Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Club for Growth PAC raps Meuser

Washington - Today, the Club for Growth PAC is releasing a $90,000 ad buy on broadcast television in Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District.
Entitled, "Another Politician," the ad seeks to educate voters about the key differences between the two Republican candidates in the race, Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett.



Dan Meuser: Another Politician




No laws were broken


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Republican congressional candidate Chris Hackett did not break the law by failing to notify federal authorities that his housekeeper was in the country illegally, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency spokesman.
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I think all this chest thumping over immigration is counterproductive. The easy thing to do is to parrot the build a fence and "illegal is illegal" talking points but none of the candidates have offered a real solution. None of them will say it but the implication is that they want to kick millions of people out of the country which will have a devastating effect on our economy. Maybe an issue like this can't be discussed in a rational way during a political campaign and I think that all the candidates in the 10th and 11th Congressional Districts, both Democrats and Republicans, have demagogued this issue-some more than others.

Breaking up

She doesn’t want to be a partner. She wants to be a dictator. She wants to tell people what to do,” -Greg Skrepenak about Maryanne Petrilla

“If restoring confidence is perceived by Commissioner Skrepenak as ‘dictatorial,’ then so be it, but it is an unfair characterization and below him,” -Petrilla said.

I was very skeptical about Petrilla when she became the new Luzerne County Commissioner because I thought she would be more of the same. The jury is still out but she is making some good noises.


Political divorce finalized


Skrep calls Petrilla a ‘dictator’

Monday, April 07, 2008

Lou Barletta has a fan

www.StopLouBarletta.com


Lou Barletta is a radical conservative who is currently running for Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District. His Democratic opponent is Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D). Barletta, currently serving as mayor of Hazelton, PA, is running a campaign based on fear-mongering and deception. This website is dedicated to standing up to him and his campaign for Congress.


Quite honestly, this man scares me. He is a xenophobic, fear mongering idiot of the highest order, in my opinion.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

I went to the Red Barons game

The Red Barons are now called the Iron Pigs and have relocated to Allentown after being deported last year. The opponents were an afiiliate from some obscure Bronx team that wins a bunch of games every year but just falls short.

YouTube weekend

Charlton Heston RIP


MADHOUSE!!!



Saturday, April 05, 2008

YouTube weekend

Kate Bush & David Gilmour - Running up that Hill - Live SPB


State of the World

On Sunday, May 4th from Noon to 4 p.m., up to five Third party and Independent presidential candidates will speak and debate their issues at the 9th annual State of the World forum in Sugar Notch. Some of the confirmed are Independents, Bill Ingram, Richard H. Clark, Daniel Kingery and Thrid party candidates Mr. L. Washington and Mr. Jack Grimes.


Other Third Party and Independent candidates for lower federal and state offices are also invited to attend. Kurt Shotko, Independent candidate for the 11th District in Northeastern PA is planning to participate, among others.


Mr. Joseph Pilchesky, creator of dohertydeceit.com, a website that monitors the mayor and government of Scranton, will recieve the annual Free Speech Award at this years event. His website was shutdown illegally and he sued. With the help of the ACLU he won a substantial settlement. Mr. Pilchesky also exposed incomplete 2007 election forms filed by an incumbent county commissioner. The official was removed from the ballot. His name did appear on the ballot in the general election, but he was defeated.


Mr. Mort Malkin will also speak about health care reform and how to plan for your personal wellness. He is the author of several books on personal fitness and wellness.

Skrep asks if law was broken

There is a first for everything. Please stop laughing before you read the rest of this post.

TL: Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak is questioning the legality of an e-mail from board Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla, saying he believes it meets the definition of deliberation that should have taken place at a public meeting..."Is that a violation of the Sunshine Act? Are we able to use the computer to make decisions? I’m very curious about that issue,” Skrepenak said Thursday.

He raises a valid point but where was he when every other legally questionable thing that has happened in the last few years. He usually made excuses like it was a mistake because they all (debit cards) look alike or the policy or law was not understood by the people involved. Although they were supposed to be hired because of their expertize and knowledge of the law. I'm glad that Greg spoke up about this incident because almost every other "bad news" story about the county would end with "Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak was unavailable for comment."

