Siegel Bites Holihan Twice

Last fall when Republican DA Gavin Holihan endorsed Josh Siegel, the local Republicans were upset. He was endorsing a Democrat, a no-no in politics. To add to the angst, Siegel, a couple positions earlier, had marched with a defund the police group.

Earlier this week Siegel announced the eviction of a federal enforcement agency, playing on the current emotions against ICE. Never mind that this particular agency is involved with human trafficking, not deportation. Among those upset with the decision is Holihan, who counts on and cooperates with that agency against traffickers. 

The eviction dog and pony show was co-sponsored by Siegel and Mark Pinsley, a perpetual candidate now running for the 7th Congressional district nomination. Like Pinsley who is currently County Controller, Siegel may have ambitions beyond County Executive. I doubt that Holihan will want to be bitten three times.

Jarrett Coleman Speaks Out

Jarrett Coleman has been taking some flak for calling Philadelphia a sh-t hole. He accused their progressive DA of being too soft on crime. 

Just a few years ago the DA and the former police chief decided to turn their backs on shop lifting. Finally the merchants cried uncle loud enough to be heard.  Larry Krasner the DA has responded to Coleman that the homicide rate is lower than it has been in a decade. Credit poor aim and good ER hospitals.

Coleman is my favorite pol in Harrisburg, he actually wants an accounting by Allentown's NIZ. Although his choice of words about the City Of Brotherly Love may have been better chosen, he's correct about safety in Philadelphia. There are neighborhoods there, like Kensington, that most cities would not tolerate.

Trump The Tariff Man

Trump's threat to use tariffs against countries which do not support his grab for Greenland is a threat too far. In a recent post I wrote that his political support in the country is crumbling fast. This latest threat will likewise erode his international influence. He, and consequently we, are being taken less seriously everyday. 

Thank goodness for the midterms. By November any member of Congress wanting to be re-elected will have to speak out against this would be king. For my vote they would have to have spoken out much earlier.

I don't know what kind of psychiatric department Walter Reed has, but it will be in the news soon, because their Commander and Chief is quickly losing it. Yesterday he told the world that because he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize, he doesn't have to behave.

Ryan Mackenzie Has Two Opponents

Congressman Ryan Mackenzie is facing two opponents in November. One is a Democrat, as of yet unnamed. The other is Donald Trump, and his declining popularity. Although Mackenzie will not face the dreaded Trump primary challenge, he's trying to ride the fence between these two opponents. 

At this recent press conference, Mackenzie said he supports the separation of authority with the Federal Reserve, yet, if Chairman Powells did indeed something wrong, that he should be prosecuted. He defends the ICE officer in the Minneapolis shooting, but Trump wants to defend the protesters in Tehran.  

Mackenzie's tightrope walking will become more difficult as the election nears. By spring he will have a real Democrat hurling accusations, and a President who is more taken with his powers. By that time the first term congressman will have to take an absolute position on the issues as they arise, if he hopes to return to Washington.

ADDENDUM:Local mainstream is reporting about Mackenzie's support for ICE, so now he has three opponents...the Democrat, Trump and himself.

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Mary Ann Donuts and Donald Trump

Amanda Seyfried gave Allentown another plug on national TV, and in gratitude MaryAnn Donuts delivered their goods to the Stephen Colbert Show. That concludes the good part of this post.

Maria Machado wanted to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Donald Trump, and told him that the people of Venezuela are counting on him for their freedom. Well, that's more faith in him than the people of Minneapolis have. They're counting on him to get his ICE Cadets out of there.

Apparently, the people in Tehran might have also overestimated our help. So many of our assets were moved from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to pilfer Venezuela's oil. Apparently we're going to use mercenaries to protect the snatched oil wells.