Convention-Al Wisdom?

What if neither Hillary nor Barack secure enough delegates before the convention?

Will a settlement be reached? Will pretty-boy John Edwards, and his 61 delegates broker a deal? Will either side accept not being on top of the ticket?

According to at least one super-democrat-delegate, the possibility of another solution exists. If the donkeys go down this road, then the chaos we see now is only the beginning.

The former next President of the United States (and global warming propagandist/profiteer) Al Gore, is being considered one potential solution to the donkey's conventional mess.

Can you imagine the outcry from democrat ranks with this solution? Can you imagine the GOP bumper sticker possibilities?

Selected, not elected - Gore 2008
Democrats - knowing what's best for you since before you were born
Choice, reserved for super-delegates
Gore, the choice of no generation
Gore, the other white meat
Gore, just a typical white guy

Circus is in Town

Six weeks until the Pennsylvania Primary. Six weeks of razzle-dazzle, smoke and mirrors, Obama rally fainting spells, Clinton "Monster" machine tactics, and of course, cries (literally) of CHANGE.

Republicans are weary of the anticipated swing of newly registered democratic voters over the final two weeks before the March deadline. A good number of the registrants will be due to the excitement of the moment that will capture the youth. However, others will be repeating what happened in Texas, where republicans lined up at the opportunity to put the final nail in the Clinton coffin.

Committeepeople in the Philly burbs are aware of this and have plans to counter the switch. The trio of Manion, Gerlach, and Kats give conservatives cool to McCain, somewhere to focus their attention.

Whether Hillary or Barack, the left represents a return to socialism and retreat from the war. If Hillary wins, the youth in the democrat party will feel robbed. Her negatives will also help GOP registration efforts. If Barack wins, he has to rely on the unreliable youth to show up, unlike they did for McGovern in 1968, the last time the youth were supposed to make an impact.

Republicans will have their own opportunity to increase registrations after the primary is over. Can they get their act together and capitalize?

Obama Bin-Lame

I almost don't need to say a word, the picture says it all.

Two questions...

First, besides this picture being published in Time Magazine, why didn't the media cover it? The Obama coverage that day was centered around how much money he was able to raise the previous quarter. Is this a sign of further selective journalism?

Second, why didn't ONE Democrat Presidential candidate or current elected official in Washington call it outrageous?? Yet another sign that the modern day democrats are nothing like their grandfathers who fought in WWII. They've been highjacked by more confident, communist-like, radical leftists; not afraid to show their real colors.

Someone was right about Obama being "Magic"-al.

Damsker/Hoeffel Chair Getting Heat

Wait a minute...wait a minute!! The past several days, Joe Hoeffel has been ranting about Jim Matthews recieving campaign contributions from Bob Asher. He uses Matthews running mate Bruce Castor's own words about Asher to emphasize his problem with the relationship. He repeatedly calls on Matthews to return the money; much like Ed Rendell and Hillary Clinton did with Norman Hsu's contributions.

Joe however would be wise to keep a closer eye on those next to him. It seems, from this article from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the cochairwoman to Damsker/Hoeffel campaign has her own issues to deal with, ones which should be resolved if he wants to control Montgomery County.

In a 9 month probe, which spanned 3 suburban counties, over $2 million in cash were seized and 17 search warrants were issued, by state and county law enforcement officials, to people associated to 9 different suburban bars and restaurants. Among those apparently involved, Joanne Cisco Olszewski, owner of Cisco's Bar and Grill in Flourtown.

Olszewski, until yesterday, was co-chairwoman for the Damsker/Hoeffel campaign, democrats for Montgomery County Commissioner. She also serves as a Montgomery County jury commissioner, a position which she, as of the Inquirer article, refuses to resign from.

I wonder what Joe's wit and wisdom will enlighten us with tomorrow?

Who's Reading Page13News?

Page13News would like to welcome two new viewers to Philly's alternative opinion source. It seems as though Montgomery County, PA Commissioner candidates Joe Hoeffel and Ruth Damsker have found this blog and apparently like it so much, they feel compelled to rip it's headlines.

In this press release from Hoeffel/Damsker, titled "If the Hsu Fits..." (I think I've heard that before), an attempt is made to claim that Jim Matthews should follow the lead of Hillary Clinton and Fast-Eddie Rendell. You see, Rendell and Clinton received campaign donations from a fugitive named Norman Hsu (see below article) . While they did eventually donate the money they received to charity, in Rendell's case, it took a second jumping of bail by Hsu, to warrant the cash being surrendered.

Now, Joe and Ruth want Jim Matthews to return money he got from Bob Asher, a long-time Republican donor. Asher was convicted of bribery in 1986 and served 9 months in jail for the offense. Hoeffel and Damsker want voters to believe their is some sort of moral relativism between the Rendell/Clinton relationship with Hsu, and Matthews' relationship with Asher.

