Going Into Final Game, Bethlehem Steelers Undefeated

Running back Dat Lambert (#28) of the Bethlehem Steelers (90 lb. or less), breaks loose and scampers off for a score in a close game this weekend against Allentown's Alton Park. The Steelers are undefeated (7-0) with one game remaining next Saturday against the south side's Bethlehem Saints. All of these teams are part of the 17-team Suburban Youth Football League (SYFL), whose goal is "teaching area youth the basic fundamentals of football, discipline and good sportsmanship."
Photo Credit: Michelle Dimmitt, mother of Abraham Dimmitt (#26). (She missed her calling).

Pa. Congressional Republicans Get Nutty over ACORN

ACORN, as most of you probably know, is "the nation’s largest grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people with over 400,000 member families organized into more than 1,200 neighborhood chapters in 110 cities across the country." It's Project Vote has added 1.3 million voters to the rolls, including 153,000 here in Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent, however, is concerned that ACORN is engaging in "illegal political activity, including voter fraud." So he wants the state Attorney General to go after the ACORNs with his nutcracker. He's joined by Jim Gerlach, Phil English, Tim Murphy, John Peterson, Joe Pitts, Todd Platts, and Bill Shuster, all of whom just happen to be Republicans. Not a single Democratic House member has joined this request.

Hmmm.

Are these Republican Congressman really worried about voter fraud or are they instead concerned that the 153,000 new voters in Pennsylvania, mostly low-income and minority, are registered as Democrats? One thing is clear. Pennsylvania's Republican Congressman are just part of a larger GOP choir, which includes a “fact sheet” from the Republican National Committee and a McCain web ad.

Pennsylvania's Congressional Republicans claim there are three reasons why Corbett needs to become a nutcracker with ACORN.

Reason 1: In July 2008, Dauphin County election officials investigated over 100 suspicious applications submitted by ACORN. In July, a former ACORN worker was questioned by a Dauphin County detective after turning in between 100 and 150 questionable registration forms. He was finally arrested on Saturday, and is accused of submitting phonies to justify his paycheck. This is one person, not some deep conspiracy.

Reason 2: In June 2007, a Berks County woman employed by ACORN was arrested for alleged voter fraud, including falsifying registrations and registering dead people. Wendy Godfrey was charged with dozens of counts of repeat registrations, false registrations and deceased registrants. But here's the kicker. She never actually worked for ACORN. According to a Berks County official who asked to remain anonymous, she and a boyfriend pleaded guilty to some form of voter registration fraud, and the case is closed. That's two people, not a deep conspiracy.

Reason 3: In September 2006, nearly 100 fraudulent voter registration applications were filed in Delaware County, prompting the District Attorney’s Office to issue an identity theft alert. All 100 applications were filled out by four individuals working for ACORN. I don't know about two years ago, but have no reason to doubt the claim. I do know the Delaware County DA is currently investigating 290 questionable registrations.

Under Pennsylvania law, it is illegal to pay canvassers by the card. But it's apparent some poorly trained canvassers are just filling in some blank cards to get a quick buck. It scares the hell out of Republicans, but it's not really voter fraud. It's voter registration fraud, and ACORN is technically one of the victims. Canvassers are paid . . . well, acorns, and they tend to do sloppy work. As blogger Rick Hasen notes at Huffington Post, "ACORN needs to find a different business model for registering voters, even if it means that fewer voters will be registered and fewer low income people employed in the voter registration business."

But don't kid yourself. The entire Dallas Cowboys may be registered in thirteen different states, but they won't be voting.

No statewide investigation is necessary.

Update: Tne Morning Call reports today that ACORN ended its voter registration efforts in the Lehigh Valley at the end of May, and that as many as 20 out of 100 registrations were invalid in Lehigh County. The American Spectator reports that retired Justice Sandra Newman is concerned November's election will be fair. I don't think this concern is justified. It is one thing to submit a bogus form. It is quite another to engage in actual voter fraud. No one has made that connection.

Wanted: Northampton County Solicitor

Last week, Lamont McClure was the sole NO vote to a Ron Angle resolution urging the quick confirmation of Leonard Zito's appointment to the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Despite McClure's refusal to endorse, the state senate confirmed Zito.

Guess Lamont is not quite so powerful as he thinks.

This morning, Attorney Zito will be anointed with oil and handed his judicial sceptre. A bright and capable lawyer, this Bangor advocate be an excellent addition to the bench. But now that Lenny is floating on black robes, he can no longer serve as Northampton County Council Solicitor. Who will replace him?

That's where McClure's NO vote is very telling. You see, he wanted his wife, an assistant DA who is terrified of a courtroom, to be sitting on that bench this morning. In fact, McClure wanted to be rid of Zito completely. Lenny had this annoying habit of following the law instead of telling McClure exactly what he wanted to hear.

Now, Lamont finally has his chance to get a YES man. He, Joe Long and Charles Dertinger are lobbying other council members to appoint the son of James G. Petrucci, a New Jersey attorney and mega developer, to the vacancy. If that's unacceptable, they'll settle for Don Russo, a Bethlehem lawyer who at one time hosted a Democratic talk radio show featuring people like Joe Long, Charles Dertinger and Lamont McClure as guests.

Who Northampton County Council selects as its next lawyer will speak volumes about who is in control of that dysfunctional body.

I know one thing. You won't see any "low hanging fruit." No gay attorney for Charles Dertinger.

Mea Culpa: I claimed the son of developer James G. Petrucci is being touted for the post. It's actually Michael Perrucci, Esquire, not Jim Petrucci. Both have offices in NJ and are sometimes confused because both are in development.

Charles Dertinger's Homophobic Slam

I recorded the Jerry Springer show that erupted during last week's Northampton County Council meeting, and presented it to you earlier this week. The Morning Call's Bill White loves it when government officials start mud wrestling, and actually wrote a column about this great debate, which he aptly calls "Your Mother Wears Army Boots."

Believe it or not, Northampton County Council member Charles Dertinger, who actually ran for Congress against Charlie Dent just two years ago, managed to sink even lower last Thursday. Most of us, who were still recovering from the childish antics that had gone on earlier, completely missed it. The tape recorder, however, caught it all.

Passenger rail activist Paul Marin had just finished his presentation, describing the rail study as a "low hanging fruit" that we should grab now. Because Angle had expressed reservations, Dertinger decided this was a great idea.

Dertinger: "Are you saying Charlie [Dent] couldn't . . . couldn't pull it off?"

Angle: "If only we had you there, Charlie, you could do it. You and Sam. You and Sam [Bennett]."

Dertinger: "Mr. Angle, please, I have the floor. Um, speaking of low hanging fruit."

