tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184753032024-02-06T23:36:20.655-08:00Pa GOP InsiderBarry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-50085486559640837342009-05-05T04:31:00.000-07:002009-05-05T12:34:01.725-07:00Elsie Hillman Endorses a Democrat... Specter<table border="0" width="649"><tbody><tr><td colspan="7"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="649"><tbody><tr><td><div id="uc_template_headline" class="headline" style="padding-left: 5px; width: 649px;"><a href="http://www.spongobongo.com/em/nm/eme9924.htm">Statement By Elsie Hillman, Former Republican National Committeewoman on Senator Arlen Specter April 28, 2009</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr id="uc_template_imageRow" style="display: none;"> <td style="height: 5px;" colspan="7"> <br /> <div id="uc_template_div_Images" style="padding-left: 5pt;" align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="649"></table></div> </td> </tr> <tr id="uc_template_trENRAssets" style="display: none;"> <td colspan="7"> <table width=""> <tbody><tr> <td id="uc_template_td_ENRAsset1" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div id="uc_template_div_ENRAsset1"> </div> </td> <td id="uc_template_td_ENRAsset2" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div id="uc_template_div_ENRAsset2"> </div> </td> <td id="uc_template_td_ENRAsset3" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" valign="bottom"> <div id="uc_template_div_ENRAsset3"> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <!-- #BeginEditable "release" --> <!-- Render Story Content --> <table border="0" width="649"> <tbody><tr id="uc_template_trSubHead"> <td colspan="3" style="width: 645px; padding-bottom: 8px;"> <div id="uc_template_div_subHeadline" class="releaseContent" style="padding-left: 3px; text-align: left;"> </div> <br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="width: 645px;"> <div id="uc_template_div_StoryContent" class="releaseContent" style="padding-left: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><storycontent> <p><location>PITTSBURGH</location>, <chron>April 28</chron> /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a statement today, <person>Elsie Hillman</person> said, "My relationship with <person>Arlen Specter</person> goes back forty years when <person>Arlen Specter</person>, then a young District Attorney for the <location>City of Philadelphia</location>, came to <location>Pittsburgh</location> in 1969 at my request to campaign for Republican Mayoral candidate <person>John Taber</person>. <person>Arlen Specter's</person> relationship with Pennsylvanians goes back even further when he ran for public office in <location>Philadelphia</location> in the mid 60's. While we were on opposite sides during many past campaigns -- in 1976 I was for <person>John Heinz</person> and in 1978 for <person>Dick Thornburgh</person> -- I always respected Arlen. In 1980 I was thrilled to support him in his successful Senate campaign and have been a strong supporter ever since.</p> <p>Today's announcement is disappointing to some, but should come as a surprise to none. While I am a Republican and will most likely be one for the rest of my life, I have seen our party move further to the right, leaving little room for those of us in the middle. In so doing the Republican Party runs the risk of becoming a minority party. Yesterday we had three moderate Republicans in the U.S. Senate -- today we have only two.</p> <p>During his twenty eight years in the Senate, <person>Arlen Specter</person> has done much to advance science and medicine through his leadership on the Labor Health and Human Services Committee. His leadership to increase funding for NIH has saved thousands of lives and continues to bring us closer to cures for Cancer, Alzheimer's, Diabetes, and many other terrible diseases. His position on the Judicial Committee and leadership in foreign affairs and crime prevention has been a real asset to our country and state. The words that best describe Arlen in my opinion are:</p> <p> </p><ol><li>Intelligent</li><li>Courageous</li><li>Honest</li><li>Fair</li><li>Incorruptible </li></ol> <p>While I am saddened that Arlen has left the Republican Party, he does so as 200,000 other <location>Pennsylvania</location> Republicans did last year. I believe that he is the brightest member of <location>the United States</location> Senate and I will continue to support him and will vote for him in next year's general election."</p> </storycontent></div> <br /> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- Render Story Content ends here --> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span id="uc_template_txt_Source" class="Bottom"><p>SOURCE <person>Elsie Hillman</person></p> </span>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-78026876020270781732008-09-06T19:54:00.000-07:002008-09-06T19:57:15.345-07:00Blood Splatters on Barletta - Campaign in Jeopardy<span style="font-style: italic;">With the murder of Luis Ramirez a Mexican Immigrant seen as the logical conclusion of the anti immigrant rhetoric of Hazleton Mayor Larry Barletta Republican insiders worried about congressional campaign. Did the verbal attacks of small town neo-fascist Larry Barletta drive teens to murder? Knowledgeable political operatives are concerned that Barletta is a one issue candidate and his one issue is rapidly going south.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >4th Pa. teen charged in killing of immigrant</span><br /><br />Sat Sep 6, 12:15 PM ET<br /><br />POTTSVILLE, Pa. - Authorities in Pennsylvania say a fourth teenager has been charged in the fatal beating of a Mexican immigrant.<br />Schuylkill County prosecutors charged the teen in juvenile court Friday with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and other offenses. His name and age are not being released.<br /><br />Three others are charged as adults in the July attack in the town of Shenandoah on 25-year-old factory worker Luis Ramirez.<br /><br />Homicide charges are filed against 16-year-old Brandon Piekarsky and 17-year-old Colin Walsh. Eighteen-year-old Derrick Donchak faces aggravated assault and other charges.<br /><br />A local school district has agreed to provide Piekarsky and Walsh with 12 hours of in-home education per week while the case against them is pending.Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-32670448274843722882008-09-04T22:26:00.001-07:002008-09-04T22:34:11.176-07:00McCain's Secret Weapon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9CwFxOUICqFBx0fYwL-qvUMTB8kbBPgZIBTBN7_VrdmbsWy9ODm90t1lcPvMMNZJ4zmhLzmN5p6atCOyAKI5ZTec5yr6euGxXH-h53yN8y1oQ8aVD0tx7nJMFKg-58G-sN2pnw/s1600-h/sarah-palin-bristol-baby-bikini-teen-american-flag-gun(4).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9CwFxOUICqFBx0fYwL-qvUMTB8kbBPgZIBTBN7_VrdmbsWy9ODm90t1lcPvMMNZJ4zmhLzmN5p6atCOyAKI5ZTec5yr6euGxXH-h53yN8y1oQ8aVD0tx7nJMFKg-58G-sN2pnw/s320/sarah-palin-bristol-baby-bikini-teen-american-flag-gun(4).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242404534691080034" border="0" /></a>Pro Gun, Pro Tobacco, Pro Alcohol, look at the image and tell me what you see. When was the last time you saw a possible VP in a shot like this.Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-90963120759801432952008-09-04T13:08:00.000-07:002008-09-04T13:10:38.476-07:00Wow! They Spelled My Name Right<h2 class="date-header">Thursday, September 04, 2008</h2> <a name="2102204910669149231"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://nepablogs.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-election-year.html">It's an election year</a> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> So a few new political blogs have popped up.<br /><br /><a href="http://thereallypissedoffrepublican.blogspot.com/">The Really Pissed Off Republican </a><br /><br /><em>A place to blast liberals without using our handguns because we need no more gun control legislation out there.</em><br /><br /><a href="http://theempireofthemind.wordpress.com/">The Empire of the Mind </a><br /><br /><em>The Empire of the Mind is a blog covering politics and news of all varieties. We hope to provide you, every day if all goes according to plan, fresh analysis of the day’s important news by a variety of contributors from diverse backgrounds. Empire’s contributors may be highly opinionated or attempt to be neutral; in any case, we will always try our best to provide insightful and thoughtful analysis. Most of all, we hope you’ll find our shenanigans informative and enjoyable to read. Stop by often and visit, we’ll be here!</em><br /><br /><a href="http://rightwingwizkid.blogspot.com/">Right Wing Wiz Kid</a><br /><br /><em>Opinionated, Hard-Hitting Right Wing Conservative News And Observations. If You Are A Left Wing Liberal You WILL Be Offended! If Your Are Looking For Politically Correct Observations, You Won’t Find Them Here. Political Commentary With No Spin, The Kind You Don’t Get From The Mainstream Media. Politics, Congress, Global Warming, Gun Control, The U.S. Military Are Just Some Of The Topics That Will Be Covered. With an Occasional Touch Of Humor To Relieve The Stress.</em><br /><br /><a href="http://pa-gop-insider.blogspot.com/">Pa GOP Insider</a><br /><br />Written by former Republican Committeeman Barry O'Connell<br /><em></em> </div> <span class="post-author vcard"> Posted by <span class="fn">Gort</span> </span> <span class="post-timestamp"> at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://nepablogs.blogspot.com/2008/09/its-election-year.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2008-09-04T13:12:00-04:00">1:12 PM</abbr></a> </span> <span class="reaction-buttons"> </span> <span class="star-ratings"> </span> <span class="post-comment-link"> </span> <span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link"> </span> <span class="post-icons"> <span class="item-action"> <a href="email-post.g?blogID=20926031&postID=2102204910669149231" title="Email Post"> <img alt="" class="icon-action" src="img/icon18_email.gif" /></a><a href="email-post.g?blogID=20926031&postID=2102204910669149231" title="Email Post"> </a> </span></span>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-41060996667976237782008-08-05T07:45:00.000-07:002008-08-07T11:10:19.754-07:00Lou Barletta Linked to Cocaine Dealers<div style="float: right;"><br /> <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;"> <table class="share_story_box" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="share_story_header" align="left" valign="top"><br /></td> </tr> <tr><td class="share_story_middle" align="left" valign="top"><br /></td> </tr></tbody></table></div> </div> <!--<h4>[component:subhead]</h4>--> <h5>Lou Barletta Linked to Cocaine Dealers</h5><h5>Barletta contributors questioned<br /></h5><h5>By Borys Krawczeniuk</h5> <div class="timestamp" style="margin: 0px 0px 15px;">Published: Sunday, August 3, 2008 4:09 AM EDT</div> <span>Staff Writer<br /><br />The list of contributors to Republican congressional candidate Lou Barletta includes two brothers who were once entangled in a southern Luzerne County cocaine-distribution ring but are now prominent businessmen there.<br /><br />Paul and Neal DeAngelo, the owners of DBiServices Inc., each gave Barletta $1,000 on March 28.<br /><br />In 1994, Paul DeAngelo was sentenced to 18 months in jail for his role in the Empire drug ring, which operated in the late 1980s. He was released in 1995.