A Correction

From a sharp eyed reader.


Hey Gort, I know you were probably going off of the article in the Times-Leader when you stated on your blog that Cong. Carney is "One of only two Members of Congress serving in uniform in the reserves...";however, that is factually incorrect. Carney and Kirk may be the only two Member of the U.S. House serving in uniform, but Sen. Lindsey Graham is also a reservist with the USAF Reserves

Tom

My apologies to Senator Graham for the omission.

From his bio:

Since 1995, Graham has continued to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is the only U.S. Senator currently serving in the Guard or Reserves. He is a colonel and is assigned as a Senior Instructor at the Air Force JAG School.

Carney taking fire from both sides

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Christopher Carney received word this week that he has been promoted from Lieutenant Commander to the rank of Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. One of only two Members of Congress serving in uniform in the reserves, Congressman Carney has been in the Navy Reserves since 1995 when he was commissioned as an Ensign. Carney was activated for Operations Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, and Enduring Freedom.

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I hope the Navy provided him with a flack jacket because he needs one.

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The Chris Hackett camp sent out a release today pointing out that he is having a big-dollar fundraising breakfast hosted by a Washington, DC lobbying firm whose major clients include the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, which has fought for placing tolls on Interstate I-80. The implication is that Carney is for tolling I-80 even though he is on the record as being opposed to it.

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On the same day that David Urban, the former chief of staff to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), is hosting the fundraiser for Rep. Chris Carney the GOP is having a shindig that includes Chris Hackett. The event is part of the Republican scheme called Regain Our Majority Program (ROMP) and TPM points out that Hackett is one of only two challengers that is listed on the program. I haven't seen the guest list for this event but I'm willing to wager a box of donuts that 5, 10, 50 or a few hundred lobbyist will be in attendance.

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Carney and Rep. Paul Kanjorski have been the target of robo calls and radio ads from an outfit called Freedom Watch which distorts the energy issue. They think we can just drill our way out of this mess. Another outfit called Freedom Works is planning to attend Carney's next town hall meeting:

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Representative Carney from PA will be making a Town Hall appearance on July 14. Also in attendance is local Freedom Works members from PA. They will be critiquing Carney on his support of the Mortgage Bailout Bill. Carney claims to be a Blue Dog Democrat, who espouse fiscal responsibility. Yet this bill raises the Federal deficit by $22 billion dollars. They will ask him what the deal is.

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Does every Republican front have Freedom in it's name?

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July 14, 2008 @ 10:00 am

WHERE: Middle Creek Community Center
67 Elm St .
Beaver Springs , PA

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On the other side Blue America PAC is still going after Carney over the FISA issue but this time strips any reference to my favorite cable company, Comcast. Who's trimming their sails now Howie? The last round of ads fell on deaf ears and was a big waste of money. If you want to meddle in Pennsylvania politics maybe you could put the money where it would do more good like shoring up Patrick Murphy, Joe Sestak or Allyson Schwartz.

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I've suggested a campaign song for Carney:

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Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You

Update:

Washington, D.C. Congressman Christopher P. Carney has issued the following statement opposing tolls for Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania.

"I oppose tolling I-80. While Pennsylvania roads and bridges are in need of repair, tolling places an undue burden on families, small businesses and local manufacturers. As we grow Pennsylvania's economy, we must do so in away that does not undercut our local economic base."

"There is clearly a critical need to rebuild the infrastructure in Pennsylvania, our roads and bridges are in dire need of repair. I look forward to working with our Governor to make sure that Pennsylvania transportation needs are being met."

Obama will accept the nomination at Mile High

The last time the Democratic Presidential candidate accepted the nomination in a big venue.

JFK's Acceptance Speech - Part 2

YouTube weekend

Everybody likes the Scissor Sisters


Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb

YouTube weekend

We took a bus trip to see th Phillies beat the Mets yesterday 3-2.


Centerfield

Happy 4th

BBQ

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We were invited to a BBQ with this guy today but like most people we would rather char animal flesh with the other one. This year we are skipping the traditional cook out and are going to see the Phillies play the Mets.

Flip of the spatula to DWT for the fun with photoshop.

Grow your own

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With high price of gas driving the cost of just about everything up, especially food, I've noticed that more people are planting vegetable gardens. We also decided to give it a try. The problem is everytime I start digging in the back yard I run into buried ashes and garbage that is not ideal soil for plants. So Mrs. G headed to the O'Malia Greenhouse and came back with some tomato plants in pots. Now we are looking forward to the fresh red fruit without the worry of Samonella

since the FDA has been so politicised as the rest of the government over the last 7 years that we can't count on the agency to protect the food supply.

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This is a family effort as we see Humphrey offering to water one of the tomato plants.