In the middle of a public hearing, attended by numerous passenger rail proponents, Council member Charles Dertinger casually tossed a homophobic slur at Angle. In an attempt to disparage Angle, Dertinger actually diminishes himself and simultaneously sends a message of intolerance to the gay community.

If you'd like to hear this brief audio yourself, click here. Look for the 64Kbps M3U (Lo-Fi) at the left sidebar and you can stream the audio.

McCain Support at Stabler Demonized

Earlier today, I told you about the exchanges between McCain supporters and deriders outside Stabler arena. Exchanges of vitriol, delivered with smiles, were very much two-sided.

Mike Morrill, Dear Leader at Keystone Progress, was there, too. He's now circulating an email, with a link to a very misleading video. He includes some of the more goofy statements made by McCain supporters with no mention of the equally ridiculous taunts coming from the other side.

It is an intellectually dishonest portrayal of the exchanges. The obvious reason is to demonize McCain support.

Lehigh's McCain-Palin Rally - The View From Outside

Arriving early at Lehigh's Stabler Arena on Tuesday, I thought I'd have no problem parking and getting in line for the show. I thought wrong.

You see, most of these folks are Republicans. When they're told to be somewhere at 10 AM, they show up at 9 AM. Lots of suits and ties and good-looking women, too. Everyone was lining up along the sidewalk to nowhere, which wound all over the place. Nobody was trying to cut in front of anyone. Nobody even ducked behind a bush to take a whizz.

I was looking for the protesters, so I popped off the yellow brick road and began looking until I found a small group of about 18 "protesters" in a parking lot located just a few yards from where Republicans were queued up.

Lucky for me, this parking lot was the place set aside for VIPs like those MSM broadcast journalists. Every now and then, some really hot-looking babe would saunter by, microphone in hand, looking more like a high class hooker than a reporter. A few gave me bedroom eyes, but I was a blogger on a mission. I was there for the friendly exchanges between McCain supporters and detractors, damn it!

"I want Sarah to wink at me."

Republicans: "You got a really big crowd."

Protesters: "Our friends are all at work cuz' they have to be."

Republicans: "You're takers!"

"Baby killers."

Protesters: [to kids in Catholic school uniforms]: "Why aren't you in school?"

Republicans: "Remember September 11."

Undetermined: "Penn State sucks!" [Everybody laughs].

Republicans: "Why don't you go register some dead people?"

Protesters: "Where do you work, Wall Street?"

Republicans: "USA, USA, USA."

Protesters: "USA, USA, USA."

Cop: "Finally, they agree on something."

Protesters: "Equal pay for women."

Republicans: "Equal rights for Hillary."

"Is Nader running again? Didn't know he was still alive."

Protesters: "Didn't know John McCain was, either."

Republicans: "Bill Ayers for Secretary of Defense."

Protesters: "Read the Book of Luke. Jesus was a commie."

Republicans: "50 million babies have been killed by abortions."

Protesters: "How many babies have died in Iraq?"'

Republicans: "You can do this because my son is protecting us in Afghanistan."

And so on.

Both sides delivered all these taunts and jeers with smiles. Every now and then, one group would shout to the other, "We love you, though." I suspect there are many more similarities than differences in these two groups.

Lehigh's McCain-Palin Rally - The View From Inside

Sure, Lehigh County GOP chair Bill Platt went too far when he stressed, inside Stabler Arena, that our next Prez could be Barack Hussein Obama. The McCain camp itself condemned this "inappropriate rhetoric." But hey, it was a pep rally, not some nuanced policy discussion. Let's face it, the McCain-Palin bus drove right into the frickin' arena, and I think Palin was driving.

Cindy McCain, and not Sarah Palin, played pitbull. "The day that Senator Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body."

Blogger's Note: Photo and report from inside provided by Ellen Solarek.

MSM Looks For Hug at McCain-Palin Rally

I've finally met the evil MSM.

He was at yesterday's McCain-Palin rally, walking around with a sign saying, "I need a hug." He got one, too, from none other than the John McCain look-alike posing with the protesters.

The MSM is actually the Washington Post's Dana Milbank, who tells me he's putting together some sort of video for Rough Sketch.

Update: The video is up, and it's hilarious!

McCain-Pally Rally Very Crowded

7,000.

That was one security attendant's estimate of the number of people present for today's McCain-Palin rally at Lehigh's Stabler Arena. It was 10 AM.

When I left at noon, the estimate was more like 17,000 for a rally in a building that only holds about 7,000.

I positioned myself among the largest group of protesters, about 18 Obama and Nader supporters, who had positioned themselves right across what they called the "sidewalk to nowhere," along with McCain supporters walked on their way into the building.

I'll tell you about those interesting exchanges tomorrow.

Jerry Springer for Northampton County Council?

Thursday night's Northampton County Council was more like a Jerry Springer show than a meeting of the Lehigh Valley's second largest government. Earlier in the evening, I had criticized Council's lynching of a Stoffa cabinet member. When he finally had a chance, Council member Charles Dertinger responded with his usual personal attacks. He essentially called me a liar who "crawls home" to my computer. Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle questioned Dertinger's insults, and he responded by blasting Angle, too. The result was fireworks in which AFSCME union members, Ron and Dertinger continually yelled at each other.

Although the meeting itself lasted three hours, this Jerry Springer show was only about five minutes, and I am bringing it to you. They've spent $650,000 for "improvements" to their throne room, but those don't include the ability to videotape or record a meeting.

So I've done it. If you want to see just how petty Charles Dertinger can be, you can listen to the clip below. If you want to hear the hoots and hollers of the green T-shirted lynch mob from AFSCME, then this audio is for you. Unfortunately, I don't have a video clip of the damage done to Angle's barn that evening.

Note: If you have an old dial up modem, click here, look for the 64Kbps M3U (Lo-Fi) at the left sidebar and you can stream the audio.

Update: I removed the audio player because it does not work, but you can hear the five minute circus by clicking on the link in the note above.

Is Bennett's Nonprofit, POM, Playing Politics?

Sam Bennett, the Lehigh Valley's Democratic candidate for Congress, is executive director at Properties of Merit, a publicly-funded nonprofit whose annual budget is somewhere near $350,000. Most of us believe she simply conned Governor Rendell into a nice $100,000 grant so that she could run for Congress full-time without worrying about a regular job.

Amazingly, her community "annual awards receptions" are held right before the elections. Do you really think that's a coincidence? These events are designed to ensure "maximum attendance at the reception." They're free, open to the public, and even have refreshments donated by area merchants. Isn't it wonderful to see a tax exempt non-profit used to help elect Sam Bennett to Congress?

Allentown's Program was last night. Michael Fegley, who just happens to be a state Democratic committeeman, acted as Master of Ceremonies. Oh yeah, Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski were there, too. Bennett handed out the Founder's Choice award. Additional receptions are being planned in Coplay (Oct 11th) and Bethlehem (Oct 23rd).

