Pa. Congressional MisRepresentative Mackenzie

My Republican associates think I'm on an anti-Republican track, not so. I'm not anti-Mackenzie, but I don't buy into intentional omissions.

Ryan Mackenzie issued a video on Facebook distancing himself from the shutdown. In that tape he blames Senate Democrats for the shutdown, but omits discussing the reason or issue involved. The issue is that the health care subsidies connected to Obama Care were set to expire, and the continuing funding had no provision for such healthcare assistance.

I haven't heard Mackenzie urge compromise between the parties in the senate, as Fetterman has. Instead, he  organized a food drive dog and pony show, in response to the associated SNAP shutdown. Even Trump now recognizes the shutdown as counterproductive. It's time to find compromises, not blame.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Election Day 2025

Today's the day some candidates used to be put out their misery. However, now with mail-in ballots, and subsequent challenges, the day of reckoning for some could be weeks, or even months away.

Putting the new mail order factor beside, it's old school voting day. It's a very long day for the good folks who work at the polls. I won't be making any last minute pitches, except the pitch to get out there and vote.*

If there is a one candidate you favor over the other, and he/she loses, and you didn't vote, it's your bad.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Mailer by Molovinsky On Allentown Bureau of Politics

*Type a name into search engine on this blog's desktop version, for my musings on various candidates.

War Of The Mailers

Mailer wise, one of the most contested local elections is for Lehigh County Executive, Roger MacLean against Josh Siegel.

The mailers informed us that Democrat Siegel wanted to defund the police as a former Allentown city councilman. Likewise, we are told that MacLean is a MAGA. 

In the Allentown mayoral race,  the mailers tell us the Matt Tuerk prioritized building a strong community, and that Ed Zucal is championing for quality of life and public safety. I did appreciate Zucal's smaller cards, they're less intrusive. Judicial candidate Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen was no slacker with her mailings.

I'm not a fan of the mailer wars, they usually tell us more about the art director than the candidate. However, they have become part and parcel of today's politics. Between them and the advertising flyers in the mailbox, it's hard to find the utility and tax bills.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

mailer by Molovinsky On Allentown Bureau Of Politics

Bomb Threats In Allentown Schools

On Monday, as I passed 17th and Hamilton, I saw the Allen students lined up from the bomb threat. Most did not have coats on, but were outside for over an hour. I don't know the procedure, perhaps for safety sake they're not allowed to go to their lockers, but must vacate the building immediately. Considering the number of such threats, perhaps the students should have to keep their coats with them?

I'm not here to be polite or popular

A Better Mission For USS Gerald R. Ford

I would suppose that the infirmary on the aircraft carrier must almost be a small hospital. Rather than continue using that carrier task force to attack suspected drug smugglers, they should be diverted to provide aid to the devastation in Jamaica. News reports indicate that the smaller hospitals in the western part of the island have been destroyed.

Restoring electric and other infrastructure on Jamaica will be a monumental task. Although disaster aid is not a normal mission of the US Navy, neither is attacking civilian boats. 

Trump is a showman. Let him redirect his show to where it is most needed. Maybe it will even help with his quest for medals and ribbons.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 17, 2025:Conservatives, either independent or feeling distance from current Republican marching orders, are welcome to comment on this weekday blog.

Sidewalks To Nowhere For Nobody

To enter Rt. 309 from Tilghman Street, you needed to be able to turn your head like an owl. For the last decade I had to stop on the entrance ramp well before the actual stop sign, and wait until I could see nothing coming, and then gun it. I was glad to hear that PennDot was going to improve the entrance, but didn't know about the improvements to Tilghman Street. 

The Morning Call reports that these improvements have practically put the Tilghman Street merchants out of business...From driving by, I don't question that claim. The real kicker is that they're building sidewalks along Tilghman. Who do they think is going to be walking there and why? 

Truth be told, the bureaucracies don't think, they just blindly follow guidelines. Improving the button hook entrances to 309 was long overdue. Adding curbing and sidewalks to that section of Tilghman Street was superfluous. Hurting the merchants so badly was totally unnecessary.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

postcard of former Tilghman Street icon, before curbs and sidewalks