<br />see also: <a href="http://gort42.blogspot.com/2008/08/huh.html">http://gort42.blogspot.com/2008/08/huh.html</a><br /></span>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1438420927961394732008-07-21T17:37:00.000-07:002008-08-07T11:09:02.928-07:00The Dirt on Corbett is Coming Out<span style="font-weight: bold;">First the DeNaples money and now questions about State Staff versus Campaign Staff. Corbett is beginning to unravel. JBOC<br /><br />AG strives to separate job, re-election<br /></span><br /><div class="articleByline">By RICHARD FELLINGER<br />Staff Writer<br /><br />Lebanon Daily News</div><br /><span></span><span></span> <span></span> <div class="articleViewerGroup" id="articleViewerGroup" style="border: 0px none ;"><span class="articleEmbeddedViewerBox"></span><span></span><span></span></div><span></span>HARRISBURG — As he prosecutes the high-profile “Bonusgate” case accusing state officials of campaigning on the public dime, Attorney G eneral Tom Corbett is seeking re-election himself. And one man has played a key role in both the attorney general’s office and the=2 0Corbett campaign: Brian Nutt, the attorney general’s chief of staff, is now his campaign manager. Nutt went on unpaid leave last month from his state job to manage Corbett’s campaign in his race against Democrat John Morganelli. But Nutt also assisted at political events for Corbett throughout his first term in office, state records show. Nutt is one of several staffers who work closely with Corbett in the attorney general’s office and have done at least some political work for their boss during his first term, according to an analysis of campaign-finance records by the Lebanon Daily News. Kevin Harley, the attorney general’s director of communications, has also helped the Corbett campaign, along with both of Corbett’s executive assistants and two top aides in his office of legislative affairs, records show. Some attorney-general staffers traveled to political events and were reimbursed for lodging and meals. Some bought stamps or office supplies for the campaign. None of those staffers is accused of wrongdoing, and Harley said the attorney general makes it clear to employees that all campaign work must be “completely separate” from<br />their jobs. Campaign work on som eone’s own time without government compensation is perfectly legal. In Bonusgate, Corbett charged 12 Democrats in a far-reach ing case that claims House staffers regularly did campaign work in their state offices and top officials used a taxpayer-funded bonus scheme to=2 0reward aides for their political work. The situation in Corbett’s office reveals more about the culture of the Capitol, where certain government employees juggle state jobs with political activity for their boss. Some politick regularly; others do it only on occasion. Harrisburg activists say it illustrates the gray area that exists throughout state government between state work and campaign work. Some say that Corbett, a Republican and potential governor’s candidate in 2010, has set a bad example by tapping his chief of staff to run his campaign while pursuing Bonusgate. Activist Gene Stilp said Corbett could further undermine people’s confidence in state government after controversies such as the 2005 pay raise and scandals such as Bonusgate. “This is not showing good judgment,” Stilp said. “He has to be squeaky clean, and this isn’t squeaky clean.” “A right way to do this” Harley said only a handful of aides who hold executive-level jobs do campaign work in their spare time. The attorney general’s office has roughly 800 employees. In separate interviews, Harley and Nutt drew a sharp contrast between the allegations levied against House Democrats and the campaign work by certain attorney general staffers. “There’s20a right way to do this, and a legal way, and that is what’s being done (in the attorney general’s office),” Harley said. 0D He said the attorney general awards no bonuses or comp time and requires staffers who take leave to campaign to submit a letter promising they will use no state resources for political work. <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Staffers who are on leave, like Nutt, also don’t get state health or pension benefits.</span> Nutt, who lives in Hummelstown, is an experienced political hand who also managed Corbett’s first campaign in 2004. He said he took over as campaign manager this year after beginning his unpaid leave. Nutt said many of the events for which he was reimbursed by the campaign in past years were dinners with political figures that should not have been billed to the taxpayers. One was a trip to Colorado with Corbett to a meeting with Republican attorneys general. “That’s not really campaigning. It’s the inevitable kind of thing that obviously takes place when you’re in elected office,” Nutt said. <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Activist Eric Epstein of RocktheCapital.org said Nutt’s leave of absence for the campaign underscores the need for an assessment of staffing levels across state government to determine how many positions aren t needed, Epstein said. </span> “If you can take a leave from your job for six months, how much value do you bring to the job in the first place?” he said. Nutt disagreed, saying his absence does not hamper operations in the attorney ge neral’s office because others are working longer hours without extra pay to cover for him. His chief-of-staff duties are being spread out among several top aides, namely First Deputy Attorney General William Ryan Jr. “It is a relatively short amount of time, and for the greater cause of what Tom Corbett stands for myself and some other people are willing to make sacrifices,” Nutt said. Campaign checks Corbett’s office has been looking into illegal campaign activity in the Legislature since February 2007 after news reports appeared about secret bonuses to select staffers. A grand-jury report accompanying the Bonusgate charges traced the use of taxpayer-funded bonuses for campaign work to 2004 in the House Democratic caucus. Meanwhile, Nutt and other Corbett aides were helping their boss at political functions from time to time, records show. Corbett took office in January 2005, and since then Nutt received 14 checks from the campaign reimbursing him for expenses, records show. Nutt racked up $7,361 for meals, lodging, parking and other unspecified expenses for the Corbett campaign between January 2005 and February 2008. Rebekah Myers, an executive assistant to Corbett, was reimbursed by the campaign for buying office supplies and stamps, among other things. The Lancaster County resident re ceived seven reimbursement checks totaling $1,126 from the campaign during Corbett’s first term. Like Nutt, Myers has taken unpaid leave fro m her state job. She has been off the state payroll since April. Harley, also a Lancaster County resident, received four reimbursement checks from the campaign totaling $4,229 for lodging and unspecified expenses. He received all four between January 2005 and December 2007. Annmarie Kaiser of Harrisburg, director of legislative affairs for the attorney general, was reimbursed once this year for campaign travel. She received a check of $382 in March for lodging. Andrew Paris of Etters, York County, is a legislative liaison who works under Kaiser and received three checks totaling $402 for unspecified expenses between September 2005 and May 2007. Karen Mitchell, another executive assistant to the attorney general, received one reimbursement check from the campaign for $17.91. The Lemoyne resident received a check for unspecified expenses in September 2005. Calls left for Myers, Kaiser, Paris and Mitchell were not returned. <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:StateBureau@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="http://us.mc366.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=StateBureau@gmail.com"><u><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">StateBureau@gmail.com</span></u></a>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-82206192135240977632008-07-09T19:24:00.000-07:002008-07-09T19:25:40.911-07:00Hackett is putting on a rather pathetic show.<h2 class="date-header"><span style="font-size:100%;">Desperate for a chance to register with the voters Hackett is putting on a rather pathetic show. </span><br /></h2><h2 class="date-header">Tuesday, July 08, 2008</h2> <a name="8750806906622510188"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://pa-10th-congressional.blogspot.com/2008/07/desperate-hackett-begs-for-debates.html">Desperate Hackett Begs for Debates</a> </h3> <p class="size-header color-blue">Hackett is so desperate for attention he has even proposed a debate on Immigration. Word is that he wants his former housekeeper an illegal immigrant herself to act as moderator. INS has yet to approve that<br /></p><p class="size-header color-blue">Hackett Challenges Carney to Eight Debates</p>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-6103692399419721852008-07-09T17:56:00.000-07:002008-07-09T17:56:47.227-07:00Gort42: Who belongs to the Westmoreland Club?<a href="http://gort42.blogspot.com/2008/07/who-belongs-to-westmoreland-club.html#links">Gort42: Who belongs to the Westmoreland Club?</a>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-12469445370348805892008-07-09T16:49:00.000-07:002008-07-09T17:54:20.254-07:00McCain Snubs 10th Pa VotersThe voters in the 10th congressional district picked Chris Hackett as the lesser of two evils. So what does McCain do? McCain sides with the loser (a veritable one man crime wave) to snub the Republican Congressional candidate.<br /><br />Some people think McCain is deliberately bipartisan with his legislation. The truth is that most Republican legislators hate McCain so much it is easier to get Democrat Co-Sponsors.<br />Seen on Gort42:<a name="4824063713470997011"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://gort42.blogspot.com/2008/07/who-belongs-to-westmoreland-club.html">"Who belongs to the Westmoreland Club?</a> </h3> <a href="http://www.timesleader.com/news/Westmoreland_Club_site_of__250_plate_McCain_event_07-09-2008.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Westmoreland</span> Club site of $250/plate McCain event</a><br /><br />Dan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Meuser</span> is bringing GOP Presidential candidate John McCain to Wilkes-Barre on July 23 and it's an invitation only event. "Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-56826187959498981712008-07-06T12:55:00.000-07:002008-12-08T18:29:14.805-08:00Chris Hackett OpposesTax Dollars Spent in the 10thChris Hackett Opposes Tax Dollars Spent in the 10th. Hackett wants our tax dollars spent in some other congressional district. In one of the dumbest moves since on Sherwood beat up his girl friend Hackett wants to decrease spending in the 10th congressional district. Pa. voters know more tax dollars are taxed in the district then spent here.<br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://gort42.blogspot.com/2008/01/chris-hackett-for-congress-guest-post.html">Chris Hackett for Congress, a damn fool post</a></h3>Seen on http://gort42.blogspot.com/2008/01/chris-hackett-for-congress-guest-post.html<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4Pzz2jl0As89A79eDaznEBObYZDV6fTRf1010dnmoYs8zKomZCH086lvW-97xXWRmFkq1kgeEPjh0lrBPikj4NcVcyJC5AKdQy-0rxEyphe_qKUtv2l69CMMNorJ4daYTm-X/s1600-h/CLH%2520Picture%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160814316496395874" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4Pzz2jl0As89A79eDaznEBObYZDV6fTRf1010dnmoYs8zKomZCH086lvW-97xXWRmFkq1kgeEPjh0lrBPikj4NcVcyJC5AKdQy-0rxEyphe_qKUtv2l69CMMNorJ4daYTm-X/s200/CLH%2520Picture%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This was in the Times-Leader a few days ago but I'll take sloppy seconds. Any candidate for any office is welcome to post on my front page.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>Rep. Carney's spending politics as usual<br /></strong>-Times Leader 1/24/2008<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Recently, our local congressman, Chris Carney, was featured on the front page of USA Today. Why did he win such attention? Evidently, Carney received more spending earmarks than any other first year member of congress. He was proud of this dubious “achievement.” The taxpayers of northeast Pennsylvania shouldn’t be.