Charlie Dent was invited to the program, knowing he would decline.

McCain Speaks Softly

. . . and carries a big stick. That's the image John McCain conveyed at tonight's "town hall" debate at Belmont University in Tennessee. When he spoke about the dangers of blustering about Pakistan (pronounced Pokistan in two debates by Obama), the Republican Senator clearly made the most sense. But when Obama stressed the importance of speaking to enemies like Iran, he seemed to win the TR competition.

Unlike the first debate, this one was interesting. Lurking in the background is a global economic crisis about which neither candidate, despite claims to the contrary, had a clue until just a few short weeks ago. Neither candidate really addressed the sacrifices we will certainly face in the months to come.

The wrinkly old white guy was the only person who actually had a new idea - he wants the Treasury Department to buy bad mortgages and allow homeowners to renegotiate.

McCain and Obama, who clearly have no love for each other, remained civil. They'll both be blasting each other tomorrow.

Don't ask me who won.

Moderator Tom Brokaw asked great questions, but did a terrible job controlling both candidates. If anyone lost, I'd say it was him.

McCain-Palin to Get Warm Welcome From LV Progressives on Wednesday

When John McCain and Sarah Palin visit Lehigh University's Stabler Arena on Wednesday, they'll certainly be getting a warm welcome from the right. They'll be getting it from the left, too.

Mike Morrill, Dear Leader at Keystone Progress, has been asking "progressives" everywhere to be there. He even has a theme for everyone.

BUSH = McCain, WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME.

He wants people to make signs and banners using that theme. I sure hope the LV's one man protest machine, Bernie Berg, is there. Usually festooned in Pirates or Steelers gear, this ex-priest has made a career of demonstrating against Dent and Toomey. In fact, about 100 years ago, he ran for Congress himself, pulling down about 23 votes.

His theme? "Berg - the Lesser Evil."

I disagree with Bernie, but people like him make democracy fun.

Some New Voices in the Blogosphere

Here in Blogistan, everyone has a voice. If you hate what I say, you can always start your own blog and express your views. Here are three new blogs and one monthly e-publication.

1. LV Trains. This is a single-issue blog whose sole purpose is to promote passenger rail in the Lehigh Valley. After Paul Marin's rail presentation to Northampton County County, council member Ron Angle made this argument:

"I find it so ironic that for the past twenty years, I've heard all the people who've moved here from New York City tell me the reason they moved here was to get away from New York City and they liked it out here in the country. Now, twenty years later, they want us to give them everything they had in the city, but they want their taxes to stay the same here in the country. If you like the city life, then the answer is to live in the city."

2. CasablancaPA. This is an anonymous slam blog against AG Tom Corbett, obviously the work of a Democratic House staffer in the land of midnight payraises. It accuses Corbett of everything, from the financial meltdown on Wall Street to that nasty storm we had last week.

3. J. Spike Rogan is back, and no more Mr. Nice Guy. This Easton's blogger's latest effort has something to do with election fraud in the Poconos. He also uploaded a pic of some poor moose that pissed off Sarah Palin for some reason.

4. LV Flavor. An Alfosno Todd publication about life in downtown Allentown. This month's edition includes an essay by a young lady about the "new normal" in relationships, i.e. hooking up.

"Most of the guys that you meet out or online or through work are just looking for a no-strings, casual, long-term bed buddy. . . . It's the new normal to get 100 text messages from a guy a day, but never actually talk to him on the phone. Let's face it, most guys, unless they're drunk or making a booty call, don't like talking on the phone. I actually have a guy friend who, every time he answers his phone or says "bye" and hangs up, sounds like he's in serious pain."

Holy cannoli! Things sure got easier.

Obama Running for President, not Fuhrer

Barack Obama, eloquent and inspirational, has galvanized America's youth. That's a good thing. But I hope these kids remember he's running for President, not Fuhrer.

Bennett Camp Snarks Giuliani's 9/11 Leadership

2,603 lives were lost at the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Some lived here in the Lehigh Valley.

Just two blocks away from the South Tower, NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani had just lost some close friends. Yet he walked two miles until he could find a phone that worked and called the media to urge calm. In the days that followed, he was an oasis of trust in a desert of uncertainty. On 9/12, there was garbage pickup. On 9/13, city paychecks were issued. In a little over a week, the stock market was back in action.

He reassured us. He also consoled us, attending as many as five funerals in a single day.

This is the man who came to the LV on Friday to urge support for Charlie Dent and John McCain. While he was here, talking about the importance of this area and Pennsylvania, the Bennett campaign issued a mean-spirited news release that slams Giuliani's 9/11 leadership and the significance of that sad day.

ALLENTOWN – Months after Republican incumbent Charles Dent backed one of the most embarrassing campaigns in Presidential primary history, he has called on former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to bring his political acumen to the 15th District.

“While Republican Congressman Dent is in Washington playing political catch up on a rescue plan, Giuliani’s law firm is advising corporate clients on how to profit from it,” says Gary Ritterstein, Bennett Communications Director. “It’s pretty telling that the biggest draw that Dent could get is a former Republican candidate that couldn’t even win one primary in all 50 states. The Lehigh Valley voters want more than just ‘a noun, a verb, and 9-11.’”

During the 2008 Republican Convention, the only concern Giuliani mentioned about Democrats was that they didn’t mention the September 11th attacks enough. Since that point, his law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, formed a corporate task force to help “financial institutions, private investment funds, and institutional investors” take advantage of new legislation.

Ritterstein must not know this, but 9/11 was a terrible day here in the Lehigh Valley. Many of us were directly affected. The Bennett camp's needless snark at this tragedy is in very poor taste. I complained, but Ritterstein refuses to speak to me on the record.

Actually, I'm not looking for a comment from him. I'm looking for one from Sam Bennett, condemning his divisive remarks.

Would You Cut Any of These Lehigh County Grants?

There's very little fat in Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham's 2009 budget. Lehigh County Commissioners considered, but decided against, slashing some of the $200,000 in what are called "Quality of Life" grants. Over the weekend, Commissioner Dean Browning listed them in one of the comments.

I've decided to list them all below, with one question - would you eliminate any of this funding if you were King?

1. Allentown Art Museum $48,563.00 Arts education designed to enrich lives by engaging, informing and inspiring people through collecting, preserving, studying, exhibiting and interpreting works of visual art.

2. Allentown Symphony Association $9,744.00 Provide funding to allow local & Non Profits to use Symphony Hall at a reduced rate.

3. America on Wheels $5,000.00 To provide funding to lower the student educational programs and to preserve the historical, social and cultural impact of over-the-road transportation systems.

4. American Federtion of Musicians Local 45 $6,218.00 To provide funding for approx. 80 concerts to be performed by 6 Lehigh County Concert Bands.

