MPD: The Montco PA Dem Blog

Media blackout lifted on Bevilacqua death

2012-02-09T23:10:00.002-05:00

Now that the days of viewings and services marking the death of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua have concluded, it is apparently safe for the Inquirer to wade into reporting on the circumstances surrounding the former archbishop's unexpected demise.

In a story that appeared on Philly.com shortly after 10PM tonight, Inquirer reporter John Martin details how Montgomery County coroner Walter Hofman has been involved in probing the prelate's death since shortly after Bevilacqua passed away last week:

A representative of the coroner's office came to the seminar(sic) the night the cardinal died, according to Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese...

Hofman said he was asked the next morning by county prosecutors to conduct his examination. He arranged for Bevilacqua's body to be transported to the coroner's office in Norristown.

It had already been embalmed, but Hofman said embalming would not interfere with his exam. The body was returned to the funeral home later Tuesday.

The coroner also asked the archdiocese to turn over medical notes and any medicines Bevilacqua had ingested in the three weeks before his death, Farrell said.

For the record, it has taken 10 days for this story to make its way into the news. No explanation is offered in the Inquirer article for the delay in reporting these developments.

The strange case of Cardinal Bevilacqua

2012-02-09T08:52:00.005-05:00

I can't get past this, though it seems like I'm the only one bothered by it or even thinking about it.

At the beginning of last week, in a story posted on philly.com at 3AM on Tuesday, Jan.31, the Inquirer reported that Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sardina ruled former Philadelphia archbishop Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua competent to testify in an upcoming abuse case brought against three Catholic priests.

Less than 24 hours later, Bevilacqua was dead.

Now if this had been a Mafia don or the head of a drug-dealing street gang, the papers would have been full of the "stange circumstances and convenient timing surrounding the death of a key witness."

But to date, not one word in that regard as it applies to the Cardinal has been written or reported by any media outlet in Philadelphia - or anywhere else, for that matter.

Granted, Bevilacqua was an old, sick man when he died. He reportedly was battling cancer and Alzheimers, and his death was not a shock. But according to a post in the Catholic clergy blog Whispers in the Loggia Bevilacqua's passing was "not expected to any imminent extent."

So we have the unexpected death of a key witness in a high-profile sex-abuse case...and not a single solitary piece of reporting about it. The death reportedly took place at the Cardinal's residence in Lower Merion, so jurisdiction would be in Montgomery County. Yet we have had almost no word about whether Montco DA Lisa Vetri Ferman has opened an investigation or whether county coroner Walter Hofman ordered any medical examination or autopsy of the Cardinal following his demise.

I say "almost no word" because there appears to be one very brief attempt to contact Hofman reported in an article appearing on something called Pahomepage.com. Here's what it says:

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has resisted expanding on claims Bevilacqua suffered from cancer and dementia.

A cause of death is not being released at this time.

A call to Montgomery County Coroner Walter Hofman said on the phone to Eyewitness News, "I'm not talking about His Eminence."

A reporter was asking if Hofman's office had pronounced the Cardinal dead on Monday night. Hofman said information will only be released after his office completes its report. He said that would be four to six weeks.

So apparently anyone who has questions about the suspicious timing of Bevilacqua's death will need to cool their heels until sometime in March or April.

Meanwhile, we are left to ponder the deep mysteries of how the Philadelphia news media, government authorities and Catholic hierarchy can seemingly work hand in hand to ignore this curious turn of events. And it seems we must ponder it to ourselves, because Philly.com has also decided to delete its Comment section beneath all stories dealing with Bevilacqua's death.

To me, the past week has not only seen the passing of a high-profile religious leader.

It's also seen local journalism lapse into a coma.

Proud Liberal

2012-01-24T09:33:00.002-05:00

I might have some problems with the Dem label, but never with being Liberal. Thank you, Lawrence O'Donnell, for the reminder of why this should not ever be something we're scared to be called. Like O'Donnell says, it's a badge of honor.

Not yet

2012-01-23T16:46:00.002-05:00

A few have wondered whether the "Ex-Dem" thing has run its course and whether I'd be removing it in the run-up to the 2012 Presidential festivities.

My answer? Not just yet. For now, it stays as-is.

Oh, I'll vote for Obama, and for Casey, and for whatever Democrat steps up to the plate in whatever gerrymandered Congressional district they've got me in this decade.

But I won't buy into the Party, and I won't be sending off scads of campaign contributions to support these guys this time around. Because even with Newt's racist rants, and Mitt's bowing down to Corporate Personhood, I'm not convinced that the powers driving the Democratic Party are all that much different than those at the core of the Republican Party, with the end result being that where we end up is right about in the same sorry position no matter which party is in power.

I don't believe that top Democrats are at all devoted to Democratic ideals. And until they show me otherwise, I don't want to be a member of their team.

Times (Herald) Foolery

2011-12-29T02:22:00.005-05:00

At least now we know why the Times Herald's Stan Huskey became an editor: it was very clear he'd never make it as a poet.

As evidence, we present Stan's latest salvo in the never-ending "We know Matthews is a crook, we just need some new laws to prove it" mission - in which he attempts to rhyme his way to some sort of point. Not only does he fail to make his point, he also fails to make a rhyme in most cases. For example, take these final six lines of his "Twas the Day After Christmas" doggerel:

Pay to play has been touted as an onerous offense
But apparently the evidence is easy to rinse
Campaign finances are easily spent
On your car, your club or possibly your rent
So here’s to a happy Christmas to all
A time to take umbrage begins with this night

I rest my case.

I also humbly present my rebuttal to the Huskey malarkey, for better or verse. With the late Nat King Cole doing the vocals, I give you "Huskey Burning with an Open Ire", otherwise known as "The Day After Christmas Song":

Huskey burning with an open ire
Like he’d been punched in the nose
Still can’t believe that Matthews the Liar
Is not the crook he thinks he knows.
He really thinks it blows
And so he writes and writes and writes
And hopes to one day to change the laws
Thinks that new rules will make it all right
And fix the county’s many flaws
But please, let us pause
And think about what’s really wrong
With news so biased and obsessed
Skewed and distorted reporting allowed
From Tea Party Phucas and the rest
Who ever could have guessed
This once-great paper falls so low
It acts so very like Fox News
Although it’s been said, many times many ways
It’s the readers who lose.

Credit where credit is due

2011-11-09T10:02:00.002-05:00

Winning the County Commissioners' race is huge. Beyond huge. And even though I continue to have very large issues with the MCDC leadership, it is time to say "Well done."

Local pundits will crunch the numbers for a long time over this one, but I'm sure we'll see that the race was won with huge turnout in the Eastern part of Montgomery County.

Meanwhile, there's another facet of the race that has gotten almost no attention, but I think it smacks of (dare I say) genius. That compliment is not given lightly to this crew, believe me.

But as much as I could not believe county Democrats weren't fielding a candidate to oppose Risa Ferman for DA, I now look at that as a brilliant strategical move.

