Friday, May 31, 2013

Pa. lawmakers want more money for themselves

Already among the highest-paid in the nation, Pennsylvania legislators are setting the stage to give themselves another pay raise in the 2013-14 state budget. Voters should keep this in mind when they go to the polls in 2014 when all 2013 state House seats and 25 state Senate seats are on the ballot.

Pa. lawmakers want more money for themselves

IRS may have targeted conservatives more broadly

IRS may have targeted conservatives more broadly | McClatchy

The Buck Stops Where?

Birthday Wishes to Clint Eastwood

Birthday wishes to my all-time favorite actor, Clint Eastwood, who turns 83 today. I just got done watching Clint's latest film, "Trouble With The Curve," on DVD and he was superb in it. It's not just a baseball film. It's a touching story of a man and his estranged daughter (played wonderfully by Amy Adams) trying to reconcile their broken relationship. Highly recommended.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Birthday Wishes to Michael Constantine


Birthday wishes to actor Michael Constantine, who turns 86 today. The co-star of the smash hit  movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is a Reading, Pa., native and a member of my church, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading. The photo above was taken a church fundraiser that both of us attended a few years back. Michael Constantine has been a fixture in television and movies since the 1950s. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" remains among the Top 100 all-time box office hits. His best-known television role came in the series "Room 222," which ran on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The role of principal Seymour Kaufman earned Constantine an Emmy Award in 1970.

Nat Hentoff: Why Obama is silent on murdered babies

Nat Hentoff: Why Obama is silent on murdered babies

The Ax Man Cometh


Hunger Among Seniors Reaches Record Levels Under Obama

Increase in Hunger Among Seniors Accelerated by Great Recession (via PR Newswire)

Unexpected Level of Growth Most Pronounced in Baby Boomers CHICAGO, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new report, entitled Spotlight on Senior Hunger, examining the growth of senior hunger in the United States finds that the number of food insecure seniors above the age of 60 has more than…

3 women to vie for 2 open seats on Berks County Court

A crowded field of eight candidates seeking two open seats on the Berks County Court of Common Pleas was narrowed to three by primary voters on Tuesday.

And voters clearly liked the female candidates more, setting up a three-way contest in November among the three female attorneys on the ballot.

Berks County First Assistant District Attorney M. Theresa Johnson, a registered Democrat, rode her reputation as a tough, no-nonsense prosecutor to win nominations in both the Democratic and Republican primaries

Final but unofficial results show Johnson topping the Democratic primary with 6,513 votes. Johnson, 47, of Brecknock, also finished second in the Republican primary with 5,092 votes, virtually assuring her a seat on the Berks County bench after the November general election.

The top vote-getter in the Republican primary was Madelyn Fudeman, 56, of Cumru, who finished with 6,370 votes. This was Fudeman’s second attempt to win a seat on the Berks bench.

The second Democratic nomination went to Eleni Dimitriou-Geishauser, 42, of Exeter, who finished with 5,377 votes in the Democratic primary.

All eight candidates cross-filed in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. By winning the second GOP nod, Johnson prevented James A. Smith, 43, of Richmond, from advancing to the November election. Smith, making his first election run, finished with 4,972 in the GOP primary.

The other Republican candidates were John Muir, 45, of Lower Heidelberg, who finished with 4,840 votes in the GOP primary, Peter Schiaroli, 53, of Reading with 1,721 votes, and Mahlon Boyer, 35, of Exeter, with 1,151 votes.

The third Democrat in the race was Patrick Barrett, 53, of Maidencreek, who finished with 3,233 in the Democratic primary. Fudeman, a registered Republican, made a strong showing in the Democratic primary, receiving 5,129 votes.

There are openings on the Berks County Court because Judge Linda K.M. Ludgate retired in December and Judge Peter W. Schmehl will retire in January.

Judges serve 10-year terms, then face a retention vote to stay on the bench for another 10 years. The current annual salary is $173,271.

Berks County Treasurer

The only other contested countywide primary race on Tuesday was for the Republican nomination for Berks County treasurer. Dennis Adams, 61, of Amity, easily won the race with 9,042 votes, defeating Pat Lupia, 53, of Muhlenberg, who finished with 4,108 votes. There was no Democrats on the ballot so unless a third-party candidate emerges in November, Adams will succeed current Treasurer Nelson H. Long, a Republican who did not seek re-election.

Obama IRS Official Invokes Fifth Amendment after Trampling the First

Lerner Invokes Fifth Amendment after Trampling the First

Monday, May 20, 2013

Since when has the Constitution mattered to the Obama Regime?

Associated Press CEO calls records seizure 'unconstitutional'

Nationwide protests against Obama's fascist IRS planned for Tuesday

BREAKING: Nationwide TEA PARTY PROTESTS Set for Tuesday at IRS Offices (Pass It On!)

Fox News reporter monitored by Obama Justice Dept.

Fox News reporter monitored by Justice Department | Human Events

Vote NO to retain Pa. Chief Justice Ron Castille


The House Judiciary Committee's Moment to Shine

Daniel Horowitz: 
After 4 years of endless scandals sliding off Obama's Teflon back, it appears his luck is finally coming to an end. Why would Republicans want to bail him out by bestowing him with an amnesty bill?
The House Judiciary Committee’s Moment to Shine | RedState

If Government Were a Business, Obama Would Already Be Fired

William Sullivan: If Government Were a Business, Obama Would Already Be Fired

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Ex-Rep. Sestak announces rematch attempt against PA Sen. Toomey

Ex-Rep. Sestak announces rematch attempt against Sen. Toomey - The Hill's Video

EPA waives fee requests for friendly groups, denies conservative groups

Another day, another new Obama scandal.