5. ArtsQuest (Musikfest) $6,196.00 Musikfest- Funding for Banana Island, which focuses on a myriad of art and entertainment for children.

6. Bach Choir of Bethlehem $5,513.00 Promote and encourage appreciation of the aesthetic and spiritual value of Bach's music through education and performance. Financial support for the 102 annual Bach Festival May 1-2 & 7-9,2009.

7. Baum School of Art $9,207.00 Support of the Baum School's Scholoarship and Financial Assistance Programs.

8. Burnside Plantation $3,564.00 Support the Educational Programs and Activities at Burnside Plantation.

9. Civic Theatre of Allentown $6,395.00 Operational support to Civic Theatre, an organization providing quality, affordable live theatre/music/films through arts education.

10. Community Bike Works $1,369.00 Sponsorship of 4 children for the 3 month Earn a Bike Program.

11. Community Music School of the Lehigh Valley $4,223.00 Financial Scholarship Assistance and Outreach Programs, to introduce youngsters to music and instruction to reorganize sr. population and music.

12. DaVinci Discovery Center of Science & Tech. $5,250.00 Support part of the salary and expenses of a new staff position dedicated to expanding public programs on energy conservation, sustainability & the environment.

13. Lehigh County Agricultural Society $6,197.00 Promotion of the Allentown Fair's Agricultural Educational Program. Improvement & advancement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Livestock, domestic/mechanical arts and entertainment to the county.

14. Lehigh County Historical Society $5,000.00 Funding for Historical Programs. Allentown Band Concert, Coplay Days, Ghosts of the Museum & History Expo.

15. Lehigh Valley Arts Council $3,682.00 Funding for publications and cooperative arts marketing initiatives.

16. Liberty Bell Shrine Museum $5,000.00 Annual support of Pip the Mouse program.

17. Mayfair $20,000.00 Sponsorship of MayFair 2009, which is scheduled for May 21-25, 2009.

18. Minsi Trails Council/Boy Scouts of America $5,513.00 Operational support of the Learning for Life Program supporting Elementary Students in urban areas.

19. Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre $7,323.00 Sponsorship of Muhlenberg's Summer Music Theatre.

20. PA Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University $10,100.00 Sponsorship of the Pennsylvania's Shakespeare Festival at DeSales.

21. Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra $6,496.00 General programs and operational budget of 4 summer concerts and 5 subscription series.

22. Police Athletic League $2,000.00 Funding for Camp Blue Line, a week summer program for 4th &5th grade students in Allentown.

23. Repertory Dance Theatre $5,000.00 "Programming cost associated with educational outreach programming "

24. Volunteer Center of Lehigh Valley $1,847.00 Program support of the Youth Program and the Youth Volunteer Connections desigend to mobilize the community to care for one another through volunteer networking.

25. WDIY (Lehigh Valley Community Broadcasters) $4,917.00 Operations support for the 2009 year for WDIY 8811 listeners support radio.

26. Whitehall Historical Preservation Society $2,000.00 Funding for restoration of the Peter Grim House. Provide planning, funding, management and general oversight for advancement & preservation of historical heritage in Whitehall

27. Wildlife Information Ctr (approx.) $5,110.00 Funding for public programming and interpretive signs, brochures and support for Environmental Educational Center.

John McCain and Sarah Palin Will Be at LU on Wednesday

Road to Victory Rally-Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh University
Stabler Hall
124 Goodman Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Doors Open: 10:30am
Wednesday, October 8th

For free tickets, click here.

Rudy Giuliani: How Pennsylvania Goes, So Goes the Nation

In a sign of the importance the Lehigh Valley plays to Republicans in this year's Presidential contest, an energetic Rudy Giuliani dropped in on campaign volunteers and a raucous crowd of several hundred Dent and McCain supporters late Friday afternoon. He first encouraged volunteers working a phone bank buried inside the Westgate Mall, and then stepped outside to greet his fans. After a brief speech, he hurled himself into them, signing autographs and shaking hands.

From there, he even met the press (and one blogger).

"Sarah Palin scored a big victory last night," he boasted, portraying McCain and Palin as reformers who try to straighten problems out. "I'm also here for Charlie Dent. He's one of the most effective members of Congress. Sometimes, when he's your Congressman, you don't realize how important and effective he is. He's one of the hardest working people in Congress. He's done a very good job for this District. He had to cast a very tough vote over the past couple of days. I think he came through for us."

Giuliani predicts that if John McCain wins in Pennsylvania, "he'll be the next president of the United States. . . . If you can swing this state, you get the necessary electoral votes to win." He explained that swinging Pennsylvania would mean that some other close states, like Ohio, are swinging as well.

"I think we all realize this is a battleground state."

Giuliani called Obama one of the least qualified persons to run for president in the last hundred years. "He's never run a city, never run a state, never run a business, never run a military unit."

"At a time like this, you've got to with someone who's been tested by crisis, and John McCain has been tester by crisis over and over again."

"We also need someone who can work in a bi-partisan way. John McCain, probably more than any other senator, has worked more with the other party. In fact, he's worked so often with Democrats that he sometimes gets criticized. John is known for that. We need someone who can work on both sides of the aisle and bring us together."

"Barack Obama, you have to respect him for his beliefs, but he has been a very partisan Democrat."

Given an opportunity to ask a question myself, I did.

"You're known as America's mayor who cleaned the thugs out of New York City. But they all came to Allentown. How are we going to get rid of them?"

Laughing, he told me he'd give me some recommendations, and whispered "passenger rail" in my ear.

In a news release, the Bennett camp belittles America's Mayor. “It’s pretty telling that the biggest draw that Dent could get is a former Republican candidate that couldn’t even win one primary in all 50 states. The Lehigh Valley voters want more than just ‘a noun, a verb, and 9-11.’”

Oh yeah, it also repeats Michael Moore's claim that Giuliani's law firm is trying to cash in on our Wall Street meltdown.

Nazareth Hosts Quarters For Military Families on Sunday

They lay their lives on the line. Can you put a quarter on the line?

Tomorrow, between 1 and 3:30 PM, people will begin placing quarters along Nazareth's Main Street, starting at the Circle and going and going and going. The Blue Star Mothers and LV Military Affairs Council will use the money to buy things like phone cards for LV soldiers serving overseas.

If you can't make it, you can make a contribution to Quarters for Military Families, First Star Bank, 14 South Main Street, Nazareth, PA 18064.

A Tale of Two Counties

Thursday night was a long night for both Northampton and Lehigh County governments. Northampton County Hangmen demonstrated their pettiness with name-calling and votes cast against the judicial nomination of a person the judges themselves have requested. Lehigh County Commissioners did their job.

