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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

"Take a Stand" Town Hall Bashes Congressman Dent, But Takes No Stand

If you were among the 230 people who attended last night's Dent-bashing rally at Bethlehem's Van Bittner Hall, it's very likely that the first person you saw was our very own smiling Walter R. Garvin, Chairman of the Northampton County Elections Commission. He was wildly waving a "Support the Troops - End the War" sign, and directing people where to park.

Funny thing. When I approached Walt to snap a photograph, he suddenly stopped smiling and quickly put that sign behind his back. He actually seemed ashamed of what he was doing. Was he afraid I'd complain that it's just a tad inappropriate for the chairman of an elections commission to be actively participating in an event aimed at smearing Congressman Charlie Dent? Maybe Bossman Long might think Garvin was taking this peace thing just a bit too far. Who knows?

So much for Take a Stand. When Garvin had the opportunity to do so, he cut and ran. And that's my problem. People were quick to blast Dent's Iraq votes. But no meaningful solutions were offered.

Last night's town hall was not so much a grassroots peace movement as a campaign rally. I saw several Democratic committeemen and candidates, all with name tags emblazoned upon them. Working the room like a champ was none other that Sam Bennett. Everywhere I turned, I saw her. I snapped a few pics, but the room was too dark. I'm a worse photographer than a blogger.

Joining hands with the usual gaggle of septuagenarian peace groups were the Steelworkers' Union, Pa. Social Services Union and the Lehigh Valley Democratic Coalition. So much for nonpartisan.

Of course, there was the obligatory empty chair for Congressman Dent, as well as several pointed references to his absence. "We are gathered to deliver a message to Congressman Dent, whether he's here or not. He can stand with Bush's disastrous war or the overwhelming majority of his constituents."

Following a five minute video that no one could see, we were treated to three speakers. First was a young Iraqi who hasn't been in the country for years. He talked about the terrors of the Persian Gulf War, not the current conflagration. Then a religious studies expert droned on for too long about the "just war" theory. He threw out Latin phrases, like bellum justum, to prove he's pretty smart. Bright as he is, he couldn't take a stand. "I don't pretend to have an answer." Finally, an ex Air Force captain read excerpts from The Nation and New York Times. Incidentally, she's never even been to Iraq. Although she's already met Dent twice, she still wondered aloud why Dent wasn't running the gauntlet at Van Bittner Hall. She demanded to know whether Dent would follow the Iraq Study Group recommendations.

After all the mini-speeches were over and the shocking evidence was in, our humorless facilitator asked this important question: "Where do we go from here? How do we take a stand?"

Incredibly, his answer made him sound just like George Bush on one of his "hard work" tirades. "We have lots of work to do. It will be hard work. But think how hard it will be if we don't do this hard work." He then suggested we could "take a stand" by grabbing a few bumper stickers and yard signs. Huh? That's about as meaningful as those goofy yellow ribbon magnets. I suppose we could also vote for Sam Bennett, like that would accomplish anything.

I didn't stay for cake. Too many people there know me, so I cut and ran myself.

Speaking of taking a stand, Congressman Dent joined Democrat Mark Udall this June in co-sponsoring legislation that calls for implementation of the Iraq Study Group recommendations. An identical bill has been introduced in the Senate by Democrat Ken Salazar, and is co-sponsored by both Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Arlen Specter. Call me crazy, but I think that's a little more meaningful than throwing a bumper sticker on a SUV.

In truth, last night's shindig had little to do with taking a stand, as Walt Garvin proved almost immediately, or meaningful solutions in Iraq. It was simply an opportunity to dump on Dent, quickly seized by Sam Bennett.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

My name is Bernie O'Hare the shitbag.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare the shitbag didn't stay for cake. Too many people there know him, so he cut and ran himself.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare the shitbag must be embarrassed with such lousy journalism and untruths.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare the shitbag's tickets:


DKT TR-0001279-06 MDJ-03-2-08 10/04/2006 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000712-05 MDJ-03-2-08 04/29/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD V Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000348-05 MDJ-03-2-08 03/02/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000297-05 MDJ-03-2-08 02/17/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000194-05 MDJ-03-2-08 02/01/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000064-05 MDJ-03-2-08 01/11/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000101-05 MDJ-03-2-08 01/11/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
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Anonymous said...

