Posts
The candidates are Malcolm Derk, Dave Madeira and Tom Marino.
The winner will take on Chris Carney in the fall.
Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
3 hours ago
Thursday, May 13, 2010
10th CD Republicans bash health care reform
Three in GOP compete to unseat Carney
Congressman's health care vote will be big issue
All 3 are worried about cost containment and oppose the Health Care Affordability Act.
Malcolm Derk predicts the end of the world as we know it because of this legislation. He also repeats the mantra that the government doesn't create jobs and the the estate tax should be abolished. For all his tax cutting rhetoric he wants the federal government to invest in road, bridge, water and sewer projects and mitigate flooding along the Delaware River and improve infrastructure. That takes money and I would point out that the way the federal government gets money is to levy taxes.
David Madeira doesn't like that more people will have access to health care saying it will overburden the system and make Doctors quit their jobs. His idea to control costs is to let families stash $5000 a year in a health savings account and buying a high deductible policy. The problem with that is I don't know many families that live paycheck to paycheck who can afford to squirl away that much money. He wants a 3 year spending freeze saying 'You're going to have to go through short-term pain'
Tom Marino repeats the old canard that tort reform is the solution. He allows that
"I found the federal government — when it doesn't overreach — is a good tool for the state and residents." He wants to eliminate earmarks which sounds good but is the way our local governments get things done because they are tapped out on property taxes and bond authority. Marino says that he wants apprehended terrorists to be tried in military tribunals rather than civilian courts. He worked in the Federal Court system and doesn't think that they can do their job and prosecute criminals?
Congressman's health care vote will be big issue
All 3 are worried about cost containment and oppose the Health Care Affordability Act.
Malcolm Derk predicts the end of the world as we know it because of this legislation. He also repeats the mantra that the government doesn't create jobs and the the estate tax should be abolished. For all his tax cutting rhetoric he wants the federal government to invest in road, bridge, water and sewer projects and mitigate flooding along the Delaware River and improve infrastructure. That takes money and I would point out that the way the federal government gets money is to levy taxes.
David Madeira doesn't like that more people will have access to health care saying it will overburden the system and make Doctors quit their jobs. His idea to control costs is to let families stash $5000 a year in a health savings account and buying a high deductible policy. The problem with that is I don't know many families that live paycheck to paycheck who can afford to squirl away that much money. He wants a 3 year spending freeze saying 'You're going to have to go through short-term pain'
Tom Marino repeats the old canard that tort reform is the solution. He allows that
"I found the federal government — when it doesn't overreach — is a good tool for the state and residents." He wants to eliminate earmarks which sounds good but is the way our local governments get things done because they are tapped out on property taxes and bond authority. Marino says that he wants apprehended terrorists to be tried in military tribunals rather than civilian courts. He worked in the Federal Court system and doesn't think that they can do their job and prosecute criminals?
Vote in the 11th CD poll
The candidates are Congressman Paul Kanjorski, Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien and Teabagger Brian Kelly.
Kelly's only function in this race is to try to diffuse the anti-Kanjo vote. The Morning Call has the latest argument over campaign contributions. O'Brien has disappeared from the airwaves indicating that he is tapped out and Kanjo has a big warchest financed by people who have an interest in his committee assignments.
Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
Here is a picture of Corey and Kanjo in happier times (2008)
Kelly's only function in this race is to try to diffuse the anti-Kanjo vote. The Morning Call has the latest argument over campaign contributions. O'Brien has disappeared from the airwaves indicating that he is tapped out and Kanjo has a big warchest financed by people who have an interest in his committee assignments.
Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
Here is a picture of Corey and Kanjo in happier times (2008)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wired for sound
Transcripts reveal game plan
Kids-for-cash judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan schemed to commit perjury with a co-conspirator who paid them more than $700,000 in kickbacks, unaware that he was secretly recording their conversations, federal prosecutors allege in a brief filed Tuesday.
Here is the transcipt of their conversations with Robert Powell.
* * *
Powell: Here’s the way I see this unfolding. A civil lawsuit, have to make me answer interrogatories and a request for production of documents.
Conahan: Ummmm.
Powell: And then through that look at all the disbursements that were made from Pa Child Care here to me. And Western PA Child Care.
Conahan: So, what are you saying? Powell: It’s where the cash came from.
Conahan: Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. If he files a suit, he files a suit.
Powell: But that puts us in an untenable position.
Conahan: In what way?
Powell: Well, what if they put me under oath?
Conahan: Well, they’re gonna. They already know about [name redacted](the name of an intermediary who delivered cash to Conahan from Powell]. You know that [name redacted]’s been talked to.
Powell: No.
Conahan: Okay. Let me tell you something. If you want to check me, I’m not wearing a wire.
Powell: Neither am I.
(Emphasis Added).
* * *
18
After discussing the fact that the intermediary who gave cash to Conahan met with federal investigators and told them about the cash, the conversation continued:
* * *
Powell: It’s the cash I’m worried about, Mike.
Conahan: Well, I don’t know, Bob. I’m not... told you what my position on that was. It’s not changing.
Powell: No, that’s what I’m gonna say, too. But...I mean I...I don’t.... Conahan: [The Feds have knowledge about] the cash.
Powell: I don’t remember [name redacted] getting those draws. Unless she cashed them.
Conahan: I saw the checks. Powell: Did she cash them?
Conahan: The checks were cashed by [name redacted] (an employee of the
Powell law firm). Powell: [name redacted]. Conahan: [name redacted].
* * *
Conahan: Bob, I’m going to tell you something right now....This is my story.
I’m never changing this story. I leased you that apartment for 15 grand a month for 60 months.
* * *
19
Conahan: Tell you one thing right now. I never lied to you and I never will. I’d never do anything to hurt you but I never got the cash from anybody. That’s the story. And you better stick to it.
Powell: I’ll stick to it.
* * *
Conahan: Bobby, if there’s anything coming out of 40 Degrees North (a company in which Powell had an ownership interest) or PA Child Care . Cash, you just gotta say it didn’t come to me. [Emphasis added].
Powell: Alright.
