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You know the RCA dog Nipper? His cute, little head tilted to one side when he heard sound from the RCA phonograph in years gone by.

Well, my head went “RCA dog” when I attended the Mike Kelly meet-and-greet at Beans on Broad in Grove City, PA. Kelly is one of many GOPers who want to unseat Kathy Dahlkemper in PA-3. When I showed up, many of the party insiders were there. I briefly spoke to Kelly before he was about to give his speech – seemed like a nice guy.

Mercer County GOP Chairman David King stood in front of the group to introduce Kelly. And that’s when it happened – King called Kelly “our” candidate. Really.

I asked him about it afterward, wondering if I missed an announcement about an endorsement. King quickly got defensive and said he must have misspoke since the MerCo GOP has an open primary. Fine. I’m not naive, but people do make mistakes. Explanation accepted.

I then asked him if he was going to the Clayton Grabb event in Hermitage that afternoon. He knew NOTHING about it. It was an incredibly strange admission for the person who is the leader of the county party. I had heard rumors that Kelly was the GOP pick, and when coupled with the “accidental” endorsement, this ignorance of Grabb’s event was quite striking.

Then Grabb’s event came along, which I sadly missed – my class at Duquesne was calling, of course. Fortunately, The Herald showed up to report on it (Matt Snyder was also at the Kelly event). To my “surprise” it seems that Chairman King took Grabb to task when he said that the GOP needed to return to its roots of conservatism. Now, in all fairness, I don’t know how much of the story is embellishment. The encounter might have taken ten seconds. But the substance is what matters.

A participant in several Tea Party events, Grabb promised to bring conservative values back to the Republican Party.

David O. King, Mercer County’s Republican party chair, took issue with that. He said he’s been active locally for 20 years and wasn’t aware their values had changed. He also asked why more Tea Party activists can’t swing by the Republican headquarters in Mercer.

Grabb initially said that Republicans had swung too far toward the center, which King said he “doesn’t believe.”

Several members of the audience, who said they attended Tea Party rallies, took issue with that. They cited the 2008 presidential run of Sen. John McCain and last year’s House race in New York in which party leaders chose liberal Dede Scozzafova as their nominee. Conservative opposition to that choice sunk Scozzafova’s campaign and highlighted the gulf between party leaders and rank-and-file voters.

You see, King said NOTHING when Kelly said basically the same thing. In fact, he was glowing as Kelly spoke. Kelly lampooned the fiscal mess the GOP and the Dems have made.

And BOTH Kelly and Grabb are right. The GOP is a mess. You only have to look at the slobbering support for McCain (a socialist Republican if there ever was one). When you get to the county level, there was support for Arlen “he’s with us when it counts” Specter and continual glowing praise for Phil “I never met pork I didn’t like” English. And then there’s state senator Bob Robbins who gladly catalogs his pork on his own Web site. Most recently, we have seen overwhelming support for Tom “I’m too busy campaigning to do my job” Corbett. Ugh.

Yes, King has a job to do – to show a unified GOP. Personally, such a job would make me sick. I’m conservative first and foremost. The GOP just happens to be the closest political party to match my views. But it has been a pathetic shadow of its former self since 1994. After that, the GOP congress got greedy and sloppy. Bush killed us with his spending and getting TARP I underway. Our Harrisburg contingent (with few exceptions) went spending-silly, including the disgusting payjacking, WAM abuse, and staff bonusgate.

If King isn’t aware that the GOP has steered violently to the left, then perhaps he should step down. And if he can’t appear equal during an “open” primary, then he absolutely needs to step down immediately.

-Rich Talbert

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I’m not sure if Steve Johnson wants Michael Corleone’s endorsement, but somebody emailed this to me:

It’s hard for most people, me included, to get too excited about the Lt. Gov. race. I mostly find it interesting that somebody bothered to do this. To the extent that there’s any organic interest in this race at all, it seems to be for Johnson.

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I’m getting the impression that this whole Cawley for Lt. Gov thing wasn’t thought through very much. Lilik linked to video of Cawley criticizing the Porkulus on one hand and accepting it with the other. Of course, no candidate is ever perfect, and I’m not going to jump down a guy’s throat for taking money from DC when they’re handing it out.  It bothers me, but in and of itself, it isn’t a deal-breaker.  Others will surely be more irritated by this than I am.

