Is it time for a US Shadow Cabinet?

Is it time for a US Shadow Cabinet?

By Bob Small

The Shadow Cabinet is a long-standing concept in the UK and Canada. In the UK it goes back as far as 1915.

The Shadow Cabinet though it can be traced back to 1836 and Sir Robert Peel Robert Peel. , founder of the London Metropolitan Police, knowledge for those of you addicted to British mysteries.

In the US it’s now being championed by Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC).

He says “We have to say what we’re for, and that’s what’s really behind this idea, to get folks there to counter every cabinet agency, every position that Trump appoints.”

He mentioned that the Shadow Cabinet from the out-of-power party which mirrors the government party’s cabinet members. He added “They watch the Cabinet closely, publicly challenging, scrutinizing and offering new ideas,” Nickel said in his op-ed. “It’s democracy’s insurance policy.”

We’re not saying that Democrats are necessarily bad losers but Wiley has suggested this initiative in print and on various media.

He posits that “New times require new solutions.” He clearly adds that the Dems need to make clear what they stand for “something we didn’t do enough this election cycle.”. Lastly, as he says “With a shadow cabinet, there is no hiding.”

“This is about putting a point person for advocacy groups, for the public, a lead messenger ‘we need to organize our opposition,” he says.

This is not the first iteration of this concept. An article in 2017 says shadow cabinets get public money to hire researchers and develop policy and time in Parliament to rebut government statements. Previously, one Mark Green is mentioned as organizing a previous “shadow cabinet” but there’s scant further information on this except in his Wikipedia article (see above). See Shadow congressperson for a previous history and for a “bias analysis”, see Democrats propose ‘shadow government’ to oppose …

Anyone for a “shadow” Delaware County Council? Just asking.

Is it time for a US Shadow Cabinet?

Good shepherd William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-9-24

Good shepherd William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-9-24

R czkkcv kff crkv zj dlty kff crkv.
Rdviztre Wfcb Jrpzex

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15

Good shepherd William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-9-24
Good shepherd William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-9-19

Japanese naval officers William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-8-24

Japanese naval officers William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-8-24

Y qc jxu weet ixufxuht. Y adem co emd qdt co emd adem cu, zkij qi jxu Vqjxuh ademi cu qdt Y adem jxu Vqjxuh; qdt Y bqo temd co byvu veh jxu ixuuf.
Zexd 10:14-15
Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: Japanese naval officers in dress whites are frequent guests at Pearl Harbor’s officers’ mess and are very polite. They always were. Except, of course, for that little interval there between 1941 and 1945.
William Manchester

Japanese naval officers William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-8
Japanese naval officers William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-8-19

GOP Upstart Upsets Incumbent in 8th CD

GOP Upstart Upsets Incumbent in 8th CD

By Bob Small

In Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District GOP challenger Rob Bresnahan, a businessman with no political experience upset Democrat Matt Cartwright, who had a decade in Congress. The tally was 195,663 votes or 50.8 percent to 189,411 or 49.2 percent.

Bresnahan said “I am eager to work for our district,. I give my word that as their congressman, there will be no R or D next to my name, only N-E-P-A.”

Rob Bresnahan joined his grandfather’s electrical business, Kuharchik Construction.

He became CEO in 2019, after graduating the University of Scranton. In 2023, Bresnahan partnered Kuharchik Construction with Midwestern Electric near Chicago. He founded RPB Ventures to re-vitalize his communities.

He is engaged to Chelsea Strub, a news anchor at WNEP-TV.

Matt Cartwright his decade, introduced more bills with Democrat and Republican support than any House democrat. He was named “Bipartisan Champion:” by the Common Ground Committee.

He earned his JD from the University of Pennsylvania’s Law School in 1986. He and his wife Marion have two sons.

Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District is composed of all of Lackawanna, Pike and Wayne counties and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties. Peter H Kostmeyer (D) served almost 15 years, though not all consecutively (1977-81, 1983-93).

Similarly, Mike Fitzpatrick (2005-07 and 2011-17), followed by his younger brother Brian Fitzpattrick (2017-19), all GOP. In between them was a Democrat, one Patrick Murphy (2007-11).

Obviously, it was not always in NEPA.

But the one Representative who should still be remembered was anti-slavery firebrand Thaddeus Stevens. Though he only served for four years, 1849-53, this Whig, he became a leader of what became known as “the Radical Republicans”. See Thaddeus Stevens for more, including his role in the attempted impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.

