Do Democrats Really Believe Their Own Bunkum?

Some articles that really shine light on the hypocrisy of the national Democratic machine.

For those who think capitalists are dirty, profit seeking junkies that are detrimental to those who don't have look where public employees are putting their pension money to create wealth.


Public Pensions Increase Private-Equity Investments

Large public pension plans are pouring more money into private-equity funds, deepening ties between government workers and an industry currently under the harsh glare of U.S. presidential politics.

Big public-employee pensions had about $220 billion invested in private equity in September, or 11% of their assets, according to Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service, which tracks the holdings of pensions, foundations and endowments.


AFSCME blasts Romney About Bain Past

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or Afscme, one of the nation’s biggest public-workers unions, has members with billions of dollars invested in about 150 pension funds, some of which is invested in private-equity funds, WSJ reports Thursday.

That wouldn’t be that surprising, given the union’s pension fund is meant to make its members money, and PE firms can do pretty well in that whole money making job.

But, the WSJ story is about the fact that Afscme and other pension funds for public workers have made quite a lot of noise about Mitt Romney’s work at private-equity giant Bain Capital.



They emulate what they blast Romney for.  Romney shouldn't duck questions about his wealth.  He should remind the American people how successful he is and that is what we need as a President.  Last election the majority put an amateur in there and look what we got.

Look at unemployment during the Bush years and Obama's term.

You will see this chart chopped for those who want to skew the data. 

Putting the Numbers into Perspective

President Bush’s overall record continues to look far better than President Obama’s to date. Over President Bush’s presidency, the private sector created a net 141,000 jobs. Surprisingly, this number includes the 3.78 million private sector jobs lost in 2008.  In contrast, under President Obama’s administration, the private sector has still lost a net 2.91 million private sector jobs. If I blame Bush and Clinton for the January 2009 and January 2001 numbers, respectively, the private sector would still have lost 2.07 million private sector jobs under the Obama administration.

Should WE Keep Paying People Not To Work

This Opinion piece comes from Foxnews.com:

Do we really want paying people not to work for 99 weeks – nearly two years – to be a permanent feature of the American economic system? Is that what the American people voted for in the historic landslide election of 2010? If not, then why are Republicans poised to – for the first time since the election – extend this program?

The economic case for nearly two years of unemployment benefits is extremely weak. While supporters tout the demand-side effect of the benefit checks being spent, they ignore the much larger supply-side effect of creating a significant disincentive for work and consequently for economic production. The same Keynesians who brought us trillions of failed stimulus and a mountain of debt tell us the paying people not to work is a good way to grow the economy. Common sense – and the data – say otherwise.

As the Cato Institute’s Alan Reynolds eloquently explained: “Whether the government pays people to work or to stay on the dole, it has to get the money by taxing, borrowing or printing money — all of which reduce real income and employment opportunities in the private sector. … If every dollar of unemployment benefits really added $1.61 to real GDP, then putting everyone on the dole would make us all much richer.”

In reality, economists have shown that unemployment benefits actually increase unemployment because they increase the average duration of unemployment for individuals. There is less incentive to search for new employment when the government pays people as much as 60 percent of their previous salary to do nothing at all.

It should be no surprise then that since the extended benefits were signed into law, the median duration of unemployment has more than doubled from 9.6 weeks to 20.8 weeks, and the unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high for months on end.

Not all of this can be attributed to overly-generous unemployment benefits, of course, but they certainly aren’t helping. And given that more people are staying on government benefits for longer periods of time, federal spending on unemployment compensation has nearly quadrupled from $45 billion in 2008 to $160 billion in 2010 – all funded by higher taxes or federal debt, which takes resources out of job creators’ hands.

House Republicans will have their first opportunity to end this costly giveaway. To win, they need only to do nothing; the 99 weeks of unemployment are set to expire at the end of the year, automatically returning to the standard 26 weeks of unemployment (some states pay more).

Unfortunately, it looks like most Republicans missed one of the key messages of the landslide 2010 election – no more expensive giveaways.

Last Thursday The Washington Post reported that House Republicans plan to renew the expiring benefits program in a larger package that also includes an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut. Perhaps it will be similar to a bill introduced by their Republican counterparts in the Senate, which extends the benefits but subjects them to means testing. Regardless, it will mean continuing to pay many people for nearly two years for not working.

This is a key test for the House Republican majority: will they listen to the small-government mandate that swept them into office? Or will they succumb to political pressure and advance a disastrous economic policy?

Democrats Block Disaster Aid Bill

Just last April Democrats were excoriating House Republicans asserting they were holding government hostage during the contrived government shutdown debacle. In a tit-for-tat move the Senate Democrats are now the "stonewallers" on keeping the government going by failing to pass the stopgap CR(continuing resolution).