According to Darryl Isherwood's well-written account, Lehigh County legislators spent 3 1/2 hours going over Don Cunningham's budget with a fine-tooth comb. Motion after motion scrutinized different funding requests, from Paul Marin's rail study to Cunningham's policing proposal.

From what I'm, even "Pip the Mouse" was called in to explain all those dinners with Minnie.

When all the dust had settled, a Republican-controlled Board of Commissioners ruled that Democrat Don Cunningham's budget was fiscally responsible. There's just not much room to make cuts. In fact, they even added $100,000 for the zoo.

It's weird. In Northampton County, one party controls all three branches of government. Yet it's a dysfunctional mess. In Lehigh County, where power is split, things run smoothly. The legislature and executive work together. No commissioner calls another commissioner names. Unions do not march in to demand the heads of county workers on their hit lists.

Last year, I attended about six Lehigh meetings and always left impressed by the class acts in control at that county, from Cunningham to its commisssioners. They may have different philosophies, but work well together.

What a difference!

McClure Refuses to Support Zito's Nomination as Judge

At least night's Northampton County Council meeting, a resolution was introduced to urge the state senate to confirm the nomination of Leonard Zito as judge. Zito currently sits as the Hangmen's solicitor and previously served as a judge.

Amazingly, Lamont McClure refused to support this resolution. He's obviously miffed that Mr. Baseball, Baltimore lawyer Peter Angelos, failed to get the nomination for his own, much less qualified, wife.

Petty.

Green Party’s Greta Browne Endorses Sam Bennett

Green Party member Greta Browne, who has occasionally run for Congress, has endorsed Democratic candidate Sam Bennett. In 2004, as a declared candidate, Browne dropped out on election eve, throwing her support to Democrat Joe Driscoll.

“I am so honored to have Greta’s support. Our district can’t afford another two years of Congressman Dent,” said Bennett. “With Greta’s help, we can bring change to the Lehigh Valley – an economic policy that helps middle and working class families, an energy policy that focuses on renewable energy, and an environmental policy that reverses the impact of global climate change."

Charlie Dent's campaign manager, Shawn Millan, notes this endorsement demonstrates that Bennett will embrace the "extreme side of every issue," even the need for a rational energy policy.

"Bennett’s energy policy in brief is this: no oil, no natural gas, no clean coal, no nuclear – no nothing. At least nothing that is currently practical."

No word yet from Ralp Nader.

Northampton County Hangmen & Lynch Mob Angry: Was it Something I Said?

I'll let you in on a little secret. Although I attend lots of public meetings, I rarely speak. It's been well over a year since I opened my big mouth. I'm mostly a voyeur. But last night, I unloaded on the Northampton County Hangmen, and they reacted like little kids.

You see, two weeks ago, the Northampton County hangmen (council) teamed with a green T-shirted lynch mob (AFSCME) to string up Connie Sutton Falk, the county's human resources director. The whole thing was an ambush, designed to embarrass both a county employee as well as her boss, county executive John Stoffa.

I was upset. Still am.

With no notice or opportunity to be heard, the hangmen told a Stoffa cabinet member she should resign. We fought a revolutionary war to secure our right to due process of law. But the Northampton County hangmen, led by Lamont McClure and Charles Dertinger, trampled all over that basic constitutional protection.

I decided to tell the hangmen and their green T-shirted friends that their conduct was despicable.

Last night, there were actually two groups of green T-shirted lynch mobs. One was AFSCME, the same group that strung up Connie Sutton Falk. They were there to gloat. The other union was a bunch of steelworkers, out to screw around with Keystone Cement. It was standing room only, with at least 80 union members present. In addition to that, there was also a group of at least thirty rail supporters.

Knowing I was about to say some things that would be extremely unpopular with both the hangmen and lynch mobs, I told rail activist Paul Marin he should stay far away from me. He sat next to me anyway. The guy has guts.

The meeting started off with "courtesy of the floor," where schleps like me are given five minutes to complain about something. Last night, there were ninety minutes worth of talkers. These included some old lady who claimed Stoffa had stiffed her over $300, after which she walked off without her purse. (I think Angle stole it). Some union dude in short-shorts claimed there's some diabolical conspiracy involving the Saucon Valley Country Club and the FBI to steal land in Lower Saucon Township. I was waiting for black helicopters to come andd get him. No such luck.

I was just one of several wingnuts addressing the hangmen. I mostly repeated the criticisms I've already made here. As each of us droned on, Paul looked like he wanted to shoot himself. Union dudes were actually making and receiving cell phone calls, and the smell of booze wafted in the air, along with stale tobacco. But unlike the others, I really got to Hangman Dertinger, who got redder and redder as I spoke. I could also hear mumbling from the green T-shirted lynch mobs behind me. When I was done, I was extremely unpopular with two different unions.

Hangman Charles Dertinger, chomping at the bit to get back at me, finally got his chance later in the evening. But the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, had my back. What follows is a circus, demonstrating rather clearly that AFSCME really does think it is running the county and that Dertinger is one of their lackeys. Dertinger actually threatened Angle with violence. Some bald-headed union thug also started walking towardws the dais, shouting and attempting to bully Angle. I recorded every word, and here's a transcript.

Charles Dertinger: "As I sat here relatively patiently, after being accused of some pretty impressive things by our local blogger and character, although his accusation that I made were false against Miss Sutton, they were not only not false but he made no attempt whatsoever to say they were not false.

"I did indeed indicate that Miss Sutton-Falk was abrasive here, and on several occasions my degree being industrial labor relations, she had directed her comment to me, 'If you understood the law . . . ,' which I would find to be argumentative and abrasive. So I believe my comment stands and I stand by my comment.

"His characterization again, and this becomes altogether too commonplace for Mr. O'Hare. He comes to these meetings, he makes a collection of lying statements - I'm sorry, I don't have anything better - lying statements time and again, either here or when he crawls home to his computer.

"To say that things that are in fact - that we violated the ..."

Ron Angle: "Point of order. Do you think it's appropriate to say that he crawls home to his computer?"

Dertinger: "I have a problem with the hypocrisy that has been levelled here tonight. ...

Ann McHale: "We don't need any arguments tonight."

Dertinger: "Specifically, specifically, Listen, you [addressing Angle] don't have to talk from his lap. I'll deal with that."

Angle: "Talk from his lap? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Dertinger: "I ... I ... I'm looking at a man ... "

Angle: "Just who the hell do you think you are? You're obnoxious."

McHale: "Gentlemen, how about we take a five minute recess?"

Angle: "Five minute recess? I'm about to take a two hour walk and get out of town because, quite frankly, they insult everybody who comes in here any more."

Dertinger: "You sat here and lied to us. You ..."

Angle: "Everybody's a liar to you, Charles. The world's a liar. We're all incompetents. 'The World,' by Charles Dertinger. You made accusations a coupla' months ago. Take him into the back room and talk to him somebody."

