Tea Partyer To Take On Little Bobby C

Tom Smith of Armstrong County has thrown his hat in the ring to be the Republican candidate to take on Democrat incumbent Senator Bob Casey.

Smith, is a Tea Party leader and one-time coal company owner.

Take that Rob Gleason.

Hat tip Tracie Mauriello

The Suffering Caused By Stupid People Setting Policy

ConocoPhillips  announced, yesterday, that it is joining Sunoco in ending oil refining in the Philadelphia region if it cannot find a buyer for its refinery in Trainer.

Joining the Obama bread-lines — or SNAP lines rather — will  be 400 workers,

Also hundreds of hazardous-waste impregnated acres useless for anything but oil refining will be idled and the United States will become further dependent on Hugo Chavez for  gasoline.

And of course a large part of the  tax base of tiny Trainer and the Chichester School District, which includes Marcus Hook which is the site of one of the Sunoco plants, will disappear.

Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) has been warning that this was going to happen almost since he took his oath.

Maybe you can’t blame irrational environmental zealotry entirely for this economic and strategic havoc  but no way can it be absolved.

Clearly no attempt was made by the Obama administration to communicate with the plant’s owners regarding attempts to save the plants. There appears to have been no offer to grant waivers — even temporary ones — regarding the ever increasing regulatory burdens which it was placing on them  to save the jobs and the infrastructure.

In other news related to the suffering caused by stupid people setting policy, the cost of health insurance rose 9 percent since 2010.

But, but, but that wasn’t supposed to happen with ObamaCare.

When stupid people who set policy say something is going to happen, bet otherwise.

Did Gleason Say The Cool Kids Don’t Hang With The Tea Party?

A  little birdie has told me that Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason has given a directive that all prospective candidates stay away from the Tea Party crowd.

I think what the little birdie has told me is true.

I’ll be glad to be shown otherwise.

 

Pa Congressmen Want To Put Strings On U.N.

Pa Congressmen Want To Put Strings On U.N. — Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi reports that Congreesman  Jim Gerlach (R-Pa6) has just agreed to sign on as a Co-Sponsor of United Nations Transparency, Accountability and Reform Act of 2011   H.R. 2829

Other Pennsylvania congressman who are co-[sponsors are Rep. Mike Kelly (Pa-3), Rep. Glenn Thompson (Pa-5), Rep. Patrick Meehan (Pa-7) and Rep. Tom Marino (Pa-10)

“Note that not a single Democrat has signed on,” Guzzardi says. “Not even Obama Democrat Rep. Schwartz who, opportunistically, touts her Jewish credentials every opportunity she gets. And the Jewish Exponent has not written a single article about this important bill.”

The Act directs the President to  use U.S. influence at the United Nations and calls for a  shift in America’s funding mechanism for the regular budget of the U.N. from an assessed to a voluntary one.

The Act, also among other things, prohibits funds from being used for U.S. participation in the Durban III meeting or any part of the Durban process; withholds U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) or to any successor or related entity unless the Secretary makes specified certifications to Congress; and prohibits any U.S. contribution to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from being used to support Technical Cooperation program assistance to any country, including North Korea, that: (1) has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism; or (2) is in breach of, or under investigation for breach of, obligations regarding its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or any relevant Security Council resolution.

Pa Congressmen Want To Put Strings On U.N.

Cain Raising On CAIR

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain — who one guesses one could call the front-runner at this point — has pledged that if elected he will prosecute the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Muslim Brotherhood; and to also declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

“We have been too permissive with those kind of organizations in this country for the sake of political correctness,” Cain said in a interview with  850 WFTL in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “This world is not safer and political correctness is not something that we ought to be more worried about than the safety of the people of  this country.”

I’m still leaning towards Texas Gov. Rick Perry but Cain is looking very good.

‘PTO Parents’ To Sponsor Hectoring Of Reps

A group of “PTO parents” interested in getting more state tax dollars for public schools will hold a forum featuring all  Delaware County legislators at which they are expected to hector them until they agree to further indebt the state.

The forum is 7 -10 p.m., Oct. 13 at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

“I am writing today to ask you to help us
fill up that room (it seats 1650) with public education stakeholders and
advocates who are willing to express their concerns and their support
for public education,” said Larry Feinberg, in an email. Feinberg is a staunch Democrat who sits on the Haverford School Board and who chairs the Delaware County School Boards
Legislative Council.