Here in the Philly burbs (and elsewhere), Democrats lose law & order races. Whoever Marcel & Co. put up against Ferman would have been a sacrificial lamb anyway. But more than that, it would have opened the door for all kinds of "Democrats are soft" talk. And enough of that kind of talk could easily have poisoned the well for the Commissioners race, too.

But by not running a candidate for DA, the county Democrats completely took that card off the table.

It's not the only reason that Shapiro and Richards (yes, I will now acknowledge she has a name) won last night. But it's part of the big picture, and in hind sight, I appreciate how smart it was.

Times Herald Reporter: Just call him "Mr. Tea"

2011-10-26T11:55:00.001-04:00

This is really beyond priceless. Reporter Keith Phucas, Bruce Castor's bestest buddy at the Times Herald, formerly BFF of Curt Weldon and lover of all things conspiracy related, is apparently a card-carrying Tea Partier. Who'da thunk it?

The Times Herald: like their cable news clone, Fox News, delivering far-right propaganda direct to you every day. The house organ of the Montgomery County Republican Party...Now featuring Tea Party reporters!!!

They distort. I deride.

Norristown Times Herald: "Keep your comments to yourself!"

2011-10-17T10:59:00.003-04:00

Looks like one of the major changes in the Norristown Times Herald web redesign is the total elimination of Reader Comments. As a semi-frequent contributor, I'm a bit taken by surprise.

But who knows, maybe this will work for them.

It sure will eliminate Stan Huskey's frequent attempts to justify his paper's total lack of objectivity in its coverage of local politics. I'm guessing he'll use the extra time to discuss additional story and column ideas with Bruce Castor and the MCRC.

MPXD: Ex Marks This Spot

2011-08-01T11:02:00.002-04:00

After this latest national disgrace in which our President once again abandoned the people who supported him in order to appease those who hate him and hate all that the Democratic Party stands for, I can no longer be a Democrat.

I have not left the Party. The Party has left me. And I am grieving because of it.

But until some hoped-for day in the future when those we elect actually stand and fight for the ideals our Democratic Party was built on, I will not call myself a Democrat. When this party again defends the poor and the powerless, when it protects the weak against attacks from the rich and powerful, when it speaks for labor and jobs and not for greed and corporate corruption, I will happily welcome my Party home.

I don’t see that day coming anytime soon, though. So I will be Montco PA Ex-Dem from this point on.

You have no idea how sad this makes me.

Overweight and Out of Control

2011-07-28T14:47:00.003-04:00

It's official: the Governor of New Jersey is fat, irresponsible and reckless.

What's more, he's costing the state an untold amount of money in extra health care and state administrative fees because of his total disregard for his health.

The rotund teabagger was rushed to the hospital today, complaining of shortness of breath. Apparently it wasn't a heart attack (the first thing one might suspect, given the Guv's gigantic size) but instead may have been triggered by an existing asthma condition.

According to a report on MSNBC.com (with my emphasis added):

While it is not known if this is an asthmatic attack at this point, a source close to the governor confirms Christie has suffered from asthma for years.
"He carries an inhaler with him," this source told NBC New York.
He also noted that the governor's weight doesn't help his health issues.

So just to recap:

- Christie knows he's got a history of asthma

- He allows himself to get big as a house, making the condition worse

- And when it inevitably results in him being carted off to the ER, Jersey taxpayers foot the hefty health-care bill along with all the expense involved in setting up security, transportation, communications and all the trappings that go along with having the governor make an unscheduled hospital visit.

Just one more reason that Chris Christie is bad for New Jersey.

Frequently Asked Questions

2011-06-15T17:35:00.002-04:00

I'm often accused in real life of asking too many questions. Here are some of them:

- Why do the Montco Repub commissioner candidates and the Montco Republican Party in general get a free ride from the press in the face of their overwhelming financial support from Vahan Gureghian and the three stooges from Susquehanna International Group? These guys are one-issue contributors, all looking to funnel taxpayer dollars away from public schools and into charters and voucher programs. To paraphrase Grover Norquist, these deep-pocket wingnuts want to shrink public education until it's small enough to drown in a bathtub -- last year, they bought Tom Corbett and half the PA legislature, this year, they're aiming for the Montco Courthouse.

- Why is Joe Hoeffel taking the lead on 422 tolling? I respect the hell out of Joe and think he doesn't get nearly the acclaim that he deserves from his own party but man...this makes no sense at all. I'm starting to think that maybe he likes being called out by all those people who write in the Comments sections.

- How can a newspaper that's as bad as the Times Herald continue to reap armloads of awards in various newspaper & journalism contests? (And I'll try to answer my own question on this one: A)it's a real small field competing these days, so you don't really have to be good to win a prize, just show up; B)the contests they're winning are sort of the newspaper equivalent of the Golden Globes - if your corporate parent buys an ad in the program book, you're bound to take home some hardware; C) and here's a scary thought: all the daily newspapers of the same size as the TH are even more inchoherent, more poorly written, less intelligent and have less talented staffs. Hard to imagine, but possibly true...)

- How do I reconcile the fact that I love the things that the Democratic Party stands for and the ideals that it represents, but for the most part can't relate to any of the people who actually run the Democratic Party or most of its candidates and elected officials? And that applies as much locally as it does nationally. I could never be anything other than a Democrat, but there are only a very small handful of Democratic officials I'd ever want to spend my free time with.

Castor & Brown: The Anti-Public Education Slate?

2011-05-30T07:35:00.007-04:00

Great story in today's Inquirer about how top Repub fatcats in Montco are turning their backs on Bruce Castor and giving instead to the Shapiro-What'sHerName ticket. Looks like Bob Asher is again dealing the self-righteous Castor a nice, public smackdown. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Meanwhile, a more interesting story may be buried in the final paragraphs of the Inquirer article:

Since declaring her candidacy in the fall, [Jenny Brown] has received more than $90,000 from charter-school magnate Vahan Gureghian.

That and subsequent contributions totalling $33,333 from three founding executives of the Susquehanna International Group in Bala Cynwyd account for the largest checks cut to any candidate in the race.

Their combined gifts make up 75 percent of all the money the Castor-Brown campaign has raised since October

So fully three-quarters of all the funding for the Repub County Commissioner candidates is coming from sources that are committed to killing public education in Pennsylvania? The same sources that have backed the Corbett administration as it tried to place school districts across the state in a stranglehold? The same sources that have pushed for a voucher system that could further cripple cash-starved PA schools? And, in the case of Gureghian, a guy who has engaged in secret non-public negotiations to take over all elementary education in Pottstown?

Somehow, I think that this issue might resonate with voters a lot more than whether or not the candidates back Obama's Israel policy.

The few, the proud...the Primary voters

2011-05-16T22:03:00.003-04:00

We're a hardy bunch, us handful of voters who show up in off-year primaries. Doesn't matter whether it's wet, or unseasonably cold or even if there aren't any contested races - like addicted gamblers who spy a vacant slot machine, if you put up a voting booth we will invariably jump into it. We need that fix twice a year no matter what.