McHale: "Council's going to . . . uh ... "

Angle: "Region 4 made a decision on you, Charlie. They throwed you out twice."

Dertinger: "Throwed me out?"

Angle: "They voted you out twice, Charlie, they're pretty sharp."

Dertinger: "Time and again, they voted you out as well, pal."

Angle: "Go back to New York."

Dertinger: "Keep walking."

Angle: "If you put the rail in, you can be the first on it back to New York."

Dertinger (now standing): "You wouldn't like to see how I would act without the press here."

Angle: "Get gone."

Dertinger: "You're an absolute coward."

Angle: "You're a pitiful individual."

Dertinger: "Coward."

Angle: "You insult a woman out there . . ."

[The green T-shirted lynch mob begins making cat calls and starts yelling at Ron Angle.]

Angle [to the lynch mob]: "Sit down and be quiet. You're a bunch of puppets out there. You and the union wants to run the county, that's good."

[Green T-shirted lynch mob continues yelling at Angle, and a bald-headed brawny union thug approaches the dais, yelling].

Angle [to the thug]: "You can have yourself removed. You don't run this county. The government runs this county, not the union. [to Dertinger]. He's your lap dog. Take him outside and talk to him."

[Bald-headed union thug]: "I'm here for the employees."

Angle: "You're here for the employees all right. You're here for the union dues. Who are you kidding?"

Angle: [to Dertinger] "Bernie's right. You drug them all out here to put a show on."

Dertinger: "You're a hypocrite and a liar." [Green T-shirted lynch mob begins to applaud].

Angle: "Connie Sutton Falk, don't you think she's a human being?"

Union thug: "She lives in New Jersey."

Angle: "She lives in new Jersey. Oh, that's the reason you insult her - she lives in New Jersey."

Dertinger: "The entire administration lives outside the county. Are you kidding me?"

Angle: "He brings the union out here to make a mockery out of government. The President [McHale] won't control those two [Dertinger and lynch mob] and that's why it's out of order. When he said that he [O'Hare] crawled home, she should have said that's out of order, right then and there. This could have ended. You know, taxpayers don't crawl home."

Dertinger: "I will suspend my remarks."

McHale: "We have Mr. Marin here to make a presentation that a number of individuals are here to see. I apologize to every one of you for the behavior [blah, blah, blah]"

LC Republicans: Cunningham Budget "Fiscally Irresponsible"

This is Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning's favorite time of the year. A finance maven, he loves to review budgets. In fact, when County Executive Don Cunningham released his budget for next year, I sat down for breakfast with Dean, hoping to pick up a few pointers and write a story. I took copious notes, but when it came time to write a story, I realized I never understood a damn word he said. I understood that the county is spending more money than it takes in, but little else.

I'm a Democrat.

Lehigh County Republicans, who get touchy about that sort of thing, have adopted a resolution that repeats the "fiscally irresponsible" mantra about a gazillion times. Tonight, when commissioners hold their final budget hearing at 6 PM, Cunningham is concerned commissioners will cut "millions of dollars" in the following areas:

* Quality of Life grants to more than 20 cultural arts and community organizations
* Farmland preservation
* Open space preservation
* Borough revitalization funding
* Community partnership grants for townships
* Community police matching grants
* Urban parks funding
* Brownfield/industrial land economic development
* Regional economic development funding
* Passenger rail study/mass transit funding

He has already notified nonprofits and other special interest groups they may want to attend tonight's meeting.

So what's going on? That's where Dean Browning enters the picture. I'll let him tell you himself in the next post.

Why Dean Browning Believes Lehigh County Budget is Excessive

An advocate of transparency, Dean Browning today shared his concerns with Lehigh County's budget. His memo to other commissioners is reproduced below. I have highlighted some of his more important points.

Commissioners:

Based on the number of phone calls and emails that have been generated in the last few days it looks like we should have an interesting meeting tomorrow night. By popular demand, (and since it looks like we’ll earn our money tomorrow) I have withdrawn the motion that would have reduced the Commissioner’s salaries to the old level of $5,500. Given the number of motions and the passion that surrounds any proposed reduction or delay in spending we could be in for a long night or review and discussion. Since I have a number of motions I’d like to try and expedite that process by giving you my thoughts in advance for the items I have proposed. The reason for this is twofold; one – to reduce the amount of time that will be required to explain my thinking (or lack thereof) and two – to give those that are in opposition some time to think through their rebuttal and to develop a convincing counter argument. My hope is that this will speed up the process and reduce the amount of back and forth on each item.

To that end, I’ve divided my motions into several groups and will be sending a separate email on each later today or tomorrow morning. As a prelude to that, I do want to review my general thoughts on the 2009 budget. One email I read today pointed out that the budget for 2009 is only up 1.1% over that for 2008. And that is indeed true if you look at the County’s total budget of over $400 million. However, that number includes pass through revenue and expenses. To me, the more relevant amount is that which is paid for by County real estate tax dollars. That is the number that drives what our residents and businesses pay in property taxes. The year to year budget increase for this component is 3.7%. From our budget review, you’ll recall that much of that increase resulted from two functions, namely the Courts and Corrections. These are areas where the County is specifically charged with the responsibility and in my opinion these can not be short changed.

Having said that I think we need to keep in mind some of the existing trends and how they project into the future. Specifically, the 2009 budget calls for us to spend $12,000,000 more than we generate in property tax revenue. With recent trends in spending and in property tax revenue that gap will widen over the next several years. While that is happening we will continue to spend down the balance in the Tax Relief Fund (TRF). As an aside, I feel the creation of the TRF followed by the 2006 tax decrease has resulted in some negative, unintended consequences. Namely, it makes it difficult to make the necessary, prudent financial decisions to close the gap between spending and revenue. For example, those that will want an additional $200,000 for the Zoo will say, “why can’t you give us the money when you have a surplus fund of over $16 million?”

Nonetheless we are where we are and since there is a finite amount of money in the TRF I believe we need to take steps now to slow the growth in spending. I believe this is necessary to reduce the adjustment required when the TRF is depleted and/or to extend the period of time before we reach that point. The purpose of the adjustments I have suggested is to accomplish that by either:

* reducing spending in areas where we can accrue that benefit over time or
* deferring spending in other areas until we have a better picture of how we will finish out 2008 and/or until the economy begins to expand again and thereby increases our revenue base.

So where does Browning propose making cuts? I'll explain one cut in the post below. Rail advocate Paul Marin is going to be in the wrong county tonight.
Update: Where We Are, Where We've Been and Where We Are Going.

This is the question Browning poses in another email to Commissioners. It explains why he believes Lehigh County should reduce its deficit from $12 million to $10 million.

