Last year, only thirty-five Democrats were recognized nationwide by the Democratic Leadership Council for their commitment to finding "new policy solutions grounded in the core principles of progressive politics," whatever that means. Of these thirty-five, only two are from Pennsylvania. One, of course, is Governor Ed Rendell, singled out for his health care initiative, "Prescription for Pennsylvania."Who's the other?
Lehigh County Exec Don Cunninghman has been singled out for a commitment to fiscal responsibility. If you ask me, the secret to Cunningham's success is a willingness top reach across the aisle and work with Republicans.
After all, we're all in this mess together.
35 comments:
Oh brother! Central Government is bad for the people!
Regionalization is bad.
Doesn't anybody remember
civics anymore?
Anon 6:31,
I don't know where you get the notion that this post has much to do with the notion of central government or regionalization.
But I disagree with your argument, if you can call it an argument.
One of Pa.'s problems is its fragmented governance. We have far too many local governmentes, the third largest number of local governments in the nation. It tends to make governmnet unwieldy and inefficient.
Show me anywhere in history that a central government was good for the common man?
Shouldn't we be striving for individual strength instead of government strength?
Civilization! - *Some Restrictions Apply
Show me anywhere in history that a central government was good for the common man?
1) United States of America, FDR takes a central government approach to a national depression.
2) United States of America, FDR takes a central government approach to the Superman war machine.
3) United States of America, LBJ takes a central government approach to our civil rights problem.
4) United States of America, Richard Nixon (yes it was Nixon!) takes a central government approach to our pollution.
Shall I go on?
You're off topic. This post is about Cunningham.
You're off topic. This post is about Cunningham
Cunningham supports Regionalization.
It's your blog and you can cry if you want too! gee!
Half the time I wonder if you anything about the people you
boast about.
Bernie your examples where:
government approach; not permanent
infrastructure. Their was a reason for that; the people would have never stand for it.
Bernie - the anon is Drake Minder. I'd put money on it.
Agreed.
I think Don Cunningham has done a good job. He has led the way for the formation of the Lehigh County Congress of Governments bringing all 25 munis together quarterly. He has aggressivley tackled some tough infrastructure problems. He stuck to his guns on the new courthouse under construction. Plus his department heads are excellent. Some are even republicans, like his director of administration, who runs the budget process. Face it, the man has done a good job, and he was smart to surround himslef with a good bunch of talented people. We are lucky to have him.
Hes a refreshing change from Northampton County.
Yeah, he doesn't get slammed by Democratic council members when he hires republicans.
There are too many school districts and small boroughs in PA, but bi-county regionalization is a concept pushed by the Morning Call because it fits their marketing plan against the competition.
Don is doing OK, but he has really benefitted from the obscene surpluses from the excessive Ervin/Dougherty 70% tax increase.
I'll agree w/ that. There are two kinds of pols - lucky and unlucky, or Teflon and velcro. Don is definitely teflon. And I say that as a compliment.
I think Anon: Drake Minder is correct were being sold done the drain.
There's a small group who are seeking
control over our form of Government in my view will not be good for the people of the region.
Warning: Regional Governance
Beware Metro Regional Government
Ridge
Applauds Move Toward Regionalization
regional cooperation and collaboration is different from regional gov't. Regional gov't isn't discussed often or even as politically feasible (too many turfs etc). But there is absolutely nothing wrong with working together to solve regional problems through regional cooperation. If you don't, you will fail. Period, end of story.
Your fear of regional cooperation (which is optional by all parties) is irrational.
Cunningham is an incrementalist of the highest order and knows no bounds when it comes to self-limiting decisions and a lack of bold initiatives. His success is due to the downfalls of the Janes, not his skills as a manager. His real record of fiscal management is ensconced in the debt load of the Bethlehem Authority.
Anon 12:32,
I'm sorry you have such a poor impression but thank you for expressing it. I'll have to take some time down the road to try and change your mind.
At least Cunningham comes through on his ideas. Guys like Stoffa get press for just proposing things that never happen. Of course BO will be angry about the Stoffa view but as a voter I have a right to my opinion and I think Cunningham is a much better manager than Stoffa.
You take just about every opportunity you can to dump on Stoffa and just end up looking petty. Be my guest.
I saw Drake Minder chasing people around at Valley Farm Market's parking on Emmaus Ave. last Wednesday BEGGING people to sign his petition to run for State Representative.He actually followed one elderly couple right to the front door from their car.Doesn't he realize he is a joke and has NO chance of getting more than a dozen or so votes?
Doesn't he realize he is a joke and has NO chance of getting more than a dozen or so votes?
In a word, no. But if it keeps him from dropping his goofy anonymous comments on theis blog, I hope he keeps at it.
I'l add one funny sidenote to my post of 15 minutes ago.
