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?

Clean Governance?

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Democrat Commissioner Candidates have signed a "Clean Governance" pledge! This time, it's Bucks County donkeys making these statements which sound vaguely familiar to claims leftist politicians from sea to shining sea (including Montgomery County) are making this election off-season. I'm sensing a pattern here.

First however, let's take a look at history. Many Democrats and media analysts assumed that the war in Iraq was the reason for both the United States House and Senate going Democrat in 2006. However, after numerous failed attempts to force Bush to abandon the troops in Iraq, that myth never materialized. Now that signs of the surge working in Iraq are surfacing, Democrats are quick to qualify "success" by stating that political progress is far from being realized. And calls for withdrawal are being replaced with suggestions (even by some leading Democrats) of how dangerous rushing troops home would be.

The real reason the Dems won last November was because Republican voters revolted against their party for a variety of reasons. The Senate might still be Republican today if George Allen had not made a stupid comment that made him look cocky and gave his opponent much-needed momentum. Tom Foley's email sex scandal, Tom Delay's relationship with Abramoff, Katrina, and even Terry Schaivo, all contributed to a general lack of confidence and/or trust in the GOP.

But Democrats are smart, if not hypocritical, for taking advantage of the slightest appearance of dirty governance. The truth is, perception is reality. Their calls for clean and transparent government is not a new concept, but one they all seem to be making in unison. This obvious strategy on Southeastern PA Democrats part, is a curious concept for them to tackle.

The party with Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) deep in his own scandal, the incompetent House Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Ed Rendell's "sweetheart" Joe Hoeffel, might want to look in the mirror before they try those tactics.