Bob Kerns today dropped a letter declaring his candidacy for County Chairman.
(Download the pdf here.)
Bob has both my admiration and undying support.
Good luck, Bob.
B.
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Friday, February 29, 2008
Kerns Declares!
Castor: Matthews Can't Be Trusted Again
Bruce Castor was, by all accounts, the extremely effective District Attorney of Montgomery County. When the ailing Republican Party came calling for Mr. Castor to run for county commissioner and save the GOP, he obliged. The strategy was successful, as Mr. Castor was the top vote getter and undeniably lifted running mate Jim Matthews to victory, ensuring continued Republican leadership in the county.
Except that it didn't happen that way.
In a stunning move, Mr. Matthews cut a deal with Democratic Commissioner Joe Hoeffel to gain control, effectively marginalizing Mr. Castor.
The dust has settled since the power play became official last month. Bruce Castor now opens up to "Freindly Fire," discussing the controversy then and now, and contemplates the future of Montgomery County, the GOP - and himself.
Read the full interview here. Read Full Text/Comments
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Rick Santorum on Barack Obama
The Elephant in the Room: Obama: A harsh ideologue hidden by a feel-good image
American voters will choose between two candidates this election year.One inspires hope for a brighter, better tomorrow. His rhetoric makes us feel we are, indeed, one nation indivisible - indivisible by ideology or religion, indivisible by race or creed. It is rhetoric of hope and change and possibility. It's inspiring. This candidate can make you just plain feel good to be American.
The other candidate, by contrast, is one of the Senate's fiercest partisans. This senator reflexively sides with the party's extreme wing. There's no record of working with the other side of the aisle. None. It's basically been my way or the highway, combined with a sanctimoniousness that breeds contempt among those on the other side of any issue.
Which of these two candidates should be our next president? The choice is clear, right?
Wrong, because they're both the same man - Barack Obama.
Click here to read the rest of Santorum's take on Obama from the Philadelphia Inquirer Read Full Text/CommentsAmoore Considers Chairman Run
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Two Notable Deaths
Miles died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his home in Austin, Texas, according to an announcement on his website.
A massive man with a distinctive, sculpted afro, Miles hit his peak of popularity when he joined Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox to form Hendrix's Band of Gypsys, which the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll called "the first black rock group." Miles had played with Hendrix on the guitarist's influential "Electric Ladyland" album released in 1968.
read more here.
(ed. note: This is a sad day for rock and roll fans everywhere. As a Jimi Hendrix fan, I am deeply saddened at the passing of this great pioneer and entertainer.)
William F. Buckley Jr., the columnist, novelist, television talk show host and tireless intellectual who founded the modern conservative movement and was its articulate voice for nearly six decades, died Wednesday. He was 82.
Buckley, who had been ill with emphysema, died while at work in his study in Stamford, Conn., according to Richard Lowry, the editor of National Review, the magazine Buckley founded in 1955.
An urbane pundit with a lacerating wit, Buckley was the intellectual heart of American political conservatism in the 1960s and '70s. His ardent friends and admirers came to include a California governor,
"It's not lonely the way it was 45 years ago," Buckley said in an interview with The Times a few years ago, "when there was really nothing, certainly no journal of opinion on conservative thought. There are tons of people here now."
"Without Bill, there'd be no conservatism as we know it today," said Lowry. "One of his earliest achievements was to forge this coalition of social conservatives, national security hawks and economic libertarians. That became the conservative coalition, and there would not be one today without it.
Read more here. Read Full Text/Comments
PA Budget Out of Control
Am I reading this right?
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine wants to cut state spending by $500 million? Is that allowed? Isn't there a law that says government has to spend more every year?
[...]
Over in Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell is still pushing for a $1.13 billion increase in state spending for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2008. Rendell also wants to increase the state's debt ceiling to $3.15 billion so he can borrow more money to spend on his pet projects.
Since Rendell, a liberal Democrat, took office in January 2003, state spending has increased by $7.08 billion.
Click here for the rest of the story.
And "Fast Eddie" wants to give my tax dollars away to people who've never paid any taxes? That's like giving someone an "A" on a test they've never taken.
Ponderous...simply ponderous!
B. Read Full Text/Comments
MCDC Undecided?
I can almost predict the speech: "I was with Barack before I was against Hillary...er...I was against Hillary before I was against Obama...er...I mean..."
(Photo courtesy of James C. Saring)
By the way, another milestone: This is my 100th post since I started the blog, over a month ago. Thanks to all for your support!
B.
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A List of Favorite Entries
Dear Readers,
A recent comment posted to the blog asked me to make permanent links to several of my blog entries.
What I've decided to do is this. I will post this entry and place a link called "Writemarsh's Most Wanted" on the sidebar. If you feel a column should be on the list, post a comment and I will update the post as new links are requested. The link will be permanent.
B.
Important Dates to Remember
Kerns Declares!
Redistricting PA...
Ladies and Gentlemen...(editor's choice)
Lower Merion/Narberth Lincoln Day Dinner
Candidate Questionnaire
Guest Column: The Republican Revolution!
A Link From GrassrootsPA
Another Great Comment That Deserves it's own Post
The Davis Phone Message
Another Great Comment That Deserves It's Own Post:...
Wow! What a Firestorm!
War Of Words
About "Comments"
King James Sighting
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Candidate Questionnaire, Revisited
Marc Perry, the Republican challenger for the 7th Senatorial district did email me back to say that he was, indeed, going to participate.