Walter Garvin needs to read the Public Official and Employee
Ethics Act. Section 1103 states, "Restricted activities -
(a) Conflict of interest.--No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest."

As the Chairman of the Northampton County Elections Commission, would his conduct of last night not constitute a conflict of interest? I defend Mr. Garvin's right to political activity as a person, but I suspect that neutrality is the better policy than discourse when you are appointed and tasked as the commission chair of the elections within your county. It is analogous to the fox guarding the hen house.

Blah Society said...

One day at school about 3-years ago, a bunch of idiots were protesting the war. There was a hippie, and even an Anarchist among the dozen (if that makes any sense.) Not even all of them were students!

Their protest against the War in Iraq was a sit-in. Some had posters of loved ones who voluntarily joined the military knowing they could actually be forced to fight. However, they all had some of the dumbest posters one could imagine! I don’t remember the information that was on them, but much of it was fake (lies) and they were barely even presentable.

I’ll give them credit in the sense that it takes some guts to sit on a dirty community college floor, but if you’re going to drag that much attention to yourself, why not do it with truth and something more artistic than a permanent marker and a poster board?

In addition, they did this protest the week before the U.S. Army set up a table to convince people to join. Why not protest during their visit if it's that much of a problem? Or was there an Anarchist convention that week?

The protest was, needless to say, a waste of time. The only thing they did was help the janitor by dusting the dirty floor with their asses.

It sounds like this Take A Stand project is just as much of a waste; Just another excuse for a bunch of people to get together and complain about something without actually doing anything about anything.

The general attitude seems to be "If I put a bumper sticker on my gas-guzzling SUV, maybe we'll leave Iraq!"

And by what you say, Bernie, those present last night might as well have been helping the janitor, too.

Chris Casey said...

It never ceases to amaze me how people attempt to smear those who point out things they don't want to see or hear. Having been beat up for my own mistakes, I laugh at those who distract from the true issue by attacking the messenger.
That some anon poster, referring to theirself as "sh**bag, would take the time to post Bernie's parking ticket foibles is one of the most pitiful, and hilarious acts I have seen. You still haven't answered what your solution to Iraq is. Yeah, bashing Dent, that will end the war. I'm not pleased with Charlie either, but does trashing him further the discussion, or was it just aa cathartic act for the frustrated? I was asked to speak at this gathering, but had other commitments. Now I'm glad I didn't.
I'm against the war, and I think Mr. Dent can do better, but mocking him isn't moving us forward, it is setting us back.
We need to have a dialogue, not a shouting match. Oh, and I sign my name.

Anonymous said...

Looks like you managed to piss off yet another person, Bernie. I have to say that I'm impressed!

It would be interesting to hear from the anon again to find out what specifically he or she finds untruthful about what you wrote. While his/her posts made for a nice chuckle this morning, they really didn't provide much basis for an intelligent debate.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Wow! You got me! I'm the oulaw Josey Wales! I get overtime parking tickets. In fact, I once posted
about the subject. This is no shocking revealation to regular readers of this blog.

"Living as I do, along Nazareth's busy Main Street, I get hammered by parking tickets. Unlike responsible people, I almost always ignore them until a constable comes knocking. When I was younger, I'd jump out the window with a disguise, but Constable Smith always nailed me. These days, he just calls and tells me it's time."

I'm good for about one ticket every two months.

Now what the hell does this have to do with Take a Stand? Seriously!

That's what kills me about this group and a few of its members. Anonmymously posting my parking tickets is taking a stand? Bashing Dent is taking a stand? Bumper stickers on a SUV is taking a stand? Hiding a protest sign behind your back is taking a stand?

And just what is that stand? Immediate withdrawal? Partition? Whjat are we going to do to prevent the loss of life?

Anonymous said...

