There's an old saying that "you can't make this up." It turns out you can. Republicans are making up such strange stuff these days you have to wonder who's ass they pull it from. Maybe Michelle Malkin? First it was the New York City "mosque." There are community centers all over the country including Jewish ones in most towns. For some reason thought he ADL is opposing tolerance for Islamic centers. My how religious tolerance conveniently disappears when its someone else's ox being gored.
If we are to tolerate such religious intolerance perhaps we should examine the role of each religion in the use of wars and terror. The Roman Catholics are responsible for the Crusades, the Inquisition and child rape. Too bad, let's refuse to allow any more Catholic buildings. The Anglicans, of course, fought us in two wars (1776 and 1812) so there go the Episcopalians. How much hate has been spread by the Mormons? They funded the Prop H8 referendum so let's get rid of them too.
Are you seeing how easy it becomes to start going after every religion? If you want you can fear monger anything. Now Republicans are even going after babies. Explain to me how babies suddenly became such threats to our security?
Sen. Lindsay Graham is fear mongering something he calls "anchor babies." Rep. Louie Gohmert is railing about "terror babies." Suddenly the biggest threat to America are diaper clad crying little people. This is shameless fear mongering of a proportion bordering on the insane. There are no terror babies and so few anchor babies that creating mass hysteria over them defines these public servants as megalomaniacs.
Though hundreds of thousands of children are born to undocumented immigrants each year few are the result of "drop and leave." Does Sen. Graham really think most Mexicans have the financial wherewithal to come here eight or nine months pregnant and have a child and then return south of the border? A few do but they are actually quite unusual. Most of these babies are born alla cross America to the people already here working illegally. Since most of them are in their child bearing years, yes, they do have families. Creating mass hysteria to undermine or repeal the 14th Amendment is a smoke screen for their real agenda: getting rid of that pesky clause which guarantees every American equal justice under law. Open discrimination then can become the law of the land for all these Southern bigots.
The terror baby myth really came out of left field. Rep. Gohmert took to the House floor to warn us that terrorists are using the right to citizenship by coming here to have babies that can return as citizens to create terror attacks. The problem: no one has any shred of evidence to support such ridiculous claims.
You are more likely to die from your pet dog than from a terrorist. Twenty-five Americans died in terror attacks last year. Compare that with the number killed by guns, drunk driving, domestic abuse, smoking and other preventable causes and one must wonder why all the hysteria is created about terrorism? Because the GOP can't run on its failed ideology so it uses fear mongering for votes. It always has. Whether race based, warnings about Communists, gays or, now terrorists, they create these mythical monsters and the gullible American people allow themselves to be brainwashed with fear. It works every time which urges the question: how foolish are Americans? After all, fool me once its your fault, twice its mine. Republican voters keep falling for this gambit year after year.
There was lots of news last week for August. I remember the first couple of years I was blogging sometimes it was difficult to find much news in August. With both the state legislature and Congress adjourned and most folks on vacation not much happened. That changed in 2008.
The discussion about the "ground zero mosque" is one more fabricated issue to use fear to divide people. First of all it isn't a mosque, secondly it isn't being built on ground zero. Mosques have minarets and do calls to prayers. This is an Islamic community center with a prayer room. That's it, and it is proposed for a lot which had a Burlington Coat Factory store. Let's get real and remember we have religious freedom in this country. That also includes freedom FROM religion. Many of our first settlers to this continent were fleeing just such religious bigotry. Muslims died in the 9/11 attacks also. What nineteen Muslims did on that infamous day no more indicts all Muslims than one of our drone attacks in Afghanistan condemns all christians.
Guantanamo doesn't appear to be in any danger of being shut down. President Obama has reneged on this key campaign promise and is also conducting unconstitutional military tribunals. Someone please explain where all this hope and change went?
The absence of much real change is why Democrats aren't voting. Since the fall 2008 election they are staying away from the polls in droves. Events like these this week are a key reason.
Dr. Laura used the "N" word numerous times in a conversation with a caller to her radio show this week. This so called psychologist apparently has no clue about context. She mocked her caller and all Blacks by ridiculing them when it was obvious she had no clue about the issue. Context is everything when using such inflammatory words.
