Big day for the local GOP

RNC Chairman Michael Steele cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Luzerne County Republican HQ in the Midtown Plaza in Wilkes-Barre yesterday.

Coulter Jones in the Citizen Voice had this observation:

Media and the public were not allowed to attend the event, which was held before a three-hour "open house" for the public...Steele, who took over as chairman in January, attended a luncheon prior to his speech with several people who have made large donations to the Republican National Committee.

National GOP chief opens county HQ from the TL


The office is capable of handling a 24-line phone bank, providing campaign space for local, county, state and federal candidates to speak to the public and distributing countless fliers.
The headquarters also includes office space for Luzerne County Republican Party Executive Director Renita Fennick and Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Director Jon Hopcraft of the state Republican Party.
Registered Republicans can became Club GOP members if they donate $50 or more annually to help keep the offices open.


The Luzerne County Republican Party sent me a press release which I would publish but it was a PDF instead of a Word Document and it would take me about 16 steps to put it on the blog.

They also had Karl Rove speak to the faithful a few months ago.

Update: The Luzerne County GOP press release

WILKES-BARRE -- Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele gave a pep talk to party faithful at Wednesday’s grand opening of the Luzerne County Republican Party headquarters on South Main Street.
Steele cut a red, white and blue ribbon and spoke to members of Club GOP, a newly formed grassroots organization designed to support the county GOP.
“This place is more than just four walls, fluorescent lights and a flag,” Steele said. “It’s where the Republican Party of Luzerne County will grow.”The local GOP’s permanent headquarters will house the offices of Executive Director Renita Fennick, and Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Director Jon Hopcraft of the state GOP. It will provide a meeting and campaign area for local, county, state and federal candidates and will feature a 24-line phone bank to assist with campaign efforts.
Steele urged party workers to come out and support the party and the candidates in the Nov. 3 election and said the timing was good for the GOP.
“Don’t believe it when they say the Republican Party is the party of no,” Steele said. “Our record is good. The opportunity is right.”
Steele, who was elected chairman of the national GOP in January, mingled with members of the ClubGOP during a private reception.

Sports weekend

Penn State won it's first game over the Akron Zips 31-7. Most rabid Nittany Lion fans thought it should have been a lot worse.

The defense was solid as expected but the offense misfired all day after getting a lead. The thing that worries me was the inability to run the ball but we may find out that Akron's defensive is better than expected. As all college football fans know the biggest improvement happens between the 1st and 2nd week. Syracuse lost a close one to Minnesota but I expect the Lions to handle them.

Oklahoma lost a close one to BYU 14-13 and their Heisman Trophy QB went down. They will bounce back against Idaho State next week. Navy gave Ohio State a game but came up short. Maybe this is the year that Navy finally beats Notre Dame. We are looking forward to November 7 when the Lions take on the Buckeyes and I hope there are not any surprises before that. This weekend Ohio State plays USC at home. I don't understand why Big Ten and Pac 10 teams play each other in the regular season because if you win your conference you will get to meet in the Rose Bowl.

The other service acadamies won their openers. Army 27, E. Michigan 14 Air Force 72, Nicholls St. 0

Being an Air Force vet I always want to see the Falcons win the Commander in Chief's Trophy.

The Phillies continue to piss me off, like that's news. They get swept by the Astros. You got to score some runs guys. Cliff Lee got clobbered again and Brad Lidge blew his 10th save on Saturday. Even when he actually saves a game it is an adventure. How may teams can put up with a closer that has a 7.15 ERA and 0-7 record.

The State University of New Jersey (birthplace of college football) got shellacked by Cincinnati 47-15. I guess I like Rutgers because they were so bad for so long and it's good to see a program turn it around. Hear that Temple! They have upgraded the stadium and filled the seats for the opener. I would go to see a game in Piscataway but I have made it a policy to never go to New Jersey on purpose. There is a reason why the Statue of Liberty has her back to the place.

Quincy's weekend of destruction

Mrs. G reminds me that it has been 8 months of destruction.

We have so many toys laying around the house you would think that we are running a day care but that's not good enough.

Yesterday he got a hold of the trash can lid (above) and made short work of it. He also got into a laundry basket and now we are are short a pair of Mrs. G's pajamas, 3 pairs of socks, bras, underwear and many other items of clothing. When he gets a hold of something that he knows he shouldn't have he likes to show it to you so it turns into a game of chase.




With all the rain lately the Q likes to dig a hole during a cloudburst. The last time he did it was just after I cleaned the porch so when he got done digging he trashed my nice clean porch.

For the most part the Q has been a good puppy. He knows his commands, is good on a leash and behaves well when supervised. It's just when you are not paying attention that he is a menace.

For example, he just came down to the Gort42 Command Bunker and immediately grabbed an important piece of paper that I was able to get back after a few minutes. After that crises passes I relaxed and he got something else. He just went back upstairs so I locked the door behind him.

After the dirt fell off he hung around with the cat on the mud covered porch.

More Quincy pix on my Facebook page.

What's your sign

The other day Sue Henry on WILK suggested that I check out a political sign at the end of Madison St in Wilkes-Barre just before North St. This piqued the interest of Facebook pal David Wayne of David@DavidWaynePhotography.net who took this picture.

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Tom Witts is a candidate for city council in Snelville, GA. Why somebody on Madison Street has a yard sign for a local candidate in Georgia is anybody's guess. Maybe some of my North End readers will get on their bikes, ask some questions and report back.

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According to his website Tom Witts is a big fan of yard signs. I would appreciate your support by allowing me to come by and place one in your front yard.

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Well Tom, you are certainly welcome to put one in my yard and I will even take a picture and urge all voters in Luzerne County, PA to support your election.

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You have a friend in Pennsylvania.

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Update: I learn things with your help.

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Tom is a native of Carbondale who left the area in 1966 to serve in the the US Navy. After his service he built a successful business in Florida then relocated to Geogia.

