Energetic Superior Court Judge Jack Panella, a much-admired former Northampton County jurist, continues to move forward in his race for an important seat on the state's evenly divided high court. On Friday, he received the coveted endorsement of Pennsylvania's AFL-CIO, which requires the approval of 2/3 of its executive council.You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
I cannot stand Judge Joan Orie-Melvin. She came to the Northampton County Lincoln Day Breakfast and demanded that the "other candidates (Cheryl Allen, Paul Panepinto, and Jackie Shogan) put "the Party" above their personal ambitions. Queen Joan was the party anointed and Roy Shuman refused to even let her primary opponents speak.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with all of this said, I cannot support Jack Panella BECAUSE of his endorsement by the AFL-CIO. Bill George, the PA AFL-CIO President has come out in favor of measures such as a tax hike in this year's budget while his members clearly oppose it (I had the chance to speak to at least a dozen members in Harrisburg last week as they were protesting outside the capitol demanding a budget be passed. To a one, they opposed a tax hike. Union workers oppose tax hikes too!) let us not forget that the AFL-CIO also supported "Card Check" legislation that would remove the secret ballot from Unionization elections. Now they support "fast track" legislation which is basically slow mo card check. Cards sign ups are still used and elections are held only a few days thereafter. This deprives businesses of the opportunity to state their case before the election. How undemocratic! If these thugs are supporting Judge Panella, then I cannot. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to keep my name off this one, though I admit I loathe posting anonymously.
Like 6:52, this endorsement effectively ends my plan to cross party lines and vote for Jack.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for Jack, and just as parents have admonished children for generations, one must be mindful of those with whom he associates.
He may not have sought their endorsement. I will vote for him if he publicly denounces it.
Being endorsed by the AFL CIO is a good reason to NOT vote for Jack Panella. He's a nic fellow, but do I reallyw ant the AFL CIO to control the swing vote on the supremem court of PA? If you are enforsed byt he AFL CIO you are OWNED by the AFL CIO No judge should have endorsements from Unions.
ReplyDeleteThe Kiss of Death, for sure.
ReplyDeleteRuh roh, Jack.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Jack an anti-abortion/pro-life/birther?
I doubt the left will vote for that.
Jack isn't exactly a centrist. He has whipsaw radical views that are abhorrent to both right and left.
Well, I'm going to have to tell you that Judge Panella is very proud of that endorsement. It means a lot to him.
ReplyDeletePanella's dad was a carpet roller who was ordered back to work after he experienced heart trouble. It killed him and his mom was forced to work in a low-paying job to make other people rich.
Unions, for all their flaws, tend to protect people from what happened to Judge Panella's parents.
Some of you have had bad experiences with unions, which can become tyrants. But we do better with them than we'd do w/o them.
It's sad how many people's (not all) opinions of the unions have changed. Many people today see them now in a similar fashion that the old unions saw management. It's like Animal Farm.
ReplyDeleteUnions like those cited by Bernie were lifesavers in protecting abused laborers.
ReplyDeleteUnions like the one that endorsed Jack are no longer fighting big business. They are big business.
Public opinions of unions is consistent with this and Jack is a smart guy who has to know this as well. But he'll make like a good politician and take their endorsement. Can he take their cash?
Jack loves to be loved. As to Mr. Shuman he is a hypocrite who swings both ways when it comes to candidates.
ReplyDeleteOne day he supports only a Democrat the next he supports only a Republican.
Judge Panella is an honorable person. It is amazing how much people get upset because an organization is supporting him. The AFL-CIO can support him and that doesn't mean they own him. It surely is not the case because they have not owned him as Common Pleas Judge and Superior Court Judge. He is a fair and honest Judge and we should all be proud that a LV resident has the chance to ascend to the highest court. That is why I think the AFL-CIO supports him, because unlike his opponent, he is fair to Labor, Big Business, Small Business and everyone else who goes in front of him, just ask people.
ReplyDeleteAttacking a candidate based on a membership group that endorses him is crazy. The AFL-CIO is just like the NRA, Pro Life groups, Pro Choice groups, Club for Growth and many more. Do we make fun of Pat Toomey with the Club for Growth or anyone for the NRA? Judge Panella is a great guy who does what is right. Vote that way. GO PANELLA!
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely sad to see this election come down to this. Where is the outrage when interest groups support Judge Panella's opponent? Just because you do not agree with a group that likes Judge Panella does not mean you have to dislike Judge Panella. Anybody who is changing their support for Judge Panella because the AFL-CIO supports him WAS likely to vote for his opponent. I still remember what Joan Orie Melvin did to Max Baer with those robocalls in 2003. It is safe to say she will do the same garbage funded by special interests against Judge Panella. Either way nothing with sway me. GO JACK!
ReplyDeleteIt has become clear that many people on this board don't understand who the AFL-CIO is and what it means to receive their endorsement.
ReplyDeleteThe AFL-CIO has almost a million members in our state, from the people who build buildings, to the people who deliver your mail, to the people who take your trash, and the list goes on and on. This endorsement represents the endorsement of the backbone of our society, the working men and women who allow the rest of us to go about our lives.
For some reason, it seems that many posters to this board are referencing some caricature of a union boss that doesn't exist, and, in turn, ignoring the political will of almost a million Pennsylvanians.
If the members of the AFL-CIO think that Panella should be a Justice of the Supreme Court, then so do I.
I see how interesting this debate has become. I think that Judge Panella is a nice man (I met him at Musikfest) and his website (www.votejackpanella.com) highlights some of the things he was done. Since the 2008 campaign, I have become more involved and interested in politics and seem to side more and more with candidates like Jack. He is a straight shooter who is not beholden to anybody.....That is something I like. Steven.
ReplyDeleteBill George is a nice man and Jack Panella will be the next Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. I am a retired union member, a friend of Judge Panella and have a great deal of respect for what the both of them do on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteJack Panella will win. He will win based on hard work, personality and his record. That is why he won in 93 and 03. Vote Panella.
ReplyDeleteI met Jack at a picnic here in the Valley and he is great....Very smart and respectful of everyones views. Judging by the Judical scandals that are in the state isn't that what we want? A respectful judge who is willing to listen. I am voting for Judge Panella.
ReplyDeleteI don't always support union tactics, but I will always support their ideals of fair pay, life saving working conditions, and their ability to protect "the little guy!"
ReplyDeleteJudge Panella has dedicated his life to the concept of protecting those who need to be protected. When he was involved with the Children & Youth division, he protected those who couldn't protect themselves.
As for labor, please listen to his remarks while announcing his candidacy. Here in the Valley, we should all remember the "sweatshops" much like the women while he was growing up.
The anger he shows when speaking of his father's death from a work related illness, shows the sincerity in his heart. Will he protect the Unions, NO, HE WILL PROTECT ALL OF US! Worker or Manager or Owner!
FAIR TREATMENT FOR US ALL. LET'S NOT REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED IN LUZERNE COUNTY. VOTE PANELLA FOR SUPREME COURT.
ReplyDeleteJudge Panella is a friend to all working people. It does not matter if you earn seven figures or four figures. In today's political climate you may ask how is that possible? Well, because Judge Panella knows and does what is RIGHT! I am voting for Judge Panella.
ReplyDelete