Tea Party candidates are losing GOP primaries after voters saw the likes of Sharron Angle and Rand Paul, not yet ready for daytime (much less prime time) candidates who have been ridiculed for their extremist views. Now that Americans are awakening to the fringe positions of the Tea Party their fifteen minutes in the spotlight is glaringly coming to a conclusion.
Today is Social Security's 75th birthday. I suffered serious injuries at age 34 and without Social Security would have been in dire straights. We forget the system also helps the disabled and orphans. Republicans are bound and determined to kill Social Security, a program which provides 14% of our senior citizens with their only income. Fixing the system is actually quite simple: lift the caps on income which is taxed.
David Stockman, Reagan's Budget Director infamous for the "starving the beast" philosophy which is responsible for our exploding deficits and debt, condemned Republicans for destroying our economy. Pat Toomey, one of those responsible for the destruction, took to the radio airwaves today and went after Democrats for digging us out of the hole. Pat, you're the one who dug the hole, remember?
The Pennsylvania Senate GOP caucus sent Gov. Rendell a letter proposing to cut education funding by $200 million to fund the broken pension system. These are the same legislators who raised their pensions by 25% then refused to fund them adequately. Now they want to do so on our children's backs.
Dan Onorato is looking more and more like a Republican. This week the anti-choice, anti-gay equality, pro gas drilling County Executive came out and supported school vouchers. Privatization of public education is NOT the answer.
Judge Vaughn Walker lifted the stay on his Prop H8 decision and same sex marriage will be legal as of Wednesday in California. An appeal by the folks who couldn't muster any legitimate legal argument for their cause likely cannot file an appeal. You must have legal standing to do so and they weren't a party to the litigation. The Judge's decision was so well thought out, so based on law and the facts of the case I actually hope this goes to the Supreme Court. Once upheld there marriage equality would be the law of the land. Go ahead, make our day.
Ben Quayle...yes THAT Quayle...son of the most stupid VP the country has ever had (remember he couldn't even spell 'potato') is running for Congress.
He is running a commercial that says Obama "is the worst President in history". Two years into his Presidency and this 33 year old upstart suggests he has the wisdom to judge a sitting President? Really?? In his commercial he said he was raised right...is this just a play on words or is he implying that everyone else was raised wrong.
What is really a shame is that his campaign disabled comments on the YouTube page this commercial comes from.
Apparently the man who thinks he needs to go to Washington and "knock the hell out of the place", isn't willing to stand up to a little criticism on YouTube from we plebes known as the American public.
Here's his commercial...I found his arrogant demeanor throughout particularly off putting. But then I'm not a Republican...perhaps this kind of attitude appeals to Republicans.
We talk about a lot of state and national issues here but for one moment I'd like to bring something about the City of Reading to the front of the line if I might.
The City of Reading is in a fiscal crisis, as everyone has heard. I'm not up on all the finances but I can't help notice that a new fire station is being built at the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Route 10.
First, where did the money for that come from?
Second, and I think more importantly, who in the blue blazes decided to put a fire station at THAT intersection??
The intersection is actually a compound intersection which connects Lancaster Ave with both Route 10 and the entrance/exit ramps to Rt 422 (West Shore Bypass). This compound intersection is stuffed with traffic and is the scene of numerous accidents because some drivers are just dumb as stones. I swear every day somebody exits the highway and when the light changes they drive right across Lancaster Avenue and get right back on the highway which causes issues with drivers trying to make left turns. On more than one occasion it's caused an accident that ties up the entire intersection and backs traffic up on all the exits, the highway, the bridge, Lancaster Ave and Route 10.
Bottom line..this is not the best intersection in the area...and into this mix some brilliant dipshit decided to introduce a fire station which needs fast, clear access to streets in order to save lives and property.
It also looks like they did NOT build it with dual entrance housing, which would have helped, so whatever equipment they house there will have to back in to the bays potentially blocking Lancaster Avenue. (I really hope I'm wrong about that but from outward appearances I did not see bay doors in the rear of the building.)
