Haggerty responds

Gort,

Just read the Kathy Dobash post. Quite entertaining.

A couple of points:

1. Please don't fall into the trap of letting charter opponents attack the charter by ripping on me, Morelli, or anyone else. If someone wants to attack the charter, let them attack what's IN the charter. That's the question for voters: Is the plan of government set forth in the charter better than our current three commissioner/row officer system?

The charter plan is plainly better than the current system, and in dozens of different ways. Dobash cannot in any way, shape, or form make a coherent argument that the current corrupt system is better than the system set forth in the charter. Hence, the personal attacks. Don't let her get away with dodging the main issue.

2. Facts are clearly not an impediment to a Dobash argument. I was delighted to learn that I'm a "good friend" of Bob Powell. While he, like dozens of lawyers, donated to my state senate campaign in 2006, I can't remember ever meeting the man, although I can't say for sure we never crossed paths. But Dobash here is just making stuff up. She does that. Another case in point: Dobash alleged at a public meeting (as did Steve Urban to the Standard Speaker) that, under the charter, the controller can't access county books until 18 months after a transaction. Well, the charter actually gives the controller access to any county record or employee upon "reasonable notice." Somebody made up the "18 month" argument. Hey, why let the facts get in the way of an important public policy debate?

3. Steve Urban came out against the charter before we even had a charter, and Dobash is a Steve Urban acolyte. Check out her posts worshipping Urban on WILK's website. If the charter passes, Urban loses his job as county commissioner since the office is eliminated. Dobash is clearly unhappy about this.

4. I think Norton may have mentioned to you that study commission members would love to meet with the blogger community to discuss the charter. (And you can see our awesome slideshow comparing the existing form of government and the charter!) Is this something you can set up?

Thanks for listening.

Regards,

Jim

Against Home Rule

This is a guest from my pal Kathy Dobash who is a regular poster at NewsTalkPA which is part of the ever growing GrassrootsPA internet empire.





I know it is common practice for TV interviews with local candidates and politicians. Sometimes these interviews are paid by the candidates as a commercial for their agenda and ideas about government.

These expenses are reported as part of the campaign.

The latest "interviews" on a local Hazleton TV show has Chairman Haggerty promoting Home Rule as a business run by a CEO. We all know that can be even more corrupt than the Wilkes-Barre School District. View the video at this link: http://www.ssptv.com/show.php?show_id=21

INSIDE SCOOP

Special Guest Jim Haggerty (28 minutes)
2010-06-28

Topics 1. Home Rule Charter 2. County Accountability

Does Jim Haggerty, Tom Marnell and David Sosar help pay for the air time with this show? Why? I was wondering how other citizens can be guests on this show. Is this a way for the Kingston Mayor to have the whole county pass a tax to cover the levee fee for the people of Kingston? Does the Southern Region of the county have enough population to cover other costs?

How can the Home Rule Study Commission use a TV show with the host( Rick Morelli, treasurer of the Home Rule Study Commission) to promote their new idea of government? Did the Home Rule Study Commission vote in secret to run these interviews? The citizens who disagree with important key issues about their written document do not have the money to speak out and be heard! Is this how we want to do business? Those with differences of opinion must have equal opportunity and time. All of these actions: Paying for ads to promote only the Commission's idea, waiting until someone leaves a room to address concerns, and run television programs where no one else can debate the topic give me concern to reconsider the motives of the Home Rule Study Commission members. They just want to win to save face.
The concerns about the authority of the transition team, the duties of a County Controller, Elected or Appointed County Executive and Districts are still important topics for many voters.

The study commission plans to approve a proposal on July 21.

The last meeting was about term limits. http://standardspeaker.com/news/home-rule-panel-discussses-term-limits-1.873783


Supreme power using Ad propaganda to promote a new form of government is questionable. Should Rick Morelli be involved in dedicating showtime without saying who is paying for it? Are they in violation of campaign expense laws? They fail to disclose the show sponsors. Someone is paying for the show airtime. Haggerty, an attorney and Morelli should know better. Haggerty is a good friend of Bob Powell.

He did nothing and said nothing about the Luzerne County corruption over a four year period. What is even more troubling? He has failed to change the judicial branch and the wrong doing in the DA's office in the Home Rule document.

He had no guts to talk to me when I was present in a room. Why did he wait until I left the area to address the audience about my public statements?

The use of the show "Inside Scoop" to promote the vote for the Luzerne County Home Rule Study Commission's new Charter is just plain wrong. Does it violate finance spending and reporting?

Is the television time donated on this TV show allowed. WHO is paying for the show?
I think having a political show is fine. I have a problem with the use to promote the work of the Home Rule Study Commission. If Rick Morelli was not treasurer of the Commission then all is well but it is a HUGE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Does it violate any laws?

It is politically driven and the stars on the show have political interest with possible gain for power and money. The promotion to SELL their charter is obvious.

Who is fronting the money for the political airtime about Luzerne County Home Rule? It will be on the ballot November 2ND. If Home Rule passes I pray many step up to run for the 11 Council positions to keep those who wrote the Charter honest. I recommend THUMBS DOWN on Luzerne County Home Rule Charter!