Wow, I can't believe Bernies not in jail for all those infractions. I hope they don't search his house and check his hard drive. They might find some other dark things that you don't know about Bernie. Then he might be in jail.

Tom Foolery said...

Of course there is no good answer for what to do now. That moron Bush has us stuck in quicksand. Why would you expect an answer when there is no answer. However, if we leave now or five years and thousands of dead and wounded soldiers later, it will still be a mess. So, the sooner the better.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Tom Foolery,

Two realities tell us what is going to happem.

1) Tours of soldiers in Iraq will be ending in the Spring, and the Army will not involuntary extend soldiers any more.

2) It will take 15 - 24 mos. to safely withdraw from iraq.

I think we will begin to slowly pull out when those deployments begin to expire.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Anon 9:16,

Overtime parking tickets warrant jail time? They constitute probable cause to search my hard drive for other "dark things"? Wow! I didn't know that!

It amazes me how vicious some people can be when I don't preach the local party line.

I must be hitting some sensitive nerves.

Jerry Kott said...

Same here. It amazes me at how the Democrats have washed their hands of the blood they also have on them. Like murmuring " out,out, dam spot" will relieve them of any responsibilitythey have contributed by not showing any balls or claws. It seems that "name calling" and bulling is all they have to offer in this shell game. I received the Moveon mail about this happening. It reminded me of a High School rally for those who have an investment in the invent. Shut up and march?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Quoting Lady MacBeth? Impressive.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare the shitbag hung up on COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v-O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated parking tickets. Maybe doesn't know what "Adjudicated" means? Anyway, what do paid parking tickets have to do with the price of tea in China? Maybe this anon won't post under real name b/c we might be able to post their "criminal" record? BTW what is shitbag poster's solution to ending the war? larry@kisslinger

Bernie O'Hare said...

Larry,

That's the point. These dudes want us to take a stand, but I'll be damned if I know what that stand is.

And I lack credibility because I get (and pay) parking tickets? Geez! As Bugs would say, "What a maroon!"

river said...

Bernie O'Hare the shitbag said...
Bernie O'Hare the shitbag's tickets:


DKT TR-0001279-06 MDJ-03-2-08 10/04/2006 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000712-05 MDJ-03-2-08 04/29/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD V Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000348-05 MDJ-03-2-08 03/02/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000297-05 MDJ-03-2-08 02/17/2005 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA -v- O'HARE, III, BERNARD Northampton Adjudicated
DKT TR-0000194-05
What the hell is wrong with Shitbag for clogging up a blog with this stuff? Next time just post War and Peace in 12 different languages.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Actually, I think he missed a few.

Blah Society said...

Bernie -

Look on the bright side... none of those tickets are back-to-back :)

Can't say you're "not trying" lol!

Anonymous said...

This is why I could never blog under my own name. Hateful and irrelevant personal attacks like the one from "shitbag" and over something as meaningless as parking tickets. I am a Democratic committeeman and am ashamed. Like him or not, Ohare provides a forum for some interesting views.

Tom Foolery said...

I read today that Bush wants another 50 billion for the war on top of the 400 billion he is now spending. I hope you are right about the time frame of the withdrawal..That money could do alot of good things over here..

Bernie O'Hare said...

I expect the "redeployment" to commence soon. It will be a long process, but we're on our way out. We can't sustain that troop level.

river said...

Bernie, "shitbag "is making me come clean! I had a parking ticket back in March, and then there were those late water bills... ohh I have sinned :(:( :):):)hehe

river said...

...Geez was that really Walter Garvin at the event... Or just that Wally G.?

Chris said...

