Just like last year, the Pens lost both Game 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in Detroit. However, unlike last year, the two games were much closer, and considering the number of posts that were hit and the number of penalty calls the refs missed (including two automatic penalties which should have been called on the Red Wings and weren’t, but that’s just the way it goes), both of these games could have gone either way. Not so last year, as the Pens were smashed by the Red Wings in both opening games.

I’m very disappointed to be in the same situation as last year, but I’m still hopeful that the Pens can pull out a victory just as they did against the Washington Capitals after being down 0 – 2 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

It’s not over until one team wins 4 games. Don’t give up, Pens. You can still win this series! I won’t give up until the last second is off the clock in the final game! LET’S GO PENS!!!!

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(CNN) – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN Sunday he disagrees with conservative commentators who have labeled Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist, but said he has better things to do than be “the speech police.”

“Look. I’ve got a big job to do dealing with 40 Senate Republicans and trying to advance the nation’s agenda, and better things to do than be the speech police over people who have their views about a very important appointment,” McConnell told CNN’s John King on State of The Union. “So I’m not going to get into policing everybody’s speech.”

The comments come two days after Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, publicly repudiated recent statements from conservative commentators Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich calling Obama’s choice for the high court a “racist.”

“I think it’s terrible,” Cornyn told NPR Thursday. “This is not the kind of tone any of us want to set when it comes to performing our constitutional responsibilities of advise and consent.” LINK

Of course Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn don’t agree with Rush Limbaugh. That’s because they have no ball, er no intestinal fortitude and are afraid to call a duck a duck. As in if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…IT’S A FRIGGING DUCK BOY’S. Rush Limbaugh is merely pointing out what our “ELECTED” leaders are afraid to. Namely that Sonia Sotomayor is a racist, ill tempered, left wing, radical judge. That is EXACTLY why President Obama appointed her. Duh.

Are these guys that dense? What exactly do they think they stand to gain by NOT opposing her? The Latino vote? HA! Oh please spare me. I guess you really think Obama wants your advice and consent then. Idiots. Just keep pandering to everyone EXCEPT the people who are actually REPUBLICANS.

Look Newt Gingrich or Rush Limbaugh are not the issue here. That’s just a smokescreen. The real issue is that the Republican leadership has deserted it’s principles and it’s base and has been rocked at the polls because of it. Rush is merely pointing those issues out. If the leadership was doing it’s job, like OPPOSING a radical left wing Supreme Court nominee the way the democrats do with IMPUNITY, then he wouldn’t have to call them on it on behalf of TWENTY MILLION people who listen to his show every day. Considering John McCain got about sixty million votes, at least one third of his supporters listen to Rush daily.

John Cornyn and Mitch McConnell are two of the guys who got us into this mess. Between them you may get half a spine. What we need and want is someone who will go to bat for us and stand on principle. Someone like Carrie Prejean. She took so much heat and abuse and when it was said and done the voters in CALIFORNIA and our President were all on the same page with her. Hmmm.

By supporting Sotomayor, or not opposing her, they think they are going to win Hispanics. Well if you do that you lose me and others like me. The party must decide if it wants to be an opposition party or merely a splinter group of democrats. Until one of our elected officials decides to man up, or at least show as much courage as a beauty queen, Rush Limbaugh will continue to fill that void and do it in a way that gives liberals fits.

And the faithful will continue to tune in.

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These kids and their internets.

“It’s kind of a new dynamic that’s growing, with large groups of juveniles using the social networks to get out the word,” said Lt. Frank Vanore, the department’s spokesman. “We’re not going to tolerate it.”

A group of teens on foot hijacked a taxi at 12th and South Street after getting into a confrontation with the driver and drove the vehicle into a tree at 12th and Fitzwater. Two passengers were injured slightly, police said.

Other youths pulled a woman and her passenger from a Jeep and assaulted them and stole the driver’s purse. The driver is a paralegal from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, Vanore said.

Maurading teens, most between the ages of 14 and 17, also vandalized a Sunoco convenience store at Broad and Catharine Streets, he said.

I’ve been poking around the tubes to see where they’re planning but haven’t found anything.

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Back Channels: In Minnesota, a possible N.J. blueprint

A republican with a proven blueprint to cut waste and balance budgets without raising taxes. This is the alternative the Obama Dems claim does not exist. There is a better way to protect our economy than raising taxes or spending our way out of debt:

FYI: the Republicans have a far better approach for healthcare reform “Patients Choice Act” than the dubious, one size fits no one, proposed by the Obama administration.

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It appears Sotomayor may not have “been taken out of context”  or “not meant it” as has been suggested!

FROM THE DENVER POST

If racial and gender bigotry truly have no place in American public life today, then Judge Sonia Sotomayor, during her confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, needs to utterly repudiate her 2001 assertion that “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

….