As we look at the budget for 2009 we are projecting $90,195,486 in tax revenue compared to $102,734,017 in expense covered by county property taxes which gives us a net shortfall of $12,538,531. I know the plan is that by drawing down the Tax Relief Fund (TRF) that we can hold property taxes at the current level through 2011. Assuming everything that went into that assumption comes to fruition, I’m still very concerned about what type of budget will we be looking at in 2012. I know that several years down the road but I believe that if we don’t takes steps now the problem will be that much bigger and more difficult to solve when the time comes.

I know the past is not a predictor of the future but there are some trends we should be aware of as follows:

In 2006 the budgeted expenses covered by county taxes totaled $92,250,299. This increased to the $102,734,017 listed above which is a 3.7% compound annual growth rate. During that time our budgeted tax revenue increased from $85,594,785 to the $90,195,486 listed above which is a 1.8% compound annual growth rate. However, this is really not representative as the budget for 2009 assumes a slight decrease in tax revenue. So to get a more accurate feel for the growth in our tax revenue we should back up a year and look at the growth from 2006 to 2008. During that time period the growth rate was somewhat more robust at 2.8%. Note that I selected the period of 2006 through 2009 for this analysis as that is the time during which the tax rate has been stable at 10.25 mils.

Again, the past the past is not the future but if we continue on the path of increasing expenses at 3.7% while growing revenue at less than that at 2.8% we will be faced with a deficit of $16,500,000 in 2012. And that’s assuming we don’t have to do things like step up our contributions to the pension fund or absorb the costs of programs where the state or federal government freezes or cuts their reimbursement to us. Even with then, bridging a gap of $16,500,000 without the TRF would require a tax increase of 17%.

I know it is hard enough making projections through 2009 let alone 2012 so things may turn out better. However, I truly believe that it is incumbent upon us to take some steps with this year’s budget to reduce the gap between revenue and expenses and thus lessen the impact of the compounding in the out years. Personally I think we should be looking for ways to reduce the 2009 deficit to a number that is under $10,000,000 even if this means cutting expenses or deferring programs into 2010 or until our property tax revenue starts to grow again.

Just my opinion as one of nine.

Paul Marin's Rail Study in Trouble in Lehigh County

Tonight, passenger rail advocate Paul Marin is scheduled to be in the wrong county. He plans to ask The People's Republic of Northampton County to give him $75 thousand for a regional transportation study. In fact, the plan is to pack the house because "we can't trust the county to do the right thing unless someone is paying attention." Well, he can't trust Lehigh County, either. While Paul passes the hat in Northampton County, Lehigh County's Dean Browning will be filing a motion to shelve Marin's request for funding there.

Ruh roh.

Rather than just killing it, Browning is proposing to offer Marin $1. Here's how he explains his thinking.

The effect of this motion is to maintain the option of conducting the study at some point in the future depending on the year-end results for 2008. My thoughts for deferring his are as follows:

* This is yet another project that is dependent upon funding from our counterparts in Northampton County and they have been less than cooperative in funding other joint initiatives such as the regional crime center.

* One of the supposed benefits of this rail service is that it would help in the revitalization of downtown. However, when rail service was mentioned earlier this year, our County executive commented (and wisely so in my opinion) that this could result in increased sprawl in Lehigh County. I think the latter is more likely than the former.

* I have a bias against conducting studies for projects that I don’t think can be implemented. Rail service to New York is an infrastructure project that will require substantial funding. The Federal and State government have made it clear that there would have to be a local component to any funding for projects like this. We have an existing negative gap between spending and revenue combined with the fact that we don’t have enough money as it is to cover our primary infrastructure responsibility which is the County’s 40 some bridges. I can not see how the results of this study could ever be implemented.

Grucela: Senate? We Don't Need no Steenkin' Senate

“Why did you pour that coffee into your saucer?” George Washington asked. “To cool it,” Jefferson replied. “Even so,” Washington declared, “we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.”

That's how our first (and perhaps greatest) President simply explained, to a genius, the need for a senate. Pa. State Rep. Richard Grucela (D) wants to take that saucer away.

According to a report that first appeared at Blue Coyote, Grucela has proposed eliminating the senate.

Poof!

In a news release, Rich sees "no reason to have two chambers representing the same people doing the same thing." I guess he never met Washington.

His Bill has 24 sponsors, but no fellow legislators from the Lehigh Valley.

How Can You Navigate Our Financial Crisis?

Today I spoke to a friend who's in a very bad mood. On Monday, he had $30,000 worth of Wachovia stock. Today, they're worth about $2,000. He's just one of the growing number of casualties resulting from out current financial crisis.

What should we be doing?

Thankfully, the Tri-City African-American Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a panel discussion to answer that question on Saturday.

Where: Nationwide Insurance, Village West Shopping Center, W. Tilghman St. and Cedar Crest Blvd in Allentown (next to Blockbuster)

Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Fee: Free. Breakfast will be provided

Please RSVP to: Phillip Matthews 610-821-1281

Panel participants: Suzanne Fields, Esq, Attorney at Law; Gregory K. Lauray, Certified Public Accountant, Gregory K. Lauray & Co.; Phillip Matthews, Insurance Consultant, Nationwide Insurance; Carlton Taylor, Financial Advisor, Charles Schwab; Tressie Woods, Regional Vice President, Primerica Financial Services.

Gregory Lauray, who happens to chair the Tri-City African American Chamber of Commerce, has the following insight:

"The only precedent for the recent economic tumult that we've encountered is the Great Depression of 1929. The current situation was entirely predictable as our nation moved to financial alchemy and imprudent lending as the primary bases for economic growth. The recent proposals for spending $ 700 billion to bailout the nation's financial institutions is not going to address the core economic issue of job growth. In part, the high levels of debt that some of us have taken on is related to the lack of income growth, so borrowing became a substitute for stagnant income growth.

"The policies that are being pursued by the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve are going to cost us in two ways: inflation and more taxes. In other words, the basic items we need are going to cost us a lot more while the government taxes us more to pay for bailing out the guys who had the party.

"Navigating in this environment will be challenging and the chamber has planned a panel discussion to talk about this. A team of professionals has been assembled to answer your questions and to provide guidance. Here are the topics the panel will cover:

1) How to restructure your debts

2) Bankruptcy: What does it mean and when it is appropriate to file

3) How to protect your assets

4) What is safe to invest in

5) What to do if you owe back taxes

If you have questions, we'll have answers. Please see the details below for time and place. I look forward to seeing you there."

LaZorro Creates Eco-Friendly Virtual World For Latina Tweens

I call him LáZorro (with an á, damn it!) because of his keen sense of right and wrong. You may know him as Lázaro Fuentes, a venture capitalist who helped make the Lehigh Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce a vibrant business voice. What I never knew until today is that he has spent the last seventeen months developing a virtual worlds market for kids, tweens and teens (KT&T).

