That's Rich

Grove City Borough Power Outage - Sunday 1/8/12

2012-01-05T19:28:00.001-05:00

From the Borough:

We Are Upgrading Equipment

You may have received notification about an upcoming planned power outage. As we upgrade our electricity infrastructure with smarter technologies and perform important maintenance, sometimes it’s necessary to turn off the power. This is an important safety measure that protects our crews.

Our goal has always been to provide you with reliable electric service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are committed to minimizing the inconvenience to you and your neighbors, and we plan our upgrade work to cause the least possible disruption.

About the Planned Outage

We are replacing a 69,000 volt transformer in our electrical substation. The power to the entire Borough will need to be disrupted while the new transformer is placed into service and routine maintenance to our switch gear is performed. Your power service will be turned off at 5AM on Sunday, January 8 , 2012 for approximately two hours while this work is completed.

During a planned outage, your power may be off for less time than expected, or it may be turned off and on more than once within the planned window of time.

How to Prepare for a Planned Outage:

Learn how to manually open your garage doors.
Notify any security companies that monitor your home.
Protect your computers, televisions and other sensitive equipment by unplugging them.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors securely closed.
If your business has no backup power supply, consider renting one. Please note that the Borough cannot reimburse you for this cost.
This outage may affect your private telephone system. Make sure you have access to a telephone that operates without being plugged into an electrical outlet.

Questions about Planned Outages?

If you have questions about this notice you may call the Borough Office at 724-458-7060. We appreciate your patience as we upgrade our infrastructure to provide you with a bright future of reliable service.

Grove City Borough Planned Power Outage - CANCELED

2011-12-16T21:29:00.001-05:00

From Grove City Borough:

The planned power outage scheduled for this Sunday December 18^th has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Representatives of G.E. will be working through the weekend to complete the transformer installation; however it will not be complete in time for a shut down this weekend so the outage must be canceled.

An outage to place the new 69,000 volt transformer in service will be schedule after January 1^st when inclement weather is not forecasted. We will give 48 hour advanced notice of the outage.

Grove City Borough Planned Power Outage - 12/18

2011-12-15T18:12:00.000-05:00

From Grove City Borough:

We Are Upgrading Equipment

You may have received notification about an upcoming planned power outage. As we upgrade our electricity infrastructure with smarter technologies and perform important maintenance, sometimes it’s necessary to turn off the power. This is an important safety measure that protects our crews.

Our goal has always been to provide you with reliable electric service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are committed to minimizing the inconvenience to you and your neighbors, and we plan our upgrade work to cause the least possible disruption.

About the Planned Outage

We are replacing a 69,000 volt transformer in our electrical substation. The power to the entire Borough will need to be disrupted while the new transformer is placed into service and routine maintenance to our switch gear is performed. Your power service will be turned off at 5AM on Sunday, December 18, 2011 for approximately ninety minutes while this work is completed.

During a planned outage, your power may be off for less time than expected, or it may be turned off and on more than once within the planned window of time.

How to Prepare for a Planned Outage:

Learn how to manually open your garage doors.
Notify any security companies that monitor your home.
Protect your computers, televisions and other sensitive equipment by unplugging them.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors securely closed.
If your business has no backup power supply, consider renting one. Please note that the Borough cannot reimburse you for this cost.
This outage may affect your private telephone system. Make sure you have access to a telephone that operates without being plugged into an electrical outlet.

Questions about Planned Outages?

If you have questions about this notice you may call the Borough Office at 724-458-7060. We appreciate your patience as we upgrade our infrastructure to provide you with a bright future of reliable service.

Mercer County, PA Election Results - November 2011 General Election

2011-11-07T23:35:00.001-05:00

Folks - here are the 2011 general election results for Mercer County, PA. A race of interest is the Grove City Area School District school board, as incumbents try to stave off a challenge. This race is relevant with the school board's unanimous hiring of a convict for the new superintendent.

Another important race is the Mercer County Commissioner race. Two GOPers, two Democrats, and one write-in Democrat who just may play the spoiler. Could be fun.

Results by precinct

Results by race

Grove City Christian Academy Purchases Washington Kindergarten Center

2011-07-12T11:14:00.002-04:00

Many area churches hosted Grove City Christian Academy since its inception forty years ago. The Academy found its permanent home Monday evening as the bid to purchase the former Washington Kindergarten Center was approved by the Grove City Area School District board of directors.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Academy to continue moving forward, offering a classical Christian education to the students of the Grove City region,” said Lee Wishing, GCCA Board President. “We’re extremely thankful for God’s provisions, to the churches that have hosted us for the last four decades, and the donors who have made this purchase possible.”

The Grove City Area School District has been constructing a new middle school, which would shift classes around various buildings. This rearrangement has left the Washington Kindergarten Center as an unused building. The GCCA board has spent the last several months investigating and evaluating the building to determine if it fulfilled the needs of the Academy in both the immediate and long-term future. The building is structurally sound and requires no near-term upgrades or repairs.

The Academy has approximately 110 students enrolled in preschool through eighth grade and two dozen enrolled in the high school study center. It is currently located in the First Baptist Church and the First Church of God. Washington Kindergarten Center is large enough to consolidate the GCCA campuses.

The GCASD decided to entertain sealed bids for the building and property. The GCCA board met in a special session to determine what the value was to the Academy. The board unanimously determined of a bid of $200,010.

The bids were opened last Wednesday and GCCA was the winning bidder. GCCA will be closing on the property shortly in order to start the school year in the new building.

Grove City Area School District Places Washington Kindergarten For Sale

2011-06-11T22:16:00.003-04:00

Washington Kindergarten Center is for sale. The Grove City Area School District has decided to accept sealed bids for the soon-to-be-vacated building.

According to Grove City Borough zoning, the use of the property is extremely limited. The district where the school is located is zoned R1 (Residential), which is the most restrictive zoning in the borough. It is designed to protect single-family dwellings.

Principle Uses:
- Single-family homes
- Public schools
- Public recreation buildings

Accessory Uses (when used as a single-family home):
- Zero-impact home business (no signage, only family members may work there)

Special Exception Uses
- Essential services (borough infrastructure)
- Churches
- Parish houses
- Church schools
- Private schools
- Government buildings

In other words, nearly no one would be able to use the building. The public school doesn't want it (hence, they are selling it) and the local government (GC Borough) doesn't want it.

That means someone could buy it for a private home (way too expensive and would require massive remodeling), a church could buy it (not really set up for a church), a developer could buy it and demolish the building to build new houses (incredibly expensive), or a private/church school could buy it.

A person could not turn it into apartments. A person could not turn it into an business. Both are forbidden in an R1 district. That would be a move from a principle use to a forbidden use - if the Grove City Zoning Hearing Board follows PA law, there's no way any such development would be approved. Any such approval would be quickly appealed and overturned in court.

The bidding process should be interesting.

Grove City Area School District's Mextorf Application Released

2011-05-31T22:17:00.002-04:00

The Centre Daily Times formally requested Dr. Richard Mextorf's job application.

Grove City Area School District officials delayed the release for 30 days before fulfilling the request.

Mextorf mentioned his DUI issue quickly in the process:

“I am writing this letter to request consideration as a candidate for the position of Superintendent of Schools at Grove City School District. Recently, I resigned my position as Superintendent of Schools at State College Area School District to address a personal issue regarding a charge of driving under the influence. I have addressed this issue aggresively, and have taken the necessary steps to ensure this incident never occurs again. It is my hope that a detailed investigation of my personal and professional history will allow you to view this singular incident of poor judgment through the prism of an otherwise pristine career of meaningful contributions and service to others.”

Grove City Save A Lot Opening June 1

2011-05-18T21:19:00.002-04:00

The new Save A Lot store in Grove City Borough will be opening its doors on June 1. The business, owned by Dave Knopp, Jr. replaces the former BiLo store at the same Mill Street location.

The entire interior of the store has been improved or replaced. The shelving has been set in place and multiple pallets of food has already been delivered and stocked. Final construction and paint will take place this week.

Mercer County, PA Commissioner Ken Ammann Out

2011-05-17T22:27:00.003-04:00

Unofficial results state that Ammann was the third-place finisher on the Democratic side of the ballot. Brian Beader and Tim Templeton will join GOP winners Matt McConnell and John Lechner in the fall.

Jim Crow Ousted From Grove City Area School Board, Susan Herman Remains

2011-05-17T22:11:00.005-04:00

Unofficial results (100% reporting) show that Crow lost his seat. Herman will appear on the fall ballot. A write-in campaign by Frederick White siphoned off enough votes to give Herman a last-minute surge to pass Christine Pease-Hernandez on the GOP side. Ironically, Miller and Pease-Hernandez both teach at neighboring Slippery Rock University.

Independent incumbent Dorry Foster will be on the ballot in the fall. Foster also voted for the now-convicted superintendent Richard Mextorf.

See you in November...

2011 Primary Election Results - Mercer County, PA

2011-05-17T07:56:00.002-04:00

Folks - here are the 2011 primary election results for Mercer County, PA. Of course, the race of interest is the Grove City Area School District school board, as two incumbents try to stave off a challenge. This race is relevant with the school board's unanimous hiring of a convict for the new superintendent.

Results by precinct

Results by race

Primary 2011: Grove City Area School District Board Members

2011-05-15T18:57:00.002-04:00

Hat tip to Jason Reeher for this excellent summation:

A Primary on the Primary: What to look for on Tuesday in the GC school board race

The primary elections are this Tuesday, May 17th. Voters in Grove City will have a chance to select candidates; Republicans will be able to vote for five school board seats, as will Democrats. Here is some math regarding the primaries, and the general election to follow in November, to help you understand what can happen:

Republicans will select (up to) five candidates for school board. If you are a Republican, your ballot will look like this:

Adam M. Renick
Roberta M. Hensel
Christine E. Pease-Hernandez
Faye A. Bailey
Vern Junior Saylor
James L. Crow
Susan L. Herman

...In that order. There are also spaces to write-in candidates, if you choose to do so.

Democrats' ballots will look like this:

Roberta M. Hensel
Christine E. Pease-Hernandez
James L. Crow
Susan L. Herman
Vern Junior Saylor
Adam M. Renick
Faye A. Bailey

Plus spaces for write-ins.

So with five seats up for grabs, what can happen? Well, each party is picking their candidates for the fall ballot. The votes for Republicans and Democrats are NOT added together. This means that all seven candidates can still appear on the fall ballot. If, for instance, the candidates finished in the exact order they are listed on the two ballots, the Republicans would elect Renick, Hensel, Pease-Hernanez, Bailey and Saylor, while the Democrats would elect Hensel, Pease-Hernandez, Crow, Herman, and Saylor. If you make it into the top five on either ballot, you make it to the November election. Then the voters will choose five candidates from whomever survives the primary (plus Dorry Foster, who we'll get to later).

What happens if someone finishes out of the top five on both ballots? If a candidate were to finish 6th or lower on BOTH the Republican and Democrat ballots, that person would NOT appear on the November ballot. In other words (and what I hope happens) is that Jim Crow could for instance finish sixth on both the Republican and Democrat ballots; he would have effectively lost the election since he wouldn't even be on the ballot in November.

What about Dorry Foster? Ms. Foster, a school board incumbent, is running as an independent, because she is not a member of either major party. She was required to get a certain amount of signatures in order to appear on the November ballot. She has the advantage of not facing elmination in the primaries, but the disadvantage of not having her name in the election process untill the general election. In other words, if you have five candidates you really liked and voted for in the May primary, you may not want to chose a different candidate, come November.

What can we look for? Obviously, to see Crow and Herman voted out of office; the simplest way for that to happen is for them to both finish out of the top five on both ballots. However--and this is where the math comes in--something to watch for is the particular order of finish, as well as any large gaps, on the Republican ballot. In the last GC school board election, about 7 out of 10 voters were Republicans. That means that, come the general election, the Republican vote has a huge majority say in who ends up on the school board. For instance, if Sue Herman were to finish fourth or fifth on the Republican ballot this week, she will make it through to November but still have reason to sweat, especially if she also finishes low (or out of the top five) on the Democrat ballot. Finishing high on the Republican ballot is a good indication of how you will fare in the November election.

What about write-ins? Technically, a write-in candidate could upset the proverbial apple cart, and garner enough votes to be elected to the school board. However, it is an extremely difficult task in a school district-wide election. This election should be about leadership change, and voting the incumbents out of office is more important than taking away potential votes from the five newcomers. Writing in a name is just throwing away a vote that could be cast for one of the five challengers. They'll need all the votes they can get.

I'm not registered! What do I do? After the primaries, you still have from May 18 through October 11 to get registered for the November vote. Just go here: http://www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us/election/HOMEPAGE.HTM#Downloads and fill out the application and print and mail it.

Then come to as many school board meetings as you can.

Grove City Area School District's New Superintendent Mextorf Sentenced

2011-05-09T15:43:00.003-04:00

The new GCASD superintendent will get 15 days of house arrest and be on parole for six months after that. Considering the legal requirement was a punishment of three days to six months in jail, it appears that Dr. Mextorf was given the proverbial slap on the wrist.

Read the full story here.

There is a GCASD school board meeting tonight at 7:00. It is unlikely that the board will address the issue.

Grove City Area School District earns "F" from Sunshine Review

2011-04-24T19:06:00.003-04:00

The Grove City Area School District has been rated by "Sunshine Review" - a nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency. It uses a simple 10-point checklist to determine how open a governmental organization is with the citizenry. The ten points are taxes, budget, meetings, elected officials, administrative officials, contracts, audits, public records, academics, and background checks. If the "point item" is missing or incomplete, it's grade is reduced.

The Grove City Area School District has earned an "F" grade for transparency.

Grove City Area School District Candidate's Forum on May 10

2011-04-22T13:36:00.003-04:00

Here is your chance to meet and question the candidates for the Grove City school board. There will be a candidate's forum at the Grove City high school LGI room on May 10, from 7:00-9:00pm. This date is significant because May 9 will be Dr. Mextorf's DUI hearing, followed that evening by the regular school board meeting.

All nine of the current school board members currently defend the decision to hire Mextorf, while fully knowing he had a pending DUI case. Mextorf was cited top-tier charge with a blood-alcohol content of 0.316, which is nearly four times the legal limit. Mextorf's DUI occurred while driving to school, during which time he nearly hit multiple vehicles, including a school bus.

Mextorf, through his lawyer, are seemingly not disputing the charge, as they are seeking a plea deal.

Mextorf, as GCASD superintendent, will be responsible for the guidance and direction of several hundred students and the $30+ million budget of the district.

Grove City Resident Threatens Suit over New Superintendent at Government School

2011-04-22T13:28:00.002-04:00

Hat tip to InsideButlerCounty.com:

A Grove City man has threated to sue his school district to prevent someone awaiting trial for drunk driving from taking the superintendent's job.

***

(R)esident Jason Reeher said the arrest means Mextorf doesn't meet the district's standards for ethics and integrity.

That certainly makes the upcoming primary more interesting. Reeher retrieved the school district's own job search information and found a serious conflict.

The school board still defends their decision:

The school board president said Mextorf was very candid about his arrest, and that he came with glowing recommendations and was the believed to be the "best candidate" for the job.

There will be a candidate's forum a the Grove City High School LGI room on May 10 from 7:00-9:00pm. This is one day after Dr. Mextorf's hearing and the regular school board meeting.

URGENT: May 18 is Final Day for Pennsylvania Primary Registration

2011-04-18T10:26:00.001-04:00

Today is the last day for PA residents to register to vote for the May primary election. If you have not registered, please do so today! There are lots of reasons to vote in the "off-year" election, including school board members, township supervisors, borough council members, and judges. Register TODAY!