So tomorrow, the 10 percent or so of us who do this without question will make our trudge to the polls, push the buttons and return home to await our next fix in November, when our votes will actually have some impact. Unlike tomorrow's vote, especially for Democrats in Montgomery County, where the closest we come to a contest is the cross-filed judges. (Hint to Dems: read your sample ballot and vote Haaz & Austin.)

But just for the hell of it, I will be committing one small protest gesture tomorrow. One of my two votes for County Commissioner will be a write-in, inspired by the no-class way that our party's standard-bearer of just four years ago was kicked to the curb by MCDC leadership.

I'll push the button for Josh Shapiro tomorrow. And then I'll write in the name of Joe Hoeffel. And I'll say a silent thanks for the way that Joe has conducted himself in the face of unrelenting opposition from Republicans, the Times Herald and the people who call the shots in his own party.

Joe, there are still plenty of people in Montco who appreciate all that you've done throughout your career. Your name should be on the ballot, and the party should be ashamed of itself for allowing this to happen.

If this is the last time I get to vote for Joe, I will do it proudly. The man has served us well.

Sticking it to Tom Corbett

2011-05-16T11:01:00.006-04:00

Earlier this month, Morning Call columnist Bill White asked readers to send him ideas for a Tom Corbett bumper sticker. I'm happy to report that the readers did not let him down.

White had one hell of a job picking from the the dozens of great entries he received. That's probably because Corbett has produced such a huge pile of dumb in his first few months as PA Governor - from his full frontal attack on public education, to his refusal to lay a pinkie on his buddies in the "natural resources" (aka "let's see how many ways we can destroy the environment") biz, Corbett has been exactly as advertised in last year's election: a friend to the rich and powerful, an enemy to the middle class and poor. Like Tea Party icons everywhere, he's a government official who is working as hard as he can to destroy government.

So without further ado, enjoy these entries from Bill White's readers:

• Corbett is out of his frackin' mind.

• Corbett: Hey, at least I don't drink as much as Rendell.

• PA: The Commonwealth where the common wealth goes to the Gas Companies.

• Heat your home Corbett style — light your tap water on fire!

• Corbett: Leave no clean water behind, just children!

• Corbett, taking PA up a toxic creek!

• Pa: Where welfare is for the wealthy, and everyone else gets fracked.

• Corbett: Destroying education, health care and the environment for the good of all!

• You've got a fracking friend in Pennsylvania.

• Corbett: Making Pennsylvania more depressing than Billy Joel could have imagined.

• Gas drillin' is thrillin' when you're frackin' for free

• Gov. Corbett: Frakturing Public Education.

• Let them eat shale!

• Corbett: The best governor money can buy.

And in the end, White chose two winning entries. For the record, I like some of the nonwinners above a lot more than the two that White picked - but hey, it's his column and he gets to have the final say. Here are the two winners:

• Corbett: Hooked on Frack

• Corbett: Every child left behind

BLTWY: Do they even read the stuff they put up there? (UPDATED)

2011-04-16T14:41:00.005-04:00

I got ticked off at the MSNBC.com politics blog BLTWY the other night when they put up a half-baked steaming pile of Grover Norquist taunting President Obama (Obama's Terrified of Paul Ryan...yeah,right), then linked it on the front page of MSNBC as if it was news.

But it was late at night and by the next morning it was forgotten, a temporary annoyance from a blog that's trying to up its readership, I supposed.

Today, though, I took another trip to BLTWY-ville and found the page pictured here, (which has since been removed - see UPDATE below) which convinces me that this stuff is the product of either incredible incompetence or just plain stupidity. Or both. Probably both.

Seems that the BLTWY bozos decided to put together a "where are they now" feature on high-profile politicians who ran for office and lost last fall. Among those featured: Joe Sestak.

Except that they apparently found an April Fool's Day item from the Politicspa.com website - which churned out fake news items on April 1 like a poor cousin of The Onion - and took the whole thing seriously. Here's what BLTWY is saying about Sestak:

Joe Sestak
Then: The Pennsylvania Representative lost his reelection bid to Republican Pat Toomey

Now: Running for basically every office in Pennsylvania

Joe Sestak certainly didn't let his loss in November slow him down. On the contrary, it seems the former congressman's political aspirations have quadrupled. Sestak recently announced his bids for or Auditor General, PA Treasurer, Congress, Governor in 2014 and 2018. “Pennsylvania is in crisis, and voters deserve responsible, accountable leadership,” said Sestak in a press release. “Unfortunately there’s only one of me, so I will give it my best.” Guess that clears up our lingering suspicion that Sestak had himself cloned.

The idiots at BLTWY found this fake April Fools day item, complete with fake press release, and swallowed it whole, then regurgitated it as fact for their readers.

I either need to read less or routinely pop some ibuprofen before turning on the computer. This stuff hurts my head.

UPDATE: I guess the crew at BLTWY was rightly embarrassed by their Sestak flub - they have taken the page down and Joe is nowhere to be seen in their current version of "Where are They Now?" But if you're curious about what real reporting incompetence looks like, you can still see their original in all it's head-slapping glory courtesy of Google cache. Go have a laugh, it's worth the trip.

No Foolin' - Bush makes Presidential Poll Final Four

2011-04-01T14:32:00.002-04:00

I just wish this was an April Fools story. It would be really funny. But it's not...and it's not.

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has a blog called Constitution Daily, a nice one to check every once in a while for historical and Constitution-related tidbits.

To coincide with the NCAA basketball playoffs, the blog decided to run a Presidential bracket and see who came up as the Presidential champion.

Well, they're down to their Final Four and here are the match-ups:

Washington vs. Lincoln (a tough call, I'd say, with good arguments to be made for both of them...current voting is close: Washington, 47.6% vs Lincoln 52.4%).

and

Franklin Roosevelt vs. George W. Bush And as of a few minutes ago, Bush is winning by a wide margin, 71% vs. 29% for Roosevelt. Again, this is NOT an April Fool's prank - I only wish it was. For a result like this, I'm pretty sure the blog must be using James Baker and Katherine Harris to process the votes.

Voting is still going on however, so there's still hope that a few folks who actually know something about Presidents and the Constitution (and competency) might keep this atrocity from happening.

In the great scheme of things, a blog poll doesn't amount to much, even one that's run under the auspices of a good-hearted institution like the National Constitution Center. But I'd hate to see a result where a handful of right-wing loonies ended up making a statement that will no doubt be picked up by the echo chamber to the effect that Bush is more highly regarded than Roosevelt.

Because that really would look Foolish.

This should be fun

2011-03-14T09:48:00.004-04:00

It appears that one of Montco's most strident Wingnutters is trying to unseat a two-term incumbent Supervisor in Upper Providence.

Personally, I wish Lisa Mossie great sucess in the primary and I hope she wins. It will be much sweeter to see her lose to a Democrat in the fall.

