Bernie O'Hare is a class A Asshole POS!
Friday, September 15, 2017
Special Thank You From a Democrat to Justin Simmons and Gloria "Lee" Snover
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| This is who General Lee Snover has picked to replace Charlie Dent in Congress. |
I interrupt my weekly reading of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals for a special Thank You to Congressman wannabe Justin Simmons and his good buddy, NorCo GOP Chair Gloria "General" Lee Snover. Thanks to their combined efforts on our behalf, Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District will finally be returning to us for the first time since 1999. That's right, folks, the 15th is going blue. We would never have done it without the help of Justin Simmons and Lee Snover.
Thanks to Simmons and Snover, there's a new purity test for Republicans. You either support Trump or you don't.
Pre-Trump, there were all kinds of litmus tests. One group believed you had to be pro-life and opposed to all forms of abortion, even if that meant the mother would go tets up. For the NRA wing, it was the right to carry rocket launchers wherever and whenever the hell they wanted. Another faction believed that the rich should either pay no taxes at all or pay lower taxes than you. Most favored deporting anyone whose name ends in a vowel. And though some of their best friends are black, some party members could never warp their heads around the idea of a black president, even though he was only half black. They never learned to just love the white half.
Now things are much simpler. You either support Authoritarian Donald Trump or you don't. If you support Donald Trump, you could open an abortion clinic tomorrow and General Lee Snover would kiss you. But if you subscribe to all kinds of Republican theories but detest Donald Trump, you're no good.
Every year, the county Republican parties host a Lincoln Day's breakfast in honor of the man who said we should act with malice towards none and charity for all. Traditionally, Democrats were invited because we all are, after all, Americans.
But General Lee stopped that practice. It was Republicans only. And not just any Republican. Charlie Dent, the most powerful and popular Republican in the Lehigh Valley, was snubbed.
Under General Lee's strict rules, Lincoln himself would have been cast aside.
A party that once met in ballrooms now meets in a phone booth, if you can find one.
The persons left include extremists like flamethrower Tricia Mezzacappa, who actually penned a letter to the editor supporting mass murderer Rockne Newell.
But that's OK because she supports Donald Trump.
She got a major award.
It was not enough to just snub Dent. General Lee Snover, the Republican party chair, actually took to the stage at a Trump cult rally that was only open to about 200 people with tickets, and bashed Charlie Dent, accusing the centrist Republican of being part of the establishment elite.
That's because Dent, who has principles and morals, stood up to Trump, who has neither.
Another person lacking principles and morals is Justin Simmons. Last year, he took campaign money from Dent. He sought and received an endorsement. Dent even put him in touch with some of his own contributors. And Simmons asked Dent what they could do to get Trump off the ballot.
But now with Trump elected and Charlie Dent being subjected to daily attacks by General Lee and others who should be ashamed of themselves, Justin Simmons sensed an opportunity. So this summer, he made trips to the swamp in Washington (that he pretends to detest) to line up support for his own Congressional bid.
Now he is suddenly pro-Trump and is challenging Dent.
General Lee loves him because he is on the Trump train. Never mind his shitty attendance record, his missed votes in the House.
Simmons and Lee are both busily bashing any Republican who gets in their way, including South Whitehall's Ryan MacKenzie.
But it does not stop there.
When Charlie Dent announced his retirement from public life, he asked Lehigh County GOP Chair Jessica Banotai and Exec Director Trevor Waldron for their help in putting the event together. As they prepared, someone in the Simmons camp posted a very ugly and vulgar personal attack (since deleted) aimed at Banotai in PoliticsPA. It shook her up. Banotai and Waldron fired off a number of unflattering text messages about Simmons in reaction to this attack. Simmons, who had no problem with General Lee Snover's bias against Charlie Dent, is now demanding the heads of Banotai and Waldron for their bias against him.
Thanks to General Lee and Simmons, Lehigh Valley Republicans are eating their own.
The result is that next November, conservative Democrat John Morganell will be elected to represent the 15th Congressional District in Congress.
It would never have happened without you, Lee and Justin. Even your pal Vladimir Putin would be impressed.
Thanks.
Anonymous Comments and Justin Simmons
This is an interactive blog. It is not just me, but you. I rely upon and am educated by my readers through the dialectical method. I don't have one editor. I have 5,000 of them. As fellow blogger LVCI recently learned, it can be exhausting to respond to the diverse points of view.
As an opinionated person, I make things worse. I have made enemies over the years. I have also attracted a fairly large number of trolls. They sometimes try to hijack blog threads.
I will delete off-topic comments. I'm fine with a tip about a late-breaking story, but am insulted when someone rudely interrupts a discussion about a topic that I researched for several hours and then wrote as a story.
I also hate cut-and paste jobs because the person who wrote the original story deserves better treatment. But if you just post a link, it might go into my spam folder.
I will immediately delete any comment from one person who agreed in court to stay off this blog. Molovinsky knows who this person is, and he is the reason why Molvinsky has removed the anonymous option and sometimes moderates.