Other than that, bubkus.
The Wednesday deadline is looming...
Story developing...
[UPDATE: It's now 1:23 p.m. on Wenesday...still no responses] Read Full Text/Comments
Obama In Turban and Robes,
From the Drudge Report:
Democratic Hopeful Barack Hussein Obama Dons Turban and Robes, Says Drudge Report Story:CLINTON STAFFERS CIRCULATE 'DRESSED' OBAMA
Mon Feb 25 2008 06:51:00 ET
With a week to go until the Texas and Ohio primaries, stressed Clinton staffers circulated a photo over the weekend of a "dressed" Barack Obama.
The photo, taken in 2006, shows the Democrat frontrunner fitted as a Somali Elder, during his visit to Wajir, a rural area in northeastern Kenya.
The senator was on a five-country tour of Africa.
"Wouldn't we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were HRC?" questioned one campaign staffer, in an email obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT.
In December, the campaign asked one of its volunteer county coordinators in Iowa to step down after the person forwarded an e-mail falsely stating that Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe quickly accused the Clinton campaign Monday of 'shameful offensive fear-mongering' for circulating the snap.
Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams responds: "If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed."
Developing...
[DRUDGE EDITOR'S NOTE: Other leaders have worn local costumes:]
Lord help us if we elect either of these boobs! Read Full Text/Comments
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Food for Thought
My Ex-Father-in-Law (long story) sent this "parable" to me today. I thought it was well worth posting on my blog.
My apologies to the author of this piece-if I ever find out who he or she is, I'd like to give them full credit and buy them a beer!
How to Catch a Wild Pig
There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the professor noticed one young man (an exchange student) who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, ' Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of social programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income [ed note: thanks Gov. Rendell!], tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, free medical, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms - just a little at a time.
One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free lunch! Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.
Also, if you see that all of this government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this blog on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably vote for either the Hildebeast or Mr. Change, and not be reading my blog!
B.(e ever vigilant!)
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Recommended By MAS
I was driving home from work this morning, listening to Michael Smerconish, as I always do. I absolutely love his honesty, integrity and his fairness (not to mention his books).
Michael recommended a column in the Aspen Sun Times opinion section as his "must read of the day". Michael's web site is: www.mastalk.com
I'm not sure if this Hubbell guy is being tongue in cheek about this or if he is serious, but he does seem to have a chip on his shoulder about this subject.
Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.
In election 2008, don’t forget Angry White Man
Gary Hubbell
February 9, 2008
There is a great amount of interest in this year’s presidential elections, as everybody seems to recognize that our next president has to be a lot better than George Bush. The Democrats are riding high with two groundbreaking candidates — a woman and an African-American — while the conservative Republicans are in a quandary about their party’s nod to a quasi-liberal maverick, John McCain.
Each candidate is carefully pandering to a smorgasbord of special-interest groups, ranging from gay, lesbian and transgender people to children of illegal immigrants to working mothers to evangelical Christians.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
Read the rest here.
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The Endorsement for the 13th Congressional District Unanimous
Abington Attorney Marina Kats Victorious over Falgoust
It was bound to happen sooner or later. A candidate allied with Jim Matthews and a candidate allied with Bruce Castor faced off for the 13th congressional district endorsement.
Abington attorney Marina Kats, a Castor confidant, defeated Upper Moreland GOP Chair Lee Falgoust, an ally of GOP Chairman Ken Davis and Jim Matthews, by a vote of 181 to 78-winning by more than 2 to 1–to capture the Republican endorsement for PA's 13th Congressional district currently held by Allyson Schwartz.
A second vote made the decision "unanimous" and Falgoust withdrew from the race.
Both candidates spoke for about ten minutes. Falgoust emphasized traditional GOP values and invoked the name of Ronald Reagan several times. He lampooned "Allyson's Wonderland" referring to Schwartz's record in Congress. Kats discussed her upbringing and emigration to the U.S. at the age of sixteen. Both candidates are lifelong Republicans and both speeches were well received.
Kats invoked Castor's name and that of his successor, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, both of whom were backing the Kats candidacy. Castor served as the official observer of the count on Kats behalf as ballots were tallied. Former Prothonotary Bill Donnelly did the watching for Falgoust. Donnelly and Falgoust are both part of the same GOP "Area" encompassing the Hatboro-Horsham, Lower Moreland and Upper Moreland school districts.
The vote was of particular note because the 13th Congressional portion of Montgomery County was considered a very strong area for Matthews before. His support has slipped considerably since his betrayal of the GOP majority.
This bodes well for the chairman candidacy of Bob Kerns, who is backed by Castor and casts a cloud over Jim Vlahos, the Pottstown GOP leader who is challenging Kerns and enjoys the support of Matthews.
Although I live in the 6th congressional district section of Whitemarsh Township, I have a vested interest in our township as a whole. I would like to congratulate Marina Kats on her victory and offer my most sincere wishes for a great campaign and a victory in November!
Udači, Marina!
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Telling Stories from ‘Stories’
| By STAN B. HUSKEY | |
 Fact or fiction? Sometimes it’s hard to determine one from the other. Sometimes the media pushes something so much you begin to believe it. Sometimes folklore is passed along from one generation to the next until what was once just a rumor from days gone is now a story to be believed. You can find stories everywhere these days. Back in the day, your “stories” were the afternoon soaps. When I was growing up, a “story” was a lie. “Don’t go telling stories,” my mom would say. But, kids will be kids, and a little white lie was going to come out every now and then. Unfortunately for me, Mom always knew when I wasn’t telling the truth. Can we be as certain about what we find on the Internet these days?
