I’m guessing this guy decided that a job at Wal-Mart wasn’t his style.
Category: Politics
John Street Named Adjunct Professor
Apparently soon (but not soon enough) to be former Mayor of Philadelphia, John Street, is going to be teaching a course on urban politics at Temple University. Wyatt has some pretty amusing thoughts on what the topics of his classes might be.
What is National and What is Local
If there’s one thing that really does annoy me in local elections, and Democrats have been particularly guilty of this, is running against the leaders in the national government. Eric has a prime example of this.
Note to Democrats: If you tell me that I should vote for your local worms because it will make George W. Bush cry, I will vote for the other guy. Well, unless the other guy thinks Pennsylvania is Utah. The Republicans managed to retain control of Montgomery County. Maybe that’s because the residents of Montgomery County are more interested in hearing how candidates would run county government, and didn’t buy this juvinile attempt to make people think that a vote for their guy is a great way to stick it to George W. Bush.
Electoral Success in New Jersey
Scott Bach is talking about the results from New Jersey’s election this Tuesday.
And that’s exactly what happened in the 12th district on November 6. Fed up with overzealous legislative attacks, sportsmen and sportswomen turned out in force to register their disapproval with the flip of a voting lever. And register their disapproval they did…
Read the whole thing. This is a very positive development. I might just have to take New Jersey out of the “lost cause” category.
He Was For Gay Rights …
… before he was against them. Someone on Mitt’s staff must have dropped the ball. People might start thinking Mitt once supported gay rights.
Mr. Romney’s standing among conservatives is being hurt by a letter he sent to the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts saying that he would be a stronger advocate for gay rights than Senator Edward M. Kennedy, his opponent in a Senate race, in a position that stands in contrast to his current role as a champion of a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
“We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern,†Mr. Romney wrote in a detailed plea for the support of the club, a gay Republican organization.
It’s not much of a secret I think Mitt is the least desirable Republican candidate, which is part of why I think he has a chance of winning the nomination. I trust him less than I trust Rudy, and I don’t really trust Rudy.
Re-Enacting a Crime in New Jersey
“Technically anyone who carries an operable firearm without a carry permit at re-enactments is in violation of New Jersey gun law,” said Mueller, adding that the Wild West City case “is a perfect example of what could happen. It’s dangerous.”
During a dramatization at the Dodge City theme park on July 7, 2006, a bullet struck re-enactor Scott Harris, 37, in the forehead and caused severe brain damage. Harris is still recuperating from the injury.
It is generally illegal to carry a gun without a permit, although there is a laundry list of exceptions. Historical re-enactments and film, television or theatrical productions are not among those exceptions. Existing law has not been strictly enforced regarding re-enactments and entertainment productions, they said.
New Jersey already closed the “musket loophole” so it’s technically illegal to tool around an old battlefield re-enacting the Battle of Monmouth. Remember that guns are illegal in New Jersey. You can only possess them under certain enumerated exemptions, and re-enacting is not one of them.
Four Million Dollar Man
I have to offer congratulations to Congressman Ron Paul for raising more money in a single day than any of the other Republican candidates. I agree with Bitter that fund raising success won’t necessarily translate into electoral success, but it better at least signal to the Republican establishment that libertarian ideals, and a committed and passionate stand in favor of them can bring something to the table.
I am still a Fred Thompson supporter, but to be honest, I was expecting Fred to hit the ground running once he announced, and lately, it just kind of seems like he’s phoning it in. I’m not sure Fred is going to make it, and given the choice between Ron Paul, Guiliani, Romney, or registering as a Democrat to vote for Richardson, Ron Paul is starting to look better and better.
To be honest, if there weren’t a war going on, it wouldn’t even be a question, but there is. I elect a President with two major considerations; who they are going to put on the Supreme Court, and their foreign policy. I think I dig Ron Paul on the former, but his views on the latter scare me. But then again, this might end up just being a message to the Republican Party that I’m sick of their crap, and want something different.
How to Lose My Vote
John J. Kelly III, Middletown Township Supervisor, managed to send out a flyer this week that convinced me to vote for the guy. You see, John Kelly is apparently under the delusion that he lives in Utah:
I think a bar/restaurant there is a fine idea! I firmly believe that a person ought to have the freedom to start a small business without some local political worm telling them “Sorry, but I think there are too many bars in Middletown Township!” because he gets off on power.
And what’s with the Chuck E. Cheese reference? Last I checked, Chuck E. Cheese sold beer and had a liquor license. Don’t give me crap about protecting children. I’m not worried about the presence of a bar corrupting kids, but I’m very concerned about a citizen’s ability to start a small business.
Great job Middletown Township Republicans, you just convince me to vote for Democrats!
UPDATE: Breda thinks if these worms think a pub next to Chuck E. Cheese is a problem, Ireland would make their heads explode.
Apprehended
Looks like they caught Officer Chuck Cassidy’s killer:
Two days after the shooting, John Lewis had the audacity to appear in court for an unrelated drug possession case. Knowing full well that he just murdered a police officer, Lewis still appeared in court, surrounded by fellow officers. We did not know at the time that he was Chuck’s killer.
Chuck’s service weapon was recovered yesterday in his Lewis’ cousin’s residence on Fairhill Street. During his questioning, the cousin admitted he helped get Lewis flee the city by driving him to a bus station, and Lewis escaped to Miami, Florida.
I’m hoping the cousin is facing charges as well. I can’t believe he was stupid/arrogant enough to appear in court after the shooting.
Election Day
It’s election day in Pennsylvania, which means I need to go vote, something I seldom enjoy doing. On the ballot are county and township offices, as well as Supreme Court, and Superior Court seats. I’ve decided to go Democrat at the township level, and you’ll see why later. Guns are off the table because of preemption, no need to worry about that.
County wide, I’m going Republican, mostly to fight this “regionalism” concept I keep hearing out of Democrats. Regionalism goes like this: The suburbs have been traditionally Republican and don’t often vote with the City of Philadelphia. The suburbs are increasing trending Democrats, and will soon start to vote more in line with the City of Philadelphia.  Well, suburban Democrats, if that’s what you’re selling, I’m not buying it. I mean, the city politicians are doing such a bang up job! I want a my politicians to tell me “City politicians have turned Philadelphia into a sewer. Why do we want to bring that to the suburbs?”  Of course, no one will say that, but screw it, I’m voting Republican to keep the county in Republican hands, so suburban Democrats don’t get any ideas.  Silly, I know, but I don’t know the county candidates from a hole in the ground otherwise.
For the court stuff, I’m just going with the NRA endorsements. I don’t know anything else about these guys other than they have great families, and love kittens. That’s all court candidates ever talk about anyway. Plus, I’m still really mad about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling the state police could keep a registry of firearms, even though there’s a state law that specifically forbids that. If you’re willing to do that, what does it say about your respect for the law?
Either way, off I go to push buttons on our newfangled electronic voting fraud machines. Â Fun fun!