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Thursday, July 30, 2009

An Afternoon at Allentown's Scottish Rite Center

Lured by a promise of free sandwiches, I darkened the doors of Allentown's Scottish Rite Center this afternoon for a news conference with the Republican Lehigh County Commissioner candidates. Because there was no way an Irish Democrat could ever get into that building on his own, LC Comm'r Dean Browning was supposed to meet me at the door, blindfold me and take me to the GOP's inner sanctum. But I arrived early, and there were no guards posted at the door, so I sneaked in.

After wandering hallways cluttered with dusty portraits of Robert the Bruce, Queen Mary (with head) and William Wallace, I finally found a picture of Percy Dougherty, a Republican who currently chairs the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners. Figuring I was in the right place, I opened the only door in that hallway, and this is who was waiting for me.

I'll never be the same.

I eventually did find the Republican Commissioner candidates, who had plenty to say. I'll be telling you about that next.
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 30, 2009 at 8:37 PM

    I'm not Scottish either and I always wondered what they did in there. Are they closer to the Mormons or the Masons? Did you have to wear magic underwear? Were you forcefed haggis? Do they chant? What are some of the Scottish rites? Scottish responsibilities?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 30, 2009 at 8:47 PM

    I thought it was a Cathedral, not a Center. Was there a religious service too?

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  3. Bernie O'HareJuly 30, 2009 at 8:51 PM

    Browning promised me sanwiches, but it was goddamn haggis. When it was over, they all started singing Rod Stewart songs. Could have been worse. Could have been Bono.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 30, 2009 at 8:54 PM

    Thnaks for making me spit out my nightly cheerios, Ohare.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 30, 2009 at 11:02 PM

    Sneaked in.

    Goddamit Bernie. Snuck? From you?

    And the nitwit Bono is an Irishman.

    Me. I'm Scottish and all things are Scottish or they're just crap!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bernie O'HareJuly 30, 2009 at 11:14 PM

    Damn, you're right. I'll fix that grammatical faux pas toute de suite.

    And since you're Scottish, I'll leave you with this ancient Gaelic blessing - pogue mahone.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 30, 2009 at 11:16 PM

    When I think Allentown, I definitely think "Scottish Republicans"

    ReplyDelete
  8. A Proud RepublicanJuly 31, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    I can't believe that when the nation is suffering from a national crisis, having elected a Kenyan born President with no ties to the U.S., the Republicans would pick a foreign embassy for a political forum! IF it weren't for us, the Scottish would be speaking German right now! What's wrong with a good old American Rite Cathedral?

    ReplyDelete

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