But something else on this guy’s blog bothered me – Cawley wouldn’t identify himself as a conservative, but instead chose to call him self a progressive.  Sorry, but that’s a profanity in my book.  McCain called himself a progressive, and conservatives weren’t too happy about it.  I held my nose and voted for McCain, who was certainly preferable to Obama, and with the hope that McCain didn’t actually understand what “progressive” meant.

So, is Cawley really a progressive, or does he not know what that means?  Which is worse?

One should always take what these hit-sites say with a grain of salt, but the preponderance of evidence does not look favorable for Cawley.  I hope the Powers That Be look this guy over once more, and maybe change their minds.  I’m not holding my breath for any mind-changing, so I think it falls to the loyal opposition to get their house in order and coalesce around another candidate.

Right now I’m partial to Steve Johnson, but I’m not married to that idea.  Johnson “gets it”, at least rhetorically, and he’s working his behind off.

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Sen. Anthony Williams’ Racist Remarks Are Disgraceful

By CHRIS FREIND

If you’re wondering why race relations in America haven’t improved at all, look no farther than the recent comments of state Senator Anthony Williams’ concerning the current field of Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

Fueling speculation that Williams, who is black, might throw his hat into the race, the senator ranted that none of the four Democrats was giving any attention to the black community and the issues faced by that constituency.

In other words, since they are all white, they were just catering to Whitey and ignoring everyone else.

Gee, and I thought campaigns were supposed to be color-blind.
Williams is correct that none of the Democrats has workable solutions to the monumental problems we face —black or otherwise. Ironically, it is the Republican platform that holds the key to success for Williams’ people.

But here’s the bigger irony: so-called black leaders like Sen. Williams’ do more to harm their “own people” than any white politician ever could. Despite the majority of black Americans holding Republican, and in many cases conservative, values, their black “leadership” sells them out time and time again by perpetuating policies destined to fail.

A look at Williams’ hometown of Philadelphia gives a startling example.

The city has been under Democratic leadership for sixty years — one-Party rule with no competition. And how has that bastion of leadership fared?

Philadelphia has the nation’s highest rates of murder, violence and poverty. Its educational system is abysmal, with many of the public schools being deathtraps, totally devoid of all learning and where survival is the first—and only— order of the day.

But that’s just the beginning.

The city’s pensions are insolvent. The business climate continues to decline due to the brain drain of our best and brightest. The tax system is so onerous that it ranks as worst in the nation. Its court system has completely imploded. People and businesses continue to flee to more fertile areas.

And the city’s reputation for corruption and pay-to-play is legendary.
So what do people like Sen. Williams do to address these problems? And, by the way, since the city’s population is majority black, these would be the problems facing “his” people.

Here’s the cruel joke. Williams’ actions, not those of The White Man, keep his constituents down and out, ripping hope away from the very people who most need help.

Williams’ solution to the terrible business climate? Raise the city portion of the sales tax by 100 percent and make no payments to the pension plan for two years. Brilliant Anthony! Penalize those who can least afford it (it is undisputed that a sales tax is the most regressive tax) and renege on the promises made to retired workers.

And what about education? Throw huge money at the schools, appease the powerful teachers’ unions, look the other way, and pretend that the results will somehow change. It hasn’t worked in decades, and it never will.

Until we get serious about providing a quality education in a safe learning environment, our students —our future— will continue to be thrown into the world as functional illiterates. And after the last flame of hope is extinguished for these children, they resort to violent crime because they have nothing left to lose.

The cycle simply perpetuates itself. Over and over again.

It is clear that the Democratic Party doesn’t have the answers, because nothing it has tried has worked. The GOP, on the other hand, has the solutions. It just needs a powerful and courageous leader to articulate the message. But leaders in the Republican Party are in short supply.

Up until the 1930’s, the vast majority of blacks were Republican, members of the Party of Lincoln. Why the Party and one of its natural constituencies parted ways is for another column, but there’s no reason that separation has to continue.

Consider:

Who wants and needs school choice more than the black community — people who, more than anyone else, have no choice in their children’s education?

Who advocates tough-on-crime legislation and gun ownership so that neighborhoods can start to thrive again, where children don’t have to sleep on the floor to avoid bullets?

Who is hurt the most by ever-increasing taxes, fees and regulations, and who needs a healthy business climate to attract and keep the good jobs necessary to provide opportunities and sustain families?

What ethnic group more than any other opposes gay marriage?

The answer to these questions is that all Pennsylvanians benefit from these common-sense, free-market answers to our toughest problems. But for those among us who are suffering the most, these Republican-oriented ideas are more than just workable and proven solutions. They are the difference between hope and despair— life and death.