<br /><br />Here’s how the pork spending game works in Washington . Each congressman asks the Democratic leadership for “earmarked” money for projects back in their home district. Incumbents like Carney who expect tough reelection races get the most earmarks. Then each congressman can try to impress voters by bragging about the funding they “brought home.” Sounds good so far, but there’s a catch – and it’s a really big one.<br /><br />In order to get that very modest level of funding for local projects, Carney had to vote in favor of projects everywhere else. Here’s a small sample of things Carney voted to waste our tax dollars on this year: rodent control in Alaska ; olive fruit fly research in France ; a bike trail in Minnesota ; a zoo in Illinois ; a post office museum in Las Vegas . Altogether there were some 9,000 earmarks in this year’s spending bills, and we ended up spending $28 billion more than in the President’s budget. While this pork spending game makes for nice press releases from Congressman Carney’s office, it’s a terrible rip-off for taxpayers.<br /><br />In addition to spending Pennsylvania tax dollars on wasteful and unnecessary projects like the Mule and Packers Museum in California , Chris Carney’s approach to Washington deal making illustrates other fundamental problems with our nation’s finances. When there are 9,000 pork projects in the budget, and almost every congressman has a tiny piece of the action, the system creates all the wrong incentives. It’s set-up in a way that encourages accounting gimmicks, budget secrecy, and misallocation of resources. In short, it places special interests over the national interest, and it’s placing our children and grandchildren further into debt.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the pork spending game is a bipartisan affair. When Republicans were in charge of Congress, they had a disgraceful record of funding things like the infamous Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska – a $200 million project that served a town of just fifty people. Several corruption scandals were linked directly to the earmarking process, and there are former congressmen who are now serving time in prison because of it.<br /><br />In 2006, many Democrats, including Chris Carney, were elected based on promises to change the way Washington operated, and in particular to change the corrupt earmarking process. When Speaker Nancy Pelosi rams a massively bloated spending bill through the House with 9,000 earmarks in it, it’s obvious that nothing has changed.<br /><br />Not all earmarks are wasteful, and not every project is tinged with corruption. But how can you tell which ones are which? For example, liberal Congressman Charlie Rangel from Harlem , the powerful Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has a $2 million earmark this year that names a building in honor of himself. That’s right – apparently once you’ve been in Washington long enough it no longer strikes you as arrogant to use tax dollars to name a building after yourself. Outrageously, Chris Carney voted in favor of this pork. What’s our congressman doing spending $2 million in tax dollars on the Charlie Rangel Building in Harlem ? Perhaps Carney thinks that’s a good use of Pennsylvania tax dollars. Perhaps it was a trade-off in exchange for Rangel’s support for Carney’s projects. Or maybe the fact that Rangel’s political committees gave $16,000 to Carney’s election campaign has something to do with it. To be clear, I’m not accusing Carney of corruption. I am saying that after only one year in Washington , Carney has become fully immersed in a system that corruptly and wastefully spends our tax dollars. </span></div><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br />It is critical to America ’s financial future that we get off Washington ’s wasteful spending track. The best thing to do is replace pork-spenders like Carney with fiscal conservatives in Congress. But short of that, there’s another thing taxpayers should insist upon. Most pork projects simply don’t pass the smell test. No congressman wants to be clearly on record voting for fruit fly research in France instead of funding for our troops or veterans. Part of Washington’s pork spending game is that the politicians roll together all the pork in one giant bill and tell freshman like Carney that he has to vote for the whole thing in order to get his local projects. If, instead, we switched to a merit-based system, and every pork project was voted on individually, most of them wouldn’t pass. If Chris Carney could achieve that one simple reform of the process, then he would not only deserve to be on the cover of USA Today, he would also deserve the taxpayers’ thanks<br /></span></p><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><div><br />-- Chris Hackett is a Really Stupid candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania ’s 10th District </div></span>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-12875557982124764892008-02-29T05:53:00.000-08:002008-02-29T05:54:03.426-08:00Meuser still lives in 11th District, not 10th, petitions show<div class="headline"> Meuser still lives in 11th District, not 10th, petitions show </div><div class="byline"><div class="bylinesource"> BY BORYS KRAWCZENIUK<br />STAFF WRITER<br /> </div><div class="dateline">02/13/2008</div></div><div class="story"> Dan Meuser, a Republican candidate for the 10th Congressional District seat, has filed nomination petitions that show he continues to live outside the district.<br /><br /><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><script language="JavaScript1.1" src="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2259&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=562&VERT=12611&NAREA=&AT=JS&barnd=2555"> </script> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) { document.write('<iframe width="" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" border="0" bordercolor="#000000" src="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2259&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=562&VERT=12611&NAREA=&AT=IF&barnd=2829"></iframe>'); } //--> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/redirect.cfm?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2259"><img border="0" alt="Click Here!" src="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2259&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=562&VERT=12611&NAREA=&barnd=3602" /></a> </noscript> </td></tr></tbody></table>But in a statement, Meuser, who lives in Shavertown, Jackson Township, Luzerne County, said his fulfillment of plans to move into the district to a home in Harveys Lake is only being held up temporarily by renovations to the new home. Jackson Township is in the 11th Congressional District.<br /><br />Meuser said he used his Jackson Township address on the petitions to comply with state law.<br /><br />“After doing a little research, we learned that this address needed to reflect where my family spends the predominance of their time,” Meuser said. “Therefore, as my renovations are taking a little longer than expected at Harveys Lake, we decided to use the old address on the petition to fully comply both with the letter and the spirit of the law.”<br /><br />Meuser said he hopes to move “in the near future” and would vote in Harveys Lake in the April 22 primary election.<br /><br />When Meuser and his wife, Shelley, bought the home for $535,000 in September, he said they would move there shortly.<br /><br />The U.S. Constitution requires congressmen to live within a state, but does not require residency within a district.<br /><br />Meuser was one of three Republican candidates to file petitions to challenge Democratic Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township. <br /><br />The others are Davis C. Haire of Meshoppen Borough in Wyoming County and Chris Hackett of Kingston Township in Luzerne County. No other Democrats filed petitions.<br /><br />In a statement, Tom Whitehead, Haire’s campaign manager, said the residency issue symbolizes Meuser’s campaign.<br /><br />“There aren’t too many people in this district who can afford a second house for half a million dollars, especially one purchased for the sole purpose of trying to legitimize a candidacy for Congress,” Whitehead said. “At the end of the day, Davis Haire is the only one who’s actually grown up in this district, the only rural conservative Republican in the race, and the only Republican candidate who can win the general election.”<br /><br />Mark Harris, a spokesman for Hackett, said Hackett was surprised Meuser hasn’t moved, but declined to comment on the residency issue.<br /><br />“We’re not going to get into telling the people of the district where Dan Meuser should live,” Harris said in a telephone interview.<br /><br />In the other local congressional race, Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and Democratic Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski were the only people to file to run for the 11th District seat Kanjorski has held since 1985. Political activist Kurt Shotko of Scranton has announced plans to run as an independent, but the petition filing deadline for third-party candidates isn’t until Aug. 1.<br /><br />bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com <p><br /> </p></div>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-46287080321075946122008-02-10T10:36:00.000-08:002008-02-10T11:29:08.253-08:00New York Times Quote, "Mr. Scranton is a weirdo!"<div class="kicker"><nyt_kicker>The Nation</nyt_kicker></div> <h1> <nyt_headline version="1.0" type=" "> Recalling the Maharishi and Carville’s Killer Ad </nyt_headline> </h1> <div class="image" id="wideImage"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/10/weekinreview/10ferrick.xlarge1.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="119" width="600" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><a href="http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=706946b3239a8e3fcd85be7f040bd6c65cb0795b">The Carville Guru Ad _ LINK</a></span><br /></div> <nyt_byline version="1.0" type=" "> </nyt_byline><div class="byline">By TOM FERRICK Jr.</div> <div class="timestamp">Published: February 10, 2008</div> <nyt_text> </nyt_text><p> WITH his high-pitched giggle and his gentle ways, <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/maharishi_mahesh_yogi/index.html?inline=nyt-per" title="More articles about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.">Maharishi Mahesh Yogi</a> is not someone you would expect to be used as a blunt-force weapon in a political campaign.</p><div class="inlineVideo left"><script language="JavaScript"><!-- var m_appUrl = 'http://graphics8.nytimes.com/feedroom/nytc3/shell.html'; var m_skinType = 'oneclip'; // or sectionfront or oneclip var m_storyId = '706946b3239a8e3fcd85be7f040bd6c65cb0795b'; // must be set to empty string if not used var m_channelId = ''; // must be set to empty string if not used // NYTC - Begin generic embed code for the three skins try { switch (m_skinType) { case "oneclip": m_width = 336; m_height = 376; break; case "front": m_width = 337; m_height = 446; break; case "sectionfront": m_width = 395; m_height = 355; break; default: // default to oneclip m_width = 336; m_height = 376; } m_appUrl = m_appUrl + "?" + "skin=" + m_skinType + (m_channelId.length > 0 ? "&fr_chl=" + m_channelId:"") + (m_storyId.length > 0 ? "&fr_story=" + m_storyId :""); var ifrPlayer = "<iframe id="'ifr_player'" name="'ifr_player'" src="'" width="'" height="'" frameborder="'0'" marginwidth="'0'" marginheight="'0'" scrolling="'no'"></iframe>"; document.write(ifrPlayer); } catch (jsErr) { document.write('<!-- There was a JavaScript error while loading the video player: ' + jsErr + ' -->'); } //--> </script>But, used he was, to great effectiveness, in <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/pennsylvania/index.html?inline=nyt-geo" title="More news and information about Pennsylvania.">Pennsylvania</a> in 1986. The story is this.</div><!--#inlineVideo --> <!