Byron York At Friday’s White House briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked, for the fifth time in less than three weeks, about Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak’s charge that the White House offered Sestak a high-ranking job if Sestak would drop his challenge to Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. And for the fifth time, Gibbs [...]

Montco is convening a new grand jury. Pottstown Mercury: Guns, gangs and government corruption are just some of the crimes that a new grand jury, impaneled in Montgomery County, might focus on as authorities continue the war against crime. District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman ordered the new investigative grand jury, consisting of 23 primary jurors and [...]

Despite overwhelming opposition by the American people to the federal goverments’ takeover of one-sixth of the US economy, democratic House leadership and the White House are pressing on with their plans to shove Obamacare down the throats of the citizenry. This next week will be one of the most monumental in recent American history as [...]

 

 

Arlen Specter is voting for, and working with Sen. Harry Reid, to have the government takeover health care in America.   

If you think that government takeover of the health care will be as beneficial as government takeover of Citigroup, AIG, General Motors,  GMAC, Chrysler and others, then you are a Specter Republican, another word for Big Government, Big Spending, Statist, Communist Democrat. Government control of means of production and government control of the means of financing production are, by definition, communist. If it isn’t, what is it? Not Constitutional Limited Government and economic freedom, is it?  Not Free Market, is it? Specter Republicans need to follow their leader to the Democratic Party where they will find like minded people who support these ideas. The Republican Party does not support this policy nor the ideas that justifies it.

 

November 21, 2009 

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Dear Friends,The Congress is continuing its work to try to get healthcare reform legislation, and I believe the prospects are reasonably good that we will produce a bill. I hope that the bill will have the public option - and a robust public option. We will have a cloture vote tonight and I believe that we should be able to get 60 Senators at least to agree to start the debate. 

Click below to hear my take on healthcare reform

  

 

It would be my hope that my colleagues would not draw lines in the sand or stay in inflexible positions. We need to move ahead, and doing nothing is not an option. The problems of so many millions of Americans uninsured and the problems of the rising healthcare costs makes it imperative that action be taken.

I think that the bill which has been proposed is a very, very good start. It is obviously subject to amendments and some modification. But the total cost has come in at about $850 billion over 10 years and is projected to save about $130 billion to reduce the deficit. In the second decade it is projected to save even more, up to as much as $650 billion. President Obama has committed not to sign a healthcare bill which adds to the deficit, and I’m committed not to vote for a healthcare bill that adds to the deficit. 

It is my hope that the bill will emerge with very strong provisions on preventative care. That includes annual examinations without additional costs and encouraging people to have the annual exams to catch many problems at their early stages, like heart disease or ailments, before they develop into debilitating and expensive chronic diseases. I disagree with the recent recommendations to cut back on mammogram screenings or pap smears. I think that early detection is vital and well worth the cost. I can tell you from my personal experience: an MRI detected a brain tumor the size of a golf ball between my skull and my brain back in 1993. It could have been a very, very serious matter had that early detection not occurred.

Healthcare reform is vital and we’re determined to get a good bill. 

Sincerely,
 
Arlen Specter

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 Scott Ott isn’t    

Lehigh County Executive Director’s petty and misleaing attack on Scott Ott and his church demonstrated the incumbent’s desperation. The power of Scott Ott’s ideas of Constitutional Limited Government and common sense fiscal policies overcome the incumbent’s financial dominance. It is not how much money a candidate has but how many votes he gets. Ideas and ideals move Voters.

The boy and girl mugging it up in front of the doomed ship on a recent day off. Will future generations have the same opportunities if we don’t preserve our history? Once, it was the fastest and one of the most luxurious ocean liners in the world. On its maiden voyage in 1952, the SS United States [...]

Written by Roberta Biros In my March 1st article titled “Taking Bets: Will Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper Be a One Hit Wonder?” I made reference to legislation that was put forth by Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper in 2009. The proposed legislation makes it possible for young adults to be covered on their parent’s health care coverage plans until [...]

I’ve just accepted Randy Potter’s offer to contribute to his PennPatriot blog! How ya like me now? (unnh!) (Sorry,…steroids and antibiotics wearing off)

Joe Sestak defends criminal trials for foreign enemy combatants and giving them same civil rights as Americans. And even defends trying them in Pennsylvania. Joe Sestak is to Left of Ed Rendell and Bob Casey in step with Obama Administration’s Eric Holder. Sestak is supporting trials for violent Jihadists and his connections to CAIR are to be noted. Oddly, and it may be once in our lifetime, Ed Rendell and Pat Toomey agree. Military Tribunals for Jihadists, at war with America.