I will also delete any comment from another person who once threatened to kill Barack Obama when he was re-elected as the President of the United States. Molovinsky hosts the hate that still comes from this person as well as others who make ridiculous arguments about the IQs of Somalis being inferior and other such nonsense. That's just hate. Molovinsky has complained that I removed my link to his blog. This is why.
I generally will allow personal attacks aimed at elected officials, provided they are not vulgar. I tend to be more protective of appointed public officials, and will not allow snarky remarks about family members. They are civilians unless they make themselves part of the story.
I am of course fine with anonymous comments that agree with me. I am also fine with anonymous comments that disagree with me. But if the commenters get personal, I have no compunction about telling them they are cowards. If I call someone an anonymous coward for simply disagreeing with me, I am wrong. I deal with numerous comments every day, and sometimes I make mistakes. Molovinsky provided no examples of this happening, but I am sure there are likely some instances in which I do cross the line, mostly in defense of officials I like. I only mean to call someone an anonymous coward if he hides behind anonymity to attack someone personally.
Unlike Molovinsky, I write numerous articles about local races. Over the years, I have noticed that two types of races tend to attract ugly comments. The first is magisterial contests, believe it or not. The second is any race involving Justin Simmons.
In the last election cycle, in which Justin Simmons ran for re-election as State Rep and broke a pledge to serve only three terms, I published 13 stories. Almost from the beginning, the comments were very ugly, and would go on for as long as 11 days after my story originally published. At this point, the only persons reading the comments would be the candidates themselves and me. I would eventually get tired of it and close comments off completely. Even then, team Simmons would jump onto another thread and continue the flaming.
Now that Simmons is running for Congress, I am getting ugly pro-Simmons comments again. Instead of shutting down the discussion, I've opted to address all the slimy pro-Simmons comments as though they are coming from Justin himself. This has minimized the filth coming from him or his supporters.
I sometimes delete a comment accidentally. Also, there are times when a comment goes into my spam folder. I may think it is published, but blogger has incorrectly identified it as spam. I often fail to discover this for days.
My decisions regarding comments are unappealable. I will in fact delete comments complaining about my comments policy. I would rather discuss the issues, but you can always email me if I have made a mistake. BOhare5948@aol.com .
I will host no comments here because this is my blog. I set my own comments policy. Not Michael Molovinsky. Not anyone else.
LVEDC to Host Forum For LehCo & NorCo Exec Candidates
From Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.: All four candidates for County Executive in both Lehigh and Northampton counties will be participating in an upcoming forum hosted by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
The candidate forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Coca-Cola Park (club level), and will be moderated by Chris Borick, Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.
This is the only candidate forum currently scheduled that will include all four candidates: John Brown (R) and Lamont McClure (D) in Northampton County, and Phillips Armstrong (D) and Brad Osborne (R) in Lehigh County.
“As LVEDC’s two largest investors, Lehigh and Northampton counties are critical partners in our regional partnership for advancing economic development in the Lehigh Valley,” said Don Cunningham, LVEDC President & CEO. “We’re happy to provide these candidates with a platform to express their visions and ideas about regionalism, job creation, and economic growth.”
The forum will not be a traditional debate, but rather a sharing of thoughts and ideas as they relate to jobs and economic development in the region. The questions will come from stakeholders in economic growth and job creation in the Lehigh Valley.
Registration is required and space is limited. Visit this site to register. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, and all inquiries can be directed to Michael Keller, LVEDC Director of Marketing, at mkeller@lehighvalley.org or 610-266-2217.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Will Justin Simmons Now Have to Support the Dreamers?
In a recent interview on a conservative Internet station from North Georgia calling itself FYNTV, Republican Congressional candidate Justin Simmons said that if he had the last vote in the House, it would be against the dreamers, 800,000 people who entered the country illegally as children. He'd get rid of them all. Otherwise, he would be "encouraging people to break the law. And then it's just going to continue that cycle and then we're going to get into a debate with liberals about compassion and it's never going to end."
Well guess what? Donald Trump and Democratic leaders had dinner last night, and the dreamers were the first course. They've apparently reached a deal that protects the dreamers from the clutches of political opportunists like Simmons, even without forcing Dems to concede on a border wall.
It seems to me that unless Justin changes his tune, he's being disloyal to his President. Isn't that why he ran against Charlie Dent in the first place?
Well guess what? Donald Trump and Democratic leaders had dinner last night, and the dreamers were the first course. They've apparently reached a deal that protects the dreamers from the clutches of political opportunists like Simmons, even without forcing Dems to concede on a border wall.
It seems to me that unless Justin changes his tune, he's being disloyal to his President. Isn't that why he ran against Charlie Dent in the first place?
Huge Crowd Sez Goodbye to Dan McNeill
I stood in line for 1 1/2 hours and heard several stories about how Danny, long before he was a State Rep, would reach out and help people in need. Usually, it involved him diving into his own pocket. Many of you knew him longer and better than I, but for some reason, he and I instantly clicked.
