This was pointed out by my evil Republican brother, Mike O'Hare, at that meeting. My brother acknowledged that this pledge is voluntary. We are, after all, a free country. I could understand someone who is upset about the direction in which this nation is heading. But the pledge itself is an expression of our unity around the noble principles upon which this country was founded, as the Constitution expresses, "to form a more perfect union."
Attorney Ettore "Ed" Angelo, who also spoke at that meeting, defended Irons. "It's called freedom," he said, and it is. And I think the people who voted to put Irons in office should know he has so little regard for this country that he refuses to participate in the pledge. Even I do that.
I also think it's dangerous to instruct constituents to physically obstruct law enforcement from doing its job. That is actually criminal. There are legal ways to take law enforcement to task when they act like cowboys. Obstruction is about the most foolish thing an elected official should say to anyone.
As my brother observes, "An elected official should never encourage anyone to knowingly and willingly put themselves in a position where they may face arrest or violate any law. Such statements are reckless and irresponsible. They carry additional authority when made by an elected official and may put people and the County in needless jeopardy."
64 comments:
Oh wow; never heard if this guy before and with one simple stroke of a blog post, he's entered the C(riminal) C(lueless) Gerlach and Josh (intelligence less than a) Beagle tier of Lehigh Valley elected officials who have no business in public office.
For the pledge part of the story, I could not care less about anyone standing or sitting for the pledge least of all at this current moment with things like the Epstein files cover up happening, and for the second part of the story. I don’t think Irons said anything wrong or legally dubious. It’s far less inflammatory or instructive than Trump on J6 or the proud boys stand back stand by moment. You also say that there’s legal ways to deal with law enforcement when they act like cowboys. Except it’s very credible that ICE and the DOJ are not giving detainees due process or following the law to the letter currently.
Where the hell did this guy come from? Another far-left whackadoodle! My, how Lehigh County has fallen since the days of Sterling Raber, Percy Dougherty, etc.
He's a dem - figures
Bernie would like to believe we live in a free nation. Freedom of speech, free markets, freedom of religion. But thats long gone and the only freedom we have left is the freedom to insult the country that we once had. People like this blow hard want to see us become a Marxist / Socialist country because he has been convinced that the America that was founded 249 years ago is inherently racist and evil. This is an anti-American propaganda talking point. When you hear it, know you are talking to someone that hates this country as much as they probably hate themselves.
But why is this socialist concept so popular right now with political midwits, blue haired New Yorkers, and men wearing dresses in LA? Why? Wealth disparity.
They arent wrong. The wealth gap is obscene and the .001% have accumulated far too much. There is no way to fix this short of a 'Great Reset'....hmm didnt they already try that? Maybe by 2030 (Agenda 2030??) they will complete their mission.
However, these ultra progressive leftist shouting communist propaganda, dont know how to fix it. They just want the government to tax you more, which will cause more govt spending and leave the average American with less.
Capitalism is an economic system that was created with rules. If you dont follow the rules, the system can break. We are getting close to that breaking point. Can it be fixed? Sure...but you have to do the following things (which wont be easy)
-End the Fed. Im sure many of you have seen this and heard about it but dont know what its about. Essentially, the Federal Reserve (private organization, not owned by the people or government) is where this all took a wrong turn. We allowed Central Bankers to own this country when they charge the USA interest to create the Dollar out of thin air and charge us for it. Fractional Reserve Banking is a Ponzi sceme. There is a reason why our money has a pyramid with an all seeing eye on top of it. Because our money is a pyramid scheme and the Central Bankers / money changers are on top. This must end for any of this to get better.
-Strong Anti-Monopoly laws must be enforced. We must break up ultra conglomerates and invest in local economies. Start with food. We should be buying farm fresh food from local farmers and bankrupt Big Food.
- The last step of this plan is a long term plan, invest in our youth. Rethink the schooling system for the 22nd century. Things are changing quickly but we still have students in a desk 7 hours a day learning Algebra and about the Vietnam war.
Be optimistic. America is the best mf'ing country in the world. As long as we stop falling for the traps of socialism and get back to work, we will be fine. But if guys like Irons, Warren, Zrinkski, and Keegan keep winning elections - we will be the USSA.
Ecuador is calling
This ass is a Democrat. Is there a need for any other explaination for his behavior?
I think this man’s view of good citizenship is misguided and his behavior entirely wrong. But, in America we tolerate all kinds of jerks. Until those jerks cross certain boundaries of decency and already codified rules. I suggest this attention-seeker doesn’t push his bravado too far.
In the meantime, I am thankful not to have this jerk living as my next door neighbor. I would find him repulsive and likely dangerous to be near.
It sounds like your brother is a very principled man. I'm assuming he didn't vote for Donald Trump the last 3 elections because in 2016 he was encouraging his followers to face arrest and violate the law by attacking protesters. He even said he would pay their legal fees.