Enjoy the fireworks

A guest post

WHY DO THE PRISSY LIBERALS INSIST ON RUINING MY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

An Independence Day Message by Mean Old Man


Every July 4th God fearing, patriotic Americans gather to celebrate our glorious nation's independence. But lately the commie liberals have infiltrated this sacred holiday and I'm not happy!!!

In my day we knew what July 4th was all about. Of course, the celebrating didn't just start on the 4th. A few days before that you would head on downtown to the local firework merchant and pick up your roman candles, half sticks of dynamite, and a few concoctions that you really weren't too sure about (but always provided excitement when you lit them up). And it was a real family affair too, because every family had their own personal fireworks display in their backyard--not like the sissy organized commie displays today.
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Last year my goofy son Clay and his harlot wife dragged me and Thelma Jean along with their spoiled runts down to Kirby Park to see the fireworks display. God, I never saw such a gathering of wimps in my life!! And the minute I try to pop open a bottle of Steg to drown my sorrows, some cop comes up to me and tells me to pour it or he'll run me in. It was a good thing for him that I wasn't in a real bad mood because no patriotic American should let anyone get between him and his beer on the fourth of July!!! But being that it was one of the boys in blue, I let it slide.

The damned Kirby display wasn't anything like the displays me and my buddies grew up with. In the good old days we appreciated a fireworks display and like I said we had real "works" that were dangerous and made the day a challenge of fun and terror all in one!! Hell, when you arrived in the back yard you didn't know if you would return inside the house with all your body parts intact or not. Don't tell me that ain't fun!!! I remember on fourth when we convinced my dimwit buddy Gummo to take bets from all of us that he could hold a half stick of dynamite in his mouth until the fuse got near the base of the stick. We chipped in a quarter apiece betting that the schmuck would chicken out and throw the stick away first. Ol' Gummo if he was successful would have over a dollar in his pocket afterwards (when the Yankee dollar was worth something, before the liberals got a hold of it!). Anyway, I lit the fuse as poor Gummo stood there shaking like Louis Farrakhan at a KKK meeting. Well, as I figured, he chickened out and when the burning fuse was about a fourth of an inch from his mouth he pulled the stick out. What the dummy didn't realize was that the dynamite was all wet from his saliva; it became briefly lodged in his hand for a second (when you're dealing with dynamite, every second counts) and before he could throw it away it blew up!! I can still hear his screams of pain; his hand looked like it went through the corner butchers meat grinder. Ol' Gummo turned white as a sheet. The pain was killing him and Mom put some ice on the area where his full hand once was; we didn't go to prissy emergency rooms in those days--we lived with our pain!!! But you know what? Gummo wasn't complaining; he knew that was the price of fooling around on the fourth--- and he loved it!!!! And to top it all of, the only finger that was left on his hand was the middle one. So good ol'could Gummo flip someone and get away with it because he has no other fingers!!! And he enjoys doing that a lot, especially at VFW meetings. What a guy.

But I guess it's asking too much for today's wimpy kids to have the kind of fun that me, Gummo, and my buddies had. Hell, if a little liberal tyke grabs hold of one of those sissy sparklers his yuppie parents are ready to cart him to therapy for fear he'll become a firebug. Damn!!!!
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So all you goofball, dumbell liberals; have a nice Fourth of July. Enjoy your commie chinese fireworks that don't work. Enjoy your Zima, don't get your Dockers dirty. And don't forget to tighten that leash on your kids so they can't break loose and have some fun. As for me, I'm popping open a Steg, retrieving some of the old dynamite that I have left over from my days on the railroad, filling up the ol' Zippo, and having a patriotic grand ol' time. Hell, maybe even ol' Gummo will pop on over and take another stab at the dynamite trick.

That's my 4th; That's my America!!!
I hate you all!!!!!!!

More Carney Republicans

The DCCC sent me this story from Roll Call.

Ex-Specter Aide Fundraising for Carney (subscription only and I'm too cheap to buy one)

A former chief of staff to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) is hosting a fundraiser for vulnerable freshman Rep. Christopher Carney (D-Pa.).

David Urban served as the Republican Senator’s top aide for five years before joining the American Continental Group in 2002. The $1,000-a-head fundraising breakfast for Carney is scheduled for July 16 at the lobbying firm’s offices in downtown Washington , D.C.

“While I’m a Republican, I like to think I support solid candidates,” Urban said in an interview. “[Carney] is a conservative Democrat ... who deserves to be given another shot.”

Roll Call lists the many Republicans he has contributed to in the past along with a a few Democrats. His bio on the ACG website says he's a graduate of West Point who was an artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division and was awarded the Bronze Star in combat operations against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.

A few weeks ago the Carney camp rolled out some local Republicans that support him and many of them were part of the 2006 Republicans for Carney group. Our newest local political blogger, Local Values, did some research on Open Secrets and points out that some of these people actually gave money to some Democrats. I was shocked by that revelation because I know that no true Republican could ever donate to Democrats except maybe Chris Hackett and Dan Meuser.