So let me shout it to those in the cheap seats one more time (that’s you, Sen. Williams): quit the race-baiting game and stop being part of the problem. If you truly want to do something for your “people,” then embrace the solutions that will get the job done.

Anything less is just….racism.

Chris Freind is an independent columnist and investigative reporter whose news site, The Artorius News Bureau, is slated to launch in mid-February. Readers of “Freindly Fire” hail from six continents, thirty countries and all fifty states. Freind also serves as a weekly guest commentator on a Philadelphia-area talk radio show, and makes numerous other television and radio appearances. He can be reached at CF@FreindlyFireZone.com

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I acknowledge depending on me for anecdotal evidence on what the hoi polloi think is generally a poor strategy.

But one thing I am NOT hearing regarding Jim Gerlach’s decision to finally settle, for now, on running for his old Congressional seat is this:

Oh, that’s great. I really wasn’t that crazy about any of the other candidates, and he’s a wonderful Congressman. This will ensure we win the seat, and that’s the most important thing.

This is pretty much Gerlach’s pitch, but I have heard it from exactly one person. And I have spoken to probably about fifteen committeepeople about this mess.

But, as everyone knows, I like Curt Schroder, and the people I talk to may not exactly be a representative sample. My biases– and identity– are as transparent as Marsh Creek ice. Unlike that of, say, some of our commenters. Anyone sensing a different pulse from the street than I am?

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I break some news in here. Read on, and see if you can guess what it is!

Jim Gerlach announcing his premature ejection from the gubernatorial race was only a surprise because, if this was his plan, we would have expected him to back out already. He never got any traction. His own county chairman– a man Jim made look good by winning close election after close election– wouldn’t get behind him early, and completely screwed him by outright endorsing Corbett about a month ago.

Does this mean Jim will want his old Congressional seat back? The one in which  four or five Republicans have already declared interest?

Well, maybe. Let’s think this through.

Jim did not call and tell the other campaigns he WASN’T interested in the seat The easiest course for Jim and his campaign stash is for him to run again for his seat via an uncontested primary.

Millionaire and recent Democrat Steve Welch is in this race, and was persuaded to switch to it by party committee types to clear the way for another gubernatorial flame-out: Pat Meehan. So Steve, one would hope, is finally done listening to those people, and perhaps in his heart of hearts wishes he listened to the regular voters who told him to stay in PA7 in the first place.

As an aside, I should acknowledge flameout is a little harsh. All the committee bigwigs lined up behind Corbett early. Meehan and Gerlach were never seriously considered by them, and were treated poorly. By extension, those party types basically gave the finger to voters in PA6 and PA7 by trying to dictate how their congressional primaries would go from Harrisburg.

Curt Schroder, by most accounts the frontrunner in this primary right now, has been intending to run this race for a long time. Gerlach waited a long time before officially declaring, and now he’s backed out pretty darned late. I don’t have any inside information on this one, but I would wager Schroder isn’t particular interested in stepping aside at this point. That dude is ready to rumble.

What about the others: Cohen, Sellers, and that other dude I got mail from today? What’s his name? The geologist with solar panels on his house?

Well, what they think is pretty inconsequential, except for the fact that the more crowded the primary, the better their respectively small chances will be. So Gerlach coming in probably won’t chase any of them out. Except for Cohen, maybe, who is trying to run on the “I already know how Washington works, because I’ve been there!” platform. As if that were a recommendation.

So my guess is Gerlach is trying to figure out if the others will get out of his way. They will say no. Then Jim will consider the Lt. Governor’s race. Personally, I think that’s ideal for him. He can increase his name-recognition across the whole Commonwealth by running in that race, prepping himself for Governor or Senate.

Thing is, that’s what the state party dudes have been telling him to do all along. And Jim is cheesed at those dudes. A while back he expressed some interest to have talks with Curt Schroder about an endorsement swap. This would have been weird for him to do, since the primary field was so crowded, and one of Curt’s opponents had a conceivable chance of winning.

I think Jim considered it because he knew Curt was not the favorite of the party leaders, but of the party grassroots. And, at least partly, this was a way for him to make a little dig at those leaders.

So, is Jim prepared to do what those same leaders always wanted him to do, which was run for Lt. Governor? Does he want to drop a nuclear daisy-cutter on PA6 and create one of the biggest clusterf**k primaries of all time? Does he actually feel like practicing law or becoming a government affairs specialist at Merck, making himself very wealthy without having to work much, but spiking his further political career? Is he rich enough to do nothing, and just start running for Senate?