--feedroom player ends --> <p> The Maharishi, who died last Tuesday, was the man who introduced transcendental meditation to the West. <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/b/beatles_the/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More articles about The Beatles">The Beatles</a> were his most famous disciples, but another was William W. Scranton 3d, who went to Europe in 1970 to study TM.</p><p> Mr. Scranton came from a wealthy and renowned Pennsylvania political family. He went to Yale where he used drugs “recreationally,” protested the Vietnam War, and sported long hair and a beard. </p><p> After meeting the Maharishi, Mr. Scranton became a life-long proponent and practitioner of transcendental meditation and returned home to pursue a more conventional career in politics, serving two terms as lieutenant governor.</p><p>Then Mr. Scranton ran for governor. He was a formidable candidate, a moderate Republican in the days before that was an insult. </p><p> His Democratic opponent was Robert P. Casey, the state’s former auditor general, who had run for governor three times before and lost. </p><p>Mr. Casey brought in <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/james_carville/index.html?inline=nyt-per" title="More articles about James Carville.">James Carville</a> to run his campaign and ramp up the aggression level. It was a big break for the “Ragin’ Cajun,” the most important campaign he had handled to date.</p><p> Mr. Carville was itching to make Scranton’s baby boomer habits an issue, but feared it could backfire — among boomers, for one.</p><p> In mid-October, Mr. Scranton scored a strategic coup. He announced that his campaign was pulling all negative ads, promised to run no more, and challenged Mr. Casey to do the same. Mr. Scranton took the lead in the polls.</p><p> The move flummoxed the Casey camp. Then the Scranton campaign made a fatal misstep. It sent a mass mailing to Republicans that featured a letter from the candidate’s father. A second brochure that harshly attacked Mr. Casey was also included. </p><p> Scranton aides said the piece was sent out by mistake, but a copy got into Mr. Carville’s hands. It gave him the opening to use what came to be known as the “guru ad.”</p><p> The TV spot featured sitar music, pictures of the young, long-haired Mr. Scranton, a mug-shot like photo of the long-haired, bearded Maharishi and a sneering mention of transcendental meditation. Though the exact words were never used, the message was clear: Mr. Scranton is a weirdo! </p><p> The ad was timed to air the Saturday before Election Day, too late for the Scranton camp to respond. Mr. Carville chose not to run it in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh media markets, fearing a backlash in the state’s two major urban areas. Instead, he made a big buy in central Pennsylvania, hoping to undercut Mr. Scranton’s support among that region’s conservative Republicans.</p><p> On Election Day, Scranton won in the state’s conservative heartland, but by a lower margin than expected.</p><p> Out of 3.3 million votes cast statewide, Casey defeated Scranton by a margin of 79,216. A victory of 2 percent.</p><p> The political consensus was that it was the “guru ad” that did Bill Scranton in.</p>Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-77415304849279308302007-11-23T07:14:00.000-08:002007-11-23T07:15:49.376-08:00Dem Money Men Looking at Allegheny County Executive Dan OnoratoRendell allies look west for 2010 heir<br />Battle-wary fund-raisers put stock in Allegheny County's fiscal star.<br />By Thomas Fitzgerald<br />Inquirer Staff Writer<br />Some of Gov. Rendell's top Philadelphia-area fund-raisers are backing a Western Pennsylvanian for governor in 2010, hoping to avoid a protracted battle for the Democratic nomination.<br />While the governor has remained neutral, allies as close as David L. Cohen, once Rendell's mayoral chief of staff, will host a reception today for Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.<br />Though Onorato is little-known in Southeastern Pennsylvania, state political figures credit him with a fiscal turnaround in his county, and he is seen as the best hope for keeping a Democrat in the governor's office when Rendell leaves office.<br />As many as 50 Rendell money people are expected at a reception for Onorato in the executive dining room at Citizens Bank Park. Onorato, 46, is coy about whether he will run, but the event is an early boost to any potential campaign for governor.<br />Along with Cohen, Mark AronchickBarry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1148487761768725472006-05-24T09:22:00.000-07:002006-05-24T09:22:43.093-07:00West Branch Manufacturers: Swann fumbled<a href="http://www.sungazette.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=4983">Williamsport Sun-Gazette</a>: "West Branch Manufacturers: Swann fumbled<br /><br />By LAUREN McLANE lmclane@sungazette.com <br />Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann canceled a keynote speech to the West Branch Manufacturers’ Association 11 days before its annual dinner, citing a conflicting campaign stop in Erie with former Gov. Tom Ridge.<br /><br />The group canceled Tuesday’s event and will plan a dinner in the fall with a different speaker, according to Executive Director Michael J. Sharbaugh.<br /><br />“His chief scheduler contacted William J. Metzger Sr. and said Swann was cancelling to go to Erie,” Sharbaugh said, adding Metzger was contacted Friday. <br /><br />With more than 270 reservations for the event and more coming in Tuesday morning — another company called requesting a table for 10 — many were disappointed to hear the news, Sharbaugh said. <br /><br />“I was going to vote for him but now I won’t,” Sharbaugh quoted several people as saying. <br /><br />“It’s hard to understand,” he said. “It makes you wonder, if he were going to be governor, would he keep his commitments?”<br /><br />Sharbaugh said the association would have understood if Swann had had to cancel for “a legitimate reason — like he had to have emergency surgery — but not just because he got a better offer.” <br /><br />Meanwhile, plans must be canceled for a long-planned event.<br /><br />“The Genetti has graciously agreed to let us out of our contract. We really do appreciate that. Bill Metzger is refunding funds raised,” he added.<br /><br />Metzger, a member of the group’s board and this year’s dinner chairman, explained the process of coordinating a speaker with a dinner date.<br /><br />“We started discussions with Mr. Swann’s chief scheduler Jan. 25. We sent a letter putting the request in writing. We left it open to two months for them to pick the date,” Metzger said.<br /><br />“The dinner is generally held in May or June of each year. We float the date according to the keynote speaker. His camp picked the date.”<br /><br />To get Swann as a speaker, the group had to agree to raise funds for his political campaign, Metzger said.<br /><br />“Politicians running for office have a significant need to raise money for campaigns,” he said. “One way to get them to speak at events is to hold a fundraiser,” he said. <br /><br />The campaign manager will usually suggest a figure that should be met by the fundraiser, Metzger said. In this case, the amount was $10,000. <br /><br />“We raised in excess of $15,000,” he said.<br /><br />Funds raised specifically for Swann’s campaign were made out to “Swann for Governor.” <br /><br />“I returned those checks to each of the donors. It’s the donor’s choice now” whether to give the money to Swann’s campaign, he said.<br /><br />The funds raised were through “a VIP reception in support of Lynn Swann,” which also was going to be Tuesday.<br /><br />As of May 1, Swann reportedly raised $3.3 million statewide, compared with the $17.2 million raised by Gov. Ed Rendell.<br /><br />Swann had other commitments in Pittsburgh in the morning on Tuesday, but “we had arranged for a private, two-engine plane to pick him up in Pittsburgh and bring him to Williamsport. We had arranged for a suite at the Genetti for him to freshen up,” Metzger said.<br /><br />The VIP reception would be at the Ross Club, followed immediately by the group’s reception and dinner.<br /><br />“He had asked and we had agreed that he would speak before the dinner so he could get home not too late,” he added.<br /><br />Metzger said he was particularly angry that Swann had canceled not only so close to the deadline, but also that the association had already re-arranged its plans several times to accommodate Swann’s schedule.<br /><br />“Originally, he had committed for May 30, he’d leave Pittsburgh mid-morning and we’d have a luncheon reception at the Williamsport Country Club. Then his campaign called and said that was not feasible. The real point is that we re-arranged several times to suit his needs, to be as conciliatory as we can reasonably be,” Metzger said.<br /><br />When Swann’s campaign contacted Metzger, they offered an alternate speaker in the form of Swann’s running mate Jim Matthews, he said.<br /><br />“I advised her that people had committed to this event to hear Lynn Swann speak on his opinions on the office he was running for, not Jim Matthews’. The only options were to rearrange or that he bring Ridge,” he continued.<br /><br />“I was told that was not possible,” he said.<br /><br />“The facts are the facts and people can draw their own conclusions,” Metzger said, regarding Swann’s receipt of a better campaigning offer.<br /><br />“We regret the campaign’s need to postpone our long-awaited appearance before the association to a later date. We appreciate their understanding and we look forward to sharing our vision of change and reform for Williamsport as soon as possible,” Melissa Winters, spokeswoman for Swann’s campaign, said to the Sun-Gazette."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1147863966709604022006-05-17T04:06:00.000-07:002006-05-17T04:10:15.080-07:00Voters Send Mike Long's Cronies Packing - Jubelier Brightbill and Zug bite the big one - Yahoo! News<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/wgal/20060517/lo_wgal/9229028">Voters Send Incumbents Packing - Yahoo! News</a>: "Voters Send Incumbents Packing Wed May 17, 1:11 AM ET<br /> <br />Voters sent a very clear message to their lawmakers Tuesday, one that left incumbents tasting bitter defeat in a historic day at the polls. <br /> <br />It appears the pay raise of 2005 played a role in the defeat of major state Senate leaders, including Senate majority leader David Brightbill and Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer.<br /><br />Pay Raise Payback<br /><br />In the Susquehanna Valley, only one lawmaker who voted for the pay raise survived the primary election, Rep. Adam Harris, of Adams County.<br /><br />Sen. Brightbill, of Lebanon County, Rep. Stephen Maitland, of Adams and Franklin counties, Rep. Roy Baldwin, of Lancaster County, Rep. Pete Zug, of Lebanon County and Rep. Patrick Fleagle, of Franklin County all voted for the pay raise, and all were defeated Tuesday.<br /><br />Rep. Gibson Armstrong of Lancaster County was also defeated. Although he didn't vote for the pay raise, critics pointed out that he did vote for the rules change that allowed the vote to happen."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1147863551622738702006-05-17T03:59:00.000-07:002006-05-17T03:59:11.630-07:00Mcall.com: Mike Long Screwed Chip Brightbill and then covered<a href="http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2006/03/dateline_altoon.html">Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek : Dateline: Altoona.</a>: "March 31, 2006 <br />Dateline: Altoona.<br />Total People in Discussion: 0<br />Categories: Current Affairs <br /><br />We're Just Back ...<br />... from two days of campaign travel in the wilds of Western Pennsylvania. It's always good to get out of the office for a while to find out what actual people who actually work for a living think about the goings-on here in the seat of power.<br />The only downside to leaving is the towering pile of paperwork and the dozen or so phone messages we had to wade through when we arrived at Capitol Ideas World Headquarters this morning<br /><br />There's more on our trip after the jump.