Bob Freeman, Joe Brennan, Advocate Bipartisan Approach

In his most recent column, The Morning Call's Bill White complains about increasing polarization in the political process. I'll add that our closed primaries do tend to guarantee that the most conservative Republican will square off against the most liberal Democrat, as in Toomey v. Sestak. "The day of the moderate Republican or Democrat, reaching across the aisle to craft compromises, largely seems to be over," Bill sighs. "It's politically suicidal."

But there is still hope. State Representatives Bob Freeman and Joe Brennan last week stated that their approach is actually bipartisan.


Bob Freeman: "I don't care if it's a Republican proposal or a Democratic proposal. If it's a good piece of legislation, I want us to get that passed. ... I think we have to cut through some of the partisanship."

Joe Brennan: "Our Governor is obviously a Democrat, Ed Rendell. Our Senate is predominately Republican, it's 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats. In the House, we have 104 Democrats and 99 Republicans. So I can personally say that I've probably sponsored as many Republican bills that are introduced as I have Democrats. I generally don't look at the party of the person introducing it; I look at the idea."

For Ron Shegda, It's Hammer Time

Can't touch this.

Did you know state house candidate Ron Shegda collaborates with MC Hammer? That's right, bippy, and that's just one of the things I learned Friday night at a LV Tea Party meeting. Let me tell you the story.

Now I've been to a few LV Tea Party meetings, after which I've criticized their unelected leaders for playing politics while masquerading as a nonprofit. Well, they're finally getting around to electing those leaders. What's more, they must be serious about retaining their nonprofit status. They ejected state house candidate Ron Shegda, who tried to use the meeting as a platform for his campaign against State Rep. Bob Freeman.

Hammer Time.

Shegda has been playing this game with non-profits for some time. In mid-August, his supporters linked Notre Dame High School's web page to a webcast containing four signs endorsing his state house race. And during Musikfest, he conned the LV Tea Party into funding another political webcast. As Shegda drones on from "Tea Party Platz", some kid in a remote video occasionally stops his dumb bell workout to give a thumbs up signs at two Shegda campaign signs.

On Friday night, when I arrived, Shegda's sister was in the back looking for cookies. Unfortunately for her, the only thing back there were miniature "Don't tread on me" flags, and she couldn't eat them. Shegda was back there, too. I had no idea, but he's something of a rock star. He was handing out his latest CD, entitled "Ron Shegda for PA State Rep 136th." It includes cuts of these big hits:

"The Two Things Show Intro," performed by Ron Shegda & MC Hammer.

"Pennsylvania Political Polka Medley," performed by Jolly Joe Timmer and Ron Shegda;

"Puff the Magic Mayor," lyrics by Ron Shegda; and my favorite,

"Two Minutes of Wisdom," by Ron Shegda.

Unfortunately, Shegda needed three minutes of wisdom. The Tea Party had asked him to stop campaigning, but he continued. He even started passing out flyers for a Republican rally on Sunday at Easton Circle. Eventually, he was asked to leave.

Tea Party: "I told you, homeboy, you can't touch this."

Shegda: "Now why would I ever stop doing this?
With others making records that just don't hit
I've toured around the world, from London to the Bay
It's 'Shegda, go Shegda, MC Shegda, yo, Shegda'
And the rest can go and play."

Out he danced.