New Grove City Area Superintendent Nearly Rear-Ended a School Bus While Driving Drunk

2011-04-13T21:51:00.002-04:00

The full criminal complaint has been released in the DUI arrest of Grove City Area School District's new superintendent, Dr. Richard Mextorf.

Hat tip to StateCollege.com:

A witness, George Lamprinos, told authorities that the motorist was "driving into the other southbound lane of traffic, almost striking other units," the complaints reads. "Also, the defendant was observed leaving the roadway and traveling back onto it."

The motorist turned onto state Route 64 and soon passed state Trooper Darryl Martin, who had stopped in the area, according to the complaint. That was at roughly 7:45 a.m., the complaint says.

Martin reported that he began following the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee south on state Route 64. In the complaint, he wrote that he activated his lights and siren and "observed the operator cross the center line and the fog line several times.

"The operator would not pull over after following him approximately two miles, so I pulled over into the oncoming lane and drove up beside the operator and motioned him to pull over, which he then pulled into Stover's Sub Shop parking lot" in Porter Township, the complaint reads.

Martin said he identified the driver as Mextorf and noticed "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage ... emitting from his breath, and his eyes appeared to be glassy and bloodshot.

"At that time, I asked Mextorf if he had consumed alcoholic beverages, and he related he did last evening," the complaint reads. "I had Mextorf exit the vehicle and observed him swaying to keep his balance while walking to the rear of his vehicle."

Mextorf failed field sobriety tests, Martin wrote. He was taken into custody and driven to Lock Haven Hospital for a blood test, according to the complaint.

...

Reached by StateCollege.com, Lamprinos, of Williamsport, said that Mextorf was "all over the road" on Nov. 18 and nearly rear-ended a school bus.

New Grove City Area Superintendent Was Driving Drunk To Work

2011-04-12T22:59:00.003-04:00

Hat tip to StateCollege.com:

In the hours before he was pulled over for DUI, (superintendent Dr. Richard) Mextorf had gone to visit a friend and, "unfortunately, drank way too much," (Attorney Joseph) Amendola said. He said Mextorf made another bad decision in trying to drive back to State College -- "ironically because he didn't want to miss work."

The article also notes that he drank because of the pressures of being a superintendent:

Amendola said that Mextorf is not a chronic alcoholic by any stretch; rather, he said, Mextorf found himself facing a lot of pressure -- much of it self-imposed -- from his job as State College superintendent.

...

"I think the pressure kind of surprised him -- coming from another school district where I don't think the parents typically are as involved as maybe they are in the State College area," Amendola said. " ... I think it got to a point where it overwhelmed him."

The maximum penalty for Mextorf's DUI is six months in jail. His attorney is seeking a plea bargain.

Grove City Area School District Names New Superintendent

2011-04-12T22:13:00.002-04:00

The Grove City Area School District school board unanimously approved Dr. Richard Mextorf as the new superintendent of the district. The vote took place during the monthly meeting on Monday, April 11.

Mextorf came from the State College Area School District, where he lost his job over a Nov. 18 traffic stop, where he was arrested for DUI and related traffic offenses. Mextorf's blood-alcohol content was 0.316 - nearly four times the legal limit.

Mextorf was pulled over at 7:58 am on a Thursday morning.

Mextorf's DUI case was delayed until May 9.

The Grove City Area School District school board offered to pay Mextorf $127,000 per year, which is several thousand more per year than retiring superintendent, Dr. Robert Post.

PA-3: Dahlkemper Eyeing Another Run?

2011-04-01T21:43:00.002-04:00

Seriously?

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

Kathy Dahlkemper, the Erie Democrat who served a single term before losing the seat to Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly in November, says she’s exploring another run in 2012.

Mrs. Dahlkemper, 53, who told The Herald last year she wouldn’t rule out running for Congress again, told the Erie Times-News this week that she’ll have to make a decision fairly soon because waiting until the fall would put her at a disadvantage.

This is extremely peculiar as all evidence shows that citizens turned out en masse to vote AGAINST Dahlkemper, not to vote FOR Kelly. Additionally, Kelly has yet to do anything - good or bad - that would warrant enough voter ire to toss him out. His biggest blunder to date is his refusal to join the Tea Party Caucus, despite pretending to be a Tea Party guy during the primary and general elections. Remember his phony "tea party" that he had at his dealership?

Finally, 2012 is already shaping up to be yet another bloodbath for the Democrats. Dahlkemper must have incredibly bad handlers who are feeding her terrible information if she thinks that 2012 will be her year to win.

School Disctricts Should Look Inward on Budget Cuts

2011-03-22T22:23:00.006-04:00

In today's difficult economic times (Ed Rendell left Pennsylvania with a $4-billion deficit), it takes leadership and courage to tackle the problem. Enter the superintendent of the Sharon City School District, John Sarandrea.

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

Sharon City School District Superintendent John Sarandrea announced Monday that he and business manager Tresa Templeton will voluntarily take a pay freeze for 2011-2012.

Sarandrea’s salary will remain at $117,000 and hers at $85,591.

With the state of the economy and the impending state funding cuts to education, Sarandrea said they’ll ask building principals to agree to a freeze as well.

This is a fantastic first step - but it is only one little step. A pay freeze looks good and will save several thousand dollars. But if school districts are losing millions of dollars each, it's just a start.

Here are some ways to save some serious cash:
- Have all employees contribute more to their bennies. The real world employees contribute up to 30% of the cost. If any of the "public servants" whine about moving from 3% to 5%, remind them how good they have it. Make them pay at least 15%. If they want to strike, show them the door.
- Eliminate half of the administrators. There is simply no need to have hordes of principals and vice principals. Especially when you factor in the sheer cost of these bureaucratic positions.
- Freeze pay for the next several years. The concept of "teachers aren't paid enough" simply isn't true any longer. Teacher salaries are available online in PA. Some of the salaries are appalling. And when you factor in the Mercedes Benz-benefits, it really jumps. You can easily add $25,000 to each instructor to find out what they cost each taxpayer.
- Eliminate all educational reimbursements for teachers. We should not be paying them to obtain higher degrees, then paying them jacked-up salaries when they are finished. If they want a higher education, let them pursue it like everyone else - on their own dime.
- Make sports "pay to play." This won't be fun since football is far more important than education in western PA. But you shouldn't spend millions on athletic complexes, then threaten to remove educational curricula.
- Cut wasteful spending. Private schools have been turning out better students for far less for a long time. Throwing cash at schools does not make them better - and that's been proven.
- Stop building new buildings that you don't need. Sure you want them and you can make up a million excuses why you think you need them, but you don't need a 2011 building to educate students in 2011. And if the state is throwing piles of cash at you, reject it!
- Finally (and this one SHOULD be a no-brainer) think of the taxpayers for once. You're killing them with your bloated budgets and you're making the case for school district consolidation more appealing each day. Instead of local control with a million bureaucrats, we could have regional control with a few bureaucrats. Tempting, isn't it?

The truth is that school districts have NOT been good stewards of tax dollars. There is a terrible culture of "We won the lottery!" in every school district. That money was never theirs in the first place. They did nothing to produce it or earn it. It was seized and spent without concern.

Remember that when you vote for school board members this spring.

2011 Primary Candidates for Mercer County, PA Released

2011-03-17T09:22:00.002-04:00

In case you were wondering who will be on the ballot this May, here you go!

Clicky-clicky

Get to know these people. Find out what they believe and why they believe it. Support those who follow the Constitution and vigorously oppose those who do not. Restoring America happens at ALL level.

Upcoming Trash Mountain Hearings

2011-03-14T14:57:00.003-04:00

We've had an interesting week of meetings dealing with the Tri-County Industries' Trash Mountain application. The biggest news is that owner Ed Vogel can't seem to find a string of building and operation permits. What this means is that TCI appears to have a bunch of illegal buildings and has been operating illegally for years. Since Pine Township doesn't have these permits on record, it seems that either TCI has been blatantly violating the law or someone has been handing out lots of wink-and-nod approvals. Either way, it doesn't look good...

Here's the upcoming hearing schedule so you can watch for yourself (all held at GCHS):

Tuesday, March 15: Canceled

March 22: 6:00pm (Pine Twp)
March 26: 10:00am (Pine Twp)
April 1: 5:00pm (Liberty Twp)

Please attend and support your community!

Save-A-Lot is Definitely Coming to Grove City

2011-03-03T09:41:00.004-05:00

You heard it here first...

The former BiLo store WILL have a Save-A-Lot grocery store. The lease for the building was signed yesterday.

Renovations will begin immediately and the store will open in May. An exact date has not been set, but the goal is to be open by Memorial Day at the latest.

Many of the familiar faces that greeted you at BiLo will be working at the Save-A-Lot, and many of the customer-oriented policies will remain intact. Kudos to Dave Knopp, Jr. for hanging in there and treating the workers well.

This is a huge win for the residents of the borough. We'll continue to have a grocery store that serves the residents and it will be easy to get to, get in, and get out.

Grove City Ward Three: In Need of a Conservative!

2011-02-21T14:24:00.002-05:00

Grove City Borough Council will have a vacancy this election cycle. Council member Joe Pisano (R-W3) is not seeking re-election. Joe has been a tremendous asset to council, from his leadership in moving technology issues forward to his direct approach for solving problems.

But this year is his last on council.

This means that an opening is available RIGHT NOW for those who are going through the petition process. March 8 is the last day to file petitions, so if you're interested in the seat, get moving! You only need ten signatures and there are no fees involved.

Click here to see the map of Grove City's wards.

Click here for more info about running for office.

Grove City has long been a conservative stronghold. Here is where you can do your part to keep it that way. If you are interested, but have some questions, please ask! Send me a message and I'll help any way I can. It's worth the effort!

Make a Difference in Your Community - Run for Office!

2011-02-18T23:02:00.002-05:00

If you're tired of the way things are in your municipality or with your school board, GET INVOLVED! Anyone can sit on the sidelines and complain about taxes, regulations, etc. Most of the governmental involvement that affects your life happens at the local level.

Now is the time to circulate petitions for running for office. Go to your county courthouse, pick up the info packet, and get some sigs! You only need 10 for most offices! Be a powerful force for conservative thought in your community.

Here is the list for Mercer County offices.

Here are the dates of interest for those who want to run.

Here is the Mercer County Election Survival Guide.

Now, go make a difference!

Reminder: Grove City Leash Law is in effect

2011-02-18T21:27:00.002-05:00

We're approaching springlike weather, which means more walkers, joggers, cyclists, and children playing. Don't forget the borough ordinance to leash your dog. And pick up your dog's waste, too!

The leash law is borough wide, whether on the street, the sidewalks, or in the park. Violators can be fined up to $300 per violation.

Grove City Save-A-Lot Deal Back On?

2011-02-16T23:09:00.005-05:00

What a difference a few days makes...

It seems that the "99% dead" deal has swung to "95% gonna happen." Seriously. Apparently someone talked some sense into the landowner and Dave Knopp, Jr. will be bringing a Save-A-Lot to the former BiLo location.

This is good news for all parties: Borough residents will have a local place to shop, the shut-ins will have a delivery service, the former BiLo employees will have jobs (hugely important in this rough economy), and obviously, Knopp, Jr., since he has already put a fair amount of money into the deal.

When the ink dries on the deal, I'll let you know. Until then, don't hold your breath! This thing has definitely taken its turns...

Wendell August Forge on Fox News

2011-02-16T09:33:00.002-05:00

For those of you who have been following the WAF fire story, here's a link to the coverage by Fox News.

Fox News was kind enough to send a crew to shoot some footage to take this story to a national TV audience. Of course, those of you who use the Internet for news knew of the story as it broke... ;)

The Fox News piece is a really nice follow up. Give it a watch...it's only a couple minutes long.

Grove City Save-A-Lot Not Coming, Old BiLo to Sit Empty?

2011-02-14T18:28:00.005-05:00

The former BiLo building appears like it will sit empty as the California-based building owner won't negotiate a lease or repair the building.

Dave Knopp, Jr. may have wanted to open a Save-A-Lot (or a similar store) in the former BiLo location, but that dream is 99% gone. The staggering lease - one of the factors that killed BiLo - isn't up for negotiation. The leaky roof isn't going to be repaired by the owner. The remodeling to help Rx Express expand isn't going to happen.

Not even second-place bidder, Thorne Management Inc., is interested in the location any longer.

In short, the landowner is singlehandedly engineering his own failure.

If you want to buy the building, sure it's for sale - but the rumored asking price is well into the seven-figure range. And few - if any - buildings in the Grove City area are worth that.

For what it's worth, Knopp Jr. has invested plenty into making a store happen, including buying the old BiLo shelving, coolers, etc. He has also pledged to help the former employees find jobs, including hiring many of them at County Market. Knopp Jr. has been a stand-up businessman in this ordeal.

Tri-County Industries' Trash Mountain Hearings - UPDATE 2/12

2011-02-12T17:02:00.003-05:00

Here are the latest dates for the Trash Mountain hearings, all at Grove City High School:

PINE TOWNSHIP
March 8, 5-9 pm
March 9, 5-9 pm
March 10, 5-9 pm

JOINT PINE AND LIBERTY TOWNSHIPS
March 12, 10-4 pm
March 15, 5 - 10 pm

Please attend and support those who are keeping the fight going. If you are able, please donate to the cause: http://notrashmountain.org/

Greenville Taxpayers Foot Bill for YMCA Utilities

2011-02-09T21:41:00.002-05:00

In case you were looking for more reasons why Greenville is in decline (hat tip to The Herald, Sharon, PA)...

Greenville council approved a payment Tuesday night for the YMCA’s electrical bills in hopes they’ll be reimbursed when the YMCA gets its own financial situation straightened out.

Here's to hoping!

Of course, there's no legal basis for this, as a borough should not be taking on private debt. Taxpayers should be outraged - and heads should roll during this year's election. Greenville is in dire need of conservative leadership.

Tri-County Industries' Trash Mountain Hearings - UPDATE 2/2

2011-02-02T21:22:00.003-05:00

The Pine Township Hearing scheduled for this Friday, February 4th, was canceled.

The next hearing is Saturday, February 5th, beginning at 10:00 am at the Grove City High School cafeteria. This will be a joint meeting between Pine and Liberty Townships.

Attorney Ging will be questioning residents who live near the proposed landfill and other witnesses. Your attendance is greatly desired to support the witnesses!

Tri-County Industries Trash Mountain Meetings - UPDATE

2011-01-13T15:31:00.004-05:00

Trash Mountain meeting info:

All are at the Grove City High School.
- 1/13 @ 6:00pm (Pine Twp)
- 1/15 @ 9:00am (Pine Twp)
- 2/5 @ 10:00am (Pine Twp and Liberty Twp)
- 3/8 @ 5:00pm (Liberty Twp)
- 3/12 @ 10:00am (Pine Twp and Liberty Twp)

If you care about the environment, your health, your property values, and the economic health of the region, be sure to attend!

Tri-County Industries' Trash Mountain Hearings Set to Begin

2010-12-02T19:33:00.004-05:00

TCI's efforts to build a trash mountain have finally hit the local level. There are hearings before both Liberty and Pine Townships that will take place in the very near future. These hearings are regarding the zoning permits. All meetings are open to the public, so if you are opposed to the landfill, it is critical that you attend these meetings.

Liberty Township will be holding its meetings on January 6 and 12, 2011 at 6:00pm in the Grove City High School auditorium. All public stakeholders are welcome to speak.

Pine Township will be holding its hearing on multiple nights: January 11, 13, and 15, 2011. The meeting place has not been determined.

Stay tuned!

Grove City BiLo is Officially Closed

2010-11-27T13:15:00.003-05:00

Here's the deal...

Stick a fork in it - BiLo is done. The doors were closed today. The store was virtually empty at 9:00 this morning with only a skeleton crew running things.

Dave Knopp, Jr. will be running the show of the new store (Save-A-Lot) and will retain any employees that wish to stay on board.