<br /><br />We Started Our Swing ...<br />... in scenic Pittsburgh on Wednesday, where we attended the annual conference of the National Society of Black Engineers.<br />The group bills itself as the largest student-run organization of its kind in the country, and is specifically designed to encourage more black students to pursue careers in math and science.<br />To drop the cynical facade for a moment, it was pretty inspiring to see all these kids (from all over the country, no less) so jazzed up. That's doubly true when you consider that all this excitement was over math and science. <br />We have enough trouble balancing our checkbooks. Can't even imagine spending a week debating the finer points on the structural integrity of bridges and stuff..<br />But in the midst of all this hoopla, Gov. Ed had his own little Bush43/NAACP moment.<br />Either by accident or design, the Rendellies decided to give the conference's opening ceremonies a pass.<br />Carl Mack, NSBE's executive director (and a very tall man who we wouldn't want to have mad at us) wasted little time ripping the current occupant of the governor's office.<br />"For the governor of the state not to have an interest in 10,000 African-American students (in Pittsburgh) ... don't give me rhetoric about education reform. For him to skip was an insult."<br />This is also the place where we point out that Rendell's Republican rival, Lynn Swann, did manage to find his way over to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where NSBE held its conclave.<br />Bad move, Gov. We've seen your poll numbers out West.<br /><br />Thursday Found Us ...<br />... in Altoona, where we (along with Capitolwire's Pete DeCoursey) spent the day tagging along with state Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, R-Blair.<br />We spent the best part of the day in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, where Jubelirer spent about two hours knocking on doors in his first spring primary since 1974.<br />For those of you not in the know, Jubelirer faces a particularly tough primary challenge from Blair County Commissioner John Eichelberger, who is kind of the Joker/Riddler/Penguin to Jubelirer's Batman. There's not a lot in the way of lost love between these two guys.<br />Anyway, the reaction from voters was fairly genial, except for the one guy who decided to rip Jubelirer's face off over last year's legislative pay raise.<br />The guy wasn't much interested in explanations -- not even when Jubelirer tried to tell him that he'd voted to repeal the hated raises.<br />On Thursday night, former Gov. Tom Ridge swung in for a fund-raiser at a baquet hall in the shadows of the Altoona Curve's ballpark. <br />There, the former Commissar for Homeland Security offered his unqualified endorsement for his "good friend, Bob Jubelirer."<br />We've got to hand it to Ridge. He was looking about as tanned and rested as we've ever seen him,<br />Then again, if the biggest security threat you had to think about these days was how to handle a particularly difficult Par 4 at the Lake Shore Country Club in Erie, you'd probably look that good, too.<br />During a press conference before the fund-raiser, Ridge initially tripped over a question on whether he intended to offer an equally enthusiastic endorsement for another Senate GOP leader who's having some trouble these days: Senate Majority Leader David J.Brightbill, R-Lebanon.<br />"I haven't talked to Sen. Brightbill yet," Ridge said. "I'm here for Bob Jubelirer."<br />Later that evening, Ridge, at the urging of Senate GOP campaign czar/Brightbill brother-in-law Mike Long, clarified his remarks:<br />"I'll work with Chip, if I'm asked," Ridge said, likely to the relief of Long, who was no doubt contemplating six months worth of awkward Sunday dinners if he failed to deliver the former Guv for Brightbill. <br />"We just had so much trouble scheduling this. The people who helped me, I'm obligated to support. And he's one of them," Ridge concluded, thus also saving Long from the kids table at Thanksgiving.<br /><br />One More Note On That Ridge Press Conference ...<br />After dealing with stunned silence from the local press when he asked if there were any questions, Ridge fielded one or two queries about his feelings on the ... er ... immigration reform fever that's sweeping Washington these days.<br />In short, he's not a fan.<br />"Right now, the decibel level is not conducive to a thoughtful approach," he said. "We have every right to defend our borders ... But the notion that you can send 11 million people back, these legislators have got to get a grip."<br />Instead, Ridge advocated a more sensible guest worker program to help accomodate the Mexicans and Central Americans who want to "lay asphalt in Phoenix in 120-degree weather," and do other jobs that most Gringos try hard (and shouldn't) to avoid.<br />And when he was asked about the lightly armed couch potatoes who now consider it their patriotic duty to play cop along the border, Ridge said, "I appreciate their interest, but if they really want to help, they can volunteer to do clerical and back office work so that customs and immigrations officers can do the enforcement."<br /><br />Of Course, There Was Other Stuff ...<br />... going on whilst we were gallivanting across the state. Here's a quick look at what's left:<br /><br />We Wish We Knew This Yesterday Dept.<br />The Tribune Review's Brad Bumsted and Deb Erdley hit one out of the park this morning, revealing that a political action committee controlled by the famously anti-gambling Jubelirer, and run by aide Long, was largely financed by a leading contender for a slots license in Scranton.<br /><br />State Rep. Mike Diven, R-Pittsburgh ...<br />... has spoken out on the forged signatures that forced him to withdraw fromf the spring ballot this week. <br />Diven said he didn't circulate the bad petition, and that "we believe someone sat down and wrote (the petition) out from a street list." <br />Diven won't say who in his camp ciruclated the document. He also apologized for including dead people on his petitions.<br />What? <br />We used to live in Chicago.<br />Just because they're dead doesn't mean they can't vote, Mike.<br /><br />Hordes of Young Conservatives ...<br />... descend on a Hilton in suburban Harrisburg this afternoon for the annual Pennsylvania Leadership Conference.<br />GOP gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann gets things started at 2 p.m. Our Rick is the dinner speaker at 6 p.m. MSNBC screeching head Joe Scarborough is also slated to speak.<br /><br />In The Blogosphere:<br />Keystone Politics on the red-hot 6th Congressional District race; GrassrootsPA is all over that Jubelirer/PAC story; Young Philly Politics reminds readers that the state House is slated to vote next week on the gay marriage amendment; A Smoke-Filled Room has a daily media round-up; Above Average Jane has some things to do; What is the sound of one mouth talking? Bill Bostic interviews Gene Stilp; Tony Phyrillas says Berks County is scraping the bottom of the legislative barrel; PennPatriot isn't a big fan of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; If you look hard enough for media bias, you'll find it anywhere (sigh), and we wrap up with Wonkette's daily briefing.<br /><br />On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning:<br />To help combat the lingering fatigue we're feeling from all that PA Turnpike travel, we've got The Replacements' messy, but still tons of fun, 1982 EP Stink blasting at a paralyzingly loud volume right now.<br /><br />Friday's Final Gratuitous Soccer Link:<br />In which we close out the week with The Guardian confirming what the rest of the world knows already: the comically behind-schedule Wembley Stadium will not open until 2007.<br />And more good news for fans in the Bernabeu, David Beckham has decided he wants to stay at Real Madrid.<br /><br />That's it for this week. See you all on Monday."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1147863229227143662006-05-17T03:53:00.000-07:002006-05-17T03:53:49.303-07:00Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2006 | Mike Long Cost Jubelirer His Seat with O'Berry's Help<a href="http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/13808181.htm">Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/07/2006 | Group alleges legislature, court colluded</a>: "Posted on Tue, Feb. 07, 2006email thisprint thisreprint or license thisGroup alleges legislature, court colludedBy Mario F. Cattabiani and Angela Couloumbis<br />Inquirer Staff Writers<br />HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania's leading watchdog group alleged in a lawsuit yesterday that the highest ranks of the legislature traded millions in state aid to the courts for favorable decisions dating to 1999 - and possibly culminating last summer in generous pay raises for more than 1,000 judges.<br /><br />A state Supreme Court spokesman called the accusations "preposterous."<br /><br />The allegations were laid out in a revised federal court challenge in Harrisburg to last summer's legislative pay raise, in which Common Cause of Pennsylvania contends that there has been political "back scratching" between top House and Senate members and the state Supreme Court for years.<br /><br />At the heart of the new allegations is the contention that, seven years ago, legislative leaders negotiated with the high court to fund the state's judiciary, fearing that if they did not, the justices would rule against them on two suits involving constitutional challenges.<br /><br />Given that history, Common Cause alleges it is more than likely that last summer's unpopular pay raises were the result of a similar deal between Chief Justice Ralph Cappy and legislative leaders.<br /><br />"What we are telling the court is that this may not be a unique instance, that this may have been going on at various levels for quite a few years," said Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause. "We are asking the [federal] court to get to the bottom of it. If it is going on, it needs to be stopped and the federal courts need to put the hammer down."<br /><br />Speaking on behalf of Cappy, Tom Darr, deputy court administrator of Pennsylvania, said: "It is regrettable that an organization like Common Cause, which has always stood for the principles of good government, would file such a frivolous lawsuit."<br /><br />He added: "A preliminary reading shows the allegations to be preposterous, baseless and reckless and the relief sought ridiculous."<br /><br />The suit provides as evidence conversations held behind closed doors between Republican members of the House in June 1999.<br /><br />During that internal caucus meeting, then-Majority Leader John M. Perzel (R., Phila.), now speaker of the House, allegedly told colleagues that they were moving ahead with the court funding because "we cannot afford to have the courts rule against us" on the two suits. One suit involved workers compensation, the other an increase in the state tax on gasoline for highway-improvement projects.<br /><br />Perzel's comments came after members of the caucus complained that the legislature should not give in to "blackmail" by the court, the suit contends.<br /><br />Former Rep. Ed Krebs, who was at the meeting, attested to the allegation in an affidavit filed with the amended suit. In it, he also alleges that then-Speaker Matt Ryan told fellow Republicans that another member, J. Scot Chadwick, had acted as a negotiator with the Supreme Court on the matter.<br /><br />In an interview yesterday from his Lebanon County home, Krebs said, "To me, it meant that if we didn't give them the money for the courts, we would lose the cases. It was a quid pro quo."<br /><br />Krebs retired from the House in 2002 after serving 12 years.