AV Security Suite scam

This thing took over my computer tonight.

It didn't matter what application I tried to open this kept popping up.

From 2spyware.com

AV Security Suite is a rogue anti-spyware program from the same family as Antispyware Soft and Antivirus Soft. Once installed, this fake program will display fake security alerts and state that your computer is infected with spyware, adware and other types of malware. Then it will prompt you to pay for a full version of the program to remove the infections and to make your computer more secure. Of course, that's not true, because AV Security Suite is an infection itself and obviously won't protect your computer from malware. Most importantly, don't purchase this bogus program. If you have already purchased it, then you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charges. Finally, please follow the removal instructions below to remove AV Security Suite from your computer as soon as possible either manually or with an automatic removal guide.

The link has instructions to get rid of it.

I wanted to post about local political happenings tonight but instead spent the wee hours fighting off this thing.

I oppose the death penalty in most cases but I will add these people to the list along with corrupt politicians

Dr. Joe and Michelle keep telling me to get a MAC.

Juvie Brother's must stand trial

Federal judge refuses to recuse himself from Ciavarella case


Ex-judges’ motions get rejected

Upcoming social events

The Staturday OT Committee and Operatic Society will gather on the big deck on July 16th at Dan's Keystone Grill 162 Union St. Plains, PA 18702 at 5PM.

The next Mega-Meetup with bloggers and candidates will be Friday, August 27th starting 5PM at Rooney's Irish Pub
67 S. Main St.
Pittston, PA 18704

It was a great hit last time:

Candidates meet the faces behind the screen names

Update:

August 27th doesn't work for many reasons which I will explain in a future post so the new date for the Mega-Meetup is September 17th.

Happy 4th

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare,

That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;

and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. —

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.—

Libertarians to lend a hand

Libertarians cleaning up the garbage

Local Candidates Join July 5th Cleanup

Wilkes-Barre, PA— Libertarians are all about saving tax dollars. So on July 5th, local Libertarian candidates Betsy Summers, Tim Mullen, and Brian Bergman, along with members of the Northeastern PA Libertarian Party will be helping with the Kirby Park cleanup. “Once again Libertarians will be putting their backs into reducing Wilkes-Barre’s cleanup costs by picking up the trash that covers the park after the 4th of July festivities” states Betsy Summers the cleanup organizer and candidate for Pennsylvania’s 14th senatorial seat.


Summers added, “We will be meeting in Kirby Park’s Pavilion #3 at 8 am and will finish up with a lunch BBQ. Anyone that wishes to join in the cleanup with a great group of fun loving individuals, citizen politicians, and community activists, will be welcome. The more helping hands we have the sooner we can sit, relax, and eat!”


“Libertarians believe in people working together to get things done, not the government taking care of our every need, as one of the ideals our Country was founded on” said Tim Mullen candidate for Pennsylvania 120th Representative seat while Brian Bergman candidate for the 119th Representative seat said “we are not only looking to clean up the park, but hopefully help clean up our state and local governments.”


Lou Jasikoff Chair for the Northeast Pennsylvania Libertarian Party concluded, “we invite all interested parties to come out and meet our candidates in a relaxed and fun atmosphere while doing a little community service. We will also have literature on hand for those looking to learn a little more about the Libertarian Party along with fresh coffee and donuts!

For more information or interviews, Please visit us at:

www.nepalibertarians.org


www.vote4betsy.com


www.votemullen.com


www.votebergman.com

Kayak Dude responds to Carney and Marino

Don Williams of the Susquehanna River Sentinel sends along this guest post:

I'd like to offer my thoughts on some of your recent posts, specifically those regarding Chris Carney and Tom Marino on the Marcellus Shale issue.

I've met and spoken with Chris Carney twice. Our first encounter was a formal meeting @ his district office in Clarks Summit regarding the proposed inflatable dam about a year before it was deflated in February 2008. More recently, I snagged about two minutes of his time at RiverFest 2009 in Wilkes-Barre. Of course, the topic was the Susquehanna River and what I felt we needed to do to protect it. With one of his dual degrees from Cornell College ( Iowa ) being in Environmental Science, I - at minimum - felt that he would understand the issues beyond the myopic perspective of their political impact. I'm no longer sure that is the case. I've never met or spoken with Tom Marino, but I felt his incredibly brief statement was borderline useless and I've found more substantive dialogue on the label of a bottle of mustard. And spring water.