Shall I list Luzerne County's greatest hits? It's hard to do because it is endless.

Debit Cards

Sam Hyder

Luzerne County Prison

Bonds

No Bid Contracts

The Latest Outrage in Luzerne County


As one of Dana's favorite actors would say ...excertera...excertera.

YouTube weekend

Blog buddy Danny Bauder attended a town hall meeting in Harrisburg with Sen. Obama and got to ask him a question.



Question 4 Obama Town Hall Harrisburg - Healthcare plans



Friday, April 04, 2008

YouTube weekend

On the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death here is a clip of the end of his last speech. "I've been to the Mountaintop...Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord."


Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last speech



10th CD update

This is kind of funny. Dan Meuser's camp put out a press release announcing he signed a pledge to run a positive campaign and called on Chris Hackett to join him. You can read the release at Zen's Political Rants. In the same release they knocked Hackett for hiring illegal aliens, his contributions to local Democrats implying that resulted in a "$700,000 pay to play, no bid contract" and "being sued in federal court for questionable business practices." They also called him a liar for saying he helped recruit a company called C3i to the area. Ignorance is Bliss has the details on that.


So much for positive campaigning.


Today brings dueling press releases about campaign contributions to Democrats.


Chris Hackett Brings His Hypocrisy To TV Ads



After Breaking His Pledge To Run A Positive Campaign, Hackett Launches Negative Attacks On Dan Meuser’s Record of Supporting Republicans



One day after refusing to join Dan Meuser in signing a pledge proposed by the Republican County Chairs of the Northeast Caucus, Chris Hackett launched a negative TV attack ad designed to mislead the voters about Conservative Republican Dan Meuser.

Chris Hackett’s negative commercial attacking Dan Meuser’s record of supporting conservatives is an attempt to manipulate the truth for Hackett’s political gain. All anyone has to do is look at Dan Meuser’s record of supporting conservative Republicans to see that Chris Hackett is just running a negative and hypocritical campaign.

Take a look at Dan’s record:

- More than 90% of all of Dan’s political contributions have been to Republican candidates for office. Better than 9 out of every 10 dollars Dan has contributed has gone to Republicans.

- Dan has been honored by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania for his support.

- Dan was asked by PAGOP Chairman Rob Gleason to serve on the Pennsylvania Republican Party finance committee. It was a role that Dan gladly accepted and he currently is a member of the committee.

- Dan has worked at the grassroots level for conservative candidates helping with everything from putting up yard signs to Getting Out the Vote.

Compare this to Chris Hackett’s lack of record of supporting conservative candidates:

- By his own admission, Hackett has given more than $7500 to Democratic politicians in Luzerne County (http://gort42.blogspot.com/2007/09/chris-hackett-for-congress-interview.html)

- Hackett has only given $1,750 to Republican candidates over the past 7 years. (PA Department of State and OpenSecrets.org)

- That means that Hackett has given almost 80% of all his contributions to Democrats. 8 out of every 10 dollars he has given have gone into the pockets of Democrats.

- Worse yet, Hackett was rewarded for his thousands of dollars of contributions with a no bid contract for over $700,000 from the same current Democratic official he contributed to. (Times Leader 1/12/06)

“Dan Meuser wants to run a positive campaign, but Chris Hackett can rest assured that Dan Meuser will defend himself vigorously against his hypocritical attacks,” Campaign Manager Eric Wallace said. “The voters of the 10th District deserve to know the truth about Chris Hackett and his record of hypocrisy.”

WOULD A CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT HILLARY CLINTON, ED RENDELL, AND CHARLIE RANGEL?

As Dan Meuser attempts to get voters to believe he would be a conservative in Congress,
his long history of support for liberal Democrats suggests otherwise


Dallas, PA – On the campaign trail and in his advertisements, Dan Meuser consistently portrays himself as a conservative. But he doesn’t mention that he has a long track record of supporting many of the most liberal Democrats in America.