Back then, to be called a “Radical Republican” might be considered an honor. Now?

GOP Upstart Upsets Incumbent in 8th CD

GOP Upstart Upsets Incumbent in 8th CD

Wild Upset In CD 7

Wild Upset In CD 7

By Bob Small

Pennsylvania Congressional District 7 had one of the two races where an incumbent lost. Pennsylvania has 17 Representatives and few of them were in close races. Despite raising more than four times Wild, Cartwright concede as GOP picks up two seats in Pa. . than State Rep. Ryan Mckenzie (R-Lehigh), Susan Wild lost 50.7% to 49.3%. The vote count ended up McKenzie 203,688 to Wild’s 199,626.

In her concession speech, Wild said”This is how American democracy works. It’s how we move forward. “ She went on to list the issues important to her, such as affordable health care, women’s rights and workers rights.

More than $27 million was spent on this race making it the seventh most expensive congressional race. Mackenzie had the help of Donald Trump, who campaigned for him.

Mackenzie has his masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He has completed other programs at the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government and the U S Army War College, among others.

He and his wife Chloe live in Lower Macungie Township with a newborn son and a hound dog rescue named Ruckus. Huis mother is State Rep. Milou Mackenzie Ryan Mackenzie (R-131) and they became the first mother-son duo to serve simultaneously in the Pennsylvania House.

Susan Wild was the first woman to represent the 7th District. She lost her long-time partner to suicide in May 2019 and, subsequently became an advocate for both mental health and suicide prevention, She has two children, Adrian and Clay.

This was previously a Delaware County district and was represented by Bob Edgar (12 years) , Curt Weldon (20), along with Joe Sestak, Mary Gay Scanlon and Pat Meehan Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district

See also these articles on the previous iteration of CD 7:

This is the best explanation of gerrymandering you will …

Goofy Kicking Donald Duck Voting District Shows Extreme …

For more information on Curt Weldon, including an upcoming Documentary, see Curt Weldon: Homepage

Wild Upset In CD 7

Wild Upset In CD 7

Perfect gift William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-7-24

Perfect gift William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-7-24

Wncnarfr aniny bssvpref va qerff juvgrf ner serdhrag thrfgf ng Crney Uneobe’f bssvpref’ zrff naq ner irel cbyvgr. Gurl nyjnlf jrer. Rkprcg, bs pbhefr, sbe gung yvggyr vagreiny gurer orgjrra 1941 naq 1945.
Jvyyvnz Znapurfgre

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.
St. Nicholas of Myra

Perfect gift William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-7
Perfect gift William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-7-19

Prison More Expensive And Dangerous Under Delco Control

Prison More Expensive And Dangerous Under Delco Control — George W. Hill Prison is a major reason for Delaware County’s (Pa.) looming 23.8 percent tax hike and was a subject at the Dec. 4, Council meeting.

The county took over the prison  from GEO Group in April 2022 and hired Laura Williams as warden.

The choice was puzzling as her previous job had been as as chief deputy warden at Allegheny County Jail where she was the subject of numerous complaints, and she only started her career in corrections in 2014 as a substance abuse counselor.

Anyway, since the county took over and her tenure started, Hill has been a place of turmoil and a money pit.

Delco is now spending $13 million more for George W. Hill Prison despite having a third fewer inmates.

Inmates have died horrific deaths and those tasked with watching them are demoralized.

Last night, Kimberly Brown of Colwyn, an outspoken caseworker at the facility, said the turnover is unreal and the county doesn’t care.

Several major positions are unfilled. She said the majority of inmates are not from Delco.

She said it’s freezing in the jail and bathrooms barely work due to low water pressure.

Ms. Brown often appears before Council. She says every time she speaks she is called into administration and grilled by a lawyer.

Also speaking was Al Johnson of Morton, a correctional service officer at Hill. He confirmed Ms. Brown’s claim that retaliation is routinely practiced against whistleblowers and that he has been subject to it.

This did not stop him from criticizing Ms. Williams, however. He said contract negotiations with her went nowhere for two-and-a-half years until County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley became involved. He said in about five months about three-quarters of the issues have been settled, thanks to her.

Maybe the most concerning thing in Johnson’s three minutes — see here starting at 3:25 — was an implication that Ms. Williams was in an inappropriate relationship with Councilman Kevin Madden.