The difference this time is that many Meuser supporters just won't forgive Chris Hackett for what they perceive as his unfair negative campaign.

CV: All of the Republicans who attended Monday’s event said they support Mr. Carney for his “positions” or “values.” Many said they voted for the Dimock Township Democrat in 2006. But, at least one, Tom O’Neil, of Northmoreland, said he couldn’t support Mr. Hackett after his “negative” and “outrageous” primary campaign. Mr. O’Neil, a former two-term city councilman in McKeesport, helped campaign for Mr. Meuser in the primary.


“Mr. Hackett, you’re as much a conservative as Britney Spears is a model for motherhood,” Mr. O’Neil said.

This Republican support for Carney does come with a price. My friends in the lefty blogosphere were already mad at him over some other issues like the Hate Crimes Bill and Iraq. Down With Tyranny even lead an effort to finance ads that ran in the district about his FISA vote that fell on deaf ears that I thought was big waste of money. When I asked Carney about the ad campaign he told me he wasn't worried about it; "It doesn't hurt me to be slapped around by the left."

DWT has some serious disagreements :

Carney, who once worked for war criminal Doug Feith and helped cook the books on prewar intelligence, "shares their values." He is anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-war, pro-warrantless spying on American citizens, in favor of abolishing the estate tax for multimillionaires and an advocate of the GOP plan to undermine and wreck Social Security. No wonder Republicans like him. Their own candidate, Chris Hackett is even worse than Carney.

On a related note Jonathan Tallman has started a blog in support of Chris Hackett.

Pennsylvania budget

For the first time in a while the Governor (Ed Rendell) and the state legislature agreed on a budget for the Commonwealth before the deadline of July 1st. Both sides got some of want they wanted with Rapid Edward and the Democrats getting more money for education and an obscene amount of borrowing for a long wish list and the Republicans can point out the plan doesn't have any tax increases.

This item irks me: $800 million from slot-machine revenues for dams and water and sewer facilities. We were told that tax revenue from the slots would be used to lower school property taxes with some allowance to offset the local costs of hosting the casinos. Now with this new pool of new money every politician and others can't resist the temptation to spend it on something else. Some people with a history of getting local governments to finance their ventures are even proposing to use $250 million of slots money to guarantee a bond issue to build a cargo airport near Hazleton that no shipping company will commit to using.

Thanks to Capitol Ideas for his heroic coverage of the budget negotiations over the weekend. It probably involved too much stale coffee, fast food and antacids.

Slow news day 2

And stop the presses before you tell us something that we already know like Chris Hackett has more money than Chris Carney.

Chris Hackett’s assets more than 10 to 20 times Chris Carney’s

According to the story Carney collects his salary and owns a house. While Hackett collects a salary from only one of his many companies and lists the rest of his income as coming from investments. When asked about Hackett spending his own money in the race spokesman Mark Harris said he didn’t anticipate Hackett spending money in the general election.

Which is a little different than what he told me a few days ago:

Chris has made no decisions yet about the extent of personal funds we'll use, and that option is very much on the table.

Update from Mark Harris:

Gort, just to clear up our position has remained the same on Chris’s personal contributions. Coulter just worded it awkwardly.

Slow news day

A story in the CV yesterday said Luzerne Commssioner Greg Skrenenak is finding that it's lonely under the dome without his buddies.

A nice exchange between him and Maryanne Petrilla.

"I thought that I would be more of a partner, rather than one of three independent commissioners, and my suggestions have fallen by the waste side.”


“If Greg Skrepenak is upset Sam Guesto is no longer the chief clerk, that’s too bad.”


And the latest for what passes as a scandal in Wilkes-Barre.


Parking lot treatment upsets patrons

Carney and Hackett respond to FEC v. Davis

The Supreme Court ruled in FEC v. Davis that the "millionaire's amendment" of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law was unconstitutional saying it violated free-speech protections.

In my last post on this subject I asked both Chris Carney and Chris Hackett to comment on the decision.

From Congressman Carney:

"I come from a background with a strong sense of service. It has carried me through the Navy and it compelled me to run for Congress. For me, being a Member of Congress is about doing what is right, working hard and being accountable. This race has never been about who is personally wealthy and who is not, but about who understands how hard it can be to afford health care, take care of an aging parent, and find a good-paying job in tough times like these."

Spokesman Mark Harris for the Hackett camp:

"Most of the recent laws passed by Congress under the guise of "campaign finance reform" are really aimed at restricting free speech in the cause of incumbent protection. Washington politicians certainly don't like when ordinary citizens are permitted to criticize their actions. The Supreme Court's decision was the right one, consistent with the bedrock First Amendment principle of political free speech. As for our campaign, Chris has made no decisions yet about the extent of personal funds we'll use, and that option is very much on the table. The Court ruling will have no bearing on our decision in this regard."