If the last one is not possible– and I don’t know one way or the other– expect him to do the first one. Jim did not get this far by thinking too far outside the box. We should expect this pattern to continue.

UPDATE

Shows you what I know:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/42090-1.html

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“Another year over,…and a New One just begun,….”

Anyway, Happy New Year to the PaWC crew! Was it just me, or did the Penn’s Landing Fireworks suck in the rain?

You’ll probably hear more of my rantings as the Global Obama Payback ramps up later this year.

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The Schroder campaign has its official kick-off event last night at the Ludwig’s Corner firehouse. By all estimates it was a great success.

There were, easily, two hundred people there. Perhaps even more. I would wager virtually all of them were actual voters in the sixth congressional district. This certainly appeared to exceed expectations. They had to roll out about three times the initial number of tables, and the hall was still standing room only.

Introducing Curt were a number of area luminaries. Not exactly household names– except perhaps for former Congressman Bob Walker– but people very well known to those who vote in GOP primaries: Berks Commissioner Christain Leinbach, former Chesco Commissioner Colin Hanna, former State Rep. Carol Rubley, and others.

And this is what indicates what the Schroder campaign can do that no other candidate for this office can pull off. Heck, you could probably count on one hand the number of politicians NATIONALLY that can pull this off:

For this office he has already lined up a range of endorsements that no other candidate can even come within the same universe of matching. At the same time, Schroder offers a message as a legitimate Republican outsider. Congressman Walker, while introducing him, lambasted current national GOP leadership And last night Rep. Schroder talked about introducing legislative reforms opposed by leaders in both parties, standing against recently indicted former GOP speaker Perzel, auditing the Fed, taking on the trial lawyer lobby, and supporting the rights of property-owners against gas line companies.

So Schroder has a very solid record as a man willing to make tough votes against his own party. This is why folks in both the Tea Party movement and those coming from the Ron Paul end of the party tend to support him. And yet, at the same time, he actually has a mainstream conservative legislative track record and is supported by office-holders all over the Republican party, if not, perhaps, by those leading the GOP committee.

The size and enthusiasm of the crowd last night confirmed that Schroder is able to thread this needle. Anyone who thinks the size of someone else’s wallet makes that person a front-runner simply isn’t paying attention to actual voters.

Oh, and for the record: He didn’t once mention primary opponent Steve Welch’s address, or the fact he was a registered Democrat last year. So our friend at www.pa2010.com may want to revise and extend his remarks that he expected Rep. Schroder to “make an issue” of these things.

Frankly, though, this is a GOP primary. Is the Schroder campaign supposed to pretend they aren’t running against a former Democrat?

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TV’s Dawn Stensland: Dropping “Anchor” in the 7th District GOP Race?

Finally, the Delaware County GOP Machine thought it was safe to go back in the waters of congressional politics. Popular incumbent Joe Sestak decided to run for Senate, and the party bosses had successfully “persuaded” millionaire businessman Steve Welch to run in another district so that Pat Meehan would be unopposed for the Republican nomination.

But a rogue wave has appeared out of nowhere, as another rival seems poised to drop anchor.

Sources have told “Freindly Fire” that Dawn Stensland, a fixture on Philadelphia television news stations for over a decade, much of it as an anchor, is seriously considering a bid for Congress in the 7th District — as a Republican.

What could such a move mean for Meehan, former U.S. Attorney and more recently a candidate for governor? Plenty — and none of it good.

Stensland’s candidacy would generate an immediate buzz around the region, and not just because she is the wife of former anchor Larry Mendte, who has had his share of the negative limelight in the last year and a half. The novelty of the Stensland-Mendte situation spilling into politics would make headlines for a week or two, but a serious and aggressive Stensland campaign has the ability to throw the Meehan effort way off track.

Dawn would enter the fray as a household figure, with higher name recognition than Meehan himself. Complicating matters for the Delco Establishment is that television anchors are no longer seen as simply journalists, but celebrities with a personal connection to the viewer. People have “let Dawn Stensland” into their homes for years, making her potential candidacy one that would hit the ground sprinting.

Can she raise the money? Where does she fall on the political spectrum? Is she tough enough to wage a battle with the big boys? How can Meehan attack her without seeming like a “bully”, a la Joe Biden dealing with Sarah Palin? Would otherwise GOP-faithful jump ship if they saw an alternative to Meehan?

