HT to The Save Ardmore Coalition...

for sending me this little gem, "because I'm so cool":

The Emerald Necklace Political "Atta Boy" Award?

Darth Vader is getting a new award? How is it he is the gift that keeps on giving? Why does he deserve this exactly? Because he no longer is a commissioner and no longer chairs the Montco GOP? Couldn't he just buy a condo in Symphony House instead?

Board of Commissioners
Regular Monthly Meeting
Date: 8/6/2008 7:00 PM
Location: Township Administration Bldg - 2nd Floor Board Room
75 East Lancaster Ave
Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003-2323

Announcements

Presentation – Kenneth E. Davis, Chair, Ad Hoc Open Space Committee, Emerald Necklace Award

Ya know, there are a lot more people deserving of recognition in this township and doesn't this just smack of political atta boys?

Wait until Writemarsh hears about this, huh?

(I wonder if he's ever received the "pearl necklace" award. I'm sure he'll stash this right in his murse, as it probably wouldn't fit around his neck with his popped collar.)

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Sightings: IV

Jim Matthews was sighted having lunch with county solicitor Barry Miller at a Montgomery County restaurant. Not entirely out of the ordinary and probably unworthy of your humble bloggers "Sightings" reports, right?

Wrong!

They were breaking bread with a third party... Democrat Controller Diane Morgan!

It is one thing for Matthews to continue to portray his charade at the court house as some kind of bipartisan experiment for the benefit of the county, but hey–we know that is a load of elephant crap.

Morgan has repeatedly made unfounded and undeserved attacks upon Republicans Bill Donnelly, Jane Markley, Bruce Castor and Risa Ferman, the entire DA's office and has basically made the Republican party, in general, her cottage industry.

By (apparently) taking her under his wing, Matthews is showing the county GOP where his loyalties and sympathies are.

So, I write this open letter to Cmmsr. "The Turd":

Jim,

You've been a stalwart to the party for as long as I can remember. I've thought better of you in the past than I have in recent months.

Chairman Bob Kerns has offered an olive branch (to have you back) no questions asked, if you'd just try to get along with Cmmsr. Castor and refute your newfound alliance with the democrat commissioner.

You've not made any attempt to meet us, the loyal Republican base, even halfway.

My proposal is this: if I send you a voters registration form, check off the "democrat" box, would you finally complete the equation you've left unfinished since January 7th? Just sign the damned form and get it over with?

Thanks.

Bill Shaw
writemarsh@gmail.com

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Had to Share This

HEHE...I received this comment this morning on my post about the "Matthews Effect":

Anonymous said...

Real classy Bill, real classy.

Let's not even begin to discuss your physical appearance.

Well, here is the comment I posted in response to this anonymous person's comment. I've only done this a few times, but, here goes:

I'm fat, shave my head and have an uneven beard.

Every couple of years, I change my hair, shave my beard, or otherwise change my appearance. Why? I get tired of looking at the same old face in the mirror and like to change it up every once in a while.

I accept the fact that I am 44 years old and am at the age where I could become a grandfather.

I am not a "young Republican".

Oh, by the way, I don't consider myself attractive, either. Just a plain "Joe", that's all.

See? I'm not afraid to discuss my physical appearance, nor that of others. I'm a realist.

Peace.

B.

As an afterthought, I'm also not afraid to sign my name to anything I write.

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It's Laughable

This last week, Ed Boyd, Abington committeeman and Matthews apologist, posted this on his blot (skip the bullsh*t, just watch the second video):

Off the Record (or, there is no "Matthews Effect")

Apparently, Mr. Boyd lives in a fantasy world. Here, in some previous posts, are a few of those who have fallen victim to "The Matthews Effect":

http://writemarsh.blogspot.com/2008/05/ed-boyd-latest-victim-of-matthews.html

http://writemarsh.blogspot.com/2008/06/matthews-effect-again.html

http://writemarsh.blogspot.com/2008/06/philadelphia-inquirer-latest-victim-of.html

http://writemarsh.blogspot.com/2008/06/update-victims-of-matthews-effect-thus.html

There are but a few of those who have fallen victim to the dreaded "effect". I, too have been a victim, as Jim told me that I had his support in my failed run for supervisor in Whitemarsh. Boyd is a fool not to recognize the pattern for what it is.