YouTube weekend

I told you I was tuning in Madonna. Hard to beat this entrance

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Don't worry, next weekend it will be the Sex Pistols

Free the Uighurs

How the U.S. Betrayed the Uighurs

Intellectuals Call for Release of Uighur

Breathing fire

Uighurs set for islands

One crime

So far about a dozen public officials have been charged with committing crimes in office in Luzerne County. Most of them have been charged with just one count of corruption which begs the question "What else has been going on?"

Multi-party Bob/Youtube weekend

There are so many things that I want to write about but I caught the dreaded drombone of head colds so I'm just going to use Youtube videos to make my point. Maybe I will have to go before one of Obama's Death Panel's to decide if my life is worth saving.

Mericle pleads guilty

He gives a $1 million "finder's fee" to a judge on a $6 million building project and that is OK according to the US Attorney's Office and faces maybe 4 months in jail despite that the fact that he lied to the FBI and IRS but he is "cooperating" with the investigation. Such fargon BS and it just goes to show that if you have enough money you can buy your way out of just about anything.

How is paying a bribe to a Judge not a crime?




Here are some videos from Barry and Cindy that come to mind.







Back to listening/watching Madonna

Groundswell

I want to be the last Jury Commissioner of Luzerne County-David Yonki

I called into the Sue Henry show on WILK this morning and we discussed Luzerne County politics and scandals. These days they are one and the same. The situation of Democratic Jury Commissioner Jerry Bonner came up of course and off the top of my head I suggested that we should all write-in the Yonk for that office in the November election. The reaction to that idea has been tremendous.

After receiving numerous phone calls, e-mails, Facebook postings and hearing the idea being discussed on the late afternoon show on a local talk radio show that were all positive I called my friend David.

He likes the idea!

And he agreed to run for the post after some cajoling from me.

His platform includes:

1. I'd run as an alternative to the taxpayers to ensure that if Mr. Bonner resigns, a crony would not get the position.

2. In my official capacity as jury commissioner, I would take every opportunity to lobby against the continuation of the position. I find it interesting that the Republican Commissioner is not even saying a word about this and how it would effect him.

3. I have much experience with downsizing and elimination of my job. I'm good at it, in the last decade I was downsized three times. It was not of my own making. Finally I can downsize out of a job because the job is not needed.

So let's write-in David Yonki for Democratic Jury Commissioner. The one good thing about the new electronic voting machines it is easy to write-in a person for an office. No more stickers or golf pencils just hit the letters on a touch screen.

August 10 was the last day to take your name off the November ballot so the chances are that Jerry Bonner will still be listed as the Democratic candidate for Jury Commissioner.

Nipper is sueing Savo

TL: Former Luzerne County Sheriff candidate George "Nipper" Nowakowski Wednesday filed a lawsuit against recently resigned Sheriff Michael Savokinas and the county.

This gets to be more fun everyday. Nowakowski has run for Sheriff about 14 times and still can't get it through his head that the people don't want him in the job.

He has taken offence over this statement by Savo in the Times-Leader on July 15 regarding the accusation that his political enemies may have planted drugs in his car:

Though Savokinas did not implicate anyone, he said there were several confrontations with influential county figures who he said might want to see his reputation damaged.“It could be a multitude of a couple different things … to force me out of office, to ruin my name so I never win another office politically. I don’t know why.” he said. Specifically, he noted George “Nipper” Nowakowski, whom he defeated in what he termed a “bitter” 2007 Democratic primary race for his current office; former Republican Sheriff Barry Stankus, whom he beat in the general election; and Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla.

I'm not a lawyer so I don't if this statement is actionable or not but Nipper thinks it is. We will get the details tomorrow. Maybe Barry and Maryanne will want to piggy back on it since they were also named.

The Luzerne County Republican Party put out a press release earlier today calling for a special election to pick a new Sheriff and I think that would be a good idea. However state law specifies that the Governor must appoint the replacement of county row officers with the consent of the State Senate. Rapid Edward declined to nominate a new Controller when Petrilla got a promotion so I doubt he will take any action in this case. Right now Governor Rendell has a full plate trying to get a budget deal, talking to his dogs and dieting.

Another reason for Home Rule.

Maryanne and the press have been mean to me

So I Quit

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Read his resignation letter

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Luzerne County Sheriff Michael Savokinas resigned because he doesn't like his press coverage and battles with the Luzerne County Commissioners.

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I didn't know what to make of this and a friend summed it up.

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This is just Savo throwing a hissy fit. If you can't stand the heat, stay out of politics, dude. The contents of his resignation letter are substantially similar to what he said at the study commission meeting last week.

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A few people have told me that I put him over the edge with this last post. I doubt that.

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Politics ain't beanbag. What a pussy.

Update:

Luzerne County GOP calls for special election

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Republican Party Chairman Terry Casey is calling on Gov. Ed Rendell to hold a special election as soon as possible to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Sheriff Michael Savokinas.

Savokinas abruptly resigned his position on Tuesday with 28 months remaining in his four-year term for the county row office.

Casey pointed to the ongoing “unrest and instability” in county government as a reason for the governor to act swiftly.

“With the current political climate and the growing mistrust and disappointment in county government, it is crucial that the position of Luzerne County Sheriff be filled by a duly elected individual,” Casey said. “Luzerne County residents deserve to be the ones who determine who will fill that crucial position.”

Casey said he hopes the governor renders a decision soon and would like to see the position placed on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election.

“It doesn’t seem right that a resigning official should be the one to determine who runs the sheriff’s office,” Casey said. “I also do not think the governor should name an interim sheriff to fill the rest of the term. As long as this position is an elected one, it is only right that the people have a say in who fills it.”

The friends of Jerry Bonner

He has many of them including a fellow member of the county housing authority that got a cut of the bribe he accepted earlier this year according to the indictment. That member hasn't been named yet nor the the payer of the bribe.