These are all questions whose answers will unfold should Ms. Stensland decide to plunge into politics.

But several things are certain: Dawn Stensland is a charismatic and articulate public speaker, known to captivate audiences. Her candidacy would earn hundreds of thousands in free publicity. And her compelling life story, combined with her attractiveness as a “outsider” candidate running against the Establishment, makes a primary election run viable from the outset.

A lot has to happen before the Republican race in the 7th could be characterized as one for the ages, but this potential storyline doesn’t get much more intriguing.

Anchors aweigh…

Chris Freind, author of “Freindly Fire,” is an independent columnist and investigative reporter whose readers hail from six continents, thirty countries, and all fifty states. He can be reached at CF@FreindlyFireZone.com

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If they really want to win elections, that is. From my column in today’s Pottstown Mercury:

For years, voters have lamented the fact that there is no difference between the parties; that Democrats and Republicans are all the same. And for the most part, they are right. GOP party leadership is married to the conventional wisdom — mostly born of liberal punditry — that true conservatives cannot win elections. They are afraid of committing to conservatives lest they be seen as “extreme.”

By putting forward these weak candidates, from John McCain on down, the GOP has made their brand undistinguishable from the Democrats. Uninspiring candidates do not bring voters to the polls on Election Day.

Here’s a memo to the GOP: You exist solely to win elections. These “safe,” moderate candidates you have mincingly embraced, these entrenched incumbents: we’re done with them. The worst has happened — we are utterly out of power. You can’t scare us into voting for RINOs anymore.

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Innocent until proven guilty, right?

The former Speaker of the House participated in the afternoon’s voting session despite Attorney General Tom Corbett charging him with 82 criminal counts last week in connection with alleged misuse of more than $10 million in taxpayer money. The charges against Perzel and 9 others connected to the House Republican Caucus were the second wave of Corbett’s public corruption investigation, known as “Bonusgate.”

Perzel has not publicly said whether he plans to retain his House seat. He has denied any wrongdoing and accused Corbett, who is running for governor, of playing politics with his investigation.

Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R-Lancaster) called Perzel’s presence “awkward.”

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Back in early July, sitting East Norriton Supervisor James Staufenberger removed his name from the ballot for re-election. He left the naming of his replacement to the East Norriton Republican Committee. Staufenberg announced his decision with the following statement that should have sent the red flags flying:

“Good government is better than bad politics. There are things going on behind the scenes,” Staufenberg said. “It’s puppet masters in the background.”

If that wasn’t enough, when asked why she thought Staufenberg was pulling out of the election, East Norriton Republican committee chairwoman and Supervisor Kandy Heckman said,

“I’m not really sure. He got disgusted,” Heckman said. “Jimmy is not a political person. It was a tough primary. He believed he was elected to represent all of the township and not a handful and he got discouraged.”

Here is exclusive video of crack reporter Carl Rotenberg grilling the interviewees with hard-ball follow up questions to these very leading statements:

Allegedly, one of these disaffected GOP Committeepersons with took it upon themselves to patrol the St. Titus parking lot and remove the “offensive” Pro-Life Voter Guides from cars in the shortly before the general election. It’s important to note that the Pro-LifeVoter Guides, produced by the ProLife Coalition, endorsed ALL Pro-life candidates on the ballot last election day, not just Papiernik. Yet these guides were removed, and not without incident, from cars in St. Titus Church parking lot as the lot was vigilantly patrolled by those with a vested interest in preventing any endorsement of Papiernik from being placed on cars in the parking lot.

What’s interesting about this dynamic is that apparently, while it is unacceptable for the Catholic Pro-Life Union to endorse Catholic, pro-life candidates by putting flyers on cars in the parking lot of a Catholic Church, it seems to be quite all right for the East Norriton Board of Supervisors to send out an official mailing on the eve of a primary election to residents flat out calling Barry Papiernik and the East Norriton Residents Organization liars. Barry Papiernik and the East Norriton Residents Organization are the same people who, coincidentally, publicly and vociferously challenged the Board’s rubber stamping of the Einstein project.

The substance of the mailing is neither here nor there in my opinion; what matters here is that the East Norriton Board of Supervisors sent out blatant campaign literature for the pro-Einstein incumbent disguised as an official township mailing on official township stationary. Even the envelope in which this mailing arrived was marked “Important Township Information” in bold lettering on the outside. I’m not really sure about election law, but this seems to violating at least one, perhaps more, election laws.

