Bernie The Movie

In a post yesterday, Bernie O'Hare kidded that they're making a movie about him.  A reader questioned who would play the part of Bernie?  There was a suggestion that George Clooney play the part.  I doubt that Clooney is available for a movie in Nazareth, but for the last couple of years I've seen countless comments on Bernie's blog about the Mediterranean Manslab.  Supposedly the Manslab has forgiven Bernie for any association with his prolonged incarnation, and might consider the part.  Of course, the woman Bernie calls CRaZy should be the female lead.  Hopefully, she can forgive him for putting the judgement he won against her on his blog sidebar for a year.  At the premiere, the former mayor could introduce the local celebrities, assuming he forgives Bernie.  Security could be handled by the former police chief, assuming he forgives Bernie.  Because Bernie's blog readers are mostly anonymous, he can invite them on the blog, instead of by mail.  Wonder if I'll be invited?

Shock Comedian Goes Too Far

Kathy Griffin has used shock as part of her act for over a decade. If it was simulating sex with Anderson Cooper,  or whatever. However, her severed Trump head photo shoot has cost her the New Year's Eve CNN date.  Actually, I was surprised that Cooper kept agreeing to that gig, as he evolved into a broadcast journalist.

Although CNN might now be even more anti-Trump than MSNBC,  Griffin's stunt was even too much for them.  You cannot be associated with something like that, and still purport to be a news outlet.  Griffin has sincerely apologized, after she realized the damage. Even people on the left, such as Chelsea Clinton, spoke out against severed head image. Perhaps, we have reached the low point in permitted desecration of the President.

On a more subtle note, writer Thomas Ricks suggested that General McMaster resign from his position as a security adviser,  rather than enable Trump with his good reputation.  After his article appeared in Politico,  Ricks has been making the rounds on commentary shows, repeating his recommendation for McMaster literally word for word on each show. Being anti-Trump has become a cottage industry in itself.

The Morning Call's Backyard Look At History

Readers of this blog know that I concern myself with local history. This past Sunday the Morning Call did a large piece on Camp Crane,  which trained ambulance drivers at the fairgrounds during the First  World War.  Although certainly historical, I doubt if the article garnered much attention.  What brings me to this topic is the important historical issues that they have avoided, some I suspect for political reasons.

I never succeeded in getting the paper to report on the threat to Wehr's Dam, despite the voters expressing their support and concern by referendum this past November.  Call me a conspiracy nut, but I believe that they are providing cover for the Wildlands Conservancy.

Bogert's Covered Bridge in Lehigh Parkway is in deplorable condition.  Understand,  the Park Department purchased two large parcels for new parks at an inflated price, but never funded maintenance for the covered bridge.

It's nice to remember what happen at the Fairgrounds 100 years ago,  but irreplaceable historic structures which are in peril should be getting the paper's attention.

photocredit: K Mary Hess,  Wehr's Dam from under Wehr's Covered Bridge

Away From Allentown

Recently another blogger criticized this blog for being absent in the recent primary election. In reality, I wasn't absent at all,  I wrote a couple dozen posts about the election. As matter of fact,  I was painfully spot on in my analysis. The key word is painful, because the political situation in Allentown is somewhere between pathetic and watching paint dry.

I have written this past six months quite a bit about Trump. Seems like he has captured a lot of attention, if not obsessions from both supporters and detractors.  The latter certainly dominate the media.  Although, I was never a supporter, I became a defender after he was duly elected.  With his tweets and oafish behavior, he certainly doesn't make that position easy or comfortable.

My attitude about Trump has taken yet another turn. While I'm astonished by his hoof and mouth disease, I believe that he might accidently be the right man for the pressing problem of our era, Islamic radicalism.  It's a complicated,  ever changing problem with sides and factions constantly in flux.  However, the worse thing we could do is minimize the reality of the threat.  As articulate, intelligence and suave as Obama was,  he was way too politically correct for that challenge.

While molovinsky on allentown will never takes its eye off of our fair city, I cannot write about paint drying every day, as the greater world turns so violently.

