Small Town Pizza Blogger

Last week started with me expressing my frustration as an independent in Trump's World, and ended reporting on a confrontation about our non-profit sector in Allentown.

While I applaud the border enforcement, the Musk DOGE is a disaster. Chainsaws and sledgehammers are not precision tools. The Measles outbreak is an unfortunate coincidental statement on the theatrical nature of the cabinet appointments. So far, two cabinet heads have supposedly balked at Musk's involvement. If this was Trump's first term, I'd hope that he would be growing into the office, but we know from experience that there will be no learning curve. It was from that first term and January 6, that I could no longer vote for him. 

I don't think that the midterms will bode well for the Republicans. I believe that MAGA had an underestimated cult aspect, and with Trump not on the ballot in 2026, many of the red hats will stay home. 

Here in A-Town, I expect that the tension between Promise Neighborhood and some who feel that the promise has not been kept, will continue. On a side note, I asked a member of the minority community how they feel about Ed Zucal's campaign. The response surprised me! There apparently is some concern that if both Zucal(for Allentown mayor) and Roger MacLean(for county executive) both win, we'll have a police like state?(They're both former APD) I don't see that as a realistic concern, but then again, I'm coming from a different perspective.

Promise Neighborhoods and Its Critics

An outspoken critic of Promise Neighborhoods, Johnny Gomez, aka Whatss Tea,  has used his Facebook page to question the non-profit's operation. 

This is not the first post critical of Promise Neighborhoods on this blog. Batts appeared on the local scene at the height of wokeness, and seems to have prospered from the virtue signalers. He was gifted with over a $mil of state funding from Gov. Josh Shapiro. 

The complaint from other activists and non-profits is that Batts is getting the lion's share of funding, but not providing an appropriate amount of service for it.

ADDENDUM MARCH 11th: There appears to be a reconciliation between Whatss Tea and members of Promise Neighborhood. This post has been modified accordingly.

Ego Man and The Sycophants

Ego Man and The Sycophants played in front of Congress Tuesday Night. The set included the Gulf Of America. Associated Press was barred for not humming along with the tune. We learned that only George Washington is held in higher esteem than Donald Trump.

The new tariff against Canada and Mexico was in full effect overnight, until the Emperor realized that it would hurt our own car industry. The White House sponsored DOGE fires and rehires has reduced productivity. Massive layoffs coming in the VA won't help our veterans. 

While Vance and Johnson looked like cats who swallowed canaries standing behind Trump during the show, the politicians who want a political future beyond 2028, will have to keep their parachutes packed.

Trump's Economy

When I was a boy, Mack Trucks were made in Allentown by Mack. Mack made everything, save the tires.  But even then, the parts and trucks weren't made in the same factory. The parts were made on S. 10th Street, and the trucks were assembled at Lehigh and S. 12th Streets.

General Motors now makes their vehicles in Michigan and Canada. The parts move back and forth across the border during the assembly process. Having a strong economy and partner to our north was always considered a plus, before our new emperor's reign began January 20th.

Our previous leaders, called presidents, had advisors on such matters as foreign policy and economy. Our current emperor has sycophants, whose vocabulary apparently only consists of compliments. So, while the red hats applaud their leader's strength, their stocks and assets go down, and their food gets more expensive. 

ADDENDUM: By late Tuesday afternoon, the administration was already announcing that the tariffs would be modified on Wednesday. Another announcement concerned reinstating some jobs cut last week by DOGE. Considering that this is Trump's second rodeo, only the most diehard partisans could applaud these false starts and uncertainly. Freshman Republicans should rent, rather than buy in the DC area.

Pinsley's FOMO Bigger Office Show

Mark Pinsley has been running for a bigger office than he holds since starting out as a South Whitehall Commissioner. I can't even recall how many offices he has run for, but currently he is Lehigh County Controller.

On March 12, he is conducting a meeting to explain the proposed Federal Budget. This Pinsley Promotion will take place in the Commissioner Chamber at the County Building at 7th & Hamilton. If such a transparent political opportunist should be using public space is questionable, but apparently not by Executive Armstrong or the commissioners....never mind, this local blogger will point out the misuse of a public facility.

The federal budget is a work in progress. What it will end up being is anybody's guess, but how it will filter down into Lehigh County is even beyond a guess. But, there is no guess why Pinsley is having the meeting. The only valid question to ask on March 12th, is how many of our tax dollars is this latest Pinsley self promotion costing the taxpayers?

Principles First

In a post last week I mentioned Principles First, an alternative convention to the CPAC sycophants dancing with Trump last week. The participants at the counter meeting yet have no tent. They're hoping not to become Democrats. They know a third party fares poorly, but the Trump side-show isn't the same Republican Party that they can relate to. But even the most disenchanted among them couldn't have imagined the Trump/Zelensky meeting on Friday.

By late Friday afternoon, all the click-baiters on media and the social media undercard were analyzing the brawl. Those on the right side of the ring said that Zelensky wasn't respectful and appreciative. Those on the left side said that Trump and Vance tag-teamed their guest. Assuming that the European and world media would be more objective about what happen, most, with Hungary being the exception, agreed that Zelensky was the abused party.

Getting back to the Principles First tent looking for a label. I think that after hearing the Lindsey Graham types rattle on Friday night that Zelensky should resign, some more thoughtful Republicans will be coming out of their zombie trance and start looking toward the future. The super-partisans are praising Trump for putting America first, and his peace before endless wars. That raises the question, was the ambush coming Zelensky's way, regardless of what he said or didn't say? Either way, Trump's tantrum(s) lowered our esteem on the world stage. Trump later trying to defend himself after the meeting in a red hat, may have been a sight too far, even for the partisans.