What would you expect from a guy who still considers himself a "young Republican" at his age? (I visited a YR meeting once, it was just plain creepy seeing him, apparently trying to hang on to his lost youth, mingling with the 20-somethings like a dried up old bachelor uncle.)

(If you've ever seen the guy, he looks like he's about 60)

Maybe if he wasn't such a Matthews sycophant, his blog would be doing better than it has (he just recently took down his counter...only 4000+ hits since last September, which is pitiful)


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We're Sorry, World,...

HT to Trekmedic251 at "Is This Life?"...this is a cross-post from his blog:

Hell, if the Obamessiah can do it,....

Received this by e-mail from The PokerMistress:



This 'Letter of Apology' was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US Marine Corps, Retired:

For good and ill, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue. On the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this minor event into some modern day massacre.

I humbly offer my opinion here:
I am sorry that the last seven times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth; it was in the defense of Muslims ( Bosnia , Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait , etc.)

I am sorry that no such call for an apology upon the extremists came after 9/11.

I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Islamic Arabs.

I am sorry that most Arabs and Muslims have to live in squalor under savage dictatorships.

I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth.

I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their religious schools, mosques, and government-controlled media.

I am sorry that Yasser Arafat was kicked out of every Arab country and high-jacked the Palestinian 'cause.'

I am sorry that no other Arab country will take in or offer more than a token amount of financial help to those same Palestinians.

I am sorry that the U. S. A. has to step in and be the biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely wealthy Arabs blame the USA for all their problems.

I am sorry that our own left wing, our media, and our own brainwashed liberal masses do not understand any of this (from the misleading vocal elements of our society like radical liberal professors, CNN and the NY TIMES).

I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people of Iraq out of the 'food for oil' money so they could get rich while the common folk suffered.

I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death.

I am sorry that those same bombers are brainwashed thinking they will receive 72 virgins in 'paradise.'

I am sorry that the homicide bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other noncombatant civilians are legitimate targets.

I am sorry that our troops die to free more Arabs from the gang rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of dissidents of their own making.

I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed more Arabs than any other group.

I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to seize control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state.

I am sorry we don't drop a few dozen Daisy cutters on Fallujah.

I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a convenient 'Holy Site.'

I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving a jet into the World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - one of our Holy Sites.

I am sorry they didn't apologize for flight 93 and 175, the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, the murders and beheadings of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, etc....etc!

I am sorry Michael Moore is American; he could feed a medium sized village in Africa .

America will get past this latest absurdity. We will punish those responsible because that is what we do.
I am sorry the Barack Hussein Obama may be elected president of the United States when he doesn't have a clue on how to be a strong Commander-in-chief in a world filled with Muslim extremists who will do whatever it needs to do to destroy the lives of civilized people while killing innocent men, women and children in order to bring a change that is beneficial to all Islamic terrorists worldwide.

I am sorry that voters on the liberal left don't understand the frightening changes that are taking place
in the Muslim world and what these changes will do to this world in which we live.
I am sorry that the Democratic Party has been highjacked by Socialists and Communists right under the very noses of those who take pride in calling themselves democrats.

We hang out our dirty laundry for the entire world to see. We move on. That's one of the reasons we are hated so much. We don't hide this stuff like all those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.

Deep down inside, when most Americans saw this reported in the news, we were like - so what? We lost hundreds and made fun of a few prisoners. Sure, it was wrong, sure, it dramatically hurts our cause, but until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we're supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated?

Our compassion is tempered with the vivid memories of our own people killed, mutilated and burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujahans.

If you want an apology from this American, you're going to have a long wait! You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.

Chuck Pitman
Lieutenant General, USMC

Pass this on to your friends if you agree.
If not, I am sorry I offended you by passing on the facts. And here is the rest of it. Read Full Text/Comments

A Very Compelling Argument for Drilling NOW!