Conahan: When this is all done, whatever we have to sit down to work it out or help each other, we’ll do it.
(Emphasis Added).
In a conversation on July 2, 2008, Powell, Conahan and Civarella once again discussed concern over what an intermediary would tell investigators about cash payments made to the judges.
* * *
Powell: I don’t know if it means anything or not, but I can see [name
redacted] sticking to her story, Mike, with the cash. She frightens the shit out of me. She’s going to say she delivered cash.
Ciavarella: Well, whatever she says, she says. [I] can’t stop her from saying it. I
just know what I know.
* * *
20
Powell: Greg [Zapalla] has a team up there [at PA Child Care] auditing the books, to see what payments were made out of PA Child Care, Western PA Child Care. I think we’re getting sued.
Ciavarella: [We] can’t stop him from doing it. I mean, assholes who does it. I mean the bottom line is none of the money came out of him...It was all out of Mericle’s [unintelligible] gig. So he can sue us all he wants. He didn’t pay the finder’s fee. Mericle paid it.
Conahan: If Rob Mericle had never gone to him, we wouldn’t have this problem. It would never have come up.
Powell: And if I wouldn’t have given [name redacted] that fucking cash to deliver.
Conahan: You know....
Powell: She’s the weak link. That’s why she’s not here tonight. I don’t even think she’s here. Like she’s hiding somewhere.
* * *
Powell: Well, where the rubber meets the road is where [Zapalla] is gonna say that he wants to see the draws from PA Child Care, and then he’s going to want access to the law firm books because that’s where I got the cash out of, from the law firm.
Conahan: Mmm Hmm.
Powell: I don’t have to give him that. But I think that’s what part of the suit’s going to be is for him to get access to see the payments from PA Child Care to the law firm turned into cash, to you guys.
Conahan: Mmm Hmm.
Powell: ‘Cause right now, he has no right to them, to the law firm books. Ciavarella: Was PA Child Care paying legal fees to the firm?
21
Powell: No. I had no other way to get the money out. I didn’t want to take it directly from PA Child Care.
Ciavarella: Well, how did you justify the fees into the firm? Powell: Draw. I took it as a draw.
Conahan: But you’re allowed to do that.
Powell: But what his fear is about that I never told him, for obvious reasons. I
wasn’t going to tell him I was taking the draw.
Conahan: The problem [name redacted] has is she never gave me anything. So there wasn’t anything given to her. She has it. Or someone has it.
* * *
Ciavarella: ...I was the one who directed [Mericle] where to send that money
and I was the one who gave him the instructions as to where to send it.
* * *
Powell: Well, [Mericle’s] grand jury testimony is that I was the grand orchestrator of everything.
Ciavarella: Well I guarantee you, Bobby Powell, that will not be the testimony comes out of my mouth because I’m gonna tell that fucking grand jury exactly how that deal came down. You had nothing to do with He had nothing to do with it. I had nothing to do with it, other than
Rob Mericle coming to me and saying want to do this for you. That’s how that deal came down.
* * *
Conahan: [Mericle] knew that we [Conahan and Ciavarella] owned Pinnacle.
He knew who owned Beverage Marketing.
22
Powell: Well, if that’s the case, then our only problem is the cash and [name redacted].
Conahan: Well....
Powell: ...and if somebody sees [redacted] at the [person’s workplace redacted], I wish you would get word to me somehow, some way,
‘cause I call up there and there’s no answer. Conahan: We have to fight this Mericle thing....
Ciavarella: You know, I could see [Mericle] testifying, this is the file.
* * *
Powell: We’re both gonna have to stick to that, Mickey, ‘cause [name redacted] is gonna testify.
Conahan: [unintelligible] testify [unintelligible] one box filled with cash. She doesn’t know what’s in the other ones. There’s only one that she knows.
Powell: It’s going to be our word against hers. Conahan: Mark (Ciavarella), do me a favor.
* * *
Conahan: Listen, you paid me rent for my condo. You didn’t pay me rent for my condo to shut the juvenile detention center down or fix cases. This thing with Mericle, this Mericle, I gotta fight it. And I got no
boxes from [name redacted]. Nobody gave boxes to [name redacted]. If somebody gave boxes to [name redacted], she has them....Mark doesn’t know [unintelligible] [name redacted]. I talked to you. Because I wanted to keep him outta this.
Powell: He doesn’t know about the cash? Conahan: No.
23
Powell: Alright. I’m glad you told me. Conahan: No. That’s not what I was saying. Powell: I’m sorry.
Conahan: That’s OK. So [unintelligible] comes down I’m gonna say forget whatever you just heard. The only thing Mark knows, Mark does not know the rent you and I negotiated for the condo. It’s $15,000 for 60 months. $900,000. That’s what you were supposed to pay.
Whenever you paid, you paid. You left. So, the only thing Mark knows is the conversation with Mericle. He doesn’t know about the rent to the cond. He knows that you paid me rent. He doesn’t know about any boxes. That’s why he’s our most credible witness.
Powell: I understand.
Conahan: So, as long as you stick to your story, the condo rent, okay. And he solves this problem. If [name redacted] got boxes, she kept them.
Powell: Alright, then I won’t ever say anything to him again.
Conahan: And the only one that you can testify to is when she says that she saw you put cash in one box. Her first story was she didn’t. Then she flipped and she says she did. Okay. But I’m gonna tell you, she didn’t give me any boxes. And if you gave her stuff to give to me,
the [name redacted], it was documents. Maps. It was anything. And you did things by courier. You never gave them to her.
Powell: That’s our story. We’ll stick to it.
Conahan: Yeah. She’s wearing a wire. That’s why she didn’t show up today.
(Emphasis Added).
* * *
24
Kids-for-cash judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan schemed to commit perjury with a co-conspirator who paid them more than $700,000 in kickbacks, unaware that he was secretly recording their conversations, federal prosecutors allege in a brief filed Tuesday.
Here is the transcipt of their conversations with Robert Powell.
* * *
Powell: Here’s the way I see this unfolding. A civil lawsuit, have to make me answer interrogatories and a request for production of documents.