It's called HipChicas.com, a virtual community with a focus on socially conscious, young Latinas, and an "eco-friendly" stance.

HipChicas.com members will create and customize avatars and living spaces, as well as purchase items with virtual currency called Hip Change. Girls can chat in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, with an automatic translator that displays the appropriate language for each user.

Now I finally know what young kids are doing on computers all the time. I always thought they were reading Molovinsky on Allentown.

Girls learn that their actions directly affect the environment through games and challenges. It definitely has a green focus. Adding plants and cleaning up a habitat, for example, will cause a native endangered species to flourish.

"We felt that there was a need for content that kids would like and parents would approve of," Fuentes said. "It's as if somewhere along the line, someone decided that being hip meant that girls had to dress or act inappropriately, or had to fit into a specific mold and that their only interests are picking hair colors or shopping for clothes. They are far more than that and are looking for content that gets them; a higher level of engagement. These are kids that want to save the world, be in a band and start a blog all in one day."

Though this virtual world is designed from a Latina-centric perspective, HipChicas.com would likely have multi-ethnic appeal, much like Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer property. "The girls that were five when they first started watching Dora the Explorer in 2000 are thirteen now," Fuentes said. "And they've already had an unprecedented amount of exposure to Latin-themed content."

Morganelli Using Scissorhands Severson in AG Race

The state AG contest pits scrappy John Morganelli against blueblood Tom Corbett. But it's been really quiet. In one of my posts about that contest, for example, I had just one comment.

"Crickets."

It looks like the race is finally heating up. Capitol Ideas reports Corbett's claim that Morganelli is improperly using an anti-illegal immigration PAC while Morganelli is slamming Corbett's abuse of publicly funded PSAs.

All of this seemed like business as usual until I noticed one sentence in Micek's report.

Holy cannoli!

Morganelli is using Scissorhands Severson.

PMI (Precision Marketing), a Severson outfit, has been paid $6,400 to conduct, of all things, robo-calls.

Severson is currently under investigation by Corbett for possible elections law violations. Last Fall, he ran a series of anonymous robo-calls that viciously slammed Ron Angle and Peg Ferraro. Oh yeah, Severson is also a criminal defendant after he threatened to kill Northampton County Council member Ron Angle during a funeral mass.

When I contacted Morganelli, he confirmed he is, in fact, using Severson. He reminds me people are innocent until proven guilty. True enough.

I have one question for John - Are you out of your frickin' mind??? If you are running to lose this race, this is the best way to do it. You've just associated yourself a person who disrupted a funeral mass, of all things. You've hired a guy being investigated for sleaze campaign tactics, including those anonymous robo-calls.

How to Squeeze $75k From the Northampton County Hangmen

Rail activist Paul Marin has already persuaded the LVEDC, where he chairs the transportation committee, to kick in $100,000 of the $250,000 cost for a local passenger rail study. He's looking to Lehigh and Northampton County for the rest, $75,000 each.

Lehigh County Commissioner Dean N. Browning explains that the $75 thousand being sought there is "part of the 2009 budget that is currently being reviewed by the Board of Commissioners." A vote on their final budget will occur on October 22.

Here in the People's Republic of Northampton County, things are a little different. Its 2009 budget is still under wraps, and will stay that way until the end of the week. Its budget hearings start later and end later.

Well, Marin wants his money now. Advocates plan to pack Northampton County Council on Thursday to railroad their $75 thousand request down our throats.

In an email, I received this advice. "[W]e can't trust the county to do the right thing unless someone is paying attention. We must fill the seats and train all eyes and ears on them. Bring your family, bring your friends. You don't have to say a thing but you do have to be there."

I tried checking Northampton County Council's agenda to see if this request is even listed, but the last meeting posted is for September 18.

Earth to Northampton County Hangmen: Posting an agenda is meaningless unless it is done before the meeting.

I believe Marin and friends should stand in line like everyone else. But if they want to get on the express train, I have some advice. They should all go out and buy green T-shirts, spraypaint AFSCME all over each one of them and claim that Northampton County Executive John Stoffa opposes their request. It would really help if they brought a noose and gave Stoffa the finger once or twice.

If they follow these simple instructions, Northampton County Council will not only fund their request, but will demand that someone resign as well.

Are McCain Supporters Racists?

When I was a young man, around the same age as Scott Armstrong's son, I can remember how proud my father was when one of his own, John F. Kennedy, was running for President. In those days, we Catholics were still viewed as something of an underclass in the Lehigh Valley. We weren't quite so bad as those damn Jews or the pork chops (yes, that term was used), but we were still pretty revolting.

I noticed this latent prejudice in high school, when Bethlehem Mayor Payrow invited students from Freedom and Liberty High Schools, Bethlehem's two public schools, to be mayor for a day. The now defunct Bethlehem Globe Times ran a story claiming that Bethlehem's high schools had been represented.

They all forgot about Bethlehem Catholic.

A high school junior, I fired off my very first letter to the editor, nailing both Payrow and the Globe Times for their obvious bigotry. Payrow certainly made sure Becahi was included the very next year.

So I can understand what it must mean for a young person of color to see Barack Obama as a candidate for President. Win or lose, Obama's candidacy alone is a great step forward for a people that, not very long ago, were slaves. I suspect I would be quick to label people who support McCain as racists just as my father called Nixon supporters anti-Catholic.

Scott Armstrong's son is putting up with some of this himself. Here's Scott's story, which also appears in the informative Allentown Commentator.

My twelve year old son informed me today that he was called a "racist" at his school lunch table today by his lunch mates when during a political discussion he volunteered that he preferred McCain to Obama. It made no difference to the accusers when he told them that he had hoped Lynn Swann, an African American would win the governors race two years ago. No, apparently anyone who doesn't support Obama is a racist and that is all there is to it. It was that simple to them.

Where does this sort of thinking come from? How sad is it that it comes from the mouths of twelve year olds? How counter productive is it to the ideals of civil discourse and racial harmony?

I told my son it isn't easy to be a conservative these days. He agreed that it would be much easier to just go along and pretend to believe in the liberal agenda. I was proud he didn't.

Scott Armstrong

Is an Ethical Campaign Possible?

Cedar Crest College's Ethics Institute will tonight sponsor a community presentation about the climate of our political campaigns. Are ethical campaigns even possible anymore?

When: 7:30 PM

Where: Alumnae Hall, Cedar Crest College

Panel:

Pam Varkony, Nationally recognized writer, commentator, blogger extraordinaire and speaker

John Reynolds, Ph.D.a Professor of Political Science at Moravian College who currently has the misfortune of teaching AJ.

I'd go, but tonight I'm stuffing an anonymous attack mailer.