The BiLo store will undergo extensive remodeling, reducing the size of the floor space to around 18,000 sq. ft. (basically the size of Aldi). This means that the bakery and the deli will be eliminated. RX Express will expand their store into that area.

Save-A-Lot will likely be continuing the delivery service to local shut-ins, which is a good thing.

Expect a grand opening in February or March.

Grove City Borough Council Passes 2011 Balanced Budget - No Tax Hike!

2010-11-25T19:01:00.003-05:00

For the 29th year in a row, the Borough Council of Grove City passed a balanced budget that requires no hike in property taxes! Millage will stay the same at 2.5 mills.

The overall budget increased slightly, primarily due to an increased expenditure in the borough infrastructure. The borough will be increasing its water supply operations in the park and increasing the voltage of the electrical system to keep up with modern demand.

Additionally, the newly refurbished wastewater treatment plant will receive a new employee and the police department will receive a new officer (eliminating the use of part-time officers).

The budget was put together by Borough Manager Vance Oakes and budget committee members Andrea Folkertsma, Michael Coulter, and yours truly.

Grove City BiLo Closing: Update 11/25

2010-11-25T09:03:00.002-05:00

Here's another update to keep the rumor mill at bay...

BiLo is still slated to close on Saturday 11/27. They are likely to close earlier, as they are running out of inventory. Everything is 50% off.

The store will then close down and undergo extensive remodeling in order to turn it into a Save-A-Lot. It will reopen in February or March.

Reflecting on the True Meaning of Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T10:38:00.004-05:00

I last posted about Rush Limbaugh's Thanksgiving lesson in 2007, so it's time to bring it out again: Click Here

But why bring it out again? Because John Stossel of Fox News (formerly of ABC News) has written his own take - and it's basically the same message. Needless to say, it bears repeating, for the message is too important to let go in this period of American decline toward socialism and communism.

This is why our modern policies are doomed to fail:

Had today's political class been in power in 1623, tomorrow's holiday would have been called "Starvation Day" instead of Thanksgiving. Of course, most of us wouldn't be alive to celebrate it.

Every year around this time, schoolchildren are taught about that wonderful day when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared the fruits of the harvest. But the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen.

Long before the failure of modern socialism, the earliest European settlers gave us a dramatic demonstration of the fatal flaws of collectivism. Unfortunately, few Americans today know it.

The Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to share the work and produce equally.

That's why they nearly all starved.

When people can get the same return with less effort, most people make less effort. Plymouth settlers faked illness rather than working the common property. Some even stole, despite their Puritan convictions. Total production was too meager to support the population, and famine resulted. This went on for two years.

"So as it well appeared that famine must still ensue the next year also, if not some way prevented," wrote Gov. William Bradford in his diary. The colonists, he said, "began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length after much debate of things, [I] [with the advice of the chiefest among them] gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land."

In other words, the people of Plymouth moved from socialism to private farming. The results were dramatic.

"This had very good success," Bradford wrote, "for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been. By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plenty, and the face of things was changed, to the rejoicing of the hearts of many."

Because of the change, the first Thanksgiving could be held in November 1623.

What Plymouth suffered under communalism was what economists today call the tragedy of the commons. The problem has been known since ancient Greece. As Aristotle noted, "That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it."

If individuals can take from a common pot regardless of how much they put in it, each person has an incentive to be a free-rider, to do as little as possible and take as much as possible because what one fails to take will be taken by someone else. Soon, the pot is empty.

What private property does -- as the Pilgrims discovered -- is connect effort to reward, creating an incentive for people to produce far more. Then, if there's a free market, people will trade their surpluses to others for the things they lack. Mutual exchange for mutual benefit makes the community richer.

Here's the biggest irony of all: The U.S. government has yet to apply the lesson to its first conquest, Native Americans.

The U.S. government has held most Indian land in trust since the 19th century. This discourages initiative and risk-taking because, among other reasons, it can't be used as collateral for loans.

On Indian reservations, "private land is 40 to 90 percent more productive than land owned through the Bureau of Indian Affairs," says economist Terry Anderson, executive director of PERC. "If you drive through western reservations, you will see on one side cultivated fields, irrigation, and on the other side, overgrazed pasture, run-down pastures and homes. One is a simple commons; the other side is private property. You have Indians on both sides. The important thing is someone owns one side."

Secure property rights are the key. When producers know their future products are safe from confiscation, they take risks and invest. But when they fear they will be deprived of the fruits of their labor, they will do as little as possible.

That's the lost lesson of Thanksgiving.

Do your family and friends a favor...spread the word.

TSA Outrage: Where are the Men? Where are the Parents?

2010-11-23T16:23:00.002-05:00

Men: Why in the world would you let the women in your lives go through the unconstitutional TSA groping or porn-scan show? Is your wife or girlfriend worth so little to you that you'd submit her to that indignity? Are you just going to stand back as some pervert ogles her body via the scanner or gropes her in front of a line full of strangers?

Parents: Why would you let an adult fondle your child in the name of "security"? We tell our kids to "never let anyone touch you in your private parts" - and then you hold your kid steady so a government agent can run his or her hands all over their defenseless, little bodies. Shame on you!

STOP being controlled like sheep! Do you not care about your dignity? Do you not care about the dignity of your family? Do you not care about your Fourth Amendment rights being trampled? Will you be as silent when the government terminates the rest of your constitutional rights?

And where the heck are the liberals and the civil libertarians who couldn't wait to bash Bush over the Patriot Act (written by Joe Biden, by the way)? Where is your outrage? You sorry bunch of hypocrites!

Grove City BiLo Market Sold: 11/18

2010-11-18T17:59:00.003-05:00

It's official. Grove City BiLo has been sold to the Knopp family. Dave Knopp, Sr. owns County Market in Pine Township. Dave Knopp is also instrumental in the drive to keep the Wal-Mart Supercenter from being built in Springfield Township. It is understood that Dave Knopp, Jr. will be operating the store as a Save-A-Lot.

The store will be shuttered after the close of business on Saturday the 27th. The store will undergo a remodeling, with an projected opening in time for the Christmas shopping season.

All employees will be retained.

As of right now, general merchandise is 30% off. Health and beauty items are 50% off.

Starting Sunday the 21st, everything will be 50% until Saturday the 27th (unless they sell out of merchandise first).

For Thanksgiving, the store will be open until 1:00 on Wednesday and be closed on Thursday.

Grove City BiLo Closing: Update 11/16

2010-11-16T12:56:00.004-05:00

BiLo has been SOLD...click here.

Here is the latest information from BiLo. These are NOT rumors - this is direct from BiLo.

- The store will definitely be open through next week, including Saturday the 27th. It is possible that the store could be open beyond the 27th, depending on the sale and the amount of inventory in the store.
- Everything is now 30% off; the store is still trying to sell down inventory to pave the way for the next owner.
- There is now a second buyer who is very interested. Both buyers have made offers that are under consideration.
- All employees who want to stay will get to stay, regardless of who buys the store.
- The purchase process is now in the hands of the lawyers, so the situation is very fluid.

As soon as the sale happens, I'll know immediately and will post it here. Stay tuned!

Grove City BiLo Closing: Update

2010-11-09T13:10:00.006-05:00

BiLo has been SOLD...click here.

UPDATE from 11/16. Click here.

Here is the latest info about Grove City BiLo closing (11/9):

First of all, please know that this information comes from BiLo - not from some rumor mill that claims to have a friend of a friend of a friend who "knows everything about it." The rumors going around at this point have crossed into ridiculous territory.

The store will be open at least to the 20th. It is likely to be open until Thanksgiving. If sold, the store will likely closed up to two weeks for a basic remodel.

All items are 20% off. They are trying to sell down inventory in case they close or if the new owner wants to carry different products.

The sale looks more "favorable" than "unfavorable" at the moment. The lease rate is the biggest stumbling block, but negotiation is still going on. The potential buyer does have a record of keeping the store employees, so that's certainly good news for the 29 people employed at BiLo.

As always, stay tuned...and please correct the rumors!

PA-3: Mike Kelly Celebrates Win By Promoting Moderates

2010-11-04T13:42:00.004-04:00

How's that "Mike Kelly is a conservative" talking point working for you?

From InsideButlerCounty.com:

Campaign Manager Josh Snyder will transition to serve as Kelly's Chief of Staff and will work out of Kelly's office in Washington, DC. Brad Moore, who served as Kelly's campaign spokesperson, will serve as Kelly's District Director and work out of the Erie office.

Snyder...was the Director of Public Liaison for former Congressman Phil English from 2001-2003 and served as the Executive Director for Senator Arlen Specter in both northwestern Pennsylvania and central Pennsylvania from 2006-2009.... Moore also served as the Director of Public Liaison for former Congressman English from 2003-2006.

This is the same idea of people saying "Obama isn't a socialist" even though he surrounds himself with socialists. Is Obama a socialist or totally ignorant of the ideologies of those around him? How about Mike Kelly?

Don't worry...it gets worse. Seriously.

Mike Kelly opened his mouth, but this time he did it AFTER it was safe. He offered the following statement:

I have an enormous amount of respect for the Members of Congress who have come before me in this district. Tom Ridge, Phil English and Congresswoman Dahlkemper have all done what they thought was in the best interest of this district. There is something to learn from each of them. I’d particularly like to thank Congresswoman Dahlkemper for her service the past two years.

Of course, it's good to be magnanimous and gracious in victory, but this is glorious gushing over the reason why PA-3 is in sad, sorry shape. Enormous respect? Something to learn from them? Ugh. How can anyone respect the sheer damage that Dahlkemper did to the region? And what about English? His RINO, self-serving behavior paved the way for Dahlkemper. And Ridge, especially as governor, was quite liberal and did enormous damage to the state.

But, hey...Mike Kelly has enormous respect for them!

Do you hear that sound? It's a big, fat "I told you so" coming...

Grove City BiLo Grocery Store Closing?

2010-11-04T07:42:00.006-04:00

UPDATE from 11/16. Click here.

Here is the latest news (11/9/10): Click Here

Yes, the rumors are true...mostly.

There is sad news in town that BiLo is closing. BiLo is the only grocery store in Grove City borough. They've been around for a very long time. Lots of good stuff there, but still has a small-store feel. They deliver food to shut-ins all over the community.

BiLo has signs in their windows stating that they are open "Wed-Fri: 8-6." This, of course, implies they are closing Friday evening. However, a BiLo manager has told me that they are posting hours for employees through next week. The situation remains fluid, of course, so stay tuned.

Please keep in mind the 29 employees who face a very uncertain future. They were informed of the situation on Tuesday.

There is another semi-local company that is interested in buying out the Knouse family. This company has multiple stores in the area. Let's hope that the deal works out. It would be a shame to see so many people lose their jobs and to not have a grocery store in the borough.

Why Dahlkemper Lost

2010-11-03T09:04:00.004-04:00

First of all, she shouldn't have won two years ago. The truth is that Phil English lost because he was a pork-loving, Washington establishment liar. He was the worst campaigner, focusing on trashing everyone. Finally, he burnt too many bridges. Kathy Dahlkemper simply had to smile and say conservative things. Boom. Victory.

Fast forward to 2010 and the region stood back and watched her self-destruct. We told her with a resounding "NO" that we didn't want government healthcare. She claimed she was pro-life and that she wouldn't vote for healthcare that funded abortion.

Then she voted for it. And we were watching. As usual, we needed to go to other sources for information. Heck, as recently as last week, the local media was lamenting that people didn't know anything about Mike Kelly and were simply voting against Dahlkemper. Well, duh!

As I have said before, either Dahlkemper is a horrible liar or has no idea about the function of politics. It is totally proven that Obamacare funds abortion. And Dahlkemper denies it! Now I've come to the conclusion that she's a horrible liar or totally delusional.

We all came to that conclusion. We don't like liars. And when caught, we hate when liars keep lying and scolding us for noticing the lies.

Goodbye, Kathy. Enjoy retirement. Good luck trying to run your small business in the America that you, Pelosi, Reid, and Obama have created.

Hey, Mike Kelly: We're watching you, too...

We'll see.

2010 Election Results Coming In...

2010-11-02T22:15:00.004-04:00

Fox News has called the governor's race for Corbett and the PA-3 race for Kelly.

Fox has called the US Senate race for Toomey.

Bob Robbins slaughters Roberta Biros.

Mercer County, Pennsylvania Election Results: 2010 General Election

2010-11-01T09:01:00.002-04:00

As always, here are the places to get your election results for Mercer County and Pennsylvania. Enjoy!

Mercer County election results by race

Mercer County election results by precinct

Pennsylvania election results

Feel free to pass this page to your friends!

That’s Rich Conservative Voter’s Guide – 2010 General Election Edition

2010-10-28T22:16:00.002-04:00

It’s that time again! The silly season is upon us and it’s important to exercise our civic duty and vote. We’ve seen and heard all of the crazy campaign propaganda and it’s time to make some choices. As always, feel free to disagree. I’m not your father…do your own research and make an informed decision. So let’s dig in, shall we?

US Senator from PA: Sestak vs. Toomey

Joe Sestak (D) is further to the left than Nancy Pelosi. Seriously. Do I need to say more? He’s pro-bailout, pro-stimulus, pro-government healthcare. He was involved in that scandal about Obama buying him out of the primary against Specter. Bill Clinton came to the rescue and the media ignored the story. Sestak is everything that's wrong with politics, unless you're from Chicago.

Pat Toomey (R) is the new darling of the PAGOP establishment…because there is no one else. In 2004, he was the conservative powerhouse that almost defeated Specter. The GOP establishment (including Bush and Santorum) rode in and save Specter and threw the conservatives under the bus (one major reason why Santorum is unemployed). Toomey’s response? Move to the center for 2010! Ugh. He endorsed Sotamayor to the Supreme Court. He has waffled on the pro-life issue. He is fiscally conservative, but he’s definitely not the guy from 2004. I was proud to vote for that guy. The “new” Toomey? Not so much…

Lesser of two evils: Toomey isn’t great, but he’s absolutely far better than Sestak. If this was 2004, I’d be ticked at Toomey. But this is 2010 and we need to wrestle back the US Senate. Toomey isn’t really “evil” but he’s the lesser of two evils in this race.

PA-3 US Congress: Dahlkemper vs. Kelly

Kathy Dahlkemper (D) ousted Phil English by claiming to be a conservative Democrat. She’s either not smart enough to know what it means to be a conservative Democrat or she was flat-out lying. She votes with Nancy Pelosi nearly all of the time. That makes her appear to be a socialist. Then she voted for government healthcare. That makes her a socialist. She sold out her pro-life claims and publicly funded abortions, even though she still thinks she hasn’t (although it is easily provable that she has). She thinks tax dollars belongs to the government, not the people – her latest desperation ad lays that out.

Mike Kelly (R) is the establishment wannabe in this year’s election. He tells one crowd that he’s a conservative and another that he has a moderate platform. He has donated money AGAINST conservative candidates. He has no political instincts, so he surrounded himself with the worst political hacks money can buy, including RINO hit-squad flackies from the English, Ridge, and Specter campaigns. He ran a muckraking primary campaign and 72% of the voters opposed him. He compared himself to Reagan, Bush, AND McCain…if that’s even possible. He’s up big in the polls so he doesn’t have to repeat his mistakes. He just has to keep his temper to himself and keep his mouth shut and he wins by ten points.

Suggestion: Write-in your favorite from the primary. At least you can say you voted for a conservative and kept your principles.