Jerry was the longtime owner of the Carriage Stop Inn on Route 315 that was the top spot for Democratic candidate fundraisers "because he had the best prices" according to a past County Commissioner. The Carriage Stop burned down a few years ago on St. Patrick's Day after closing early. How many bars close early on biggest drinking day of the year is a question that should be looked into.

Rising from the ashes Jerry replaced the Carriage Stop with a gas station and convenience stop that also has a bar and 6-pack take out store. I suggested that it be renamed "The Drink n' Drive."

If my memory is right I even attended the launch of the Gregory A Skrepenak Foundation at the place. Whatever happened to that?

After hosting so many Democratic fundraisers over the years Bonner was rewarded with the office of Democratic Jury Commissioner in the 1996 election which is basically a do nothing job that pays well. He might have even earned a pension for his "service."


Jury head Bonner indicted

County jury commissioner indicted on corruption charge

Carl Romanelli still fighting

A guest post from 2006 Green Party Senate candidate Carl Romanelli who is still dealing with the legal fallout from his ill fated campaign.

ROMANELLI ASKS PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR BEER SUMMIT II CHALLENGES BOB CASEY TO BASKETBALL GAME WITH ROMANELLI’S FATE AS THE PRIZE

Frustrated by yet another setback in the Pennsylvania Courts, Green Party US Senate candidate, Carl Romanelli is now asking President Obama to schedule Beer Summit II in order to attempt to resolve his ongoing saga. “We have tried everything possible in order to see justice here in Pennsylvania and we are running out of options,” Romanelli offered. He is referring to his long ordeal in the Pennsylvania Courts where, despite his gathering and submitting more voter signatures than any candidate in Pennsylvania’s history, Romanelli was not only displaced from the 2006 election ballot; but now has to pay more than $80,000.00 in costs and fees for the pleasure of being the victim of such a process. “It is time that the President weighed in on this, so I propose that he invite Senator Casey and me to the White House for a beer in an attempt to work matters out,” Romanelli suggested.

The situation in Pennsylvania is one of the strangest scenarios in all of politics, as it is now well known that in order to remove Romanelli from the 2006 ballot the lawyers for Bob Casey brought their challenge to the Green Party signatures by way of an illegal, taxpayer-funded process. The scandal has been dubbed Bonusgate as participants were not only providing attorneys for Casey with their work product while on state time and in state offices using state resources, but these employees also received state-funded bonuses for their effort. In his July 10, 2008 Presentment, which led to the arrest of ten legislative staffers and two former state representatives, the Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett says, “The two most outstanding examples of misappropriation of taxpayer resources in petition challenges were found in the challenges of Ralph Nader, for President in 2004, and Carl Romanelli, for US Senate in 2006.”

As it turns out, legislative employees in 2004 and 2006 would be given a crash course in signature challenge by lawyers representing Democratic candidates that wanted Romanelli and Nader off of the ballot. Then these workers would provide the work to attorneys from the law firm of Thorp, Reed and Armstrong out of Pittsburgh. These attorneys later would file the petition challenge in the hope of having independent and third party candidates removed from the ballots in question. Thorp, Reed and Armstrong is the firm used against Romanelli in the ongoing court battles. Many of the legislative employees providing what became the work product for these attorneys were given hefty bonuses for contribution. Information concerning this process is now public record as a few Preliminary Hearings for various arrested employees has provided detail and insight into this scheme.

“One would think that the commission of crimes against a working class candidate would be enough to get the attention of the Courts, but such is not the case in Pennsylvania. All along I have said that there was nothing wrong with the signatures the Greens submitted in 20006, and there wasn’t. So the Democrats had to rely on their friends who wear robes to finish the job,” Romanelli asserts. “The entire judicial system is corrupted here in Pennsylvania, and I should know because I come from Luzerne County where the disgraced, kids for cash judges come from,” he added. “So, since the judges are too crooked for a citizen to use the legal system, we need another way to resolve this shameful persecution and I thought Beer Summit II would be a novel approach. Perhaps then we can bring this nightmare to an end. This would be a big deal for me considering I don’t even drink beer.”

In the absence of Mr. Obama agreeing to a summit at the White House, then Romanelli has offered to play Bob Casey in a game of one-on-one basketball with Romanelli’s political and financial freedom on the line. “As in politics, Casey should have the advantage on the basketball court. He stands at about six feet, four inches; I am five feet five inches; he has access to the best gyms in the country, I still play in schoolyards; and he is a few years younger than I am. Of course, if Casey plays basketball like he plays politics then I’d expect he would hide and send the Philadelphia 76ers starting five to represent him at the game in order to vanquish any hope I had in winning a fair contest.” Romanelli suggested.

“In this instance I feel the sports analogy is appropriate, as Republicans and Democrats are much like pro wrestlers: They point fingers at each other and call each other names when the cameras are rolling, then toast the dummies that keep them rich and powerful as they inhabit the grand halls of, what is supposed to be, the people’s government.”

Petition for Reconsideration

Sheriff Michael Savokinas

"I find it unbelievable Sheriff Savokinas continues to misrepresent the facts and cry persecution, I think he is delusional."-Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla

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Luzerne County Sheriff Mike Savokinas is in the news again. I don't think the previous Sheriff, Barry Stankus, got as much ink in 8 years as this guy has in the last few months.

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On the one hand he is decrying budget cuts that forced him to lay off people but wants to take on the additional responsibility of overseeing Courthouse security warning the Luzerne County Government Study Commission "If there's an incident at that courthouse, a shooting, people are going to die, I hate to say it."

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He has resisted attempts to bring his office into compliance with county travel policies calling them nonsense. His chief deputy, Charlie Guarnieri, has been accused of harassment and questions have been raised about his vacation time that wasn't documented. When questioned about it by a TV reporter Guarnieri slapped his microphone away.