Truthfully, for Chris Carney to be holding a field hearing in another state a thousand miles from his district ( scheduled for July 12th ) on BP's spill in the Gulf of Mexico while his very own backyard in Dimock - Pennsylvania's current version of Love Canal - is being slowly raped and industrialized is beyond incomprehensible to me. Yes, the eyes of the world & media & White House may be focused on BP's Gulf spill, but Chris was elected by his constituents in northeastern PA...and he needs to represent and serve them in their time of need. For some reason, the imagery of Nero fiddling keeps coming to mind. Anyway, if necessary, the world can survive with a few less shrimp and oysters for the short term, but clean water is essential to life itself for generations to come. In my opinion, Mr. Carney is getting some very bad advice from someone within his inner circle, and he needs to redirect his focus immediately. Being a leader requires getting involved in difficult issues and making tough decisions, yet Chris has done his best to stay as far away as possible from the Marcellus Shale maelstrom for way too long. I've been getting his Friday missives for quite some time, and unless I missed it ( hint: sarcasm ), he's failed to face this issue head on. Although it's never too late to get involved, IMHO, he is getting perilously close to the point of no return. The first step is always the hardest, but he needs to get fully engaged now. Regarding his recent Marcellus statement; I could spend an hour commenting on it, but have a post on my own site that I need to get to ASAP and will simply offer that although it was longer, it was just ( barely ) a shade more substantive than Tom Marino's. BTW, since I communicate with one of Chris's staffers quite frequently, I'll offer that I can be contacted at any time should Mr. Carney need some environmental enlightenment that they evidently failed to include in the curriculum @ Cornell College ( Iowa).

Marino's comment is unworthy of anything beyond what I've already offered. Mustard seeds, vinegar, and a little turmeric.

Finally, to all of my fellow tree-hugging bloggers ( and you know who you are )...if you've never been there, check out the Battle of Wyoming ceremony on Saturday, July 3rd beginning at 10 a.m. @ the monument's site on Wyoming Ave in Wyoming, PA. Hear the story of men who chose to stand and fight to protect the land they called home.
July 3, 1778 was a defining moment in the history of the region and, truthfully, the nation.

Funny how history tends to repeat itself.

Remember Wyoming!

Best regards,


Don Williams
http://srs444.blogspot.com/


River advocate takes up fight against drilling

Tom Marino on natural gas

10th Pennsylvania Congressional District Republican nominee Tom Marino sent this statement:


"I support reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy. I believe that the Marcellus Shale "natural gas play" is good for the economy of the 10th Congressional District. We must balance being good stewards of our land with creating jobs"

Tom Marino

PA Budget reaction and preaction

Legislature passes $28 billion budget bill


State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-120): “The most serious defect in this budget for me is the 9 percent cut to (DEP) at a time we need all hands on deck to deal with our environmental challenges. Since the votes were not there for that revenue increase, we were forced into making these painful cuts.”

NEPAartisan: The DEP is going to see its funding cut by 9%. That’s at a time when Marcellus Shale drilling is rapidly poisoning and destroying our environment. I’m sure Drillers are loving this particular “cost-saving” measure. See, “cost-saving” is another amorphous word (as per yesterday’s essay) as this will only incur epic costs in the long run. Without DEP inspectors going to drill rigs, we may not find out about spills and environmental harm. As a matter of fact, even at the funding levels we have now, we’re missing spills and environmental harm. Now it’ll be easier for drillers to abuse Pennsylvania’s land in their unmitigated pursuit of profit. Thanks, Legislature, for helping them on their way.

McGruff: The budget doesn't eliminate the per diem abuse by our legislators. Send em packin.

State Senate candidate Frank Scavo (PA-22): "With the $28 billion dollar Pennsylvania State budget for 2010 now headed Governor Rendell's desk for signing, Pennsylvania once again approves the practice of deficit spending and driving up state debt. The continued ignorance of the $4 billion dollar pension crisis and it's deliberate absence is both a travesty and an expensive broken promise that will cause punishing property tax rates for working families and seniors. It also leaves teachers and state workers with an unfunded pension liability again. We are continuing to amass debt just like the federal government and ignore critical reforms of the pension, unemployment and prison systems. This new budget also keeps Pennsylvania with the highest corporate tax rates in the nation, which creates no opportunity for job growth again. "

State Rep candidate Tarah Toohill (PA-116th): "It is irresponsible for our legislature to count on a new tax in order to pass the budget. We need to stimulate the economy and create
jobs. Passing a budget based upon the severance tax means the state will spend the money before it even hits the bank, the same as it did
when it approved slots, casinos and table games.

"The Hazleton area has not seen property tax relief from table games and there are no guarantees that the Hazleton area would see any
benefit from the severance tax. This tax will be directed to bailout bankrupt state programs and pay down years of overspending, leaving
empty handed the municipalities and townships whose roads, creeks and ways of life are being altered by the drilling boom.

"This tax and spend mentality signifies how Representative Eachus and Governor Rendell have misguided the state of Pennsylvania into debt
and economic downturn. Forcing our state budget to rely upon a tax that is not yet in existence is the equivalent of putting the
2010-2011 budget on a credit card -- it only perpetuates the problem and leaves an unsavory legacy of debt and decaying infrastructure for
our children, grandchildren and generations beyond.

"No matter whether you are opposed to the developing Marcellus Shale industry or in support of it, passing a budget based upon a new tax is
an unwise double-edged sword. With a tax, the state immediately becomes beholden to the drilling industry and could lead to the
sacrifice of regulation and environmental protection. With a tax, the industry might be less inclined to do business in our state and could
eventually take money out of the consumer's and taxpayer's pocket.