Considering they are building this station from the ground up I have to believe they could have found another spot to locate this. I'm waiting for the first traffic snarl and a fire alarm to go off. Maybe then the light will go on over somebody's head...of course by then it will be too late...as usual.
I love to hear from anyone that might know more about this than I but I really think this is an incredibly STUPID location for a new fire station.
The Citizens United decision is beginning to bear fruit on the electoral front where corporations, now able to contribute directly and freely to candidates and causes, are giving tons of money to PAC's. In Minnesota Target and Best Buy gave $250,000 to a Chamber of Commerce PAC running ads for Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Emmer is a real, unvarnished extremist. He isn't simply fringe, he defines the term:
He's an ultra-conservative with an agenda. Everyone, of course, is entitled to their political views. His include allowing pharmacists to refuse contraception to whomever they want, shuttering the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and supporting a group that encourages the execution of homosexuals. He thinks taxes are evil and wants them cut them like an emo hipster with a Swiss Army knife.
Supporting the execution of homosexuals is beyond extreme. Does he also support the stoning of women who aren't virgins, of sassy teenage girls, of people who eat shellfish? Contributing money to a candidate who endorses genocide shouldn't be good business and millions of people have begun boycotting Target and Best Buy. Target gave $150,000 and Best Buy $100,000. I suppose Target will provide the charcoal for burning gays at the stake and Best Buy the ovens...
One of my mantras is that you can vote with your dollars every day. Think about where you shop and what you buy and try to act responsibly. The trouble with Citizens United is that soon we won't have many places at which to shop or products to purchase. As corporations take over our country what can we do? Think globally and buy locally. These huge big box chains have put locally and regionally owned businesses and chains out of business. This should be an opportunity for them to re-establish themselves. Support your local and regional stores by patronizing them and the Targets, Wal-Marts, Best Buys and their ilk will suffer as they should.
The Obama administration is a welcome change from the Bush-Cheney years. Against severe Republican opposition, President Obama has kept campaign promises to reform health care, curb Wall Street excesses, create a federally-funded stimulus program to help bring the nation out of the recession, and to remove American troops from the needless Iraq war, which has already cost Americans more than $740 billion and 4,400 lives. He has also pledged to eliminate the Bush-Cheney tax cuts for the rich, while not raising taxes on the middle- and lower-classes.
However, much of what the President is doing appears to be little more than an extension of Bush-Cheney values. And that is not what the Americans voted for when they elected him to office.
Candidate Obama ran, and won office as an anti-war politician. President Obama has increased American presence in Afghanistan. In July, 66 American soldiers were killed, the highest number for any month during the war.
Candidate Obama pledged to end the PATRIOT Act, which has done little to protect American safety and much to destroy American Constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, due process, and protection against unreasonable governmental invasion of privacy. However President Obama signed legislation to extend the Act for yet another year.
During the 2008 campaign, both candidates Barack Obama and John McCain promised to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. However, President Obama, apparently scared by the right wing paranoids, hasn't transferred any prisoners to maximum federal security prisons in the U.S., any one of which should have little difficulty dealing with suspected enemy combatants among the general population of killers and rapists.
Although President Obama has closed secret CIA prisons and stopped all forms of torture, he approved the continuation of rendition, sending prisoners to allied countries which still use torture.
President Obama had failed to clean up the corrupt Minerals Management Service of the Department of Interior, which under the Bush-Cheney administration had become little more than feckless advocates for Big Oil. About a year into the Obama administration, the MMS exempted BP from filing a full environmental impact statement. Against the advice of environmentalists, and his own statements while a candidate, President Obama allowed continued deep water drilling in the Gulf, claiming that safety concerns were met. About a month later, the BP oil rig ruptured, killing 11 workers and leading to the worst oil spill in U.S. history. It took five weeks before President Obama finally placed a six month moratorium on deep well drilling, only to have that moratorium overturned by a Louisiana judge with financial ties to the oil industry. The Obama administration appealed that order and issued a broader moratorium. By then, more about 200 million gallons of oil had spilled into the gulf, killing wildlife, the fishing industries, and tourism.
Although Candidate Obama promised better transparency in government-and to a certain extent has succeeded-as President he allowed BP and his own government to place severe restrictions upon the media that were trying to give full coverage to the spill.
