As I set type for tomorrow's edition, we learn that Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons is resigning. Jon is very progressive, more so than the accused, indicted drug dealer. How the commission got so far to the left escaped my active scrutiny. Last time I was at a meeting, Lisa Scheller and the Republicans were in charge.
In recent history, I know that progressive Josh Siegel easily beat former Allentown Police Chef Roger Maclean. A Republican partisan in my orbit claims that only Democrats can now win, and that good people don't want to run for local offices.
I understand the Democratic strength in Allentown with a Latino majority. I believe that the D's strength in the county should be alarming to the Republicans campaigning for the midterms. While I won't be doing much endorsing, I make an exception for Jarrett Coleman, who has been fighting for the taxpayers since being elected to Harrisburg.
There has been an ongoing, quiet takeover of our American government that is still forming. The evidence of this is everywhere, but too much of the population has been sleeping through it all.
ReplyDeleteRepublican’s can’t win is a tired excuse for weak candidates with tired (or no) ideas. Sure, D’s have a registration advantage but if that is the reason my response is simply “another excuse that is getting tired.”
ReplyDeleteIn major cities across the country, Democrat voters continue to ignore the fact that for decades they’ve been getting the same empty promises from their democrat elected officials. Those democrat elected officials constantly blame republicans for their problems, despite the fact that there is seldom even one elected republican holding office in those cities. It’s become like a religion to them, and no amount of reason will work.
DeleteIn Allentown an overly qualified businessman ran for mayor a few years ago and lost. Why? Because he ran as a Republican, despite the fact that he had been a registered democrat most of his life.
Anyone who thinks otherwise or wants to call it a tired excuse please feel free to either run for office in the city as a republican or assist with the campaign for a republican candidate in the city. Develop the message that overcomes the (at least) 4-1 registration deficit, and share your brilliance for all to see.
If you don’t want to do that, don’t bother replying.
Ran into this guy Omy Maldanado who is running as a Republican against the ultimate obedient party puppet Nick Miller for the 14th PA Senate District. Maldanado, while not well known, is a very impressive guy with outstanding credentials for public office. I'm planning to cross over and vote for him and will be routing for him to make it close.
ReplyDeleteThe two comments above show the brutal clarity of modern local politics. The first offers a perspective on society as a whole, and reaches a conclusion that is not dreamy or complimentary. The second boils down to, “Republicans are a bunch of weak wusses.”
ReplyDeleteI’m going to present three points that show why these approaches are bad for America.
There is so much political philosophy I could go on with (but I won’t here), that should give structure to my points. Here is just the openly visible shell:
1989 - 1992 were watershed years in American politics, for three reasons.
First, a balanced budget amendment lost in a vote of Congress. There has not been a better chance to put our national economic house in order since.
Second was an early presidential election Democratic debate in 1991. Moderated by NBC’s Tom Brokaw, the intent was to give an early look at all the Democrats who wanted to take over from the Reagan-Bush legacy. The flash of the debate, and the follow-on media coverage, focused on how California’s liberal hippy governor Jerry Brown (nicknamed “Moonbeam”) broke the rules of the debate and announced his 1-800 number and solicited contributions. The whole panel argued a range of political positions. I found a New England Senator, Paul Tsongas, with sensible politics. Based on his economics, and other debate statements, I thought I could support him (I later found out about his more liberal social perspectives). I also had my first look at a Southern governor, with sparkly blue eyes, blow-dried puffy hair, and a silky voice. My mind went to the newsreel films of 1960, when so many women cooed over Kennedy and his smile. This new guy governor had one stock answer in the debate, over and over. Make or boost a government program, and use it too give people more money. I thought right there and then, he’s going to win. Bill Clinton did.
The third point is local, from a 1982 WLVT debate moderated by Sheldon Siegel. Seven term Republican Congressman Donald L. Ritter faced challenger Paul McHale. Ritter was a Lehigh University grad, with a doctorate from MIT. He had worked in business and academia, and was one of the only non-lawyers in Congress. Paul McHale was a prosecuting attorney, and included widely reported military service for a period during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In the debate, Ritter tried to put forward thoughtful approaches. He was often interrupted by the aggressive, convicting tactics of McHale. The media portrayed the race as between a tired, sleepy egghead and a dynamic, military hero go-getter. McHale was another lawyer sent to Congress. [One tangent: in the 1990’s, the Washington Post did an article on how some Marine Corps officers and Wall Street traders changed places for a day. The drama was that the Marines started trading before the opening bell. The Walk Street folks said they admired their initiative, but there are rules about such things]
So, my summary is that, if the people are just looking for flash, and not substance, that is what they will get. If they want handouts, that is what they will get. If the people who actually produce the wealth say, “Don’t take any more of the stuff I make,” don’t be surprised. I’ve met too many people in my life who think it’s fine to take what they want, when they want. If there are enough enablers around them, then the producers either divert their efforts to protect what they have, stop producing, or go elsewhere. Either way, the takers need to revise their approach, or start taking from themselves.
Andrea Tantaros, a political and television personality from here in the Valley, got close to a great analysis in her book, “Tied Up in Knots,” about the feminist movement and American male response. If you consider her book alongside the recent Barbie movie, it’s worth a lot of thought. The movie’s opening sequence, with a mob of little girls smashing their doll babies on rocks, is chilling.
McHale walked the walk…and he wasn’t afraid to go after Clinton.
DeleteThe producers in America, and of course that means those who hold assets, are the people in real jeopardy under recent moves toward socialism and communism. Those who have adequately managed the wellbeing of their OWN family’s future, and have done so through PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY are now seen as nothing more than targets for stealing.
ReplyDeleteThink about it.
Coleman is a bought and paid for hack who accepted $400K in donations from Pace-o-Matic, and the reason we don't tax skill games to help fund things like roads, education, senior services.
ReplyDeleteanon@3:07: Contributions from Pace were made months AFTER Coleman opposed the tax. His opposition is because the income from the skill games benefit worthwhile social groups such as veterans.
ReplyDelete