"This new tax proposal is another example of legislators seeing dollars and spending dollars in the blink of an eye, before the
taxpayers ever see them.

"Our people demand real leadership not quick fixes that tack momentary budget solutions to lady luck or the end of a
natural gas pipeline. Our people deserve better."

State Rep candidate Bill Goldsworthy (PA-120): – “It’s time for Democrats in Harrisburg, like Gov. Ed Rendell and Rep. Phyllis Mundy, to face the fact that Pennsylvania can no longer afford their out-of-control government spending sprees,” Goldsworthy said. “At a time when countless Pennsylvania families are struggling to make ends meet, Rendell and Mundy think that we need to spend more, increase government and raise taxes.”
“We need to lower taxes, cut spending and reduce borrowing,” Goldsworthy said. “We need fiscal responsibility in Harrisburg. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
“People all across Pennsylvania are being forced to live within their means. It’s time the state government did the same,” Goldsworthy said.

Goldsworthy said the Democrats’ “tax-and-spend culture” has failed the state and is the cause of Pennsylvania’s high unemployment rate.
He said he is prepared to brubg the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility to Harrisburg and to help the voters take back Pennsylvania.
“The constituents of the 120th District deserve better,” he said.

Free Micek

The last few years blog buddy John Micek who writes Capitol Ideas has been held hostage by the politicians in Harrisburg awaiting an agreement on the Pennsylvania state budget that is due by June 30th. It ruins his summer every year. It now looks like Rapid Edward and the Republicans just may have come to an agreement and I hope it is true so John can enjoy the nice weather with his family.

.

Update:

Lawmakers Deliver First On-Time Budget In Eight Years.

Free at last

Carney on gas drilling

Statement from Congressman Chris Carney:

“The Marcellus Shale has presented our region with a tremendous economic opportunity, but we must be vigilant in protecting the drinking water in our communities. The state must set common sense, enforceable rules that ensure the safety of our waterways and guide the industry’s growth in Pennsylvania. And the General Assembly must include a budget model next year that gives the state the tools it needs for proper oversight. It must allow for more inspectors to adequately monitor the well sites and respond to reports of contamination. It must also fund proper emergency measures to respond to spills.

I am very concerned about the reports of contaminated water in our community. I support the Environmental Protection Agency’s review of the hydraulic fracturing process so that we can determine the effects of the fracking process and what additional federal steps are needed to ensure the safety of our water.

Over the past several months, I have met with the natural gas industry and leaseholders alike about the responsibilities of all sides. The natural gas industry and U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette’s office are in discussions over language that will allow for greater disclosure of fracking fluid ingredients without disclosing the proprietary formulas used in the fracking process. I am optimistic those discussions will yield a positive outcome.”

I'm still waiting for a statement from his Republican opponent Tom Marino

Carney to investigate BP oil spill

Congressman Chris Carney visited the gulf last week and said upon his return
“The scene is as frustrating as it is horrific and my thoughts continue to be with the families who feel the immediate impact of this disaster...I will be holding hearings to investigate the actions taken by the federal government and BP in the days following the explosion at the oil rig. Who knew what when and what did they do to ensure the severity of this disaster was understood? Why wasn’t faster action taken? All of that is unclear,” Carney said.

Yesterday he let us know he will be holding hearings in New Orleans.


WASHINGTON – Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, has scheduled a field hearing in New Orleans on July 12 to examine the immediate response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill. The hearing, entitled “The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Chain of Command: An Examination of Information Sharing Practices During a Spill of National Significance,” will include testimony from the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, BP and state and local officials. The time and location of the hearing have yet to be determined.

Congressman Carney, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and six other committee members visited the spill site and surrounding area June 21.

The response to the spill has left many unanswered questions, including how information was shared in the days immediately after the April 20 explosion.

“We must find out what was done to ensure the severity of this disaster was understood and how that information was shared,” said Congressman Carney. “This hearing will hopefully shed some light on the current chain of command, the roles and responsibilities of the participants, what the government and BP could have done better in response to this crisis and lessons that should be put to use in the future.”

I'm sure his subcommittee has jurisdiction on this but I think there are about a dozen Congressional Committees already investigating the spill.

There is an environmental disaster in the making in Pennsylvania that Carney hasn't said much about that has already seen his neighbors in Dimock living with water buffaloes because there wells have been poisoned.


Human illness, animal deaths tied to shale gas drilling in PA

At least 15 Dimock, PA families have been unable to use their formerly pristine well water for 16 months since Houston-based Cabot Oil and Gas began drilling for natural gas there. The extraction process uses hydraulic fracturing in combination with horizontal drilling, in which each fracturing, or "frack," requires 2 to 9 million gallons of water mixed with toxic chemicals to release the gas. The primary ingredient in natural gas is methane.


The PA DEP fined Cabot $240,000 for that one. I'm sure that the company considers the fine as just the cost of doing business.