So, as a principled Republican, who did your brother vote for?
Great news for Republicans, whose big tent is growing. And Democrats wonder why party voter registrations are tanking. This, and the Jew-hating are appalling. I'm glad you don't defend this wing of your party. You're often a loyal apologist for a party that no longer exists.
This guy is sick!
This is dangerous rhetoric- only in this country can he spout such venom- in Russia, China, and many other countries, he'd disappear, never to be seen again.
As a Lehigh County resident, I'm very uncomfortable with a guy like this sneaking onto the County Commissioners. He never once, promoted his radical beliefs during his campaign. Reminds me a lot of Matt Tuerk, no concern for the core essential issues of County service delivery, its all about his own personal radical social advocacy agenda.
Liberty and justice for all. Maybe the guy doesn't want to be a hypocrite and allow the continuation of propaganda. There is not liberty or justice for all.
The guy is a scum ball, if you don’t like how the country is being led, or you can’t respect the pledge, simple answer to that leave the country and find one that suits your ideals
His actions prove that he is the enemy
The commissioners should censor him
Actually, he is a Democratic Socialist who ran as a Dem.
Lol. There's no difference.
Democratic Socialist? Yeah, and N. Korea's a Democratic People's Republic.
I think I've already made clear that my brother is an evil R and yes, he voted for Trump. I know plenty of principled and good people who did so. Trump is very flawed, both as a person and as a President. I could never support him. But he has capitalized on inflation, institutional distrust and overall frustration with our government, which is pretty easy to have. They believe Dems have been too focused on woke issues (biological males playing in girls sports at schools, gender affirming surgery for minors) instead of helping people who need better incomes. And in many ways, these criticisms are valid. Trump is overall very unpopular, but Dems are even more unpopular. People who support Trump include some of my family and friends It's a mistake to attack them because their beliefs differ from mine. That is the whole point of America. We can have different beliefs.
Yeah, there's a difference. People like Panto and Kenny Brown are Democrats, while people like Taiba Sultana and her husband are Democratic socialists.
I'll give an example of how Dems are tone deaf. Tomorrow, there will be a joint news conference with the Mayors of Reading and Allentown to raise the public safety concerns of illegal swimming in natural waterways. Um, I think that before going after people who are trying to stay cool on hot days, they should consider far more important quality of life issues, like say the shootings that go on in both cities.
You're generally right about the need for rules and order to exist for America to be "great again". But our population has been fractured too much, too diverse, and too mislead from centralized mass media. There are now inherent fracture lines in our population, and they are easily exploited for votes. This is precisely the kind of faction that both the Founding Fathers and ancient Greeks like Aristotle warned about. I don't think we get out of this by voting.
As a youngster growing up in poverty, I lived in Bethlehem's public housing, including the famous "TRAILER CAMP" behind the Village Food Market on Pembroke Road. I still look back with pleasant memories of my excursions down to the Canal and the Lehigh River for our summer fun, and in the winter we went ice skating on the frozen canal. We didn't have bathrooms in our Trailers nor did we have hot water. We had a community bath house to utilize for those functions. One of the most enjoyable times was the time we spend fishing and swimming in the canal and the Lehigh under the Minsi Trail Bridge. We even enjoyed a dip in the Monocacy and the Saucon once in a while. Those were some of the most enjoyable times of my childhood.
Absolutely no one who voted for Trump is a good person. He campaigned as a fascist. He called people animals and said they were poisoning the blood of the country. Anyone who voted for him voted for fascism. There are no good fascists.
Considering the amount of people who died in Texas last week, it's actually not tone deaf to remind people not to swim in unsafe areas. Kerr County, Texas made the mistake of redirecting federal funds that were intended to install a flood alert system along the river because they didn't think it was important. They were wrong.
Jon Irons is saying the same things people during the Civil Rights Movement were saying.
Herein lies the problem -- "politicians" who want to posture and get their 15-minutes, rather than work for the people and appreciate the trust instilled in them by the voters. This man isn't taking a principled stand and is just pandering to the ultra left with the hope he'll get another gig. Remember, if he wasn't playing this game, we wouldn't even know his name. Until politicians realize they work FOR the people and not THEIR own interests, we will meet more people like this.
Please tell me one instance of an elected democrat disavowing democrat socialists when they run for office.
They all stay silent because they can’t upset their democrat base, which includes a significant number of (guess not what) democrat socialists. That’s how the “democrat party” has ended up supporting so many of the “Democrat socialist” policies, like open borders, defund the police, defund ICE, no limits on spending, etc.
If they’re not going to speak out against them, then actually they agree with them and that’s who they are. Time to wake up to reality.
