Trump's Attack On Iran

Ryan Crosswell, Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District, has among others questioned Trump's attack on Iran. He finds the objective murky, and the Congressional approval missing in action. 

Trump's contention that the Iranian public should now rise up ignores the reality that they have no weapons. Furthermore, there is also some public mourning in Iran for the death of their leaders. What percentage of the population favored regime change is unclear.

Besides the Netanyahu faction in Israel, Arab leaders had discouraged Trump's course of action. While the attack didn't surprise anyone considering the armada the United States assembled, world leaders will have less faith when we hold talks. In the short run, Israel will benefit most from the joint attack on Iran. How long that benefit lasts, along with its human cost, remains to be seen.

The Emporium Of High Culture

An iconic painting by Jessica Lenard, offered to a good home with a large wall. The painting is 5X6 ft.   $1000 with buyer arranging transport from Allentown

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Trump's State Of Delusion

I don't know if a president was ever more divisive and insulting than Trump on Tuesday night. If I was a Democrat or Supreme Court Justice, I would have stood up and walked out.

He repeated his tired lines, such as if he was President the Ukraine/Russian war would have never started. He omitted his pledge to end that conflict on day one. He threw a treat to both his puppies, Vance and Rubio.

His economic good news isn't being felt at the kitchen table. Republicans will lose bigly in the midterms.

A Latino District

Because of Allentown's rapid demographic shift, the Pennsylvania legislature decided in 2014 to create a separate district for essentially downtown Allentown. Although the first new representative Peter Schweyer wasn't hispanic, he had eaten once at a Taco Bell. In 2023 his south side residence was redistricted into the 134th, and Josh Siegel was elected for the 22nd. Although Siegel also wasn't hispanic, he did drink a Corona beer at a Democratic picnic.

This past November Siegel was elected County Executive, and on Tuesday a special election resulted in the first Latino elected for the district, Ana Tiburcio. In May, Ana will face Ce-Ce Gerlach in the Democratic primary for a full term starting in January of 2027. Bob Smith Jr. will again be the Republican candidate.

Ce-Ce Gerlach is not Latina, but partly minority and fully a campaign workhorse. While Tiburcio will have some status as a short term incumbent, she will have to knock on a lot of doors to compete with Ce-Ce.

shown above Ce-Ce Gerlach at a street fair that she organized in 2013 to raise money for school uniforms.

A Synagogue Story

When I saw the photos of the collapsed synagogue in Mahanoy City, I thought about Agudas Achim on 2nd, St. in Allentown. Actually, there is an identical synagogue as Mahanoy City in Lehighton, built at the same time in 1923 by the same builder. Mahanoy City never had more than fifty Jewish families, and now only one elderly Jew remains.

Beyond the collapse, there is a side story playing out about the former synagogue's stained glass windows. After the synagogue closed in around 2005, they ended up in a synagogue on Long Island several years later. The cemetery for the old coal town congregation is essentially abandoned and out of maintenance funds. Descendants, who no longer live there are trying to get remunerated for the windows. Before the collapse, the Long Island representative stated that they had saved the windows from neglect. That statement turned out truer than known at the time.

What brings this story to this Allentown blog are two tie-ins. Cable TV was started in Mahanoy City by John Walson, who then moved to Allentown and created Service Electric. On a personal note, years ago I questioned an uncle why they were selling the former Agudas Achim on 2nd. St. He explained that the remaining few elderly members had found an appropriate buyer, who would repurpose and maintain the building in compliance with guidelines for former synagogues.

Principles First Comes Up Short

The Principles First recent convention was far from standing room only. Supposedly even the reduced amount of chairs put out weren't filled. This group was started by Republicans who did not support Trump, or Never Trumpers, if you will. Does this mean that these people have seen the light and are again in the Trump fold? Not at all.

I think that Republicans opposed to Trump have only increased, but Trump and his minions are exhausting. Take the tariff ruling. Does Trump consider his illegal tariffs illegal, no way....He just will impose them under a different code, until that then is successfully challenged.

What his minions don't get is that he doesn't care about long term damage inflicted upon Republicans. Short of being impeached, he could care less about what happens to Republicans, including those sycophants in his administration.