PA Governor: Onorato vs. Corbett

Dan Onorato (D) is Ed Rendell II. Yeah, it’s that simple. Dan is known for being a shoe-shine boy for the unions and there isn’t a tax that Dan won’t hike. He’s liberal to the core and he’ll forever be known for his “tunnel to nowhere” that was supposed to connect downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore. Surprise! It’s way over budget. Shocking. Dan is anti-gun, too. He just said he’d oppose “castle doctrine” which means he’s opposed to you protecting yourself. Cornered in an alley? Don’t ask Dan for help…

Tom Corbett (R) is Tom Ridge II. Yeah, it’s that simple. There’s no one in all of Pennsylvania that is more “establishment politician” than Corbett. He is fully in the pocket of Rob Gleason and the corrupt PAGOP. You don’t want to get in between Tom and a camera. He’s always running in front of the cameras for some pet project or high-profile bust. He’s been campaigning for governor for years. He has done a lot to get handgun carry reciprocity set up between many states, but he has sat back and watched many municipalities pass illegal gun laws. Sure, he can’t stop them, but he wasn’t rushing in front of the camera to use his bully pulpit to point out the abuse of the PA Constitution. He has also slept as the PA State Police built an illegal handgun database. On top of all of that mess, he has subpoenaed bloggers who dared criticize him. Nice. Who needs that pesky First Amendment, anyway?

Lesser of two evils: Plug your nose, grab the barf bag, and consider voting for Corbett. We can’t survive eight more years of Rendell. If you can’t do it (believe me, it’s hard), write in Sam Rohrer. Corbett is up big and probably will win without you, but you can send a message.

PA-8 PA House: Stevenson

Dick Stevenson (R) is running unopposed yet again – and for good reason: he’s a great conservative legislator. He’s the guy we love to see in office. He drives to Harrisburg, casts his vote, and gets the heck out of town. Heck, he even mows his own yard. I should know – he’s my neighbor, which makes him my legislator AND my constituent at the same time. Weird. He’s not without fault – his Liberty Index score took a big dive this year. But that’s simply a fluke, as he’s always near the top every year. Count on it going back up in 2011. If it stays down, then the red flags start flying…

Suggestion: Stevenson

PA-50 State Senate: Robbins vs. Robbins vs. Biros

Bob Robbins (R) has one of the worst records of all Republicans when it comes to preserving liberty. His Liberty Index score is continually in the lowest bracket. His latest grade is an F-minus. How’s that possible? You’d have to ask Robbins. Sure, he’s pro-life and pro-veteran, but every Republican SHOULD be. Robbins also was part of that infamous midnight pay raise…the “payjacking of 2005.” Add in the abuse of perks and it’s time for Robbins to go. On top of that…

Bob Robbins (D) has severe lust-of-power issues. He simply doesn’t want to run honestly, so he worked with the local Democrat party to ensure a spot on both sides of the ballot. Classy. Aren’t you hard-working Dems tired of business-as-usual yet? Robbins votes like a typical Reagan Democrat, so maybe he is your guy after all.

Roberta Biros (I) is an odd bird. She didn’t like being a Republican, so she became a Democrat. She got trounced while running for county treasurer and it was obvious that both parties conspired against her, so she became an independent. To each, their own...but she’s not without substantive issues, either. I caught her flat-out lying to my face and she was classy enough to trash me (and my writing) on her blog – but at least she lied to my face BEFORE being elected and stabbed me in the front instead of the back, right? (No, I’m not getting into the background issues now.) She is good at research, but has terrible political instincts (as far as I know, she still thinks that the Mike Kelly “tea party” was real). But, hey, aside from that trainwreck, she’s still a fiscal conservative, which is light years beyond Robbins. And if she embarrasses us, we can oust her next time around pretty easily.

Lesser of two (three?) evils: Consider voting for Biros. Robbins simply has to go. His abuse of his position and lust for power are disgusting and should make every Republican and Democrat furious. Surely he has some children or grandchildren that he can visit.

Vote early and vote often…just like the Democrats! (yes, I'm joking)

PA-3: Dahlkemper Down in Polls, Produces Desperation Ads

2010-10-25T20:25:00.002-04:00

Egads. Either Dahlkemper is a terrible liar in her ads or she's a terrible liar about being a conservative Democrat.

I just saw an ad that said Mike Kelly's desire to extend the Bush Tax Cuts would cost middle-class taxpayers something like $750 million. Or was it billion? I can't recall...but the point is that Kathy is either lying or she's a full-blown socialist.

Tax money belongs to the TAX PAYER, Kathy! It doesn't belong to the government! If you return money to the tax payer, the tax payer wins. Tax cuts do not cost anything.

Learn some history. Tax cuts have ALWAYS resulted in greater income to the Treasury. That's why the GOP lost Congress. They took that money and spent it, so the voters turned them out. Of course, the the Dems spent that money and a ton more, driving the country way into debt.

And that is Dahlkemper's legacy.

PA-50: Bob Robbins for Senate Endorsed by Hard-Core Leftists?

2010-10-24T22:47:00.002-04:00

Our very own liberal Republican has racked up some "impressive" sympathizers:

- SEIU
- Sierra Club
- AFL-CIO
- Planned Parenthood
- PSEA

Liberals, socialists, communists, baby killers, child indoctrinators, job killers, ecoterrorists...and they all appear to love State Senator Bob Robbins.

Ever wonder why? You better do some serious thinking before going into that voting booth.

Compliments of PA Progressive Voter's Guide.

Grove City Borough Enacts Leash Law

2010-09-24T23:13:00.002-04:00

Does your dog run free in the borough? If so, prepare for a change...Grove City Borough Council has enacted a leash law.

Frankly, there have been waaaaaay too many problems with dogs running amok, particularly at Hunter Farm Park. Too many people have the idea that just because it's an open area, they are free to let their dogs run anywhere they want, poop wherever they want, and unfortunately, bite anyone they want. On top of that, the owners have been letting their dogs block the trail and intimidate children, joggers, and cyclists.

I know, I know...not your dog.

Nonetheless, the lack of control has resulted in the new ordinance. Please leash your dog.

2010 Liberty Index Released

2010-08-28T19:40:00.003-04:00

...and it ain't pretty.

According to creator Bob Guzzardi,

The purpose of the Liberty Index is to allow the user to find out how his or her Senator and Representative voted and to give the user our evaluation of his or her performance. Because the Liberty Index advances an agenda of Limited Government and Economic Freedom, we have rated legislation whether or not it advances that goal.

So, how does it work? Basically,

The Index reviews each piece of legislation enacted into law or vetoed by Governor, going back to 2003, and gives each a ranking 0-1-2-3 - representing whether legislation advances or restrains liberty and then compiles into a score for each legislator and the Governor for each year.

As for my legislators, the House results were surprising, while the Senate results were more of the same.

After a decade of strong, conservative results, Dick Stevenson dropped to a "C" rating. This surprised me, as Rep. Stevenson is usually quite reliable. We'll see how next year turns out...

For Bob Robbins, the motto seems to be "If you aren't awful at something, TRY HARDER!" Sen. Robbins managed to drop a whopping 21 points and scored a beyond-dreadful "F-" rating. How do you score below "F"? Well, now that State Senator Bob Robbins is a Democrat, I suppose he's doing his best to fit in with the party.

Outside of my district, well, it's no shock that Daryl Metcalfe continues to be the bright spot in all of Harrisburg when it comes to defending liberty and constitutional values. The good news is that he wasn't all alone on the top of the leader board this year! Fourteen house reps received an "A" grade (A+, A, A-). These are the people who deserve your praise and support each time they are under attack by RINOs and socialists.

The complete Liberty Index can be found here.

Senator Robbins' Bold BBQ

2010-08-09T22:01:00.005-04:00

According to The Herald (Sharon, PA), State Senator Bob Robbins held a BBQ to host "the GOP headliners for the heavyweight bouts to be fought in November for governor and Congress."

How uninspiring. This GOP BBQ is SOL.

First of all, you have Robbins, the Senator Who Will Not Go Away. His disgusting lust for power drove him to be a Democrat for this election, too. He's a RINO of the highest order. Sure, he's pro-Veteran and pro-life, but he'll spend boatloads of your tax dollars on the most blatantly unconstitutional projects.

Then you have Mike Kelly, who by the way, played football at Notre Dame, "running" for the PA-3 congressional seat. I put "running" in quotes because he disappeared for several weeks after the primary. There's a rumor that he's running, but no one has seen him lately...except at GOP-controlled events where he has been demanding that people vote for him. Stay classy, Mike. And he still hasn't reached out to his primary opponents, as he claimed he was after the primary. There's still the whole "Hey, Erie...I'm a moderate!" fiasco that he can't explain away.

Of course, Tom Corbett would be in attendance. He seems to be a easy-win for the guv race, but that doesn't mean he's a great candidate. He's been asleep at the wheel as attorney general while rogue municipalities across the state willfully violate PA law by creating patchwork gun laws. He also subpoenaed bloggers who were critical of his job performance. He has ignored blatant petition fraud by Republicans (Mauree Gingrich) and fully prosecuted petition fraud by Democrats (Linda Bebko-Jones).

No word if Robbins will be hosting a BBQ for his fellow Democrats...

PA-3: Kathy Dahlkemper "Discovers" Stimulus Money

2010-08-05T08:48:00.003-04:00

For months we have heard how the stimulus money was sitting in Washington DC instead of going into projects. Anyone who has a slight bit of political intuition has known that this cash was basically a "Re-elect Democrats" war chest that was on reserve until election time.

Well, the cash is starting to flow.

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

The federal tap continues to pour money on LindenPointe with the awarding of a $100,000 grant for testing equipment in the tech center under construction there.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-3rd District, Erie, presented a ceremonial check Tuesday from the Appalachian Regional Commission, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to city officials.

Dahlkemper started this election season as one of the top three Democrats most likely to lose. Needless to say, we're going to see lots of face time (and boatloads of cash) show up in the PA-3 region in the next few months.

Don't be fooled by it.

PA-3: The GOP Tactic is Negative, Negative, Negative

2010-07-17T23:44:00.003-04:00

This is mind boggling.

There's an interesting trend going on in chat rooms, message boards, and forums. If you dare question Mike Kelly, someone magically shows up and bashes you. They don't address your comments. They don't tell you why/how you are incorrect. They don't tell you how awesome Kelly is.

They bash you. Over and over.

Sound familiar? It should. Mike Kelly ran his primary campaign in the same way. Now he has Phil English's folks behind the wheel - and the "bash" method was Phil's craft. Every time he bashed his opponent, he kept losing supporters. What a shock! How many people do you know who are attracted to negative people?

And then the Dems ran Kathy Dahlkemper and English's campaign style earned him a trip to the unemployment line.

Now we have Mike Kelly and his crew doing the exact thing. Mind boggling. Doesn't anyone study history anymore? Someone seems doomed to repeat some mistakes...

PA-3: Is the GOP Trying to Lose on Purpose?

2010-07-09T23:44:00.002-04:00

I just don't understand why the PA-3 race is being run so poorly.

Mike Kelly's website events page is blank: http://www.mikekellyforcongress.com/events/

Mike Kelly's Twitter feed is virtually dead: http://twitter.com/MikeKellyforPA3

Mike Kelly's Facebook page was virtually dead until a week ago (about when I pointed out to someone on GrassrootsPA.com that it was dead): http://www.facebook.com/MikeKellyforCongress#!/Mi...

Mike Kelly has been MIA since the primaries. It sure doesn't seem like he's working hard. And the rank-and-file GOP isn't remotely close to being unified behind him. Especially now that Kelly has hired former English/Specter/Ridge lapdog Josh Snyder as his new campaign manager. Woohoo! Bring in the RINO lovers! The last I checked, English lost to Dahlkemper...so why bring in the same "winning" team? Are they even trying to win in PA-3?

And to top it off, Kelly told his Butler supporters that he's a conservative. But he told his Erie supporters that they'd support his "moderate platform." What a shock...a lying politician. Which Mike Kelly do you believe? The guy who says he's a conservative but acts like a RINO? Or the guy who says he's a moderate and acts like a RINO?

Perhaps one reason why Kelly is behind on money is because he picked the worst campaign team that convinced him to blow $350K on negative ads? The same ads that ticked off people across the entire district? I worked the polls all day and heard scores of comments about how they "couldn't support a guy who wastes so much money" or "hassles people in their homes by burying them in ads."

A whopping 72% of PA-3 GOP voters voted against Kelly. And Kelly has claimed that he was going to reach out to the other candidates to get everyone on board. I know candidates that are still waiting for that call. Another Mike Kelly lie? It's clearly not a good way to rally the troops...and further shows how the GOP is trying to lose.

The GOP party bosses wanted their candidate...and they got him! They prefer losing with their boy instead of winning with a conservative. Their wish is about to come true.

Independence Day 2010: Some Random Thoughts

2010-07-04T23:19:00.002-04:00

After the beautiful Grove City fireworks display, I find myself thinking...

- Do the people watching fireworks displays across the country know why they are watching fireworks displays? Is it just a custom? Or are they fully aware that Independence Day is the name of the holiday, not "4th of July"? Do they look on with reverence, imagining the barrage of Fort McHenry during the war of 1812, which inspired Francis Scott Key? Do they think of the men and women who have fought and died to secure this country and its liberty?

- The left freaked out about George W. Bush supposedly eroding liberty, yet they are absolutely silent as Barack H. Obama actually does it. Are these people so bitterly partisan that they can't see the destruction of America within? Or maybe they are rooting for it. Or maybe they are secretly wishing that Clinton was back in office. At least Bill understood that the people are right most of the time. Obama simply doesn't care when it comes to his promise to transform America. The problem with the leftists and the sheep is that they never stopped to ask "Transform America into what?" Ah, Bill Clinton...where are you? Heck, even Jimmy Carter was better than what we have now. And that's terribly sad.

- When was the last time you thanked a veteran for his or her service? Patriotic holidays are nice reminders to do so, but don't forget about the hundreds of other days throughout the year! You don't need to make a big production out of it. Chances are, he/she will be humble about it, anyway. But take the time to say "thanks for serving" the next time you see a young man or woman in the uniform, or a veteran with a hat, patch, or shirt that notes his/her service.

- Finally, when I think about Independence Day, I recall history and the efforts of a handful of men crafting the Declaration of Independence - and using it as a clarion call across an ocean that tyranny is no longer accepted. As I type tonight, I also think about personal independence. It is quite necessary to have family and friends in your community, but America is great because individuals choose to step forward and do incredible things. You can't do incredible things if you are shackled by burdens, whether it be the government, poor decision making, bad finances, or the like. I've made plenty of mistakes and I use them as guideposts for what not to do. I'll continue making them, as I am human. But I encourage you to look past your mistakes, grab onto what is good instead of focusing on the negatives, and take a bold step to better your community.

Robbins' Lust for Power Costs $43,000

2010-06-26T23:15:00.002-04:00

According to The Herald (Sharon, PA), State Senator Bob Robbins plopped down $43,000 to capture the Democratic side of the ticket this fall.

Campaign filings for state Sen. Robert D. Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District, say he spent $43,146 on L.N. Consulting, Harrisburg, who Robbins said helped piece together four mailers, a “robo-call,” and yard signs that urged Democrats to write him in on their side of the ballot.

It's a mind-boggling number for a couple reasons:
- It's about half the salary of his job. Something must have told him that May was a great month to blow a lot of money because...
- He was unopposed! He had no one on the GOP or the Dem side, so for some reason, he felt the need to become an honorary Democrat.

Was he afraid of some independent challenger to come along? Was he afraid of some Democrat write-in strategy? (Keep in mind, his foolish efforts brought two Dems out of the woodwork to challenge his primary efforts.)

Now Robbins has done the incredible: he has willingly and intentionally painted himself as a selfish, power-lusting politician. Instead of cruising to yet another victory, he has made himself look like the worst sort of person - the very embodiment of why people HATE politics.