Conahan: Ummmm.
Powell: And then through that look at all the disbursements that were made from Pa Child Care here to me. And Western PA Child Care.
Conahan: So, what are you saying? Powell: It’s where the cash came from.
Conahan: Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. If he files a suit, he files a suit.
Powell: But that puts us in an untenable position.
Conahan: In what way?
Powell: Well, what if they put me under oath?
Conahan: Well, they’re gonna. They already know about [name redacted](the name of an intermediary who delivered cash to Conahan from Powell]. You know that [name redacted]’s been talked to.
Powell: No.
Conahan: Okay. Let me tell you something. If you want to check me, I’m not wearing a wire.
Powell: Neither am I.
(Emphasis Added).
* * *
18
After discussing the fact that the intermediary who gave cash to Conahan met with federal investigators and told them about the cash, the conversation continued:
* * *
Powell: It’s the cash I’m worried about, Mike.
Conahan: Well, I don’t know, Bob. I’m not... told you what my position on that was. It’s not changing.
Powell: No, that’s what I’m gonna say, too. But...I mean I...I don’t.... Conahan: [The Feds have knowledge about] the cash.
Powell: I don’t remember [name redacted] getting those draws. Unless she cashed them.
Conahan: I saw the checks. Powell: Did she cash them?
Conahan: The checks were cashed by [name redacted] (an employee of the
Powell law firm). Powell: [name redacted]. Conahan: [name redacted].
* * *
Conahan: Bob, I’m going to tell you something right now....This is my story.
I’m never changing this story. I leased you that apartment for 15 grand a month for 60 months.
* * *
19
Conahan: Tell you one thing right now. I never lied to you and I never will. I’d never do anything to hurt you but I never got the cash from anybody. That’s the story. And you better stick to it.
Powell: I’ll stick to it.
* * *
Conahan: Bobby, if there’s anything coming out of 40 Degrees North (a company in which Powell had an ownership interest) or PA Child Care . Cash, you just gotta say it didn’t come to me. [Emphasis added].
Powell: Alright.
Conahan: When this is all done, whatever we have to sit down to work it out or help each other, we’ll do it.
(Emphasis Added).
In a conversation on July 2, 2008, Powell, Conahan and Civarella once again discussed concern over what an intermediary would tell investigators about cash payments made to the judges.
* * *
Powell: I don’t know if it means anything or not, but I can see [name
redacted] sticking to her story, Mike, with the cash. She frightens the shit out of me. She’s going to say she delivered cash.
Ciavarella: Well, whatever she says, she says. [I] can’t stop her from saying it. I
just know what I know.
* * *
20
Powell: Greg [Zapalla] has a team up there [at PA Child Care] auditing the books, to see what payments were made out of PA Child Care, Western PA Child Care. I think we’re getting sued.
Ciavarella: [We] can’t stop him from doing it. I mean, assholes who does it. I mean the bottom line is none of the money came out of him...It was all out of Mericle’s [unintelligible] gig. So he can sue us all he wants. He didn’t pay the finder’s fee. Mericle paid it.
Conahan: If Rob Mericle had never gone to him, we wouldn’t have this problem. It would never have come up.
Powell: And if I wouldn’t have given [name redacted] that fucking cash to deliver.
Conahan: You know....
Powell: She’s the weak link. That’s why she’s not here tonight. I don’t even think she’s here. Like she’s hiding somewhere.
* * *
Powell: Well, where the rubber meets the road is where [Zapalla] is gonna say that he wants to see the draws from PA Child Care, and then he’s going to want access to the law firm books because that’s where I got the cash out of, from the law firm.
Conahan: Mmm Hmm.
Powell: I don’t have to give him that. But I think that’s what part of the suit’s going to be is for him to get access to see the payments from PA Child Care to the law firm turned into cash, to you guys.
Conahan: Mmm Hmm.
Powell: ‘Cause right now, he has no right to them, to the law firm books. Ciavarella: Was PA Child Care paying legal fees to the firm?
21
Powell: No. I had no other way to get the money out. I didn’t want to take it directly from PA Child Care.
Ciavarella: Well, how did you justify the fees into the firm? Powell: Draw. I took it as a draw.
Conahan: But you’re allowed to do that.
Powell: But what his fear is about that I never told him, for obvious reasons. I
wasn’t going to tell him I was taking the draw.
Conahan: The problem [name redacted] has is she never gave me anything. So there wasn’t anything given to her. She has it. Or someone has it.
* * *
Ciavarella: ...I was the one who directed [Mericle] where to send that money
and I was the one who gave him the instructions as to where to send it.
* * *
Powell: Well, [Mericle’s] grand jury testimony is that I was the grand orchestrator of everything.
Ciavarella: Well I guarantee you, Bobby Powell, that will not be the testimony comes out of my mouth because I’m gonna tell that fucking grand jury exactly how that deal came down. You had nothing to do with He had nothing to do with it. I had nothing to do with it, other than
Rob Mericle coming to me and saying want to do this for you. That’s how that deal came down.
* * *
Conahan: [Mericle] knew that we [Conahan and Ciavarella] owned Pinnacle.
He knew who owned Beverage Marketing.
22
Powell: Well, if that’s the case, then our only problem is the cash and [name redacted].
Conahan: Well....
Powell: ...and if somebody sees [redacted] at the [person’s workplace redacted], I wish you would get word to me somehow, some way,
‘cause I call up there and there’s no answer. Conahan: We have to fight this Mericle thing....
Ciavarella: You know, I could see [Mericle] testifying, this is the file.
* * *
Powell: We’re both gonna have to stick to that, Mickey, ‘cause [name redacted] is gonna testify.
Conahan: [unintelligible] testify [unintelligible] one box filled with cash. She doesn’t know what’s in the other ones. There’s only one that she knows.
Powell: It’s going to be our word against hers. Conahan: Mark (Ciavarella), do me a favor.