He was the first public official in Pa. to really draw attention to our heroin epidemic.
Dan's passing was a shock to everyone, including Dan's wife, Jeanne. But I think she really appreciated those of you who came and offered condolences.
While waiting in line, I snapped this photo of a picture from his football-playing days at Dieruff High School. He looked badass even then. But that was a cover.
One of Dan's political foes, David Molony, stood in line to pay his respects.
I don't know if this is true, but Governor Tom Wolf is rumored to have been among those who offered Jeanne their condolences.
There will be a second viewing today at 10 am, with funeral services at 11 am.
It's supposed to rain today, and according to Irish legend, that means Danny has already passed through the gates of heaven.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Simmons Sez No to DACA
In a telling interview on FYNTV, Republican Congressional candidate Justin Simmons admits he was talking to potential donors in Washington D.C., as early as this summer. He also said that if he had the last vote in the House, it would be against DACA. That's a bill that would protect 800,000 people who entered the country illegally as children. They could get a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and would be eligible for a work permit. He said it would be "encouraging people to break the law. And then it's just going to continue that cycle and then we're going to get into a debate with liberals about compassion and it's never going to end."
Nice guy.
Nice guy.
Allentown Pastor Seeks Dem Nomination in 15th
He's Greg Edwards, a colorful and sometimes controversial preacher at Allentown's Resurrected Life Church. Edwards claimed to respect Dent's statesmanship "in a time when civility in Washington has become increasingly rare.” But his candidacy is bound to take people out of their comfort zone.
According to his campaign announcement, "This moment does not call for moderation or incrementalism, but for revolutionary ideals rooted in true progress: single-payer health care, livable wages, strong public education, affordable college, good jobs, and a commitment to rebuilding the American dream."
He also jabs at Authoritarian Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans over Obamacare. “Since January 20, the drama of the politics of division and unchecked power run amok, has played out daily on our TV screens. This President and the Republicans in Congress are more interested in: taking healthcare away from millions of Americans to give unnecessary tax breaks to the 1% at the expense of our hardworking middle class; giving more to those who have sent our jobs overseas than in saving good jobs here; rewarding those who have so much while hurting families working hard just to get by.”
I first became acquainted with Edwards in 2014, when he was part of a federally funded task force concluding that the cause of wealth disparity is racism. "In fact, denying that racism exists is the new racism," charged the task force report.
Dent was the token centrist participating in that otherwise one-sided forum. He gently reminded that audience that wealth disparity is the necessary result of a free market economy. "We've always had it," he noted. He also cautioned against changing that approach to one in which power is concentrated. Under other systems, "You will see less prosperity and a heckuva' lot more cronyism," he warned, in an obvious reference to totalitarian regimes.
I also heard Edwards deliver the keynote speech at a Bethlehem Elks luncheon in 2016.
"We've got 18,000 children, a graduation rate of about 60%, and only 19% of that 60% go on to college. Almost 90% of our children qualify for free or reduced lunch. Eighty or 90% of our children are determined to be "at risk" in terms of poverty. Ninety per cent of the children are children of color and really, if I wasn't a preacher I'd cuss right here, but really, nobody cares.
"There seems to be a lack of outrage. We have churches everywhere. We have nonprofits everywhere. But there really seems to be a lack of consciousness on how important and how valuable our children's futures are when it comes to education.
"I firmly believe that one of our greatest civil liberties is public education."
But he claimed that we suffer from what he calls "educational apartheid."
"If our children cannot read by third grade, you know what happens academically. From Kindergarten to third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade, they are reading to learn. California already begins to forecast how many prisons they build by the reading scores of third graders.
"In my social context, in Allentown, nearly 70% of our third graders are not at third grade reading levels. So now, Ray Ray and Pookie can't read. Then what happens is our children go into middle school. What happens in middle school, those transition years? They go through puberty. Some of y'all remember that, right? You survived it, they'll survive it, too. But their bodies begin to change. Their voices begin to deepen. But at the end of the day, they're our babies, our children. But they are placed in the hands of people who have some level of cultural dissonance and don't understand that just because a child is different doesn't mean he's deficient.
"Now because our children have struggled - can't read - they begin to see some behavioral issues. They no longer become cute. Now they're in crisis and they begin to be labeled. But the state gives every school district extra funding for special education, which is therefore why our children end up in special education.
"We are funding what I call educational apartheid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"It is not required for a child to go to kindergarten. So you can have a 7 year old show up for school, never having been around children his or her age which means they have not been socialized to the learning environment. If we cannot socialize to the learning environment, your behavior begins to be different. But because our teachers in large part don't look like our students, there is empirical categorizing and there is the evolution of a slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow change."
"Our children think they are dumb. I have never encountered a child who can not learn. I've encountered a whole lot of folk who can't teach, but I have never encountered a young person who is not creative, who does not have some level of artistry residing in him, who does not want to be listened to or heard. But I have run into some incompetent people who call themselves teachers."