Cha-ching!!! Corbett's budget takes over $20 million from County School Districts

2011-03-10T16:24:00.003-05:00

Here's the rundown of what each school district in Montgomery County is going to face in putting together next year's budget. This, along with reduced revenues from property tax reassessments and recession-related fallout, is going to have a huge impact on public education. It's going to mean much higher property taxes and giant cuts in staff and programs...in other words, you'll pay lots more and get lots less.

Maybe this will wake up Montco voters who thought that electing Tom Corbett meant they'd be paying a bit less at tax time. I don't think I'd want to be a Republican state legislator who has to face the voters after they get next year's property tax bills.

Wonder if the Tea Partiers will go after Corbett and his party with the same fervor they've attacked President Obama? But at least the gas drillers won't have to pay any taxes...as they say in Texas, "Yee-Haw!"

Anyway, these figures are transcribed courtesy of Democratic Staff on the House Appropriations Committee in Harrisburg. You can look for yourself by clicking here.

An Orgy of Slogans for Newt's 2012 Campaign

2011-03-09T21:43:00.003-05:00

This is what Twitter was born to do: Somebody comes up with a concept, throws a hashtag on it, and then anyone who has a creative spark is free to pile on.

Tonight, there was an especially, er, fertile idea: #newt2012slogans. In light of Newt's hilarious explanation about his serial infidelities ("Working too hard", no pun intended, was somehow responsible for his bed-jumping), it was an assignment with infinite possibilities.

And the Twitterati did not disappoint.

Here are some of the better entries:

The Audacity of Grope

It's the Viagra, Stupid

Make Love and War

Really, Really Passionate Conservatism

America: Love it, Then Leave It

Wife Change You Can Believe In

I Approved This Massage.

I only regret that I have but one wife to leave for my country

Go all the way with Newt!

Drill, Baby, Drill

###

If you have any others, I'd be honored to see 'em. Leave as a comment...

Report: Corbett budget cuts 50% from PSU, Pitt

2011-03-08T10:10:00.003-05:00

According to a story in today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Corbett's Draconian education cuts will begin with higher education:

His proposed 2011-12 budget would cut in half state funding for the State System of Higher Education and for state-related universities including Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, Republican and Democratic legislative sources said last night.

50-percent. My God.

The article goes on to say "Lawmakers braced for deep cuts in education, community and economic development, and welfare programs."

You know, maybe it's just me, but I don't think of Education as another "program" to be cut. Whether it's public K-12 or Pennsylvania's Higher Education system -- and both are going to be officially nuked later today -- state-supported public education is a primary responsibility that we owe to our kids, ourselves and our society.

I hope that somebody organizes a Wisconsin-type protest against this outrage. Hundreds of thousands of PA taxpayers need to arrive in Harrisburg to show this governor that his priorities are not just wrong, they are immoral.

Destroying schools so that gas drillers can do their dirtywork tax-free is an abomination.

I am ashamed of my state. Deeply and completely ashamed.

Corbett's first execution: Public Education

2011-03-06T12:22:00.003-05:00

This week, Tom Corbett is going to show Pennsylvanians that he's the tough, no-nonsense Governor that they voted for by sending his first victim to the death chamber.

Surprisingly, it won't be a child murderer or a cop killer that Corbett signs the death warrant for. Instead, it will be Pennsylvania's public schools.

Harrisburg politicos and pundits around the state are abuzz over what Corbett's budget address this week will reveal. But for anyone who's been paying attention - not many, apparently - this much is already known: schools will be the prime target, and they will be hit severely.

In fact, Corbett's budget director has already written to at least one local school district and informed them that the new budget will contain "catastrophic cuts" in funding for education.

Catastrophic. This is the word that Corbett's own aide is using. One can only imagine what that is going to look like.

Teachers aren't Bankers!

2011-03-04T11:26:00.002-05:00

"We the taxpayers have a right to cut teachers salaries and benefits – they work for us! Bankers are not suckling from the taxpayer’s teat…except, of course, for the billions of gallons of taxpayer-bailout teat milk they sucked on so voraciously." - Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, 3/3/11

The Fox News Effect

2011-03-03T22:47:00.006-05:00

Expose people to a 24-hour a day stream of infected right-wing propaganda and pretty soon, they start acting like this:

I know this is the same kind of speech that the Supreme Court just protected in the Westboro Baptist Church decision. But it is ugly and it is hateful and it is as un-American as any act of terrorism. No matter how many flags they wrap themselves in.

And just like that...it's gone!

2011-02-23T09:10:00.003-05:00

Who says Repubs are slow-footed, lumbering Neanderthals who find it hard to cope with modern science?

Well, me...but that's not really the point of this piece.

The point here is that these Repubs can apparently move with incredible online speed when the need arises.

Take the case of the Jenny Brown (but not Bruce Castor) for County Commissioner Facebook page. It was just noted here in an item posted a little over 24 hours ago and already -- like magic! --the page has completely disappeared!

I guess it's a good thing that nothing ever really disappears from the Internet.

And I'd say that since they're so obviously sensitive about this, it's another good indication that there really is trouble in Repub Paradise if they need to go to the online shredder this early in the game. I would love to know what kind of phone calls went out to get this done so quickly...and who was doing the calling?

TH to chat live with Marcel this afternoon

2011-02-22T10:03:00.004-05:00

This should be interesting.

Maybe they'll ask him what he did with the knife he used on Joe Hoeffel.

With luck, he'll announce he's stepping down after the November election. But don't hold your breath on that one.

UPDATE: We should set some expectations beforehand. Maybe some betting odds.

For example - Number of times Marcel mentions the name of Josh Shapiro's running mate: Over/under 12. I'll take the over on this one - I'm sure that's one of the reasons he's doing the interview, to get some name recognition for what's-her-name.

Number of questions Stan Huskey asks that deal with Joe Hoeffel in some way: let's put the over/under at 6 for this one. Again, I'll take the over.

Any others?

WRAP-UP #1: Good thing I didn't put money on those two bets, I think I got skunked on both. Some talk on the Commissioners' race and some about Hoeffel, but not nearly as much as I expected. Overall, good show by both Marcel & Huskey. Color me surprised.

That didn't take long: Jenny goes it alone

2011-02-21T22:26:00.005-05:00

Well, they haven't even turned in the nominating petitions yet, and already there's solid evidence that the two Republican candidates are tired of their marriage of convenience.

Over the weekend, a Facebook page sprouted up featuring GOP candidate Jenny Brown...and no mention whatsoever of the giant ego she's supposed to be running with, Commissioner Bruce Castor.

The page, "Jenny Brown for Montgomery County Commissioner", features Brown's campaign head shot along with a number of posted endorsements from Facebook "friends." There's also an announcement of an upcoming Brown appearance keynoting the Upper Moreland Republican Committee Brunch.

But nowhere on the page does the name Bruce Castor appear.

To be fair, it's possible that the page was the handiwork of a friend or acquaintance who wanted to be among the first to jump on the bandwagon - anyone can create a Facebook page, after all.