Organizers have asked anyone planning to attend to please RSVP in advance at delcolegislativeforum.eventbrite.com.

It should be noted that the puppeteers of these PTO parents are not interested in educating children. They are interested in getting more money for those who have a practical monopoly on providing the service of education.

If they were really interested in the children they would be pushing to end school strikes and giving school boards the power to remove under-performing teachers.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Scares U.S. ?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Scares U.S. ?


Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the United Nations has been met with fierce opposition, including a 30-nation walk-out during his address to the international body. That childish protest, led by the U.S., was exactly what transpired during his previous visits when he spoke at both the U.N. and Columbia University.

People can protest all they want. That’s their right in this country, and Ahmadinejad has certainly provided enough material. But a distinction has to be made as to what is being protested.

If people want to voice disapproval of Ahmadinejad’s totalitarian policies and inflammatory statements, great. If, however, the walk-out was to (ultimately) criticize the organization’s decision to allow an unpopular figure to speak, that’s a different story.

Why are we so scared of Ahmadinejad? What frightens us so much that we demand his viewpoints be silenced? He is the undisputed leader of a sovereign nation, a man whose words and decisions have significant weight on the world stage. Like him or not, he’s the president of Iran, and the West has no choice but to deal with him and his government.

And if the criteria for a walk-out are fanatical statements made by the ranting leader of a second-rate country, then UN delegates better get comfortable shoes, because they’ll be doing a hell of a lot of walking.

Walking out on Ahmadinejad is completely counterproductive, as it gives him a public relations bonanza. Like eating the forbidden fruit, Ahmadinejad’s remarks will now be heard by many who otherwise would not have cared, being attracted by the “If it’s bad enough that the U.S. walked out, I must hear what he said” mentality. And it permits our enemies to label us hypocritcal; we jettison free speech whenever convenient.

It’s exactly like those who protest KKK and neo-Nazi marches. The louder the protesters, the more energy and media coverage is given to those groups. They feed off the attention. Stay home, and they go away. It’s that simple.

And it’s a horrible example for our children. Don’t like what the professor has to say? Leave. Mom and Dad trying to enforce the rules? Walk out. Disagree with what your political opponent says about you? Throw out some invectives and storm away.

*****

In 2007, despite getting hammered by protesters and politicians, Columbia played it right by affording Ahmadinejad a platform, but equally important, chose not to give him an award. It is one thing to allow someone to speak, but quite another when accolades are bestowed upon individuals who don’t deserve them.

The larger question centers on free speech. Aren’t we always told that America sets the standard for the free exchange of ideas? Don’t we teach our young people to keep an open mind and question everything? Isn’t it invaluable to hear opposing points of view, and ultimately form one’s own opinion?

Failure to maintain an open atmosphere leads to close-mindedness and ignorance. The world is increasingly “flat,” in that we live in an ever-expanding global economy. Traditional borders and cultural barriers continue to be dismantled. Therefore, it’s imperative that Americans understand the value of listening, are open to constructive dialogue, formulate tough questions, and refuse to live in fear.

Narrow-mindedness will only make the road ahead more difficult.

This is not a call for appeasement, nor is it running from reality. Iran’s posturing–and actions–have made the West very uncomfortable, and if that nation continues on its current path, especially with regard to its nuclear program, the situation may well become bloody.

Is Iran an “enemy,” whose leaders should be banned from entering America, as some contend? Depends on your definition. But if that’s the case, then kick out France, which aided and abetted Iraq leading up to the war (in many cases illegally). And China, since it massacred citizens at Tiananmen Square, among its other heinous transgressions. And Syria, given the ongoing slaughter of its citizens.

And let’s not forget to look in the mirror, as America’s role in overthrowing the sovereign regime in Libya–which we had repeatedly praised as a nation reformed and a partner in rooting out terrorism–was nothing more than an inexcusable oil grab for our European allies. Where do you draw the line?

We are not at war with Iran. If Ahmadinejad wants to make ludicrous statements amounting to Holocaust revisionist history, the absence of homosexuality in Iran and who was really behind 9/11, he does so at his own peril. He needs Western investment and petro dollars to survive, and such rhetoric only undermines his credibility and jeopardizes the economic stability of his country. The more Ahmadinejad speaks, the more he hurts himself.

While he advocates much which we abhor, it is the strength of America that allows him to express himself without fear of repercussion. That is why we are still the envy of the world.