* * *
Conahan: Listen, you paid me rent for my condo. You didn’t pay me rent for my condo to shut the juvenile detention center down or fix cases. This thing with Mericle, this Mericle, I gotta fight it. And I got no
boxes from [name redacted]. Nobody gave boxes to [name redacted]. If somebody gave boxes to [name redacted], she has them....Mark doesn’t know [unintelligible] [name redacted]. I talked to you. Because I wanted to keep him outta this.
Powell: He doesn’t know about the cash? Conahan: No.
23
Powell: Alright. I’m glad you told me. Conahan: No. That’s not what I was saying. Powell: I’m sorry.
Conahan: That’s OK. So [unintelligible] comes down I’m gonna say forget whatever you just heard. The only thing Mark knows, Mark does not know the rent you and I negotiated for the condo. It’s $15,000 for 60 months. $900,000. That’s what you were supposed to pay.
Whenever you paid, you paid. You left. So, the only thing Mark knows is the conversation with Mericle. He doesn’t know about the rent to the cond. He knows that you paid me rent. He doesn’t know about any boxes. That’s why he’s our most credible witness.
Powell: I understand.
Conahan: So, as long as you stick to your story, the condo rent, okay. And he solves this problem. If [name redacted] got boxes, she kept them.
Powell: Alright, then I won’t ever say anything to him again.
Conahan: And the only one that you can testify to is when she says that she saw you put cash in one box. Her first story was she didn’t. Then she flipped and she says she did. Okay. But I’m gonna tell you, she didn’t give me any boxes. And if you gave her stuff to give to me,
the [name redacted], it was documents. Maps. It was anything. And you did things by courier. You never gave them to her.
Powell: That’s our story. We’ll stick to it.
Conahan: Yeah. She’s wearing a wire. That’s why she didn’t show up today.
(Emphasis Added).
* * *
24
State Committee D
This candidate for the Democratic State Committee want's to build a new WalMart for Mrs. G
My name is Cassandra Coleman and I'm running as a candidate to serve on the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee. I have called Luzerne County home my entire life and have family roots here dating back over four generations. I am a graduate of Wyoming Area, and soon to be a graduate of King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, with a degree in Political Science. I was appointed in 2008 and then, re-elected in 2009, Mayor of Exeter, one of the biggest Democrat boroughs in Luzerne County. Very recently, our Democratic Party has been attacked by the likes of ultra conservatives, like Rush Limbaugh, Alan Steinberg, Trent Lott and Rupert Murdoch. We need Democratic State Committee Representatives who will denounce the falsehoods and rhetoric of the opposing party. As one of the youngest Mayors in our state, I pledge to be an advocate to restore the integrity of the Democratic Party. We need to unite our party by nominating candidates that stand up for what our Democratic Party represents; working Americans and personal freedoms. As a candidate for state committee, I pledge to scrutinize every candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to state offices. I ask for your voice and your vote on Tuesday, May 18th.
Thank you for your support,
Cassandra I. Coleman
My name is Cassandra Coleman and I'm running as a candidate to serve on the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee. I have called Luzerne County home my entire life and have family roots here dating back over four generations. I am a graduate of Wyoming Area, and soon to be a graduate of King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, with a degree in Political Science. I was appointed in 2008 and then, re-elected in 2009, Mayor of Exeter, one of the biggest Democrat boroughs in Luzerne County. Very recently, our Democratic Party has been attacked by the likes of ultra conservatives, like Rush Limbaugh, Alan Steinberg, Trent Lott and Rupert Murdoch. We need Democratic State Committee Representatives who will denounce the falsehoods and rhetoric of the opposing party. As one of the youngest Mayors in our state, I pledge to be an advocate to restore the integrity of the Democratic Party. We need to unite our party by nominating candidates that stand up for what our Democratic Party represents; working Americans and personal freedoms. As a candidate for state committee, I pledge to scrutinize every candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to state offices. I ask for your voice and your vote on Tuesday, May 18th.
Thank you for your support,
Cassandra I. Coleman
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Vote in the PA 14th Senator poll
The candidates are Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and 119th District State Represenative John Yudichak.
Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
Vote in the poll on the left side bar and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
President Obama backs Senator Specter
The has been a lot of buzz all over the intertubes the last few days that the President would hold a weekend rally with Arlen Specter in Philadelphia but that idea was nixed by the White House Press Secretary today.
This is not good news for the Specter campaign. It's bad news because a visit by the President could have provided a last minute boost and it gives the appearance that the White House is reading the polls and doesn't want to be too closely associated with a losing campaign. They don't want a repeat of the Massachusetts Senate special election debacle.
The good news is he has new commercial up with the President saying nice things about him.
This is not the first time that the occupant of the White House at the time has backed Specter's reelection.
This is not good news for the Specter campaign. It's bad news because a visit by the President could have provided a last minute boost and it gives the appearance that the White House is reading the polls and doesn't want to be too closely associated with a losing campaign. They don't want a repeat of the Massachusetts Senate special election debacle.
The good news is he has new commercial up with the President saying nice things about him.
This is not the first time that the occupant of the White House at the time has backed Specter's reelection.
Senate 14 update
A press release from Ed Mitchell
COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW YUDICHAK LINKS TO BONUSGATE ACTIVITIES
WILKES-BARRE — Official court documents filed by state attorney general Tom Corbett at the courthouse in Dauphin County show state Rep. John Yudichak, D- Nanticoke to be an active player in the ‘Bonusgate’ scandal of the Pennsylvania Legislature (see attachment).
E-mails to Yudichak link him directly to an indicted former legislator who is charged in the ‘Bonusgate’ trials.
Court papers filed in the indictment of former state Rep. Steve Stetler, who was head of the House campaign committee, show Yudichak participated in the use of state employee personnel and services for political purposes.
E-mails sent to Yudichak’s official taxpayer-funded legislature account show communication to him on behalf of former state Rep. Tom Tigue’s, D- Pittston, campaign for reelection that links Yudichak to the use of state employees on taxpayer time doing political work in the campaign.
The e-mails further question Yudichak on his political activity on behalf of Tigue.