But given the Peg Gibbons scuttlebutt about early friction between the Brown and Castor camps, I take this as another sign that the county Repubs may once again be fielding a political Odd Couple.

"Tax & Spend" County Budgets? Not Hardly

2011-02-18T22:08:00.005-05:00

I keep reading county Repubs' comments trying to drum up some sort of case that the Matthews-Hoeffel record is marked by high taxes and out of control spending.

Here's one that comes from somebody calling themselves "H2O" (geez, H20 comes from what? a watercooler, maybe?) over on Philly.com:

"...Castor voted against all the big spending budgets."

But in truth, there haven't been any "big spending budgets." Fact is, quite the opposite is true - county budgets since the Matthews-Hoeffel coalition took control have CUT spending and kept tax rates stable, even in the face of drastic cuts in state and federal grant money and rapidly falling real estate tax revenue.

Here is a rundown of the county budget over the past five years: the final two Ellis-Matthews budgets and the first three Matthews-Hoeffel budgets:

2007: Expenditures - $463.0 million; Tax rate - 2.84 mills
2008: Expenditures - $484.4 million; Tax rate - 2.695 mills
2009 (first Matthews/Hoeffel budget): Expenditures - $424.6 million; Tax rate - 2.65 mills
2010: Expenditures - $403.9 million; Tax rate - 2.695 mills
2011: Expenditures - $398.5 million; Tax rate - 2.695 mills

Meanwhile, annual grant income during this period fell from a high of more than $200 million in the final year of Matthews-Ellis to less than $140 million last year.

If Castor wants to try and score points for voting against budgets that lowered spending by more than $86 million dollars while keeping the tax rate stable, he's welcome to try.

But if I was Bruce Castor (ugh, what a thought!), I think I'd stay away from making any kind of fiscal argument for why people should vote for me.

Ego wrestling

2011-02-11T12:49:00.005-05:00

From the comments following Peg Gibbons article at Phillyburbs.com about Wednesday night's MCRC endorsement meeting.

Justataxpayer: Bob Kerns will be the downfall of the Montco GOP. The only thing bigger than his belly is his ego.

Montco PA Dem: Ah, c'mon. I'll put Marcel Groen's ego up against Kern's any day. It'd be like two sumo wrestlers. And whoever wins that one would get crushed by Bruce Castor's Giant Hulking Humongous Ego anyway.

Going waaaaay out on a limb with this one

2011-02-09T17:46:00.005-05:00

OK, maybe not that far out. In fact, this is probably the surest of sure-shot predictions.

But when the dust settles in West Norriton tonight, the county Republicans will have an endorsed slate of Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown. Just like their Executive Committee told them to do.

There is no way that a majority of Republican committee members have the spine to stand up against Castor's Giant Ego.

It's simply too big to overcome.

UPDATE: And it's official. The vote has been taken and, as predicted, Castor & Brown are your Montco Repub standard bearers. Expect Kate Harper to drop out and endorse these two...might even happen at tonight's meeting. Times Herald coverage of the meeting is here.

LATER UPDATE: Well, it's been more than a week now and still no official word from Kate Harper about dropping out. I wouldn't be shocked if she files a nominating petition, but I still don't see any way she could actually beat either of the endorsed candidates in the primary.

WAAAAY LATER UPDATE: Just stumbled upon what may be the only public utterance by Rep. Kate Harper about her plans for the upcoming primary. Via Twitter (where Kate is known as "Montco061"): "I promised not to run for CC unendorsed, and I am keeping my word---honesty being a refreshing change for (sic) the way things are these days...9:35 AM Feb 16th via web" So I guess we won't be seeing her on the ballot after all. Too bad, it would have given us something to talk about in March & April.

Bruce Castor describes the size of his giant ego

2011-02-08T12:47:00.001-05:00

Joe Hoeffel: Stabbed in the back

2011-01-31T21:28:00.002-05:00

In the end, it was the enemy within who finished off Joe Hoeffel.

It wasn't the ignorant Republicans lobbing mudpies in the comments section of the Times Herald, or the lumbering, heavy-handed Bruce Castor whining about the latest effront to the giant Castor ego, or the right-wing barrage from a "newspaper" that long ago lost the right to call itself unbiased, or even the trumped-up investigation launched by a DA's office that still operates as the sock puppet for its former boss.

It was none of those. I still believe that Joe could have overcome all of that.

But the thing Joe Hoeffel could not overcome was the cowardice and political malice that blindsided him from within his own party.

Anyone who knows Joe Hoeffel knows he is an honorable man, probably too good for the political slime he's had to swim through for the past four years. Here's what one commenter at the Times Herald had to say once the news broke today:

"Elected officials who are in the public, give up their personal freedom to serve the electorate and are subject to allegations by opponents that usually have no root in fact...Joe Hoeffel is such a public servant. I have known him and his service for three decades and know 1st hand of his high ethical standards, desire to maximize the efficiency of county government and leave its people better than when he initially attained office. Many attacks against Hoeffel and Matthews have been initiated by office seekers and party hacks who view bipartisanship as un-American and therefore suspect."

So true, so true.

Joe was shockingly effective as the lone Democrat on the county commission. From a position that should have yielded absolutely no leverage for his voice to be heard, he was able to form a coalition and at least have some impact.

Could he reform the county single-handedly from its century and a half of Republican business as usual? Of course not. And of course, the Repub cabal knew exactly what to dredge up and use against him, because it was all familiar territory to them - in effect, they were able to take their own corrupt practices and accuse Hoeffel of somehow being the first to go there.

And not once did anyone in the county Democratic establishment step up to support him against these smears. Not once.

I really do wish Josh Shapiro and whats-her-name the best in November. But whichever of them ends up the minority commissioner, I hope they'll frame the bloody knife pulled from Joe Hoeffel's back to remind them of how they earned their office.

Joe Hoeffel's Rendezvous with Destiny...and Marcel

2010-12-09T23:03:00.006-05:00

On Dec. 2, a date which should live in Montgomery County Democratic infamy, party leader Marcel Groen launched a surprise attack against the county’s longest serving and most respected Democratic elected official, Joe Hoeffel:

"I have a great deal of admiration for Joe Hoeffel,” Groen said to Inquirer reporter Jeremy Roebuck, presumably while donning his silk scarf and aviator goggles and preparing to drop a bomb down Hoeffel’s smokestack. “But we have some young people who can really capture the imagination and sweep us in."

Or, in other words, “Banzai!!!”

Marcel Groen has declared war on his own party.

Of course, that was just the opening salvo of what promises to be a long, bitter and divisive battle for the future of the county’s majority political party. Like any good general, Groen followed his initial sneak attack with another blast that appeared in today’s Inquirer:

"Joe Hoeffel's had a long career. I have great respect for him. But people are tired of this. You don't elect a child to run your government. He certainly acts very childish."

People who know Marcel and are familiar with how he’s run his county Democratic fiefdom surely had a few “look who’s talking” comments when they read that one.