YouTube weekend

George Carlin RIP

When I was in high school the Vice-Principle was a guy named Al Sallit. Whenever I saw him in the hallway I would ask him "how's the weather, Mr. Sallit?" He never got the joke.

I've been using this routine ever since I first heard it.

Tonight's forecast is dark, turning to widely scattered light...and if you look at our weather map you'll see that we don't have one.


George Carlin 'The Hippy Dippy Weatherman'






George Carlin at the Tonight Show (1966)





JediMaster has his favorite Carlin routine explaining religion.

Dan Meuser

I got an email yesterday from Dan Meuser inviting me to have lunch with John McCain when he visits Wilkes-Barre on July 23rd. It didn't say where or what time but said seating was limited to 200 people for the low price of $250. I hope to get a press pass to the event.

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The mouthpiece for the NRCC, Ken Spain, was on a local radio show yesterday spouting the usual half truths and distortions about Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney that went unchallenged by the host.

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He also praised Dan Meuser for running a good campaign then said something about the 10th CD race that was news to me . I'm paraphrasing;

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The day after the primary Dan Meuser reached out to Chris Hackett and offered him his support.

As far as I know Dan Meuser has not endorsed Hackett. Did I miss something? What can you tell me Eric, Mark, David, Kar, Zen, Bob, Scott, RW, Sassy, Chris and Dan.

10th Pennsyvania CD update

I haven't written much about this race since the primary which has put this blog's unofficial title of the "de-facto McLaughlin Group" for the 10th District in danger.
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Today's big news that affects this race is a Supreme Court decision that hasn't got much attention because of the court ruling on guns that both Chris Carney and Chris Hackett support.
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The Supreme Court yesterday ruled in FEC v. Davis that the "millionaire's amendment" of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law was unconstitutional saying it violated free-speech protections.
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The Millionaires' Amendment is a provision of the McCain–Feingold Act that is designed to level the playing field when someone is able to spend large amounts of their own money in a federal election. If someone drops $350,000 of spare change into their own house campaign the contribution limits are tripled for the opponent and the national and state party's may make unlimited coordinated expenditures on behalf of the candidate.
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This is good news for Chris Hackett. In the primary Hackett spent $930,000 of his own money to beat Dan Meuser who spent twice that much from his piggy bank.
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I've asked both campaigns to comment on this decision of the Supreme Court and will post the responses without comment when I get them.

Bonds, Luzerne County bonds

Bond issue nets county $72.3 M

County closes on $87M+ bond deal

I know that you have to borrow money to pay for things you can't pay for today (house, car, appliances) but will be able to pay off in a reasonable period of time and government has to do the same thing. The trick is not to get in over your head and don't borrow for things you want instead of what you need. That's why I have a problem with this latest bond issue. The last time I checked Luzerne County was on the hook for over $300 million in principle and interest payments over the next 20 years. Remember that a bond is only a loan against future taxes. The list of projects in the TL doesn't have many details on what the money will spent on and the Luzerne County Commissioners in the past have had a bad habit of borrowing money for one purpose and spending it on another. Shall I remind you of one thing that is in the news:

In 2003 $9 million was borrowed to build a new for a new county-owned juvenile detention facility. It was never built because the Bond Brothers (Skrep and Vondy) decided to sign a 20 year $58 million lease with a private company, PA Child Care, that was owned by a business partner of a couple of local judges. Instead of returning the money or holding on to it to deal with a future emergency that eventually came they spent it on other projects.

Good news Penn State fans

And the whole Big Ten.

Via I’ve Made a Huge Tiny Mistake

Comcast, Big Ten reach pay-TV deal

The nation’s biggest cable company and the Big Ten Network reached a deal today that will put the new college sports channel in millions of Comcast Corp. homes in Pennsylvania and other states.

The Big Ten Network will launch on the Comcast network on Aug. 15, in time for the Penn State football season.

Last year 3 PSU games were on The Big Ten Network forcing me to abandon the comfort of my recliner to seek out a watering hole with a dish package that carried them. As luck would have it the one place that I've found that had the games was Big Ugly's in Wilkes-Barre which is owned by Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak's dad. I didn't run into Skrep on those Saturday's because he was probably home watching Michigan on ABC.

Now the question is will I need a box to tune them in?

McCain coming to Wilkes-Barre

CV: McCain, R-Ariz., will host a question-and-answer luncheon and fundraiser in the Wilkes-Barre area on July 23, former 10th Congressional District Republican candidate Dan Meuser said. Meuser, who lost the GOP primary to Chris Hackett, will serve as general chairman of that event.“I was told he wants to be able to meet with as many people in the area as possible,” Meuser said. “Right now all I know for sure is I’m going to be the general chairman of one event in Wilkes-Barre, and that they want to host another event somewhere else either before or after the lunch.”The events’ times and locations have not been set, Meuser said.

The Yonk has two good questions: how much will it cost and what kind of seat will Chris Hackett get?