EPA waives fee requests for friendly groups, denies conservative groups | WashingtonExaminer.com

Bad Sign: Obama Loses Andrea Mitchell

Andrea Mitchell: IRS scandal 'one of the most outrageous excesses I've seen in all my years of journalism' | WashingtonExaminer.com

More IRS abuses of power against conservative groups

John Hayward: More IRS abuses of power against conservative groups | Human Events

You're Not Paranoid


Diana West: Tell me again why the U.S. used Jihadists to guard Benghazi

Diana West: Tell me again why the U.S. used Jihadists to guard Benghazi

Feds want to reduce DUI threshold to 0.05%

NTSB recommends making drunken driving threshold .05% blood-alcohol content

Monday, May 13, 2013

Insurers predict 100%-400% Obamacare rate explosion

Insurers predict 100%-400% Obamacare rate explosion | WashingtonExaminer.com

Obama admin secretly obtains Associated Press phone records

After serving as a useful idiot in helping Barack Obama obtain the presidency twice, The Associated Press learns that Obama has been secretly obtaining the news agency's phone records for months to keep tabs on its reporting.

Doesn't this sound like the Soviet Union?

Will liberals finally wake up and realize that the Obama Regime has shredded the U.S. Constitution over the past 5 years?

This is what AP President Gary Pruitt had to say about the Obama Justice Dept. spying on the largest newsgathering organization in the world:
"There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters. These records potentially reveal communications with confidential sources across all of the newsgathering activities undertaken by the AP during a two-month period, provide a road map to AP's newsgathering operations, and disclose information about AP's activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know."
This is the thanks the AP gets for running hundreds of pro-Obama stories and ignoring negative stories all these years?

Obama admin secretly obtains Associated Press phone records

Barack Obama the most effective firearm salesman since Samuel Colt

Barack Obama the most effective firearm salesman since Samuel Colt. | Human Events

Friday, May 03, 2013

9.5 Million People Have Left the Workforce Under Obama

9.5 Million People Have Left the Workforce Under Obama | CNS News

South Carolina bill declares Obamacare 'null and void' - criminalizes implementation

South Carolina bill declares ObamaCare "null and void," criminalizes implementation | Human Events

Obama State Dept. 'investigation' of Benghazi under investigation

State Dept. investigation of Benghazi under investigation | Human Events

2013 Pascha Message of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios


Finally, Easter comes for Orthodox believers

Finally, Easter comes for Orthodox believers - PostBulletin.com: Lifestyles

Congressional Hellenic Caucus Backs Cypriot Reunification

Hellenic Caucus Backs Cypriot Reunification | USA.GreekReporter.com

Why Orthodox Christians Celebrate Easter After the Western World

Why Orthodox Christians Celebrate Easter After the Western World | USA.GreekReporter.com

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Reform candidates for Mount Penn Borough Council

If you live in Mount Penn, Pa., and want to see something more from your elected Borough Council members besides the status quo, check out this group of reform candidates running in the May 21 primary: https://www.facebook.com/MountPennForChange

You call this property tax relief?

Former Gov. Ed Rendell promised "substantial" property tax relief for beleaguered Pennsylvania homeowners when he signed the bill legalizing casino gambling in Pennsylvania.

Rendell promised a minimum of $1 billion going to Pennsylvania homeowners each year from casino revenues.

Now for the reality: Pa. homeowners will receive an average of $200 in property tax relief this year. Some homeowners will see as little as $50.

Not exactly what Rendell promised. Keep that in mind the next time a politician makes promises.

Pa. homeowners to share nearly $612M in tax reductions

Editorial: Exeter, Antietam school merger makes sense

Put hard feelings aside and combine Exeter, Antietam (4/30/13)

Pa. Gov. Corbett: Berks County battery-maker to expand, add 400 jobs



Governor Corbett: East Penn Manufacturing to Expand Operations in Berks County; Add 400 Jobs (via PR Newswire)

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett announced today that East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc. (East Penn) will expand its operations to support new growth in the manufacturing industry, adding 400 new jobs in Berks County. "My administration is committed to enacting…

Village Idiot Harry Reid: Obamacare just needs more money

Reid: ObamaCare just needs more money | Human Events

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Family Affair Report Details Nepotism in Congress

It's good to be a member of the permanent political class in Washington, D.C.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released a scathing report today detailing pervasive nepotism in Congress.

The investigation by the non-partisan government accountability watchdog group uncovered 248 members meriting inclusion in the in-depth compilation, which covers the 2008 and 2010 election cycles.

Among CREW’s key findings:
   * 82 members (40 Democrats and 42 Republicans) paid family members through their congressional offices, campaign committees and political action committees (PACs);
   * 44 members (20 Democrats and 24 Republicans) have family members who lobby or are employed in government affairs;
   * 90 members (42 Democrats and 48 Republicans) have paid a family business, employer, or associated nonprofit;
   * 20 members (13 Democrats and 7 Republicans) used their campaign money to contribute to a family member’s political campaign;
   * 14 members (6 Democrats and 8 Republicans) charged interest on personal loans they made to their own campaigns;
   *  38 members (24 Democrats and 14 Republicans) earmarked to a family business, employer, or associated nonprofit.
You can download the complete report at the link below:

Family Affair Report Details Nepotism in Congress | CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Even Obama can't defend Obamacare


John Stossel: Obamacare Train Wreck Ahead

Train Wreck Ahead | Human Events