“John Yudichak is part of the Bonusgate corruption scandal in Harrisburg. He has a number of questions that should be answered, “ Tom Leighton said. He asked Yudichak:
“What was your relationship with indicted Rep. Steve Stetler in regard to political activities on the state dime for Tom Tigue? How did you benefit?
“What services did PAC 102 provide to the tune of $8,000 for your current campaign? Did Marty O’Rourke or his company provide any services to your campaign? O’Rourke worked for Tigue and is the spokesman for indicted former Speaker of the House, John Perzel.
“Who runs PAC 102? Who are the officers? Detail your current and past relationship with them.
“Was any state legislature’ political activity using taxpayers’ funds used in behalf of your current or previous campaigns?
“What was Steve Stetler talking to you about in his email to your taxpayer-funded email account? Were you doing political activity using taxpayer-funded services?
“When you did work for Tigue’s campaign, were government staff on taxpayer time used?
“What were you trying to find out about then-Monroe County Commissioner, Donna Asure, Tigue’s election opponent, from the opposition research, performed at taxpayer expense that you are linked to in the Tigue campaign and the Stetler email?
“Did you arrange for housing for the staffer mentioned in the Stetler/Tigue email, as you were asked to do by Stetler?
“Did you know, as the e-mail suggests that this research was being done using government employees, and facilities?” Leighton asked.
“These documents show that John Yudichak is tied to the culture of corruption known as Bonusgate, in Harrisburg.
“He campaigns as a reformer while he avails himself of per diems to pay his personal mortgage and of all the other perks and political benefits of the broken system. These services were generally provided using taxpayer funded staff and services. That’s illegal and it’s also hypocritical,” Leighton said.
From SPPE
Yudichak response
The careening Leighton campaign has officially gone off the rails with today's despicable, scurrilously false insinuations. Tom Leighton's utter lack of ethical integrity and willingness to engage in the worst sort of dirty, gutter politics clearly indicates that his campaign has imploded beyond recognition.
Tom Leighton for months has deliberately and willfully mislead the voters about his role in writing a get out of jail free letter for a convicted felon caught up in the worst corruption scandal in Luzerne County history. The record is clear on how each candidate responded to the culture of corruption in northeastern Pennsylvania. I stood with the people and voted to strip public pensions from corrupt politicians. Tom Leighton wrote a letter to get a convicted felon a lighter sentence.
Tom Leighton has already demonstrated that he will evade the truth to serve his political ambitions. Now, he wants to abandon the truth all together and make wild allegations that have no merit or basis in reality. At no point in time have I ever had contact with the Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the Bonusgate investigation. I have consistently and openly challenged the leaders involved in the Bonusgate scandal. The same cannot be said of some of Tom Leighton's biggest political friends and contributors.
It's also reprehensible of Leighton to impugn the integrity of former State Representative Tom Tigue, a decorated Vietnam war hero, an honorable man, and an effective legislator. For 12 years as State Representative, I have adhered to the highest ethical standards.
I have been lauded by good government watchdog groups for voting in the best interests of the people I represent and conducting myself in an open, honest and transparent manner. I was one of a very few elected officials who voted 'No' and refused to accept the legislative pay raise and pension hike. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the desperate Leighton campaign has once again resorted to more of the same filthy political tricks that voters have rejected.
Today's maliciously false insinuations are the handiwork of Ed Mitchell who is running Tom Leighton by remote control and whose last notable accomplishment was helping to elect three corrupt judges in Luzerne County. It's time to put an end to this reign of corruption in northeastern PA and the win-at-any-cost mentality. It's time for Tom Leighton to do the right thing and salvage what tiny shred of integrity he may have left because he cannot salvage his campaign.
COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW YUDICHAK LINKS TO BONUSGATE ACTIVITIES
WILKES-BARRE — Official court documents filed by state attorney general Tom Corbett at the courthouse in Dauphin County show state Rep. John Yudichak, D- Nanticoke to be an active player in the ‘Bonusgate’ scandal of the Pennsylvania Legislature (see attachment).
E-mails to Yudichak link him directly to an indicted former legislator who is charged in the ‘Bonusgate’ trials.
Court papers filed in the indictment of former state Rep. Steve Stetler, who was head of the House campaign committee, show Yudichak participated in the use of state employee personnel and services for political purposes.
E-mails sent to Yudichak’s official taxpayer-funded legislature account show communication to him on behalf of former state Rep. Tom Tigue’s, D- Pittston, campaign for reelection that links Yudichak to the use of state employees on taxpayer time doing political work in the campaign.
The e-mails further question Yudichak on his political activity on behalf of Tigue.
“John Yudichak is part of the Bonusgate corruption scandal in Harrisburg. He has a number of questions that should be answered, “ Tom Leighton said. He asked Yudichak:
“What was your relationship with indicted Rep. Steve Stetler in regard to political activities on the state dime for Tom Tigue? How did you benefit?
“What services did PAC 102 provide to the tune of $8,000 for your current campaign? Did Marty O’Rourke or his company provide any services to your campaign? O’Rourke worked for Tigue and is the spokesman for indicted former Speaker of the House, John Perzel.
“Who runs PAC 102? Who are the officers? Detail your current and past relationship with them.
“Was any state legislature’ political activity using taxpayers’ funds used in behalf of your current or previous campaigns?
“What was Steve Stetler talking to you about in his email to your taxpayer-funded email account? Were you doing political activity using taxpayer-funded services?
“When you did work for Tigue’s campaign, were government staff on taxpayer time used?
“What were you trying to find out about then-Monroe County Commissioner, Donna Asure, Tigue’s election opponent, from the opposition research, performed at taxpayer expense that you are linked to in the Tigue campaign and the Stetler email?
“Did you arrange for housing for the staffer mentioned in the Stetler/Tigue email, as you were asked to do by Stetler?
“Did you know, as the e-mail suggests that this research was being done using government employees, and facilities?” Leighton asked.
“These documents show that John Yudichak is tied to the culture of corruption known as Bonusgate, in Harrisburg.
“He campaigns as a reformer while he avails himself of per diems to pay his personal mortgage and of all the other perks and political benefits of the broken system. These services were generally provided using taxpayer funded staff and services. That’s illegal and it’s also hypocritical,” Leighton said.