According to last 2 polls from Rasmussen and Quinnipiac Obama is up in Pennsylvania by 4 to 12 points so we can expect both candidates to visit us many times before November. For a rundown on all the state by state polls check out my new favorite electoral college tracking site FiveThirty Eight. The cross tabs from the Q poll shows Obama leading in NEPA 46-42%.

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In other Presidential news Hillary and Barry have kissed and made up and will campaign together in Unity, NH. From the newspaper in Barre,VT: The location, announced Monday, was chosen not only for the symbolism of its name, but because each candidate received exactly 107 votes there in the Jan. 8 primary.

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BTW Barre, VT is named after Isaac Barre just as Wilkes-Barre is and they pronounce it berry. I know, I've been there.

I'm Gort Hussein Sidney Fortytwo and I approved this message

I'm getting a real tickle over the feigned outrage of my friends on the right who are blasting Barrack Obama's decision to forgo public financing in the General Election. These are the same people who hate public financing of elections and have a special touch of venom for the McCain–Feingold Act. Never mind that McCain took public financing in the primaries then opted out which is a questionable legal decision.

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I think a president must adjust to circumstances and do whatever it takes to win. With 1.5 million donors averaging $90 it's hard to argue that this isn't a publicly financed campaign.

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Ann Althouse puts it best:

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It's fine with me. I don't like the campaign finance scheme. And I like a practical politician who adjusts to changing circumstances. It's good news that he's not an ideologue. I don't think he's going to lose the people who fell in love with him as a vision of idealism. I think he's going to gain moderate people like me who want an effective, sensible leader.

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It will take a lot of money to run in all fifty states that the Obama campaign plans to do. He is running ads in traditional Republican states like North Dakota and Indiana. Ive even seen polling numbers that show him down by only 4 in Alaska and competitive in Texas. I just linked to an AP story, I hope I don't get sued.

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Then there is the internet smears. He's a muslim that won't say the pledge and took the oath of office on a Koran, etc. The latest one cherrypicks passages of his books that is refuted here.

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Christopher Beam at Slate came up with a brilliant counter to the bullshit.:

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Rather than restate untruths about Obama, the campaign would do better to start some rumors of its own.

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There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American's duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There's only one artist on Barack Obama's iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH

Barack Obama's skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.

YouTube weekend

Colbert and the Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster

YouTube weekend

California dreaming.

Melissa Etheridge - Like The Way I Do

YouTube weekend

California dreaming

Best wishes to my happy friends.


Mr. Sulu get's married

George Takei of "Star Trek" plunked down $70 for the first same-sex marriage license issued in this gay mecca yesterday and turned to the crowd, beaming.

"Congratulations to all of us, and may equality live long and prosper," the actor said, borrowing a phrase from the days he played the Enterprise's Mr. Sulu.

"This means so much in terms of civil rights," said the 71-year-old Japanese-American who, as a child, was forced into a World War II internment camp.

"America really can change," he said.

I bet he's dancing.

Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing

Sleep well

Top to bottom, left to right: Senior Judge Michael T. Conahan, Pennsylvania Child Care owners Robert Powell and Greg Zapalla, Luzerne County President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella , Prothonotary Jill A. Moran, Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid.

Feds raid Courthouse annex

Send lawyers, guns and money The shit has hit the fan-Warren Zevon

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WILKES-BARRE – The Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant on the Luzerne County Juvenile Probation Department on Thursday morning, seizing financial records related to placement of juveniles at the PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care centers formerly owned by attorney Robert Powell.

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Agents search county juvenile probation offices

Powell's business partners are Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan who have been sending kids to the place since Conahan decided that the old facility on River Street wasn't up to snuff.

"Lawyers, Guns and Money" by Warren Zevon

Barletta's 1st ad

Don't look for it on TV. Lou Barletta doesn't have a whole lot of money relative to Congressman Paul Kanjorski's campaign ($185K to $2M) so he answers with a YouTube ad.


Esperé hasta el final del discurso para darle la única razón por la que estoy corriendo para el Congreso.



Lou Barletta: "El cambio está en camino!"

Kanjo's 1st TV ad

Kanjorski launches TV effort

In the first major thrust of what is expected to be a hard-fought contest, U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski’s re-election campaign is scheduled to begin airing commercials today on the four local major network television affiliates. 'Mr. Kanjorski bought a week’s worth of air time on WNEP, WBRE, WYOU and WOLF — totaling $36,015 and 127 commercials — according to records at the stations.


Paul Kanjorski - "Home"

Pennsylvania 11th CD poll

According to a Harrisburg Republican outfit that I've never heard of Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has a lead over incumbent Democratic Congressman Paul Kanjorski 47%-42% with 11% for other (Kurt Shotko ?). Danny points out the small sample of 400 likely voters with a margin of error of 4.9% which makes it a statistical tie. Without the methodology and cross tabs it's hard to decide if this is a valid picture of the race. It's not uncommon for a campaign to put out favorable poll numbers in a race whatever the source. Barletta's campaign claims that the DCCC also has done some polling but they won't release the results and Kanjo's campaign manager, Ed Mitchell, is mum.

