News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
Delaware County Patriots Picnic Sept. 25 — The Delaware County Patriots, a non-partisan organization that promotes government transparency and accountability, is holding a free picnic, 1 p.m., Sept. 25 at Pavilion 17, Ridley Creek State Park.
The group will supply the hot and cold sandwiches, beverages and tableware.
Those attending are asked to bring a side dish or dessert.
And to RSVP. Call Regina at 610-328-2463 or click here.
Non-members are welcome.
Philly Green Party Events Loom — Bob Small of Delco Debates has let us know that Jill Stein’s CNN Town Hall airs live 9 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17. It gives one a chance to learn more about Jill Stein and her running mate Ajamu Baraka which will be broadcast live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espanol and online via CNNgo for questions.
Better still, he says, come watch the Town Hall with other Greens, Stein supporters, and the Stein-curious, at Alma Mater, 7165 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Eat, drink and enjoy some great discussion!
Bob also notes that the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP) Outreach Committee Meeting will meet 7 p.m., Aug. 18 at Vivek Ananthan’s, 635 N. 5th St., Philadelphia (ring doorbell). He said discussed will be ideas and plans to do neighborhood publicity and tabling on university campuses.
He says that there will be a GPOP picnic/potluck, 7 p.m., Aug. 24 at Clark Park, 43rd and Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia. Look for the tables and chairs. New Greens and other Jill Stein supporters will be welcomed and those interested will be given information. There will be pizza. Homegrown Stein t-shirts will be sold.
Bob has sent us this link as to what the Greens are up against.
And in fairness, Tom C has sent us this link regarding serious problems that can laid at the feet of Republican Party leaders.
Libertarians Rose Tree Park Return Without Hassle — Those collecting signatures for Libertarian Pennsylvania 7th District Congressional candidate Patrick Sellers have returned to Rose Tree Park and are collecting them without interference according to Dale Kerns Jr.
Kerns, Sellers and six others were at the county-owned park in Upper Providence last night (July 21) during Summer Festival and plan on being there each night through Sunday.
“We thank (Park Police Chief Samuel S. Ziviello) for helping resolve this issue,” said Kerns. “He called to say that his officers would not interfere with us at the park, and that he would be available on his cell if there were any issues. A few of the officers talked and joked with us. Nice night all in all.”
Kerns and Sellers were chased from the park on July 16 after the petitions containing signatures were confiscated, and Kerns was later subject to a rather troubling car stop.
Kerns says the confiscated petitions have not been returned and appear to have been lost by police. This could cause some trouble for the agency — and the county, especially Councilman Mario Civera, whose name was given as having ordered the action — if Sellers cannot get on the ballot due to a lack of names.
Libertarians Pledge Rose Tree Park Return — The Libertarians who had their petitions for Pennsylvania 7th District Congressional candidate Pat Sellers confiscated by Delaware County Park Police while canvassing in the county’s Rose Tree Park, July 16, are saying they will return Thursday (July 21) through Sunday to try again and have so informed Park Police Chief Samuel S. Ziviello.
The below statement was written by Dale Kerns Jr. of Ridley.
Chief Samuel S. Ziviello, I would like to thank you for allowing myself and David Jahn, chairman of the Delaware County Libertarian Party, to meet with you yesterday (July 18). I understand that you’re waiting for your solicitor to respond to the letter I have written. I also appreciate your call at the end of the day yesterday telling me you still have not heard from him. But what I do not appreciate is that every day that is delayed is a day that we cannot exercise our first amendment rights in that location. Every day that is delayed is the day that our civil liberties are being violated.
I hope that everyone at the county level understands what a horrible injustice this is to the civil liberties of everyone in the county and I hope that they will work to get us answers. We want to know that we can go peacefully to the park that we fund with our tax dollars and exercise our First Amendment rights and all other rights; without being harassed, intimidated, threatened, or violated in any other way.
If I do not hear back From you soon I will take my interpretation of the First Amendment, of the Supreme Court decisions that have already been established with respect to collecting signatures, and exercise these rights at Rose Tree Park immediately. I will do so peacefully, without antagonizing, and without disruption of anyone. I expect that I can expect that the officers under you Will not be ordered to treat us like criminals and violate our rights.
On Thursday of this week, Friday of this week, Saturday of this week, and Sunday of this week, we (peaceful law abiding citizens) will be back at the park from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. exercising our rights as free people. We encourage your support.
Thank you for your time in this matter.