When Drake Minder was begging for people to sign his petition in the parking lot he went up to one lasy and shoved his clipboard near her. She asked " who are you".
The way he answered made me laugh." I'm DRAKE MINDER" kind of in a way to say to her " how could you possibly NOT KNOW who I am !!!!!" I didn't know who he was either. He was dressed like a homeless man almost.
Are you kidding me! Is this guy an R? I think he is. No wonder good people are turned off anymore. If he is a candidate, he has street lists. People don't want to be bothered while doing their grocery shopping. He only needs 300 or so signatures. There is a difference between working a campaign hard and being annoying. He must have secured permission from the people at the Farm Market(right). He should have just shook hands or perhaps assisted people with their groceries. Better than ask people to sign his petition with a couple of bags of groceries to tend. And we want people like this to straighten out Harrisburg?
Sorry to the R's. I see Minder's a sometimes D and sometimes I. This must be Karen Beyer's district. I thought the D's would run Kurt Derr, but Kurt told me severla months ago that he wasn't interested. He would have made a pretty tough run at Karen. Without a serious candidate, Karen will be tough to beat.
Someone said Bob Dadey would run. I think he would give Byer a run for her money.
Karen Beyer has spent most of the last two years establishing a record most Dems would envy. She has been a very vocal spokespersdon for teachers. They will remember that and they vote and make contributions.
Bob Daday has established a reputation as a bitter person who was played games with unemployment. As soon as he started getting heat over that, he quickly left his radio show to say he would be working for his lawyer every Friday.
Beyer would tear his heart out, but he doesn't have one.
Elections can be brutal, and in targeted seats, no stone will be left "unthrown". The State committees will no doubt sling a lot of mud this fall on behalf of their candidates. It's a shame because if history is our benchmark we still will be left with significant infrastructure issues, lame and disguised property tax reform, an underfunded an increasingly unfair education system, and a lot of talk about health care but nothing to show for it. I'm hoping that the presidential election will bring out a lot of new voters who finally make some changes. But I'm not holding my breath.
Why the Bob Daday hate BO. I met him when he was announcing a HS game and he seemed like a nice guy. You really get pissed at people.
I think I gave my reasons - but it is not hate. I listened to enough of him to realize he is a very bitter man, a sore loser. He would be handing Beyer an issue on a silver plate - his own abuse of unemployment compensation. He alienated the MSM while doing that radio show, and they don't forget things like that. And he was arrogant. If he's the best Dems have to offer against Beyer, Dems lose again. He's not a goof like Drake Minder, but is not an appealing guy. Even the radio staff didn't like him. He loses big if he runs.
Karen Beyer supporter played a dirty trick on Drake Minder and Bill Hall who where getting signatures their one day.
For you that support Karen and what you say here about Mr. Minder and local politics; I can say birds of a feather stay together.
I personally feel Karen Beyer and all those in the Republican Party have to go.
There are many that hope Karen Beyer will be easily be defeated.
Drake Minder who never ran as a Republican has a lot of credentials in my book. He know how bad the Republican Party has been to this country, state, and local government.
He even wanted to give me / us the over site, to decide if legislatures got pay raises.
If we had this; then we could perhaps be more successful in getting property tax reform by now, improving our educational system, and a better health care system for all.
Karen Beyer has been in office now for two terms - she needs to go!
She has changed nothing in her two terms in office.
So go a head and bash on Drake Minder. I know he's counting on it!
I noted yesterday, that the Mayor of Allentown is "cracking down" on elderly women trying to earn a little extra money so the can subsist.
This seems to be the converse position of what the Democratic Party (of which the Mayor is a part of) say they support.
I thought the Democrats were for the poor, the homeless, the working poor, and the struggling middle class.
Perhaps some one could let me know when things changed.
Anonymous said...11:02 AM
Your sadly mistaken; their are several think tanks and organizations currently working on ideas to create a situation where they can force the
inception of Regional Government.
Drake Minder is correct in not supporting it. Unlike the incumbent
Karen Beyer.
Drake Minder, I'm sure would agree nothing wrong with working together to solve regional problems through regional cooperation. However, warns of the danger where the judicial system could come into play and force the hand of the people in giving up sovereignty on
influence it once had!
Are you saying Karen Beyer caves to special interest; because that's what I'm hearing!
Bernie O'Hare said...
Karen Beyer has spent most of the last two years establishing a record most Dems would envy. She has been a very vocal spokespersdon for teachers. They will remember that and they vote and make contributions.
Who said?
Can this rumor be verified?
Anonymous said...
Someone said Bob Dadey would run. I think he would give Byer a run for her money.
I actually read this page to find out who Drake Minder was. At the conclusion of this page I found it all to be very funny.
HA, I did the same.
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