ADDENDUM: Readers of the local blogosphere may have noticed that O'Hare and I aren't getting along very well.  Although I won't go blow by blow,  a minimal response is appropriate .  He obviously is much more sensitive about his integrity than anyone else's, or mine.  HIs anonymous commenters have declared me anti-Catholic, because I questioned the Pope about Egypt.  According to the comments there, you are here at a hate blog.    Furthermore,  they claim that I have lost my creditability, and supposedly have deleted entire posts.  While I often write that I appreciate your readership,  I suppose I should express extra gratitude,  for your continued visits to such a hateful place.

Trump And The Pope

Facebook was ablaze last week with old pictures of the Pope smiling with Barack Obama, but frowning with Donald Trump. Even Bill White ran the picture on his facebook page, and asked for captions. My submitted caption was at least you didn't call the Pope dour. Of course, in the real world there were plenty of pictures of Pope Francis smiling with the Trumps.

As a Jew,  it's nice to say nice things about the Pope, but I have a problem with him recently. Last month when he visited Egypt, he told the Christians there that they should forgive the Muslims for the church bombings.  On Friday morning terrorists shot up a bus, killing another 28 Coptic Christians. Although forgiveness might be a holy reaction, it along with the fear of being labeled Islamophobic, won't increase anybody's security.

 In a Trump bash full of contradictions, CNN's website on Friday blamed Trump for not being forthright enough in his speech in Saudi Arabia. They said he should have mentioned the chaos in Libya, Yemen and Syria. If they know that, they should realize that a travel ban from those areas might have some merit. However, they would rather be contridictory, than support any idea from the Trump administration.

Knife To A Gunfight

Great Britain is upset about some information given to the USA that was leaked.  What they should be upset about is that although the Manchester bomber was a person of interest, he was walking and plotting around.  It's a shame when political correctness allows New Orleans to remove its history,  its a crime when political correctness kills teenage girls.

England has at least until now been pretty clueless.  One would think that after a policeman was beheaded in London, they would realize that the radical are among them.  Here in the United States our former president and his attorney general wanted to close Guantanamo Bay,  and avail our foreign enemies to our civilian legal rights.  With all of Donald Trump's shortcomings, at least he understands that we are at war.

He also apparently understands that we shouldn't both be protecting the world, and paying for it.  Although, he may be a pushing and shoving oaf, yesterday he bluntly told our NATO allies that they must pay up.

Some people delighted that the Trump travel ban was again rejected by a federal court.  They are apparently more concerned with Trump being set back, than their own security.  Our enemies must find our priorities amusing.

Back To The Future With Emma

Although the Progressives, who campaigned against the waste to energy plant and the water lease this year, didn't like Emma Tropiano back in the day, or now, here's a history lesson they may find interesting. Shown above is Emma camping out by the entrance to Kline's Island on October 13, 1989. Her statement to the press. "The deal with the Lehigh County Authority to open Kline's Island to outside sewage sources has promoted massive development in western Lehigh County, drawing potential commercial and industrial development away from Allentown and resulting in higher taxes for city property owners." She was running against The First Mayor For Life Joe Daddona's fourth term. His reply. "It's obvious once again that Emma, because of her lack of knowledge and understanding of a problem, is shooting from the hip and hitting herself in the foot." She was also outspoken about the direction the city was heading in: Is Allentown in an ugly decline, with drugs, crime, filth and mismanagement rotting away the core of the Queen City, as challenger Emma D. Tropiano insists? Or is it squarely facing its problems and coming up with sound, creative solutions, as Mayor Joseph S. Daddona says?" The Morning Call, Nov. 5, 1989.

reprinted from November of 2013

ADDENDUM: On Tuesday Bill White repeated his quote about Emma from 2001; I like Emma, but she wouldn't know fresh ideas and positive leadership if they were driving down Hamilton Street in a blue Cadillac. Bill has made Emma one of the symbols of his Hall Of Shame. Bill White protests against this designation, coined by yours truly years ago, and cites the philanthropic Cipko Brothers as proof that the Hall isn't limited to shame. However, I remember back when, and the gag about them was their ridiculous toupees, which White featured in photographs. Philanthropic or not, their toupees put them in the Hall, not their charity. Anyway, I digress. Bill White has been wrong about Emma for over 40 years.  The problem is that now a whole generation of people disparage her, based on  Morning Call distortions.