Edwards is a great and inspiring speaker, and precisely the wrong kind of person to represent Pennsylvania's moderate 15th Congressional District. The Democrat who wins this race will be a person who speaks Charlie Dent's language and who appeals to the "sensible center."
That person is John Morganelli. In January, long before Charlie Dent's "sensible center" remarks, Morganelli penned an op-ed that asked, "Where has the sensible middle gone?
"There was a time in American politics when those who were able to straddle the "moderate middle ground" were the most successful. Today just the opposite is true. The most successful are those who, in their respective parties, adhere rigidly and strictly to the party ideology. Until that changes, it will be difficult to govern with any type of consensus and America will be evenly divided as we have seen in recent elections."Someone like Morganelli can pick up where Charlie left off.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Can NorCo Council Term Limit the Exec?
Last Thursday, Northampton County Council introduced a proposal that will ask voters to decide on term limits for the County Executive. If voters agree, the Executive would be limited to two terms of office. Council members are currently limited to three terms in office.
One of my readers asks me if this is wise or even legal.
I'm not the person to ask if something is wise. I know term limits are popular. My own feelings are conflicted. I often think that state and federal legislators should be term limited. But when it comes to municipal office, elected officials usually improve with experience. The best run townships usually have people who have been in office several terms. My view is that an Executive becomes more powerfulthe longer heis in office, so I'd agree o term limits, but it should be three terms like Council members.
Is this legal? I'm a disbarred lawyer, but I can tell you that the Supreme Court has ruled that any change to a Home Rule government that changes the form of government must be preceded by a home rule charter study commission.
This proposal makes no change to the form of government, so no home rule charter study commission is needed. I believe the proposal is legal.
One of my readers asks me if this is wise or even legal.
I'm not the person to ask if something is wise. I know term limits are popular. My own feelings are conflicted. I often think that state and federal legislators should be term limited. But when it comes to municipal office, elected officials usually improve with experience. The best run townships usually have people who have been in office several terms. My view is that an Executive becomes more powerfulthe longer heis in office, so I'd agree o term limits, but it should be three terms like Council members.
Is this legal? I'm a disbarred lawyer, but I can tell you that the Supreme Court has ruled that any change to a Home Rule government that changes the form of government must be preceded by a home rule charter study commission.
This proposal makes no change to the form of government, so no home rule charter study commission is needed. I believe the proposal is legal.
Truthiness and the Trump Cult
Last week, I told you that some of my Facebook friends practice this truthiness. One of them posted a false story that mosques had closed their doors to Harvey refugees, when the opposite was the truth. But to someone who is religiously intolerant, her gut is telling her something else.
She knows the truthiness.
Yesterday, she posted what she knows is a photoshopped picture of Donald Trump rescuing pussy cats from flood waters. Her justification? "Since the libs have been telling lies I thought they deserved it." Later, she adds, "it captured the spirit of this much maligned man."
She knows the truthiness.
This person happens to be a member of the Northampton County GOP Exec Committee.
Out of respect for her privacy, I decline to identify her. But I am getting tired of this nonsense from the Northampton County GOP.
Toomey Town Hall Ejectee Faces No Criminal Charges
No sooner had the words left his mouth that the long arm of the law reached out and grabbed him. That's the last I saw of Simon Radecki. Numerous news sources, including The Morning Call, indicated that Radecki would be charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting. Some more sloppy news sources reported that Radecki had been arrested.
It was "one of the scariest things that I have ever been a part of,” said PBS CEO Tim Fallon.
Tim obviously doesn't get around much.
There's more to life than Big Bird.
After reporting on the criminal charges, more newspapers began to question whether Radecki's free speech rights had been violated. This started in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with the ACLU offering to represent Radecki. Some law professor melodramatically bellowed, "[T]here's no such thing as a wrong question.”
Of course there is. "Would you like me to rip your tongue out and shove it down your throat?" is certainly a wrong question.
I'd send that professor to summer school.
Morning Call columnist Bill White took things to the next level. He wrote that Radecki had been "charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting." He concluded his blog entry by saying that "[t]he charges should be dropped."
Let's be clear here. No one was arrested following Radecki's question. No one has been charged. There are no charges to drop.
There probably would be charges, but as it happens, the officer who collared Radecki went on vacation.
All news accounts that imply otherwise are flat out wrong,
What's more, DA John Morganelli got wind of this matter, and has asked that all details be forwarded to him for review.
Morganelli is a free speech purist, an unusual trait in a district attorney. In 2004, he dismissed trespassing charges filed against peace activists who were distributing anti-war flyers on a public sidewalk outside the Palmer post office. Three years later, he dismissed criminal charges filed against a Washington Township man who was flying the American flag in an upside down position. In 2012, he refused to prosecute a troll over online comments about a judge. That year, he also dismissed attempted robbery charges against "Nature Dave," a bank protester who held a sign inside a bank, warning customers they were being robbed. He did allow one terroristic threat charge to stand. Just last year, he dismissed littering charges against Trump supporter Tricia Mezacappa when she plastered West Easton with Trump signs on election eve.
