buckner should not be a Major League umpire. In the next game J Roll's triple in the 1st and Victorino's HR restored our hopes and we came away with a win.



One game out in the Division and the Wild Card. Take care of business and get some help.

Carney campaign responds

After getting beat up by Chris Hackett this week the Carney people weigh in.



VETERANS FOR CARNEY DENOUNCE HACKETT'S COMMENTS

Off to Philadelphia

To watch baseball.

Sports weekend

Busy weekend, We had the wedding yesterday and a couple of paperwork projects today. I still haven't filed our taxes yet but hope to get them in this week. But anyway, Penn State couldn't buy a touchdown against Michigan and I think Austin Scott's playing days are over in Happy Valley after he coughed up the ball yet again resulting in a Wolverine score. Watching the tape and screaming at the TV led to a minor domestic dispute because Mrs. G wanted to talk about the wedding but got tired of my obscenity laced tirades about football. The Phillies took 3 out of 4 against the Nationals but the Mets won today and the Padres lost leaving the Phils 2 1/2 out of first in the East and a 1/2 game back in the wild card. And Family Guy was great tonight.



Then there is this thing, the only missing is a machine gun turret on the roof.

This is supposed to be a happy occasion! Let's not bicker and argue over who killed who...

Off to Stroudsburg for a wedding. Why people insist on getting married during college football season I'll never know. I'll be taping the Penn State-Michigan game and hope some loudmouth doesn't tell me score.

My last 10th CD post

For this week.

Chris Hackett said a few things in Towanda that we didn't cover in my interview last week.

Daily and Sunday Review

"The French have rolled out a new program which I think is intriguing," said Hackett, explaining an idea for tax reform that he indicated might make sense for the United States. Under the proposed French program, the French government wouldn't tax a person's income if he worked more than 35 hours per week, Hackett said."What a great way to reward people for their hard work."

"We really need to protect our borders, and support the sanctity of this country... For example, he said, "If an individual wants to wire money out of this country - and they are an illegal alien - they should be required to show proof of citizenship if they try to wire money out. It would be a sure way to stop them from wiring money out."

We've had a spirited discussion in the comments and 2006 11th CD Republican nominee Joe Leonardi asked me to post this comment:

The back and forth riping on each candidate, form within the party, must stop. There is currently a strong anti-republican sentiment in the country, including the 10th. The Dems are motivated and are mobilizing. The RNC and NRCC are taking in less money than the DNC and the DCCC. There is a reason for this.


Most middle class Republicans are not that supportive of the party because they feel the President is not a genuine conservative. Outside of the war, under this administration, we have had one of the largest spending sprees and expansion of government since LBJ. People are making less real money, real estate prices (some folks largest investment) are falling. People are taking home less money. College tuition is increasing. People are paying more for health care and receiving less. These are the issues that every day voters care about. These are the concerns middle class conservatives care about. They are upset at how government intrusion, big government, negatively impacts their lives.


The top of the ticket will have a huge influence on Congressional races this time out. Perhaps if the party gets a conservative at the head of the ticket republicans will have a chance. Since there are no conservatives presently running for president, the overwhelming motivation to get the conservative base to the polls will be diminished.


One of the factors that will hurt us the most is the bickering I have seen on this blog and others. While I understand the reasons to push "your" candidate, it does not have to be done by tearing down the other. This sniping, innuendo and rumor mongering will hurt the eventual nominee. If the Carney camp doesn't have "ammo" all they have to do is scan these blogs and they can get all the they want. Remember the Massachusetts furlough program that led to the Willie Horton ad campaign, was brought up in the primaries by Al Gore.


I wish all the best to whomever the nominee is. The ideal time to beat an incumbent is after the freshman year or after the 20th year. If Chris Carney is to be beat it must be done now. But there is a realistic possibility that we may have lost the seat for the foreseeable future. We must not let that happen.


A strong primary based on what each candidate will do, what qualifications they hold and their ability to put forth a positive message may change the negative views many have toward our party. It may also help alleviate the apathy felt by many within the party.


The registration is in favor of republicans, but that won't do any good if registered republicans stay home on election day. If we tear each other apart in the primary, the bridge building, the necessary unifying behind the nominee will be that much more difficult. And if that can not be done and there is bad blood after the primary, the republican voters will stay home, or worse --- they will vote for the status quo.