Drill Now
By Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson
July 25, 2008

Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson download photo

High fuel prices have produced a tectonic shift in the United States’ political landscape. Recent polls indicate a strong surge of support for Uncle Sam lifting government restrictions against domestic drilling for oil. Blocking the development of domestic energy resources was a luxury we used to be able to afford. At current prices, though, the calculus has shifted. The reasons for proceeding full-speed-ahead with domestic drilling are compelling. They include:

1) Compassion toward relatively poor Americans. Those who oppose domestic oil production often are those who claim to champion “the little guy.” They can prove the sincerity of their professions by permitting increased domestic production of oil, thereby exerting downward pressure on the market price of the fuel that consumes a growing share of Americans’ incomes.

2) Reducing the merchandise trade deficit. For years, politicians left and right have decried the United States’ enormous trade deficit. Since imports of oil now account for more than half of that deficit, one of the most effective policies for reducing it would be to produce more oil domestically.

3) Creating more jobs, especially high-paying blue-collar jobs. Why does the party that aspires to be known as the friend of labor suppress the creation of thousands of high-paying jobs for American workers?

4) Showing more respect to the rest of the world. There is something pathetic about the president of the United States traveling to Saudi Arabia to plead for them to increase production while we refuse to increase our own. Liberals are uncomfortable with any manifestation of American exceptionalism, yet aren’t we practicing exceptionalism when we expect the rest of the world to produce our energy for us?

5) Increasing national security. Who benefits the most from today’s astronomical oil prices? Ideologues reflexively point the finger at “Big Oil,” but the major beneficiaries are the House of Saud—the sponsor of Wahhabism—and such mischief-makers as Venezuela’s Chavez.

6) Keep taxes on middle class Americans from being raised. If fuel prices stay high, don’t be surprised if Congress proposes new, costly federal energy assistance programs for poorer Americans. Shades of agricultural subsidies and food stamps! Once again, the American taxpayer will take it on the chin twice—first, by having to pay more for gas and heating oil as a result of government’s suppression of domestic production; second, by tax dollars being channeled to those hurt most by those unnecessarily high prices.

The following objections to a pro-drilling policy are weak and clearly untenable under present circumstances:

1) Oil and gas wells are not aesthetically pleasing. True, but neither is human hardship. Are well-to-do “green” sentimentalists willing to see an occasional derrick in exchange for millions of poorer Americans gaining critical relief from high fuel costs?

2) An accident could occur. No fooling? But if we are going to outlaw risk, why not ban driving? Automobile accidents claim over 40,000 American lives annually. The environmentalist assertion that oil companies won’t take sufficient precautions to prevent oil spills is a prima facie absurdity. Oil is valuable, and if American oil companies are half as greedy as their critics claim they are, then they will strive mightily to prevent spills which hurt them in two ways—loss of valuable product and incurring the huge cost of cleanups. Those fearing oil spills should take heart from the fact that a thousand oil and gas wells were smashed by Hurricane Katrina, yet no spills occurred. Technology has improved.

3) Oil company profits are “obscene.” Why discriminate against oil companies? We don’t think twice when other businesses—cell phone, beverage, retail , software, etc.—earn greater profits when they provide more of what people want. In you really resent oil company profits, you should favor opening up drilling to all comers, because increased production puts downward pressure on prices and increased competition squeezes profit margins.

4) Increased drilling won’t boost supply right away. True, but pointless. It is because people accepted this myopic premise years ago that we are in our present predicament. Let’s do a better job of planning ahead. Future oil prices will be lower with increased supply than without it.

5) We need to develop alternative energy sources to replace oil. Okay, but what will we do if those technological breakthroughs don’t occur as early as we hope? We will need affordable energy regardless, so it would be prudent to increase the supply of oil, just in case we find ourselves still needing it.

The time for drilling is now. Let’s get on with it.

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MCRC Press Release

“We are the party of Abraham Lincoln and our party has a place for everyone” GOP Chairman Robert Kerns said.