I get so tired of hearing about the demise of the newspaper, especially since it is usually followed with some inane fact about how the Internet is making us obsolete. This is a preview of a great column by Times Herald Executive Editor, Stan Huskey. Read the rest here. B. |
Your Roots Are Where You Plant Them
This afternoon, I was perusing some of the other blogs from around our state, getting a feel for what was to come in the ensuing week.
Much to my surprise, I found a weblog about the Kensington section of Philadelphia.
Why did this surprise me? I had no idea that "kenso's" were that technologically advanced.
Nah, I just never even thought that anybody would blog about my home "nabe" Kensington. Yeah, that's right, I'm from "Kayenay".
It was a pretty tough neighborhood, even back then. I'd say that, over the years, I had about 20, 30,000 fights, with about 29, 988 of them with my oldest friend and most notorious instigant, Marc Smyth. We fought just to break up the boredom. We fought over who would go first (I always wanted to go first, as Marc was a naturally wiry guy and was great at everything...I was this pudgy, uncoordinated boob...you get the picture), we fought over who met who first (we were about 4 years old, for crissakes), we fought over girls, we fought over who won the last fight.
Nobody ever popped a cap in the winner.
I'm waxing nostalgic, because I do miss the old neighborhood. I had a great childhood growing up on the tough streets of Kensington, where my parents (who are still together and will celebrate their 47th or 48th wedding anniversary this year) planted their roots, and still thrive.
We played hard, fought hard, and prayed hard. The times were simpler, safer and more people cared about what happened to you than just your family.
If you broke a bottle (a cardinal sin) at "F" and Cornwall Streets, you could rest assured that your mom knew about it by time you traveled the 8 or 9 blocks to get home at "G" and Tioga. If you fell and tore open your knee, the closest "mom" to you at the time would put mecurachrome and a band-aid on it and send you home. You had a network of "moms" throughout the neighborhood who looked after all of the kids. If you smoked, you did it in an alley for fear of getting caught.
The alleys are another thing...they were your alternate route, if you were late and needed a short cut. Now, they are all locked down for fear of break-ins.
While my mom and dad planted their roots firmly in Kensington, the seeds of their marriage have blown all over the region and into another state. I have a sister in Port Richmond, one in the "Northeast", a brother in Plymouth Meeting, and a sister in Connecticut. When I married Karen, we decided to plant our roots in Whitemarsh.
As I watch them grow, I sometimes feel sorry for the fact that my children will never know what it was like to "run the streets" without fear of bad actors. We left the house right after breakfast, came home for lunch, and left again until dinner time. We never told mom where we were or what we were doing unless we were going off of our "block" or over a friends house. Simpler times. But, times change.
I can only hope that my sons and daughter will someday wax nostalgic about the "good old days" spent growing up here...with the flavor of the suburbs being so different than where I came from, one can only hope.
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Juvenile Offender Program to Continue
Risa Vetri Ferman, District Attorney extrodinaire, will continue the Alternaive Juvenile Punishment Program, initiated by former District Attorney extrodinaire, Bruce L. Castor, Jr.
This program, created by Castor and the county commissioners in the late 1990s, gives youths who commit non-violent offenses a second chance without being formally arrested and will prevent them from getting a juvi record.
Read more here.
Amazing stuff. Kudos to Bruce Castor for creating this program...kudos to Risa Vetri Ferman for continuing the good fight to turn around the youth of our county.
(Now, only if the Reid boys had been juveniles...)
B.
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Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sean Kilkenny: Conflict of Interests
Does Sean Kilkenny, Whitemarsh's new solicitor, have time to give us the very best solicitorship that our tax dollars can buy?
Sean Kilkenny is a professional municipal solicitor. He may have a conflict of interest at some point. Why?
Kilkenny is solicitor for Norristown, Conshohocken, Middletown, Springfield (Montgomery), Hatfield, Lansdale, and Whitemarsh, as well as the Montgomery County Controller's Office.
There will, at times, be a conflict of interest. If there is an instance where Whitemarsh has to sue Springfield (we share a border) then, in reality, Kilkenny has to defend us against himself (as Springfield solicitor)...Huh?
Township supervisors appointed another attorney, Matthew Bradford, to mediate such disputes, at a cost of $175/hour. Double HUH????? I thought Kilkenny was our solicitor.
Let me get this straight. Kilkenny is this super-solocitor, who can be solicitor for 7 municipalities and for the Montgomery County controller. If he has a dispute between Whitemarsh and another township he represents, Whitemarsh residents have to foot the bill for another lawyer? This doesn't seem to compute, to this humble resident.
What about the time factor?
"Bruce Horrocks, assistant township manager for Whitemarsh, estimates that the solicitor will work 27.5 hours a week. The job presumably requires around that many hours of work for municipalities of similar size and budget (Conshohocken Recorder 2/23/2008)."
That's 7 x 27.5=192.5 billed hours per week. (based on a 5 day work week, that equals 38.5 hours per day...heck, even if he worked 7 days, I'd like to know how he finds the 3.5 extra hours a day...triple HUHHHHHH??????????)
(On top of his solicitorships, Kilkenny is also a JAG reservist and Jenkintown Borough Councilman. I admire his military service, but still...where does he find the time?)
Heh...let's run with this...192.5 x $175/hr (let's use the Whitemarsh cost as a baseline) = $33687.50 per week, if he puts in all of the hours"required". That's not including the time he puts in as solicitor for the county controller.