The BP well in the Gulf of Mexico blew up creating the oil spill but what about the gas well that blew up in Clearfield County that spewed poisoned water 75 feet into the air for 16 hours with methane rising into the atmosphere that prompted the FAA to close the air space above the sight to prevent an airliner from being taken down? Fortunately that well wasn't near a water supply unlike the proposed drilling next to the Huntsville Dam.

It is getting worse, even the cows won't drink the frack water. Cows are smarter than they look.


Spring Lake Water Woes: Chesapeake, Landowners Disagree - by Wes Skillings - 6/24/2010

Because of concerns about what appeared to be a sudden deterioration in the quality of the water, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was called in. They sent representatives to the Spring Lake property about a week later, with representatives of Chesapeake also responding to the scene.

“The DEP representative told us separately that we should not expect much from the gas company because to ‘do anything’ would imply culpability,” Mrs. Bohlander reported. There were reportedly methane readings of varying levels, and some quite high, in the water supply.

Kayak Dude reports that Bowman's Creek is being sucked dry by the drillers.

Looking through Carney's website and press releases he has not been forthcoming on this issue putting out bland statements.


STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN CARNEY IN RESPONSE TO DEP ACTION AGAINST CABOT

CARNEY STATEMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S PLANS TO STUDY FRACKING PROCESS


He has yet to take a position on the Frac Act that closes the Haliburton loophole.


Last week I asked Carney's office for a statement on his position on drilling and have yet to receive a reply. I also asked his Republican opponent Tom Marino about his position and I have not heard from him either.

More on the Kanjo flap

I'm getting beat up by my local blog buddies for defending Congressman Paul Kanjorski's fumblemouth that the whole right wing blogosphere has jumped on. As The Mean Old Man would say " I Love it."

The Blogfather agrees with me .


"Non-issue, girls. It's simply a matter of the loose lips being faster than the aging brain. No biggie. "

Then he ripped me for being too partisan. This is from a guy who never has a good thing to say about the President and defends Bush's war's to this day. I hope he is eating well.

Look at my posts from the past 2 years and will you find that I have given more space to the Republican candidates in Luzerne County then the papers have. Such Bullspit.


Betty Rox (and she does) over at Pure Bunkum is worried about town meetings in addition to jumping on the bandwagon on this issue. I'm sure that Kanjo won't be doing any townhall type meetings after what happened last year and I can't blame him. They turned into ambushes by the Teabagger crowd.

Some right wing bloggers see it for what it is.


In Defense of….Democratic Rep. Paul Kanjorski?

From Right Wing News

Yes, Democrat Paul Kanjorski is irritating, liberal, and out of touch, but it seems like a huge stretch to interpret these remarks, as some conservatives have, as a slam at the poor,


He's not saying the poor are minorities or defective, he's saying that's what people INSINUATE the people having a hard time in this recession are like. The point he's trying to make is that these are just regular people who are having a hard time in a tough economy.

So honestly, I don't see anything wrong with his remarks at all.


The Hazleton Standard Speaker had one of those articles that the Yonk keeps talking about. I wish I wrote that.


Cut Kanjorski some slack


Last month, the Lou Barletta campaign attacked Rep. Paul Kanjorski for supporting student loan reform that led to layoffs for Sallie Mae, which has a customer service center in Hanover Township. When on the very same day the Barletta campaign implied that Kanjorski was "in bed with Wall Street bankers," it was clear the campaign was off to a mud-slinging start.

The mud got thicker this week. On Monday, the Barletta campaign accused Kanjorski of being a hypocrite for "refusing to meet with the public at traditional summer town hall meetings while agreeing to be the 'special guest' at an event held by his Wall Street buddies near Wilkes-Barre."

The news media largely ignored that salvo, which referred to the congressman's upcoming appearance at a meeting sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

But Republicans at both the district and national levels hit paydirt Thursday. Barletta's campaign issued a statement calling for Kanjorski to "apologize for comments he made during a U.S. House of Representatives hearing Wednesday in which he called some people 'defective' and said minorities are not 'good people.'"

A review of the tape shows that Kanjorski said no such thing. Speaking ardently in favor of extending Pennsylvania's mortgage assistance program nationally, he was clearly mocking critics who might view the programs as a welfare giveaway. Here's the actual quote: "We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now unfortunately. But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people, and they're not minorities and they're not defective and they're not all the things that you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about."

Kanjorski didn't say he sees two classes of citizens. He said to his critics, "you'd like to insinuate that."

The sarcasm and passion that underscored that point seems obvious in the video, but it gets lost when you simply read the comments.

At least five minority lawmakers on the Wall Street Reform Conference Committee didn't hear anything offensive. They signed a letter defending Kanjorski. The congressman's constituents should cut him some slack on this one, too.

Kanjorski's get's some help from his friends that he works with everyday.

Chaka Fattah


Click here to view a letter from Congress members Maxine Waters, Luis Gutierrez, Mel Watt, Gregory Meeks, and Elijah Cumming.

This damage control shows how worried the Kanjo camp is about these remarks and they should be. At the same time Lou Barletta trying to capitalize on racially tinged remarks is dangerous territory for him.