From SPPE
Yudichak response
The careening Leighton campaign has officially gone off the rails with today's despicable, scurrilously false insinuations. Tom Leighton's utter lack of ethical integrity and willingness to engage in the worst sort of dirty, gutter politics clearly indicates that his campaign has imploded beyond recognition.
Tom Leighton for months has deliberately and willfully mislead the voters about his role in writing a get out of jail free letter for a convicted felon caught up in the worst corruption scandal in Luzerne County history. The record is clear on how each candidate responded to the culture of corruption in northeastern Pennsylvania. I stood with the people and voted to strip public pensions from corrupt politicians. Tom Leighton wrote a letter to get a convicted felon a lighter sentence.
Tom Leighton has already demonstrated that he will evade the truth to serve his political ambitions. Now, he wants to abandon the truth all together and make wild allegations that have no merit or basis in reality. At no point in time have I ever had contact with the Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the Bonusgate investigation. I have consistently and openly challenged the leaders involved in the Bonusgate scandal. The same cannot be said of some of Tom Leighton's biggest political friends and contributors.
It's also reprehensible of Leighton to impugn the integrity of former State Representative Tom Tigue, a decorated Vietnam war hero, an honorable man, and an effective legislator. For 12 years as State Representative, I have adhered to the highest ethical standards.
I have been lauded by good government watchdog groups for voting in the best interests of the people I represent and conducting myself in an open, honest and transparent manner. I was one of a very few elected officials who voted 'No' and refused to accept the legislative pay raise and pension hike. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the desperate Leighton campaign has once again resorted to more of the same filthy political tricks that voters have rejected.
Today's maliciously false insinuations are the handiwork of Ed Mitchell who is running Tom Leighton by remote control and whose last notable accomplishment was helping to elect three corrupt judges in Luzerne County. It's time to put an end to this reign of corruption in northeastern PA and the win-at-any-cost mentality. It's time for Tom Leighton to do the right thing and salvage what tiny shred of integrity he may have left because he cannot salvage his campaign.
Poll time
I will be putting up polls on the left side bar over the next couple of days for the races that interest me.
First up is the US Senate race between Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak. Vote in the poll and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
First up is the US Senate race between Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak. Vote in the poll and tell us in the comments why you think your guy will win.
Senate 14 race in the homestreach
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and State Representative John Yudichak have moved on from telling the voters about the good things they have done in their careers to bashing each others brains out. This has become normal in a close political campaign. Yuddy has done his best to tie Leighton to the ongoing corruption probe although nobody in Wilkes-Barre city government has been indicted or is even under investigation as far as I know. Mayor Tom did write a letter to the Judge who is going to sentence Bill Brace and danced around admitting it until the WVIA debate. I would say that was poor judgement but not indicative that he is also corrupt. Leighton has been pounding Yuddy over taking per diem's and owning a house in Harrisburg like many other legislators do. It's not against the rules but just about everyone agrees that the rules have to change.
Leighton, Yudichak neck and bloody neck
Civil final round between Leighton, Yudichak
Today Norton reported that Leighton got a last minute $20,000 from Citizens for Action, a Political Action Committee affiliated with Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11th) .
It's no secret that Yuddy and Kanjo stopped exchanging Christmas cards years ago.
Exeter Mayor Casandra Coleman hosted a meet and greet last night with Congressman Kanjorski and Tom Leighton as the headliners.
The local papers picked up on the story a few hours later and has some choice quotes from Yudichak.
“This won’t come as a surprise to anyone that has observed this campaign so far,” Yudichak said. “This midnight campaign contribution certainly speaks to why I’m for campaign finance reform in the state House.”
Yudichak said he thinks Kanjorski is supporting Leighton so strongly because Yudichak’s father, Joseph Yudichak Sr., spoke out against Kanjorski during the 2008 election. Yudichak said his father was interviewed on national television about Kanjorski and the failed $12 million Cornerstone Technologies venture.
“I’m proud that my father stood up and said politicians aren’t above the law,” Yudichak said. “I think voters will recognize that this late donation to my opponent’s campaign was not done in the light of day. If he wanted to endorse the mayor he could have done it at any time during the campaign.”
Yudichak called the situation an example of “the politics of the past.”
Yuddy has a new positive ad up but it it not posted to YouTube and Mayor Tom has a "contrast" spot on the air .
Leighton, Yudichak neck and bloody neck
Civil final round between Leighton, Yudichak
Today Norton reported that Leighton got a last minute $20,000 from Citizens for Action, a Political Action Committee affiliated with Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11th) .
It's no secret that Yuddy and Kanjo stopped exchanging Christmas cards years ago.
Exeter Mayor Casandra Coleman hosted a meet and greet last night with Congressman Kanjorski and Tom Leighton as the headliners.
The local papers picked up on the story a few hours later and has some choice quotes from Yudichak.
“This won’t come as a surprise to anyone that has observed this campaign so far,” Yudichak said. “This midnight campaign contribution certainly speaks to why I’m for campaign finance reform in the state House.”
Yudichak said he thinks Kanjorski is supporting Leighton so strongly because Yudichak’s father, Joseph Yudichak Sr., spoke out against Kanjorski during the 2008 election. Yudichak said his father was interviewed on national television about Kanjorski and the failed $12 million Cornerstone Technologies venture.
“I’m proud that my father stood up and said politicians aren’t above the law,” Yudichak said. “I think voters will recognize that this late donation to my opponent’s campaign was not done in the light of day. If he wanted to endorse the mayor he could have done it at any time during the campaign.”
Yudichak called the situation an example of “the politics of the past.”
Yuddy has a new positive ad up but it it not posted to YouTube and Mayor Tom has a "contrast" spot on the air .
Sunday, May 09, 2010
The Times-Leader backs the underdog O'Brien
Corey O'Brien got the blessing from the TL this week.