Since 2004 alone, Dan Meuser and his company have bankrolled over a dozen Democrats at the state and federal level. The recipients of Meuser’s financial support include such liberal Democratic U.S. Senators as Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas), and current and former Democratic Congressmen Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Chris John (D-Louisiana), Joe Crowley (D-New York), Harold Ford, Jr. (D-Tennesee), Mike Ross (D-Arkansas), and Pete Stark (D-California).

Most curiously for a self-proclaimed conservative, Meuser has donated thousands of dollars to:

· Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. Meuser personally donated $5,000 to Rendell on October 26, 2006 – just one week before the election against Republican Lynn Swann.

· Liberal New York Congressman Charlie Rangel. Just last year (February 24, 2007), Meuser personally donated the federal maximum of $2,300 to Rangel. Among other things, Rangel is the author of the largest tax increase proposal in American history.

· Hillary Clinton. Meuser’s company, Pride Mobility PAC, even donated $1,000 to Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate reelection campaign on December 2, 2005.

Meuser’s generosity to liberal Democrats even prompted the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to thank Meuser for “supporting the Democratic agenda.” In a letter to Meuser, PA Democratic Chairman T.J. Rooney notes this about Meuser’s donations: “Your contributions have helped Democrats to take back the House and Senate in 2006 and potentially take the White House in 2008.” See attached letter.

Meuser’s claim of conservatism is made even more laughable when you consider that he brags about endorsements from Rick Santorum and Lou Barletta, when, yes, you guessed it: Meuser’s company even donated $2,000 to Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s campaign against Santorum in 2007, and it has made multiple donations to Barletta’s current opponent, Democratic Congressman Paul Kanjorski ($5,000 from 2004 through 2006).

These donations are highlighted in a new television ad from the Hackett campaign that begins airing today. The ad, entitled “Democrats” points to the donations to Rendell, Rangel, and Clinton and asks the reasonable question: “If Dan Meuser is willing to bankroll Hillary Clinton, what would he do in Congress?” The ad transcript is attached.

Hackett Deputy Campaign Manager Mark Harris remarked: “It’s about time for some truth in advertising from the Meuser camp. You can’t call yourself a conservative one day, and then funnel tens of thousands of dollars to liberals like Ed Rendell, Charlie Rangel, and Hillary Clinton the next day. Pennsylvania Republicans who are trying to defeat candidates like Rendell and Clinton deserve to hear from Meuser why he has strongly supported them.”

Chris Hackett has himself donated to two Democrats. One was Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton in 2003, then running against Democratic Mayor Tom McGroarty. McGroarty’s outrageous fiscal mismanagement nearly led the city to bankruptcy, and many conservative business leaders supported Leighton. The second was to the Vonderheid-Skrepenak Committee in 2003 and 2006-7. Dan Meuser also contributed to Vonderheid-Skrepenak in 2006, in what was a concerted effort by local business leaders to support what was believed to be reform-oriented Democrats over the usual old-guard liberal Democrats who have run Luzerne County government for far too long. That judgment proved mistaken and Hackett has stated that he would not make that mistake again. What’s Meuser’s explanation for supporting Clinton, Rendell, Rangel, and more than a dozen other liberal Democrats who were being seriously contested by Republicans?


The new TV ad is not on YouTube yet but I will post it as soon as it is.

Back to work


Thank you everyone for your concern and good wishes. My medical professionals assure me that I have many years ahead of me although the friendly girl on the telephone at my HMO at first referred me to a local mortician. Some sort of cost cutting measure she explained. I'm a bit behind on answering the many emails I've received of the last few days but will do my best to answer you all.
So what did I miss? The Phillies won their first game of the season today in a wild game and a few things happened in politics this week.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

This Blog is Closed


For a few days while I deal with some health issues. This aging process stinks, first the eyes go then the memory then......uhm. Speaking of aging I got this Mea culpa, sort of, in the email.
TO ALL MY LIBERAL FRIENDS: I AM SO SORRY

By Mean Old Man

I’m sadder than Eliot Spitzer in a monastery over the fact that I have been a complete schmuck over the past several years that I have been posting on this site. In my day when we made a mistake we fessed up and admitted it, so I admit to being rude and ignorant to Gort and to all of his fellow bloggers and his audience in general.

