Sightings: XVII

King James the Turd was spotted at a Lower Moreland fundraiser on Sunday evening.

The event was not well attended and my operatives suggested it was because the talk was that King James was stopping by.

Even fundraisers are starting to fall victim to "the Matthews Effect". *Heh!*

Some pics of El Rey Diego La Mierda, courtesy of Yuna Hoo and Soma Badhe:




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Sightings: XVI

King james the Turd was sighted at the Tom Ellis Fundraiser at Wings Field this evening. I'm sure Ellis didn't actually invite the Turd, as he is fully aware of the "Matthews Effect" (which explains why Tom is no longer a Republican Commissioner in Montgomery County).

His entrance was noticed and reported to me by more than one person in attendance. He conveniently arrived after the departure of Republican County Commissioner, Bruce L. Castor, Jr. Sources tell us a James Rex III loyalist called and told "El Rey Diego La Mierda" the coast was clear, and he drifted, ghostlike, into the event (almost like he was sitting in the parking lot, waiting for the call).

The Turd was warmly greeted by Bob Asher, State Committeewoman Pam Levy, and developer Bruce Goodman.

It was noted that King James (allegedly) made no contribution to Ellis' campaign, as he showed up after the check in table was closed.

The photo's are blurry, which I'm sure is how Jimbo see's most things, more often than not, anymore. He's more than blurred the line between conservative Republicanism and radical leftism.

HT to "what's his name" and "you know who" for the pics!



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King James Declares A Freeze On Hiring, Citing the False "Recession"

Maybe he just needs to fire a few of his closest and dearest friends from their public-assisted job services program?

It seems that Montgomery County is in a bit of a pickle. Just 9 short months ago, former Commissioner (and State Treasurer candidate) Thomas J. Ellis left our county with a $90,000,000 surplus.

So, where has the money gone?

How about to Joe Hoeffel's (Turd assisted) cronyism hirings, and King James' continuing county public assistance program for county solicitor Barry Miller and several others?

Not to mention the current liberal spending agenda that RINO commissioner KJ-TURD has bestowed his blessing upon, such as allowing for the hiring of staff in the clerk of courts office, when the office ran fine for years with the staff it had in place. He allows this, but mentions that the other rows will have to sue in court to do any hiring.

Just what I want to hear, if I have business in the courthouse, is that the people charged with keeping the courthouse safe (Sheriff John P. Durante) and the bad guys off the street (District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman) have to sue the county that they've sworn to serve and protect, to hire bodies if their office is grossly understaffed. And the clerk of courts office gets to hire unnecessary personnel, on KJIII's say so?

Preposterous!

It's dem/rino cronyism at it's worst. It's the Turd's welfare program for unemployable friends. And it's a rotten shame that we have to pay the tab for these losers, through our real estate taxes.

Thank goodness we have Bruce Castor as our watchdog. Otherwise, we'd really be up the scatological creek without an implement of aquatic mobility.

Read all about it in Margaret Gibbons' article from today's Times Herald.

HT to Tony Phyrillas for the story, which was reported on his blog, "tonyphyrillas"


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Sightings: XIV

Jim-Turd was seen yesterday morning on NBC-10...being interviewed about the McCain campaign. I didn't see it, but I'm sure he mentioned his brother a half dozen times during the broadcast.

Why anybody values his opinion any more baffles the living sh*t out of me...maybe it was just a slow news day, and they were desperate, as all of the good Republicans were in church on Sunday morning. (Cool milk carton, huh?----------------->)

If anybody saw it, contact me and I'll update this as comments come in. If nobody saw it, who cares, right?

B.
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Re: The County Republican Candidate's Rally

Rumors abounded at the Westover Country Club this evening. I'll get to them later.

First and foremost, the rally was fun. There was an Irish band that played (go figure) Irish music and a Johnny Cash song. The hors douv...er, appetizers were the typical fare, nothing to get excited over, but filled the void. The open bar meant that your humble blogger was kept in mucho Coca Cola all night long (I never drink alcohol when I have the bike out).