Corey O’Brien
Candidate will help government work for the good of all
Corey O’Brien
Candidate will help government work for the good of all
Corey has been running a very good mix of old and new campaigning techniques. He knocked on my door a few weeks ago and I get constant email and Facebook updates. His fundraising has lagged far behind Congresman Paul Kanjorski so he hasn't aired a new TV spot lately while Kanjo is blasting out the fact that he voted to extend unemployment benefits.
Whoever wins this race is much preferrable to El alcalde Lou Barletta quiere ver sus papeles.
The Times-Leader backs the underdog Derk
For what it is worth the TL has been endorsing candidates this week and they had some surprising picks. As LuLac observed "political endorsements by newspapers no longer have the clout they once did. Just ask Luzerne County Common Pleas Court Judges Michael Blazick and Richard Hughes. "I would add State Rep Christine Katsok to that list.
I have long had the view that most endorsements are only good for a press release unless they bring boots on the ground or bundles of money. That being said it is better to get the endorsement of the local newspaper than not.
My inbox lit up today with the news that the TL endorsed Malcolm Derk in the 10th CD race for the Republican nomination.
Malcolm Derk, Republican for 10th Congressional District
He sent out a press release this week demanding that Congressman Chris Carney give back some campaign contributions from some outfit he doesn't like which happens in every campaign.
Derk is the first one up on the air with a radio ad.
Tom Marino has raised the most money so far and David Maidera is working hard.
I have long had the view that most endorsements are only good for a press release unless they bring boots on the ground or bundles of money. That being said it is better to get the endorsement of the local newspaper than not.
My inbox lit up today with the news that the TL endorsed Malcolm Derk in the 10th CD race for the Republican nomination.
Malcolm Derk, Republican for 10th Congressional District
He sent out a press release this week demanding that Congressman Chris Carney give back some campaign contributions from some outfit he doesn't like which happens in every campaign.
Derk is the first one up on the air with a radio ad.
Tom Marino has raised the most money so far and David Maidera is working hard.
Senate race tightens
Capitol Ideas reports today that the Morning Call/Muhlenberg College tracking poll shows that Joe Sestak has opened up a 4 point lead (46-42) in his quest to replace Arlen Specter in the US Senate. Sestak has been trending up all week in this poll and we will see if the other polling oufits confirm it.
Sestak will be in Wilkes-Barre again tomorrow
Date: Monday, May 10, 2010
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Luzerne County Court House
Street: 200 N River St
City/Town: Wilkes-Barre, PA
I think Specter's Captain Queeg ad may have backfired, especially with veterans, and the spot tieing Specter to Bush is devastating. The Pennsylvania Progressive reminds Democrats of all the bad things Specter has voted for in the last few years.
One of the things I will give props to Specter for is his support of medical research and being the champion of National Institutes of Health even when his then Republican collegues wanted to cut funding for the agency.
Michael J Fox agrees
Sestak will be in Wilkes-Barre again tomorrow
Date: Monday, May 10, 2010
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Luzerne County Court House
Street: 200 N River St
City/Town: Wilkes-Barre, PA
I think Specter's Captain Queeg ad may have backfired, especially with veterans, and the spot tieing Specter to Bush is devastating. The Pennsylvania Progressive reminds Democrats of all the bad things Specter has voted for in the last few years.
One of the things I will give props to Specter for is his support of medical research and being the champion of National Institutes of Health even when his then Republican collegues wanted to cut funding for the agency.
Michael J Fox agrees
2nd Annual Joseph F. Coyne III Softball Tournament
Mayor Mayor Cassandra Coleman will be hosting the 2nd Annual Joseph F. Coyne III Softball Tournament Sunday, May 16, 2010 beginning at 9am, at the Exeter Little League Field.
Last year they were able to raise over $5,000 for a family whose daughter was battling brain cancer. This year, they are raising money for a senior at Wyoming Area who was diagnosed with MS, and since has developed lesions on her brain and spine.
Last year they were able to raise over $5,000 for a family whose daughter was battling brain cancer. This year, they are raising money for a senior at Wyoming Area who was diagnosed with MS, and since has developed lesions on her brain and spine.
Last year there were 12 teams who battled it out. Congratulations go out to TEAM CINDY who was able to take home the trophy, and are currently the reigning champs!
TEAM CINDY will be back this year, and they are looking forward to another great competition,
There will be special events going on all day geared towards the children. Appearances will be made by TUX, from the WBS Penguins, CHAMP from the WBS Yankees, and Pat Ward, clown and balloon artist,.
There will also be face painting between 10am-2pm.
So if anyone is interested in entering a team, get please contract Mayor Coleman ASAP @ 654-3001 ext 5.
Also, anyone who is interested in donating food, drinks, money, prizes, or their time, the day of the event please get contact Mayor Coleman.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Santorum's greatest pics
From the comments
Big Dan said...
Where's your patented picture of Santorum with the PINK SUIT on???
Big Dan said...
I WANT THE PINK SUIT PICTURE!!!!
Calm down pal. Mrs. G tells me that the suit is actually powder blue and the tie is pink. Shades are not my strong suit so I stick to primary colors. I think he looks rather dashing in this getup with the cross thing on the lapel. Because of you I didn't write up some insightful and well researched post about local politics tonight. Instead I went on a picture hunt.
I always liked this photo of Ricky, Dubya and Arlen Specter from 2004.
Lou Barletta teamed with Rick Santorum when Santorum was looking for an issue to scare the pants off of people and has run with it since.
The "SMALL GOVERNMENT" Senator injected himself and the federal government into one of the most painful decisions a family can face and helped to make it into a circus.
Big Dan said...
Where's your patented picture of Santorum with the PINK SUIT on???
Big Dan said...
I WANT THE PINK SUIT PICTURE!!!!
Calm down pal. Mrs. G tells me that the suit is actually powder blue and the tie is pink. Shades are not my strong suit so I stick to primary colors. I think he looks rather dashing in this getup with the cross thing on the lapel. Because of you I didn't write up some insightful and well researched post about local politics tonight. Instead I went on a picture hunt.
I always liked this photo of Ricky, Dubya and Arlen Specter from 2004.