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Then there is drugs in the cars incidents and Savo claimed he was being framed. "It's not uncommon to find drugs in a police vehicle." The FBI is supposedly investigating the multiple drugs on the shoe stuff because DA Jackie MO punts every allegation of local wrongdoing by the political class.

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And Pittston School Board member Joseph Oliveri plead guilty to taking a bribe while on duty as a deputy sheriff. He committed a crime while in uniform and on duty and they want to pay him for his unused vacation and sick pay. Not that anybody actually keeps track of it.

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To top it all off Savokinas has a website:

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Michael Savokinas

Sheriff of Luzerne County

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This is not a dot gov or dot org domain but a dot com so it is hard to tell who is paying for it. There is not an email address to contact our sheriff so I just may give him a call. That is where I got the picture of him and the President.

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If you want to talk Mike, send me an email. I know you read this blog.

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I missed some stuff but you can read more Savo stories on the CV archive.

This is funny

I spotted this at Checking the Balance

Sights on Pennsylvania is a Hazleton based blog that is firmly in Mayor Lou Barletta's corner. Lately the author has been beating up on Todd Eachus and the bonusgate scandal. McGruff is a friend of mine and I can't agree that he resembles Kevin Costner. He is much more distinguished and reminds me of Sean Connery.

Mom knows baseball

My 79 year old mother is healthy as a horse and ornery as a mule for which I thank God every day. I went down to to her house today to cut the grass today to find her watching the Little League World Series and she was rooting for the Chinese Team! She has been watching the tournament from the beginning and could name many of the kids on both teams. I think she wants to adopt Wen Hua Sung. Chula Vista won the game 6-3.

I asked her who won the Yanks-White Sox game and she said the "crybaby's" did.

Yankees 8, White Sox 3

We talked about last night's Phillies game and Cliff Lee getting knocked around. She wasn't worried about it because "that's baseball." A pitcher gets hot for a stretch then gets clobbered. She thinks he will be OK the rest of the year but is worried about Brad Lidge closing. She likes Bret Myers.

Yes or No

Will Luzerne County Judges Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. and Thomas F. Burke Jr. suffer a similar fate as Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro? In 2005 Nigro lost his bid for retention because the state legislature voted themselves an outrageous pay raise in the middle of the night and the voters took their wrath out on him. There were other issues involved but it could be argued that he was a victim of "guilt by association."


So now the question is will Olszewski and Burke suffer because of the actions of the Juvie Brothers? They have not been accused of any wrongdoing but Conahan and Ciavarella are not on the ballot and they are. I don't have any polling to back it up but people I talk to are in a throw the bums out mood. That's why I also think the Republican row office candidates will do well.


I have never voted Yes in a judicial retention election and I'm not about to start now.

Ted Kennedy 1932-2009

This is a repost of what I wrote about my meeting with Ted after it was announced that he was ill.


I met the Liberal Lion about 20 years ago when I was on vacation on Nantucket Island. A bunch of us were in a bar when Ted a few other people walked through the door and sat down at the table next to us. I know it's hard to believe that both me me and Ted could be found in a drinking establishment.

One of my friends spotted him and got all excited and wanted to go over to him which we all counseled against but Jack couldn't be persuaded to let the man just enjoy his evening. So he goes over to his table and starts babbling some thing like Senator Kennedy, Senator Kennedy I think you should be President, I'm from New Hampshire but I would vote for you anytime and some other stuff. Ted was a little taken aback with that sycophantic verbal assault. With a surprised and annoyed look on his face he said "Get the fuck away from me kid." The rest of us watching this exchange erupted in laughter and a round of applause. Jack came back to the table with his tail between his legs and sulked for a while.

Later in the evening Ted came over to us and slapped Jack on the back and apologized for being so short with him. He sat down with us and bought a round and we discussed sailing, a little politics and few other things.

A personal note. My father died from brain cancer so I hope some people will resist the temptation to make tasteless Chappaquiddick jokes at this time and wish his family well.

Let's go to trial

A few years ago I was in the jury pool for a murder case. I forget if it was the prosecution or the defense that asked me what I thought about the death penalty. My reply almost got me a contempt citation. For the most part I oppose it because I don't think the government should be killing people no matter what they did and the administration of it is a nightmare. The one exception that I favor the death penalty is a case of a elected public official (such as a judge) using his/her office to enrich themselves. That bastard should be strung up in the Public Square after due process of course.


Ciavarella, Conahan withdraw guilty pleas

UPDATE: Conahan/Ciavarella file motions to withdraw guilty pleas


The Judge still doesn't buy it.


I want a trial!

Honest Service Fraud and tax evasion are minimum charges. They can pile on a lot more.

Help me out lawyers. Does the Us Attorney have to go back to the Grand Jury to get more charges?

Phils back Pedro in NY, win on rare feat | phillies.com: News

Phils back Pedro in NY, win on rare feat phillies.com: News

Triple Play

One of the great joys of baseball is when you see something that is almost never done. Phillies 2nd baseman Eric Bruntlett caught a line drive in the bottom of the 9th with no outs then stepped on second and tagged out the runner coming from first for a triple play. The last time I saw a triple play was when Mickey Morandini did it against the Pirates in 1992.

Pedro Martinez is living a charmed life, 2-0 after 3 starts. The Phils got him 12 runs in his first game against the Cubs then Jamie Moyer threw a lights out game after a rain delay against the D-Backs. Today the Phils put up a 6 spot in the 1st and Pedro kept letting them back into it. Then Heartbreak Lidge took over in the 9th and gave up a couple of hits and got burned by errors but Bruntlett was in the right place at the right time. Bruntlett also had 3 hits.

Looking for video that I can embed, help me out.

2010 Senate race

Pat Toomey was in town on Friday which was a surprise to me and many of my Republican friends. He talked with Bill O'Boyle of the Times-Leader and decried "the lurch to the left” of the federal government. His solution to the health care crises is tort reform. He also continued to hammer Senator Arlen Specter (PA-D,R,?, plaid) He said he decided long ago that he would challenge Specter – then a Republican – in the 2010 primary. “Then a poll came out and Specter decided to switch parties,” Toomey said. “I think voters are fed up with the political opportunism of Arlen Specter.”