Now the table is set for an independent challenger to ride the wave of discontent against Robbins. As of right now, the only person of whom I know that is running is Roberta Biros. You may recall that she is the woman who was a Republican a couple years ago, was blown off by the Robbins-Richardson-led Mercer County GOP, switched to the Democrat side to run against Ginny Richardson, got totally trounced, then vowed to go after everyone on her blog. Well, now she's an independent and running against Robbins.

I suppose we'll see how this election shapes up this political season...

Some Quick Thoughts on the BP Oil Spill

2010-05-28T09:17:00.003-04:00

- Why is it that Obama can't bring himself to show any respect or call any attention to the rig workers who died? He mentioned them in passing and that's it.

- This nightmare spill is gushing out of control because of liberals in Congress and environmentalists. There is no sane reason that oil rigs should be pushed so far off the coast that they have to go through a mile of water before they start drilling. If they could drill closer to the shore, they'd only need to go through a few hundred feet of water. Capping this leak would have been done in the first week. Regulations to "save the environment" are killing it instead. What a surprise...

- Anyone who thinks the government should step in and take control is a fool. The government does not have the resources, ability, intellectual understanding, or motivation to stop this spill. BP has all of those. Does anyone think that BP enjoys losing millions of dollars or being the punching bag of the world? If anyone can stop the spill, it's BP.

- If you are wondering why Obama has been slow to respond, just ask yourself about the financial and political implications of the spill and response. Who received the most money from BP during the last election cycle? Barack Obama! He isn't going to beat them up too badly because he's addicted to its cash. Does talking about the oil spill help Obama further his push of communism? Heck, no! He just needs to sit back, watch BP struggle, then push for sweeping changes for oil companies. Heck, he may even go as far as Hugo Chavez and try to nationalize some or all of the oil companies. Crazy? Ask yourself who owns many of the banks and car companies...

PA-50: State Senator Bob Robbins is now a Democrat

2010-05-22T16:25:00.006-04:00

Be sure to check out the 2010 Voter's Guide! ~Rich

The lust for power has no bounds.

State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50), in an attempt to avoid any challengers, ran a write-in campaign to appear on the Democrat ticket for November's general election. He sent out a mailer encouraging the support of local Dems and even had signs made to put at polling locations.

This action enraged many local Dems and drove two to launch their own write-in campaigns. But since Robbins appeared to have the support of Mercer County Democrat Chair Robert Lark, it appears he has been successful.

This fall, voters in the 50th district will have two choices: Republican Bob Robbins and Democrat Bob Robbins. The filing deadline for independent candidates is still months away, so we'll see if anyone is able to obtain the proper amount of valid signatures.

Have you ever seen such a gross display of the lust for power? Does this man have no shame? Is he unable to stand on his record against any competitors that he has to hold both sides of the ticket to ensure his re-election?

And he spent $43,000 to do it!

Bob Robbins has to go. He is now the localized version of Arlen Specter. Actually, he's worse. At least Specter picked one side. We can only hope a competent challenger arises in time for the fall.

Finally, Mercer County GOP chair David King and Democrat chair Robert Lark should resign for this disgusting fiasco.

Ultimately - and perhaps more disgustingly - one has to wonder why an aging guy like Robbins wants to cling so bitterly to power. Some of my conservative friends and I have been speculating for months that Robbins simply isn't interested in serving out his term. He'll get re-elected then retire at some point in his term. At that point, Representative Michele Brooks will be conveniently placed in his seat. Sounds familiar? Well, that's how she got her seat when Rep. Rod Wilt abruptly retired.

What about Brooks' seat? Well, the Bob Robbins/Ginny Richardson protege Brian Shipley will be moved into the seat. Who is Shipley? Well, he was a very young Mercer County Commissioner until he used a county credit card for porn, prostitutes, and hotel rooms (and I've been told much, MUCH worse). He disappeared for quite a while and eventually turned up as a Greenville councilman. Low and behold (and with the Robbins/Richardson influence) he's now the council president! And everyone knows he'd never survive a primary for a state rep seat, let alone a general, so why not give him the power of incumbency?!?

If you aren't sick yet, you aren't paying attention...

PA-3: Mike Kelly for Congress wants to unite the GOP

2010-05-21T09:40:00.007-04:00

That's what The Herald (Sharon, PA) is claiming in a headline.

I'm not sure how he's going to do that after the sheer damage he and Paul Huber did to their own reputations. After talking with hundreds of GOP members in the last several weeks, I've decided to help out Mike Kelly. Why not? All is fair in love and politics, right?

Here are my suggestions free of charge!

- Tell the truth. Simple, right? Sadly it has eluded you. Are you a moderate, like you told the people in Erie? Or are you a conservative, like you told the people in Butler? Which is it?

- Stop all of the mud slinging. Pointing out records is one thing, but slinging mud turns off lots of voters.

- Stop the daily mailers. You want to be fiscally responsible by wasting resources? Huh? I heard TONS of people make comments like that.

- Kick the establishment to the curb. They control you, Mike. You may not want to admit it, but they own you. There are a lot more voters than there are party hacks. But you must love being coddled and wooed by the party hacks. Try to be your own man for once.

- Kick the Harrisburg and DC consultants to the curb. They love how you throw piles of cash at them...and that's the only reason why they love you. But they are killing your image. It seems obvious to everyone but you: PA-3 is NOT Harrisburg or DC.

- Figure out a better answer to the Cash for Clunkers albatross around your neck. Your lust of money has caused you to say some stupid things about this issue. Maybe you should just be honest about it and hope it goes away...

- Control your temper. You come across as an angry old man. You have been a bully and people hate bullies. I would suggest finding a way to have a servant's heart.

- Do NOT stage any more phony events. That "tea party" you staged in Butler was a sham. Just because you tricked (or bribed) a couple candidates to fall for it, doesn't mean that people bought it. I think three people total believed it was real. A simple investigation revealed it was set up for YOU. Absolutely shameful.

There you go. And it didn't cost you $20,000 in "consultant" fees. Feel free to use all of them. Or you can ignore it and keep doing what you are doing...and lose by 20 points in November. 72% of PA-3 GOP voted against you. 46% of PA-3 voted for a conservative and against establishment politics. The message boards are chattering about write-in drives. A libertarian is entering the race, which will draw conservatives. If you want to attract them to your camp, you might want to consider your options.

PA-3: Clayton Grabb Finishes Strong, Conservatives Reject GOP, Mike Kelly Problems Ahead

2010-05-19T08:51:00.009-04:00

Team Grabb Finishes Strong

What a ride! It was so much fun being part of a congressional campaign, even if we came up short. While many sit on the sidelines and complain, a few do get off their rear ends and try to make a difference. Clayton Grabb and his supporters had limited resources, but they worked to inform voters about the conservative message. Clayton finished third with no support from the party! Clayton received the most votes per dollar spent. It was an awesome achievement that shows the power of grassroots campaigning.

I met a ton of great people - from full-bore supporters to average voters who want a change in Washington and in the GOP. These folks were Clayton's family, friends, neighbors, and lots of total strangers who simply came together and rallied around the flag of conservatism. And it was truly awesome to see! I met a lot of people who are charged up and ready to get involved any way they can.

And even in defeat, they were gracious. There wasn't any wailing or gnashing of teeth. Of course they were saddened and frustrated by the loss, but that quickly turned into an attitude of "What can we do next?" These people aren't going back to the sidelines. They're anxious for the next chance to make a difference. It was a special thing to see.

GOP Party Bosses Rejoice

From the beginning, everyone knew that Mike Kelly had to be persuaded to run. But the GOP establishment finally got their man! They hired overpriced consultants to throw mud everywhere they could. The "neutral" GOP party bosses tried holding "Mike Kelly Forums" in most of the counties, but when the word got out, they were forced to bring in the other candidates. But they still endorsed Kelly during the events by many slips of the tongue.

They even staged a fake "tea party" at Kelly's dealership to make him seem conservative (yes, Kelly campaign, pretty much everyone knows you staged it). My own research was confirmed yesterday by an insider who said it was organized specifically around Kelly, and they didn't even consider inviting others until they were advised by the insider that they'd have to.

So after all the mud, after all the not-so-secret deals, after all the staged events, and after a boatload of cash changed hands, Kelly won! GOP bosses rejoice!

GOP Establishment Problem

A whopping 46% of voters voted against the two "front runners" in the race. This is because people wanted a conservative (but the votes were split), because they were sick of the negative ads, and because they didn't want to be told by the GOP establishment for whom to vote. Even worse, 72% of the voters in PA-3 didn't want what Mike Kelly had to offer. Ouch.

And the establishment didn't just sit on their hands for this election, they flat-out worked against the conservatives, as outlined above.

Now the establishment has a problem. They ticked off a lot of people. But they don't call the GOP "The Stupid Party" for nothing! Someone forgot to remind them that two years ago, we showed Phil English the door for being a party-pushed RINO hack. Now we have Phil English II. But for some twisted reason, the establishment is probably thinking that we'll fall in line and vote for PE2 just to get rid of Dahlkemper. Hey, guys...we didn't the first time!

Dahlkemper has an easy campaign ahead of her. While discussing the experiences at the polls, so many of the volunteers were commenting about how people were proclaiming that they'd vote for ANYONE but Kelly or Huber. They didn't like the message OR the messenger. And Kelly has a history of bullying people and blowing his stack. Dahlkemper simply has to push one of Kelly's many hot buttons during a debate. Dahlkemper should only pay her consultant minimum wage because beating Kelly will be so easy.

So the GOP party bosses got what they wanted. And now they get to work on repairing what they did. Don't fall for it. If Kelly is going to earn your vote, make him work for it. Make him PROVE that he's sorry for running such an awful campaign. Make him PROVE that he isn't controlled by the GOP establishment. Make him PROVE that he's going to become a conservative. Remember, this is the guy who said during an Erie interview that his "moderate platform" will attract voters. 72% of the voters weren't attracted. Egads!

As of today, the GOP in PA-3 has shown that they don't want or care about the conservative vote. They want control. Don't give it to them. Make them beg you for it.

72% of the voters can't be wrong.

PA-3: Clayton Grabb endorsed by Firearms Owners Against Crime

2010-05-17T12:39:00.002-04:00

Pennsylvania's largest pro-gun political action committee has endorsed Clayton Grabb for the PA-3 congressional race!

FOAC is absolutely committed to defending the Second Amendment, so you can be sure that the members did their homework before endorsing Clayton.

If the Second Amendment is important to you, vote Grabb!

PA-3: Clayton Grabb endorsed by Pennsylvania Republican Leadership Council

2010-05-17T12:34:00.002-04:00

The "Conservative Wing of the Republican Party" has endorsed Clayton Grabb for the PA-3 congressional primary!

Franz, Moore, Fisher, Kelly, and Huber supporters: if you are looking for a conservative voice in Congress, Grabb is your guy!

Mercer County and Pennsylvania 2010 Primary Election Results

2010-05-17T10:04:00.003-04:00

Here are the links to see the election results as they come in. As always, thanks for visiting. Enjoy!

Mercer County Results by Race

Mercer County Results by Precinct

Pennsylvania Statewide Results

PA Voter's Guide, Final Edition for Primary 2010

2010-05-17T09:53:00.005-04:00

Here's your That's Rich list of recommendations for the 2010 Primary. These are the conservative candidates to help take back America. Most of these are centered around PA-3 and Mercer County, so if you don't live in either, do some homework before voting! The important thing is to flee from anyone endorsed by the GOP party hacks. The last thing we need are more establishment RINOs that put us in such a bad mess that we got Obama. Enjoy!

Governor: Sam Rohrer
Lt. Governor: Daryl Metcalfe
PA-3 Congress: Clayton Grabb
PA-4 Congress: Keith Rothfus
US Senate: Peg Luksik
State-8 House: Dick Stevenson
State-50 Senate: Write-in
GOP State Committee: Scott Boyd ONLY
Committeeman/woman: Write-ins

Ed Franz for Congress Supporters: Gut Check Time

2010-05-17T09:27:00.007-04:00

I know lots of Franz supporters. They like Ed - and for good reason. He's a good guy with some good ideas and a passion to see things get fixed in Washington.

The political reality is that his campaign is stalling out. There is none of that magical "buzz" around PA-3 over Franz. His electronic presence was stagnant until a flurry of self-driven activity in the last couple days. I've seen Franz signs disappear from yards (not intersections), which is never a good sign. Granted, they may have been stolen, but other signs seem to be remaining in yards.

The truth be told, only one of the conservatives running has that "buzz" going into the home stretch. That would be Clayton Grabb. He has been gaining lots of supporters in person and online over the past several weeks. None of it is manufactured by the GOP party bosses, either. Clayton has been crisscrossing the district and his motivated grassroots supporters have been knocking on thousands of doors. And his positive, pro-America, pro-Constitution message has been attracting people who haven't been politically active before.

Ed Franz for Congress supporters: It really is gut check time. Do you want a conservative candidate for Pennsylvania? I know you want to support Franz, but it's time to dig down deep and accept that he's not going to win, and every vote that goes to him further enhances the chances of Kelly and Huber. And who wants that to happen?

We already know that Kelly is counting on Franz and Fisher voters to siphon away enough conservative voters from Huber to torpedo Huber and keep Grabb at bay. The Steven Fisher for Congress campaign and the Dr. Martha Moore for Congress campaign are even worse off than the Franz campaign. But every vote does count...in Kelly's favor.

Take a moment and check out Clayton Grabb. He's a conservative. You'll be impressed. You'll be proud of him. You'll be glad to support him.

And finally, Ed Franz has said on multiple occasions that if he wasn't running, he'd support Clayton.

Do you want a conservative or do you want a RINO? It's gut check time.

PA-3: Which Conservative Candidate Can Win?

2010-05-15T21:57:00.002-04:00

...and I'm not talking about Kelly or Huber. Both have proven themselves to be RINOs at best and dirty politicians at worst. Both have shown incredible weaknesses that will easily be exploited by Dahlkemper and her liberal hit squad. If either candidate wins the primary, Dahlkemper wins in the fall.

So, how should a conservative vote this Tuesday? Let's look at some political reality:

Martha Moore - Her campaign appears to be non-existent. She doesn't seem to be on message when out of her element. She has no electronic presence, which is crucial in 2010. She's a nice person, but that simply isn't enough to get out a message across a large district.

Steve Fisher - He has a campaign that is based close to home. It certainly doesn't span the district. This will simply guarantee that he won't pull enough votes. His electronic presence is absolutely minimal.

Ed Franz - One of the nicest guys out there, but again, it isn't enough. He has pockets of good campaign staff, but they simply have been underused. His electronic presence started well, but has been stalled for a long time. I don't know if he abandoned it or if his campaign stalled, too. He started out with a load of energy, but has lost his "buzz."

Clayton Grabb - He started with a small, meek campaign. He was "Clayton Who?" for quite a while. Then he showed up at the forums and people were drawn to his message. He slowly built an electronic presence then began to personally blanket the entire district holding his own town hall events. His message hasn't changed and his followers have only gotten more loyal and willing to spread the message.

Clayton Grabb is hitting his stride. The other candidates aren't. Conservatives can vote for Moore, Fisher, or Franz, but they aren't going to win. No objective, statistical breakdown will give them a chance at winning. The more conservatives that vote for them will increase the odds of Kelly or Huber winning. And what conservative wants that?

Conservatives of PA-3: Please support Grabb. His views are very similar to those of Moore, Fisher, and Franz. The big difference is that he has a strong chance of winning. He has incredible grassroots support across the entire district. He will make you proud by staying true to his roots - and he doesn't have the baggage that Huber and Kelly have.

To guarantee a conservative win, vote for Grabb.

PA-3: Why Sling Mud When You Can Sling Cow Pies?

2010-05-14T23:47:00.002-04:00

The absolute silliness of the Kelly-Huber cat...er...cowfight continues! I guess both thought they should "cowboy up" and try to out-man each other by fighting about who has spent more time with cows. Seriously.