Sotomayor’s statement was far less nuanced than Summers’, and yet was obviously deliberate, since she restated it within minutes.

“Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences . . .,” she declared, “our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.”

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12454492

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Um, oops?

A small-town newspaper is apologizing for running a classified advertisement calling for the assassination of President Barack Obama.

Warren Times Observer Publisher John Elchert says the ad appeared Thursday. It read, “May Obama follow in the steps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy!” The four presidents were all assassinated.

Elchert tells The Associated Press that the newspaper’s advertising staff didn’t make the historical connection.

Can I still blame liberal bias and the liberal media?

No, I blame public education for this one.

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Written by Roberta Biros

My loyal readers know that I’ve been writing under Mercer County Conservatives for a while now. My focus has primarily been political and governmental issues specifically related to Mercer County PA. I’ve found that my interests and activities have begun to far outreach the borders of Mercer County, and I thought a new site might be appropriate. So . . . PAGovWatch.com is now up and running!  I will still continue to follow and publish information specific to Mercer County, and that information will continue to be posted under the Mercer Conservatives website. I will, however, also begin to expand my political activism across the Commonwealth. It is my intention to focus on lawmakers and legislation, and I will provide details and opinions about both.

In addition to my original content, I will also be posting updates and announcements from Pennsylvania Legislators as well as links to articles and other blogs that I find interesting and on-point. If you have a post (or a link to a post) that you would like published regarding Pennsylvania Government, Lawmakers, or Legislation, email me and I’ll post the information on your behalf. I am also currently accepting requests from other contributors who would like to post content of a similar nature on a regular or semi-regular basis. If you are interested in keeping the heat on our State Lawmakers and you’d like to be part of the PAGovWatch team, please email me.

Come and take a look at PAGovWatch.com . . . or even better . . . follow me on twitter or subscribe to an RSS feed (available from the upper right hand corner of the main screen) to view our latest updates automatically.

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Thank you Jim Matthews, for making this all possible.

The county commissioners Thursday were prepared to hire Delaware County resident Kenneth L. Klothen, a deputy secretary with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, for the $131,454-a-year job.

There’s no one capable in Montgomery County? A resident? We do have a lot of smart people.

I guess just not the right smart people.

Read on….

However, before the vote could take place, Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. requested and received a two-week delay.

Castor explained that because of treatment for his bad back, he has not had an opportunity to meet with Klothen.

Even after this meeting between the pair, it is unlikely that Klothen will have Castor’s support.

Castor in the past has made it clear that, while he supports economic growth and development in the county, he is opposed to funding this new initiative during current economic times. He voted against the county’s capital budget earlier this month because it earmarked $20 million for the economic development program.

The commissioners last December voted 2-1, with Castor the lone “no” vote, to implement a seven-year $105 million economic development program to bring and keep businesses in the county, particularly in its older struggling communities. The program was put together by a task force of business, community and municipal leaders.

Also, the fact that Klothen worked side by side with Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III, a Democrat who is spearheading the development of the economic development program, is not likely to endear him to Castor.

Was that the job Commissioner Hoeffel got from the Governor as part of his quid pro quo deal…. “you dont run against Catherine Baker Knoll for Lt Gov?”

I think it is.

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Your papers please sir.

When Bonnie Sweeten fled to Florida with her 9-year-old daughter, using the driver’s license of a friend to get through airport security, did the airline or document checkers at Philadelphia International Airport drop the ball?

The FBI and the Transportation Security Administration, whose job is checking passengers’ government-issued IDs, say no.

Sweeten had a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license with a photo that closely resembled her.

“It was a real driver’s license, so it had all the security features that a real driver’s license has,” FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver said.

Just what we need in this country.

TSA losers checking everyone to see they’re not the subject of an amber alert. The lines aren’t quite long enough…. and our civil liberties aren’t infringed enough… now someone wants to check if we’re allowed to travel.

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Written by Roberta Biros

The 2009 Primary Elections in Mercer County, Pennsylvania were not particularly exciting. In Countywide races, ALL candidates ran unopposed on their own tickets, and most ran unopposed on BOTH tickets. The results of Primary voting in countywide races determined three candidates that will run completely unopposed in November (County Controller, Jury Commissioner-D, and Jury Commissioner-R). Only one race will carry over to the November General Election . . . that being the race for County Treasurer.

This year in Mercer County we also had the delight of selecting candidates for three Magisterial Districts in our fine County. In races for District Judge, candidates had the ability to run on both Primary tickets. In most cases, they did. When the final votes were counted, the winners from the Democratic ticket and the Republican ticket in each district were the SAME candidate in all three races. In essence (and at this point), the candidates will all be running against themselves in the November General Election (District 35-2-01 Judge: Dennis Songer (D) vs. Dennis Songer (R); District 35-3-02 Judge: Neil McEwin (D) vs. Neil McEwin (R); and District 35-3-03 Judge: Brian Arthur (D) vs. Brian Arthur (R)].