Given Morganelli's track record, it's highly unlikely that he will authorize a prosecution here.
The best way to assure that people that people you agree with are heard is to ensure that those you disagree with are heard, too.
Monday, September 11, 2017
O'Connell Write-In Ensures a Fed Ed Victory
Recent history may repeat itself because, once again, there are numerous candidates. This will enable Fed Ed to win with a plurality of the votes. Though he refused to raise the flag on Syrian Independence Day, he has suddenly become their best friend. He also has made it a point to reach out to small churches on the east and south side that he previously ignored and will ignore again, once elected.
Nat Hyman is the Republican nominee. He is youthful, energetic, has a terrific sense of humor and is smart. His father was a well-respected physician, and he himself stayed in the Queen City and made it his business headquarters when everyone else was leaving for the 'burbs. The reason he decided to run for Mayor is because he felt he had no choice. Despite Fed Ed's protests that all is well, the City has some serious problems. The redevelopment has slowed. Morale among City workers is terrible. Fed Ed has allowed the Cedar Beach pool contract to get completely out of hand. He is still playing favorites,as evidenced by his removal of basketball rims at the behest of his campaign supporters.
But Hyman has two problems.
The first is that Allentown has become a one-party town. Though there is no Democratic or Republican way if filling a pothole or fixing a pool, Fed Ed has made sure that Democrats have a stranglehold on Allentown. He has viciously attacked Republicans seeking office. Ask Lou Hershman. The seeds of political corruption are still there
Hyman's second big problem is Ray O'Connell, who finished right behind Fed Ed in the Democratic primary.
If the race were just between Ray and Nat, I'd want Ray to win. He may be a bit older than Nat, but is just as energetic, smart and humorous. A former educator, he has great ideas about neighborhood schools. He is the biggest cheerleader that Allen and Dieruff students have,and they need cheerleaders badly. Ray also has experience in government, both on a city and school district level.
But the race is not between Nat and Ray, two men of honor.. This is a race between Nat and disgraced Fed Ed, with two independents thrown in for good measure. Ray has been deprived of a spot on the ballot, so he's waging a Quixotic write-in campaign, hoping that Allentown voters will take the time to type in his name.
Based on what I've seen of Allentown voters, I think Ray is spinning his wheels.
If all of his former opponents backed him, this might work. If the Democratic party opened his mouth and condemned Fed Ed, this might work. But that has not happened.
What's most likely is that, come election day, Ray will have taken away just enough votes from Nat Hyman to ensure a Fed Ed victory. Two men of integrity will be brushed aside by a Chicago transplant who conducted electronic sweeps of his office,used burner phones and directed campaign donors like Ramzi Haddad to delete incriminating text messages.
There is still a scenario under which O'Connell can become Mayor. Assuming that Fed Ed is elected, he will be forced to resign when he pleads guilty. Under this scenario, Ray would be appointed Mayor, and would have the job until the next election in two years. But what if there is a trial that lasts several months? What good will that do the City?
Unlike some others, I had no problem with the crowded primary field. I also have no problem with a person who gets on the ballot as an indie or third-party candidate. Write-in campaigns are fine, too, but should be waged to win, not lose.
I really wish Ray would reconsider. What's best for Allentown is removing Fed Ed. If that means holding your nose and voting for a Republican, you can dump him in four years.
Dent Will Advocate For "Sensible Center"
On Sunday, US Congressman Charlie Dent (R - Pa.15) hosted what was supposed to be a "formal announcement" concerning his intentions next year at the swanky Renaissance Hotel in downtown Allentown. But that story leaked out on Thursday. Dent revealed his intentions to a few of his Congressional colleagues, and they spilled the beans. "They're wonderful friends, but they have big mouths," Dent joked.
"I just wanted to say thank you to everybody in this room," said Dent, who apologized for interrupting one of the biggest sports weekends of the year. .
Instead of a sad announcement, the atmosphere was festive as many of Dent's long-time supporters began to trickle in. So did most of his current and former staffers in an homage to their boss. This included Evil Genius Shawn Millan, Charlie's long-time campaign maven. His very name strikes fear in the hearts of Democrats. And Republicans. Shawn reluctantly gave up an afternoon of burning ants with his magnifying glass. While waiting for Charlie, Shawn and I instead began prank-calling Fed Ed.
Some wanted to watch the Eagles while waiting for Charlie. I warned this would only jinx the Birds. I can listen to them on the radio. I can watch them in person But they lose every game I watch on TV.
The TV stayed off.
The Eagles won.
Looking more relaxed and cheerful than has in a long time, Charlie eventually arrived with his wife, Pam, as well as his son and daughter. He almost forgot to mention his mother-in-law, but recovered nicely.