For whatever reason – and I’ll go into some of the speculation shortly – Marcel Groen has decided that he wants to publicly slime the man he practically begged to come to the party’s rescue four years ago. And he wants to do it in a way that is going to leave blood on the floor and the party in tatters before it’s over.

Marcel could have done this quietly and behind the scenes. He’s a powerful guy and he usually gets what he wants when it comes to Montco Democratic politics. He could have found a way for Joe to step aside gracefully once his commissioner’s term was done.

But that wasn’t the way he wanted it to go down. It is clear that what Marcel Groen wants is nothing less than the political scalp of Joe Hoeffel to hang on his wall – he wants Hoeffel destroyed, and he doesn’t care if he has to burn down his own party to make that happen.

This certainly isn't the first time that Groen has put his personal agenda ahead of what was best for the party. There is a laundry list of such episodes, the worst of which include:

- Groen's efforts in 2007 to make sure that Philadelphia judge Seamus McCaffery got his ticket punched for the state Supreme Court in the Democratic primary over vastly more-qualified opponent Darnell Jones.

- His opposition to Howard Dean's leadership of the Democratic National Committee, which energized Democrats to wins in 2006 and 2008. Groen told Montco Dem committee members that Dean was a “failure” and a “disaster.”

- In 2008, he took every opportunity in the weeks leading up to the PA Presidential primary to talk about what a weak and undeserving candidate Barack Obama was.

- And earlier this year, he was on the executive committee of Republican Arlen Specter’s bid to be the Democratic Senate candidate and engineered the county Democratic endorsement meeting away from an endorsement of Joe Sestak, who won the primary anyway.

And now this.

Why would the leader of Montgomery County Democrats want to launch such a high profile campaign against the Democratic public official that county voters most recognize and admire? There are a couple of possible reasons, neither of them very compelling.

Here’s one: the Dems seem bound to follow a mandate of their own making that their two candidates for county commissioner consist of one male and one female candidate. Unfortunately, there are two highly visible, highly electable Democratic males ready to run – one, of course, is Hoeffel, the current Democratic commissioner. The other is state representative Josh Shapiro, a rising star who is ready to move up to bigger things. And Groen is most definitely in Shapiro’s corner. The only way for Shapiro to leapfrog over an incumbent Hoeffel is if Hoeffel becomes political roadkill, if he can be painted as corrupt and unpopular – regardless of how untrue those charges might be – so that Shapiro can play the White Knight savior in next spring’s county primary.

And here’s another possible reason: for the past four years, Joe Hoeffel has engineered something truly amazing – a bipartisan marriage of convenience that has frozen out the worst of the Republican power structure – namely commissioner Bruce Castor – by cozying up to the lesser of the evils, Republican commissioner Jim Matthews. But rumors say that Groen is not happy with Hoeffel’s handling of the arrangement. According to the grapevine, Groen thinks Hoeffel should have steered more county business toward Democratic interests, and this inability to deliver the goods has turned Groen into an enemy.

Regardless of the reason why, it’s obvious now that Marcel Groen is again putting his own skewed vision of the Democratic Party ahead of party unity, ahead of party success and ahead of what’s best for Montgomery County.

Marcel “Tojo” Groen sent two torpedoes into the S.S. Joe Hoeffel this month with the sole intention of sinking him before the primary season even gets started. It’ll be interesting to see how Hoeffel and his allies respond to the sneak attack.

Joe Hoeffel has had a long and well-respected career serving the people of Montgomery County. I’m sure he never thought he’d have to battle his own party’s county leader to continue that service.

Maybe this time Montco Democrats will wake up and see who the real problem is. Maybe they’ll figure out that what they really need is a change at the top.

Joe Hoeffel isn’t the problem.

Marcel Groen is.

"A gutless Republican worm"

2010-04-27T18:16:00.006-04:00

Strong but fitting words, used by CNN's Jack Cafferty to describe Arlen Specter. Take a look:

"In the end, Senator Specter has turned out to be yet another gutless Republican worm cowering in the face of pressure from the administration and fellow Republicans. There are not going to be any hearings. Americans won’t find out if their privacy is being illegally invaded.

"You know what the Senate Judiciary Committee settled for instead? Senator Orrin Hatch said he has won assurances from Vice President Dick Cheney that the White House will review proposed changes to the law that would restrict certain aspects of the NSA program.

"Dick Cheney is going to decide if it’s OK to spy on American citizens without a warrant. And this worthless bunch of senators has agreed to let him do it. It’s a disgrace."

-- Jack Cafferty, CNN

The Free Agent

2010-03-12T23:30:00.009-05:00

He had overstayed his welcome at his first home. They were tired of his self-centered act. He was not a dependable member of the team. While the team goal was winning, his priority always seemed to be making sure that the spotlight followed him whereever he went, even if that was not in the same direction the team was heading.

But when he came to town and joined our team, there were cheers everywhere. He was what we needed to push us over the top. He was the last component on a team that had already tasted victory but just needed a little push to get to the ultimate goal. He was going to be the missing piece.

And for awhile, it looked like that might be true. He was a team player, maybe even the best team player. Fans adored him. They sang songs about him. And the team piled up wins. All was bright and beautiful and it was the best of times.

But at the peak of the season, when his team needed him the most, he disappeared. Some small nagging injuries popped up, then something bigger. The team still won, but it wasn't the same. When he tried to come back in the final game, it looked like the team was out of sync. Nothing was working. The team lost.

The next season, he started off saying he wanted more money, a revised contract because he had been so good the past season. He started talking about his teammates, blaming the team's failure at the end of last season on them. He started skipping practice. He was suspended. And a few months later, he was gone for good, taking his show to another town.

That story was about a football free agent.

There are free agents in politics, too. One of them is now a US Senator from Pennsylvania who is running in the Democratic Primary this May. For 30 years he was a Republican until he saw that the Republicans would probably not vote for him in their primary. So he ran to the Democrats and was embraced.

If you want to draw parallels, be my guest.

She's baaaaa-ack

2009-11-13T16:05:00.003-05:00

Old racists never die, they just find a different Journal Register rag to write for.

Looks like Lisa Mossie will be allowed to foul more Montgomery County newsprint, at least until the next time she decides to crawl down into the bigoted slime she loves to wade through.

In case anyone missed it, here is the column that got her fired from the Times Herald back last spring.

And, just in case it gets killed by the new "Comments Czarina" at the Mercury, here's my take on Mossie's re-hiring by the Times Herald's dumber, uglier cousin:

So let's see if I've got this straight: Lisa Mossie gets properly fired at the Times Herald for her racist rants, waits a little while, then with no apology and no explanation, gets hired to continue her vicious, kooky, right-wing fringe assaults in the pages of the Mercury. This, in a newspaper that already employs one over-the-top wingnut, Tony Phyrillas.

Do any sane people still work for this company?

The Fire Next Time?

2009-06-30T20:45:00.006-04:00

The inferno pictured here didn't happen in the United States - it took place last February in Podyelsk, Russia, when a nursing home went up in flames and killed 23 residents.

Thank goodness things like that can't happen here, right?