McGruff passionately defends Lou Barletta after I tweaked him


Why don't the liberals acknowledge the hiring of minorities by the Bareltta family? Do they know how many children rode for free at Angela Park, owned by the Barletta family, because they didn't have the money? Do they know how much money or the provision of inkind contributions the Barletta family donated over the years to needy charities and families?

Why don't they acknowledge Lou's personal donation of property he owned to a local charity that services disadvantaged children including the colors of all skin to place a handicapped oriented playground?

Is it because the liberals have been getting away with their bs for too long? Sorry my friend on this we will agree to disagree.

Mitchell and Kanjorski have been getting their way too long in the media pressroom from this area.

I like Mayor Lou, we can spend hours talking baseball and have a few times. He is no more a racist than Congressman Kanjorski is. Which is to say they are not!

Even Barletta has realized that this has gotten to be stupid and want's to move on saying
“Dwelling on it will not help create jobs or fix our economy. The important thing now is to focus on the problems facing the people of Northeast Pennsylvania, which is what I have been doing and will continue do as the next congressman from the 11th district. We need to restore public trust and fiscal responsibility in our government and that starts with holding our elected officials accountable this November.”

You Tube weekend

This is so wrong on so many levels

Pizzella sentenced to a Time Out

Another house arrest for an admitted criminal. I hate to bash a judge because you never know when you might end up in front of one but this sentence is ridiculous.

CV: U.S. District Judge James M. Munley ordered Pizzella to serve two years of probation, including five months on house arrest, after a federal prosecutor detailed Pizzella's cooperation in at least seven different investigations. Pizzella must also pay a $10,000 fine.

Pizzella has been singing to the FBI ratting out fellow Wilkes-Barre Area School Board members Brian Dunn and James Height and has provided information about the carpet guy plus the overcharging by Intellecom. The TL story says he was feeding the FBI information about Luzerne County Judges when he was Ann Lokuta's tipstaff.

His attorney conceded Pizzella “can in some respects annoy people” by being brusque. That is an understatement. Judge Munley cited Pizzella's cooperation and "spotless reputation" in deciding not to send him to jail.

Spotless reputation? Are we talking about the same person?


Pizzella, a former Plains Township police officer and township commissioner, has been accused of spousal abuse, punching his father and threatening to kill his daughter. In 1980, police accused Pizzella and a friend of hiring a hitman to break the legs of a political rival.


Pizzella also claims he is in poor health. It seems to be a problem with all the people who have snared in probe here in Corruption Junction. Judge Toole also claims he has a bad back, it must be contageous.


Judge Munley said: “We condemn the conduct. What he was engaged in is outrageous. It’s a throwback” to days when public officials routinely behaved that way, “and it will not be tolerated any more.”

If you don't put people in jail what is the deterrent Judge Munley?

On background I have been told that Frankie Kneecaps will not be allowed to watch Nickelodeon or The Disney Channel while he spends the next 5 months sitting on his duff. As an additional punishment he won't get a graham cracker after recess or a chocolate milk.

Sound bite politics

Yes, Congressman Kanjorski said something today that could have been diffused if he just said "not only."

Such nonsense. Kanjo has always been a champion of civil rights doing things that wasn't popular at the time.


A repost:


Photo From the Attic: Community Organizer





Now-Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) was a Temple University college student in 1958. Here, Kanjorski (left) receives from Temple President Robert Johnson one of the first donations for a fund to help rebuild Clinton (Tenn.) High School, which had been bombed and destroyed by a group opposing desegregation. John MacDonald (left) and David Dorsett stand behind Johnson.
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I spotted this photo in Roll Call and asked Congressman Kanjorski's press secretary Abigail McDonough for some background on it besides what the caption says.
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Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee was one of the first schools desegregated under court order. On October 5, 1958, the school was bombed by a group opposing integration and the entire building was decimated. During this event, Congressman Kanjorski was a student at Temple University in Pennsylvania. He took the event to heart and wanted to do something to help. He formed the organization Reestablish Education at Clinton High School (REACH) to help raise money at a national collegiate level to rebuild the school, and to show that force and violence are not the means to reach an end. Rather, REACH helped show what can happen when people work together.
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As chairman of REACH, Congressman Kanjorski helped raise money at Temple and throughout other college communities by reaching out to students,professors, and administrators at colleges and universities throughout the country. He convinced then Temple University president and one of the founders of Time Inc., Dr. Robert L. Johnson to make one of the first donations to the organization. Johnson; another former Temple president, Harold E. Stassen; Eleanor Roosevelt; former Senator Joseph Clark; and then principal of Clinton High School, W.D. Human, all served as sponsors of REACH. Congressman Kanjorski and REACH helped raise some of the money to rebuild Clinton High School.

120th District challengers on gas drilling

120th District State Represenative Phyilis Mundy has propsed some common sense rules to slow the whole thing down.


Her opponents respond.


Libertarian candidate Tim Mullen


Thanks, Gort for giving me a chance to voice my opinion.