The polls are all over the place in this race which is to be expected this early in the contest but Specter's reelect number is not good.

In an interesting twist Toomey has agreed to meet with Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak to hold a joint town hall on health care in Toomey's home town of Allentown. Afterward he wants to go drinking, "I'm happy to welcome Joe to the great city of Allentown and I'd extend to him an invitation to share a beer with me at one of our fine local establishments after the town hall meeting." I would like to be part of that, I'd buy them both a Yuengling. I think the country needs more beer summits.

I don't know if Republican Senate candidate Peg Lusik drinks beer but her campaign is doing a good job of keeping bloggers updated.

Where’s the Bill?

She is touring the state and when she makes it to Luzerne County I hope to talk with her and give you a report.

YouTube weekend

For the most part I don't like to watch people dance. I have never seen the Nutcracker would rather hit my head with a hammer than witness Riverdance.

At the same time I could spend all day watching Michael Jackson and Madonna sing and dance.

Nobody reads blogs on Saturday

Last nights meet up at Dan's was big success. Zen was the most popular guy for some reason. I'm sorry that I didn't give 4 months notice about our impromptu meeting but I posted it on the blog, Facebook and blasted emails to those that might be interested. Yes, I did huddle with my attorney when Big Dan came in. He didn't look as tall as his picture on the Internet. I will consult with my senior counsel, Tom Hagen, about this. Dan, do you own any horses?

Thanks to everyone that showed up, it was a blast. We will do another one at the end of September and hopefully we will get a few of the Luzerne County Democratic candidates to attend in addition to the GOP hopefuls.

I heard a disturbing report that the Mean Old Man shot himself in the leg with a shotgun while he was feeding his chickens so he was unable to attend.

Town Hall meeting Friday

Michael Rennie, the unofficial Social Secretary of the Northeast Blogging Council has announced that his organization has teamed with the Saturday OT Committee and Operatic Society to sponsor our version of a town hall meeting this Friday on the deck at Dan's Keystone Grill, 162 Union St., Plains, PA 18702 Phone: 570-820-0411 (map it) starting at 5PM.

Candidates for office in the upcoming election, bloggers, commenter's and local media have been invited. If you didn't receive an invitation your are still welcome.

As usual our main purpose will be to address the financial crises by infusing cash into the malt beverage industry to ensure it's liquidity. A quick check of the agenda reveals that there isn't one but we usually cover local politics, baseball, old movies and whatever comes to mind.

Hope to see you there.

The Best man for the job

From the inbox:


P.J.Best withdrew his candidacy for nomination for the November ballot for Pittston City Council seat during a Tuesday night meeting of the Luzerne County Democractic executive committee meeting.
Joe Chernouskas and Ludwig Fleming asked to be consided for the nomination.
Chernouskas recieved the nomination with overwhelming support.

Polish soul food

We are having Kielbasa and Pierogi for dinner tonight.

Gina has a website

Republican candidate for Luzerne County Register of Wills Gina Nevenglosky is up on the intertubes.

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Gina Nevenglosky

Luzerne County Candidate Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphan's Court

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Tired of Elected Officials Not at work receiving full time pay and benefits? Fill this seat with the person who will be at work every day serving the citizens of Luzerne County. The news articles and information from the recent FBI investigations have given evidence of theft, money missing and tampering with paper work. It is necessary to oversee staff in each Row Office. That is the job of a Row Officer. Elect Gina Nevenglosky for Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court to restore employee accountability in government.

Her opponent is long time Democratic office holder Dottie Stankovic who doesn't have website as far as I know. I called her office earlier (about 12:15) today to ask why but nobody answered the phone. Some wag later told me she was having lunch with Bob Reilly at the Olive Garden across the street from Nationwide Car Sales but I can't verify that.

The Yonk is exercised about this lunch break policy asking What if? Julius Caesar might have survived because Brutus might’ve been on a rigatoni run.

So far I can't find a website for the Democratic Row officer candidates Bob Morgan and Nancy Bellas. GOP Controller nominee Walter Griffith has a site as does independent Wil Toole and they are both on Facebook. Republican Prothonotary candidate Carolee is on Facebook
but doesn't have a website up yet.

Woodstock memories

I'm on vacation this week and will be busy with my paperwork project and Mrs. G's honey do list so I may not be posting as much as usual. To pick up the slack some of my "friends" have offered to fill the void.

We start with this from

The Mean Old Man


TO HELL WITH WOODSTOCK!!!

I’m sick and tired of being reminded all week of the Woodstock Rock Festival by the Commie media!!! I remember that damned subversive brainwashing rally and I have been trying to forget it for forty years.

Back in ’69 my two twirpy kids came over to me while I was tilling the vegetable garden and asked me for “bread” so that they could go to some rock festival in New York. I proceeded to hand each of them a can of paint and a brush to spice up the ol’ tool shed. I can still hear their whiney voices complaining that I didn’t understand them or understand the state of the world with its wars and hungry children, and on and on. “All you losers want to do is get high on drugs!” I told them. My goofball son Clay (the one that I really had hope for until all of this hippie BS) told me that it wasn’t about doing drugs, but “becoming one with the stars”. I then told him that I could give him that experience for free without his using my hard earned money to buy pot; so I smacked his forehead with my pruning shears. Now, I ain’t ever had that done to me myself, but from the look on the dimwit’s face, he reached his goal of seeing stars!!!