Capitol Ideas reports that Paul Kanjorski has bought a mess of television time in his re-election battle with El Alcalde de Hazleton, Lou Barletta starting today.

Health Care Rally on Public Square

PR: This notice is posted to advise of the June 19, day of protest against the health insurance companies. Pennsylvania seems to be the state with the most activity for the rallies. There are events scheduled for Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Lancaster.
In Pennsylvania we are using the day to promote the PA Single Payer legislation, HR 1660 and SB 300. If passed this legislation would create a single payer system in Pennsylvania and put Blue Cross, and all health insurance companies, out of business.

In Wilkes-Barre we are having a rally and a press conference, and we are marching to our local Blue Cross office to protest. We have strong support from the PA Association of Staff Nurses, Wyoming Valley Labor Council, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, and the Luzerne County Green Party. This is a profound opportunity for Pennsylvania to fix health care properly.

The W-B event will take place at noon on the 19th on Public Square.

More info at NEPA Organizing Center

The Pennsylvania Progressive has the details of rallies that are scheduled all over the state:

Health Care Rallies June 19th

100 years in Iraq

Not Alex

Reassessment in Luzerne County

We got our notices and I just about fell over. The taxes on our home are estimated to triple and our rental properties will double. I've known for a long time that we have been paying less than we should since the value formula dates back to 1965 but that's a little hard to take.

The market values they assigned to our properties are in line with the appraisals I had done a few years ago when I was was doing one of my wrap around financing deals so I don't think I have good grounds to appeal. I did find a one mistake in that one side of the the double block we own was valued higher than the other by a few thousand dollars and they are mirror images. I may ask for an informal review but they may just say I'm right and raise the value of the lesser side.

The thing I don't understand is how they translated the values into taxes since the notice doesn't break down township, county and school taxes. Are they using the same millage? According to this story in the TL: County officials said millage rates must drop dramatically when the new assessed values take effect next year. That goes for school districts, the county and municipalities.
For example, the county millage, currently at 94.9 mills, is expected to drop to about 5 mills after the reassessment. A mill is $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property. That means someone with a home worth $150,000 after reassessment would pay $750 in county taxes at 5 mills.

When I did some quick math that makes a big difference and shows we may not get whacked as bad as the notice says. I haven't decided what to do about this, if anything.

The Yonk responded to my blogger call to swarm about this subject which I wasn't able to do yesterday as did Mark.

Earlier some of our local scribes sounded off on this subject:

Zen-Why hasn't anybody asked the question?

NEPALibWatch-Welcome to Luzerne County, bend over please.

Politics in Northeast Pennsylvania -Reassessment Botched?


A common theme of my fellow bloggers is that we just don't trust anything that the county does. We're willing to pay our fair share but will everyone else?

YouTube weekend

Waterboys • The Whole of the Moon • 1985 Concert

Happy Fathers Day

TO HELL WITH TODAY’S WIMPY FATHERS! I WANT FATHERS DAY BACK THE WAY IT USED TO BE

An exclusive Father’s Day message by Mean Old Man

I’m angrier than Barack Obama at a bowling tournament over the way today’s so called fathers have become such a bunch of panty wastes!! The other day, I was taking a brisk walk around my goofy son Clay’s neighborhood (Thelma Jean and I went to his house for dinner [no doubt, the meal was bought pre-prepared at one of those commie grocery stores] and I needed to get away from my screechy voiced daughter in law) when I saw a sight that made my jaw drop. This guy is toting this little runt around in a carriage!! I swear I nearly dropped from a stroke!!! Of course, I shouldn’t have been surprised since this feminizing of fathers has been going on little by little for the past twenty years—and now It’s too late to do anything about it.

I remember my old man; Pops was something else. For one thing, he wouldn’t have been caught dead pushing me in a baby carriage. Fact is, the closest pops came to that was when I was on my tricycle in front of a barrel of beer bottles at the lodge picnic and Ol' Pop’s pushed me out of the way to grab a beer to cool his dry throat. I ended up speeding downhill faster than Dale Earnhardt Jr. and straight into a pile of folding chairs. All of the chairs fell on top of me (good ol’ hardwood American Made chairs, not the commie plastic stuff you have today); I had a gash on my head the size of a steer and my foot was so swollen that I couldn’t walk on it for two weeks. I cried myself to sleep that night from the pain. God, how I miss those days, and how I miss my Pop. What a guy!!!! But don't even dare try to show a little runt today the joys of pain; just whack one of them slightly on the backside and you'll be in a state prison for 25 years. Thanks liberals---DAMN!!!!!