Kerns, Sellers Statements Update — Dale Kerns Jr. says Park Police Chief Samuel S. Ziviello has said they intend to return his petitions but can’t find them. Chief, you could be looking at some serious legal aggravation if they can’t be found. Kerns also said Ziviello is waiting upon a ruling by their solicitor as to whether they can canvass in the park.
Kerns, Sellers Statements — Here are statements by Dale Kerns Jr. and Patrick Henry Sellers regarding the incident, July 16, in Rose Tree Park in which they petitions they were circulating for Libertarian candidates were confiscated and Kerns was later subject to a car stop and threatened with arrest.
Dear Chief Samuel S. Ziviello, I am writing to you about a matter that occurred in your jurisdiction very recently involving the Delaware County Park Police, Mario Civera and County Council, and individuals on staff at the Summer Festival and Parks and Recreation. The matter involved an abuse of power, jurisdictional violations, violations of the 1st Amendment rights of individuals and political parties from the State and Federal levels, a violation of Federal Code Chapter 29 Section 529, violation of numerous Supreme Court rulings and the violation of the oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from both officers and County officials.
On Thursday July 15th 2016, while petitioning with several individuals for the office of President, United States Senate, Pennsylvania Attorney General, U.S. Congress, and other offices; I was first approached by Mark Manfre who identified himself as the guy in charge of the division of Parks and Recreation. At that time Mr. Manfre insisted that we leave the property because solicitation was not something that was allowed in the park. It was then that I informed Mr. Manfre that we were exercising our right to free speech and at no time were we selling anything. Mr. Manfre said he knows exactly what we are doing because he also does the same thing on many occasions. After a rather short discussion and my insisting that Mr. Manfre show me the law that says I cannot exercise my right to free speech, Mr. Manfre headed to his office to find out more information. By this time Mr. Manfre had held us up so much that we were not very successful with our collections- the whole operation was compromised.
Upon his return, Mr. Manfre said that he could find no law, and that he spoke to his solicitor. Mr. Manfre informed me that the solicitor agreed, and that he was not to have us removed from the park because it would violate my first amendment rights. It was then that Mr. Manfre wished us luck, told us that he did not agree with us being there but the solicitor gave him legal direction. Mr. Manfre then told me that within the next week he would have a law passed that would keep us from proceeding the next week.
Just two days later on July 17th 2016, after gathering signatures for about an hour with Patrick Henry Sellers, the Libertarian Congressional Candidate, at approximately 6:30 PM we were approached by a female officer with the Delaware County Park Police who referred to herself as the Lieutenant. The Lieutenant said we have to stop what we are doing because there is no political stuff allowed on the Park Grounds. Patrick Sellers and I informed her that we were just exercising our right to free speech, and not soliciting anything of any kind. We also informed her that we had the same approach taken by Mark Manfre just two days prior. She said she had direction from Mario Civera of County Council and Mark Manfre of the Parks and Recreation to have us removed and cited if we did not comply. After the Lieutenant informed us, I offered to show her Supreme Court Precedent that protects our actions under the United States Constitution. The Lieutenant replied that the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court does not sign her paychecks and the County Council does. It was at that point that she said we had to stop collection of signatures, remove any signs that we had on or near our person and any literature or face citations and possibly jail.
At that time, Pat Sellers and I stopped all exercising of rights as we felt that the situation was very threatening. As the Lieutenant pulled away in her vehicle, a second vehicle approached with another officer who identified himself as officer Lasina or Masina as we were packing up. This officer said that we were breaking law, committing a crime, and asked if we had identification. We told him that identification was not on us but in our cars. Pat Sellers and I had not even made it to our cars yet from when the Lieutenant pulled away. The officer then told us to head to our cars.
I then went to my car, and Pat Sellers did the same. I pulled away first, and headed out of the park. When I realized that I did not have all of my clipboards I stopped in the circle to gather everything. The Lieutenant was there and said I was not following orders. When I told her I only wanted my signatures and I was leaving, she said they are now evidence and she was directed to confiscate them. She said to see County Council if I want to know the law and to find out how to get my nomination papers back. At that point, I saw officers pulling over Pat Sellers.
I then went south on 252 towards Chester Pennsylvania. I stopped at Wawa just after the route 1 bypass. I purchased my order to take home for which I have a receipt. Upon leaving the premises of Wawa and heading in the direction of 476 in the route 1 bypass, I was pulled over by the Delaware County Park Police, officers Masina or Lasina and Lieutenant Berkey, another unidentified officer was also on the scene at one point. It was at this time I began to film.
I was told that I was being pulled over for committing a crime, which was solicitation and disorderly conduct. I was told that this stop was a direct order and was at the direction of County Council Chairman Mario Civera. The rest can be found on the footage of the video tapes (which you probably have seen to this point and has had over 30,000 views in the first 24 hours). Additionally, the nomination papers have yet to be returned, even though on the video the officers said they were on their way with them.