He was among friends and needed no introduction. But he's a Republican, and that's how they are. State Senator Pat Browne had the honor.
"I've been so proud of him," said Browne. "I gotta' tell you. Over the last term - several terms - what he's done to stand up for governance and good public service - being a man who stood up nationally for those principles - is something we all should be proud of."
Browne is hopeful that whomever follows Charlie will also follow in his footsteps.
Charlie said that when he leaves office, he will continue to be a voice for what he calls the "sensible center." He is currently considering his options, but told his supporters not to cry for him.
"There's no crying in baseball ... or in politics," he joked.
He made no reference to the specific attacks lobbed by Congressional candidate Justin Simmons or NorCo GOP Chair Lee Snover. Both have attacked Dent for refusing to blindly follow President Donald Trump. But Dent did speak in general terms.
"The country's in a pretty tough spot right now It's in a very difficult spot. I think there's a trend locally, which I won't get into, we are where we are. But I do believe that this country is a center right country, it's a center right country, and I do think we need to give a stronger voice to the center at the moment. The sensible center is being left behind in too many cases. I tend to bring that voice outside of Congress as well as inside.
"The most basic fundamental tasks of governing in Washington - and I think Pat will tell you in Harrisburg - are becoming far too difficult. It shouldn't be this difficult. This is something we're going to have to correct, sooner or later. It will correct.
"Also, this country is going through a very difficult political realignment right now. The political ground is shifting underneath all of our feet. Nobody is quite sure how this will sort itself out. It will take a couple of [election] cycles.
"We go through these political realignments every so often. They affect both parties, and I think both parties are in a pretty tough spot. ...
"Perhaps the most troubling thing I see in this country right now is this growing trend towards nativism, isolationism, protectionism and at times, nihilism. These are not attributes of a great nation. I do believe they will be corrected at some point, but we'll deal with it.
"By the way, those attributes - not good attributes - affect both political parties. It's not specific to one party.
"That's the bad news. The good news is, as Churchill said, Americans will always do the right thing, but not 'till they exhaust every other possible alternative."
"I just wanted to say thank you to everybody in this room," said Dent, who apologized for interrupting one of the biggest sports weekends of the year. .
Instead of a sad announcement, the atmosphere was festive as many of Dent's long-time supporters began to trickle in. So did most of his current and former staffers in an homage to their boss. This included Evil Genius Shawn Millan, Charlie's long-time campaign maven. His very name strikes fear in the hearts of Democrats. And Republicans. Shawn reluctantly gave up an afternoon of burning ants with his magnifying glass. While waiting for Charlie, Shawn and I instead began prank-calling Fed Ed.
Some wanted to watch the Eagles while waiting for Charlie. I warned this would only jinx the Birds. I can listen to them on the radio. I can watch them in person But they lose every game I watch on TV.
The TV stayed off.
The Eagles won.
Looking more relaxed and cheerful than has in a long time, Charlie eventually arrived with his wife, Pam, as well as his son and daughter. He almost forgot to mention his mother-in-law, but recovered nicely.
He was among friends and needed no introduction. But he's a Republican, and that's how they are. State Senator Pat Browne had the honor.
"I've been so proud of him," said Browne. "I gotta' tell you. Over the last term - several terms - what he's done to stand up for governance and good public service - being a man who stood up nationally for those principles - is something we all should be proud of."
Browne is hopeful that whomever follows Charlie will also follow in his footsteps.
Charlie said that when he leaves office, he will continue to be a voice for what he calls the "sensible center." He is currently considering his options, but told his supporters not to cry for him.
"There's no crying in baseball ... or in politics," he joked.
He made no reference to the specific attacks lobbed by Congressional candidate Justin Simmons or NorCo GOP Chair Lee Snover. Both have attacked Dent for refusing to blindly follow President Donald Trump. But Dent did speak in general terms.
"The country's in a pretty tough spot right now It's in a very difficult spot. I think there's a trend locally, which I won't get into, we are where we are. But I do believe that this country is a center right country, it's a center right country, and I do think we need to give a stronger voice to the center at the moment. The sensible center is being left behind in too many cases. I tend to bring that voice outside of Congress as well as inside.
"The most basic fundamental tasks of governing in Washington - and I think Pat will tell you in Harrisburg - are becoming far too difficult. It shouldn't be this difficult. This is something we're going to have to correct, sooner or later. It will correct.
"Also, this country is going through a very difficult political realignment right now. The political ground is shifting underneath all of our feet. Nobody is quite sure how this will sort itself out. It will take a couple of [election] cycles.
"We go through these political realignments every so often. They affect both parties, and I think both parties are in a pretty tough spot. ...
"Perhaps the most troubling thing I see in this country right now is this growing trend towards nativism, isolationism, protectionism and at times, nihilism. These are not attributes of a great nation. I do believe they will be corrected at some point, but we'll deal with it.
"By the way, those attributes - not good attributes - affect both political parties. It's not specific to one party.