Dads have made it easy on their wives today and they have no idea what Fathers Day is all about. Of course, the commies at N.O.W. wouldn't have it any other way. When those subversive broads were talking about the ERA years ago what they really meant was equal rights for WOMEN ONLY!!! Whatever happened to the days when a woman appreciated a good ol' ironing board at Christmas, or a new pot holder for her birthday?? Now, it's the guy who gets these woman's gifts--and in my America that just isn't right!!!

When I put a wedding band on my lovely Thelma Jean she had only one thing to worry about; having kids and taking care of them and cleaning the house and making sure my dinner was on the table after work. Okay, that's more than one thing, but shut up!!! Women today want it all; they want jobs and equality and all the perks that used to belong to the man of the house. Damn!!!!

So, all you prissy fathers out there, how about getting yourselves a bit of guts and tell the little woman to quit her job, get rid of the Hillary Clinton pant suits and learn how to cook!!! Then maybe you yourselves can put the pants on and go out and find a real man's job--not sissy househusbandry.

To all the manly men out there, have a Happy Father's Day. If you raised your kids the right way like I did, then I doubt they are coming over the house to see you (damned ungrateful hippies!); but do as I do; take a seat in your easy chair, pop open a Steg, light a lucky, and put the mellow sounds of Andy Williams on the ol' victrola. As for the sissy househusband fathers (?) out there, well, I'm sure you'll be too busy cooking and cleaning to enjoy the day.

Happy Father's Day Schmucks! I hate you all!!!!


P.S. If anyone tells Thelma Jean about this column, you're going to get it!!!!!!!!

YouTube weekend

Our friend the Attic Drummer

YouTube weekend

Michelle sent me this

I'm Voting Republican

Kanjo responds

"There is absolutely no truth to this idle rumor. I am vigorously campaigning for reelection, as my schedule reflects, and am very confident the voters of the 11th District will return me to Congress so I can continue standing up for them on the important issues of our times." --Paul Kanjorski

Chris Doherty for Congress? Part Deux

Pennsylvania 11th District Congressman Paul Kanjorski has had a bad few weeks courtesy of Fox News and YouTube.

Now the rumors have started again. From the inbox:

My xxx is a xxx with Congressman Kanjorski in DC... He told me today that 1) the Congressman will not be on the ballot in November and 2) he wants Chris Doherty to replace him. I don't know the Democratic party procedure for dealing with this sort of thing but presumably the Congressman will get his way because his/ the DCCC's internals are low and Rahm Emanuel and co. would be happy to have Kanjo out of the picture.

According to xxx, Kanjo already mentioned this scenario to Doherty, but Doherty wouldn't commit to anything--he just said something like, I'm running for reelection and don't think about hypotheticals.

It started with Kanjo giving an honest assessment of what happened in 2006 then Politics in Northeast Pennsylvania found this about the surge in Iraq.

The Fox News piece rehashing the Cornerstone thing got NEPALibWatch all excited.

Then there is this:

Congressman Kanjorski doesn't apologize to anyone





This has come up before:

Chris Doherty for Congress


Rumors and gossip

Take the money and run

Robert Powell, the owner of PA Child Care and good buddy of Luzerne County Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan announced that his partner has bought out his interest in the Pittston Twp juvi jail. He also announced that he is out of the Hazleton Cargo Airport business that will probably never fly. The papers keep saying that PA Child Care has made "millions of dollars" off the county and now the FBI and IRS are on his ass along with a few of our esteemed jurists so it was probably a good business move to preserve his assets just in case the feds rake him over the coals.

John McCain said what?

McCain "I will veto every single beer "






Fortunately we have Presidential candidate that doesn't threaten our malted beverage supply.


Tip of the pint to Daily Kos for the image.

The jury is out

Democratic Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla has been getting some high marks from some of my friends lately. She has been joining with GOP Commissioner Steve Urban in making all the right noises about the countless scandals that have come to light over the last year. But what action has she taken?

She called for an investigation of Judges Mark A. Ciavarella and Michael Conahan business relationship with PA Child Care owner and Cargo Airport builder Robert Powell after it was widely known that the FBI and IRS had already launched a probe.


She called for Sam Guesto's head when it was revealed that he was strong arming county prison officials not to bid out items that were previously bid and deciding on his own to build a bigger prison. Not to mention the Debit Card Debacle. But Guesto has a job with the courts now and his boss is Ciavarella who says he's doing a great job. I have an idea, since this newly created court director job was invented for him after his position as chief clerk became untenable how about the salary board meet and eliminate the job.

The prison board suspended Warden Gene Fischi and the Purchasing Director for a week for violating the county bidding policy and possibly breaking state law. They should have been fired. Some sort of secret police organization is supposed to be investigating this mess according to DA Jackie MO.

And why does Sam Hyder still have a job on the public payroll?