 

Scott Ott Scrapple Face

Against all odds, against popular incumbent, with nearly no money against an incumbent’s campaign cash of about quarter million dollars. A very long shot almost comes in. Ideas nearly overcome incumbent’s natural advantage as well as campaign cash of about $727,000 against virtually nothing for challenger Scott Ott. Scott Ott’s campaign was to expose the fact that during Executive Cunningham’s term, the incumbent over spent revenues every year depleting substantial surplus reserves. In addition, Scott Ott presented a positive plan to address the budget issues facing Lehigh County: how to deliver basic services without straining The Forgotten Taxpayer.

“The final tally had me and incumbent County Executive Don Cunningham separated by only 870 votes out of 41,228 cast. His margin of victory came entirely from urban precincts where Democrats outnumber Republicans by three or four to one. Among the 30,000 or so voters who live outside of Allentown, I received about 2,500 more votes than he did.
FYI   300,000 people live in Lehigh County with 224,000 registered voters ( which seems like a high percentage registered to population ).  In November 2008, 152,473 votes were cast for Presidential candidates in Lehigh County.     Lehigh County’s Budget is approximately  $412,000,000 in 2010  Montgomery County, with population of 700,000 has a budget of $403,000,000

Filled with pro-life zeal, Stupak returned from his district and was led by his supporters into the Congress for forty days, to be tempted by Obama. Though under intense pressure to do so, he voted for no health care bill during those days, and when they were over he was exhausted. Obama said to him, [...]

Black students go on rampage at Philadelphia High School, beat 26 Asian students It is unconscionable that we, as a community, force mothers to send their children to unsafe schools. Parental choice is needed so kids are safe and so they can learn.

The Inquirer did not mention race of attackers and cbs3 “misstated” the facts and said the rampage was “white and black”. The school is less than 5% white. Expansion of School Choice, including letting students attend government schools outside their zip codes, is an ideas whose time has come. The Teachers’ Unions and the Education Establishment are committed to status quo. Children are being attacked. Time for a change.

It is an unconscionable tragedy that we force parents to send their kids to taxpayer supported, government schools like this where they are beaten and harassed regularly. Charter Schools and School Choice offer a viable alternative and discrimination by zip code allows this to happen. Schools in adjacent communities need to be open to these students who want and need and are willing to work hard to learn. Thugs and criminals need not apply. End Zip Code Discrimination in government monopoly, taxpayer funded, “public” school.

Students at a Philadelphia high school claim they are being targeted by gangs at their school because they are Asian. As a precaution, there was an increased police presence at South Philadelphia High School on Friday. It is disgusting disgrace that we force mothers to send their kids to schools where they get beaten up. Time for School Choice. The immigrant community are natural Free Market Limited Government entrepreneurs and there are those who are reaching out. These legal immigrants are more Constitutional Americans than native Americans. My immigrant grandparents came to US for work not welfare of which there was none.

I love that photo - it's like the three faces of Eve as far as female journalists. You have the super God Fearing Stand By That Cheatin' Man Wife of Male Slut Dawn Stensland next to Never Met Another Woman's Man She Didn't Want to Screw Divorces with Great Drama and Cha Ching Monica Malpass. The only normal one is that Connie Colla, now a real estate maven.Anyway, we all lived through the drama

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, of course, but jeeez. Under Pennsylvania liquor law, manufacturers of malt or brewed beverages must pay a $75 annual fee to register each brand. About 2,800 beers are now registered in the state; manufacturers submit applications to the liquor board, showing the agreement they have with the wholesaler. In the [...]

These lovely old houses are in Narberth.  One of the nicest small towns in America.

A massive compilation of links to information on historical subjects. The quality varies, but there are some real gems. Check it out here.

I guess Tim Burns never should have created those jobs in the first place… The DCCC wasted no time attacking 12th Congressional district candidate Tim Burns for selling his pharmacy tech company.  The Democrats are once again showing their true nature as haters of free-market capitalism. See, Burns created a product that had others were willing to [...]