Maybe you haven't seen the mess they leave behind at these swimming holes? The toilets piled high, clogged with human feces. and the sinks and.... beer cans, hot charcoal scattered on the ground after they leave. the drownings.... parked cars, noise.... it can be addressed.
Oath which all naturalized Citizens take when they become citizens
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Note: In certain circumstances there can be a modification or waiver of the Oath of Allegiance. See the USCIS Policy Manual.
The principles embodied in the Oath are codified in Section 337(a) in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which provides that all applicants shall take an oath that incorporates the substance of the following:
Support the Constitution;
Renounce and abjure absolutely and entirely all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which the applicant was before a subject or citizen;
Support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
Bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and
A. Bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; or
B. Perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; or
C. Perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law.
This type of person must be deported Where is ICE.?
Only assholes voted for this asshole.
Very pleased to read Bernie’s post about the Democratic Socialist side of the Democratic Party out of sync & tolerance for those like Bernie’s brother & others that voted for Trump.
One of the reasons so many voted for Trump is because of democrats like Jon Irons & his radical agenda against America & what it stands for. He & the new mayor candidate in NY & AOC are essentially traitors trying to install a Marxist society of Government control.
In the Lehigh Valley we have Tuerk & Reynolds both from that Marxist side of the Democratic Party. Cannot believe the democrats really understand who they are voting for but just pull Dem lever or don’t vote.
@ 10:11. No doubt. We might be at the "tree of liberty watering" moment
As a Democrat, post such as yours annoy me. From what I see daily, the Republican Party has allowed itself to be hijacked and hoodwinked by a snake oil salesman whose self-interest is his only concern. Yes, there is an ultra liberal left that isn’t to my liking, but the Trumpets are far more dangerous in their ignorance.
Hi Bernie. Everytime I'm at a function and there's a public prayer, I don't participate because I'm an atheist. I don't make a big deal about it and it is a free country but, if someone outed me on a blog like this one it wouldn't be a personal choice anymore. According to the blogger I'd be 'making a statement' and I might lose my job. Remember Colin Kaepernick? This guy, unlike members of the Trump Administration, isn't hurting anyone. I'm confused as to why you're demonizing him.
And you’re okay with defund the police and anti capitalist. That’s a communist. If you don’t like this country you are free to leave. Biden destroyed this country and Americans didn’t go crazy like you TDS people, they just elected a new president who campaigned on what they wanted, protected borders, energy independence, no wars, a better economy. This Iron Guy is a POS like Mamdani running in NYC. We will fight to stop America from becoming like the UK, France and Germany. All collapsing because of radicals and communist.
Keegan won’t say the pledge of allegiance correctly either. She won’t say under God and says liberty and justice for some. She’s another whackadoodle. You don’t like it leave the country too. Another communist who believes in one party rule.
I do not participate in pre-meeting prayers unless they are led by an ordained member of the clergy. I hate when elected officials pretend they are religious. As for Irons, I am pointing out that he refuses to pledge. That is his choice and people who vote in elections should know this.
Democrats? Isn't Lahoud part of the Democratic socialists?
Absolutely
I think he disguised himself as a normal/typical Democrat and loyal party voters put him in via straight ticket voting. I would call them uninformed more than assholes.
You make a good point about people who run for elected office and don't promote what they really stand for. Too much of that is happening anymore, or they misrepresent what it is that they really mean. It's like addressing immigration in a campaign and then tracking people down and treating them as subhuman. The vast majority of Americans support better immigration laws and policies, but not the horrible tactics to disappear people that have spun off from securing borders.
Voting in America might no longer be as pure and precise as we once believed. I’ve seen enough evidence of shoddy handling of ballots, counting irregularities, and a general loss of quality control in several states, including Pennsylvania. In my opinion, wrong people have sometimes been announced as winning.
A great number of assholes voted for Trump the #1 asshole of all time
I’ve got news for you Bernie, the democrat party that you have known and been a member of is gone. The AOC democratic socialist wing runs it now. Look at the nut in NYC Mandami, that’s the base of the party today, that’s why I left it. 55% of the dem party thinks socialism is good! Not a big Trump guy, but if you look at the policies they’re mostly centrist. Work requirements for welfare and Medicaid like Clinton did, secure border and deporting illegals like Obama, 6k credit on SS payments, no tax on tips. He’s a loud mouth asshole but he’s not the Hitler they try to portray him as.
65% of Democrats view socialism positively. Thats the base of the party now.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/357755/socialism-capitalism-ratings-unchanged.aspx
You are kidding, right? We are winning every day but you just refuse to acknowledge it. Trump the peacemaker.
It’s his choice not to stand for the pledge. The rest of his positions are much more troubling, police abolitionist! Instructing constituents to interfere with law enforcement! He’s an asshole that’s what he is.