Hat tip to PA2010.com:

“Unlike Paul, I grew up on a farm,” Kelly said during the debate at Allegheny College.

In reality, both of them grew up on farms—just different kinds of farms. But that didn’t stop each of them from taking shots at their opponent’s farming bona fides.

In Erie, Huber made sure a reporter understand that his reference at the debate to an “82-pound cow” indicated how much milk it produces, not how much it weights.

“I would wager that most of [my opponents] wouldn’t know what that remark was about unless you explained it to them,” Huber said in Erie. “I can speak the language of this district.

“Not having a farming background makes it tough to understand these issues,” Huber added. “I will bet you a dollar to the doughnut that Mike Kelly has never milked a cow.”

Asked if he has, Huber quickly responded, “You’re damn right. More than once.”

Later, while waiting for a campaign event to start in Parker, Kelly joked that Huber “can keep his dollar.”

“We didn’t have dairy cattle,” Kelly said. “We had beef cattle. You don’t want to milk them. He can keep the money, I don’t want him to milk the bull.

“I’m not as stupid as he thinks,” Kelly added. “I’ll bet dollars to the doughnut that only one of us will come out if we go behind the barn. He likes people to believe that he’s a little farm boy, and he’s not a little farm boy.”

So, a comment in a debate has turned into an invitation for a fistfight. Classy. Do either of these men deserve your vote? Seriously, at what point do Kelly and Huber supporters say, "You know, these guys are acting so poorly that Dahlkemper is going to tear up either one. Maybe it's time to find someone with some humility, civility, and a positive message."

At this point, both Kelly and Huber should forget about cows...they both look like a pair of horses' rear ends.

PA-3: Mike Kelly is Now a Moderate?

2010-05-12T23:01:00.002-04:00

Mike Kelly has spent a few hundred thousand dollars telling the voters of PA-3 how he's a conservative...but he just told the fine folks of Erie, PA that he's a moderate!

Hat tip to YourErie.com:

"Kelly admits running in a field of six has its drawbacks, but says in the end his moderate platform and business experience are a winning combination for the third district."

So...in Butler he's a conservative, but in Erie he's a moderate. Now we know why the GOP bosses love him so much and privately endorse him.

"Great" moderates such as Phil "RINO" English and Tom "Color Code" Ridge hail from the north. So, if you want a moderate, vote Kelly! If you want a candidate who tells one group one thing and tells another group another thing, vote Kelly! If you want a Republican just like those who screwed up the government so badly that Obama was able to cruise into office, vote Kelly!

Kelly = RINO. Right from the mouth of Kelly. The irony is that it was English's RINO actions that cost him his seat. Apparently, Kelly think that he can make it work. As a conservative and principled Republican, I couldn't vote for English. This should be interesting.

PA-3: Clayton Grabb Meet-and-Greet in Grove City on May 11

2010-05-07T20:29:00.003-04:00

Republican candidate Clayton Grabb will make a campaign stop in Grove City on Tuesday, May 11 from 7pm-9pm. The event will be at the Grove City Borough Building, 123 W. Main St.

Bring your questions, bring your comments, bring your neighbors and friends!

This is a great opportunity to meet a great candidate (supported by yours truly) and get to know where he stands on the issues of the day.

Quick notes about Clayton:
- Constitutional conservative
- Christian family man
- The only veteran (Navy) in the race...and the best flattop in the race!
- Not a "chosen party man"...he's American first, conservative second, Republican third

Appeal Rejected: Wife Killer Scott Dunn Continues to Rot in Jail

2010-05-06T23:01:00.002-04:00

Scott Dunn - best known to the Grove City community as the low-life drug addict who brutally murdered his wife and burned the house down - was told to pound salt by the PA Supreme Court.

Dunn actually appealed his "sweetheart deal" of a 24-year sentence. From The Herald (Sharon, PA):

Misko also claimed Dobson focused too much on the beating and fire, and not enough on Dunn’s character, criminal history, rehabilitation needs and his plea, which relieved the district attorney’s office and Ms. Dunn’s family from having to go through a trial.

Egads! The judge focused on the malicious action of a psychopath and not on his poor rehab needs. As far as his character? Dunn is lucky that Dobson didn't tack on an extra 10 years for his character. Of course, the worst part of this whole appeal is that the Montgomery family will never get to see Brandi again.

Here's more from the story:

GROVE CITY — Some 1 1/2 years after Scott A. Dunn asked the state Supreme Court to hear an appeal of his sentence, the court on Wednesday said no.

The court’s consideration of the request was put on hold for about six months as it considered an issue in another case that mirrored part of Dunn’s appeal.

Dunn, 31, who is being held in Huntingdon, pleaded guilty to charges that he beat his wife, Brandon C. “Brandi” Montgomery Dunn, to death on Jan. 14, 2006, in her parents’ Grove City home, and torched it to try to cover up the death.

The Supreme Court decision lets stand a Sept. 2, 2008, Superior Court ruling that backed the sentence handed down by Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas R. Dobson.

Dobson sentenced Dunn to 24 years, 4 months, to 52 years in prison on charges of voluntary manslaughter, abuse of a corpse and two counts of arson.

In Dunn’s appeal, Stephen M. Misko of Butler said Dobson incorrectly exceeded sentencing guidelines on one of the arson charges and should have merged the arson charges — one dealing with endangering firefighters and one dealing with property — into a single count for sentencing.

DEP shelves Tri-County Industries' Trash Mountain

2010-05-06T21:56:00.002-04:00

It seems that the blind squirrels at the DEP can find a nut now and then...

Here's some great news from the DEP Newsroom:

Local Zoning Issue Leads DEP to Suspend Review of Mercer County Landfill Permit Applications

MEADVILLE -- The Department of Environmental Protection has suspended its review of Tri-County Landfill’s air plan and industrial wastewater discharge permit applications until disagreements over a local zoning issue in Pine Township, Mercer County, are resolved.

The issue specifically relates to the company’s planned municipal waste landfill in Pine and Liberty townships.

Pine Township first called on Tri-County Landfill LLC to apply for a local zoning variance in 2004, but did not have the required comprehensive plan in place that would allow DEP to consider the land use issue. In 2005, Pine Township and Mercer County enacted comprehensive land use plans that the township is now using as the basis for its position.

When Tri-County notified Pine Township in 2009 that it had submitted the air plan and industrial wastewater discharge permit applications, the township again brought to the attention of DEP the unresolved zoning conflict.

“It’s DEP’s policy to always attempt to honor local government’s control over land use, so we are suspending our reviews of these permit applications,” DEP Regional Director Kelly Burch said. “We will not resume our review of these applications until the conflict is resolved.”

Both outstanding permit applications pertain to by-products produced when landfill waste decomposes; the air plan relates to a system for managing methane gas and the discharge permit would apply to the waste liquid, or leachate.

DEP received a solid waste permit application pertaining to the new proposed landfill on Aug. 23, 2004. It initially denied the application after completing the environmental assessment, or benefits/harms analysis, because of bird strike issues.

Tri-County appealed that denial and subsequently provided supplemental information that led DEP to reverse its decision in 2008, approve the environmental assessment and move on to the technical review, or second phase of the permit review process.

DEP has finished its review of the solid waste permit application for the landfill, but has not yet made a decision. That decision will not be made until the department completes its review of the other permit applications.

This is super news for the Grove City area! But as a reminder: be vigilant! TCI will stop at nothing to build the Trash Mountain. Stay sharp and keep up the good fight!

PA-3: Why I Support Clayton Grabb

2010-05-04T22:55:00.003-04:00

First, let me say that I'm not pretentious enough to think that my opinion is a game changer. It's just my opinion and you're always welcome to agree or disagree. God bless America! Anyway, I'm just a blogger, though I have been for years. I've also been a local politician for a little over four years. I say this because I have talked the talk and I have walked the walk.

After talking with the candidates and reading news accounts of their words and actions, it's time to pick a horse.

I'm endorsing Clayton Grabb for congress.

Each candidate is talking about important issues like jobs, healthcare, trade, and national security. These are issues that are critical to the future of our country.

But all of those issues take a back seat to the Constitution. And that tremendous document is taking quite a beating lately.

We need someone who is passionate about the Constitution and understands how it guides the issues of the day. It is obvious that Clayton Grabb has a passion for the Constitution and is quick to discuss it at any chance. Perhaps it is a love of country that is based from his service in the Navy. He took an oath to uphold and defend the Country and Constitution. He still cherishes that oath and takes it seriously.

You see, the Constitution is the key founding document to laying out how our country operates. Everything stems from the Constitution. Taxation, infrastructure, defense...when someone is guided by the Constitution, you can trust that he will work to uphold it. When someone swears to defend it, and actually puts his life on the line, you can trust that he will work to defend it. All of it. He won't just pick and choose parts to defend.

Speaking of defense, Clayton Grabb fully understands the ways and means necessary to defend our country. He served in the Navy. He has an incredible love of the troops that only a person who served can understand. I've tried to understand it, but I can tell that I'm an outsider in that world. Our great military folks simply have a connection that I'll never be able to capture. And this righteous connection is something that Clayton Grabb cherishes. He won't deploy on a whim. And he won't leave our troops out to dry, either.

Clayton Grabb has worked in PA-3 for many years as a sales representative. He understands the district, as well as the ups and downs of the economy and how it affects businesses, large and small. He has seen the crushing effect of taxation and regulation. He has seen businesses shrink and close. He has seen people lose jobs. He wants to reverse the assault on business.

Clayton Grabb is a Christian family man, too. Now, this isn't to say that he'll be doing healing services on the floor of Congress. Well - except for healing the Constitution! I'm pointing out this because although he may have a strong grounding in the Constitution, he's grounded in something bigger: a faith in God and love of family. This faith will keep him grounded in a very ugly swamp called Washington, DC. And this love will keep him grounded in the real world. Clayton Grabb is pro-life.

Clayton Grabb is also in favor of term limits. He has declared that he will only serve four terms (eight years). He's on record with this commitment. He's also on record saying that when his time is up, he will be fine with it. He doesn't want to be a career politician. Heck, he doesn't want to be a politician. He wants to be a citizen-legislator: get elected, follow the Constitution, improve the country, go home to the family.

Finally, Clayton Grabb is an American first. He's a conservative second. He's a Republican third. This isn't to say that being a Republican isn't important to him: he's a lifelong Republican. He's just not a party hack. He's not a slave to the party. He's a servant to the country. The GOP has lost its way over the last sixteen years. It has been following the lead of the Democrats: spend, spend, spend. Congress and the presidency belong to the Dems because of liberal and RINO GOPers. And now the same GOP members want to go back in to "save" the country. No thanks!

It's time for a change. It's time for conservative Americans to take the lead. It's time for citizen-legislators to step up to the plate. It's time for folks like Clayton Grabb.

Please vote for Clayton Grabb on May 18!

PA-3: Political Blunder Moves Butler Candidate Event

2010-04-30T21:51:00.003-04:00

The Freedom Patriots wanted to have a TEA Party and Mike Kelly knew the best location: his dealership. He offered the location then proceeded to set the terms for the PA-3 candidates. Each was able to give a timed speech. The order was to be determined by drawing names. The catch? Kelly would go last, regardless. Yeah, that's transparent.

Frankly, whether Kelly wanted to be magnanimous or not, any political newbie can recognize that having a "neutral" political rally at your business just smacks of hypocrisy.

Besides, a TEA Party rally at a corporate location? At a place that exemplifies government run amok? At a place that participated in Cash for Clunkers? Really?

Kelly should fire his consultant. Now. What a huge blunder. And now it has blown up in his face. It turns out that the other candidates have formally bailed on Kelly's party and set up a truly neutral location.

Here's the event info and letter from the candidates:

We the undersigned candidates for the May 18 Republican Primary for US Congress PA-3rd District have elected to rescind our invitations to the Tea Party proposed by Freedom Patriots to be held at 252 Pittsburgh Road Butler, PA on Sunday, May 2nd.
After much deliberation and mutual agreement, we feel that the location of the venue offered as courtesy by Candidate Mike Kelly to the Tea Party organizers presents a non-neutral setting for the other candidates to present themselves and their positions in an open forum.

The property for the venue is part of Mr. Kelly’s business we have come to understand, and in light of this fact we have mutually proposed an alternate setting for an open candidate forum.

The event will be held from 2 PM to 5 PM on the same day at a location convenient to attendees from the original event and others to come hear the candidates speak. The location also provides under cover shelter should the forecast for rain that day hold. This will be a no frills event strictly to inform voters, and Mr. Kelly is more than welcome to join this event and speak with his fellow candidates at a neutral setting.

We extend our sincerest apologies to Freedom Patriots for any inconvenience, and hope that they recognize the need for fair and open debate in all aspects of this very critical election cycle for voters.

The location of the PA-3rd Congressional District Republican Candidate Forum will be at:

Odd Fellows Gazebo
Alameda Park
Butler County Parks and Recreation
184 Alameda Road
Butler, PA 16001

With Kind Regards,
(in alphabetical order)

Steven Fisher
Ed Franz
Clayton Grabb
Paul Huber
Martha Moore

PA-3: Mercer County GOP Chair "Helps" Kelly

2010-04-30T21:12:00.004-04:00

Keep in mind that the Mercer County GOP has claimed that they are neutral during the primary...

The latest "meet the candidates" function was held at the Hempfield Township Fire Department. (Here's a writeup from The Herald.) Each candidate had a chance to speak for a handful of minutes. Paul Huber did his part, referring to the people in the district as his team. He called the people in the audience his team. It was a great way to call people to action and make them feel involved.

At the end of the final speech, Mercer County GOP chairman David King stood up and asked the audience for a round of applause for the candidates. As people applauded, King leaned into the microphone, looked over at the candidates, and said "This is your team, Mike!" King quickly corrected himself by referring to the audience as the team for all of the candidates.

But the cat was out of the bag. The horse was out of the barn. The shoe was firmly in his mouth.

You may recall when I reported how King called Kelly "our candidate"...

At some point, you would think the Mercer County GOP would be honest and admit that they are backing Kelly. It's time to stop pretending that they are neutral. No one - I repeat, NO ONE - believes it. It's time to stop misleading the voters. If they can't be honest, King MUST resign.

PA-3: Is Kelly Using Blog Stalkers From Washington DC?

2010-04-28T23:23:00.006-04:00

Interesting.

A gentleman named "Peter" started leaving comment after comment in my 2010 PA-3 Voter's Guide. He picked out a snippet about Kelly's donations to oust conservatives and insisted on harping on about it. After one reply, no big deal. Two replies? No problem. The third reply that includes insults? Hmmmm.

Thanks tracking software!

It turns out "Peter" is from Washington, DC. Here's his information for you tech gurus and political junkies that love this stuff:

Now, I don't know that he's a paid Kelly staffer. But it is odd that someone from DC would be going gonzo over such a small blog like mine.

And I thought only Dahlkemper had a Washington, DC hit squad. Who knew?!?

EDIT: I've been told that Kelly has a son in DC.

That's Rich PA-3 Voter's Guide: Candidate Summary

2010-04-27T22:09:00.008-04:00

Okay - it's time to analyze of the candidates of the 2010 PA-3 race. This is a totally subjective summary based upon my observations and interviews of the candidates. If you agree or disagree, that's absolutely fine with me. Ultimately, I'm not going to tell you for whom you should vote (although an endorsement is forthcoming). I want you to make your own decision. That said, here's my PA-3 voter's guide with the candidates listed in alphabetical order...

Steven Fisher
Where: I met Fisher at the Grove City Trade Show.

Pros: Fisher seems like a really nice guy. A smart guy. He comes off as a business professional/policy wonk who can get into the underbelly of Washington and make things happen. He doesn't just know buzzwords...you get the idea that he knows the background. He's also personable and can talk to you about the "joys" of being a homeowner as easily as healthcare policy.