Let's assume that there is a minimum of 48 weeks a year, with vacation and holidays factored in. That's $33687.50 x 48= $1,617,000/per year.
Kilkenny cannot possibly be giving the people of the townships he serves the very best that their tax dollars can buy. He's way too overextended in his responsibilities. Whitemarsh Township fired Neil Stein to hire this political appointee.
In actuality, although Kilkenny is the solicitor for a number of municipalities (and the controller's office), he will not do all of the work himself. He will get help from several lawyers in his municipal law department at his Elkins Park-based law firm, Friedman Schuman. This is unacceptable. The solicitor for each and every township and borough listed above is Sean Kilkenny. We're (collectively) not getting Sean Kilkenny.
Whitemarsh should pay the extra $20.00 per hour and rehire Neil Stein. At lease Neil Stein worked for Whitemarsh. We never had to settle for second (or third, fourth or fifth) best. Read Full Text/Comments
Controller Asks County to Return $785,000
Money for technology upgrades was put into general fund.
Montgomery County's controller announced Thursday her office has concluded its investigation into why $785,000 intended to pay for technology upgrades was moved into the county general fund last year and has asked that the money be returned.
Controller Diane Morgan said the office ''matched up all the invoices to payments.''
''There is no missing funds,'' Morgan said.
But she requested, at the direction of the office's solicitor, that the funds be returned to the discretionary accounts set up by the clerk of courts and prothonotary offices.
''It is illegal for us to keep it in the general fund,'' Morgan said.
When she took office in January, Morgan, a Democrat, discovered the prothonotary removed $585,000 from its discretionary account into the county general fund.
The clerk of courts also moved $200,000 from its account, which also was set up for technology upgrades, into the general fund.
Both row officers made the moves a few weeks before Democrats were scheduled to take over the positions.
Morgan began investigating the fund transfer after she couldn't find a contract or an invoice to explain it.
Republican county Commissioners Chairman Jim Matthews and Democratic Commissioner Joe Hoeffel agreed to return the money, but commissioners put off voting on the matter because Commissioner Bruce Castor wanted to learn why the solicitor recommended the funds be returned.
''It is appropriate to put the funds back in the automation fund,'' county solicitor Barry Miller said.
Castor said he wanted to review the statutes that led to their conclusion.
The funds set up by court clerk and prothonotary is generated from fees charged by their offices. The funds are to be used to enhance automation or technology in those departments.
Melissa Busch is a freelance writer
For another point of view on this, check out the story in The Evening Bulletin
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GOP Rips Matthews in Letter
Peggy Gibbons take on the Clement/Sander Letter:
DEFEATED ROW OFFICE CANDIDATES
ACCUSE CHAIRMAN OF BETRAYING THEM By MARGARET GIBBONS, For The Reporter
Two defeated Republican Montgomery County row office candidates in last year’s elections have accused county Commissioners Chairman James R. Matthews of betraying them and the bonds that they share as veterans of the U.S. armed services.
Matthews, a Republican and a U.S. Navy veteran, reneged on an alleged commitment to the pair to jointly reach out to the county’s 60,000-plus veterans to bolster their candidacies, according to a letter sent out this week by Robert J. Sander and Dr. Gordon S. Clement to GOP committee members.
Sander, a county prosecutor and a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, lost his bid to become county controller by 4,818 votes.
Democrat Diane Morgan received 76,490 votes (51.62 percent0 to Sander’s 71,672 votes (48.27 percent).
Clement, a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve officer, was edged by Democrat Dr. Walter I. Hofman in their battle for county coroner, with Hofman winning 74,777 votes (50.17 percent) to Clement’s 74,240 votes (49.81 percent).
The pair was among the five Republican row office candidates to suffer unprecedented defeats by Democrats at the same time as the head of the GOP ticket, commissioner candidates Matthews and Bruce L. Castor Jr., won election.
In the letter, Clement and Sander said the entire GOP slate of candidates had agreed to run as a team.
Also, realizing the importance of the county’s veterans’ votes, the pair said they met with Matthews and planned a strategy to reach out together to veterans “with whom we all shared a natural bond based on our military service.”
The pair subsequently learned in September that Matthews had done extensive outreach and mailings to veterans that excluded both Sander and Clement.
“Jim made a pledge to us personally (not Bruce and not the team) that we would work on this area together,” Sander and Clement state in their letter. “Jim broke his word to both of us.”
Matthews declined comment, explaining he had not yet seen the letter.
Sander said the three-page letter sent out by Clement and himself was designed to “clear up some false statements and untruths” allegedly contained in a letter that Matthews sent out to the GOP foot soldiers early this month to explain his unprecedented power-sharing pact with Democratic Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III.
That arrangement resulted in Hoeffel serving as vice chairman of the commissioners, a position never previously held by Democrats, in exchange for Hoeffel’s vote to make Matthews chairman of the three-member board.
As a result of this arrangement, Castor is the odd man out even though his party won the two majority seats on the board.
Matthews, in his letter, attributes the defeat of five of the party’s nine row candidates to them blindly following Castor, who was at odds with the party’s leadership, and spurn the assistance of the county GOP organization in their elections.
Sander and Clement said that each of the row office candidates made contributions to the county GOP and attended party events but that the entire slate, including Matthews, had believed it was better for them all to campaign as one united group.
No one worked harder to elect the entire team, including teammate Matthews, than Castor, the two said in their letter.