It’s time to start effectively dealing with Iran–politically, diplomatically, economically, and yes, if necessary, militarily. For that to happen, we need to act like grown-ups and dispense with second-grade games that make Khrushchev’s shoe-banging outburst look respectable.

The United States should run from no one, least of all Mr. Ahmadinejad. In the words of FDR, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

 

 

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Scares U.S. ?

Dennis Gannon — Govt. Work Meant $5 Million For The Day

Dennis Gannon, the former president of the Chicago Federation of Labor who works for a hedge fund, is getting paid a  $158,000 pension by the City of Chicago for a day’s work in 1994. The city hired him for a sanitation job then granted him leave to do his union duties. Now he’s “retired” and collecting.

The package is estimated to be worth $5 million.

Hat tip Tom C.


Dennis Gannon == Govt. Work Meant $5 Million For The Day

 

Tea Partyers Haven’t Forgotten HB 42

The first meeting of the season of the Delaware County Patriots, tonight, Sept. 22, brought about 80 persons to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Newtown Square to hear Leo Knepper of Heritage Action for America-PA describe how the Pennsylvania’s Republican congressmen are no where near as fiscally conservative as is commonly thought,  and the inspiringly enthusiastic Jenn Stefano of American Prosperity Pa explain how it easy it is to win committee seats.

Mrs. Stefano, at the end of her talk, got pledges from a dozen-plus participants to run for the unheralded but important office.

Knepper singled out for special criticism Congressman Pat Meehan, whose 7th District includes Newtown Square. He said Meehan only scored a 48 percent on the Heritage Action Scorecard which charts the votes legislators make as whether they advance or detract from the cause of commonsense conservatism.

“On the big issues, he’s been there, but on the small issues he’s been dropping the ball” Knepper said.

Knepper gave an example as to how Meehan voted against a seemingly uncontroversial bill that would have cut farm subsidies to $250,000 and restrict them to actual farmers rather than seekers of tax breaks.

Knepper said the only members of Pennsylvania’s delegation to score at least an 80 on the score card were Congressman Joe Pitts of the 16th District and Sen. Pat Toomey. No other Republicans scored above a 60 he said.

Knepper said that the United States has reached the point where the debt equals the entire gross domestic product.

“We are going to collapse if we keep going at this rate,” he said.

Mrs. Stefano said time for talking was over and it was now up to Tea Partyers to start doing the walking, namely by running for office, specifically committee seats. Local committee people run at the precinct level and are the ones who pick the leaders of the established parties and write the party bylaws. 

It requires 10 signatures to get on the ballot, Mrs. Stefano said.

Republican bylaws require that each precinct be represented by a man and a woman. Often this office is unfilled.

Failing to get involved is a mark of shame, Mrs. Stefano said.

“You cannot say you are a patriot. Our children and grandchildren will have to pick up arms and fight and die for the things we gave away,” she passionately said.

Mrs. Stefano singled out Delco Patriot Lisa Esler for special praise.

“Politicians are afraid of her,” she said.

After the speakers, it was announced that the Delco Patriots were signing onto a push to get HB 42 to a vote in Harrisburg.

HB 42 is the proposed state law that would undermine much of ObamaCare in Pennsylvania.  It has been bottled up in the House Appropriation Committee since Feb. 8.

The committee is chaired by Bill Adolph of Springfield who represents the 165th District.

Adolph indicated to the Patriots on May 19 that there would be a vote on the bill before the end of the year.

Obama’s Obit May Be A Tad Premature

Obama’s Obit By Chris Freind

Despite scandal and a stagnant economy, he was surging in the polls as the election neared. Against the odds, he had gained enough momentum that victory was within his grasp. But in the span of one televised debate, a gaffe sealed his fate. Gerald Ford, president of the United States at the height of the Cold War, adamantly stated that the countries in Eastern Europe were free of Soviet domination. Ballgame over. (But there was a silver lining. Had Ford won, Ronald Wilson Reagan would never have been president).

In 1972, Democratic Senator Edmund Muskie’s campaign for the presidency immediately imploded when he cried during a speech in front of the offices of Manchester’s Union Leader, claiming that the paper’s editor unfairly criticized his wife.

And in 1967, a leading Republican presidential contender saw his hopes crushed after saying he was “brainwashed” into supporting the Vietnam War. The otherwise very smart man who said that? George Romney, father of current candidate Mitt.