Let's debate issues and vision and leave the petty infighting off the table and behind closed doors. To win, in November, a united front will be necessary. That front will have to be more than smoke and mirrors. It will have to be genuine, it will have to be solid and it must be strong to demonstrate the resolve necessary to get the job done. The primary sniping will devalue your candidate in November. And it will help return Congressman Carney back to the Congress instead of the classroom.

The Face of Censorship

John Morgan of Berks County said some unkind but true things about State Rep. Tom Caltagirone and now the local Democratic Party is threatening to sue him over the name of his blog, Berks Democrats . They aren't threatening to sue about what he wrote but are looking for a backdoor to silence him.

This a threat to the free speech of all of us on the internet. Liberal or Conservative, Democrat or Republican and others should rally around John.

The Chilling Effects Clearinghouse is a great resource that I have used in another dispute and has relevant information that applies to this situation.

Lou Barletta for Congress websites?

A relentless Internet surfer sent me few interesting links:

loubarlettaforcongress.com

is under construction and appears to be hosted by yahoo small business and

loubarletta.com

is parked @ godaddy

As everyone knows you want to buy up all the domain names if you plan to run for office before your opponents do. Mayor Lou has been coy about another run for Congress and the betting is that he is aiming for statewide office such as Treasurer or Auditor General. But you never know.

The Bond triplets?

In a worst-case scenario, Barletta said, the city would have to float a bond to cover the cost of the legal bills and pay it back on debt service over 20 or so years.

Insurance company does not want to pay

Hazleton's errors and omissions insurance carrier has filed a suit against the city, asking a court to find it not liable for legal bills stemming from the lawsuit involving the Illegal Immigration Relief Act or the pending appeal.

The insurance company covers Hazleton for errors in law enforcement, not errors in law construction and they argue the city's ordinance was the latter. I'm not crazy about insurance companies but I see the point. Hazleton passed this ordinance knowing full well that they were going to be sued and even invited it.

My question is why is Rick Santorum and his fundraising prowess absent from all this? The small town defender website is tapering off and this whole thing started because Ricky needed a campaign issue and put Barletta up to it. But it's not surprising that Rick doesn't remember his friends. Just ask Carl Romanelli, who still owes over $80,000 trying to get on the ballot to help him.

Farm preserved and enviro-friendly Animal Hospital

“Once you plant a house, it’s there forever.”

Another place a Wal-Mart or housing subdivision won't be built.

Turnbach farm in Sugarloaf Township joins program that prevents development

The Turnbach farm is the 16th preserved by the county since 2000. More than 1,680 acres of county farmland are protected... and 13 farms are on the waiting list.

Luzerne County’s Agricultural Preservation Program is doing good things. Luzerne County has been losing people for almost a hundred years yet more farmland and forests are being paved over then the storm water runoff creates havoc every other year.

Caring about planet, not cost, the priority for Doug Ayers in constructing new animal hospital

Gort family veterinarian and life long friend Dr. Douglas Ayers is building a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic in Plains and is making the building as eco-friendly as possible.

Many of the design elements are basic. The structure was built next to the current one to minimize its footprint and preserve virgin land. Rain gardens in low areas will trap storm water and retard its flow into the river. In exchange for oil-dependent asphalt, crushed stone of various sizes will be mixed together to create several hard-packed, semi-porous parking surfaces. Highly polished steel tubes will capture and reflect light into the building, reducing the electrical lighting demand. Finally, the building faces south, taking advantage of solar heating and leaving the potential to install solar energy cells.

Other elements are more complicated. The heat-cycling system uses sensors to analyze the desired temperatures for each area and calculates the most efficient way to transfer heat within the building, instead of heating one area and cooling another. Fan blades spinning between the air intakes and vents will capture heat, or the lack thereof, from outgoing air and transfer it to pre-heat, or pre-cool, incoming air.



Doug was also recently successful in preserving the Hillside farm and dairy in Dallas and is Chairman of the The North Branch Land Trust and is this year's local recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service. It's nice to see the local paper catch up on this project because I wrote about it last year.