Remember when Controller Steve Flood was screaming about the 20 year lease with PA Child Care and a bunch of other things. He was making too much noise and asking uncomfortable questions so he had to to go. So the County Dems recruited Maryanne Petrilla to take him out in the Primary of 2005. In her 2 years as Luzerne County Controller I don't remember her making any waves except for auditing the Republican Row Officers and even then she didn't find much wrong.

With all that said I hope that she does kick ass and takes names but I'm a cynical old bastard that has to see results.

Modified Limited Hang Out

When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal- Richard Nixon

Tell that to Dennis Kucinich.

I've been a lazy blogger for about 2 weeks because of a number of reasons which I won't bore you with. So lazy I couldn't even finish this post on Monday. Now I have this guy needling me and acting like Torquemada.


Now back to business.

The Triple Crown

There only has been 11 horses that have won the Triple Crown and just 20 who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but lost in the Belmont Stakes. There were 3 that took the prize in the 1970's, Secretariat 1973, Seattle Slew 1977 and Affirmed 1978 and before that the last triple crown winner was Citation in 1948. It looks like there is a thirty year cycle to this so Big Brown just might make history this Saturday.


The Saturday OT Committee and Operatic Society will gather to watch the Belmont Stakes at the usual place and time; Saturday, 4PM at Marks Pub 1287 N Washington St, Wilkes-Barre (map it).

I know I've ignored local issues lately and haven't been blogging as much as usual but I have an excuse. I hope to be back to normal next week.



This pic of Rapid Edward and Barbaro (below) is one of our favorites:

Comment Policy

I don't have one. I do ask that people refrain from attacking candidates families or accusing someone with a crime without proof. Swearing and vulgarity are OK but it is usually senseless. Words like d*bag and c**** are unnecessary when nicknames are usually more effective.

Nicknames are easy

Gov. Rendell-Rapid Edward, not fast Eddie

Vondy and Skrep-The Bond Brothers. Do I have to explain?

And so on

Yes We Can

The next President of the United States


Barack Obama Democratic Nomination Victory Speech






The sore loser

Cartoon via Truth, Justice & Peace

A guest post

I've been taking a bit of a break the last few days so a reader picks up the slack.

Hey G-man, If you revisit the Presidential race, and Steve Corbett's histrionics, here's my e-mail to Corbett, which you can do with whatever you wish:

Corbett-

I don't know why you've decided that in order to support Sen. Clinton, you feel it's necessary to denigrate people who voted for Sen. Obama.

Let me tell you something. I'm not anything like a"party boss" trying "push someone through." Neither am I a pawn, dutifully doing whatever those aformentioned"party bosses" tell me. Nor do I conform to your latest caricature, as someone who's mentality will only allow them to support someone who can be successfully intimidated and told what to do.

I am a voter. I am a member of the Democratic Party for more than 20 years. I am someone who gives careful consideration to my vote. Every time, for every office in every election.

More recently, I'm the father of a 10-month old son,who makes all important decisions with the face of my son firmly planted in my mind, and his future as my one overriding concern. In particular, when I make a decision about something as important as my vote for the next President of the United States, I do so upon serious reflection on what kind of world and what kind of America I want my son to grow up in.

And it was with my son's image, as he is now, and all the potential that he has to be in future, that I cast my vote for Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary. I was not pushing anyone aside. I was not doing what I was told. I was voting for my son's future.

So you can dismiss that, and diminish it, and run it down all you want. And you can deny that's what you're doing, if you like. But the truth is clear.

I pledged long ago, as an Obama supporter, to shift that support to Hillary Clinton if she won the nomination. I would accept the result of the process,even if it wasn't the one I'd been hoping for.But go ahead, please, keep insulting me and my vote and my motivations and my sincerity. You may convince me yet that the best course of action is to insist that it's my candidate or nobody.

Peace.

Vic

I listened to Corbett for about 4 minutes yesterday hoping he would be covering a local topic but when it was just the same old whoring for Hillary BS I switched back to ESPN radio for the rest of my commute. Last week he had a couple of great shows covering reassessment and our esteemed Luzerne County jurists that I enjoyed and hope he gets back to local issues.


NEPAConseravtive was also listening and had some fun with photoshop:







Hillary won Puerto Rico Sunday in a big way with a whopping 16% turnout. Yawn. The island doesn't even have Republican or Democratic party's. Kos asks why does Puerto Rico have more delegates than 27 states. Tomorrow South Dakota and Montana will chose fewer delegates than Puerto Rico but they have electoral votes and Obama is expected to win both.
.

From KP: the Uncommitted Delegates will have to make a choice this week.
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Holdouts ready to choose
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It looks like that by the end of the week Barry will have enough delegates to claim the nomination and I think the General Election won't even be close. The election will be a referendum on Bush and the Republican mismanagement of the last 7 years.

If this is not done this week and Hillary wants to go on to the convention a West Wing writer offers a possible scenario:
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Four Days in Denver