Cons: Fisher didn't come across as a type-A people person. He seemed more like the quiet type. Once you start talking to him, he'll get going...but you gotta get him going. There's nothing inherently wrong with "the strong, silent type," but it's almost required to have at least a little "killer instinct" when you head into modern Washington.

Ed Franz
Where: I met Franz at the Grove City Trade Show. I've also been to his HQ in Mercer.

Pros: If you want a blue-collar everyman, Franz is your guy. Sick of slick, professional politicians? Franz is your guy. Need someone to cut your taxes and your firewood? Franz is your guy. He's very friendly, yet very concerned about the direction of the state and country. He has seen 2000 fellow GE employees get the ax while Dahlkemper has fooled around with socialized medicine. Franz gets it. He's unashamed about being conservative.

Cons: He's not polished, which may concern some voters. The blue-blood, country club types won't understand him (this is an obvious plus to many others, though).

Clayton Grabb
Where: Grabb was the first to contact me for a sit-down chat. I also talked with him at a Grabb event in Butler.

Pros: If you're absolutely sick about the trashing of the Constitution, then Grabb is your guy. He has an absolute passion and fire for the Constitution and can speak readily about the need to cherish it. He's far more concerned with the Constitution than the party label. He's also smart about the real world. He spends the day traveling as a pharma representative. He's good with people. He's also the only one that proudly embraces the Tea Party platform. On top of it all, he's a Navy vet, so you can believe he cares deeply about the oath of office. If you want a candidate who is American first and Republican second, you'll love Grabb.

Cons: He is running a totally grassroots campaign. This can really be difficult in modern campaign. He's also despised by the establishment Republicans because of his deep conservative roots and desire to follow Constitution over party. Mercer County GOP chair David King has snubbed Grabb at least four times now (King should resign immediately). If you want a candidate who is Republican first and American second, you'll hate Grabb.

Paul Huber
Where: Huber was the second candidate to seek me out for a chat.

Pros: Huber knows business. He had a successful business before selling it to retire. He sees everything in the scope of business. In this era of skyrocketing debt, we really need more businessmen and far less lawyers. It's not just the bottom line for Huber, either. He really understands trade issues and policies that clog DC. Owning a business will do that. The more successful you are, the more the government comes calling. Huber knows how painful that is and how to fix it.

Cons: Huber has a terrible albatross around his neck. He was a Democrat until last year. He became a Dem during JFK and never changed. He has financially supported Republicans throughout his life, but I still would have changed...especially in 1980, 1992, 1994, or 1998. At what point are you outraged enough to change?

Mike Kelly
Where: I met Kelly at his kick-off event in Grove City.

Pros: Kelly is a likable guy. I'd watch a football game with him. Heck, I might even buy a car off him (and I hate car dealers). He has some background in local government, so he's not going in totally green. He's extremely personable and is a smooth talker (in a good way). He can speak off the cuff and stays on message. He's passionate about reversing the downward direction of the country.

Cons: His passion makes him come across as angry. Many people have noticed this. And when he gets angry, he doesn't control it well. He's also the clear insider favorite. Perhaps the GOP bosses see his money and realize he's "their boy." The biggest problem is his past political donations. He's plopped some big money down to help liberals. Really. One was for an opponent of English (when Phil was a conservative) and another big chunk went to an opponent of Rep. Metcalfe (the most conservative guy in Harrisburg). That's scary. Finally, when I asked Kelly which modern politician he most matches, he paused. I offered the options of Reagan, Bush, and McCain. He chose "a little of all three." Would any conservative claim to have ANY McCain in him?

Martha Moore
Where: I have yet to talk with or meet Dr. Moore. I'm still hoping to meet her and amend this as necessary.

Pros: Healthcare. It's her issue. Our country is going to sink under socialized medicine. We can only hope it is repealed, then have folks like Moore to step in and point out where the government is crushing the US system. She's just a citizen who wants to make a difference. Kudos to her. We definitely need more citizens to say (as Moore says) "enough is enough."

Cons: She's got nearly no name recognition, which is terribly hard to overcome.

PA-3: Kelly's Anti-Conservative Donations Come Calling

2010-04-13T08:32:00.002-04:00

This is big news for PA-3. I mean really big.

Hat tip to PA2010.com.

George "Mike" Kelly has a history of giving money to the opponents of conservatives. In 1994, Kelly maxed out his donations ($2000) to Phil English's opponent, Bill Leavens. Now, I know what you're thinking: "But Rich...but Rich...Phil isn't a conservative!" Yes, that's true in 2010, but it wasn't in 1994 when Phil was running on Newt Gingrich's Contract For America. The Republican Revolution was about to sweep the Democrats out of power - and Mike Kelly was funding the Democrat.

PA2010 also reports that Kelly gave $1000 to an opponent (Linda Schoettker) of state representative Daryl Metcalfe, who is consistently rated the most conservative member in Harrisburg. This happened in 2002. Ouch.

Personally, I don't care where Kelly spreads his wealth. It's his cash. And I certainly don't care about party affiliation because the GOP has been miserable for about 15 years.

The big issue for me is that either Kelly doesn't like conservatives, or he's good buddies with these two folks and wanted to share some cash with them (so they could defeat conservatives). If Kelly is targeting conservatives, then Kelly needs to be targeted for defeat this primary.

PA-3: Dahlkemper's Rude Awakening (aka Kathy in Dreamland)

2010-04-07T17:52:00.003-04:00

Someone has a hero complex...

It seems that Rep. Dahlkemper thinks that so many people are thrilled about healthcare that she's going to use it as her campaign platform for the 2010 election. Seriously.

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

The advanced government class of seniors — dressed in formal suits and nice dresses for the occasion — picked Mrs. Dahlkemper’s brain mostly on political rather than policy questions. Their coursework this year has included a study of Mrs. Dahlkemper’s policy positions and the health care reform legislation, teacher Merrilynn Giles said.

In response to one of those questions, Mrs. Dahlkemper told the class that she plans to campaign this year on her health care vote.

Wow. Have at it!

To what does she owe this new-found optimism?

Since health care reform passed, she said four out of five calls to her office have been positive. People have wept, Mrs. Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District, said.
Mrs. Dahlkemper characterized opposition to the health care law as loud and boisterous, and said the media’s love for conflict made those who oppose the law appear more numerous than supporters.

And it gets better:

Faced with an admittedly imperfect reform package, Mrs. Dahlkemper said her choice consisted of what they had on the table or nothing at all.

“Nothing was not an option. The bill isn’t perfect, but it’s better than doing nothing.”

Hopefully, she added, lawmakers will have time to change it later.

Keep in mind that this is the same woman who thinks that an executive order carries the same weight as law. And she thinks that Congress will only improve the Obamacare bill? Frightening.

And of course, the final straw:

Some students wanted to know how well Congress responds to the people. Mrs. Dahlkemper said it’s very important that representatives know their districts, and that they represent their constituents and not just the portrait of them the media might paint.

Her district, she said, is very “purple,” containing both conservatives and liberals. She praised that mix and embraced the moderate Democrat label.

It's amazing that the media still continues with this nonsense. Shame on The Herald. How can you vote for one of the largest expansions of government in US history and still claim you are a moderate? How can you vote with Obama on massive debt and still claim you are a moderate? What in the world has this woman done to show she's remotely moderate?

Either The Herald ran out of ink or they simply weren't inquisitive enough to ask. (There's your difference between a "reporter" and an "investigative journalist.")

Wendell August Forge Prepares for April 5 Showroom Opening, Production Continues

2010-04-02T20:29:00.008-04:00

Wendell August Forge will be opening its temporary showroom on Monday, April 5 at 1605 South Center Street, Grove City, PA. Shoppers will recognize the building as the home of Dave and Anne Dayton's Slovak Folk Crafts. The Daytons have worked with WAF to create temporary sales space in the front of the building, while Slovak Folk Crafts occupies the rear.

Despite the fire, there are plenty of hand-hammered pieces to make the visit worthwhile. The Forge craftsmen are working to replenish the vast quantity of inventory that was destroyed by the fire. There will also be a special side room to display the craftsmanship and history of the forge, including a section dedicated to the fire.

The Forge will have a grand opening celebration of the showroom on May 1.

In other news...

The production facilities are now humming along and the office space is painted and fully furnished.

And the Pittsburgh Penguins' commemorative ticket production is well underway. This ticket celebrates the final home game at Mellon Arena. Every fan in attendance will receive a hand-hammered aluminum ticket. Here's a table with several hundred of the 20,000-ticket order:

And here's the ticket box, which includes a promotional piece that details how ticket holders can get theirs custom engraved with their own seat number:

PA-3: GCC Forum Coverage

2010-03-26T14:33:00.002-04:00

Sadly, I missed the event - grad school called and I had to answer.

Here is some of the coverage via The Herald (Sharon, PA):

The candidates united in attacking Congress as out-of-control, promising to rein in spending and the scope of the federal government. They each knocked the health care reform law passed and signed this week and called for its repeal.

On the health care question, most candidates pushed for reforms espoused by the GOP, such as tort reform, letting customers buy insurance across state lines, and using tax-free health savings accounts.

Mike Kelly, 61, a Butler car dealership owner, billed himself as the “strong stomached” candidate and said someone has to stand up to people with no entitlement to health care and tell them that there just isn’t money for it.

He billed himself as the non-politician who can stick to his guns in Washington, D.C., and blamed the problems of Congress on politicians that have been sent there.

Dr. Martha Moore, 52, a Sandy Lake family practitioner, said health care costs would only go down with a “true free market,” where the government doesn’t prop things up.

Dr. Moore, who spoke a bit nervously, also said she believes in citizen politicians and term limits, pledging to limit herself to three.

Paul Huber, 65, a Meadville businessman, fielded a question from Dr. Moore on term limits, and also agreed to a three-term limit. Huber, who was registered as a Democrat until last spring, also had to answer whether or not he would switch back to being a Democrat once in Washington.

Huber said he should have changed his registration long ago, and his campaign donations reflect that. “My wife of 30 years, nearly every morning told me that. I finally took her advice,” he joked.

Huber has released a detailed economic recovery plan and he talked heavily on economic issues like cutting spending and taxes. When it was his turn to ask a question of another candidate, it was a detailed grilling on how to fix the economy.

Clayton W. Grabb, 48, a Butler pharmaceutical salesman, distanced himself from the other candidates in questions about when to compromise in Washington and what programs he would cut.

Most candidates emphasized that they would never compromise their values, but Grabb came across especially bold, saying he would only compromise on “the small things.”

“My goal in D.C. is to stand firm to my principles. There’s right and wrong. If something’s wrong, then it needs to be said it’s wrong.”

Most candidates said they would try to reduce welfare or repeal health care, but Grabb was the only to name a specific agency. He said he would cut the Department of Energy for its failure to create energy independence.

Ed Franz, 48, a Conneatville hourly worker at General Electric Corp. in Erie, emphasized his common man status and conservative bona fides. He came out most aggressively against Mrs. Dahlkemper, hitting her particularly on her health care reform vote.

“I’m pro-life,” Franz said. “I’ve been involved with the pro-life community for many years,” he said, citing marches and organizations. He said Mrs. Dahlkemper campaigned as a pro-life candidate and voted for a reform bill that “would actually allow taxpayer funding of abortion.”

Mrs. Dahlkemper campaigned as a “whole life” candidate who was also opposed to the death penalty and in favor of health care reform. She said she believes President Barack Obama’s executive order will prevent federal funding for abortions.

Franz said the executive order Obama signed to win over Mrs. Dahlkemper and other pro-life Democrats’ votes could be rescinded by Obama at any time.

“We as conservatives cannot afford to send any fakes to Washington, D.C., on the pro-life issue, as Kathy Dahlkemper has proven to be.”

Steven M. Fisher, 51, Cochranton, a health insurance salesman, talked about the need to bring down health care costs. He said he’s had clients in Mercer County who have spent $1.7 million or other, six-figure, amounts on treatments, and noted that some cancer drugs cost $50,000 a month.

High health care premiums, Fisher said, mirror high costs. Fixes like reducing mandates on insurance would companies help, but he said there is no solution from government or anywhere else unless costs come down. That would take measures like wellness incentives, he said.

He said the current measure fails to bring costs down in any sense. “This wasn’t health care reform, it was health care takeover, period.”

Fisher also said he would work hard to make sure that the 3rd District is seen as a district with seven counties in it instead of just Erie.

Census Form Instructions

2010-03-23T09:22:00.003-04:00

Simple.

- Answer question one
- Stick form in envelope
- Stick envelope in mail

That's it! That's all the Constitution requires to make sure you have fair representation in Congress. The rest is none of the Fed's dang business.

PA-3: GOP Candidates to Speak at GCC Forum Thursday

2010-03-23T09:11:00.002-04:00

If you're wondering about the candidates for the PA-3 race against our "Socialist Sweetheart" Kathy Dahlkemper, you can see and hear all six at Grove City College's Hall of Arts and Letters this Thursday, March 25 at 7:00pm.

Bring an open mind and listen to all six share their visions for how to reclaim this district, this country.

The forum is free and open to the public.

Some Quick Thoughts on Socialized Healthcare

2010-03-23T09:01:00.002-04:00

I'm really sad for our country.

Not just because of the wholly unconstitutional healthcare mess, but because there are so many people who simply don't care that it's unconstitutional. Then there are a lot of people who simply don't know that it's unconstitutional. And they have no understanding of history and what happens in socialized countries. Instead, they spew vile statements against insurance companies and business leaders.

The largest insurer in the US? The government. The largest rejector of claims? The government. The largest bureaucratic money waster? The government. And that doesn't even bring in the government's involvement in other areas of life. Unequal and evil-natured, indeed. Insurance companies are much more compassionate and forgiving than the government has proven to be. And they make a meager 2-3% profit doing it.

Now I'm going to be forced to pay for someone else's healthcare if this mess actually gets underway. This is a direct assault on liberty.

If this really was about healthcare, we could have used a tiny fraction of the stimulus money and bought healthcare for the 12 million who want healthcare but can't afford it. This has always been about control. This is a direct assault on the pursuit of happiness.... See More

Every socialized nation dictates how their citizens should live. That's already here. Philly is passing a soda tax and Pittsburgh wants to do it next. The Feds want snack taxes - in addition to the alcohol and cig taxes on the books. Every socialized nation rations their healthcare. It's coming. This is a direct assault on life.

Healthcare is not a right. It is a man-made item that, while important, does not meet the standard of a God-given, human right. Healthcare is your responsibility. It's up to you to choose to live well, take care of yourself, and buy insurance if you feel it is a good purchasing decision. It is certainly not your right to force your neighbors (by the barrel of a Federal gun) to pay for your healthcare. You are violating their lives, their liberty, and their pursuit of happiness.

PA-3: Dahlkemper Votes for Socialized Healthcare

2010-03-22T08:54:00.003-04:00

Hat tip to Inside Butler County.

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper kept her word and voted to bring socialized medicine to the United States. She campaigned on it, she gave speeches on it, she preached about it...and now it's about to become law.

Dahlkemper is considered to be one of the most likely Dems in the country to lose re-election, and she has apparently realized it, as well. There's no way that she didn't realize that the majority of the American public disapprove of this bill.

Instead of sticking to her "pro-life principles" she decided to go for a scorched-earth campaign for her final months in office.

The sad thing is that she actually thinks an executive order is binding.

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

The freshman Democrat from Erie, whose third district encompasses most of Mercer County, said she decided to vote for the proposal after she and other pro-life Democrats secured the promise of an executive order barring federal funds from paying for elective abortions.

“I am proud to support this whole-life legislation that preserves the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. This legislation will help pregnant women choose life by providing affordable care during their maternity and for their children before and after they are born. With the president’s executive order, we can rest assured that no federal funds will be used for abortions,” Mrs. Dahlkemper said in a statement.