All those hippies had it too easy and they didn’t know a thing about what a real gathering of thousands was about and how fun it could be. In my day we had what I guess you could call a “festival” too. I remember one muggy summer day, me and my buddies joined a few hundred thousand others of our own age for some decent, down home all American fun. We didn’t have to go to Woodstock for it, either; we went to a quaint little place called Omaha Beach!!! We didn’t have drugs to kill our pain, or enough water to heal our parched throats, Hell; we didn’t even have a porta san man!!! But what we did have was guns, sabers, and grenades, combined with the joy of seeing Krauts getting the blocks knocked off!!! Now, that’s what I call an occasion for remembrance; but don’t tell the media. We had the 65th Anniversary of D-Day and it barely got a ripple in the press, but Woodstock---everywhere.

Getting back to my stupid sons, well one of them, anyway; my son Harlan took off to Woodstock with his friend Slim and Slim’s older brother Mitch. They took off the night before the festival and when my wife Thelma Jean found out about it the next day she was fit to be tied. She dragged me out of bed and ordered me to go to Woodstock to get Harlan back; fearing he would become part of a commune. Now, I ain’t no wuss, but when Thelma Jean gives an order, especially when she’s holding her champion pie roller in her hand, I listen. So, I went down the Legion at 9 a.m. where I found my old buddies Gummo and Creep playing pool and sipping on a few cold ones. When I told them what had happened they began razzing me about having a tinkerbell for a son. Of course, that stopped once I went out to the truck and came back in with my trusty Remington 12 gauge. I told them that they were coming to Woodstock with me to rescue my boy from the hands of those long haired commie weirdos.

So, we got in the trusty Dodge and headed straight to Commieville. I can still remember the thousands of Bolshevik cars parked on the highway---not the side of the highway, mind you, but the highway itself. A State Trooper told me that there were so many people arriving that they had to shut the whole thing down. So, me, Gummo and Creep proceeded for what seemed like miles and miles to where the mass of the crowd was; all the while having to deal with these subversive longhairs. Of course, no respectable WWII vet walks for a long stretch without his trusty beer and we three were no exception. We had a cooler filled with Ballentine and Stegmaier. As we finished our first half mile we decided to take a short break and pop open a few cans. All of a sudden like cockroaches after sugar, these wacked out bearded, screwball hooligans wearing the subversive Peace symbol approached us. "Hey man, so cool to see the older generation digging our way." The one freak yelled out. "Peace and love, peace and love, peace and love, oh by the way, can you spare a few beers?" That was all we needed to hear. I distracted the slime ball while Creep took a can of Steg and shook it violently; he then handed it to me and I gave it to the hippy. Of course, when he popped the can his entire face, beard and all, was awash with Booze. "Hope you enjoyed it! Long live the Infantry!!!" Creep, Gummo and me shouted together.

Of course, we had many more fun encounters with the wackos of the Age of Aquarius; but I have to go and clean out the pens. I'll also let you know if we ever did find that loser son of mine.
To be Continued.

Drought warning

It hasn't rained in a few days and it's close to 90 this afternoon. I suspended the building of the boat and gathering animals for the time being. I'm stuck indoors today working on a very important paperwork project which may lead to greater riches if it works out. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with Nigerians or the Irish Lottery. Sucks to be me today. As usual I blame Al Roker for the weather.

The Red Sox lost to the Rangers today and now I'm rooting for the Mariners against the Evil Empire. There is a new curse in baseball Yankee fans. You can't bulldoze the high temple of the game without pissing off the baseball Gods. The Ghosts don't want to move.

Lidge blows another one

The Phillies had a 3-2 lead over the Braves going into the bottom of the 9th and lost 4-3. That is his 8th blown save this season in 30 chances. I know that there were 2 errors in the frame but he also allowed 2 base runners in Friday's game before getting out of it. Last season he perfect in save opportunities and no one expected that to last but every time he takes the mound lately it turns into an adventure. It's like 1993 when you had to wear a towel on your head in the 9th.

Maybe it's time for a new closer. Brett Myers is due back soon and will pitch out of the pen or maybe try Jamie Moyer since he recently became unemployed.

Hide your Beagle, Vick is an Eagle

The news that the Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick was met with howls of protest in the Gort household. Mrs G and Quincy think that he should be given the same treatment as the dogs he tortured and killed with his own hand and ordered the torture and killing of other dogs. Electrocution. Hangings. Drowning. Repeatedly slamming their bodies into the ground. All because they weren’t winning his illegal gambling ring enough money.

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Who is the animal here?

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But he served his time for his crimes and America is a land of 2nd chances. He should be able to make a living after being released from prison. Too bad so many other felons aren't given the opportunity to get a job and contribute to society and clean up their acts.

Sugar Notch happenings

This is a guest post from Mario Fiorucci. He is the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Sugar Notch.


SugarGate: Cover-up or just confusion?

At the Sugar Notch Council meeting in May, Council President James Mullin asked for approval to pay $2,700 of the $5,400 owed to the Commonwealth of PA. It was owed because 'taxes' on the Liquid Fuels Fund had to be paid to 'unfreeze' the account so the borough could use the money for road repairs, etc. At the council's next meeting in June, I (Mario Fiorucci), asked why taxes were owed on the Liquid Fuels Fund, which itself is funded by gasoline taxes. Council President JM insisted that the money owed to the state was to pay back employee payroll taxes that were not paid for over a year. I questioned his explanation and asked to see the minutes of the May meeting. They did not mention a word about how taxes were owed on the fund or that the check for $2,700 was approved to send to the state. Not a word about the whole thing was mentioned!

Luckily, a Citizens' Voice reporter was at the June meeting. In a report titled "Sugar Notch back taxes questioned", reporter Robert Olsen said "What it sounded like was there was money missing from the liquid fuels account that had to be paid back." I said "There was money missing from the refuse (Garbage) account, it's happened before." I thought the state found that the town misappropriated money from the fund and wanted it returned. The town has been running in the red and there were rumors that the mayor had to bail out the town with his own money at least two times for the last few years.