Sadly, that's not right. It can happen here -- right here in Montgomery County, PA -- especially when you have accidents waiting to happen like the high-rise Shannondell monstrosity in Audubon, Lower Providence Twp.

Shannondell features buildings as tall as seven stories, filled with aging retirees in various stages of ability and mobility. Some with canes, some with walkers, some with wheelchairs, all of whom would need to get out in a hurry in case a fire breaks out.

Of course, in the event of an emergency, the first thing that happens is that the elevators automatically shut down. Now picture these senior residents trying to make their way down seven flights of stairs in a dark, smoky building. It's not a pretty picture, and it suggests that what happened in Russia earlier this year could pale in comparison to what might take place in a worst-case scenario at Shannondell.

But that could never happen, I've heard Shannondell supporters argue. Those buildings have sprinklers and are fire-resistant, they say.

And in answer, I refer you to last fall's report from Medicare, which inspected Shannondell's nursing home component for, among other things, its fire safety level.

They found the facility had three times the fire-safety deficiences of the average US nursing home. Triple the average number of potential fire hazards. That's just plain scary.

Among the serious problems they uncovered were improperly maintained smoke detectors, sprinklers that were not in working order, obstructed exits and no record of fire drills being conducted.

It's a disgrace, and a horrific disaster waiting to happen. The county should have shut the place down based on that report alone.

The sad truth is that these high-rise mistakes should never have been built. But now that they are there, there has to be a minimum level of preparedness, starting with monthly inspections to make sure that all systems and equipment are in proper working order.

There should also be a complete disaster plan in place that includes fire evacuation drills under "like-real" (e.g.,no elevators) conditions, a floor-by-floor plan for getting every resident safely out of the building via the stairway, and reassigning living space for anyone who cannot be evacuated from an upper floor without an elevator.

That is the bare minimum that's needed, and I have my doubts whether anything close to that has happened thus far.

Sprinklers and elevators are great for advertising brochures. But if disaster ever strikes -- which, according to federal inspectors is three times more likely at Shannondell than at your average facility -- it won't mean much to the elderly residents admiring the smoky view from their toasty seventh-floor firetrap.

Arlen Specter's Miserable Voting Record

2009-06-15T23:45:00.004-04:00

Does this sound like a Democratic voting record?:

Aid to Less Advantaged People, at Home & Abroad: 38%
Education, Humanities, & the Arts: 25%
Environment: 36%
Fair Taxation: 5.6%
Family Planning: 60%
Government Checks on Corporate Power: 37%
Health Care: 38.5%
Housing: 25%
Human Rights & Civil Liberties: 30%
Justice for All: Civil and Criminal: 21.6%
Labor Rights: 45%
Making Government Work for Everyone, Not Just Rich/Powerful: 26%
War & Peace: 23%

Source: ProgressivePunch.org

If Arlen Specter wanted to be a Democrat, he should have voted like one.

Specter, Groen and "residual goodwill"

2009-06-05T08:52:00.005-04:00

I spent last summer getting over my anger with Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Marcel Groen, who smirked his way through the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary, telling people what a weak candidate Barack Obama was. Groen's behavior was not just bad form, it was bad politics and simply wrongheaded. He created wounds that still haven't fully healed.

But in spite of how our county leader behaved, the Democratic Party rode Obama's wave to a huge victory in November and we solidified our spot as the majority political force in Montgomery County. Of course, Marcel couldn't help but tell us how much he lovvvvved Obama then.

While I didn't necessarily forgive or forget, the anger faded after a while.

Then last week, the Inquirer carried a story that got me madder than ever at Marcel. At least when he supported Hillary, he was backing another Democrat. But now, he's trying to shove a Republican down our throats.

I think it's time to shove back.

Marcel -- along with Montgomery County Democratic State Representative Mike Gerber -- has joined Arlen Specter's "Advisory Committee" to push this turncoat Republican octogenarian as the Democratic candidate in next year's US Senate race. It makes me ill to even think about it.

"There's a lot of residual goodwill," said Montgomery County party chairman Marcel Groen. "Most folks think he's now the incumbent Democratic senator, and we should coalesce around him."

I'm not sure where Marcel is getting his polling data, but I know that "most folks" surely does not include me, or most other Montgomery County Democrats that I talk to.

I can assure you there is no "residual goodwill" here.

Next year, assuming that Joe Sestak follows through on his intention to challenge this fake Democrat, I will do everything I possibly can to support Joe's candidacy. And I believe the "most folks" will coalesce around Joe, not Republican Arlen Specter, in the Democratic primary.

And after we send a message by naming Joe Sestak as the Democratic candidate, it will be time to send another message by finding new leadership for our Montgomery County Democratic organization.

We need to find someone who backs real Democrats instead of propping up frail, aging Republicans who don't support anything our party stands for.

Trick or Tweet?

2009-06-03T21:59:00.005-04:00

OK, I'm Twittering.

I just wish they had named it something else. "Twittering" does not sound like something that heterosexual males should be doing.

Anyway, I have no idea how active I'll get, but if you want to follow, it's the same as here, but with no spaces: Montcopadem

Song of the Blastocyst

2009-03-18T11:29:00.004-04:00

This goes out to Lisa "Trixie" Mossie, defender of laboratory-Americans:

The BLA Anthem

I ain't got no body
Nobody cares for me, nobody, nobody cares for me
I'm so sad and lonely
Sad and lonely, sad and lonely
Won't some sweet mama come and take a chance with me
Cuz I ain't so bad
Sad and lonesome all the time
Even on the beat, on the, on the beat
I ain't got no body
Nobody cares for me, nobody, nobody

Really ain't got nobody, sad and lonesome
Baby need love

Tea as in Turkey

2009-03-01T22:15:00.004-05:00

As in "stick a fork in it." The right-wing lunatic fringe has tried mightily to mount some sort of vast uprising against Obama's stimulus and budget plans. This weekend showed just how completely the wingnuts have failed.

Across the nation, foaming-at-the-mouth Limbaugh Loonies blogged their call to arms for all who were offended by the President's middle-class tax cuts, expanded health-care coverage, education funding and the creation of new jobs -- all things that the right apparently hates -- to protest in grassroots "Tea Parties." Here's how local zealot Lisa Mossie breathlessly spread the word on her bizarrely named far-right blog, Bluftooni:

All you folks in SE PA not going to CPAC, there's a Tea Party protest at Independence Mall on Saturday, 2/28 at noon.

Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough...

...the tough get goin'!

Who's with me?

Sign up here

Well, apparently Blutarsky charged out pretty much alone this time. Here's how the huge protest looked at its height on Saturday:

I count at most about 50 people.

Now take a look at this same area when Obama held his primary-ending rally here last April:

Something tells me we don't have much to be worried about.

