Dee Adcock's Star Rises to "Contender"

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has released a statement elevating Dee Adcock, in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District race against the East Coast version of Nancy Pelosi, Allyson Schwartz, to "contender" status.

I wonder if the author of Obamacare, sponsor of the soda "fat tax", and darling of the trail lawyers lobby - over $1.7 million dollars in campagin contributions - ever thought her seat would be targeted?

Abington Schools, No Place for the Constitution

Yesterday I had a face-to-face meeting with the Assistant Superintendent of the Abington School district. The purpose of the meeting was to share a pocket Constitution with the administration so they could determine whether it was worthy of distribution to the students to celebrate today, Constitution Day.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day were signed into law in 2004 by President Bush. Any school receiving federal funds is required by law to educate students about the importance of our founding document on this day.

Now, technically, it seems as though the Abington School District is following the letter of the law by, according to them, encouraging the individual schools and teachers to include the Constitution in their lesson plans today.

However, there is no district-wide effort to specifically focus the curriculum toward the greatest single document to guarantee liberty in human history.

The meeting was scheduled because I was interested in distributing these pocket Constitutions (with a copy of the Declaration of Independence) outside the High School this morning.

According to the District,

If you have pocket Constitutions that are printed without any affiliation to any political, commercial, or religious organization, we would be happy to review the document. If it conforms with Board policy, we would provide it to the schools for the students.

Problem. The pamphlets I was interested in distributing were produced by the Heritage Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan conservative think tank. As far as I'm aware, they do not contribute to political campaigns, they do not endorse candidates, they simply research policy.

The School District informed me yesterday afternoon, pieces produced by Heritage violate the above-referenced policy.

So, the very school district who (24 hours prior to the event) reversed a long-standing board policy restricting politicking on school property to allow Michele Obama (Spring 2008) and then-candidate Senator Obama (Fall of '08) to hold rallies at Abington High School, do not think those events cross the threshold of allowable political affiliation.

However, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, produced by the Heritage Foundation, somehow does?

Tea Party and the "Palin Factor"

Aaron Proctor, in the Philadelphia Examiner, has an interesting take on the Palin effect in yesterday's victory by Christine O'Donnell in Delaware's Senatorial primary over Mike Castle.

GOP Senate primary 2010 winner
Christine O'Donnell
photo courtesy CBS News

While I agree, Sarah and Christine better be careful about any attempts to become the face of the Tea Party movement, I don't think either are the leaders of the movement, but examples of the influence the Tea Party concept with voters.  You can't say the endorsement of any singular entity pushed O'Donnell over the top, and Chris Christie (a Tea Party favorite) was on the other side in this battle.  It was all about voter dissatisfaction with the GOP's moderate, mainstream republican wing.

Readers know I'm a fan of the former Alaskan governor, but as a local coordinator for a Tea Party group, I want to be clear about Sarah's role in our movement - it's entirely overstated. While I like most everything about her, she's barely among the top 5 candidates I want to win the primary in 2012.  I doubt she's actually aiming for the title, but I can understand the thought process of those who do.

There are several organizations who would also like to be the face - Tea Party Express and Tea Party Nation to name a few - aggressively advertising themselves and enthusiastically endorsing candidates.  But they fail to understand one basic fundamental truth about our movement; a role I hope neither Palin nor O'Donnell are pursuing.

While they, and the has-been media, may want her to be the face of the Tea Party. As a natural course in real grassroots Tea Party organizations, once you establish yourself as the face of the movement, you no longer can be.

It's not about you, it's about us.

September 11th, a Tribute

page13news will never forget




...and will spend the weekend in Washington, reclaiming the brotherhood of spirit we all felt on 9-12.  The nation we can be again.

Obama Removal Kit

...and if you order now, I'll throw in 2 pocket Constitutions absolutley free. 



Works great on Astroturf Speakers of Da House too!!

Restoring Honor, Get It?

Quite frankly, even some of the supporters and attendees of yesterday's Restoring Honor Rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, didn't quite get it.  Quite frankly, I'm not sure I do either.

view from the Washington Monument

It was partly an award show for several unsung American citizens, mixed with an American Hero version of the Emmy's or Grammy's, minus all the self-aggrandisement that comes from Hollywood.  It was sprinkled with recognition of what happened at this historic location 47 years ago.  And it was smothered with a heavy dose of God, faith (not religion), and a return to Divine Providence.