The highlights of the evening? MCRC Chairman, Bob Kerns was fantastic. He spoke about the campaign, spoke of the need for us to pull together and make this a banner year for Montgomery County. Then, the candidates got up and spoke, and to my surprise, I wasn't bored to tears. They all spoke of the elections, the hard work that they were doing to get elected, and the need for volunteers and money.

The highlight of my evening? Politics notwithstanding, I'd have to say that the highlight of my evening was finally meeting (face to face) fellow blogger and Times Herald columnist, Lisa Mossie (Bluftoonie, and PAWaterCooler.com). (To read Lisa's 9/18/08 column, click here)

Rumor time

Jim Matthews. He wasn't there, but the rumor mill was doing a rather brisk business on his behalf.

Rumor #1: J-Turd has been asked, and has accepted the role of treasurer in his brothers non-committed run against Arlen Specter for U.S. senator in 2010.

Rumor #2: James Rex "ai-ai-ai" has been asked by certain powers that be in PA politics to start his own version of the "Chairman's Club", to try and siphon money away from MCRC fundraising efforts, but will hold off until after the election in November to do so. (Keep your eyes especially on this one folks, and please, don't give in. Our county chairman is doing a fantastic job and needs your support in order to bring Montgomery County back to it's former glory as a Republican county.)

Neither rumor has been corroborated, but they're out there.

Also noticably absent was the contingent from Abington. It seems that a certain Muni-Chair decided that his meeting was more important than MCRC business, instead of changing location to the Country Club, chose not to attend.

Quorum was not met and the bylaws were not voted on. Pity, because the old bylaws are seriously outdated and the new ones are quite good.

There's always January.

B.


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Matthews has "Jumped the Shark"

With the news of Jimbo openly supporting a democrat against Senator Specter in 2010, the time has come to say "enough is enough.

Matthews sides with democrats 100% of the time in his role as chairman of the County Commissioners. 100% of the time.

He now has handed down a directive to solicitor, and personal court jester to the chairman, Barry Miller that his staff not talk to any of the commissioners without first getting permission from Miller.

Castor, in an email letter to Miller on 8/29, requested permission to speak to Carolyn Carluccio-who was involved with the situation that caused this directive to be implemented in the first place. Castor has not yet received any response from Miller.

On Thursday, when confronted on the issue, his Turdliness repeatedly shouted "the solicitor and all the senior staff work for ME! They work for ME! They work for ME! It went on and on, ad nauseum.

Later, on 9/11, I attended the ceremony on the plateau at the courthouse, honoring the fallen heroes of Montgomery County who have died as a result of the 9/11 attacks and subsequent war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ceremony was very moving, (except for when J-Rex spoke, as his equipment failed and he resorted to shouting his remarks...which were laced with misquotes by Abraham Lincoln, extolling the virtues of Government by and for the people–which, by the way, he hasn't prescribed to that theory/practice since he was sworn in on 1/7/08–does he even hear himself when he speaks?)

After the ceremony, I stood talking with Sheriff John P. Durante and Republican Commissioner, Bruce Castor, both of whom I consider great Republican leaders. During my conversation with both of them concerning the ceremony (and an intellectual conversation on the health benefits of good wine) at least three citizens/residents of Montgomery County approached Commissioner Castor to tell him what a great job he is doing, and what a real TURD Jim Matthews has turned out to be. After introducing the residents to yours truly, Castor graciously thanked them for their support and kind words.

One of these residents was there to see his cousin's banner dedicated at the ceremony and was a little irate that King James was a speaker.

It's still baffling to me that, only in Montgomery County, can "third" actually become "first". But, then again, we used to be a Republican majority in the commissioners office, too.

Fortunately, El Rejo Diego la Tercera is poison to the Republican Party and will not run as one next time around. Unfortunately, the state does not allow for recall votes, which I'm certain is the only thing J-Rex can find consolation in for the next three years.

Enjoy your Saturday!

B.



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Sighting:IX

King James the Turd has left Montgomeryshire and is on his way to Minneapolis.