The transparency credibility issue surfaced again this month when the Defense Department rejected the application for Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings to accompany troops in Afghanistan. Hastings had accurately reported the political statements by Gen. Stanley McChrystal that led the President to fire him for the nature of his comments that "undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of the democratic system."
Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama had said he believed in gay marriages. However, President Obama, although extending the rights of gay couples, has yielded to the fears of irrational conservatives and says he opposes same-sex marriages, but believes in civil unions. Unlike President Obama, supporters of same-sex marriage include Bill Clinton, Laura Bush, and Cindy McCain.
The Republican leadership tried to block extending unemployment benefits during the Recession; it was weeks until President Obama spoke forcefully against the Republicans, which has earned its label as the "Party of 'No.'" Hopefully, President Obama will be quicker to denounce the prattle of Republican leaders who are mounting a campaign to reduce Social Security benefits.
Solely for political reasons, the Bush-Cheney administration took gray wolves off the endangered species list one week before Barack Obama became president. Slightly more than a year after taking office, President Obama officially continued the Bush-Cheney policy. The action by both administrations allowed the killing large numbers of the 1,600 wolves in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana, often by state officials from helicopters and often into the dens that housed pups. No matter what the federal government said about wolves not being endangered, there were two realities. First, the Cattle Industry lobby wanted wolves removed, although federal subsidies reimburse ranchers for any livestock killed by wolves. The second issue is that wolves are competition for hunters, a majority of whom tend to be conservatives or supporters of Republican philosophies. While wolves kill for food or to protect their pack, human hunters may claim they hunt for food, but go to extraordinary lengths and expense to stuff and display their "trophy kills," and often will kill animals, such as bears, prairie dogs, and coyotes that have no food value. Unlike their human competitors, wolves usually don't use guns with telescopic sights, buy all kinds of whistles and electronic calls that mimic the cries of other animals, use elevated shooting stands, send out decoys, or even create elaborate steel-jaw traps. They never take their prey back to a cabin, consume 6-packs, and tell stories with other wolves. A federal court this week ruled that gray wolves in the Rockies were not only an endangered species, but stopped state-supported wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson, against severe opposition, pushed through some of the most critical social legislation in the nation's history. Harry Truman stood up for his principles and for the benefit of the people when he lashed out at a "do-nothing Congress." Candidate Obama was elected on a forceful campaign mantra of "Change you can believe in," and not "A slight variation of present policies that you can maybe live with."
President Obama is known as "No Drama Obama" because of his quiet intellectualism. He needs to be more forceful, both in fully supporting social legislation he and his base believe in, as well as attacking the vicious smears, lies, and distortions from the extreme Right Wing. If President Obama continues to pander to the conservatives, and continues a slide into compromise that dilutes necessary social justice legislation instead of trusting the millions who voted for that change he promised, especially when he has both the power of the presidency and the votes in Congress, he will be a one-term president, hated by both the right and the left.
[Assisting on this column was Rosemary Brasch. Walter Brasch's latest books are the witty and probing Sex and the Single Beer Can, a look at American culture and the mass media; and 'Unacceptable': The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina, which discusses governmental neglect that magnified both the damage from the hurricane and the BP oil spill. Both books are available at amazon.com, and other stores. You may contact Brasch at brasch@bloomu.edu.]
VetPAC endorsed Manan Trivedi last week following the 6th CD's Jim Gerlach attacked the former Navy doctor for not living in the District for eight years. Dr. Trivedi was on active duty at those times serving his country. For some reason Jim Gerlach seems to think that's wrong. One of the places Manan lived the last eight years was Iraq where he went in with the first waves of the invasion.
Being a doctor in a combat zone is hazardous duty as we witnessed yesterday. Ten American medical aid workers, including Lancaster County's Glen Lapp, were killed. Is Gerlach trying to make light of Trivedi's service by implying he was AWOL from the 6th District when, in fact, he was in the Navy? Veterans had something to say about it and Manan Trivedi released this video this morning:
All kinds of excuses are flying around trying to disparage the candidacy of Elizabeth Warren for the head position at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Warren, a law professor at Harvard University, picked by President Obama to be Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel which was created to investigate the banking bailout, has developed a reputation as an incorruptible force and has become one of our nation's most respected defenders of the middle/working class.