Is she really this naive to think that 1.) Obama will issue that order, 2.) Obama will never rescind his order, or 3.) the next pro-choice president will never rescind that order? I know it's probably Civics 102, but executive orders are not statutes! Dahlkemper is either foolish enough to think it is, or callous enough to know better, but use it as a "shield" to protect her vote. Either way, she clearly needs to go.

Instead of a blue-dog Democrat, we now know for sure that Dahlkemper is a full-blown statist who wants to see a Canadian/British/Soviet-style takeover of 20% of the US economy. There's no way a "moderate" could vote for that kind of shredding of the Constitution.

Vote her out. It doesn't matter which candidate wins the primary. All are vastly superior to Dahlkemper and her socialist agenda.

PA-3: GOP Ballot Order Finalized

2010-03-18T22:19:00.002-04:00

The ballot order for the GOP candidates in PA-3 has been determined by drawing in Harrisburg. The only candidate to attend the drawing was Tea Party activist Clayton Grabb.

It turned out to be a fortunate drive to Harrisburg, as Grabb secured the first spot on the ballot.

The order is: Grabb, Moore, Fisher, Kelly, Franz, Huber

Happy voting!

Wendell August Forge Hammers First Post-Fire Piece

2010-03-11T14:12:00.003-05:00

Wendell August Forge president Will Knecht spoke to a group of employees, business leaders, political leaders, and media representatives at a special ceremony to celebrate Wendell August Forge's rebirth. After the 1:00pm ceremony, production started by hammering out the first post-fire piece - a mock Pittsburgh Penguins ticket commemorating the final game played at the Mellon Arena.

Here are the pics!

Will Knecht speaking to the crowd:

Hammering the first piece:

Knecht holding the first piece:

After the hammering:

Showing off the dies:

The first finished piece since the fire!

Production underway:

Wendell August Forge Creating Temporary Facility

2010-03-10T12:27:00.004-05:00

Wendell August Forge owners and employees are aggressively working toward opening a temporary facility for offices, production, and distribution. Retail space is also in the works. The "new" facility is familiar to the Forge family, as it has served as a previous point of production and distribution: The Cooper Industrial Commons plant.

The plan is to have the production facilities up and running by the end of the week. Seriously. The office space should be ready in approximately two weeks. And the heartwarming part? The employees are still getting paid. Everyone should be pretty much back to "normal" by April 1st.

Showroom space is currently in the works.

As I mentioned to Will Knecht this morning, I'm not a fan of random luck. I'm a believer in providence. And if you ever wanted a case study in providence, the WAF situation is the paradigm.
- Two production cells remained at Cooper because WAF had no room to move them to the main building.
- All of the electrical, air, and gas hookups were still in place.
- A high-end paint booth remained because WAF couldn't fit it in the main building.
- All of the distribution and inventory for shipping remained because there was no room at the main building.
- WAF officials "discovered" abandoned office space at the Cooper plant that they never needed or used before - ironically, it was above their heads the whole time!
- Utility contractors simply had the manpower and resources to respond immediately to wire up phone and internet connections - no waiting for the tech to show up between 8:00am and 4:00pm...haha!

Providence.

Now for the pics!

Some of the rescued dies. There were approximately 4500 total, and they vary in states from "just like new" to minor pitting from rust.

Arranging the work cells. This is the area where all of the new goods will be created. All of the cutting, hammering, trimming, polishing, etc. will happen here.

Distribution center. This site has been operational and will continue to ship goods. There is still inventory on the shelves, but they are going through it quickly.

Office space. This space was located above the distribution and was unknown to many employees. It was simply never needed...until now. The walls are getting new cables strung in them and paint (you can see the sample paint on the walls) will be on shortly. Thousands of dollars of cubicles are being donated by Hicks Office Plus!

I'll post up more pics as progress continues...

Thanks for reading!

UPDATE: Wendell August Forge Fire Pics - Cleanup Process

2010-03-09T12:57:00.003-05:00

I snapped some pics this morning of the cleanup and recovery efforts at the Forge. Since a lot of people are asking questions about what survived and what didn't, I hope this pics will help visitors understand the sheer ferocity of the fire.

Remains of the forge building:

Remains of the die engraving cells:

Remains of the shop floor:

Excavator *inside* the showroom:

Sifting through the debris of the showroom:

Showroom computer monitor:

Sadly, the remains of the player piano:

"For God So Loved The World" plate:

Dogwood platter:

Antique gates:

Saving the dies:

UPDATE: Loss of Wendell August Forge Impacts Grove City

2010-03-08T11:10:00.002-05:00

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

Grove City Fire Chief Jeff Badger said Sunday that a malfunctioning fan may have caused the fire that burned down the historic Wendell August Forge in Grove City on Saturday afternoon.

The fire started in the spray room, where the products the forge makes are lacquered. Badger said a damage estimate to the 25,000-square-foot landmark was not available over the weekend, but forge president Will Knecht told reporters it could be in the millions.

He said they plan to rebuild the forge as soon as possible, and the stores that sell its goods throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio will remain open.

The fire marshal is no longer investigating, Badger said, and the fire does not appear to have been suspicious.

There were 25 employees and 15 customers in the store when it started burning; all of them made it out unharmed. There were more than 100 firefighters battling the blaze, Badger said.

Ed Hodge, a Wendell August craftsman, said all of the equipment from the forge was destroyed. However, Grove City borough councilman and conservative blogger Rich Talbert wrote on his blog that many of the dies used to engrave pieces metal were saved.

’The dies are hardened-steel designs,’ he said Sunday. ’They would press or hammer that on to the plates or the platter, and that design would be engraved into the steel.’

Talbert explained losing the forge is tragic for the community.

’When one thinks of Grove City, several things come to mind,’ he said. ’Grove City College, the outlet mall (Prime Outlets at Grove City), and Wendell August Forge. People truly look at that as the treasure of the city; it’s something community members have grown to love and appreciate.’

Talbert said that people come from all over the world to visit the forge, and said he hopes the company will move aggressively to have it rebuilt by the Christmas season.

Chris Bulfone, a Wendell August employee, said Sunday that the company was going to give them some idea of how it would proceed this morning.

Thankfully, the Forge wants to stay in Grove City and rebuild at their current location. This is very welcome news - as the Grove City community would most certainly feel the loss of jobs and tourism spending in the area. Not to mention the sheer history of the Forge and the borough...and for history buffs like myself, this is a huge ordeal.

The next part will be for the Forge to address zoning issues, develop new plans, have them approved by the borough Planning Commission, and start building. Let's hope this is a case when bureaucracy doesn't grind along so we can see the Forge rebuilt and jobs for dozens of people restored!

UPDATE: Wendell August Forge Fire

2010-03-06T21:41:00.006-05:00

(original story below this post)

I spent almost all afternoon and evening at the Forge. Before I get into the update, I want to thank the multiple fire companies that responded and did a fabulous job fighting one heck of a fire. I also want to thank those who helped, whether by donating time, equipment, manpower, or food. Especially: McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Four Star Pizza, Little Caesar's Pizza, The Salvation Army, Thomas Construction...and many more. I was also very pleased to see nearly all of my fellow borough council members there helping out the firefighters. Kudos to everyone else I missed. Thank you for showing why Grove City is such a great town.

As for the Forge: the building and the inventory are totally lost. The GREAT news is that many of the heirloom pieces were saved, as were the computer records and master dies. The firefighters and Thomas Construction went above and beyond the call of duty to rescue these invaluable parts of Grove City history.

As for the future: I spoke at length with Will Knecht and the Forge will be rebuilt! I'll let Mr. Knecht share his vision and plans when he feels ready.

As mentioned before, no one was hurt in the fire. All customers and workers escaped without harm.

Here's a great personal account of the WAF fire from my friend and fellow councilman, Joe Pisano.

Here are some pictures (many thanks to Jeff Corbett for some of the pics):

Grove City Landmark Wendell August Forge Destroyed by Fire

2010-03-06T16:01:00.008-05:00

Metal giftware landmark Wendell August Forge was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. The fire broke out in the early afternoon. All customers and employees safely made it out of the building. Several fire companies responded to fight the blaze, including Grove City, Pine Township, Springfield Township, Mercer East End, Unionville, Hermitage, Jackson Center, and Volant. More companies have responded - and continue to respond as of this entry (4:08pm).

The blaze reportedly started with a chemical spray that caught fire. The plume of smoke went hundreds of feet into the air and could be seen in Volant.

Wendell August Forge is America’s oldest and largest forge, producing hand-wrought ornamental metalware and elegant giftware in aluminum and other metals since 1923. The company was founded in Brockway, Pennsylvania by Wendell McMinn August, who, at age 38, was active in the coal industry.

August engaged Ottone “Tony” Pisoni, a blacksmith in his coal mine, to hand-forge door latches for his home. Admiring the low cost and high quality of Pisoni’s work, August was inspired to start a decorative ironware business. Pisoni was joined by three more blacksmiths who handcrafted the first product line, including one-of-a-kind fireplace andirons, candlesticks, lighting standards, doorknockers, latches, railings, and grilles for windows and doors.

In 1930, a commission to create decorative aluminum gates and elevator doors for the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) led to a new era of design innovation.

Pisoni mastered the art of forging aluminum, and the company prospered, forging the designs of James McCausland, an architect who joined Wendell August in 1928 and became Designer and Operations Manager. A commission for architectural remodeling at the Grove City National Bank proved so successful that the Bank’s president convinced Wendell August to relocate to Grove City, even investing in the company to facilitate the move. Wendell August’s Grove City forge is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Sadly, there were thousands of incredible pieces of artwork in the building - many museum quality, many rare, many discontinued.

For sake of full disclosure, both my wife and my mother worked for the Forge. My wife was in showroom sales and my mother in catalog sales.

I-80 Tolling in PA: Done Deal? Dahlkemper Under the Bus?

2010-03-05T22:02:00.003-05:00

I recently spoke with an "insider" about tolling I-80. This person called it a done deal - and that PA congressional representative Kathy Dahlkemper, who has been opposed to tolling, is facing some heavy pressure from President Obama. And she's not the only one.

Even though she has been strongly against tolling, it seems that she's set to fold like a cheap suit.

Apparently Rendell has made it clear to Obama that Dahlkemper won't make it to a second term, so if she can be rolled, now is the time.

Stay tuned...

PA-3: Huber Calls on Dahlkemper to Return Rangel's Cash

2010-03-05T21:41:00.002-05:00

It seems that tax cheat Charlie Rangel has roots here in the third district: he has given $14,000 to first-term congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper.

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

The money was donated by top Democrat U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York. Mrs. Dahlkemper, though, pointed out Rangel’s donation came from his war chest, which isn’t a subject of the ethics inquiries hailing down on Rangel.

And that cash hasn't escaped the attention of at least one of the Republicans interested in besting Dahlkemper in the fall.

But Rangel is ethically radioactive, and Mrs. Dahlkemper should give back the cash, said a campaign spokesman for Paul Huber, a Meadville businessman....

Huber’s spokesman, Danny Driscoll, said that 28 other Democrats have given Rangel’s money back or donated it to charity, turning in a total of $400,000 already.

But Ms. Dahlkemper, already shaping up to be a one-termer is angling to hold onto the cash:

Mrs. Dahlkemper sent a release in the matter, citing statements from non-partisan watchdog groups like Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, who said Rangel’s war chest isn’t tainted.

Unless the money in Rangel’s war chest is ill-gotten gains, said a Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics spokeswoman, there’s no ethical lapse in keeping it. She called the Republican dig “silly.”

So, there you have it. A ethically bankrupt congressman pumps money into your failing campaign, and when called on it, you call the question "silly." Who cares what liberal "ethics" groups say? The money came from a full-blown tax cheat and lobbyist abuser. I think it's "silly" that Dahlkemper would so quickly align herself with such a guy. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving...

But it gets better! Dahlkemper chided then-representative Phil English for taking money from oil companies (which are legal companies):

Mrs. Dahlkemper made a similar call to former U.S. Rep. Phil English during her campaign against him in 2008 – she asked English to surrender $200,000 in money from Big Oil.

At the time, Mrs. Dahlkemper accused English of taking money from Big Oil at the expense of the interests of Pennsylvanian families.

So...there are a lot of oil companies in Western PA. The extraction of oil was started here, by the way. There are loads of refineries in the area. And people from Pennsylvania ACTUALLY WORK THERE. Apparently, Dahlkemper would rather take money from corrupt congressmen than from businesses that operate and employ people in and around her own district.

Wow.

PA-3 Update: Reese Ends Congressional Campaign

2010-03-02T15:57:00.003-05:00

One more Republican has left the race to unseat Kathy Dahlkemper. Donna Reese has stepped aside and endorsed fellow small-business owner Paul Huber.

Hat tip to The Herald (Sharon, PA):

Donna Reese, a small businesswoman, said she had enough signatures for her petitions, which are due in a week, but was dropping out ’for the good of the Republican party.’

She endorsed Huber, 65, Meadville, because of his background in business, she said. ’It’s exactly the reason I ran. I’m a small business person, I try and create jobs, I’m frustrated with job loss.’

Beside Huber, five others remain: Steven M. Fisher, 52, Cochranton, a health insurance salesman; Ed Franz, 48, a Conneautville hourly worker at General Electric in Erie; Clayton W. Grabb, 47, Butler, a pharmaceutical salesman; Mike Kelly, 61, Butler, a car dealership owner; and Dr. Martha Moore, 52, Sandy Lake, a family doctor.

PAGOP Party Bosses Ban Facebook Comments

2010-02-16T09:06:00.002-05:00

It's all over the blogosphere. The PAGOP has been feverishly deleting any Facebook comments critical of their coronation of Tom Corbett for governor or Pat Toomey for senator. A blogging colleague of mine was even threatened for posting his disapproval.

Instead of an open primary, the PAGOP "nominates" the best insider, party hack for the job. You may remember such great choices as Lynn Swann, Mike Fischer, Tom Ridge...

Seeing how Corbett has been too busy campaigning for the last year or two to do his job, and Toomey has gone from firebrand conservative to squishy moderate, you can understand why the PAGOP would nominate such grand candidates and not let the people have a say in the matter.

Yes, the people still get to vote in the primary, but the endorsement means more than words. The PAGOP has scrubbed all other candidates from its literature, making it seem like no one else is running. The endorsed candidates will get truckloads of cash. The endorsed candidates will be led around like prize hogs to all of the local events around the state.

*hint* Check and see who is speaking at your county's Lincoln Day dinner and other upcoming events.

Make your voices known. Let the hacks know you're tired of being told what is best for you. DON'T DONATE to the PAGOP. Study the candidates and determine who would be best for you and your family, then support that person.

PA-3 Update: Tom Trevorrow Drops Out

2010-02-16T08:57:00.003-05:00

Hat tip to Politics PA.

Citing his father's recent diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, Dr. Trevorrow has dropped from the race.

From his campaign:

“My parents sacrificed their entire lives to put me through school and help me become the person I am today,” Trevorrow said in a statement posted on his Web site. “I remain committed to restoring fiscal responsibility to Washington and bringing real health care reform to America, but in the coming months it will be in a much more limited role than a race for Congress demands.

“The only decision for me is to end my candidacy so that I can focus my full attention on helping my father and family through what will be a long journey.”

The Politics PA story notes an interesting piece of info:

His departure means car dealer Mike Kelly and businessman Paul Huber likely become the favorites to win the primary.

The story doesn't say where they got that little tidbit of info. But seeing how Kelly is rumored to be the party pick, I can understand why they pushed his name. Sources have told me that he was picked and pushed to run by the party. If that's true (which it seems to be in Mercer County) then that's the kiss of death for conservative voters. We'll see.