A reliable source (in first class) was enjoying a pre-flight libation (or two) when who should board and get seated in coach? None other than His highness...and former county commissioner Thomas Jay Ellis! (For the record, the two did not sit together)

Our friend in first class sent the two drinks.

The flight attendant came back and told our source that only one of the two took him up on the offer-and proceeded to order two scotches.

Hmmmmm. wonder who?

As a public service, anybody wishing to report a sighting while in Minneapolis can do so anonymously...just click on the email link below!

writemarsh@gmail.com



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And Now Back To the Montco Grind...

Jim Matthews has lost it. Seriously, in your humble bloggers opinion, he has gone completely bonkers.

In a news story in yesterdays Times Herald, Margaret Gibbons reported on the Ethics code, and how Republican Commissioner, Bruce Castor, is vying to reinstate the ethics code that Cmmsr. Hoeffel had voted for back in '98, during his previous tenure as the democratic (minority) commissioner. Jim Matthews, on the other hand, doesn't want reform:

"I don't think we should have a ban on political activity whatsoever," said Matthews, a Republican long at odds with Castor and who entered into an unprecedented power-sharing pact with Hoeffel, leaving Castor the odd man out in the current administration. "I think it violates rights."

Matthews also was critical of Castor for seeking to have the political activity ban reinstated, calling Castor's motion "a blatant political and hypocritical ... gesture."

"He (Castor) is just jumping on this because he views it as an opportunity to play you against me," Matthews told Hoeffel. "It has nothing to do with authenticity of concern whatsoever."

"What it is designed for on its limited basis is for those people who are not supporters of Mr. Castor," said Matthews. "He wants to silence them as well as anyone involved that has been brought on board from the Democratic Party." (click here to read the entire story)

Matthews must be taking lessons from the amazing Kreskin, or at least "Karnak the Magnificient". Now he actually knows what Castor is thinking.

But, wanting to reform ethics at the county courthouse is nothing more than a ploy to get between King James and Joe Hoeffel? Matthews has let this feud with Castor go to his head...and it's all about him, right?

I'm sure, back in 1998, Mele, Buckman and Hoeffel wrote the Code of Ethics (that Matthews subsequently suspended) strictly for future commissioner Bruce Castor's political maneuvering...FEH!

He's becoming more egocentric and delusional as the months pass. Maybe he needs to take a long vacation and get his head together.

I know of a time share that has this great rubber room...

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Put A Cork In It?

"Oh, put a cork in it"

So says King James the Turd when Commissioner Castor questioned the hiring of an employee that he had not been informed about. Red Margaret Gibbons Times Herald article below:

Hiring Vote Spurs Spat Between Two County Commissioners
By: MARGARET GIBBONS, Times Herald Staff
08/27/2008

COURTHOUSE - A new clerical position added to the county clerk of courts roster sparked the latest flare-up between Montgomery County's two Republican county commissioners
Clerk of Courts Ann Thornburg Weiss, one of the newly elected Democratic row officers who took office in January, earlier this year had proposed hiring an additional two or three employees for her office.

The office handles all criminal filings.

At the time, she was directed to wait until budget hearings got under way in the fall to make her request. (Read on after the jump:)

However, said Weiss, the backlog in the office continued to grow as a result of an increase in criminal filings.

"I had to expedite my request," Weiss explained last week at a meeting of the county salary board on which all three commissioners sit.

Weiss said she subsequently got the nod from Commissioners' Chairman James R. Matthews for one new position to help ease the workload.

Weiss provided this information under the grilling of Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr., Matthews' fellow Republican on the three-member board of commissioners, who said he was not aware Weiss had been given approval to add personnel.

Reluctant running mates in last year's commissioners' elections, Castor and Matthews have long been at odds. Castor found himself to be the odd man out in the current administration after Matthews entered into an unprecedented power-sharing pact with Democratic Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III.

Matthews directed Castor to back off from his cross-examination of Weiss, explaining he granted the request after a visit from President Judge Richard J. Hodgson, who reinforced the need for additional personnel in Weiss's office.