Elizabeth Warren is widely recognized as the inspiration behind CPFB. Her prodding and resilience got the American people an agency that if properly run could significantly benefit our lives. But, a coalition of greedy bankers and pliable Democrats are trying to fend her off. Their main argument is that Elizabeth Warren has no management experience. We must assume that chairing the Congressional Oversight Panel, a bipartisan body, doesn't count as experience. How many objections were raised regarding experience when Michael Brown "Brownie" was selected to head FEMA? The real reason objections are being raised against Warren is that bankers can't trust her to side with them in their pursuit of their economic benefit no matter what the cost is to the society at large.
The main danger to Warren's nomination is coming from the Democratic side. We have the New Democratic Coalition (NDC) with their Chair, Joseph Crowley, who were in the forefront of emasculating the Financial Reform Bill. The NDC, as per the Washington Spectator 7/15/10 edition says, have been working on behalf of the big banks since the House Financial Services Committee began shaping the legislation last year. They were responsible for blackmailing the outcome of the legislation if the Blanche Lincoln's derivatives provision was not watered down. How many of the NDC 43 house votes do you think Warren would get after their being wined and dined by executives from JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs?
By no means, I want to imply that if Warren is defeated it will be just because Blue Dogs Democrats can't stand her sight. The Republicans are back to their old quest of reducing the tax cuts for the super-rich. The Obama administration want to let those tax cuts for the super-rich expire, but Republicans want to make them permanent. Imagine if the Obama administration has Warren in a relevant position as defender of the interest of the Middle Class and Working Class? The Republicans would have a serious problem trying to defend themselves from somebody who has a thorough understanding of their vast array of "tricks and traps." The lost revenue from allowing the taxes to continue at the Bush/Cheney rate will be at least $650 billion in ten years.
Yes, the forces against Elizabeth Warren are powerful, but they are far from unbeatable. As Zach Carter from AlterNet has stated "No Democrat is eager to buck President Barack Obama's appointment to this agency (CFPB), whoever it may be, and lawmakers from both parties are hesitant to speak out against Warren." They might hate Warren for her courage and decency, a female Pat Tillman, but they won't dare to attack her directly. They will have to depend in morally challenged individuals on their way to pasture like Sen. Chris Dodd (CT-D). As Zach Carter has so brilliantly stated "Elizabeth Warren is not a voice of Progressives or Democrats; she's a voice for working families."
Behind the scenes, bank-friendly politicians are working overtime trying to keep Warren from coming up for a vote. But, if Warren is nominated, when it comes time to actually vote, they aren't going to vote against her.
This is one of the most important decisions that the Obama administration has had to face. By appointing Warren to head the CFPB Obama will be telling 98% of the American people that he is unquestionably on their side. That he understands what we are going through, and certainly then there will be real hope that we are taking concrete steps to improve our economy.
Today, a bunch of coal executives are congregating for the WestVirginia Coal Association annual meeting at the luxurious Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV. One of the primary things they will discuss is the formation of a 527 to take out candidates who may support a climate change bill. As Roger Nicholson of the International Coal Group alluded, the coal barons are psyched that they will FINALLY get their voices heard thanks to the Supreme Court's Citizen's United ruling that basically allows them to buy Congressional seats.
This kind of news just makes me sick - especially since these are the guys who have scarred WV's land and abused her people. We don't need to wonder what is driving some Senators to oppose popular legislation that would, in one fell swoop, create millions of jobs, strengthen U.S. national security, defund unsavory regimes and protect our environment from earth-scorching carbon pollution. Follow the money.
Clean energy and climate legislation didn't make it through the U.S. Senate this summer, despite the overwhelming scientific and economic evidence, and despite the fact that there almost certainly were more than 50 (aka, a "majority" of) Senators willing to vote for such legislation. First and foremost among those reasons, of course, was the near-unanimous opposition by Republicans to move ahead in this area. In addition, there were several Democrats, mostly from states with coal interests, who were probable "no" votes - and the money helps paint the picture about why.