Tsunami Alert

2008-10-24T17:25:00.003-04:00

From Newsweek:

The country seems poised for another "wave" election, where the close seats fall in one direction. "We've not had a leader elected in this kind of environment in our lifetime," said Greenberg. You have to go back to 1930 and 1932 to see two wave elections in a row. At the National Press Club, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer was asked what would happen if the Democrats "only" picked up seven seats, and fell short of the nine they would need for a filibuster-proof Senate. (The Dems currently have 49 seats plus two independents that caucus with them). "Only seven seats!" Schumer exclaimed. "We haven't had that many seats since 1979!"

Now..(ahem)..allow me to humbly review comments made by an astute local observer last May 16:

I just don't get the doom and gloom about November. Because it's getting clearer and clearer that whoever the Democratic candidate is, they are going to win an overwhelming victory...

And again on June 1:

It's going to take a tidal wave of epic proportions to wash away the stench of the past eight years, but that's exactly what's coming: A great big Democratic wave.

"A great big Democratic wave"...Coming your way in just over a week.

Who's "Palin" around with terrorists?

2008-10-06T21:15:00.006-04:00

From the Sept. 3 L.A.Times:

[Sarah Palin] has cheered the work of a tiny party that long has pushed for a statewide vote on whether Alaska should secede from those same United States. And her husband, Todd, was a member of the party for seven years.

"Keep up the good work," Sarah Palin told members of the Alaskan Independence Party in a videotaped speech to their convention six months ago in Fairbanks. She wished the party luck on what she called its "inspiring convention."

Great story from Abington

2008-10-03T21:59:00.005-04:00

Barack Obama visited Montgomery County today, and thousands showed up to greet him and be inspired by him as we kick the campaign into high gear for the last month leading up to Election Day on Nov. 4th.

This story from today's rally, posted by Kelly of PA on DailyKos, really moved me, as I hope it will you, too:

This picture is of my Pop-Pop. He was born in raised in the segregated south, and served in a segregated Army. Pop is a veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam, in which he lost a leg and suffered near-fatal injuries. In the past few years, Pop has suffered heart attacks and a stroke, fell down a flight of steps and broke his neck, and has lost his remaining slivers of eyesight. Life has become quite difficult for Pop-Pop, and following the campaign of Barack Obama provides him with much needed hope and joy.

Today, we took Pop-pop to Senator Obama’s rally. We wheeled him to the front of the section designated for handicapped individuals, and he patiently waited for two hours in his wheelchair to hear Barack Obama speak. After his speech, Senator Obama came down the steps and walked over to Pop-pop. He gestured towards the Purple Heart and Silver Stars that were pinned to his cap, and thanked Pop for his service and for taking the time to come to the event. I could see the tears welling up in Pop’s eyes as Barack spoke. Obama spent a few moments with my Pop-Pop, shook his hand, hugged him, and then moved along to greet other supporters.

As we made our way towards the parking lot, tears continuously slid down Pop-Pop’s face. He was very emotional. He could barely speak. "I just touched the next President of the United States" was all he could say; he repeated that phrase over and over again. The entire encounter between the two of them lasted no more than thirty seconds, but to a man who’s lived through segregation and racism, being able to meet the first viable African American candidate for POTUS was the experience of a lifetime. The joy that Pop felt meant more to my family and I than words can explain.

What if McCain quits the race?

2008-09-24T22:06:00.002-04:00

I know he doesn't sound like he's even thinking of it.

But it's clear that his campaign is in a shambles. He's got a VP who is woefully unqualified, and he must know that by now. He has a staff that has come up with only one strategy -- lying. His reputation has been shredded. And he is on his way to losing by huge, overwhelming margins in states that were once solidly Republican.

I don't see McCain as the 'Happy Warrior' type guy who'll just take one for the team, he's never been much of a team player. He's not Bob Dole.

I'd say there's a chance that he could simply announce that his health will not permit him to continue.

Slim chance, I'll grant you, but it could happen.

Somebody saw it coming

2008-09-19T08:04:00.002-04:00

This is from last July. I believe Tom Tomorrow is psychic.

"He can't use a keyboard"

2008-09-13T22:11:00.002-04:00

Somebody please, tell me this is just a very bad dream or an incredibly over-the-top farce. This cannot be a real, "your-future-is-on-the-line" Presidential race, can it?

First, the Obama campaign puts out an ad that points out -- correctly, I'd say -- that any Presidential candidate who can't be bothered to learn how to use a computer or send his own email is...how to put this politely?...a complete dumbass illiterate loser. In case you're wondering, this was in reference to the admited fact from the McCain camp that John McCain does not know thing one about using a computer.

Then, once this hits, we find a report (via a link on Drudge, naturally) that poor old Mr. "Lived in a Box for Five and a Half Years" can't use a computer because...(wait for it, you've never heard this excuse before)...he was a POW. From a 2000 Boston Globe article:

...McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes...

I'm sorry, call me insensitive, but I'm not buying that. Not even a little bit.

And the reason why is the guy pictured above, a man who suffers far more than John McCain from the nerve deadening effects of Lou Gehrig's disease: world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking.

Somehow, even though he has no control at all over his arms, his hands, or his entire body from the neck down, Hawking has figured out not only how to use a computer, but how to write emails, write entire books and, in short, be a fully functioning citizen of the 21st Century.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking for a President who doesn't use his disabilities as an excuse; I'm looking for one who has found a way to overcome his obstacles and move ahead.

Say, a candidate who started off dirt-poor, lived in a one-parent home where Food Stamps were needed to make meals. Somehow made it into an Ivy League school and then the top Law School in the country, where he became the first person of his race to be President of the Law Review.

And yes, somewhere along the line, he also learned how to use a computer.

That's the guy I want calling the shots next year. Not the one whining because it's too hard.

The Choice

2008-09-13T07:54:00.003-04:00

Here are words I never thought I'd say:

The McCain campaign really does offer us a clear choice.

You can choose to side with John McCain, who is showing all you need to know about who he is by running the dirtiest, most dishonest and lie-filled campaign of any Presidential candidate in modern American history.

Or you can choose Barack Obama, who has continued to address issues, talk directly to the voting public about the important differences between himself and Sen. McCain, and has refused to get down into the mud and go negative in the same way that McCain has done.

Here's what one Republican campaign observer had to say about McCain's mudslinging (click here for the full article on MSNBC.com):

Mr. Sipple, the Republican strategist, voiced concern that Mr. McCain’s approach could backfire. “Any campaign that is taking liberty with the truth and does it in a serial manner will end up paying for it in the end,” he said. “But it’s very unbecoming to a political figure like John McCain whose flag was planted long ago in ground that was about ‘straight talk’ and integrity.”

It's a simple choice, really - you either support McCain and his campaign that's based on lies and attacks, or you realize that Obama is the only candidate acting like a grown-up you can trust to run the country.

And in the end, I really don't think too many adults are going to choose the McCain mudslinging over Obama's high standards.

Most of us quit playing in the mud once we got out of grade school. Too bad John McCain hasn't learned that lesson.

Let's get it on

2008-09-10T16:25:00.004-04:00

Good Lord, I know I'm going to regret this.

This blog is now open for business. Duck & cover.

-- MPD