"Just who do you think you are?", Glenn Beck asked himself several times over the last several months including one visit to the steps where Dr. King inspired a generation of Americans with his dream.

Critics have asked the same question of Beck, but with a tone in their voice which seemed to indicate they were cocking their guns, ready to fire if he didn't pull off his plan to hold the rally.  He had no intention of putting Jack back in the box.  Despite threats of violence to himself and others who dared join Glenn on stage, he would not back down from this day.

Neither did the over 500 thousand who chose to stand with Beck around America's Reflecting Pool and, God forbid, reflect on His role in our lives.

Honor individual American citizens who make our country great; honor our brave soldiers; honor the legacy of Dr. King; honor God.  It was time we restored the meaning of honor and Beck provided the stage.

Though Tea Party groups from across the country provided logistical assistance (organizing over 1,400 bus loads of rally attendees), this was NOT a Tea Party.  It was NOT a political event.

Two weeks from now the political event takes place.  The 2nd annual 9-12 Taxpayer March on Washington will take place.  There will be signs, flags, and very clear messaging to our elected officials in D.C..  Beck didn't want this to be a political event and it wasn't.  Yes, Sarah Palin was there.  But not in her political persona, rather as a Mom of a soldier, honoring his service our country.

Glenn has spent the last year saying no matter what your political affiliation, if this country doesn't return to the fundamental principals which propelled it to the position as the world's guiding light, we are collectively doomed.  He has spent the last year educating his listeners about the Founders.  What inspired them?  What motivated them?

The answer:  Divine Providence.

page13news' perspective

The belief this country is destined to greatness because of the freedoms provided by a strong relationship - no matter which form it takes in your life - with the Creator.  The Creator who endows us to the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  No government agency, no politician, can provide these rights.  If you think they do, you enslave yourself to them.

As he wrapped up the event, Beck offered an observation.  He told the audience at yesterday's rally, no matter what the number officially given to the massive crowd, it would be seen as a failure if it simply ended there.  If we didn't take this opportunity to reconnect with our Creator and change the priorities in our lives, the sun will set on the shining city on the hill.

Laus Deo

At the very top of the Washington Monument are two words facing the heavens - Laus Deo - Latin for "Praise Be to God".  No visitor can see these words because it's a message to the Creator.  Laid after the Civil War, at a time when our country finally rid itself of the scourge of slavery, it symbolized the mood of a nation during a time when it need healing.

What happens now is up to us, as it always has been, God willing.

A Pattern of Acting Stupidly

A teachable moment. 

The Obama administration admitted yesterday the firing of Shirley Sharrod over race-related comments without knowing the full extent of her comments we're a "teachable moment" for us all.

So let's learn, shall we?

Immigration Clash Over Cheesesteaks in South Philly

The Big Talker WPHT 1210 AM and Joey Vento, owner of Geno's Steaks at 9th and Passyunk in the heart of South Philly, hosted a fundraiser to support the State of Arizona as it defends against a lawsuit by the federal government to halt their recently enacted immigration law.

Hundreds of supporters and a few dozen protesters clogged the well-known intersection to let their voices be heard on the issue.  The pro-illegal group beat drums like this was some sort of tribal warfare, while the pro-Arizona crowd sang God Bless America.  A mix of professionally and homemade signs littered one side; American flags on the other.  While the supporters of lawlessness chanted obviously rehearsed phrases like "shame, shame, shame", those in favor of law and order chanted simply yelled back, "USA, USA, USA!" 

They barked at each other for 2 of the 4 hours Dom Giordano held his radio show, but the event was a good example of folks agreeing to disagree.  Hazelton, PA Mayor Lou Barletta and State Representative Daryl Metcalfe joined Arizona's John McCain and Jan Brewer on the radio to show their support. 

Several Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots activists were there to offset Obama's professional protesters from "Reform Immigration for America".  It's not the first time these two groups locked horns.  See their first meeting from July 4th here.

All but one major news organization covered the event (where were you NBC 10?).  Fox 29's report has more on the festivities.

There's a plaque on the sidewalk outside of Geno's which best-summarizes the evening's gathering.  Only in America can reasonable and ignorant people gather together and express their heart-felt opinions on such a hot topic.  God Bless Geno's and God Bless America!!