The Montgomery County Republican Committee (MCRC) held its first Community Leadership Breakfast and DiversiTea July 24 at the Doubletree Suites in Plymouth Meeting. MCRC Vice Chair Sharon Thomas, Mayor of Pottstown, organized the gathering, attended by over 75 Republican elected officials, business owners and community activists of various ethnic and religious backgrounds to assess the current state of the GOP in Montgomery County.

“A meeting like this is imperative in building community interaction and outreach. Our party is at its best when engaging in inclusive strategies, and we will forge that path in the current MCRC administration,” said Thomas.

A number of elected officials joined the discussion, including State Representative Jay Moyer (70th), County Commissioner Bruce Castor and County Treasurer Garrett Page. Several Republican candidates attended as well - Congressional candidates Craig Williams (7th) and Marina Kats (13th), State Senate candidate Marc Perry (7th), and PA House of Representatives candidates Todd Stephens (151st), and Lynne Lechter (149th), as well as representatives for several other incumbents and challengers.

Kats recounted her struggles in coming to the U.S. not knowing how to speak English and working her way through college and law school. “It is because of the Republican Party that I was able to come to America with nothing and become a successful business woman,” Kats explained.

The discussion included a panel of GOP leaders including Montgomery County Republican Committee Chairman Bob Kerns, founder and executive director of Korean American Senior Services of Pennsylvania and longtime Republican Imja Choi, Page and New Majority Council President Pam Levy. Discussion questions included community involvement, recruiting minority candidates and the role of the Republican Party in minority communities.

The breakfast was organized by Thomas in conjunction with the New Majority Council, a state-wide group aimed at welcoming minorities into the Republican Party and supporting a wide variety of candidates. Kerns charged Thomas, an African American businesswoman, with rejuvenating the party’s focus on Montgomery County’s growing minority communities. The duo was elected as to two-year terms as chair and vice chair of the 834-member organization on May 8.

Kerns responded to a question posed by attendee and former Register of Wills Ron Holt concerning the role of party leadership in community building: “Today we brought people from many different communities that may have never met before. That is our job – what we provide is a basis for putting together groups, programs and processes that will eventually germinate into initiatives that create better communities in Montgomery County,” the GOP chairman stated.

“Many minority voters have told me they feel that the Republican Party isn’t in touch with them. We are going to prove to them that we are. We are the party of Abraham Lincoln and our party has a place for everyone,” Kerns concluded.


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Sightings III: UPDATE!

The Truth is Out There...

Far be it for me not to backtrack and correct myself when I'm not "write"...

I have heard from reliable sources close to former commissioner and State Treasurer candidate Tom Ellis that Matthews was not invited to Ellis' fundraiser and, indeed, called Arthur Makadon to invite himself.

(That puts my mind at ease...I was beginning to worry about the "Matthews Effect".)

Ellis did, however, extend an invitation to Commissioner Bruce Castor, who unfortunately, was in Erie at the Pennsylvania District Attorney's Association meeting. Castor is immediate past president of the group.





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My Big Sister is Another Year Older...Again!

My older sister was born 18 months before me. Today is the day that her "number" age is 2 years older than my age.

Well, there's two things I have to say, sis...you'll always be older than me, and I hope you live as long as you want to, and want to as long as you live.

Happy Birthday, beautiful!

Oh, and Mom will probably tell you this post is up.

Love ya!

B.



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Montgomery County, PA is #9...

...on the list of the top places in America to raise a family!

"Montgomery County, Pa., famous for its sumptuous Main Line suburbs and the King of Prussia Mall, made the top 10 with solid scores across the board and a median home price less than a third of Marin's."

Read the Forbes Magazine report here.

Click on picture to enlarge

I wonder if this has just happened in the past 7 months (since King James the Turd and Prince Kartoffelkopf took over-I'll bet they lay claim to it), or is it just our 150 year tradition of (Republican led) low taxes and smaller government that draws people here?

Maybe we can ask Joe Hoeffel-he knows all the right answers.