.I'll be taking this issue to the papers in the near future if they dare print what I have to say. They usually edit out my most damning remarks.
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Let me first say I posted my position on the Marcellus drilling after attending a meeting in Kingston Twp. several months ago, and I pretty much am going to stick with what I posted. I am not too far off base with the moratorium that Mrs. Mundy has proposed.

.When you take the reality of a Harrisburg that is awash in "gas cash" (my description of political donations from the natural gas industry), I think the best we could hope for is some type of scaling back of the Marcellus drilling similar to what I propose.
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Should we stop drilling? No. The economy, and the energy needs of the country take front seat. Should we be drilling near drinking water sources such as in the Back Mountain? Absolutely not at this point until this technology is proven safe. There are plenty of rural and / or mined out areas in the state to explore first. The pace of the drilling activity needs to be slowed down also. 10,000 wells proposed in a few years across the state is unfathomable when it comes to disruption of the environment and the potential for contamination of water supplies.
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As I stated on my site, permitting a set amount of sites to come on line a year will buy time to assess the impact on the environment and make corrections. This also flattens out the boom/bust cycle that is liable to happen if we rush headlong into production. As previously stated I the natural gas industry should only be taxed enough to assure return of the environment to its original condition after they have come and gone.
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.The industry should not become a cash cow for the state to further expand or maintain its dependency breeding social programs, or fund pork projects that assure reelection of incumbents. I agree with Mr. Goldsworthy's assessment that Mrs. Mundy is late to the table. I'll take it a step further similar to the old saying "A day late and a dollar short", except in this case, years late and hundreds of thousands of dollars short (or however much gas cash has been diverted to the politicos). In my opinion all this hype over drilling is posturing by Mrs. Mundy. She can be a champion of the people by leading the anti-drilling crusade, knowing full well that a full moratorium stands a snowball's chance in hell of making it through a Harrisburg awash in gas cash. If she were so concerned about the little guy maybe she would divorce herself from the teacher's organizations that keep her in office.
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http://www.campaignfinance.state.pa.us/CFReport.aspx?CFReportID=77903&Section=IA . She is responsible in part for myself and thousands of other families in this state either losing or on the cusp of losing their homes due to school taxes. I am the true Robin Hood for the people. Tim


Republican Bill Goldsworthy sent out a release today, I think I may have inspired him.


WEST PITTSTON (June 24) – Twenty-year State House incumbent Phyllis Mundy is talking out of both sides of her mouth on issues surrounding Marcellus Shale gas exploration and drilling in an effort to help her re-election campaign.

In March of this year, Mundy voted “Yes” to the Governor’s proposed budget that increased state spending by another $1 billion and supported paying for this out-of-control spending with a new severance tax on Marcellus Shale gas drilling. Then, earlier this week, Mundy called for a moratorium on the same drilling she expects to pay for her wasteful government spending.

“First Ms. Mundy votes to increase spending and pay for it with a new tax on gas drilling, then turns around and calls for that drilling to stop. This is the type of political double-talk that has gotten our state where we are today and it proves how out-of-touch she has become after 20 years in Harrisburg,” said Bill Goldsworthy, her General Election campaign opponent.

Goldsworthy went on to explain that natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale deposits across Pennsylvania has been occurring for more than 14 years. In fact, there are currently more than 500 wells in the Commonwealth and over 3,100 drilling permits issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The fracking process has been used for the last five years.

“In her 20 years in office, Ms. Mundy hasn’t said a single word about this issue, other than to want to tax it to pay for more wasteful spending,” said Goldsworthy. “She has never worked to develop a proactive plan to deal with the oversight and environmental issues involved with this issue. Where has she been? She has done nothing.”

Goldsworthy sees exploration of the Marcellus Shale natural gas as vital to the economic future of Pennsylvania, but only as long as it is done in an environmentally responsible manner that protects the quality of our drinking water and overall environment.

“No one cares more about protecting our environment during the drilling process than I do. But we can do that, while still enjoying the benefit of new jobs and economic growth that the Marcellus Shale can

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provide,” said Goldsworthy. “Too many people in our state are hurting and, after doing nothing but adding to the taxpayer burden for 20 years, Ms. Mundy now wants to make it worse again.”

“Ms. Mundy says that ‘We are allowing this industry to move ahead too fast’ (Citizens Voice, 6/22/2010). But whose fault is that? It is her fault. She had 20 years to do something and did nothing,” stated Goldsworthy. “I will be a pro-active and effective Representative, the same as I have been as a local official here at home.”

Goldsworthy is a small businessman with professional and proven experience at controlling costs and helping to create jobs. He is also a proven local elected official who held the line on property taxes in 23 of his 25 years in office. Goldsworthy has focused on fiscal discipline and job creation throughout his campaign for Representative.

“Ms. Mundy has had 20 years to fix things and hasn’t. It’s time for a different way,” said Goldsworthy. “ Ms. Mundy said “the people don’t get it” well I do get it and I will go to Harrisburg and use my real-world experience and proven ability to protect taxpayers to bring fiscal discipline to state government and help spark economic and job growth.”

Goldsworthy also pointed out some significant differences between himself and Mundy.