"That's the bad news. The good news is, as Churchill said, Americans will always do the right thing, but not 'till they exhaust every other possible alternative."
Who Is Paying Fed Ed's Legal Bill?
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| Jack Rosen with two of his donees |
That's when most court observers think Fed Ed will plead. On his own, he lacks the resources for an extended trial. But what if someone is footing his legal bill?
Fed Ed's lawyer, Jack McMahon, has entered his appearance, and that's a big deal. Courts are generally reluctant to allow a lawyer to withdraw his appearance in a criminal case simply because he is getting no money. That's his problem. So lawyers generally decline to enter an appearance unless financial arrangements have been made. McMahon's appearance indicates he expects to be paid or has been paid already.
Since Fed Ed has no resources on his own, someone is footing the bill for him. Who could it be?
New York City developer Jack Rosen is a major Democratic campaign donor. He definitely was under the federal microscope and is referred to in the federal indictment as "J. Ro."
He's one of the fellows who went to an Eagles game and fancy steak house with Fed Ed.
He has an obvious incentive to pay Fed Ed's legal bills. I don't know that he is, but someone is paying McMahon.
Remember 9/11
In Kansas City, firefighters honored their brothers by climbing 110 stories in full gear, the same amount that New York firefighters climbed on 9/11. In Bethlehem, firefighters will play a game of softball against police officers to show that life goes on.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Updated: State Rep. Dan McNeil, RIP
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| Dan McNeill at one of several addiction town halls |
Dan will be remembered as a big man with an even bigger heart who tried to help people suffering from addiction. You can read his obituary here.
Arrangements are as follows:
Wednesday 6-9 PM viewing.
Thursday 11 AM Funeral, burial and Luncheon immediately following.
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church.
3355 MacArthur Rd Whitehall PA 18052
The luncheon will take place at the American Club Pavilion on Coplay.
It was Danny’s great wish to make sure his beloved Granddaughter MacKenzie “Kenzie” would be able to go to college. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made toward the education fund established for his granddaughter “Kenzie". Checks may be made payable to Jeanne McNeill and mailed to 444 Pershing Blvd, Whitehall, PA 18052.
(Originally published 9/8/17 at 4:24 pm).
Friday, September 08, 2017
Updated: Dent to Step Down! Who's Next?
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| Charlie Dent |
A seven-term Congressman, Dent has dedicated 27 years of his life to public service.
Dent has previously claimed that authoritarian Donald Trump is "destroying the GOP."
I disagree. Trump is destroying the country, not just the Republican party.
According to Politico, Dent is the third centrist Republican to decide against seeking re-election next year. Washington State's Dave Reichert and Florida's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen are also stepping down.
Justin Simmons, the only announced candidate against Dent so far, is patting himself on the back. "Mission accomplished!" he crows. Known as a negative campaigner, he named his website "simmonsnotdent."
It's a sad day for America when someone as knowledgeable as Charlie decides he's had enough. Who but Charlie would go to bat for a Syrian family being denied admission to this country, despite having permanent resident status?
It's hard to quantify what Dent has meant to this district and country. My own grandson could tell you. I'll tell you that story some other time. Right now, what you want to know is what does all this mean? Will Justin Simmons will be the next Congressman? Will he cruise on, as he seems to think?
Probably not.
Republicans may be angry at Dent, but it's doubtful many of them will support a political opportunist if they have a choice.
They do. Which brings me back to Charlie Dent. He fired back at Simmons' political opportunism, and very publicly showed that Simmons is a hypocrite. Why say anything? He already knew he was stepping down.
The reason, as one political observer suggested to me, is that Charlie has already picked his successor. He was slamming Simmons, not for Charlie's benefit, but to help someone else.
That person is Ryan MacKenzie, a State Representative in South Whitehall. His campaign team has been calling donors to tell them to keep their powder dry. MacKenzie and Simmons really dislike each other, so if MacKenzie runs, this is going to get ugly.
There are also numerous other Republican possibilities. There's Marty Nothstein, a popular Olympic cyclist serving as a Lehigh County Comm'r. There's Dean Browning, a former Lehigh County Comm'r who is now active in the tea party. He was at NorCo Council tonight, urging them to endorse Kate's Law. Then there's State Senator Pat Browne, who would likely beat them all, if he were so inclined.
Democrats have largely avoided Charlie Dent in recent races, offering only token opposition. But a disputed Republican primary with weak candidates like Simmons and MacKenzie is likely to draw some top tier interest.
John Morganelli and Lisa Boscola, conservative Democrats, would easily crush someone like Simmons. Boscola is known as a maverick. Morganelli is one of the few Democrats who will accept invitations from the tea party and get standing ovations when he's done.
Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza would also be formidable.
There are also "B" level possibilities like Mike "Darth Voter" Schlossberg. But you would need a top tier Democrat to win.
Originally published 9/7/17 at 7:48 pm and updated.