I was sitting by the olvictrola last night listening to the Golden Greats of Perry Como and it got me thinkin’ what a schmuck I have been to everyone. I mean, just because someone may have a different view from you does that mean that they’re no good and not worthy of breath on this small planet?? My wife Thema Jean is always on my case about my temper; hell, I blew up at her the other day for her forgetting to put a few bottles of Steg in the fridge to be ready for me when I got home from the VFW. Here’s a woman who works and slaves all day long and I have been treating her like that?? Well, no more—I ain’t gonna be like my Pops and disrespect her or any other woman anymore. Even Mrs. Clinton, who by the way, when you really look at her, is quite a fine lady all around. And OlBarack ain’t so bad either, a young leader with charisma who can really teach our kids a thing or two about getting involved in politics.

But back to my main reason for posting; I am so sorry Gort, and Company for all of my harshness and my basic caveman attitudes. I hope to post more as a gentleman with a disagreement in the future.

Hell, maybe we can even become friends and I can come to one of those Pub gatherings that you never invite me to. I’ll even buy a round or two. We can sit and discuss the issues of the day and maybe if you are generous enough, I can get in an opinion or two but if you don’t want me to, I will respect that and keep my trap shut. I know that the other bloggers have a lot more intelligence than me and they have a lot more to say that would be relevant.
Well, I gotta go now, Thelma Jean is calling and my Squirrell casserole is out of the oven.
Thanks for reading this and thanks for letting me post all of these years. I really appreciate it!!!

Mean Old Man P.S. APRIL FOOL COMMIES!!!! NOW FINALLY HERE IS A HOLIDAY WORTH CELEBRATING!!! I BET YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD CONVERTED ME TO YOUR HAMMER AND SICKLE PHILOSOPHY. FAT CHANCE!!! SO GO TO YOUR SUBVERSIVE BEER GARDEN MEETINGS AND DON’T FORGET TO JOT DOWN NOTES TO SEND BACK TO PEKING AND MOSCOW!!! DAMN YOU ALL!!!

I missed all the fun

Hillary and Obama were in Wilkes-Barre today but I was unable to attend.

My blog buddies were there:

The Pennsylvania Progressive has video of the Barrack Obama event at Wilkes U.

The Lu Lac Political Letter attended the Hillary rally at Kings College.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Meet the candidate

James May will host a press conference condemning teacher strikes tomorrow:


In attendance will be Northwest Area School Board members; Kathryn English, President of the PA Club for Growth; community leaders; and affected parents and students.

WHERE: Directly across the street from teachers' strike in Shickshinny, PA

WHEN: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 9:00 AM



No word if the Boback Duck will be there



Comcast does something right


CN8 has the Phillies game on our local cable feed. This is the one game of the year that is on a broadcast station in Philadelphia and I usually have to find a local watering hole with a satellite package to watch it. But today it's on channel 10. Thank you Comcast.
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J-Roll led off the game with a double and scored on a sac fly hit by Pat Burrell. It's now 2-0. The Nats have a player named Lastings Milledge who was on the Mets last year. Gotta love the name, it's right up there with Mrs. G's favorite Vladimir Guerrero and NASCAR legend Dick Trickle, who should be driving the Viagra car.
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Milledge hit a 2 run homer to make it a 6-2 Nats lead.
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Chase Utley just hit one out and the score is 6-3. MVP! MVP!
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The catcher just drove in a run to make it 6-4 and the Nats brought in Ray King to pitch. He's been around forever.
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J-Roll smacked one out to tie it in the 7th inning.
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JC Romero put them down in order in the 8th.
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Just to give me a heart attack the Phils brought in Tom Gordon to pitch in the 9th. Lastings Milledge beat out an infield single and started all sorts of chaos. Gordon gave up 4 runs in the 9th. He used to be good.
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Nationals 11 Phillies 6