Here is a sign with blue tape placed over Barry Papiernik’s name. This occured at several polling places on election day.

And here is exclusive video of crack reporter Carl Rotenberg connecting the dots on all this political intrigue:

It’s important to remember, as well, that the pro-life angle of this campaign was not small. One of the very large hot-button issues, and indeed one of the major objections to Einstein moving into the neighborhood, was whether or not they would be providing abortions at this facility. As was reported previously (see parts one and two of this report here and here), Democratic candidate (and now east Norriton Supervisor) Harris Dainoff has a father that is an abortion provider with privileges at Einstein. Democratic Candidate (and now East Norriton Supervisor) John Zurzola has a wife that works for an Einstein affiliate. In all the County, could the Democratic Committee come up with not one candidate who did not have ties with the incoming hospital?

This is Harris Dainoff.

I know, he’s adorable, right? At 27, he looks like he’d be more comforable in his hockey jersey than in a business suit. And I’m sure Harris Dainoff is a nice kid with good intentions. But are you telling me that this recent law school graduate has the experience to stand up for his newly adopted community against the very special interests that funded his campaign?

Here is crack reporter Carl Rotenberg’s great follow up to this controversial election:

Old-fashioned, door-to-door campaigning, a dedicated group of volunteers and a well-financed campaign chest helped get two Democrats elected to the traditionally all-Republican Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

The purpose of the GOP Committee is to win elections, not to keep entrenched members in power and facilitate cronyism. When it’s purpose becomes muddled, when it loses it’s focus, that is when the GOP loses seats. And that is what happened in NY-23 and East Norriton and countless other localities we are not aware of. And when the GOP’s committee members are faced with allegations of actively campaigning against an endorsed candidate, it’s time for the the Party Leadership to do some investigating, and if need be, housecleaning.

Bob Kerns, are you listening?

The fact that the two Democratic candidates, now the new East Norriton supervisors, are affiliated with Einstein and were well-funded with special interest money should surprise no one. This is Democratic electioneering 101 and it’s not the only reason Republicans lost those seats. It’s not even the main reason. The GOP lost those seats because the community’s newspaper dropped the ball in informing it’s readers. They lost because entrenched local politicos were desperate to remain in power. And they lost because the the GOP Committee was not paying attention to what was going on on the local level.

But the biggest losers are not the GOP. The biggest losers are the people of East Norriton.

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… and gets immunity.

The grand jury presentment Corbett released mentions Scott Migli, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, who will face Corbett in the 2010 Republican primary. The grand jury found that former House Speaker John Perzel, charged with theft and conspiracy, gave Migli a $100,000-a-year job in the fall of 2006 that produced “no meaningful legislative work” before he left in 2008.

“I did nothing wrong,” Migli said. “The Attorney General’s Office made it clear when they initially reached out to me that they were not after me.”

Gerlach’s campaign has attacked Corbett for months over his handling of the legislative investigation, saying Corbett should resign because it’s a conflict of interest to investigate state political leaders while seeking their support. Migli yesterday pointed to a meeting between Perzel and Corbett in October 2007, when Perzel tried to sell Corbett on a software package for his child predator unit.

Scott Migli was the executive director for the Pa GOP.

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Here’s your link for the streaming video.

Update: Perzel is the biggest name so far, former Rep Brett Feese.

Perzel is looking at 82 counts.

The other eight names are staffers.

Update: The picture:

Update: Charges are not for bonses, but a re-election campaign machine on taxpayer dollars.

Update: As expected, these indictments are painted as political opportunism by the indicted. Corbett did not respond.

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Philly Daily News:

State Attorney General Tom Corbett, now running for governor, met with state Rep. John Perzel, of Philadelphia, at a Harrisburg hotel in October 2007.

Two months later, Brian Preski, Perzel’s former chief of staff, organized a campaign fundraiser for Corbett.

In state politics, nothing about either event would seem strange. A high-profile elected official is expected to meet with members of his political party while seeking the state’s highest office.

But Corbett’s office at the time was actively investigating Perzel and Preski and others in the state General Assembly in what is now a 21-month probe known as “Bonusgate.”

Corbett charged 12 Democratic legislators and staffers in July 2008 with theft, criminal conspiracy and conflict of interest. Indictments against Republicans could come as soon as today.