The Daily Numbers: 25,000 unsecured bail for former Ridley Officer Brian Decker, who was held for trial on charges he assaulted a female clerk at a Wawa.
278.80 more in taxes residents likely will pay under the new Norwood budget. At least one resident doesn’t like it a bit and has put up signs in his front yard to let borough officials know how he feels about the tax hike.
5 inches of rain that could fall on the region this weekend. Hey, it could be worse. That would equate to 50 inches of snow.
18 years, how long state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland has represented the 159th District. He’s running again.
13, age of child believe to be with a man who may have fled the country after police say they found child porn on his computer in his Upper Darby home.
4 signatures on the nominating petitions of 7th District GOP hopeful Pat Meehan that his camp believe are “questionable.”
200,000 dollar winning ticket sold in the Powerball lottery in Media. It didn’t hit the big jackpot, however. That will soar to close to $200 million Saturday night.
3.4 million dollars in tax receipts that turned up in Philly, but which was never deposited. Amazing that can happen in a city that is broke.
2 more 15-year-old girls who are now claiming a sexual relationship with a former school janitor in Downingtown.
72 percent hike in the cost of pension for employees looming in the Springfield School District.
120 million dollar deficit in Philly that has pols there talking about either hiking taxes or laying off workers.
31 young people hauled into court yesterday to face charges in ‘flash mob’ incident. One juvenile pleaded guilty.
600 local GM dealerships that will get a 2nd chance from the carmaker as they revise the number of sites that will be closed.
1 school bus and 1 car that collided yesterday afternoon in Schwenksville, resulting in several minor injuries.
1 person shot last night in Norristown.
3 people killed by trains across the region yesterday, 1 in Philly, 1 near Trenton, and 1 near East Orange, N.J.
300 pounds of pot found in a raid of a home in Reading.
3 of top 4 seeds to go down in the Big East Tourney. Put Villanova on that list. They’re 1 and done.
80-76 loss for the Wildcats to Marquette, who they beat 2 times this year.
5-1 thumping for the Flyers at the hands of the Bruins.
4 strong innings for Joe Blanton as the Phils shut out the Tigers in Florida yesterday.
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Call me a Phanatic: A look at the ups and downs of being a Philadelphia sports fan.Why do I suddenly get the feeling that Temple just might be the best team in the city?
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I Don’t Get It: Jihad Jane? Now we’re hearing about a suspected ‘Jihad Joe’ from Jersey. I don’t get it.
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Today’s Upper: Yes, it’s likely going to rain all weekend. It could be worse. That rain could be snow.
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Quote Box: “Brian Decker enjoys the same rights that we all do, and that is a presumption of innocence until all the evidence comes out.
- Defense attorney John List, after preliminary hearing for his client, former Ridley police officer Brian Decker.

I guess all the people who insist we’re in the pocket of the Ridley Police Department will have to find something else to complain about today.

Now who would that be plastered all over the front page of the newspaper? Well, that would be none other than former Ridley Township Officer Brian Decker.

This all started back in November, when an incident involving Decker and a female clerk at the Wawa across the street from the police station first came to light.

My legions of critics insisted that we were downplaying the story, in part because we were in cahoots with Ridley police.

Decker eventually was charged with assault. He checked into rehab and was formally arraigned on the charges about a week later. But his preliminary hearing had been continued several times. I get the feeling from some readers that we’re to blame for that, too.

This new, cozy relationship might come as news to Capt. Charles Howley, the top cop in the township. I like the guy, but we’ve had more than our share of disagreements.

Specifically, our critics noted that we had not run a photo of Decker, and it was not featured on the front page of the paper, as is the case with so many other criminal suspects.

They were right about that. But not for the reason they believed. They think we didn’t use a photo on purpose, that we were trying to protect Decker, and the Ridley police.

Not exactly.

The truth is we didn’t have his photo. There was a high school yearbook shot floating around the Internet, but I didn’t really want to use that one.

That all changed yesterday. We were there as Decker arrived at district court in Springfield for his preliminary hearing.

We took his photo. And we did a video of him arriving, as well as his attorney from after the hearing.

Decker was held for trial.

You can read all the other details here.

Then you can post a comment about how we’re still trying to go easy on Ridley police.

Just don’t look at the front page of the newspaper if that’s the case.

I had a visitor bright and early yesterday morning here in the office.

It was Pat Meehan. I had an inkling why he was here.

The former U.S. attorney and former top Delco lawman was doing a little damage control. Basically, he was doing what we call “getting ahead of the story.”

I had received a couple of e-mails late Wednesday and early Thursday from the Meehan camp alerting us to potential problems with his nominating petitions.

Meehan actually sent a letter to his successor as Delco D.A., his Drexel Hill neighbor Mike Green, asking him to review possible problems with some of the signatures on his nominating petitions.

The Meehan campaign had identified at lest four signatures that were “questionable.”

I don’t consider it a big deal. Of course, it did not stop a flurry of e-mails from his likely Democratic foe, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, alleging all kinds of problems with the Meehan situation, and again warning of the nefarious way the Delco GOP goes about its business.

The Lentz campaign said Meehan only took action after they began asking questions.

In other words, politics as usual. It rises to about the same level as the Meehan folks ripping Lentz for missing some votes while attending an event in Washington, D.C.

About the most interesting thing to come out of all this finger-pointing is a blast from the past. Apparently right in the middle of the Meehan petition problems is Paul Summers, a longtime political fixture in Upper Darby and the county who has had a couple of skirmishes in his past, including being forced to resign his post with the county convention and visitors bureau when this newspaper discovered he had been doing political work on the job.

The other oddity about all this is that Meehan at one time prosecuted people in the county for problems with nominating petitions.

It’s not going to make much difference. Meehan has more than enough signatures to stay on the ballot.

No doubt the name-calling and finger-pointing will continue on both sides.

I guess the issues will just have to wait.