Castor, the former district attorney, raised money in behalf of the entire team, included the entire slate at events, sponsored a unity building summer picnic, designed and funded campaign materials and honored requests by individual candidates to speak in their behalf at various functions, according to the letter.
Asked why the other three defeated candidates did not sign off on the letter, Sander explained that they were never asked because the three and/or their supporters still hold positions in the county and could be retaliated against by Matthews.
“This letter is our attempt to clear the air by addressing falsehoods and then putting this entire matter behind us,” said Sander.
Read Full Text/CommentsFriday, February 22, 2008
Funny Video
As I try from year to year to justify my hunting time (and $$$) to my wife, Jeff Foxworthy has gone and made a video that explains it all...we're doing it so you can eat meat that costs....well, just watch the video!
Video glommed from: Big Ducky.com Videos
If you visit this link, be careful. Some videos are not safe for kids.
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Lower Merion/Narberth Lincoln Day Dinner
Well, good readers, I attended the Lower Merion/Narberth Lincoln Day Dinner this evening.
Jim "RINO" Matthews was there...I avoided him like the plague. Not that I fear him, but he plays with Joe Hoeffel and I didn't want to catch his cooties.
Ken Davis gave me the evil eye (or am I just paranoid? nah.). That only unnerves me when my wife does it to me. And trust me...she knows how to use it (she's had a lot of practice, being married to me!).
Tracy Specter was the Matron of Ceremonies. She "shushed" the crowd about a half dozen times, a tactic she surely picked up from Ken Davis. Didn't work, though. I guess it was because everybody talking felt as though what they had to say was more important than what Tracy had to say. I actually felt sorry for her. It was her event and she should have gotten some consideration from the crowd.
Arlen spoke. Gerlach spoke. A couple of other people I didn't know spoke. They gave Belmont Hills' Rocco Burdo an award.
I met a lot of nice people, chatted it up with the usual suspects, ate hor's d'ouvres and had a few glasses of cabernet. Nothing spectacular. At least, not until I left.
Walking to the parking lot, I happened to walk past you-know-who. I greeted him with "Lance?". He said "Y-You're Bill Shaw, right?" and hid behind his girlfriend (embellished for dramatic effect...he really just said "you're Bill Shaw, right").
He did look a bit nervous...fidgety. I decided to let him off easy-I was in a hurry to get home so I could change and go to work.
I told him that contrary to his fears, I didn't hate him personally. I told him that I hated the process that ordained him as the "endorsed" candidate in the 17th. I told him that the process was corrupt and that I've gotten feedback from a lot of people and they don't like the circumstances behind his endorsement.
He said that he "understood my frustrations" but "what could he do?".
I told him that only he could fix it at this point–by insisting that Davis call a new convention and include everyone in the process. He said, "We should get together and discuss this." So, I suggested that we meet for lunch. (I was way too easy on him, but, like I said, I was in a hurry)
We'll see if it ever happens. (At least he was cordial)
Oh, yeah...and I met Arlen Specter.
B.
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Thursday, February 21, 2008
A Learning Experience...or, Oops! I Goofed!
Well, where do I begin?
At the beginning. I am a novice with anything remotely html. I know that and I make no qualms that I need help with everything having to do with websites.
That being said, this blog is a work in progress. I goofed last night on the download link for the pdf of the Sander/Clement letter. The link required a password to download the file, and since it resides on a secure website, I couldn't make that password available.
I've been working feverishly on the problem since I discovered that it didn't work, and have fixed the link. It now takes you to a third-party utility and you can download from there. Click here to get the pdf.
Sorry for the inconvenience. For the record, I am taking a class at the community college in the near future on html and web building-hopefully you can teach an old dog new tricks!
B.(eelzibub fudged my html...the devil was in the details!)
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Milestones...
If it weren't for them, we'd have nothing to celebrate. Whether it's birthdays, anniversaries, Bar Mitzvahs, etc. they all represent an achievement or a happenstance in the life of the person affected.
This year, my oldest son will turn 21. By this time next year, my middle son will have been a teenager for but a month and a half, I will have turned 45 and my blog will be just over a year old.
But, just for now, let's celebrate just one thing–today, my blog reached it's 1,000th hit!
Thank You For Your Support!
When I started this blog back on January 25th, I thought I would be just one of the small timers, doing this for fun-mainly to blow off steam, as it were.
Steam is just what my humble addition to the "blogosphere" has picked up. I started tracking hits about a week after I started the blog, and in the beginning, it was slow (most of the hits were from myself and my close friends), but soon, it took off like a stinger missle.
In the first 20 days, I had 230 hits for an average of 11.5 hits per day. On February 13th (coincidentally, my birthday) I posted the Davis Phone Message and have received, at last count, over 770 hits in 7 days. That averages out to 110 hits per day for the last week.
I really need to Thank Alex Charyna (pawatercooler.com);and Tony Phyrillas, (tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com) who have both added "writemarsh!" to the "links list" on their blog sites-they are two top-notch bloggers/reporters and I hope you visit them often. (pawatercooler.com; tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com)
What I'd like to say is this-"Without you, I'm nothing"..."you complete me"...you are my "better half" and, to paraphrase John Lennon, "I'd like to say 'thank you' on behalf of the blog and myself, and I hope we passed the audition!
B.
Dr. Gordon Clement and A.D.A. Bob Sander Break Their Silence
Bob Sander and Gordon Clement both believe that we need to end the party infighting and start to forge ahead to bring unity to our "fractured" party.