As a local elected official, Goldsworthy has forsaken his own pay during tough economic times whereas Mundy voted herself two pay raises, took the unconstitutional pay raise of 2005 and still refuses to give that money back.

Goldsworthy has pledged to reform Harrisburg and fix the broken pension system. He will lead by example by refusing per diems and a taxpayer-funded car, instead submitting only for legitimate expenses. Mundy even accepted the 50% pension increase for herself after just voting against it and took nearly $16,000 in taxpayer-paid per diems in 2009 alone – all without receipts.

“Ms. Mundy’s record is one of helping herself and sticking taxpayers with the bill. We need to do better for the people of Pennsylvania, and I will,” concluded Goldsworth

More about gas drilling

For those of you who pay attention you know that I have invited all local officials and candidates for office to give us a statement about gas drilling. I will publish the response unedited.

The first one is from Republican James O'Meara Sr. who wants to replace Democrat Eddie Day Pashinski in the 121st District

Gort... here you go! Thanks for the opportunity to write a bit on this...


I agree with Representative Pashinski: He and many others in Harrisburg left the barn door open. Now they are scrambling to round up the horses that bolted out of the barn. Bill Goldsworthy said it best when he noted that rules and regulations for gas companies should have been in place long ago.

As to my views on drilling…

In April, at the Issues and Eggs breakfast in Wilkes-Barre , I reminded folks of an old saying: “…there never seems to be time to do things right, but there’s always time to do it twice.”

I said that natural gas drilling must be done right the first time. We don’t get a “do over.”

Yes, there is a potential for Marcellus shale drilling to bring enormous benefits to our entire region. It offers a promise of jobs, economic growth, energy independence, and improved national security.

But drilling must be done in a way that puts public safety and preservation of our water supplies and other natural resources above profits. That’s as plain as I can say it.

Here’s what I’d like to see:

…No drilling on State Game Lands or Forests. We have the responsibility, under the Commonwealth’s Constitution, to protect our natural resources.
…Disclosure of the chemical makeup of “fracking” compound. Regulators in the state of Wyoming now require this. And the energy industry in Wyoming has decided they can live with disclosure. It’s time we wake up and demand the same thing in Pennsylvania , too.
…No drilling within one mile of community drinking water supplies. Without full disclosure of the chemical makeup of fracking compounds, more distance needs to be placed between drill sites and water supplies.
…Instead of a severance tax, I propose what I call the “Mother Earth Safety Deposit.” Gas companies would pay Pennsylvania a per-well deposit for each well drilled. Interest earned from the well deposits would go solely to the Commonwealth. When the well is shut down, the deposit would be returned after the site is inspected and deemed safe. The gas companies would have a significant financial stake in safe drilling.

James O’Meara, Sr.

Kanjo flap

Some of my friends on the right have jumped all over Congressman Paul Kanjorski's latest episode of fumblemouth.


"We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now unfortunately," Kanjorski said. "But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people -- and they're not minorities and they're not defective and they're not all the things you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about -- these are average, good American people."

But if you watch the whole clip it doesn't sound that bad. I can't emded it right now but if you want to see it just copy this into your browser:

http://www.criticalmention.com/vg/congressmankanjorski/2010-06-24_cspan2
_0110.wmv

Lou Barletta wasted no time demanding an apology

Hazleton, PA – Hazleton Mayor and 11th Congressional District candidate Lou Barletta demanded that Paul Kanjorski apologize for comments he made during a U.S. House of Representatives hearing Wednesday in which he called some people “defective” and said minorities are not “good American people.”

Kanjorski said: "We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now, unfortunately. But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people – and they're not minorities and they're not defective and they're not all the things you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about – these are average, good American people.” [Emphasis added; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zU0pGyLo9A]

“Kanjorski must apologize for saying some people are ‘defective.’ He said Wednesday that ‘defective people’ are not ‘average, good American people,’ so who are ‘they?’” Mayor Barletta asked. “Also, Kanjorski, in his own words, said Wednesday that minorities are not ‘average, good American people.’ This is outrageous and shows how out of touch Kanjorski is with the real world.”

Congressman Kanjorski's office responded with this statement.

Congressman Kanjorski is tired of people, and too often Republicans,
criticizing solid and needed government programs that are meant to help
Americans who face tough economic times, often beyond their control, as
too many people are experiencing right now. In his impassioned plea for
conferees to adopt Pennsylvania's model program to help homeowners
facing foreclosure to stay in their homes, the Congressman was stating
that many people insinuate that those who benefit from government
programs are those not looking for jobs, but that those suggestions are
wildly inaccurate.

As Congressman Kanjorski stated, these programs are meant to help people
and families throughout the country who are unable to afford basic
necessities, including those in the Congressman's district in
Northeastern Pennsylvania who he hears from every day. Anyone trying to
politicize this issue clearly doesn't get it. Congressman Kanjorski is
fighting for all Americans who are struggling. Any statement saying
otherwise is grossly misinformed. The full video clip, rather than an
edited version, speaks for itself and doesn't take the Congressman's
remarks out of context.