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Several weeks ago when Alex pointed us numbers nerds at the Pennsylvania voter registration data, I figured there would be some indication of withdrawal from Obamunism and movement in favor of the GOP.  When I was recently sans-internet for a couple of hours I plowed into the numbers and found little to be pleased with.  Given approximately one year of data, long story short:

• Voters don’t care about the Republican party per se,
• The spring tea party time period shows some limited movement towards the GOP, but…
• The late-spring/early-summer period counteracted all of that move (and then some),
• We got no additional boost from summer town-halls and July 4 tea parties,
• Sweeping the independent and Libertarian vote will be necessary for GOP electoral success for the foreseeable future.

(Graphics and more commentary below the fold)
(more…)

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE WEST CHESTER AREA SCHOOL BOARD!

Adsett, Carpenter, Pimley, Wingerter: Great for West Chester Area Schools

“We are concerned parents and taxpayers just like you. As your School Board members, we will use our professional experience and understanding of your concerns to make West Chester Area School District the best it can be for our children and the taxpayers.”

Vote4GreatSchools

Thanks to the voters in West Chester that chose substance over smears.

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I felt that today was a good day to start writing again. This is because today is the day I say I’m done helping the Republican Party. This isn’t because I’m not a Republican, but because more to the point that I have No Idea what the Republican Party stands for anymore. I’m a conservative on a ship of moderates, which if you translate that to English means that they don’t stand really for anything except the next sound bite that will move that “Party” forward toward power again. The new song today is the same song from yesterday. This is truly one of the clearest moments in all of American History to clearly delineate the differences between Socialist principles and the Conservative values the Republican Party once stood for, what Ronald Reagan once spoke about and lived and breathed everyday proving to the world, Freedom of the Individual versus the Social Justice of the Collective. The chance to succeed or fail based on our own merits and hard work Vs. being just “too big” to fail and it’s our duty to “spread the wealth around”.

Never has there been a time to make such a clear distinction between two differing mindsets….and they fail to do so. And now I know why they have failed to do so: because the “Party mentality” of the Republicans OR the Democrats is not different at all. All they care about is power, and collecting more of it in their hands and not in ours…where it belongs.

Therefore, I now believe that I have no choice but to come to the conclusion of this: There really is no difference between the “Party” mentalities any longer. The Leadership of the Republican Party is not here to espouse my principles, which they “SAY” they believe. They don’t, and now I know it, and now I’m done helping the Party. The party is dead in my heart now.

I now have decided that I will only help individuals in the future. As soon as a Leader steps up to the plate and says “Here I am, with the bumps and hard edges and flaws and foibles of a real human being, and I believe in the Conservative principles of our Founding Fathers” I will be in there corner. This is why I believe that it was a stroke of Pure Genius that Sarah Palin left the Governor’s position in Alaska and tout the Conservative values to everyone that will listen to her. This allows her to get away from what is toxic in the Republican Party, which is the Republican Party, and maybe come back as a leader to show the way back to the principles and values that this great nation, the greatest nation ever, was founded on.

I didn’t join the military, serve my country and potentially risk my life if asked, to serve a “party” or an individual…but the Constitution of the United States of America. That is the oath all service members make. We made an oath to the Constitution. And it’s about time that I uphold that oath once again.

So, I hereby resign my position as a member of the Republican Committee here in Cumberland County, PA, effective immediately. I also re-pledge my oath to the US Constitution, like I did as a member of the US military. The next real candidate that upholds and believes those conservative values and principles espoused in the Constitution steps forward, I will be standing right behind them and helping them move our country back to sanity again, but the moment they forget the principles and values is the moment I leave them in the dust. You are either for our Constitution as the Founders created and intended it, or you’re not and that will determine whether my allegiance is with you OR I’m done with you. You choose.

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Panella’s Abortion Flip-Flop Makes Him Unworthy

BY CHRIS FREIND

State Supreme Court candidate Jack Panella obviously doesn’t learn from history.

When former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney entered the 2008 Republican presidential primary, he seemed to have everything going for him: top campaign staff, unlimited money, a solid national organization, and a (seemingly) attractive message.

Yet his campaign was over before it began.

Why? Because more than anything, he had a major credibility problem.

You see, despite Mitt’s talk of being a political outsider, he danced the Washington Two-Step as well as anyone.

Somehow, Romney’s core beliefs undertook a number of miraculous conversions from his days as governor, most notably on the abortion issue.

“I believe abortion should be safe and legal in this country,” Romney stated in 1994. In 2002, he said he would “…preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose. I am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard.”

But when Romney ran in the national Republican primary, where many GOP voters are Pro-Life, Romney sang a different tune, ardently proclaiming he was against abortion.