I took this from the recent Pew poll. Another reason I left the Dem party:
The groups with the largest declines are also the groups that are currently least likely to believe in God, including liberals (62%), young adults (68%) and Democrats (72%).
2:26 - This is 11:46.
I see a democrat party that is so far to the Left - and so wrong on the issues - that they can no longer even discuss the issues rationally. They need to demonize whoever is on the opposite side with the most vile personal attacks possible (if you don’t believe me, wait until the next presidential election to see how they treat the next republican presidential nominee). In short, all the democrat elected officials have left are insults and (increasingly) violence. There is no uplifting vision for America left in the party.
So I’m sorry if my comment about there being no difference between democrats and democrat socialists “annoys” you. Maybe it’s time that you acknowledge the truth about what the party has become.
BTW, I’m also a democrat and I can no longer vote for most democrat politicians because of what they have become, or because they are afraid to speak out against the radicals in the party. And I’m not alone.
The far left socialists are now the base of the party. Look what this Mandami guy in NYC did to Cuomo. He’s a Jew hating Hamas sympathizer who thinks the government can give everyone everything for free. Also a police abolitionist. This is the major of the dem party now. Us old boomers like Bernie don’t want to believe it but it’s happening and it’s scary. Obama looks like a conservative compared to these crazies!
At boh 903am
Hitler was a democratic socialist too
Comments such as this are what is wrong in America. People post and others think it is true. Check out his page. I would say he is an independent with conservative democratic republican values.
Call it anything you want. Like it, or hate it. But, it is now quite clear, an attempt is being made to overthrow American government.
6:35 leads with, “ Freedom of speech, free markets, freedom of religion… thats long gone and the only freedom we have left is the freedom to insult the country that we once had.” And ends with: “ Be optimistic. America is the best mf'ing country in the world. As long as we stop falling for the traps of socialism and get back to work, we will be fine.” Hmmm.
I’’m surprised you stopped at the central banks and didn’t continue on down looney brick road to the Rothschilds et al.
I agree with you 100%. He's a centrist! And BTW, there is no longer a Democratic Party- its a Socialist Party.
There is no longer 2 parties: Democrat and Republican. Its Socialist and Republican.
The two parties are both bad. They are mirror images of each other in wanting to call the other evil. They represent no one but the party fanatics and their own interests. Both counties are run by these fanatics. You will have Seigel in Lehigh and Zirinski in Northampton, both are extremists. In Northampton, you have Kookoo Kegan and wild-eyed Warren. They are products of the new extreme demo party.
@9:32 - since you brought it up you should probably watch this. You know whats looney, people thinking we live in a free market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm6oeRgxs0A
Just 2 years ago, LC was a model of good governance. The board found common-sense consensus. Quietly did its job at a high level.
A pragmatic middle—Bob Elbich, Dan Hartzell & Jeff Dutt—held. Pineda and Beitler, at times fiscally hawkish but always understood the unique role of county gov. They get the assignment. Cole Borghi sat way to the left but pretty much alone. Exec Armstrong used or threatened vetoes behind the scenes to block wilder progressive ideas from gaining steam. Chair Brace, eyeing an exec run, was more moderate. The board was very balanced and worked together.
Fast forward: Elbich is out, replaced by a straight-up outright Democrat Socialist in Irons. Siegel muscles Brace out of the exec race buying the Democratic nomination. Brace snaps back left. Smalls out and a more vocal Alvarado in.
Today? We got Irons–Cole Borghi–Roderick and sometimes Alvarado bloc, unimpeded by Brace and often within reach of the votes to override Armstrong. Next year, Siegel purchases the Executive office, the board becomes wildly out of touch with mainstream county voters and heads deep into activist territory.
Voters Wake up and their county gov is unrecognizable.
Last year we got virtue signaling with a well meaning but basically pointless “human rights commission.” This year “Welcoming legislation” is coming—and it’s gonna get the county sued.
Buckle up. Cause in the blink of an eye LC is heading off the rails.
Very well stated!!
Commissioner Irons, I fully respect your right as an American citizen to express dissent—even against our current national leadership. The freedom to do so is one of this country’s most cherished principles. However, I urge you to reflect on the moment you stood before your peers and the public to take your oath of allegiance during your naturalization. That act was not simply procedural—it symbolized your voluntary commitment to the Constitution and the enduring values of this Republic.
The flag is not a banner of any political party or administration. It represents the collective identity of the American people and the long arc of our history. Though our past carries imperfections, it stands with honor among nations—a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of liberty. Choosing not to stand for the oath of allegiance may fall within your rights, but it echoes beyond legality and into symbolism. It invites concern over the consistency of your commitment to those shared ideals you once publicly affirmed."
The pic posted: the dude looks like an AI first attempt to draw Saddam Hussein.
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