Cartwright: Tatamy Firefighters To Get Equipment Grant
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright is reporting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded Tatamy Fire Company with a $42,858 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). These funds will allow Tatamy to replace its air compressor/cascade/fill station, which has some components to it that date back to the 1990s. The purpose of an air cascade system is to refill SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) units following use. SCBA units are worn by rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air.
“Our brave firefighters and other emergency personnel confront danger on a regular basis in order to keep our communities safe from harm,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “We must do anything we can do to help people stay safe from harm, and I am proud to continue to support funding for our local fire departments.”
The purpose of the AFG is to award competitive grants directly to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. Since 2001, the AFG program has provided approximately $6.7 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.
During the current funding cycle, the AFG program will award another $310.5 million to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.
“Our brave firefighters and other emergency personnel confront danger on a regular basis in order to keep our communities safe from harm,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “We must do anything we can do to help people stay safe from harm, and I am proud to continue to support funding for our local fire departments.”
The purpose of the AFG is to award competitive grants directly to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. Since 2001, the AFG program has provided approximately $6.7 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.
During the current funding cycle, the AFG program will award another $310.5 million to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.
Local Boy Scouts Trek New Mexico Wilderness
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| IN PHOTO, FROM LEFT: Stephen Zakos, David “Rattlesnake” Riter, Nicholas Ritter, Samuel Walker, Ian Zakos, Anthony Howorth, Arthur Schmidt III, Tristan Schmidt, Jacob Young, Addison Holtzhafer, Erik Walker |
This summer, perhaps you went to the beach or the Poconos. I went to a lot of basketball games. But a crew of teenage Scouts, along with their adult advisers, has us all beat. These young men went on a life changing summer trek through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.
Philmont covers 214 square miles of vast wilderness with trails that climb from 6,500 feet to as high as 12,441 feet.
These future leaders are Scout Troop # 131, which is sponsored by Bethany Methodist Church in Wescosville. They hiked more than 76 miles over ten days.
The Scouts carried everything they needed to survive during the trek on their backs while hiking from camp to camp. They participated in backcountry programs along the way: shooting sports; tomahawk throwing; building railroad track, blacksmithing; and burro wrangling. The trek also included a conservation project where the Scouts learned and participated in the upkeep of Philmont’s ecosystem.
Scouts endured some tough challenges. This includes backpacking in bear and mountain lion territory; avoiding rattlesnakes; steep climbs; and heavy weather. A 600 lbs. black bear went strolling by at one point, and the troop did encounter several ratters. They saw no mountain lions,but could hear their cries at night.
The hike started at 7,000 feet above sea level and went up from there, peaking on Baldy Mountain at 12,441 feet.
“They may meet only one other group of Scouts on the trail in an entire day of hiking,” according to Backpacker Magazine. “Even in the most crowded destinations, each Scout group camps in isolation, out of sight and sound of all other groups.” The crew made what amounts to a Scouting pilgrimage with their trip to Philmont.
Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America’s premier high adventure camp, serving nearly one million participants since 1938.
Thursday, September 07, 2017
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma: Wake-Up Calls to Easton's $130 MM Aquarium
According to Northampton County's Hazard Mitigation Plan, "Flooding is the most significant natural hazard in the Lehigh Valley." In Northampton County, it occurs during all seasons. In Easton, 433 residents and 21.8% of the City are already in the flood plain. Yet there are only 79 flood insurance policies in place. The hotel at which the Da Vinci Science Center has been proposed has been identified on the county's hazard mitigation plan as the most at-risk property, with 43.7% structure damage and 56.8% content damage in the event of a flood. The plan strongly recommends restrictive rezoning in the river corridor, along with enhanced floodplain requirements.
Between 1955 and today, Easton has experienced eight floods. Four of these have occurred since 2004. Three of the last four flooding events have been 100-year floods. Quite obviously, climate change is having an impact locally.
When she was Easton's Planning Director, Becky Bradley coaxed the City into moving voluntarily into a 500-year floodplain. Thus enables the City to regulate property that is 15-30 above what us called the base flood elevation. In addition, the sewage pumping station was elevated two floors. Finally, a mobile station has been set up for public works, the one department the City needs most in the event of a flood.
Are these positive measures enough? I think not. Hurricane Harvey actually bent the earth's crust, and the storms in this area are simply more intense than they were 20 or 30 years ago. With just 18 inches of water, cars begin to float and can cause damage. Just an inch or two of water can sweep a person away.
The $130 million DaVinci Science Center is planned near the junction of both the Lehigh and Delaware river, that is most likely to be inundated and damaged in the next major flooding event. Even if the property can be raised through fill and freeboards, it will send water cascading onto other properties. I am hard pressed to think of a worse location.
Just wait a few years. It will become an aquarium without having to spend a cent of public money.
Easton Mayor Sal Panto has already committed $30 million to this project, and Northampton County is being dunned for $15 million.
I could go for this if there were sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads. Otherwise, no.
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