Lou Barletta teamed with Rick Santorum when Santorum was looking for an issue to scare the pants off of people and has run with it since.
My apologies to Gomer Pyle.
The "SMALL GOVERNMENT" Senator injected himself and the federal government into one of the most painful decisions a family can face and helped to make it into a circus.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Santorum 2012
The candidate brought his wierd act to Wilkes-Barre and nobody gave me a heads up. Former U.S. Sen. and Presidential candidate Rick Santorum was in town yesterday to hobnob with the common working people at the Westmoreland Club.
He has been running around the country endorsing various candidates like Marco Rubio in Florida's Republican Senate primary and Jay Riemersma for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan. Locally he has added his kiss of death to 10th CD GOP hopefull Tom Marino. He has also been hitting all the early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Santorum's endorsement of Arlen Specter in the 2004 Senate primary race against Pat Toomey still sticks in the craw of many of my Republican friends
Speaking of his loss in 2006 he said “The voters of Pennsylvania had always given me what I had wanted, but in 2006 they gave me what I needed” ... so he could spend more time with his family. Then he channels Michael Corleone saying “I just feel like I’m being pulled back into it.”
He has been running around the country endorsing various candidates like Marco Rubio in Florida's Republican Senate primary and Jay Riemersma for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan. Locally he has added his kiss of death to 10th CD GOP hopefull Tom Marino. He has also been hitting all the early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Santorum's endorsement of Arlen Specter in the 2004 Senate primary race against Pat Toomey still sticks in the craw of many of my Republican friends
Speaking of his loss in 2006 he said “The voters of Pennsylvania had always given me what I had wanted, but in 2006 they gave me what I needed” ... so he could spend more time with his family. Then he channels Michael Corleone saying “I just feel like I’m being pulled back into it.”
Below we see Santorum talking to possible running mate Carl Romanelli with 2nd choice Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta hovering in the background.
Yes I know that the Constitution says that the the President and VP must be from different states but Santorum has lived in Virginia for years so that shouldn't be a problem.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Specter with Bush ad
With the polls closing to single digits in the Pennsylvania US Senate Democratic primary race between Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak the long awaited TV spot highlighting Specter's last campaign in 2004 when he was selling himself as a loyal Republican being backed by GW Bush and Rick Santorum finally aired.
It is not on Sestak's website or YouTube channel which shows how incompetent the Sestak campaign has been. Liberal bloggers all over the state and country would link to it if it was available giving them all sorts of free media. Maybe tomorrow.
Blog buddy Dan Hirschorn of pa2010.com has the video that looks like somebody pointed a camera at a TV .
His play by play
It’s the campaign ad everyone knew was coming—and it was only a matter of time.
The latest TV spot by Democrat Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign highlights former President George W. Bush’s support for Senator Arlen Specter during the 2004 campaign, as well Specter’s support for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008. It also twice plays a clip of Specter saying that “my change in party will enable me to be reelected.”
The 30-second spot aired Wednesday night on CBS in the Philadelphia media market, appearing on “CSI: NY” and later on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Sestak has harped on Specter’s party-switch throughout the campaign, but the new ad is the first time he’s taken that message to the airwaves.
“For 45 years, Arlen Specter has been a Republican politician,” a narrator says.
The footage of Bush endorsing Specter—”I can count on this man,” Bush says with former Senator Rick Santorum at his side—is taken from one of Specter’s own 2004 campaign ads.
The ad closes with a shot of Specter standing with Palin. “Arlen Specter switched parties to save one job,” the narrator says. “His, not yours.”
It is not on Sestak's website or YouTube channel which shows how incompetent the Sestak campaign has been. Liberal bloggers all over the state and country would link to it if it was available giving them all sorts of free media. Maybe tomorrow.
Blog buddy Dan Hirschorn of pa2010.com has the video that looks like somebody pointed a camera at a TV .
His play by play
It’s the campaign ad everyone knew was coming—and it was only a matter of time.
The latest TV spot by Democrat Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign highlights former President George W. Bush’s support for Senator Arlen Specter during the 2004 campaign, as well Specter’s support for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008. It also twice plays a clip of Specter saying that “my change in party will enable me to be reelected.”
The 30-second spot aired Wednesday night on CBS in the Philadelphia media market, appearing on “CSI: NY” and later on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Sestak has harped on Specter’s party-switch throughout the campaign, but the new ad is the first time he’s taken that message to the airwaves.
“For 45 years, Arlen Specter has been a Republican politician,” a narrator says.
The footage of Bush endorsing Specter—”I can count on this man,” Bush says with former Senator Rick Santorum at his side—is taken from one of Specter’s own 2004 campaign ads.
The ad closes with a shot of Specter standing with Palin. “Arlen Specter switched parties to save one job,” the narrator says. “His, not yours.”
State Committee
Our latest Republican hopeful also is a regular poster at NewsTalkPA which is part of the ever expanding GrassrootsPA internet empire.
Name Kathleen M. Dobash
Age 51
Residence Hazleton, PA
Reason for Running
I hope to encourage more citizens to vote and become involved with the political process.
I want to restore confidence in our local government leadership.
I want to address the issue of the local corruption. The citizens of this county cannot afford to pay for abuse of the system.
Property owners pay taxes in good faith. Wasteful spending and deception cannot continue.
I am an advocate for the elderly and for those who cannot represent themselves.
I was elected Inspector of Elections and Constable for Hazleton City Ward 1. I actively write letters printed in our newspapers to talk about local issues. Vote for me on May 18Th.
Name Kathleen M. Dobash
Age 51
Residence Hazleton, PA
Reason for Running
I hope to encourage more citizens to vote and become involved with the political process.
I want to restore confidence in our local government leadership.
I want to address the issue of the local corruption. The citizens of this county cannot afford to pay for abuse of the system.
Property owners pay taxes in good faith. Wasteful spending and deception cannot continue.
I am an advocate for the elderly and for those who cannot represent themselves.
I was elected Inspector of Elections and Constable for Hazleton City Ward 1. I actively write letters printed in our newspapers to talk about local issues. Vote for me on May 18Th.
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