The article also said that I requested a copy of the meeting 'minutes' from May and had found that 'there was no mention of the $5,400 owed in them'. Council President JM said that the "unpaid taxes were discovered when the borough hired a new accountant. She reported the discrepancy to the state, which then froze the Liquid Fuels Fund." The article also quoted JM as saying he "failed to recall if anything was said about the problem or the request to approve the payment at May's meeting." He wasn't sure why it wasn't in the minutes. To me, this explanation was insufficient and still poses the question, "Was the money diverted from the employee payroll taxes so it could be used to just help keep the town running?"

At the regular July council meeting, I said "I know I heard council President JM ask for the check approval. If he did not, then how could I have been able to bring this subject up at the June meeting? And at the June meeting, not one council member volunteered to back me up by saying "they remember that a check for $2,700 was approved..or not" It seems that stealth government has returned to Sugar Notch, yet again.

I also asked the council and mayor to explain the payroll process. I thought the mayor was in charge of scheduling the police and maintenance employees. But they said that the Chief of Police Pelchar schedules hours for the police dept. employees. And councilman, Pat Dalton, schedules hours for the road crew. After they submit pay requests, the Treasurer issues checks. I then asked if the money was 'missing' and just 'not paid' as they claim. They said no money was missing. I do not have a lot of confidence in the council's ability to oversee an antique accounting and budget process. And from what I heard about the town, it has not paid the employee payroll taxes before, because several times when the town had to lay-off the road crew, for lack of funds usually, the state had to call the town to pay in it's taxes, so the road crew could file and get their unemployment checks! Things need to change in Sugar Notch and that includes looking at consolidation.

Phils win

Ryan Howard hit a game winning HR in the top of the 9th giving the Phils a 3-2 lead. Then Brad Lidge came in and made it interesting but the Phillies won anyway. Myers will be back soon.

About that finder's fee

SCRANTON - Prominent area developer Robert Mericle has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of failing to report a felony, Acting U.S. Attorney Dennis Pfannenschmidt announced today.

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The agreement, which was signed July 31, calls for Mericle to plead guilty to one count of failing to report a felony. Prosecutors say Mericle failed to disclose his knowledge that former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella had accepted kickbacks in exchange for rulings that benefited the PA and Western PA juvenile detention centers that Mericle built.

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The centers were owned at the time by Gregory Zappala and Robert Powell. Powell has also entered a guilty plea in the case. Included in the plea agreement Mericle has also agreed to pay $2.15 million for funding programs that will benefit "the health, safety and general welfare of children of Luzerne County." I guess you can try to buy your way out of anything.

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Alternate headlines from Big Dan

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"IT'S MIRACLE! MERICLE FINALLY CHARGED!"

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IT'S A MERICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""MERICLES DO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!"

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McGruff has

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Robert Mericle- No Miracle Could Avoid Pleading Guilty

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And my favorite

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Pfahrvergnügen from Pfannenschmidt

Juvie Brothers update

A lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client-Anon


CV: Following the penny-pinching lead of his partner in corruption, disgraced former Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan will start representing himself in a series of kids-for-cash civil lawsuits, his departing attorney, Philip Gelso said.


His partner in crime, Mark Ciavarella, has also taken over his own defense of the lawsuits. The recent WNEP interview with him happened as he was leaving the Federal Courthouse in Scranton after he filed a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him. That interview (and other things) seems to have pissed off Judge Kosik who rejected the plea agreements.


In other Juvie Brothers news the Feds are now looking at their bar bills...The agents showed up at the 113-year-old Hanover Township club two or three months ago to review the bar bills of Judge Michael T. Toole, former Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and school board member Brian F. Dunn, country club accountant Bob Anderson said in a phone interview.

Judge: Void juvenile convictions

Santorum for President

This should warm the heart of the Mean Old Man.

POLITICO has learned Santorum will visit first-in-the-nation Iowa this fall for a series of appearances before the sort of conservative activists who dominate the state GOP’s key presidential caucuses.

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Our former junior Senator and Virginia resident is going to Iowa which always starts Presidential speculation about any politician. The great mentioner has also plugged him for Governor in 2010 and in real fit of delusion even a Supreme Court nominee when Sarah Palin becomes President in 2012, among other posts. Vice President Michelle Bachmann would be in charge of getting him confirmed by the Senate.

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Thanks to pa2010.com for highlighting this.

Carney schedules Town Hall Meetings

Washington , D.C. – Congressman Christopher P. Carney has announced the first three Listening Tour Town Hall Meetings for the August District work period...

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“I came to Congress with the goal of listening to the people of Pennsylvania ’s 10th District. This town hall meeting is a unique opportunity for me to explain the actions Congress is taking, how my office can help and for people to tell me about the issues that matter most to them,” said Congressman Carney. “Now more than ever, all of our citizens need to be asking questions and getting involved and these town hall meetings will allow them to do just that.”

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If what has been going on in town hall meetings in the rest of the country is any indication you can bet that some people will get involved. You may want to bring a video camera and a flak jacket.

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-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. 32 Commercial St , Honesdale , PA.
Monday August 17, 2009 from 11:00am to 12:00pm

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-Sullivan County Courthouse, Main & Muncy Streets, LaPorte , PA
Thursday August 20, 2009 from 11:00am to 12:00pm.

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-Eagle Hose Company, 1 Eagle Lane , Dickson City , PA
Monday August 24, 2009 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.

Additional dates during August Recess are being scheduled, and details will be released soon. Stay tuned for a Town Hall meeting in your area. All are invited to attend.

My post about the ambush of one of his staffers got some reaction in the lefty blogosphere. Howie Klein of Down With Tyranny said Chris Carney... found out that the wingnuts he's been catering to for the last 3 years hate him. Dim witted Limbaugh and Beck fans ... don't know a Blue Dog from a Marxist. FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher; Blue Dog Chris Carney Wants to Feel the Teabaggy Love Ingrates.

No more borrowing

County may face cuts and tax hikes

I have some mixed emotions about Luzerne County Commissioner Chair Maryanne Petrilla.