As the Natural Resources Defense Council's Pete Altman points out, "Next time someone asks why climate legislation is so difficult to move forward, point them this way. Peabody Energy and Arch Coal are prime examples of how narrow special interests can operate in stealth mode to deny climate science and to put the brakes on climate legislation." How do Peabody and Arch buy influence in Washington, DC? Very simple - money. Lots and lots of money funneled into influencing policy and policymakers. For instance:
-- "In 2008 and 2009, Arch Coal ($3.04 million) and Peabody Coal ($14.2 million) spent a combined $17.9 million in direct federal lobbying on energy, environmental and other matters."
-- "The two companies contributed $5 million each to the budget of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity ("ACCCE") in 2008, and presumably have continued to keep their memberships current with contributions in 2009 and 2010."
According to Open Secrets, in 2010 alone Arch Coal has donated $39,500 to Democratic members of Congress and $88,000 to Republican members of Congress. For its part, Peabody Coal has contributed $53,400 to Democrats and $45,400 to Republicans.
I could go on all day about the money flowing to Congress from corporations and PACs with an interest in killing clean energy and climate legislation, but I'm sure you get the picture by now. Despite the overwhelming benefits this legislation would bring to the vast majority of Americans, as well as to the U.S. economy and our national security, a few wealthy companies, driven by nothing more than greed, have spent lavishly to make sure none of this happens. And so far, they've succeeded. The question is: will we let them continue to do so? Personally, my answer is no way!
The Secret Service is investigating a Hellertown carnival for using an apparent likeness of President Obama in a shooting game. Customers paid to "shoot" at the drawing of a Black man holding papers labeled "health bill" and with a belt buckle resembling the presidential seal. It isn't a stretch to figure out who it is supposed to be.
This outrage comes on the heels of a recent event in Lancaster County where GOP candidates were invited to shoot real guns at targets labeled "ObamaCare." What is it about Pennsylvanians that they insist on convincing the rest of the country we're all a bunch of bitter people clinging to our guns and religion? Pretending violence is dangerous because it hints to unbalanced people that shooting the President for real is OK. Last August we had Tea baggers openly carrying guns at health care town halls and in the fall of 2008 we interviewed openly racist Pennsylvanians at McCain/Palin rallies. One in Johnstown carried a monkey doll dressed up as Obama.
Perhaps Pennsylvanians deserve this reputation as deranged racists. I just hope the rest of the country realizes not all of us are bigots.
The Pennsylvania Progressive has been peering into the way Congressman Mark Critz and his cohorts have been operating for quite sometime. Unfortunately for Congressman Critz, things may get more interesting as we head into the Fall. Fresh on the heels of Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Charlie Rangel (D-NY) corruption scandals, a former aide to the late Congressman John Murtha was indicted yesterday in an Alexandria, VA courtroom and released on a two million dollar bond.
Paul Magliocchetti, or "Mags" as his golf buddies affectionately called him faces 8 counts of making false campaign contributions and 3 counts of making false statements to federal officials. In short, I'd predict that Mags won't be hitting the golf course anytime soon, unless he gets a golf course wall mural painted on the inside of his prison cell. The indictment contends that Magliocchetti had associates and employees of the now defunct PMA Lobbying Group become straw contributors to powerful Appropriations subcommittee members such as John Murtha, Norm Dicks, James Moran, and Peter Visclosky so that the PMA Group could maintain its prestige and win big time defense contracts for its clients. The contributors were then reimbursed which is a violation of the law. In 2006 alone, more than 60 earmarks went to PMA clients, totaling more than 95 million dollars, while according to the National Review, PMA associates and employees donated between $230,000 to $279,000 annually.
Congressman Mark Critz, of course, was very familiar with PMA Group. Just how close may yet remain to be seen. Typically in situations such as these, Magliocchetti may face the choice of a much lengthier stay in the slammer, or turning into the consummate rat and snuffing everyone that was involved or had knowledge of what was occurring, if anyone else knew. The big questions are, will the list of people with knowledge of what was going include former Economic Development Director, Mark Critz? And if so, what role did he have in this process?