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Quote of the Day

HT to Bob Guzzardi for the following item:

"[Barack] Obama will visit Germany, France and England this week. It just happens that those Western European nations have turned to right-of-center coalitions to remedy corrosive welfare systems, never-ending entitlements, unchecked union power and overregulation of industry. In England mere months ago, the left-of-center Labor Party lost more than 400 seats in local elections, including finishing off the reign of London Mayor Ken 'The Red' Livingstone. In France, Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy swept into power in 2007, promising to cut back welfare rolls and revitalize the floundering French economy. In Germany, Angela Merkel vowed free-market reforms to undo theoretical social 'safety nets' that have led to 'terrifyingly high unemployment.' Then, Silvio Berlusconi unexpectedly won Italy's election this year, in part on the pledge to unknot the tangle of economic regulations hampering that nation. Those are the top four economic powers in Europe. That's officially a trend" -- Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi.



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Castor Endorses Perry

Marc Perry For Senate (D-7)

Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor endorses Marc Perry for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 7th Senatorial District: (Philadelphia and Montgomery County)

On July 24, 2008 Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor endorsed Challenger Marc Perry for State Senate in the 7th Senatorial District.. "I am humbled to receive such a significant endorsement from County Commissioner Bruce Castor. This endorsement today along with the most recent endorsement from United States Senator Arlen Specter shows that my campaign to bring new ideas new energy and new leadership to the State Senate is gaining momentum.

Congrats to Marc on getting this endorsement. Now, I think I may have to give him a call and explain "the Matthews Effect"....

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A Momentary Self Indulgence

I had to post this photo-it was taken at the "Welcome Back" press conference on the courthouse steps.

I designed the banner, but haven't seen the final product until I came across the photo on Tony Phyrillas Blog.

HT to TP for posting it.



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Sighting:III

Yes, friends, another Matthews sighting! And, in a most unlikely place. It seems there was a fundraiser at Ballard Spahr, law firm extraordinaire, for none other than Former Commissioner, Thomas J. Ellis:

Ellis has been a bond lawyer at Ballard Spahr and comes well-funded; his finance chair is Ballard chairman Arthur Makadon. Makadon, who usually supports Democrats, has been raising money for Ellis and hosted a fundraiser for him at the firm last week. The event raked in some $70,000. Guests included Blue Cross executives Christopher Cashman and Christopher Butler, GOP benefactor Bob Asher, SEPTA general manager Joe Casey, Montco Commissioner Jim Matthews and Ballard lawyer Ken Jarin, husband of Wiessmann, who also attended.

We wonder why Tom Ellis would welcome Matthews, who has tried to undermine Ellis' race by allowing Democrats to use county resources to do opposition research against Ellis' candidacy for State Treasurer.

Complicating matters is Matthews' buddy Joe Hoeffel, the Democrat commissioner who has been using commission meetings as a forum to attack Ellis' performance as a commissioner, in hopes of damaging Ellis politically. The chairman's gavel (so coveted by Matthews that he had to make a deal with the Democrats to obtain it) has never been used to silence Hoeffel's prepared attacks. However, Matthews did once try to use it against Ellis to prevent him from defending himself at a meeting where Hoeffel engaged him.

At some point Ellis will have to make a choice all Republican candidates this year must make: Are they Republicans or are they friends of Jim Matthews? Because you can't be both anymore.

So, the question is this, Tom...besides losing the new-found respect you have achieved in Montgomery County (since your supposed "divorce" from King James the Turd) are you willing to be the next victim of... "the Matthews Effect"?

It's not a tough call...

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Nice Fluff Piece...

...by Margaret Gibbons (in the Reporter) on Frank Custer, challenger to Kate Harper for the 61st legislative district. (Click here to read)

I challenge Margaret to give equal time and write a piece on Kate, as well. After all, we must be fair and balanced, right?

Well Margaret, the ball is in your court.

B

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Bob Kerns' "Welcome Home" Updates

Two things were brought to your humble blogger's attention by a couple of very reliable sources.

Let me preface the first by saying that I was lucky enough to have been asked to design the "Welcome Home" banner that was behind Chairman Kerns at the press conference.

When asked by Commissioner Bruce Castor "which one" (of the elephant graphics) was Jim Matthews, Chairman Bob Kerns pointed to one and, without skipping a beat, said "This one!".