On the one hand I will always hold a grudge because she was recuited to take out the most effective Controller we ever had, Steve Flood, who sounded the alarm bells about the 20 year/$58 million lease with PA Child Care. The place was owned at the time by Greg Zappala and Robert Powell. Since then we have learned that Powell and multi party developer Robert Mericle were paying off the Juvie Brothers to put kids in their private prison.


On the other hand she has been upfront about limits of borrowing to balance the county budget since she became a commissioner and teamed up with Republican Commissioner Steve Urban to restore some sanity. The county is tapped out so borrowing more money for a new prison or anything else is out of the question. There is only so much you can cut so we can expect a big tax increase next year on top of the reassessment that doubled or tripled taxes on some people.

“Raising taxes is a very tough decision that one has to take very, very seriously. But at the same time, I said many times that I can’t make decisions today and tomorrow based on hoping to get re-elected in four years."-Maryanne Petrilla

Expect an indictment

Marty Carlson may be moving along but his staff is still on the job.

PittstonPolitics.com speculated about another school board director going down in Pittston Area.

YATESVILLE – Joseph Oliveri abruptly resigned from the Pittston Area School Board and from his post as a Luzerne County Sheriff’s Deputy with tersely worded letters that cited “personal reasons” for his departures.

I could buy the "I want to spend more time with my family" excuse if he just quit the school board after losing the election but he also gave up his daytime job as a Luzerne County Deputy Sheriff.

From what I hear he is mixed up with the Intellecom/LCCC/PA thing.


Update:

Pittston Area school board member charged with accepting bribe

Oliveri will plead guilty to accepting bribe

Carlson gets a promotion

HARRISBURG – U.S. Attorney Martin C. Carlson has resigned his post amid the ongoing Luzerne County corruption probe to assume a position as a U.S. magistrate judge in Harrisburg, a federal judge confirmed Monday.


It seems like every prosecutor wants to be a Judge. He was appointed US Attorney by the last administration but I think that his performance in all the Luzerne/Lackawanna scandals show that he is the kind of person that he could care less about politics. Look for President Obama to appoint him to the next vacancy on the federal bench.

His replacement is Dennis Pfannenschmidt, who was appointed interim U.S. attorney. We are going to have fun with that name. The President will nominate a permanent replacement with the advice of Pennsylvania's Senators and consent of the full Senate.

Specter on CNN

Senator Arlen Specter (PA-D/R/?) got the last word on CNN's State of the Union with John King today and discussed health care and his reelection campaign.

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King asked him he thought if all the ruckus going on in town hall meetings across the country was orchestrated or just people expressing their opinions spontaneously, he said it was both.

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On the much maligned public option that seems to be driving much of the misinformation about the health insurance reform proposal he said it would be very helpful and should be fully explored but reminded King that the Senate has not produced a bill yet.

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King then showed a clip from 1994 where Specter was on the Senate floor with a complicated flow chart outlining Hillary Care. I think you may have seen something similar about the present proposal. Specter said that the 1994 plan was different because it included a single payer system and the new plan doesn't.

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Responding to Joe Sestak's contention that "I'm not sure he is a Democrat" he pointed out that he broke with the Bush administration over stem cell research, was pro choice and supported the nuclear test ban treaty.

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He then attacked Sestak for missing 104 votes saying if he was still in the Navy he would be court martialed for being AWOL.

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They finished up with the recent polling showing people in PA don't think he should be reelected and is in dead heat with Pat Toomey. He said he is willing to go toe to toe with all comers and said

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"I didn't ask the President to clear the field."

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I think if he was asked what his favorite color was he would respond plaid.

Challenger for Carney

Iraq veteran announces run for Congressional seat

Christopher Bain of Williamsport... will challenge U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock, for the 10th Congressional seat.

Bain has also run for Williamsport city council and the PA-84th State House seat. He announced his bid at a Tea Party.

He is the first Republican to throw his hat in the ring and we can expect a few others to join the fray.

"Robert Powell had bills to pay"

Witnesses back Lokuta claim of conspiracy

Lokuta: Conahan was courthouse king


Sandra Brulo said she was called into Ciavarella's chambers and Ciavarella handed her the phone, saying "the boss" wanted to talk to her. "Judge Conahan began screaming at me and accused me of being responsible for the ramping up limits. He said Robert Powell had bills to pay and that the ramping limits were limiting the admissions," Brulo said in the statement.


I've always thought that Judge Ann Lokuta got railroaded and Michael Conahan orchastrated her removal from the bench. Now 4 witnesses have made statements suporting her claim.


In addition to Brulo, statements were provided by Patricia Benzi, a security guard at the courthouse; Carolee Medico Olenginski, former county prothonotary; and Joseph S. Novak, a plaintiff in a civil case before Lokuta.

In her statement, Benzi said she was once asked to deliver an envelope from Billie D’Elia to Lokuta. Benzi said she gave the envelope to Lokuta’s secretary, Maureen Gushanas. Later that day, Gushanas returned the envelope to her and told her


“You tell him my judge isn’t like the rest of the judges!”

Skrep's Dad

I make a point of leaving out the family members of public figures on this blog but Democratic Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrenak's father is in the news. He testified Tuesday before a federal grand jury and we can only guess what he was asked about because grand jury proceedings are secret.

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Skrep says that he has no idea why his dad was called to testify and won't ask him. Greg, Sr. is the owner of Big Ugly's bar in Wilkes-Barre and his son claims that he is rarely there.

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Federal authorities have also requested copies of Luzerne County commissioner meeting minutes from 2004 through 2007 – the years of Skrepenak’s first term in office.

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During that time Skrep and the other Bond Brother Todd Vonderheid approved a 20 year lease for $58 million with PA Child Care owned by Robert Powell and Greg Zappala after declaring an emergency when Juvie Brother Michael Conahan closed the county lock up on River Street in W-B. Powell has since plead guilty to paying bribes to former Judges Conahan and Mark Ciavarella.