If you'll recall, around the time the 12th Congressional Recommendation Committee was being rigged, Former Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Auditor General Barbara Hafer, in fact, posed these concerns about Critz:
"We want to know what he testified to and what documents did he hand over to the House Ethics Committee when he testified recently," Ms. Hafer said of Mr. Critz. "We also want him to explain his relationship with Coherent Systems."
Coherent Systems was a defense company later acquired by Argon ST, a larger defense firm. Both were represented by PMA Associates, a now-defunct defense lobbying firm headed by Pittsburgh native and Murtha and friend Paul Magliocchetti.
Coherent's former CEO, Rick Ianieri, later pleaded guilty to various fraud charges, including allegations that he received a kickback from officials at another defense firm, Kuchera Defense Systems, located in Windber, Somerset County.
In some ways, what Hafer asked, what was the nature of Critz's testimony during the ethics hearing, and what was his relationship with Coherent, Argon ST, and PMA? This may turn into the achilles heel for PA-12 Democrats in the Fall for those willing to turn a blind eye to corruption. Unfortunately for the people involved, a Congressional Ethics hearing being dismissed is one thing, but the Feds are more interested in searching for criminality and investigating as to whether or not a law has been broken. That in itself is a much different standard. To my knowledge, although Critz vowed to release his testimony, he has yet comply with his commitment to do so.
We do know however, that former PMA associates persist to be close donors to Congressman Critz, as former PMA lobbyists recently gave at least $75,000 in personal contributions leading up to the Special Election in May. Indeed, it would not be surprising if any of those former PMA lobbyists and donors had knowledge of the racket that Magliocchetti orchestrated and if so, they may end up knee deep in it with him.
Ultimately, this should compel Congressman Critz to return their contributions or donate them to charity immediately and of course, release the full transcript of his Congressional Ethics Committee testimony to the press and public regarding PMA Associates and Mr. Magliocchetti.
As for Maglioccetti, he should come forward and reveal anyone else who had knowledge of the process that was occurring and their role, if anyone else knew what was going on. It may land him a much shorter stay in the slammer.
Correction: It seems Paul Maglioccetti never worked directly for Congressman Murtha. We regret the error. According to a Google search Murtha's staff, at one time, issued this statement: "Magliochetti (sic) served as a staff analyst for the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Murtha was never Chairman or Ranking Member while Magliochetti (sic) worked for the subcommittee. In fact, Magliochetti (sic) worked for Chairman Bill Chappel and full committee chairman Jamie Whitten."
This is very strange, even for Jim Gerlach. A Republican known for smearing his Democratic opponents he is now smearing Manan Trivedi for not living in the 6th Congressional District all his life. Trivedi was born and raised in Fleetwood, Berks County and has lived in the District except for his years of military duty. Gerlach seems to think leaving to serve your country is unpatriotic! I've watched this man paint an opponent as Osama Bin Laden shortly after 9/11 and though this smear doesn't quite sink to that level it is sick and pathetic.
Here's the statement from Congressman Gerlach: "During Jim Gerlach's entire time in Congress, Trivedi maintained his official residence in California and Washington."
Gee Jim you left out Iraq. Manan lived there too while he was serving the country by working as a doctor in the military. Why did you conveniently omit the other residence from your statement? Since when is residing at Camp Pendleton on active duty is a crime? What's more, if that is bad then why isn't the base in Iraq equally bad?
Here's the response from the Trivedi people:
"Well, Jim, it's true. For the last 8 years, while you were in DC doing nothing for the people of Pennsylvania, Manan was stationed at Camp Pendleton (in California) and at BUMED-HQ Command for Navy Medicine (in Washington). And he served in Iraq as a battalion surgeon."
And from Manan himself:
"For the last 8 years I was in the military. It appears that Jim Gerlach is so out of touch that he doesn't realize that when men and women from this community serve in the military, that service also brings with it the sacrifice of having to leave home. So while Jim Gerlach went to Washington, I went to Iraq as a battalion surgeon."
Jim Gerlach's statement insults every person who has ever served in our armed forces.