[you can read a complete summary of the 2009 Primary for Mercer County HERE]

It is true that the results of the election were unexciting, and it leaves the prospect of turnout for General Election to be drastically low. However, the election process “is what it is”. It is an established procedure that is clearly outlined and enforced to ensure “a fair election process”. There are specific rules in place for “running for office” [read the document provided by the State of Pennsylvania HERE], and there is an Election Calendar that is followed to the letter by the Elections Bureau [read the full calendar as published by the State of Pennsylvania HERE]. These standards were put in place to guarantee a fair and open election process.

It seems that those in power in Mercer County feel that the election process simply isn’t important any more. According to an article in The Herald this morning [READ HERE], Mercer County President Judge Francis Fornelli wants to just skip the legal election process in Mercer County and jump ahead by simply appointing the District Judges (since they have apparently “already won” their elections). The Herald states “Fornelli has been in touch with our county’s state representatives and the county chairmen of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Fornelli is hopeful they can help push Rendell to make the appointments and lighten the heavy load on our area.”

Well then . . . why don’t we just call the election now in ALL of the races? The District Judges have already APPARENTLY won their races . . . the Controller and Jury Commissioners are running unopposed . . . and the incumbent Treasurer figures that she has this one in the bag too. Why not just let Governor Rendell call ALL of the races now and skip the “unnecessary” semantics and “worthless” gyrations and effort of a General Election completely!

Why not? Allow me to explain . . . because it isn’t for the Governor to appoint “elected officials”. That is the job of the VOTERS. According to the established procedures for elections, the “game isn’t over until the fat lady sings” . . . and I’m NOT SINGIN’! If you look closely at the election rules and calendar, there is a process in place where candidates are determined for the Republican and Democratic tickets through the Primary Election, but the FINAL decision is made in November during the General Election. Between the time of the Primary and the General Elections, changes can be made, candidates can change (through withdrawals and party appointments), and INDEPENDENT candidates have the opportunity to enter the fray. It is not until August 3rd (of this election year) that Independent candidates file their nomination papers. It is not until August 10th that candidates that don’t wish to run in November are required to withdraw their names from the General Election Ballot. It is not until September 14th (of this election year) that political parties can name replacement nominees. It is not until September 17th (of this election year) that objections can be filed against nomination certificates. Most importantly . . . it is not until November 3rd that the VOTERS get to cast their final ballots to determine who the winners of each of the races will be.

At the point that a judge (in this case, Judge Francis Fornelli) feels that it is proper and legal to circumvent the elections process and simply allow the Governor to appoint “elected officials” without the final vote and approval of the citizenry, “We the People” are no longer in charge. The last I checked, “We the People” are the ones who make that decision . . . not a judge . . . and certainly not a Governor!

I find the suggestion of such an act to be a slap in the face of the VOTERS in this County. If you are similarly concerned, voice your opinion. Don’t allow leaders in Harrisburg to appoint our “elected officials”. Comments and complaints can be forwarded to any and all of the following:

Hon. Robert D. Robbins
337 Capitol Building
Senate Box 203050
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3050
(717) 787-1322Email: rrobbins@pasen.gov

Hon. Michele Brooks
153B East Wing
PO Box 202017
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2017
(717) 783-5008
Fax: (717) 705-1948Email: mbrooks@pahousegop.com

Hon. Mark Longietti
103 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202007
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2007
(717) 772-4035
Fax: (717) 780-4785Email: MLongietti@pahouse.net

Hon. Richard R. Stevenson
155B East Wing
PO Box 202008
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2008
(717) 783-6438
Fax: (717) 705-1949
Email: rstevens@pahousegop.com

The Honorable Judge Francis J. Fornelli
President Judge
Mercer County Courthouse
North Diamond Street
Mercer, PA 16137
(724)-662-3800 ext. 2521
Fax (724)-662-7524

Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Office
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Phone: (717) 787-2500
Fax: (717) 772-8284

Mercer County Voter Registration and Election Bureau
Jeffrey W. Greenburg, Director
5 Mercer County Courthouse
Mercer, PA 16137
Telephone (724) 662-3800 or (724) 962-5711
FAX (724) 662-1530
jgreenburg@mcc.co.mercer.pa.us

.

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Pay close attention to the excerpt he reads from the Declaration of Independence:

The Tea Parties were only the first step. Not paying taxes would really be a significant act of civil disobedience. As Nelson states above, a significant case can be made for taxation without representation–especially here in Pennsylvania where our elected representative, Arlen Specter, has not represented the wishes of the electorate that put him in office.