The two pooled their thoughts into a single, three page letter that most of us Montgomery County Committee-people received in the mail today. I've got the file, saved as a pdf, for you to download and read at your leisure:
(ed. note: I had technical difficulties last night-"Download PDF" link will open a new window, click on the file to download pdf)
In the letter, Bob points out that he started his campaign for Controller way back in 2006, before Bruce put his hat in the ring for Commissioner...I know this to be absolutely true, as I was the outreach coordinator for candidates for Area 6 and he contacted me as early as June or July of that year to schedule time to address our committee.Dr. Gordon Clement is a well respected physician and I owe my life to him (he performed emergency surgery and saved my life back in 1998...another story for another time). He is a stand-up guy and did not run away and hide after his close defeat by Dr. Hoffman. He is staying involved with the party and deserves the utmost respect for his stalwart involvement in Montgomery County politics.
I'm impressed with both of their professionalism and candor, and hope that we can all, very soon, put this issue to bed and be done with it.
B. Read Full Text/Comments
Tony Phyrillas Speaks of "Simpler Times"
Simpler times
I'm not sure how much of an issue immigration will be in the 2008 presidential campaign. I don't know much about Barack Obama's stance on the issue, but I'd bet it's similar to that of John McCain.
It appears immigration was an issue 100 years ago, but it was dealt with in a more straightforward manner:
Today's Highlight in History:
In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an immigration act which excluded "idiots, imbeciles, feebleminded persons, epileptics, insane persons" from being admitted to the United States.
"idiots, imbeciles, feebleminded persons", etc, wouldn't that just about wipe out the democrat contingent of our legislative branch of government-from local all the way up to national?)
Save the Date
Blood Drive
Dear Readers,Rep. Kate Harper (R-61) is joining with Whitpain Township and the American Red Cross to host a blood drive!
Join Representative Kate Harper as she sponsors a blood drive at the Whitpain Township Building. Last year I attended and gave about a gallon of blood and plan to do the same this year. Give the gift of life...give blood (it doesn't hurt a bit!).
(Kate doing her part last year)
-Thursday, March 27, 2008
-noon to 6 p.m.
-Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell
Ask for Karen Shaw (yeah, she's my better half!)
B.
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I Glommed this From Tony Phyrillas...
...so I owe him at least a plug. Tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com
I wish this were my dog!
B.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I'm as Giddy as a Schoolgirl on Prom Night!!!!
To Maureen Faulkner and her extended "family";
First, Maureen, you are a hero to all of us who live in the Delaware Valley and have been closely following this case for years.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to place the face of this bast&^d on my blog and report that final justice is one step closer for Daniel Faulkner.
My hope and wish for you is that justice is swift and this piece if human waste is finally eradicated from God's green earth. I, personally, volunteer to push the button, pull the trigger, throw the switch-anything it takes to end the life of this fiend.
May Danny soon be able to rest in peace. I wish much peace to the Faulkners and their extended "family". You all deserve it.
Bill Shaw
First, Maureen, you are a hero to all of us who live in the Delaware Valley and have been closely following this case for years.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to place the face of this bast&^d on my blog and report that final justice is one step closer for Daniel Faulkner.
My hope and wish for you is that justice is swift and this piece if human waste is finally eradicated from God's green earth. I, personally, volunteer to push the button, pull the trigger, throw the switch-anything it takes to end the life of this fiend.
May Danny soon be able to rest in peace. I wish much peace to the Faulkners and their extended "family". You all deserve it.
Bill Shaw
(note: edits made by your humble blogmeister)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) ― Pennsylvania's highest appeals court has rejected a request by convicted killer
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a unanimous ruling saying the former Black Panther and radio reporter waited too long to file a post-conviction appeal in the matter.
His case has attracted international notoriety. A separate appeal in the case, regarding claims of racial bias and faulty jury instructions, is pending before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prosecutors are seeking to have the death penalty reinstated. Read Full Text/Comments
Candidate Questionnaire
I've been pretty hard on one of our local senatorial candidates, but I think it's time to level the playing field.
To get the lay of the land here in Area 6 (Plymouth, Whitemarsh and Conshohocken) I composed a questionnaire that I've sent off to the five candidates running in the 7th and 17th senatorial districts. [Lance Rogers, Lisa Paolino, Daylin Leach (17th), Vince Hughes and Marc Perry (from the 7th)]
I gave them all a week to respond. As their answers roll in, I'll post them for you to read.
To read the questions, double click the photo:
Philly (and Suburb) Speak
Well, I'd like to hear your favorite word, phrase or whatever that is native only to the Delaware Valley, such as the obvious "wooder" (as in what we now buy in bottles but can still get out of the"spicket"), or "down da shore" (meaning any point along the Atlantic coastline of "Sowt Jer-zee").
We'll see if I can tell what nayberhud youse are from by what youse send me (remember "Feerrresh pretz-ullz!...Y'awll reddy, fresh pretz-ullz!"? Then you'se are from Kayenay!).
Send them in to me via the email link and I'll compile a list of the top favorites and post them at a later date (prolly on a slow newz day).
C'mawn, youse guys...let's pull out alla stops and take this to the "shtreet"!
B. Read Full Text/Comments
Monday, February 18, 2008
Beatle Break: Judge to Rule in Next Several Weeks
Now, I'm not one to poke my nose into the affairs of others (yeah right...I have a blog!), but 25 million pounds is nothing to sneeze at. The amount is equivalent to 49.14 million dollars, U.S. I mean, let's get real-she hit the freaking lottery and all she had to do is sleep with a Beatle for 4 years? I know women who would do that for free!