Classic!

Also, if you were there, you may have witnessed a young man walking around giving out a flyer to the reporters and others assembled. The flyers happened to be a rebuttal by the MCDC, signed by their french-libtard leader, Marcel Marceau...er, I mean Groen.

And who was this strapping young man doing the donkey party's dirty work while they enjoyed a day on the golf course (at their "pay to play" golf outing)? None other than the son of our illustrious Clerk of Courts, Ann Thornburg-Weiss.

I wonder if mom was at the office or was she on the links entertaining the many soon to be vendors?

I guess we'll know when people start getting no-bid contracts with the county, won't we?

Feh!
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Montco GOP Has Campaign to Try to Regain Voter Majority

One thing that Bob Kerns is concentrating on, the thing that former chair, Ken Davis, never really ever got off the ground, is the effort to bring Republicans who switched to vote in the primary back to the proverbial "fold".

Bob's proposed effort, "Welcome Home", was announced at a press conference on the courthouse steps at noon yesterday.

Riley Yates, of the Morning Call, reports:

Officials say party locally has done well for residents.

By Riley Yates
Of The Morning Call
July 23, 2008

Come back to the fold, Montgomery County Republicans are pleading with former GOP voters.

Socked by voter discontent and no longer the majority party among residents, county Republicans on Tuesday held a news conference to unveil a registration effort aimed at winning back those who switched to the Democratic Party before April's presidential primary.

The message: Forget about national politics and remember that the suburbs have long been GOP territory and a good place to live.

''The quality of life in our county is so high because of Republican government,'' said Robert Kerns, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. ''I hope voters will recognize that and, whatever their national politics may be, register Republican here in Montgomery County.''

Democrats enjoy a more than 15,000-registration edge in the county, a sea change from the days when Republicans held an advantage of 2-1 or more. Of 566,113 voters, 252,468 are registered Democrats, compared with 237,376 Republicans, according to the Voter Services Department.

Kerns announced the ''Welcome Back'' effort from the steps of the county courthouse. The county GOP has seven paid workers to approach voters who went Democratic from the GOP in the hopes of persuading them to return.

One example: The party's Web site prominently features a button for voters to request a change of registration form. (Click link below to read the rest of the article)

Montgomery County Democrats called the shift toward them a ''historic figure'' given that Democrats were outnumbered by 30,700 registrations before the 2007 general election.

Democrats said there's no evidence voters are going back to Republicans now that Pennsylvania's hard-fought Democratic contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is past.

Since the primary, Democratic rolls have continued to increase faster than the GOP's, according to county Voters Services.

Democrats have had 3,160 new registrations and 2,860 voters who switched parties in favor of them. Republicans have had 1,284 new registrations and 866 switches toward them, the department said.

''By and large, Republican voters did not switch to play havoc with the Democratic primary as Rush Limbaugh would have you think,'' Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Marcel Groen said. ''Neither did they switch on a lark to vote in a more exciting primary.

''They switched because the Democratic Party is offering better candidates and because the Democratic Party is on the right side of the issues that Americans -- Republican and Democratic -- care about.''

It will be difficult for the GOP to regain a majority of registrations any time soon in Montgomery, said Christopher Borick, a political scientist at Allentown's Muhlenberg College. It is discontent over national politics in recent years, and not the excitement of the primary, that led most voters to switch, he said.

''When people actually take the time to register for something, it shows they feel strongly enough to want to mark themselves as that,'' Borick said. ''It probably didn't come as a light decision for them.''

County Commissioner Bruce Castor, a Republican, said ''we'll have to see'' how many return to the GOP. To recapture a majority of registrations, ''it is going to be a long road to go, but I think it's possible,'' he said.

He noted that Forbes Magazine this year named Montgomery County one of America's 20 best places to raise a family.

''That's because of Republican government and the Republicans made that the way it is,'' Castor said. ''And when people learn that, maybe they're realize that we are more than the party of the president; we're the party they support.''

riley.yates@mcall.com
215-529-2607
Copyright © 2008, The Morning Call Read Full Text/Comments

I Took A Survey...