Another view of Opening Day


TO HELL WITH OPENING DAY, I WANT BASEBALL BACK THE WAY IT USED TO BE

By Mean Old Man
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I’m angrier than Mark McGwire at a Maris family reunion over the way the American pastime of baseball has been prissied up by the commie liberals!!!
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In my day we had real baseball players; guys like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, and later on the ol’ Mick. These were red blooded American players who knew how to play the game, not like today’s sissy players. The Babe would be out all night drinking and carousing and would wake up in the late morning with a hangover the size of Texas but he didn’t complain;—he went out to home plate and whacked a few out of the ballpark for some sick little tyke. And Ol’ Joltin’ Joe, there was a man; not only did he have Marilyn Monroe (the real American sex symbol—take that commie Britney!), but after dealing with her beauty and her whining all night long he could come to ol’ Yankee stadium and play the game of his life!! I’d like to see goofy Derek Cheater do the same. Damn!!!!
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Kids today have it too easy and they don’t know what the game is about. In my day we played baseball after school and we would get our head bashed in by a few of the better players. The blood would be dripping from our noses and our foreheads and our hands would be swollen along with our knees. Sometimes we couldn’t even cry the pain was so bad---and we loved it!!! Not like the little twerps of today with their subversive video games. Hell, they wouldn’t even know a baseball if you threw it in their wimpy little face!! What happened to my country!!!!
And the pros are such little babies; they can’t even play a real game unless their all shot up with steroids. And still they get their butts kissed by the owners except for the last “real” player, good ol’ Pete Rose. There was a MAN for ya; and don’t talk to me about his gambling—every guy needs a little distraction from life and he didn’t ever bet against his own team either!!! If the Hall of Fame is good enough for the likes of Ty Cobb then ol’ Pete should be in there too-- pronto!!!
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So all you prissy baseball fans enjoy the day. I’m sure you’ll be sitting in front of the ol’ TV’er today with your bottle of Zima rooting for your favorite drugged out team. As for me, I’ll be sitting in my trusty wooden chair, watching an ol’ VCR tape of the great Gary Cooper portraying Lou Gehrig in Pride of the Yankees, popping open a Steg and smoking a Lucky. That’s my opening day, that’s’ my America!!!
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To hell with modern day baseball and to hell with all the people who read this site!! I hate you all!!! Happy Opening Day.

Opening Day

It's the first day of baseball season. Sorry, the games in Japan don't count in my book- The first pitch should always be in Cincinnati. The Phils open up with the Nationals at the vault today at 3pm. Last night the Nats opened in their new ballpark and Dubya was given a warm reception when he threw out the first pitch.

Via Big Dan

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Life, the universe, everything

There was a ton of political news today and there is no way I can write about it all.


I gave you the details about the Prez candidates coming to Wilkes-Barre but had to skip some other stories such as Skrep making more excuses on why the law wasn't followed.

Meuser and Hackett continue to rip into each other because there is almost no policy difference between them and they come acrross as parroting the usual Republican talking points. I haven't heard an original idea from either of them. The Times-Leader homepage has a video of the last debate. I don't know what is more fun, watching this or going to the dentist.

Swastika's were painted on the synagogue on S Franklin St. I hope they catch the sick F**ks that did that.

Another Kanjo nephew got a government grant but it's not clear if this was an earmark or went through the normal appropriation process.

And the Boback Duck made his debute.

I spent the day working around the yard and getting my tax information together. A few years ago I achieved one of my goals in life, I could no longer do my own taxes. Buying and selling stocks, the different treatment of dividends and depreciation of commercial property put the task out of my reach. I could buy turbotax and bone up on the IRS regulations but I don't have the time. Plus I like the idea of having someone (a CPA) who does it for a living looking over things .

As the sun set my bride's stomach started growling. Mrs. G had a bunch of Red Lobster gift cards from XMAS and drug me there. We had a great meal and the waitress was from Hazleton and said she graduated with the Obama girl. I told the waitress she was prettier and she was. Beauty is such a subjective thing. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life is my wife.

See you tomorrow.