Consequently, after the whole ordeal there were no charges, but I am unable to regain my first amendment rights back for that evening, I am unable to undo what was done with respect to the way it appeared we were guilty to over 300 individuals in that park. I also cannot undo the fact that the officers in the Delaware County Park have an allegiance to the Delaware County Council and the Chief of Police before serving under their oath to Protect and Defend the United States and Pennsylvania Constitution. Unfortunately, that latter can only be initiated by you.
I would like to move toward rectifying these matters diplomatically. I would like to have the nomination papers that I circulated returned. I would like to have full faith in the fact that nobody exercising their right to free speech in county parks will have to go through what I went through ever again with respect to the harassment, threats, intimidation, and ignorance of my rights as a free individual. And, I would like to know that the officers that are out there protecting us are not following direct orders from a single person in power instead of the law of the land The United States and Pennsylvania Constitution.
I thank you for your time in this matter and look forward to hearing from you immediately so that we can resolve this matter in a gentleman like fashion.
I can attest that everything Dale Kerns said about what happened in Rose Tree Park on Thursday and Saturday 7/14/16, 7/16/16 is accurate.
I also share Dale’s desire for a quick resolution to this. I am extremely dismayed over the very bad publicity this caused for my campaign and the other candidates on our petitions. How are we now going to change the opinion of all those people who walked by us, me holding my “Sellers for Congress” sign, as the officers probably appeared to be arresting us?
241st Year Agenda
By Don Adams
As our nation enters its 241st year, there are so many serious issues confronting us that it often seems overwhelming.
It appears there are three overarching problems currently threatening our Right to Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness.
On the international front, no one can deny that the violence of Islamic Jihadism has been so pervasive over the past several decades, both in the US and abroad, as to warrant a most serious effort to defeat it.
Yet world leaders such as President Obama, Pope Benedict, and Angela Merkel focus far too much energy and resources on the supposed long term threat of “global warming” rather than the eminent danger of global terrorism. This colossal failure of leadership must radically change now or our way of life will be the next casualty.
We must declare war on Islamic Jihadists and determine to defeat them within this decade.
On the domestic front, we face pending economic and cultural decline due to excessive centralized government and a lack of individual responsibility.
Federal, state, and local governments, whose spending is largely out of control, continue to regulate and tax us into submission. As the arm of government attempts to reign supreme, it diminishes the importance of church, community and family in our personal lives. As a result, the economy remains stagnant and we the people grow restless.
The diminished church, the apathetic community, and the embattled family leave us vulnerable to negative cultural influences that peddle drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, and other irresponsible behaviors.
Too many of our current elected officials and bureaucrats–in all levels of government–are attempting to control rather than to empower us to lead productive, happy lives.
But, alas, it is not too late to rise up, as our Founders did 240 years ago today, and fight to preserve our cherished freedoms and institutions.
As Brexit has shown, the pendulum is swinging against big, centralized government and in the direction of decentralized, limited government; individual empowerment; and personal responsibility.
If our nation can defeat ISIS and the onslaught of tyrannical government, we will have successfully brought the American Revolution into the 21st century.
Our Foundation hopes to be at the forefront of this ongoing, never-ending American Revolution–with all of you!
We pray God continues to bless you and our great nation.
Mr. Adams is on the board of the Independence Hall Foundation.
Green Party Caucus In Delaware County — The Delaware County Green Party held its caucus, today, April 23, at Swarthmore Borough Hall. Seven persons attended and four voted.
Spokesman Bob Small said turnout was way down from recent years as the major parties are still having hotly contested primaries.
There are 13 candidates on the ballot five of whom are endorsed. They are Darryl Cherney of Northern California, Sedinam Kinamo Christin Moyowasifza-Curry of Southern California, William Kreml of South Carolina, Kent Philip Mesplay of Texas and Jill Stein of Massachusetts.
Cherney talked to the audience via Skype. He said that among his achievements were founding the Headwater Redwood Reserve and winning a $4.4 million lawsuit against the federal government after the FBI alleged he and Judi Bari had blown themselves up in a pipe-bomb incident in 1990. He said that among the first things he would do if elected president would be to pardon several people including Chelsea Manning and Leonard Peltier, and cover the White House in solar panels.
He also said he would ban fracking and create a new commission to re-investigate the 9/11 terror attacks. He said the first investigation was a cover-up and cited as evidence the current attempt to declassify of 28 of its pages allegedly implicating Saudi Arabia.