...to see what condiment I was. The results:

You Are Hot Sauce

You are the life of any party, because you're so good at bringing people out of their shell. You have a knack for helping people happily embrace their true selves. You are ambitious, driven, and fearless. You love taking risks. Your taste in food is 100% adventurous. You're up for sampling any exotic cuisine or someone's kitchen experiments. You live for trying new things, and you get sick of eating the same food (even if it's very delicious).

What Condiment Are You?

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More Patronage!!!!!

Matthews is doing a political favor for his secretary. In the past, it may have been accepted behavior, but the new climate of Jimbo giving away the courthouse to the dems, this has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. We need home rule and we need it quickly.

B.
Castor Objects to New Fleet Chief
By: MARGARET GIBBONS, Times Herald Staff
07/21/2008

COURTHOUSE - Montgomery County government has a new fleet chief despite objections by county Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. to the appointment.

The commissioners and controller voted 2-1, with one abstention, to tap Thomas Schneider, the husband of Montgomery County Commissioner Chairman James R. Matthews' administrative assistant, for the post of fleet manager.

Matthews abstained from voting while Castor cast the lone "no" vote. The position became vacant upon 13-year veteran Richard Flood taking advantage of the county's early retirement incentive program.

Schneider, who has been employed as a county deputy sheriff since 1999 and was earning $38,209 a year, will receive a salary boost to $46,267.

Castor explained that, while he knows and likes Schneider, he did not receive notice of the proposed hiring until one day before the vote and did not receive supportive materials that would justify the appointment.

"The thing that is troubling me here is that we are often concerned with allegations that we are engaged in cronyism and patronage," said Castor. "I am inclined to want to be supportive of this action but I don't want to be accused of engaging in cronyism or patronage. I want more information to satisfy me that this is the right move to make."

The fleet manager oversees the county's 300-plus vehicles and equipment such as landscape equipment, dump trucks, snow plows, backhoes and the like to ensure that they are in good working order.

The fleet manager also must maintain an annual budget that provides for renewals of vehicle registrations, tags, titles and shop materials and preparing specifications for the purchase of new vehicles and equipment.

Listed requirements for the job include a high school diploma or equivalent, licenses such as a state inspection license, technical automotive expertise and experience in fleet acquisition and management.

A high school graduate, Schneider said he had a comparable post while serving as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force where he had responsibility for eight planes during the Vietnam War.

After leaving the service, he created his own paperhanging and painting business. He also worked in private security and was a Lower Moreland constable from 1995 until 2004.
County Chief Operating Officer Robert W. Graf said Schneider was one of three county employees who made inquiries about the job, which was only advertised internally.
Only Schneider followed through, filing an application for the post, said Graf. In addition, on his own time and at his own expense, Schneider went to classes and obtained state inspection certification, according to Graf.

Because he prefers more applicants, Graf said that the qualifications were rewritten to allow a successful applicant six months to earn state inspection certification. Another person subsequently filed an application.

County purchasing Director F. Thomas Snyder, who now oversees fleet management, interviewed both candidates and recommended Schneider.

The Schneider situation is an example of one of the major concerns he has about the salary board, said Castor. The board simply receives a list from human resources the day before a meeting with names and recommended actions. Unless he personally knows the individual, there are no accompanying materials to give him a "comfort level" in signing off on the proposed actions, said Castor.

"I, in my eight years here, never felt compelled, with the competent and skilled leaders we have in our departments, to make inquiries and do not so now," said Matthews. "I am not going to be a part of micro-managing 3,400 employees. I will not be a part of compromising the confidence we have in our department heads."

Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III noted that Castor did not ask any questions about the proposed Schneider appointment at the commissioners' work session. Like any other member of the salary board, he could have asked for information and would have been provided the materials from human resources.

As a result of concerns raised by Castor, the commissioners said the list of recommended salary board actions will be provided one day prior to their work session and all files and applications will be available at that time.

Margaret Gibbons can be reached at mgibbons@timesherald.com or 610-272-2501 ext. 216.