<br /><br />Chadwick, a former Republican representative from Bradford County, told the Associated Press that he did consult with court officials over the 1999 legislation, but that the meeting was informational, not a quid pro quo negotiation.<br /><br />"I think that would be very wrong," he said. "I am an attorney by training and that would raise a red flag with me immediately."<br /><br />The high court wound up ruling in favor of the legislature in both cases.<br /><br />That wasn't the only instance of possible collusion, according to the suit.<br /><br />Last summer, the suit alleges, Cappy lobbied the legislature hard to implement the pay raise, which increased legislative salaries as well as those for judges and other state officials. It was rescinded in November by a contrite legislature that had been whipped in public-opinion polls.<br /><br />The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to both the pay raise and the legislature's move to overturn it. Cappy has recused himself from hearing the case.<br /><br />That lawsuit quotes an August e-mail about the pay raise that was allegedly written by Republican Senate employee Suzanne O'Berry to Matthew Brouillette, head of the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank.<br /><br />"I watched the formulation of all this up close with my 'special connections' to certain offices, and it was much more unsavory than a lot know," O'Berry wrote, according to the suit. "... I will say that family dining debate has become much more exciting."<br /><br />O'Berry is married to Mike Long, a top aide to Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R., Blair). Jubelirer is among the defendants named in Common Cause's suit.<br /><br />O'Berry told the Associated Press that she does not recall the e-mail and had no other immediate comment.<br /><br />Just last week, Perzel asked Cappy and the court for guidance in crafting a lobbying disclosure bill that would withstand legal scrutiny.<br /><br />Attempts to reach Perzel and Jubelirer were unsuccessful yesterday.<br /><br />The Common Cause lawsuit asks the federal court to declare unconstitutional private conversations between judges and members of the executive or legislative branches about legislation that might come before them.<br /><br />Joining in the lawsuit with Common Cause are the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and state Rep. Greg Vitali (D., Delaware) among others. The defendants include top legislative leaders of both parties in the House and Senate, as well as Gov. Rendell and state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr.<br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Contact staff writer Mario F. Cattabiani at 717-787-5990 or mcattabiani@phillynews.com."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1142123106186610182006-03-11T16:25:00.000-08:002006-03-11T16:25:09.353-08:00Slime Politics By Lambro the hack in The Washington Times, Rev Moon's Newspaper<a href="http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060309-114328-8479r.htm">Lead projected to slip for pro-life Democrat�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper</a>: "Lead projected to slip for pro-life Democrat<br />By Donald Lambro<br />THE WASHINGTON TIMES<br />March 10, 2006 <br /><br /><br />Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, the Republican Party's most vulnerable incumbent, trails state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. by 10 to 15 percentage points, but the race will tighten when Democrats learn more about Mr. Casey's pro-life views, pollsters and campaign advisers said yesterday. <br /> Mr. Casey's pro-life position has angered pro-choice Democratic activists and could bring into the race Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Should that happen, it would split the Democrats and turn the November election into a competitive contest, independent polls indicate. <br /> "If there were a third-party candidate on the ballot who is pro-choice, that candidate could draw heavily from Casey backers among liberal Democrats, enough to make it a close race," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, whose surveys show that Mr. Casey is vulnerable on the abortion issue with pro-choice Democrats. <br /> "If Michelman gets in, I think you would see Casey's support drop," Mr. Richards said. <br /> Both Mr. Santorum and Mr. Casey are pro-life. The big difference is that the two-term senator receives strong support on his position from the Republican Party base, while Mr. Casey represents a party that is overwhelmingly pro-choice in a state that has some of the most conservative abortion laws in the nation. <br /> An earlier Quinnipiac poll found that when voters were told about Mr. Casey's pro-life position, many Democrats reacted negatively to his candidacy. Such a development could spell trouble for Mr. Casey when the race heats up later this year. <br /> "A significant number of Casey supporters still do not know that Casey is opposed to abortion. There are a significant number of pro-choice voters whose entire opinion swings on that one issue, and unlike other single-issue voters, they will use their vote on just that one issue, even it if hurts the candidate they are otherwise philosophically attuned with," Mr. Richards said. <br /> Other developments angered pro-choice Democrats and complicated the party's campaign to unseat Mr. Santorum. <br /> Gov. Edward G. Rendell, a Democrat, and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, pressured pro-choice candidate Barbara Hafer to drop out of the race to clear the way for Mr. Casey's nomination in the May 16 party primary. <br /> Also, Mr. Casey said he would have voted to confirm Samuel A. Alito Jr.'s nomination to the Supreme Court. The announcement further alienated Democrats who opposed the pro-life jurist. <br /> "For me and for many people across the country who care about women's rights, that was the straw that broke the camel's back," Ms. Michelman said, hinting that she may enter the contest. "I have become a vehicle for people who feel they have to take action at a time of crisis." <br /> Until now, the Santorum campaign has been unable to draw out Mr. Casey on the issues in what Republicans call a Democratic "stealth campaign." <br /> "When people start to find out what Casey believes, it will affect his support," said Santorum campaign spokeswoman Virginia Davis. <br /> Casey campaign officials declined to talk about Democratic reaction to his pro-choice views or about Ms. Michelman's political aspirations. "I'll leave that to the pundits. We'll wait and see if she gets in the race," said Casey spokesman Larry Smar."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1141871648271239382006-03-08T18:34:00.000-08:002006-03-08T18:34:08.313-08:00The Sentinel Online - Editorial - Casey scores in pay grab lawsuit<a href="http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/03/08/editorial/editorial/daily01.txt">The Sentinel Online - Editorial</a>: "Casey scores in pay grab lawsuit<br /><br />By The Sentinel, March 08, 2006<br /><br />Nobody likes being sued. Anytime a person is called upon to respond to a lawsuit, he can be expected to file the most thorough argument he can muster in hopes the suit will be dismissed.<br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />State Treasurer Bob Casey was named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by anti-pay grab activist Gene Stilp, who is trying to head off arguments of several state judges that the now-repealed pay grab bill must be reinstated. They argue the state’s constitution specifically prohibits the reduction of any judge’s pay while in office, and that means the pay raise can’t be repealed.<br /><br />Casey’s response to the lawsuit was released this week — and it looked an awful lot like Stilp’s lawsuit. Casey’s brief asserted the Legislature “repeatedly violated Article III of the state Constitution” in passing the pay-grab bill, and since the bill was unconstitutional on its face, the judges’ salary raise never really existed.<br /><br />And that neatly cuts the legs out from under the various judge-filed lawsuits to reinstate the pay grab — if the state Supreme Court concurs with that reasoning.<br /><br />Now we happened to notice that there’s a U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania this year — and that Casey is the leading Democratic challenger in that race. So we’re alert to the notion that Casey responded when opportunity knocked.<br /><br />Certainly this has occurred to Republicans, who claim Casey had plenty of time before this to register any objections he might have had to the pay grab.<br /><br />That Casey has suddenly gotten religion as his Senate campaign ramps up is a point worthy of debate. He might have gotten away with simply ignoring the issue on the grounds that a court case was already proceeding.<br /><br />But the need to file a response to Stilp’s lawsuit forced him to take a stand. He could have, like Gov. Ed Rendell did previously, simply assert that the constitutional violations took place outside his field of influence.<br /><br />Instead, Casey took a course that puts him in opposition to the much-derided Legislature and in line with majority thought on the pay grab. And it puts him way out front of the guy he’s challenging, Sen. Rick Santorum, who previously asserted that statewide issues don’t affect his candidacy.<br /><br />We’ll see if Santorum is eventually proved right. For now, Casey takes the point."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1141053332236356362006-02-27T07:15:00.000-08:002006-02-27T07:15:36.166-08:00Santorum's charity spends 60 percent on overhead, Santorum's Staff Personally Benefited!<a href="http://www.kcautv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4550326&nav=1kgl">Senator's charity spends 60 percent on overhead, some to campaign aides</a>: "Senator's charity spends 60 percent on overhead, some to campaign aides <br /><br />WASHINGTON A charity run by Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is supposed to promote "compassionate conservatism" by giving grants to small non-profit groups, including religious groups.<br /><br />But the charity has actually donated just 40 percent of the one and a-quarter (m) million dollars it spent during a four-year period. The rest went for overhead. And some of that overhead money went to Santorum campaign aides who were on the charity's payroll.<br /><br />The 40-percent donation rate is well below the standards of the Better Business Bureau, which advises giving to charitable organizations that spend at least 65 percent of their total expenses on program activities.<br /><br />The treasurer for Operation Good Neighbor defends its spending practices. She says the charity doesn't have the same ability as the Salvation Army or the Red Cross "to raise money without spending much money to do so."<br /><br />Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1140202746196643872006-02-17T10:59:00.000-08:002006-02-17T10:59:06.196-08:00Casey Could Defeat Santorum in Pennsylvania: Angus Reid Consultants<a href="http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/10896">Casey Could Defeat Santorum in Pennsylvania: Angus Reid Consultants</a>: "Angus Reid Global Scan : Polls & Research<br />Casey Could Defeat Santorum in Pennsylvania<br />February 16, 2006<br /> (Angus Reid Global Scan) – Pennsylvania’s Bob Casey maintains the upper hand in the United States Senate election, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 51 per cent of respondents in the Keystone State would support the Democrat in a head-to-head contest against Republican incumbent Rick Santorum.<br /><br />Casey has been Pennsylvania’s state treasurer since January 2005, and previously served as the state auditor general for eight years. Casey is the son of former Keystone State governor Robert P. Casey, and lost the 2002 Democratic primary to current governor Ed Rendell.