"I read today that Bush wants another 50 billion for the war on top of the 400 billion he is now spending. I hope you are right about the time frame of the withdrawal..That money could do allot of good things over here.."
What does it matter where the government decides to allocate (read waste) taxpayer dollars? 50 billion dollars is nothing by the time it is washed through the bureaucratic cycle of spend now pay later, everyone take your cut, October 1st is almost here so spend the rest of your government budget. But you are right, might as well spend the 50 billion here at home. Maybe we can build another bridge to nowhere, better yet why not fund a Big Dig II in Philadelphia. I'm sure Philly could easily outspend Boston's $15 billion project. That money is needed in Iraq to insure the safety of the troops, proper armaments, and the funding for any sort of withdrawal will cost time(lots) and money(lots). Making sure are soldiers are safe seems like a lot less of a waste than many of the pork barrel projects funded on American soil.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bernie, Why is everbody attacking you? Are you running for some public office and putting out a false message like Sam Bennett about your qualifications, your profile and your positions of issues? Maybe I missed something but all I thought you were doing is running your mouth like the rest of us:-)

river said...

I still want one of Sam Bennett's rakes that cost the taxpayers $1000 each

river said...

can anyone tell me how to contact Properties of Merit? I want a rake, I paid for it!!!! Just post the phone number and I will call them

Anonymous said...

(484) 550-6835

Bernie O'Hare said...

CJ Nicholson,

I note you have a blog started, and will ink to you as soon as you post.

Anonymous said...

bernie, they missed the ones you had in my office. that's when hyou found jesus had a place in my office. this old church has seen a lot of sinners in its;s time.....you, me and I think we can add larry k. to that list also. keep up the great work.

PS. don't forget to pay those parking tickets..........

Bernie O'Hare said...

Judge,

Mea maxima culpa. That's right. I've had a few in Bethlehem, too, especially when I was guest-hosting Angle's show! The ladies in your office were very nice to me.

Anonymous said...

War is hell... so is the blogosphere...

Anonymous said...

The folly of those who actually believe the Democrats will withdrawal our military from Iraq is hilarious. They voted for the war, continue to fund it at higher and higher levels, and know the consequences of sentencing millions to slaughter by surrendering a la Viet Nam. The Democrat-controlled Congress, with its historically low approval ratings could stop this tomorrow.

We've all become comfortable with just the Democrats' promise of leaving.

Hillary is the presumptive nominee and she's more pro war (by her actions and, lately, by her statements about the success of the surge) than Charlie Dent. Dream on about redeployment/withdrawal/surrender, Bernie. We all want peace and security. But counting on today's crop of Democrat presidential contenders to deliver it is just silly. The world needs blind idealists, though, if only for perspective and their glass-half-full perkiness.

Note to self: Don't spoil the Easter Bunny and Santa myths for Bernie. He's a true believer.

Volvo Driving Soccer Mom said...

A Girl moves away, and you boys can't stay out of trouble! Don't make me come back there!

Anonymous said...

Hey shitbag! I agree with River, stop clogging up "every" one of BO's blogs with your nonsensical, paid parking ticket bullshit! Who do you think you are kidding with your shitbag moniker? Come out of the closet and identify yourself!

Joe Long needs to "control" his Party folks when they attack all w/o identifying themselves!

Who is shitbag and why the Clark Kent/Superman crap and when will he/she offer to "Take a Stand" on the WAR? BTW, I "never" see Boss Long commenting here and I know not why! I do know he reads here!
larry@kisslinger.com

Bernie O'Hare said...

Dream on about redeployment/withdrawal/surrender, Bernie.

Tell me that either of these facts is wrong: 1) It will take 15 to 24 months to w/draw or redeploy in Iraq. 2) Come spring, we will have to draw down bc the Army just lacks the capacity to maintain troop strngth at current levels.

Based on these two facts, it's safe to say that we will begin drawing down soon. There won't be an immediate w/drawal because we can't so that safely.

My chief concern is securing the area, so it does not blow up in our face and so that it does not result in genocide. We need to update the ISG, as Sestak has asked, and then implement it, as Dent has asked.

Anonymous said...

Lady MacBeth? Ithough that was from Michael Vick.

Anonymous said...

Dent,

please retire from public office!

You, your party has done enough
damage to this state and this country as well the world.

Anonymous said...

Sen. John Warner Announces Retirement

Dent, it's yoir turn.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many men's rooms and women's rooms Ted Kennedy has been in.