Politicker.com -- Pennsylvania News

[2 Political Junkies] Markos gets Tancredo to storm off MSNBC set

lupinaccim@aol.com (Maria) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:16:00 -0500

You see, while former congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) has "talked to vets" about their health care, he may not have realized that Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitas actually is a veteran. A fact that Markos pointed out to Tancredo while reminding Tancredo that he had sought and received a deferment for the Vietnam War even though he was a supporter of the war at the time.

[2 Political Junkies] Just when you thought they couldn't go any lower...

lupinaccim@aol.com (Maria) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:49:00 -0500

There's this sign from yesterday's GOP anti-health care rally:

If you can't tell, it reads: "National Socialist Health Care: Dachau, Germany – 1945."

Because trying to expand health care coverage for millions of uninsured Americans is exactly like the mass murder of Jews by Nazis. I mean anyone can see that, right?

One might be predisposed to assume that this banner was the work of someone with a long history of mental problems except for the fact that we know that many attending this rally have been fed a steady diet of outrageous propaganda warning them of death panels, government as the enemy, and a president who is supposedly an illegitimate foreign-born usurper and undercover Muslim terrorist bent on destroying the country.

[2 Political Junkies] The Trib. Again.

dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:47:00 -0500

Yawn.

Aw, geez. We gotta do this again?

From one of today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorials:
By destroying the myth that state control of alcohol sales ameliorates societal harm, a new Commonwealth Foundation report bolsters the case for ending Pennsylvania's archaic status quo.

"Government-Run Liquor Stores: The Social Impact of Privatization" (available at CommonwealthFoundation.org) says privatizing sales lowers per-capita consumption and DUI-related fatality rates and doesn't increase underage drinking.

It concludes: "Evidence from 48 states over time shows no link between market controls and ... social goals."

The Reason Foundation estimates Pennsylvania could sell its wholesale and retail liquor operations for $1.7 billion. And, Commonwealth's Nathan Benefield estimates, annual alcohol sales tax revenue would remain close to its existing level.

[2 Political Junkies] Now That Hoffman Lost...

dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:47:00 -0500

From Mediamatters:
Right-wing media figures enthusiastically endorsed and boosted the failed Conservative Party candidacy of Doug Hoffman in the race to fill a vacant seat in New York's 23rd Congressional District, with several of them hosting Hoffman on their radio or television shows. Media figures who boosted Hoffman include Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Mike Huckabee, Michelle Malkin, and Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com.
To that heady list we can add a local: Our Very Own Jack Kelly. Here he was just this past Sunday:

Political soothsayers will be studying the returns Tuesday from Virginia and New Jersey for omens that could predict the outcome of the midterm elections next year.

[2 Political Junkies] Another Day, Another Jerk In The Circle

dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:25:00 -0500

From one of today's editorials at the Tribune Review:

It's bad enough that striking Philadelphia transit workers rejected what Gov. Ed Rendell called a "sensational" deal. What's really horrific is that the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority offered such a deal in the first place.

Transport Workers Union Local 234 -- average member salary, $52,000 -- turned down a contract that included cumulative raises in excess of 11.5 percent over the next five years, a boost in pension payments and static worker contributions to health insurance.

In these times? That's daft. See what acquiescence to organized labor in the last contract got fare-paying Philadelphians and Pennsylvania taxpayers?

The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy reminds that such machinations could be permanently dispatched by leaving "the small minority of states that allow transit workers to strike.

[2 Political Junkies] A Couple of P-G Notes

dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:13:00 -0500

I got a chance to see Dennis Roddy's latest music video posted at PG+. If you have a chance to see it, please do. Dennis is a very funny guy and the video is a very funny video.

ALSO I learned from my brief sojourn at PG+ that Jack Kelly is a bit under the weather. In today's chat between Reg Henry and Ruth Ann Dailey (who was filling in for Jack), Reg says that it's a gall bladder thing.

Honestly - as much as I detest Kelly's politics and as much as I rake him over the coals at this blog, I wish him nothing but good health.

Good Health to you, Jack!

[2 Political Junkies] The Trib Does It Again. With A Twist

dayvoe@gmail.com (Dayvoe) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:03:00 -0500

This week's Midweek Briefing:
Newsmax.com's Chris Ruddy says what a growing number of War on Terror watchers are saying -- it's time to reduce our troop presence in Afghanistan. And he favors a plan put forth by Vice President Joe Biden "that involves keeping a smaller force (there) and focusing it on counterterrorism," especially against those nasty al-Qaida cells in neighboring Pakistan. It's likely the best way to better prepare us to handle the growing Iranian threat.
Same old same old. Newsmax is partially owned by Richard Mellon Scaife, owner of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

Want proof? In an article from October 2008 at the

[2 Political Junkies] Late Night Music Post, Election Edition

lupinaccim@aol.com (Maria) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:01:00 -0500

Same-sex marriage loses in Maine, Corzine loses in NJ, Lukey wins in Pittsburgh and Orie Melvin wins in PA.

NOT WORK SAFE

[2 Political Junkies] Just a reminder

lupinaccim@aol.com (Maria) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:23:00 -0500

Just a reminder that I have been told countless times on this and other blogs that abortion is just not an issue in mayoral politics.

However, today we have both re-elected an anti-choice mayor and found out that our city will have to now revise (lessen) its policy regarding bubble/buffer zones around women's clinics. Something that both City Council and the Mayor's Office will have to work on.

Hmmm...I guess, sadly, I was right and you were wrong.

I'm giving up on politics...

...at least for the rest of today. (My teevee will now be tuned to shows with happy and satisfying endings rather than election results.)
.

[2 Political Junkies] Lil Mayor Luke will continue to be Lil Mayor Luke

lupinaccim@aol.com (Maria) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:01:00 -0500

Lukey wins.
.