Judge Vaughn Walker's decision overturning California's Proposition 8 was a welcome relief for all those who cherish equality under law. The well reasoned and well written decision outlined the case quite well and undercut all of the myths and bigoted beliefs against granting all Americans identical access to what it terms a "fundamental right." The proponents of sexual apartheid actually were forced into a federal court to prove the fear mongering advertisements they used to convince voters gays and lesbians were evil sexual predators looking to recruit children. Of course this is as nonsensical as many of the conservatives other beliefs and they were unable to prove any of it in court.
So bad was their case the Judge totally dismissed the testimony of their "expert witnesses" because, as it turned out, they weren't experts at all. In fact they hadn't even read most of the studies on the matter. Their opinions weren't supported by any facts and therefore their case was thrown out.
Judge Walker affirmed that marriage is a fundamental right which has undergone massive changes in our country's history. He also cited cultures where homosexuality is open and accepted and where couples are free to wed. Studies prove children of same sex parents grown up as well adjusted as any others and that there is no risk to child molestation. In fact the vast majority of sexual molesters are white heterosexual men.
The decision also affirms the right that no minority group can have their fundamental rights stripped away at the ballot box. Judge Walker condemned the practice early in his written dissertation. An appeal of the decision was filed yesterday but, by my understanding of the law, it must be based on this case as presented to this court. If so I don't understand how this can be overturned because the case presented by the proponents was so weak as to be wholly dismissed.
It is difficult to describe what this means to the LGBT community. We were demonized, victimized and described as sub human by those against gay marriage in thousands of commercials, speeches and campaign materials during a campaign which became known as Proposition H8. The Mormon Church combined with evangelical christian cults to raise millions of dollars to spread their message of hate and they failed. Some friends and regular readers of TPP happened to be in Salt Lake City at the time and report that thousands of gays and lesbians marched on the LDS tabernacle and surrounded it celebrating the overturning of Prop H8 and desired to let the Mormon cult know how happy they were justice was served. The Mormons locked down their temple trapping my friends inside.
Mary Matalin, on CNN Thursday morning claimed gay marriage is not a civil right and called the decision an "overreach." She obviously hadn't read it and we know why she's a pundit and not a lawyer. Marriage has been a right and Judge Walker termed it a "fundamental right." There are 1138 federal rights which go with marriage and this is why another Judge (Republican at that) recently ruled the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional. You cannot have separate classes of citizens under the law and depriving LGBT citizens of those rights creates a system of sexual apartheid. That is clearly unconstitutional.
The Judge also declared Prop 8 unconstitutional under the due process clause. Since same sex couples are forced to pay lawyers to draft legal documents in lieu of a right to marry they are deprived of property without due process. Since married couples are documented to live longer and earn greater assets this also creates a violation of due process. Denying anyone of life, liberty or property without due process is unconstitutional.
Tea Partiers are so fond of their pocket constitutions but they either don't read it or don't comprehend its meanings. Judge Walker does and determined that no one has the right to deprive someone else of their rights. It really is as simple as that.
A Federal judge appointed by Reagan (have fun called him an activist judge) has overturned the gay marriage ban in California known as proposition 8.
He did so based on the law.
The judge dismissed the notion that gay Americans were seeking a new right as opposed to one already guaranteed them as U.S. citizens under the Constitution's due process and equal protection clauses.
Preventing gays from marrying does nothing to strengthen heterosexual unions or serve any purpose that justifies the ban's discriminatory effect, he said.
"Same-sex couples are identical to opposite-sex couples in the characteristics relevant to the ability to form successful marital unions," the Walker wrote. "Like opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples have happy, satisfying relationships and form deep emotional bonds and strong commitments to their partners."
"Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples," the judge wrote.
To see the how the judge methodically dismembered the arguments against gay marriage see this L.A. Times article:
(I don't know why only part of the link appears but it seems to work nonetheless.)
The really strange thing is that the folks against gay marriage have known for months that they were going to lose. Most recently they filed a motion the night before the judge released his ruling asking him to put a hold on any marriages until they had a chance to appeal if he ruled against them.
When the decision is based in law they simply don't have a leg to stand on and their arguments are revealed for the bigotry they are.