Ms. Curry talked to the audience by phone. She said the Green Party is run by white males over 50 and it is her goal to get more woman of color in power in the party and, presumably, the country.
Statements were read from Kreml and Mesplay by moderator Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick.
Ms. Stein, who was the party’s candidate in 2012, is expected to win the nomination again this year.
There are about 600 Green Party members in Delaware County.
Small noted before the caucus, that while only registered Republicans or Democrats may vote in their respective party primaries on Tuesday, there is referendum question regarding amendments to the state Constitution available to all registered voters.
Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to abolish the Philadelphia Traffic Court?
Case For Pat Meehan
By Don Adams
The Independence Hall Foundation, the largest independent conservative grass roots organization in the tri-state region, is questioning the conservative credentials of congressional candidate Stan Casacio, a former Republican Cheltenham Township Commissioner running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.
The Casacio campaign is airing 60 second spots on 1210 WPHT-AM which roundly accuses his opponent, US Representative Pat Meehan, of being an Arlen Specter Republican and a RINO (Republican in name only)–an outrageous charge which the conservative Independence Hall Foundation flatly rejects.
The ad falsely implies that Pat Meehan supports Planned Parenthood and is somehow not pro-life, when, in fact, Meehan has consistently voted to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider. In addition, Meehan has been endorsed by the National Right to Life .Committee in every general election cycle since 2010 and will receive their endorsement this fall.
The 20-member Foundation Board voted unanimously to endorse Pat Meehan because of his consistent votes, over the years, to defund Planned Parenthood; repeal ObamaCare (over 60 votes); lower taxes; decrease spending; expose corrupt practices of the Veterans Administration; hold the Obama Administration accountable on the Benghazi and Fast and Furious scandals; stop Obama’s Executive Order on Immigration, and support our nation’s defense. Meehan has also been a staunch advocate of local law enforcement communities.
That is a very strong conservative record,. We wish, however, the same could be said for Stan Casacio.
During his tenure as Cheltenham Township Commissioner (Montgomery County) in the 1980’s, Casacio, who served on the township’s finance committee, voted to increase the township’s budget by 80 percent and raise property taxes by 42 percent to cover the deficit he helped create.
Casacio has not refuted the official record–instead, he and his defenders dismiss his record as something from the distant past.
But this is Casacio’s official public record–and Casacio’s record of taxing and spending is much more in line with RINO Arlen Specter.
We certainly hope voters in the 7th District consider all the facts before voting.
The Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District comprises most of Delaware County, along with parts of Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Lancaster Counties.
Mr. Adams is a member of the Independence Hall Foundation
Brouillette Heading Commonwealth Partners — Matt Brouillette has stepped down as president and CEO of Commonwealth Foundation, to head the new Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs.
Commonwealth Foundation is an excellent organization dedicated to commonsense government, the expansion of freedom and minimizing poverty. Brouillette had been president and CEO of it for 14 years.
Commonwealth Partners will have a similar agenda but be free of some of the Internal Revenue Services restrictions that had bound the Commonwealth Foundation with regard to political activity.
Brouillette will hold the post of president and CEO starting July 1.
Taking his place at Commonwealth Foundation will be Charles Mitchell who had been the organization’s executive vice president.
Meehan Gets Independence Hall Endorsement — The influential Independence Hall Foundation, a conservative grass roots organization with thousands of followers in the tri-state (DE, NJ, PA) region, is announcing today that its Board of Directors has voted unanimously to endorse Pat Meehan for Congress in the April 26 Pennsylvania Primary.
“The 20-member Board of the Independence Hall Foundation has chosen to endorse Congressman Meehan (PA-7) because of his conservative record on fiscal, social, and defense issues” said Foundation spokesperson, Teri Adams, of Montgomery County, PA.
“We supported Pat Meehan when he first ran for office in 2010 and we fought hard to flip the seat from D to R as Democrat Joe Sestak had been the seat’s prior occupant.
“We see absolutely no reason to withdraw our support now.
“In fact, we are proud of Congressman Meehan’s efforts to overturn ObamaCare; defund Planned Parenthood; lower taxes; decrease spending; expose corrupt practices of the Veterans Administration; hold the Obama Administration accountable on the Benghazi and Fast and Furious scandals; and support our nation’s military preparedness.
“In January 2015, Congressman Meehan spoke at the Foundation’s Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally in support of our region’s law enforcement community.
“While we may not agree with every vote cast by Congressman Meehan, we are more than pleased with his overall record,” said Ms. Adams.
Meehan is being challenged in the April 26 Republican primary by Stan Casacio.