Madden is Council’s prison liasion.

“Do you know (Warden Williams) recently had us sign papers to let you know who’s involved in a relationship?” Johnson said. “So after two and a half years after the county has come in now they’re worried about who is in a relationship with who. So I’m wondering if Mr. Madden and the Warden got that same paper. I’m wondering if the deputy warden got that paper as well.”

He said Council has given the Warden has “full immunity to do whatever she wants around here.”

“But we’re suffering. We are stressed beyond stressed and we are getting no relief from leadership,” shouted Johnson. “As a matter of fact she is tightening the noose harder around our neck. When are you guys going to get involved with this situation and say enough is enough.”

A similar point was made by Tevin Dix of Haverford, a few speakers earlier. While Dix’s comments appear to have been cut from the official video, they can be found on Facebook.

Prison More Expensive And Dangerous Under Delco Control

Maturity William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-6-24

Maturity William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-6-24

Ftq suhqd ar qhqdk saap mzp bqdrqof surf tme omxxqp gbaz ge fa yuyuo Sape suhuzs, nk sdmoq, ftdagst rmuft, mzp ftue ue zaf ar agdeqxhqe.

Ef. Zuotaxme ar Ykdm

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had, and what you’ve learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
Anonymous

Maturity William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-6
Maturity William Lawrence Sr Cryptowit 12-6-19

Delco Is Sanctuary For Illegals; No Longer In Doubt

Delco Is Sanctuary For Illegals; No Longer In Doubt — The looming 23.8 percent tax hike was the big story from last night’s, Dec. 4, meeting of Delaware County (Pa.) Council but all doubt ended that the place had become a sanctuary for illegals.

Council members led by Christine Reuther have been shrilly denying the claim as recently as October.

Last night, however, Tom Flocco of Media forced Council to the reality that Chester was used as a major human trafficking hub.

Further, Mia Tiernan DeJohn of Springfield described how an car driven by an illegal struck her vehicle and escaped all charges.

Ms. DeJohn said she emailed all County Council members requesting the dockets showing the prosecutions of illegals. The only response she got, she said, was from Ms. Reuther who said she just wasn’t going to get them.

Ms. DeJohn’s story mirrors that of Sharon Devaney who has been speaking at Council meetings about what happened to her in 2017.

Like Ms. DeJohn, Ms. Devaney testimony was dismissed by councilmembers, namely Ms. Reuther. Ms. Devaney suffered permanent injuries from her accident, unlike Ms. deJohn.

Ms. Devaney also spoke last night. See her at the 3:15:09 mark. She said that since she made illegals in Delco a cause she has had her cell phone tampered and car tracked.

Ms. Devaney praised Councilman Richard R. Womack for showing empathy, and asked that partisanship be put aside in solving the county’s problems.

She said the county Republicans gave only lukewarm support to its congressional candidate Alfe Goodwin because she showed independence.

A Broomall woman also described her journey from Democrat to Republican to “Uniparty” skeptic. She said that taxes are killing them and that the schools are leading the young to a very dark place. She asked that the Nativity scene be returned to the Rose Tree Park Christmas display.

Kaylee, a young woman from Newtown Square, also asked that the traditional Nativity scene be returned to Rose Tree Park. She sang a short, beautiful Christmas hymn.

Delco Is Sanctuary For Illegals; No Longer In Doubt

Delco Hears Revenue Plans From Citizens

Delco Hears Revenue Plans From Citizens — The crushing tax hike that looms for Delaware County, Pa. residents caused some to air at last night’s., Dec. 4, Council meeting plans tor raise money.

The most direct was the sale of the county-owned Delcora water authority to Aqua, which has evolved into a huge multi-state corporation known as Essential Utilities.

The Aqua subsidiary has offered $276 million for Delcora.

Aqua employees Charlie from Springfield and John from Newtown Square exhorted Council to sell the authority and use the money to balance the budget.

Brian from Aston and a woman spoke out against the sale saying the rates would skyrocket when Aqua took over.

Councilwoman Elaine Schaeffer also spoke out against the sale citing the same reason.

Gary Ryder of Marple said the county could use its parks for revenue by hosting car shows and fireworks displays.

Joe Finio of Marple said he didn’t want Delco Woods to cause anyone to lose their homes and said he was willing to support public/partnerships for the developed part of the property.

Delco Hears Revenue Plans From Citizens

Delco Hears Revenue Plans From Citizens