No, it all comes down to this-she claims that her ability to earn an income has been ruined because her marriage "ruined her reputation":
"The couple reportedly remain split over the size of the financial settlement and the conditions attached to it. Mills is said to believe that her marriage ruined her reputation and her only means of generating income is to write a tell-all book; McCartney is thought to be insistent any settlement includes a gagging clause." (read entire story here)Now, I don't know about you, but I 'd never heard of Heather Mills before she got involved with Sir Paul. And, if I remember correctly, wasn't she involved in some kind of porn scandal (click here for article)?
As I see it, she already had ruined her reputation before she met McCartney. Hooking up with him has only been a positive thing for her. And, even if she only gets 25 million pounds, does she really need to generate any more income than that? If she feels as though she does, I'm sure the local McDonalds has an opening.
B.(eatle fan!) Read Full Text/Comments
Philly Council Propose Statuary Gun Laws-Nutter Says He'll Enforce Even if State "Shoots" Them Down!
Gun laws the Philadelphia City Council wants power to implement
2/16/2008, 1:15 p.m. EST
The Associated Press
(AP) — Two Philadelphia City Council members are headed to court next month, seeking the authority to implement firearms regulations passed in May that have not become law.
Needles to say, state lawmakers and the NRA are not pleased and are already working on measures to put this to bed.
The gun ordinances would:
_Limit handgun purchases to one per month.
_Require police to be notified of lost or stolen firearms.
_Require a police-issued license to bring a firearm into Philadelphia.
_Mandate annual renewal of gun licenses.
_Allow police to confiscate guns from people who pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.
(ed note: Who decides the criteria? The police? City council? Michael Nutter? What a dangerous concept!)
_Prohibit possession of assault weapons.
(ed note: Define "assault" weapon...my SOG style knife is an "assault" weapon...a Marine Ka-Bar is an "assault" weapon)
_Establish a registry of ammunition sales.
To read more about this, including Michael Nutter's arrogant refusal to comply with PA State law, click here.
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How Nutter Can Help the Scouts
Michael Nutter is in a position to help the Boy Scouts to help over 50,000 of our inner-city youths...does he have the moxie to stand up to city council?
Read the article here.
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Bush's Aid Policy Makes him BMOC in Tanzania
President Bush's economic aid package to fight malaria and AIDS in Africa have the people of Tanzania dancing in the streets upon his visit there this weekend.
Bush is a hero to these people...and his popularity is at an all time high-in Africa!
Read more-Click Here.
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Monday Morning Funnies
Just a series of graffiti pics glommed from various sources...enjoy!
For the computer nerd in all of us
As a graphic arts professional, I can appreciate a good proofreader!
'nilla Ice
u can't touch this
For you arcade hounds...
Needs no explanation!
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Chimes in On Rendell's "Insensitivity"
Props to Colin McNickle of the Tibune-Review:
 |
Fast Eddie Falls Flat
By Colin McNickle
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell should have quit while he was behind.
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The Hillary Clinton-supporting governor found his tootsies dipped into the frying oil last week when he said some conservative white Pennsylvania voters are not ready to vote for a black candidate.
It was a direct reference to Barack Obama, the Democrats' front-running (but in the Keystone State, poll-trailing) presidential candidate.
Now, in a pure technical sense, Mr. Rendell's assessment -- with the qualifier "some" -- isn't any great shocker. Heck, while touring rural Pennsylvania in advance of Mr. Rendell's 2002 gubernatorial run against Republican Mike Fisher, I witnessed some very anti-black sentiment.
Some of the vilest remarks -- volunteered in the course of pretty mundane small talk -- came in small communities in the right-hand portion of Pennsylvania's conservative "T," not far from the New York border.The comments were so stunningly racist and so effortlessly delivered that the worst interpretation of the phrase "there's Pittsburgh, there's Philadelphia and then there's Alabama in between" is quite believable. Rendell has recounted similar anecdotes.
Had Rendell left it at that -- and perhaps added, "it's like that still in a lot of places in America" -- it's hard to imagine anyone would have batted an eye. But Rendell, perhaps sensing his qualifying "some" would be lost in the media's sound-bite world, then attempted to buttress his contention with the results of his election win over Lynn Swann in 2006.
Why, had Mr. Swann been white instead of black, Rendell said, his victory margin might have been trimmed from 22 to 17 points.
Patronizing arrogance aside, Rendell later attempted to defend himself against charges that he's a race-baiter by suggesting he was misinterpreted -- the first refuge of a dissembling pol caught saying stupid things -- and that he's being demonized for being a straight talker.
Straight talker? Ed Rendell?
And Rendell adding that he's no "shucker and jiver" certainly didn't help his defense.
But as CNN exit polls from the Rendell-Swann race show, Swann didn't lose the election because of conservative white voters. Swann lost because of black and liberal voters.
Indeed, Rendell edged Swann among white voters, 57-43 percent, a 14-point spread. But black voters rejected Swann 87-13 percent, a 74-point difference.
Among self-described conservative voters, Swann trounced Rendell 73-27 percent (a 46 percentage point difference). And liberals rejected Swann by the same 87-13 percent ratio that black voters went for Rendell.
Furthermore, Republicans voted for Swann 79-21 percent, a 58-point difference; Democrats voted for Rendell 90-10 percent, an 80-point spread.