One problem, there is no such parallel!! While it is true about Asher's prior conviction, it's also true that he served his time; he paid his debt. Hsu on the other hand, fled to Asia when he was convicted, came back, donated BIG money to Democrats, and tried to flee again when authorities caught up to him.

Now Joe, let's talk about Rendell's appointment of a political cronie (yourself) to a high position in Harrisburg as a political payoff for your bowing out of a run for Lieutenant Governor. Perhaps the tax-payer funded six-figure salary should also be given to charity?? I won't hold my breath.

If the Hsu Fits...

Democrat fundraiser and fugitive from the feds for 15 years, Norman Hsu, was finally captured two weeks ago in Colorado. Despite Hsu's grand-theft conviction in 1991, and a hiatus overseas to avoid jail, he recently appeared on the political scene, representing himself as a New York Businessman. Hsu donated generous amounts of money to many Democrats, including Ed Rendell. But it wasn't until Hsu skipped out of a September 5th, 2007 bail hearing (his second such stunt) that Governor Rendell finally decided to donate the $37,oo0 plus in donations he received from Hsu, to charity. It must have been a difficult choice for Ed, who once called Hsu "one of the 10 best people I've ever met".

The obvious lack of judgement that Eddie's suffering from is overshadowed only by his arrogance. Makes me wonder if the governor thinks he's gone beyond reproach. This often happens when politicians think they've cemented their legacy. But it would be foolish for democrats, including Rendell's heir-apparent Josh Shapiro, to think this won't have ripple effects.

The opportunity for the Dems in Montgomery County is now, or so it seemed. The stars were aligned as late as September 1st for a historic victory in November. After a successful 2006 and low approval ratings for President Bush, democrats state-wide probably feel confident about their chances to take over the crown-jewel in Pennsylvania Politics, the Montgomery County courthouse. And why wouldn't they?

But after round two of HillaryCare, after news that Iraq is improving, after immigration fraud was defeated, and after Hsu/Clinton/Rendell-gate, will democrats in Montco be able to halt the late shift of momentum for the GOP?

And if Southeastern PA Dems fail in their persuit this year, what does it say about their ability to bring home Pennsylvania for a democrat presidential candidate next year?

Someone Check on Schwartz

"The decision of President Bush to commute the prison sentence of Scooter Libby is outrageous. We have long known the President considers himself unaccountable to the American people, and it is now crystal clear: he considers all members of his Administration above the law. This choice by the President demonstrates yet another case of his terrible lack of judgment. Scooter Libby lied to a grand jury and he lied to the FBI, but the President apparently believes Libby's lies were acceptable."
-Allyson Schwartz (D) PA-13th July 5th 2007

Oh Congressperson Schwartz, your memory and recollection are starting to worry me. Perhaps you should see a specialist. I hear the Cuban doctors are swell people.

First - the "leaker" was known to prosecutor Fitzgerald - THE DAY HE ASSUMED THE JOB. His (the leaker) name, as I'm sure you must know, was Richard Armitage. Armitage, a Clinton appointee from the State Department - not the oval office - told Bob Novak about Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson's connection.

Despite this knowledge, Fitzgerald proceeded with the investigation. What he could possibly be investigating, once he knows who the leaker was, is baffling at best. However, that evil Bush administration didn't aim to stop the investigation.

Second - Valerie Plame was NOT covert, undercover, nor unknown to anyone who was remotely interested at the time. However, she is the wife of Wilson, and she sent her husband to Northern Africa to dispute claims by Bush of Iraq seeking yellow cake, as the President did in his famous State of the Union address in '03. Wilson, who was apparently so convinced that Bush had made up the yellow-cake claim, failed to mention this to anyone until a report he wrote 6 months after his visit to the region. After her "outing", the media tour the Wilson's went on sure didn't make Valerie appear like someone wanting her status to be covert.

Third - Bill Clinton pardoned 14o people and commuted the sentences of several others in August of '99 , including 16 members of FALN. This group of Puerto Rican nationalists, was convicted of 120 bombings in New York and Chicago.

Now let's compare. On one hand, we have Scooter Libby. Fact: Libby didn't out Valerie Plame, Richard Armitage did. The investigation that followed was therefore a witch hunt. Without interference from the Bush administration, Libby was still asked to testify under oath. He was found guilty of lying under oath, despite the prosecutor's admission of "no underlying crime of outing (Plame)". Bush commuted his sentence. Still, Libby paid a $250,400 fine.

In the other corner, Bill Clinton (former President of the United States and lawyer) lied under oath and paid a fine. Further, he commuted sentences of criminals which can, at the very least, be seen as curious. Hillary agrees with me on this one; at least she did when she was running for the Senate (link). Would Allyson view these as critically as she does President Bush's communtation? Does the 13th District of Pennsylvania representative understand this action is completely within their constitutional rights as occupant of the oval office?

Now exactly who is "above the law" Mrs. Schwartz??