The point? At any given time, especially in the world of 24/7 news coverage, a major gaffe can sink an otherwise strong candidate. So the fact that many Republicans are already writing President Obama’s political obituary a year out from what will be a close election is not just naive, but political stupidity.

And it will be a close election.

In addition to the billion-dollar war chest the President will have, the most important aspect that commentators and politicians are missing is that the popular vote–and by extension most polls–are meaningless.

The only thing that matters is getting 270 electoral votes, and Obama already has, at a minimum, 164. And when you add the states he will likely win, including electoral prize Pennsylvania, which hasn’t voted Republican in 24 years, that number rises to 224–just 46 shy of victory.

Is the President’s road difficult? Absolutely. The economy is in shambles with no possibility of a recovery until an energy policy is instituted, and that simply isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Bank failures continue, homes are still being foreclosed at an alarming rate, inflation is rising, and companies not only aren’t hiring (let alone expanding), but are shedding jobs and closing doors. Merck is laying off 13,000, while Bank of America is jettisoning 30,000–and that’s just two companies. Job loss and uncertainty are so commonplace now that the nine percent unemployment rate has become the new norm. America is fast becoming a suburb of France.

And that doesn’t bode well for an incumbent.

So while it is a good bet that Obama will not be re-elected, the “put-it-in-the-bank” GOP mentality can only work to the President’s advantage. A look at the recent special election for disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner’s seat in New York City tells the story.

A Republican won the seat for the first time since 1920. Impressive? Yes. Good for the President’s party? No. A harbinger of Obama’s re-election chances? Absolutely not. But the long-lasting impact of the GOP win? Zero.

For the very few able to step outside of the ridiculous spin zone, a few things are obvious about that race:
1) The Republican winner will either be bounced out next year, or will be re-districted out of Congress.
2) Does anyone really think Congressman Bob Turner, while good for the Republican caucus’ organizational votes, will vote as a true Republican in an extremely liberal district?
3) Voters knew the world was watching, and many voted Republican as a public rebuke to Weiner’s extremely salacious behavior. They did their job, but it will be back to business as usual next year.
4) Many of the Jewish voters wanted to send the President a message that they were displeased over his position regarding Israel. But does anyone really believe they will abandon the President in the general election? Not a chance. Yet some political insiders have even suggested that the state of New York might be in play electorally (as well as states like Maryland). That thinking is just so out there that I can’t even come up with an appropriate sarcastic response. Optimism is great, but what’s next? The Iranians holding hands and singing “Kumbaya” with us? Entertaining as it is, let’s stick with reality.
5) The Democratic candidate was a boring, uninspiring hack. Which leads us to the next principle in politics: It usually helps to have good candidates.

Barack Obama has certainly not been an effective or popular president. His policies of Big Government are based on academic theories that simply do not work in the real world, especially in a market-driven economy. His advisers don’t have a clue, and the administration keeps going back to the same old playbook that never worked particularly well. The results (although not all his fault) speak for themselves.

That said, he is a great campaigner. And make no mistake. Running for president and being president are two totally different things.

While Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry are formidable challengers, neither has been battle-tested in the fire of a presidential general election. Maybe it will be enough in 2012 for candidates just to have an “R” next to their names. Sometimes that is all that’s needed, but that should never be a strategy, and is no guarantee for success.

For proof, look at the 2010 election–the largest Republican tidal wave since 1946. Delaware’s Christine O’Donnell got be-witched in a lopsided loss, Nevada’s Sharron Angle lost to the unpopular Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, despite the state having the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and Alaska’s Joe Miller lost to incumbent Lisa Murkowski in the general election–by a write-in campaign. All three were bad candidates, and none of the races was close.

Trite as it sounds, Republicans would be wise to focus on the issues, ignore the spin and stop deluding themselves that 2012 will be a walk in the park. An example of how fickle the political winds are? Just four months ago, in another New York special election, the Democrats won a long-held Republican seat. In full spin mode, the Dems declared it a monumental setback for the Republicans and a validation of the President’s vision.

That spin was wrong too.

What these last several election cycles show is that voters, more volatile than ever, are fed up with scandal, bickering and meaningless 30-second sound bites. They want vision. They want solutions. They want action. And they will reward whomever can best articulate their ideas in a bold, commonsense way–and kick out those who don’t.

Bottom line: While current conditions certainly favor the Republicans, it is entirely too early to put 2012 in the record books for the GOP. To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the President’s political death are greatly exaggerated. If the GOP refuses to recognize that, they do so at their own peril.