Oh, and another thing: Swann fared better in many white conservative voting enclaves than Rick Santorum.
Ed Rendell insists he's not a race-baiter. But the very statistics he points to in his own defense will suggest to many he's just that. And yet again, the fella who considers himself the consummate pol is exposed as a political novitiate who, just in time for Pennsylvania's now-meaningful April 22 primary, may have become Hillary Clinton's greatest liability.
Colin McNickle is the Trib's director of editorial pages. Ring him at 412-320-7836. E-mail him at: cmcnickle@tribweb.com.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Intolerance and Ed Rendell
I've left this alone up to this point, but now feel compelled to comment on this hotbed issue.
Many people have commented (pawatercooler.com) on this egregious remark made by the mayor of Pennsylvania, Edward G. Rendell, when he made reference to the fact that PA has some "conservative voters who might not vote for Barack Obama because he is black".
Tony Phyrillas, in his blog entry, comments on and points to this article in his newspaper, the Pottstown Mercury/Gazette:
Thorns to Ed Rendell...
Well, I've got to say that I know a lot more democrats from the old neighborhood who would be less apt to vote for any black candidate (democrat or Republican) than for a white anything. A grew up in a predominately democrat (3 to 1) neighborhood -K & A in Philadelphia, and for those who don't know, it was a 99 44/100% white neighborhood when I lived there (from 1964 until 1986 when I moved out of my parent's home).
I can't say for sure that their views have or haven't changed, but most attitudes toward different cultures and skin colors were ingrained in most of us from the time we were children. Not so much from my parents, but it was a "neighborhood thing". Some of us got smarter as we got older and realized that we should, in fact, celebrate the differences in people, not marginalize or segregate ourselves from them.
I guess Ed Rendell fits in the other category. I'll bet he even claims he has black friends. I abhor that phrase, mainly because I don't happen to categorize my friends as Black, White, Spanish, Jewish, etc. They are just my friends. And I'm proud to say that my children are growing up equally "color blind".
Also, contrary to Rendell's pablum and puke concerning his gubernatorial race, I didn't see Lynn Swann as a "black" candidate...I saw him as a Republican.
(Myself, Karen and Lynn Swann in Lower Merion-May, 2006)
Sure, I sometimes let my hair down and tell some jokes that depict negative stereotypes, but I do so on an equal basis, without hate or prejudice. My great grandfather was a Jewish man names Schwartz...I tell Jewish jokes. My great grandmother was a German named Silberberger...I tell German jokes. My wife is 1/2 Italian and my kids are 1/4 Italian...I tell Italian jokes. My fathers family comes from South Carolina...I tell my dad "Redneck" jokes, (and I tell them s-l-o-w-l-y). I laugh at Irish jokes. I'm overweight and still laugh at fat jokes. I even laugh at black jokes. Not entirely PC, but, most are really, really funny. That isn't racist or bigoted or insensitive-funny is funny. Ask Chris Rock, Carlos Mencia, and Jackie Mason... stereotype humor keeps them all rich and we are happy to buy the tickets to see them perform.
Hate mongering is a different story-there's nothing funny about that.
Pointing out that someone's race or gender would get them more or less favor because of voters are "conservative Republicans" is both insensitive and bigoted.
Not to just pick on Rendell, Lance Rogers (sometime "R", Lower Merion) pointing out that (Having grown up in Miami, Fla.) “is not a good feeling when you see your neighborhood go from English speaking to Spanish speaking.” is equally egregious.
Both Rendell and Rogers need to learn the errors of their ways. How? I could only wish that Rendell should be made to change his registration to "Republican" and Roger should be ordered to place his campaign office in downtown Norristown.
I know that being in the public eye is tough. I recently ran for office (alas, unsuccessfully) and had things said about me that weren't true. It stings. But, to lower myself to using insensitive language to make a point is not part of my personal moral fiber...nor is it that of most of my family and friends.
I'm not casting my vote for Barack Obama this fall. Not because he's black, but because he's a liberal Democrat, the same reason I wouldn't vote for the Hildebeast. I'll be voting for a Republican.
Besides, we should expect better from those we choose (and in the case of Rendell, have to settle for) for our leaders.
After all, my elected officials do not represent me because I'm a poor white mutt from Kensington (in PC speak: caucasian from a diverse, lower-middle class background), they represent me because I am a citizen of their community, district, state, and country.
Which, if you ask me, should good be enough.
B. Read Full Text/Comments
Guest Column: The Republican Revolution!
Dear Readers; I received the following comment and gave it some real consideration:
"Instead of calling this "Another Great Comment That Deserves Its Own Post", how about giving it a unique identity:
"Guest Column -- The Republican Revolution"
Let's let people know that the true Republicans fiercly defend our nation's constitution and the equal rights of all people.
This is a tradition worth keeping."
I did give it about a minute of consideration before deciding that I will, in fact, be allowing a "guest column" on my blog. Let's make our inaugural (pun intended) guest column begin on President's Day, and let's also make it a weekly column, every Monday.
Please send all of your "guest" columns or opinions to my email, writemarsh.gmail.com or, click on the link below:
writemarsh@gmail.com
For consideration, all guest column email must be received at least 24 hours before the Monday deadline. (With the exception of the "inaugural" column"!) Also, please include your real name and email address in your guest column. It will not be published, unless you add the disclaimer: "You may use my real name", otherwise, I will sign the column by your guest column number (Monday's being "Guest Columnist #1).
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