<br /><br />Santorum was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994, and earned a second term in 2000, defeating Democrat Ron Klink with 53 per cent of all cast ballots. He had previously served for two consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.<br /><br />Support for Casey fell by one point since October, while backing for Santorum increased by two points to 36 per cent. The U.S. Senate election is scheduled for Nov. 7.<br /><br />In a state in which one in five residents is over 60 years old, Medicare is expected to become a major campaign issue. Virginia Davis, a spokesman for Santorum’s office, said in a statement to Bloomberg.com that "it is senator Santorum’s priority that Pennsylvania’s seniors have access to quality, affordable prescription drugs."<br /><br />Polling Data<br /><br />If the 2006 election for senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bob Casey Jr. the Democrat and Rick Santorum the Republican for whom would you vote? <br /><br /> Feb. 2006<br /> Oct. 2005<br /> Jul. 2005 <br /> <br />Bob Casey Jr. (D) <br /> 51%<br /> 52%<br /> 50% <br /> <br />Rick Santorum (R) <br /> 36%<br /> 34%<br /> 39% <br /> <br />Someone else<br /> 1%<br /> 1%<br /> -- <br /> <br />Would not vote <br /> 2%<br /> 2%<br /> 1% <br /> <br />Not sure <br /> 10%<br /> 11%<br /> 11% <br /> <br /><br /><br />Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute<br />Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,661 Pennsylvania voters, conducted from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2006. Margin of error is 2.4 per cent."Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1140202576586802682006-02-17T10:56:00.000-08:002006-02-17T10:56:16.586-08:00Santorum wants to have his cake and eat it, too. - Christianity Today Magazine<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/002/42.99.html">How Not to Influence People - Christianity Today Magazine</a>: "Home > Christianity Today Magazine > Culture & Technology > Books <br /><br />Christianity Today, February 2006<br /><br />Bookmarks<br />How Not to Influence People<br />Rick Santorum's It Takes a Family is an example of how not to fight the culture wars.<br />by John Wilson | posted 02/16/2006 09:15 a.m.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />IT TAKES A FAMILY:<br />Conservatism and<br />the Common Good<br />by Rick Santorum<br />464 pp.; $25<br /> <br />Every Christian on the front lines of the culture wars should read this book—as an example of how not to go about it. Santorum, a two-term Republican senator from Pennsylvania currently engaged in a tough battle for reelection, is a devout Roman Catholic who was named by Time magazine as one of "The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America." As one of the strongest conservative voices in the Senate, he has taken leadership on a number of key issues, including abortion.<br /><br />We urgently need leaders who unapologetically defend traditional family values in the context of the common good. At times, It Takes a Family achieves this goal, with well-reasoned policy recommendations and telling anecdotes. But from the start, this book has a divided heart. Santorum's contemptuous references to "liberals," "village elders," and "the Bigs" (this from a candidate who boasts Wal-Mart as a major donor) are pitched to the right-wing choir. One moment sneering in full talk-radio mode, the next moment sanctimoniously quoting Tocqueville, Santorum wants to have his cake and eat it, too.<br /><br />It didn't surprise me when (on page 296) Santorum came to the obligatory reference to Andres Serrano's Piss Christ—"a piece of 'artwork,' funded by the National Endowment of the Arts"—that he referred to Serrano as "José." Santorum and his researchers can't even be bothered to get the name of one of their favorite villains right. We expect more than this from one who styles himself a champion of the common good.<br /><br />Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.<br />February 2006, Vol. 50, No. 2, Page 99"Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1140202356073729922006-02-17T10:52:00.000-08:002006-02-17T10:52:36.106-08:00Santorum's Goons Use Dirty Politics to Attack Casey<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06047/656115.stm">Casey's Abramoff-linked donations draw flak from GOP, Santorum</a>: "Casey's Abramoff-linked donations draw flak from GOP, Santorum<br />Thursday, February 16, 2006<br /><br />By Maeve Reston, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<br /><br /><br /><br />WASHINGTON -- Republican officials and Sen. Rick Santorum's campaign yesterday accused Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate candidate, state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., of hypocrisy because Mr. Casey's campaign does not plan to return contributions from two former associates of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.<br /><br />The controversy is part of the struggle between Washington's Democrats and Republicans to avoid the taint of the Abramoff scandal after the ex-lobbyist pleaded guilty last month to tax evasion, fraud and conspiracy to bribe public officials resulting from a federal investigation into his activities promoting Indian tribes.<br /><br />As Democrats have tried to brand the GOP as a corrupt party because of Mr. Abramoff's dealings with prominent Republicans including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, Republicans have retaliated by scouring Federal Election Commission records to find contributions to Democrats from Mr. Abramoff's associates or the tribes for which he lobbied.<br /><br />That exercise this week has turned up two contributions to Mr. Casey from lobbyists who worked closely with Mr. Abramoff while he was at the firm of Greenberg Traurig LLP. Officials of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and at Mr. Santorum's campaign are making an issue of $5,500 that the Democratic challenger received last year from two former employees of that law firm: Michael Smith and Edward Ayoob.<br /><br />Even though the contributions by both men were made more than a year after Mr. Abramoff was pressured to resign by Greenberg Traurig and at a time when both were working for new firms, the Republican campaign committee and Mr. Santorum's campaign yesterday said Mr. Casey was applying a double standard for contributions to his campaign and those to the senator's.<br /><br />Earlier this year, Mr. Casey's campaign pounded Mr. Santorum for not immediately returning contributions from several of Mr. Abramoff's tribal clients. Within the week of Mr. Abramoff's guilty plea, Mr. Santorum decided that he would donate the tribal contributions to charity because his campaign said it was virtually impossible to determine whether the money was related to Mr. Abramoff's lobbying activities.<br /><br />"[Mr. Casey] is basically saying one thing and doing another," said Santorum campaign spokeswoman Virginia Davis. "Both of these gentlemen were part of Abramoff's team, and there are reports of their close connections with Abramoff. ... For Casey to not contribute these contributions to charity or return them is completely hypocritical."<br /><br />Mr. Smith, who gave Mr. Casey $4,000 last June and is now a lobbyist at Cornerstone Government Affairs, declined to comment yesterday.<br /><br />Mr. Ayoob also declined to comment, other than to say he was frustrated that contributions he made more than a year after he last spoke with Mr. Abramoff were being used for what he views as obvious political purposes. Mr. Ayoob, who donated a total of $1,500 on June 29 and Sept. 19 of last year, is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the Duquesne University law school who worked with Mr. Abramoff after his time as a senior aide for current Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Mr. Ayoob now works for the firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP.<br /><br />Mr. Casey?s spokesman Larry Smar emphasized that neither Mr. Ayoob or Mr. Smith had been accused of wrongdoing and said the back and forth was "nothing more than a smokescreen by Santorum to try to cover up his ethical problems with the K Street project and his weekly meetings with lobbyists." <br /><br />(Maeve Reston can be reached at 202-488-3479 mreston@post-gazette.com.)"Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1139958598725152792006-02-14T15:09:00.000-08:002006-02-14T15:09:58.840-08:00Patriot-News: Casey adds to lead over Santorum, poll shows - Santorum Tanking<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1139912648275580.xml&coll=1">Casey adds to lead over Santorum, poll shows</a>: "Casey adds to lead over Santorum, poll shows<br />CASEY <br />Tuesday, February 14, 2006<br />BY BRETT LIEBERMAN<br />Of The Patriot-News <br />WASHINGTON - A new poll could diminish Republicans' confidence that the U.S. Senate election is narrowing. <br /><br />Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr. widened his lead over U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., by 3 percentage points, to 51 percent to 36 percent, over the last two months, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday. <br /><br />The poll of 1,661 Pennsylvania voters shows that one Republican in five labels Santorum's views "extreme," and the same proportion says that he does not deserve to be re-elected. <br /> <br />"Sen. Santorum opens the election year a solid 15 points behind Bob Casey and facing serious opposition from a significant number of members of his own party," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. <br /><br />The poll was conducted from Jan. 31 through Feb. 6 and has a 2.4-percentage- point margin of error. A Patriot-News/WGAL-TV Keystone Poll released last week that was conducted over nearly the same period showed Casey leading Santorum by 11 points. <br /><br />Forty-three percent of voters approve of Santorum's job performance, but 42 percent disapprove. Only 15 percent said they don't know enough. <br /><br />While Casey's unfavorable ratings are at 6 percent, 38 percent say they don't know enough about the state treasurer to make up their mind, more than those who have a favorable opinion (34 percent). <br /><br />The bottom line for Santorum is that 44 percent still say he does not deserve to be re-elected, compared with 41 percent who say he does. <br /><br />Casey, who is expected to win the Democratic nomination, is favored by 70 percent of Democratic voters surveyed. <br /><br />BRETT LIEBERMAN: (202) 383-7833 or blieberman@patriot-news.com"Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18475303.post-1139878775590362692006-02-13T16:59:00.000-08:002006-02-13T16:59:35.660-08:00Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/13/2006 | Casey Raising More Money Than Anticipated - Santorum Losing "Incumbent's Edge"<a href="http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/breaking_news/13857636.htm">Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/13/2006 | For Santorum and Casey, fund-raising is constant</a>: "Posted on Mon, Feb. 13, 2006<br />For Santorum and Casey, fund-raising is constant Each must juggle his duties with the scramble for money in what analysts consider the year's premier Senate race.By Carrie BudoffInquirer Staff WriterIn December, State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. went into the office just seven days.<br />With a crucial fund-raising deadline looming, the Democratic Senate candidate swept through Los Angeles, Atlanta and St. Louis and spent as many days in Philadelphia - raising money and working on his campaign - as he did in the treasurer's office in Harrisburg.<br />Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum stayed closer to home, attending 11 fund-raisers in 15 days across Pennsylvania and in New York and Washington. After missing four votes, and the possibility of a fifth on the Patriot Act, Santorum cut short a trip to Texas and Arizona.