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Rep. Harper Uses Forum to Deny She Has Lost Touch

Kate Harper has not lost touch with her constituents...I've never seen a rep more in touch with the pulse of her base than Harper. She goes so far as to take unpopular positions, party-wise(she doesn't always vote how I'd like to see her vote on gun issues) because she feels they are important to the people in her district. This shows me that she does,in fact, listen to her constituents and that her base does influence her voting record in the House, as it should. She's a stand-up lady with a set. Why wouldn't the people of the 61st re-elect Kate Harper? Read on:

By: TERRI ALDERFER, For The Herald 07/22/2008

WHITPAIN - Representative Kate Harper, R-61st Dist., defended her connection with her constituents against accusations by Democratic candidate Frank Custer that she has lost touch with them and environmental issues at a candidates' night event at Normandy Farms Estates.

Residents of the ACTS retirement life community in Blue Bell gathered to pose critical questions to the candidates for Pennsylvania's 61st Legislative District seat, Harper, the incumbent Republican, and Custer.

Both candidates are fighting for a seat in Harrisburg in the upcoming Nov. 4 election and began the evening pitching their individual qualifications, followed by a question and answer period open to all residents of the community.

While most residents were familiar with Harper, the incumbent of seven years, Custer took the opportunity to explain why he thinks he could "do a better job in Harrisburg." Referring to Harper, Custer said that when politicians are in office too long, "they get in a bubble and they start to lose touch." Specifically, he said that Harper had lost touch with environmental issues in the 61st District.

Harper denied the accusation, stating that her "primary areas of concern are the environment and transportation." Harper said that in addition to her focus on the environment, she has been working to obtain sound barriers along the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and working with individual land owners whose properties are being affected by the turnpike widening, the widening of Route 202, and the Route 309 project.

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"I've worked on all of them," she said.

An issue of concern amongst several residents was the lack of a Cost of Living Adjustment for members of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System.

Al Momorella, a retired Pennsylvania school employee, asked Harper to give him an honest and up-to-date assessment relative to the COLA for retired educators.

Harper said she has supported a COLA for teachers who are long retired "because they were working in times when salaries were not so good and their pensions are consequently smaller."

However, she explained that in 2011 there is going to be a crisis in the pension fund as the state increases its cohort of citizens over 65.

"The pension funds across the board are feeling the stress of the baby boomers coming into the system and not having enough people to earn the money," she said.

Harper concluded that if a potential bill were limited to those teachers long retired, the government might be able to afford a COLA this year, however, any bill that covers people who retired after 2003 would be "too expensive for the fund to bear."

In the face of rising oil prices, one resident expressed skepticism about a "real energy plan" noted in Custer's handouts that reduces dependence on foreign oil.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is the most critical problem we have today," said resident John Vogel, a retired mechanical engineer. Vogel asked each of the candidates how they would support a "real energy plan."

Custer responded by highlighting the inaction of the federal government on the issue.
"Gasoline was getting expensive back in 2001 and everyone could see the gathering clouds and nothing has been done," he said.

Although government at the state level may not be able to influence where Americans get their oil, they can act as "test tubes" and encourage the development of alternative fuel sources, such as wind and hydrogen, by giving tax incentives to people to develop these sources of energy, Custer said.

Highlighting that conservation has to be a part of any energy strategy, Harper said as a result of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard, an act passed in November 2004 all power suppliers are required to buy a certain increasing percentage of renewable energy each year.
One resident said he does not drive much anymore, not because of the high gas prices, but because he is "afraid to drive over Pennsylvania bridges." He asked the candidates where the money is going to come from to fix these infrastructures.

Harper suggested tolling the roads on Interstate 80 in order to fund the necessary work on that interstate, relieving the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation of "about $100 million a year to take care of it." This, she said, would free up other funds for fixing infrastructures such as bridges.

Both candidates stated they were against Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to lease the turnpike for the purpose of raising money for state transportation projects.

Vogel said he attended the event to get the views of both candidates, but he supports Kate Harper.

"She has worked hard to get us parks and recreations, she listens to environmental concerns ... I think Kate has her finger on the pulse of the public," he said. Read Full Text/Comments