H/T: Ace

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At least those of us who aren’t among the slobbering sycophants in your audience. Politico:

The United States is facing its biggest financial crisis in ages. North Korea is blowing up nukes. Dick Cheney warns us of the “dangers that have not gone away.” And there are still wars raging in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But over in the White House press briefing room, it’s a veritable laugh riot.

Whenever there’s laughter in the James S. Brady Briefing Room — by either the briefer or the briefed — the official White House stenographer indicates as much by inserting “(Laughter.)” into the transcript.

And in Robert Gibbs’ first four months as President Barack Obama’s press secretary, there have been more than 600 instances of “(Laughter.)” during his regular press briefings — an average of more than 10 laughs per day.

It’s a gaudy statistic — and one that puts his predecessors to shame.

“Puts his predecessors to shame”….? Why is this a statistic worthy of bragging rights? We’ve already determined that Robert Gibbs is the most inept and buffonish press secretary in recent memory, is the fact that he gets more laughs than other predecessors really a measure of his competency?

No. It’s not. Like everything else in this administration, it’s a measure of his popularity, a qualification that the liberal White House sychophants in what passes for our mainstream media deem eminently more important than actual competence.

Dana Perino, George W. Bush’s last press secretary, got all of 57 laughs in her first four months. Scott McClellan, another Bush press secretary, got just 66 laughs in his first four months.

Gibbs even bests the late Tony Snow, whose jocular performances — dubbed “The Tony Snow Show” by some — drew a relatively paltry 217 laughs during his first four months on the job.

Tim Graham, who watches for liberal press bias at the Media Research Center, says all the high times may be a sign of reporters’ political affinity with the Obama administration.

“It’s possible that reporters just think Gibbs is much funnier than the Bush people,” Graham said. “But I think this is another subliminal sign that reporters are much more comfortable with a spokesman that represents the hope and change they voted for.”

Maybe it’s not so subliminal. We all know an office kiss-ass who laughs a little too loudly at his boss’s every quip. This is the same thing, only on a larger and much more nationally embarrassing scale.

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Run Joe Run!

I asked Sestak in the interview if a direct plea from the White House not to make the race — Obama officials similarly intervened to protect Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from a primary — would stop him from running.

“No,” Sestak said. “I think the President said it very well. I have great respect for him. He said that the core mission of the office of the Presidency is to ensure opportunities for everyone. Pennsylvanians should not be foreclosed on who they want. I believe in the bottom of my heart that the President does believe this.”

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McCain, Martinez need to denounce Tancredo’s comments on the National Council of La Raza

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen the footage of Tancredo calling the National Council of La Raza a “Latino KKK.” The most recent Republican Presidential nominee, John McCain, should denounce these comments. After all, McCain keynoted NCLR’s 2004 conference, and addressed their 2008 convention:

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Just saw this on TV in the ‘Burgh and laughed out loud at it:

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Matt, as you said, Obama wanted a judge with “empathy” so he picked one with “empathy”, and the Democrat-media complex is telling us how great it is to have a judge with “empathy” as the nominee.

Perhaps they should bother to read the oath of a Supreme Court Justice, which demands that the judge leave their “empathy” at the door:

“I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.”

Empathy is for legislators, not judges. Judges are supposed to be automatons who apply the laws given to them by the people who we used to call “lawmakers” in Congress. That’s what Justice Clarence Thomas does, and the left HATES him for it. The left doesn’t want judges to be judges; they want judges to be political activists who can help them get their way when they can’t get it done at the ballot box or in Congress.

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No, really.

Pittsburgh will host the G20 a global economic summit of leaders from, yes, 20 of the world’s largest economies. The summit announcement came this afternoon via the White House and will be held Sept. 24 and 25.

The last time the G20 met was in April in London in April. The countries represent 85 percent of the world’s economy, said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who drew laughs from the White House Press Corps when he announced Pittsburgh would host the summit.

President Barack Obama chose to host the summit in Pittsburgh to because of the region’s recovery after the collapse of the steel industry, Gibbs said.

That may be the reason, but perhaps it is a good excuse for him to catch a home Pittsburgh Steelers game or dress up in some good old black and gold like the rest of the natives.

Pittsburgh stands on the precipice of repeating the “City of Champs” double national titles of 1979 if the Penguins are able to win the Stanley Cup this year. The Steelers were this year’s Super Bowl champs. Thirty years ago both the Pirates and the Steelers won their respective titles.

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Alex,

I understand the sense of karmic justice or schadenfreude or whatever in seeing Specter defeated in a Dem primary, but be careful what you wish for.  There are pros and cons against having to face either candidate in the general election.  I’m just hoping it’s an ugly primary — I don’t have a strong perference about who wins.  I want to see the Dem establishment come apart at the seams trying to support an ex-Republican versus a loyal partisan soldier.

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