We can’t look into another person’s soul, so we don’t know if Mitt really had a change of heart. But his switch was certainly suspect.

When a pol flips on issues just to get elected, he loses credibility on both sides. Not being trustworthy isn’t exactly the best way to appeal to voters.

But since politicians never learn, they repeat the same mistakes time and again.

Enter Democratic state Supreme Court candidate Judge Jack Panella.

Panella Flip-Flops On Abortion

There are huge stakes in the race for the court, since the 3-3 deadlock will be broken. The court’s vision will be a road map for the future of Pennsylvania.

But one thing the court doesn’t need is a spineless judge. And that’s exactly what Panella has shown himself to be.

For years, Panella has passed himself off as being Pro-Life. But now, he is running ads “warning” voters that Republican candidate Judge Joan Orie Melvin wants to take away abortion rights. And this comes after being endorsed by the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, which opposes abortion rights, in his 2003 Superior Court campaign and as recently as the May primary.

Now that the general election is upon us, with Orie Melvin never wavering in her Pro-Life position, Panella has decided to dance, so much so that he earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood. According to published media reports, that group’s state director said Panella’s responses to its questionnaire “made us very comfortable” with his position on the issue.

Why the switch? Is it because there are more Democrats in the state, and Democrats, as a whole, tend to be more pro-abortion? Panella may think his flip-flop is a shrewd political ploy, but it could well backfire.

After his calculated switch, from whom has he engendered support? The pro-abortion community? Not likely. Die-hard pro-aborts (no pun intended) are most likely voting against Judge Orie Melvin anyway because they know she is a candidate who stands on principal.

In his crass attempt to woo the swing voters in the middle, Panella has shot himself in the foot. While some of these voters may not be in total agreement with Orie Melvin, they respect her conviction and courage — hallmarks of a good judge.

And let us not forget that many of the state’s Democrats are pro-lifers, especially from the southwest and northeast. Panella’s flip is already being viewed with contempt by many folks in these areas.

Politicians playing both sides is anathema to good government, and a major reason for the public’s cynicism. Ironically, if candidates looked to the nation’s most beloved politicians, such as Ronald Reagan, they would see that the people vote much more for candidates of conviction, and NOT for those trying to be all things to all people.

Jack Panella belongs more on Dancing With The Stars than on Pennsylvania’s high court.

While it is not the role of this columnist to endorse a candidate, it is certainly appropriate to urge voters to reject the two-faced, backstabbing tactics of a bottom feeder like Jack Panella.

On Tuesday, vote for integrity. Vote against Jack Panella.

Chris Freind, author of “Freindly Fire,” is an independent columnist and investigative reporter whose readers hail from six continents, thirty countries, and all fifty states. He can be reached at Christopherfreind@hotmail.com (E before I in Freind)

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Friends,

I am pleased to inform you that Philadelphia has been selected to host a monthly Center-Right Coalition meeting, following the hugely-successful model of Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). We will be one of the few non-state capital cities to have such a gathering.

The kick-off meeting, which I will be hosting, will be Thursday, November 12 at the Union League in Philadelphia, with Mr. Norquist in attendance. Light refreshments will be served at 7:00 AM, with the program going from 7:30 to 9:00. The Union League is located at 140 S. Broad Street, just two blocks south of City Hall.

In Grover’s words, the objective is “to get everybody who is center-right to tell each other what they are doing, to share technology and tactics, and to tell stories” regarding issues facing Pennsylvania and the nation.

One key function, according to ATR, is to facilitate collaborative activities of coalition members, many of whom may have not previously known one another, and foster the potential for mutual cooperation.

The rules are simple: Anyone who so desires may speak for three minutes on current initiatives, answer questions, and pass the microphone to the next speaker.

The only prohibition is whining. It is a positive meeting, one that will unify southeastern Pennsylvania.

Attendees will typically include influential political, business, policy and grassroots leaders.

If anyone who would like several minutes on the agenda, please let me know.

You are encouraged to bring any literature for distribution.

I hope to see you next Thursday.

For future reference, the monthly meetings will be held on the FIRST THURSDAY of each month at the Union League, with the same time format as above.

Feel free to invite colleagues and associates. All meetings are off the record.

Steadfast,

Christopher Freind
“Freindly Fire”
Audaces fortuna iuvat
610-659-0098
christopherfreind@hotmail.com (E before I in Freind)
CF@FreindlyFireZone.com

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