<br />That December snapshot highlights the intense pace of fund-raising in what political analysts consider this year's premier U.S. Senate race. With the candidates preparing to battle not only each other but special-interest groups, the need to bank millions of dollars won't relent until Election Day.<br />Santorum is the Senate Republicans' No. 3 leader, but he is the Democrats' No. 1 target - for his conservative politics as much as for his Senate leadership position and his potential presidential aspirations. Democrats, hungry for a high-profile win, have funneled $6 million to Casey. Republicans have countered with $10 million for Santorum in the last year.<br />The money pressures have led Casey to spend the majority of his time on 91.5 of 211 workdays on his campaign from March through December, according to an abridged schedule provided by the treasurer's office. Casey, who entered the Senate race six weeks after being sworn in as treasurer, spent more than half of June, September and December out of the office. The common thread: Each month preceded a quarterly fund-raising deadline, a pivotal benchmark that shapes perceptions about a candidate's ability to win.<br />Santorum did make 96 percent of his Senate votes between March and December - the key indicator for determining a senator's whereabouts. But that tells only part of the story.<br />Santorum spent a portion of 97 of 211 work days at fund-raisers, weaving 154 events throughout his Senate schedule, routinely juggling floor votes with donor luncheons at Washington restaurants, according to a list provided by his campaign. The mixing of public business and fund-raising has come under scrutiny since lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea in a bribery investigation that magnified the clubby relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.<br />Although much attention is paid to the amount that candidates raise, less is known about the methods and time that fund-raising demands. The schedules, which are not public records, were provided at The Inquirer's request, offering a more complex view of fund-raising in a cash-infused race.<br />Santorum and Casey say their official duties remain their priority; fund-raising is secondary.<br />Still, Barry Kauffman, executive director of Pennsylvania Common Cause, a government watchdog group, called the campaign interference "a huge, huge problem."<br />"When public officials are distracted from their jobs because they have to raise enormous amounts of money, and they spend four or five hours a day dialing for dollars with wealthy people, they don't have time to talk to the regular people," Kauffman said.<br />"It all comes down to, Who is going to own the election?"<br />By all accounts, Casey had never thought much about the Senate. The governorship was his ambition.<br />That all changed when he won the treasurer's office in 2004 with more votes than any other candidate in any race in state history, and in areas where Democrats usually fared poorly. The national party came calling.<br />When Casey entered the Senate race on March 4, political observers asked: Would the party's big liberal funders invest heavily in this antiabortion, anti-gun-control Democrat?<br />Eleven months later, Casey has overcome much of the skepticism by crisscrossing the state and the nation, making contacts and collecting checks - mostly behind closed doors.<br />Casey left the East Coast for the first time to raise money in June. But his first stop wasn't a liberal money capital like Los Angeles or San Francisco.<br />It was Dallas.<br />After flying on a private jet owned by the law firm of Baron & Budd, Casey dined with donors at the Crescent Club, a private club at a five-star hotel. He also was host at a cocktail reception for younger professionals in the Uptown district.<br />"He hasn't been a national politician," said Frederick M. Baron, a prominent Dallas lawyer who served as chairman of Democrat John Kerry's joint fund-raising committee for his presidential campaign in 2004. "It was really important for him to go around and start introducing himself and start networking."<br />Baron said he met Casey through Austin, Texas, native Paul Begala, an adviser to former President Bill Clinton who helped propel Casey's father into the Pennsylvania governor's office in the late '80s.<br />As a past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Baron said, he has since asked his national network of lawyers to raise money for Casey, which they have done in San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles. For them, Santorum's defeat ranks at the top of the political to-do list.<br />Unlike Casey, Santorum favors limiting jury awards in malpractice cases and establishing a federal asbestos trust fund. In a 2002 interview with the Financial Times of London, Baron vowed a "jihad" against lawmakers who worked to restrict tort cases.<br />Casey flew out of Dallas with more than $71,000, including $28,000 from Baron & Budd employees.<br />He returned to Texas in September as part of a money-raising sprint that kept him from the office on 16 of 21 workdays.<br />For the month, he cleared $1.5 million, or roughly $50,000 a day, exceeding analysts' expectations. The month's highlights: Sen. Barack Obama (D., Ill.) helped raise $500,000 at a Philadelphia luncheon, and a former ambassador to Portugal, Elizabeth F. Bagley, feted the state treasurer in her Georgetown home in Washington.<br />The demands of a statewide campaign - this is Casey's third in four years - have not gone unnoticed in Harrisburg.<br />Within days of Casey's entering the race, Republicans sensed a political soft spot. They began portraying him as a political opportunist, flitting from office to office and using his family name to advance.<br />At a budget hearing in March, Casey told state lawmakers he could handle the dual responsibility. "I am confident in the system we have in place and the team we have in place."<br />The treasurer, who earns $134,140 a year, serves as custodian of $100 billion in state-agency and public-pension funds. The office cuts checks, audits spending, administers the state's college savings plan, and oversees $12 billion in investments.<br />While he might be out of the office, Casey remains in "constant contact," Treasury spokeswoman Karen Walsh said.<br />She said he has gone beyond his job description by creating new loan programs - $20 million for energy loans to homeowners, and $50 million for hospital improvements. He performed a "top-to-bottom review" of state Treasury contracts for cost savings, expanded fraud investigations, and hired Moody's to rate the college savings plan for the first time to encourage more investment, Walsh said.<br />"I can't stress enough that he is running this department," Walsh said.<br />The pressure to raise mounds of cash stems, in large part, from Santorum.<br />The two-term senator estimated a year ago that he would collect $25 million, or an average of $1 million a month, putting him on track to break the Senate record in Pennsylvania of $21 million, set by Republican Sen. Arlen Specter in 2004.<br />Observers didn't question the goal. Santorum, who earns $162,000 a year, has established himself as a prolific fund-raiser.<br />His schedule reflects that reality. He has traveled to more than a dozen states, once holding five events between Georgia and Texas in one day.<br />A Georgia fund-raiser netted $12,750 from 15 doctors with Resurgens, an orthopedic practice. Workers and executives of Alcon Laboratories, a Texas eye-products company, poured $17,600 into his campaign.<br />A July weekend trip to Colorado coincided with more than $25,000 in contributions from prominent conservatives, such as billionaire financier Philip Anschutz and retired cable executive John V. Saeman Jr., who said he supports Santorum's "pro-family, pro-life values." Like Casey on his Texas trip, Santorum got there by corporate jet - this one from BellSouth.<br />"We all recognize that Rick is a marked man," said Saeman, who, along with his wife, gave the maximum donation of $4,200. "The Republicans were able to unseat Tom Daschle, and this is the Democrats' hot-button designated seat for payback."<br />Consider Santorum's long Veterans' Day weekend.<br />On Nov. 10, a Thursday, he attended two fund-raisers and cast two votes in Washington. Later that day, he traveled to Ohio for a third fund-raiser, missing three votes. Over the next three days, he jumped from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, delivering speeches and federal funds for local programs. He was back in Philadelphia that Monday, leading a town-hall meeting and hitting two more fund-raisers before a 5:25 p.m. vote in Washington.<br />"There is a real incumbent advantage, because the line between campaigning and Senate duties is very thin," said Larry Noble, president of the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington.<br />Nowhere is this more apparent than Washington.<br />Santorum has held more than a third of his fund-raisers there, more than in any other city and, on several occasions, has held as many as three in a day.<br />Moving among votes, hearings and constituent meetings, Santorum drops by a donor breakfast or luncheon, typically for half an hour. The events are built around his official duties, said Virginia Davis, his campaign spokeswoman.<br />"Sen. Santorum is committed to carrying out the responsibilities associated with his official role as a U.S. senator," Davis said. "His remaining time is balanced with the priorities of his family and the challenge of running statewide."<br />Those commitments "often limit his ability to travel outside of D.C. for fund-raising," she added.<br />Newt Gingrich, the Republican former House speaker, has called it unnecessary. "Too many politicians are scheduling the people's business around their fund-raising opportunities," Gingrich, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, said in a commentary last month on National Public Radio. "There is no good reason to raise money in Washington, D.C., and this practice should be banned. Period."<br />Unlikely to happen, political observers say. For Santorum and Casey, the amount of money from Washington area donors is second only to that from Pennsylvanians.<br />"The members can't afford it," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "The people who are most interested in their campaigns are people with interests in Washington."<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Contact staff writer Carrie Budoff at 610-313-8211 or cbudoff@phillynews.com. <br />How this article was reported<br />Work schedules are not covered by Pennsylvania's public-records law, but the state Treasury Department provided an abridged version of Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr.'s whereabouts on workdays at the Inquirer's request.<br />It included city location by date and whether the Democratic candidate spent the majority of the day on Treasury business or on his campaign - a determination made by the Treasury's communications director. The schedule did not detail his daily meetings or activities after work hours or on the weekends.<br />His work schedule was then matched against his campaign-finance reports to determine where he was and from whom he raised money as he traveled. The Casey campaign would not provide a list of his fund-raisers by date and city.<br />Republican Sen. Rick Santorum's campaign did provide a list telling where and when he held fund-raisers.<br />Santorum's schedule was initially pieced together through his roll-call votes, public events, and a review of his campaign-finance filings. The fund-raising list compiled by his campaign, which detailed the number of events he held in each city, filled in the gaps.<br />The review covered 10 months last year, from March 1 through Dec. 31. Casey entered the race March 4, and Dec. 31 was the end of the most recent campaign reporting cycle.<br /><br />Carrie Budoff"Barry O'Connellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10003569801219363145noreply@blogger.com0