Hodgson is a close personal friend of both Matthews and county Solicitor Barry M. Miller.

"When the president judge, who heads the judicial branch of this government, says there is a need to get this work done, we answer that need," said Matthews. "That is one of our jobs."

"If you want to add all this political nonsense, go right ahead," said Matthews. "I will continue to do the county's business as I am sure the president judge will."

"I think the people's business is watching how we spend their money," responded Castor.

"Oh, put a cork in it," replied Matthews.

Matthews and Hoeffel then voted for the salary board action that clears the way for the new hiring while Castor voted against it.

"I will convey your vote to the president judge," Matthews told Castor after the vote.

"Oooww, I'm intimidated," Castor, the county's former district attorney, answered. Read Full Text/Comments

A Sighting II

Bulletin says King James attended the McCain HQ opening.

Odd. Wonder if he broke out into hives among all those Republicans?

Wonder if it's just a coincidence that fellow longtime Castor-hater Bob Asher scheduled the kickoff while Castor and DA Risa Ferman were out of town at the PA District Attorneys' Assoc. conference (Castor is immediate past president) in Erie.

Asher's clumsy efforts to continue to put the Republican label on Matthews would be amusing, if they weren't so sad...

Here's the story from the Bulletin:

07/16/2008
McCain Campaign Launches Montgomery County Office
By: William Mulgrew , The Bulletin

Blue Bell - Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift joined local Republican leaders yesterday to celebrate the opening of the "McCain/Victory 2008" campaign office off Township Line Road.

It is the second regional office to open in Pennsylvania after the Harrisburg headquarters began two weeks ago.

The Hillary Clinton/ Barack Obama clash in the Primary Election left a benefit for Democrats: Most of the campaign offices and staff have already been on the ground. Republicans, however, remain optimistic that Sen. John McCain will catch up. The campaign tapped John Seaton, who led Iowa for the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2004, as Mr. McCain's regional director for Ohio-Pennsylvania.

"Being from Massachusetts, it's great to be in a state that will go from blue to red this year," Ms. Swift said.

Ms. Swift noted that not only Pennsylvania, but also New Hampshire and Maine are in play, two states that went for Democrat Sen. John Kerry in 2004. New Hampshire, specifically, voted out its two Republican congressmen in 2006.

"Montgomery County will be the keystone county in the Keystone State," said Bob Asher. As chairman of Pennsylvania for McCain, Mr. Asher heads the statewide fundraising effort.

County Republican Chairman Bob Kerns said that Mr. McCain is no George W. Bush.

"The Democrats are going to try, but are never going to be able to get that to stick," Mr. Kerns said. "He doesn't necessarily carry the party line ... But that's him. He's not bashful about saying that. What you see is what you get."

It's a battle to retain a county that's increasingly favorable to Democrats. While the Republicans held onto the county commissioners' race in 2007, 55.6 percent of Montgomery voters supported Democratic candidate John Kerry in 2004, and 61.9 percent supported Bob Casey over Rick Santorum in 2006.The McCain campaign has a branch office in Delaware County, shared with Craig Williams, Republican candidate for the 7th congressional district.

Sen. John McCain is scheduled to appear for a town hall meeting in Wilkes-Barre, July 23, followed by a fundraiser.

Local Candidates Show Support

Campaigning in the 17th senatorial district, Republican Lance Rogers said he's made traction with former Hillary Clinton supporters. The Lower Merion Township commissioner is campaigning full-time.

"I think that Sen. McCain is the right choice for America and the future. I know that John McCain has been very supportive of cleaning up and reforming government," Mr. Rogers said.

"He's experienced. He's a war hero," State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-12) said. The senator said he was moved that, as a P.O.W. during the Vietnam War, McCain refused to be released unless his fellow prisoners were released with him.

Also in attendance: Marina Katz, candidate for the 13th congressional district, Tom Ellis, candidate for State Treasurer, State Rep. Kate Harper (R-61), State Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-24) and Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Matthews.


William Mulgrew can be reached at news@thebulletin.us.


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