In this latest saga the government is holding disaster relief hostage. Up and down the Wyoming Valley political pundits took jabs at Congressmen Lou Barletta and Tom Marino during the first showdown. It remains to be seen whether they voice the same opinion against the likes of Harry Reid and his cohorts in the Senate. Senate Blocks House Disaster Aid Bill

The Democrats are holding out for funding what they call an "Energy Department Loan Program".  Well twist my britches in a knot and send me over the edge.  The White House embarassment over the  Solyndra bankruptcy announcement after backing it with loans(Obama administration agreed to Solyndra loan days after insiders foresaw firm's failure) this past week and charges it inflated the claim of green jobs (Fly a plane or drive a bus? Then Obama says you've a GREEN job: White House accused of massaging eco-employment figures) shows genuine chutzpah to make this issue a stumbling block to disaster aid.

Administration Defends Half Billion Dollar Loan to Bankrupt ‘Clean Energy’ Firm

Obama administration officials told U.S. lawmakers Wednesday that a contributor to the president’s 2008 campaign played no role in pushing the $535 billion federal loan to the bankrupt solar panel firm Solyndra, Inc., raided by the FBI last week.

However, one Energy Department official did not answer directly when asked whether he had direct communications with the White House over the loan provided through stimulus money.

Emails obtained by the House Energy and Commerce Committee appear to show that Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Department of Energy (DOE) employees had expressed concerns that the process was being rushed – even as President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu were touting the California-based “clean energy” company as the wave of the future.

The Administration was warned back in 2009 about Solyndra but they threw caution to the wind with taxpayer money.

There's an even bigger problem that has been put on the back burner.  Our government has not passed a budget in 900 days making these CR's a necessary evil.

Is it any wonder why this nation is so colossally screwed?  Right now party leaders on both sides of the aisle are using this nation as a pawn in their political brinksmanship.

The amount of disaster aid needed to re-fund FEMA is a drop in the federal budget bucket at $ 7 billion when we are racking up multi trillion dollar deficits.  Everyone in Washington knows that FEMA is going to get its money so get on with it. 

Did anyone tell the leaders that 1 in 4 children in Northeastern Pennsylvania live in poverty? 

One in every four children in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metropolitan area lived in poverty in 2010, a dramatic increase over the previous year that came even as median household income in the region edged up slightly, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates indicated Thursday.

The jump was accompanied by a rise in the number of regional households that received food stamps, according to the American Community Survey, a census sampling of counties with population of at least 65,000.

"We are really talking about a huge portion of residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania who have trouble putting food on the table," said Teri Ooms, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, a Wilkes-Barre-based think tank.

Families have lost everything, children are living in poverty, and Washington is quamired.  They got molasses in their britches in a time when this nation needs action and compromise.  The Democrats know they can't keep spending and the Republicans know that the government still has responsibilities.  In that statemen

Blame The American Will

The downgrading of American debt rocked the foreign markets this evening according to this ABC news report.

Blame the American will. Washington was sent a message last election. You can be a liberal, liberal or a conservative, conservative. Regardless, take notice. OUR COUNTRY needs fixin and quite frankly Scarlet we don't give a damn.

Unions who rely on government for employment cannot have a blank check. Social programs who rely on Americans cannot have a blank check. States who look to the Federal government to solve their problems cannot have a blank check. End of story. Because obviously our credit is not a blank check according to ratings agencies.

Now, does that mean the federal government cannot collect taxes and redistribute it to the masses to effect growth? Hell no. But don't disguise an agenda behind the true meaning of government assistance. For the day of atonement is upon those who want government to tax more for their benefits and salaries.

FDR made people work for government money. John Kennedy asked not what can your country do for you, ask what can you do for your country. Tomorrow lay down the pulpits of party and unite for the country's sake like they did when our Founding Fathers created this country. Small states vs. large states, southern states vs. northern states, all had an agenda to prevent the formation of our great Union, a republican form of government. Yet it was accomplished and worked. Tomorrow tell America what you are willing to do to make it succeed. For any less committment is a phony obligation to the future.

Are you willing to have those in India and China who struggle take over your country because they are more committed to bettering themselves? More willing to study, more willing to work long hours, more willing to sacrifice the pleasures of life for a sustaining future? Our children are awash in fancy cars, summer vacations to the shore, Iphones, Ipods, laptops, cash in their pockets, gasoline money, etc. etc. etc. If we learn to say no our country will benefit in the long run. In the short run we are failing the future by demanding a blank check.

Forget what America is facing, what is America's vison, ask how are we going to chart its future?

Today Seal Team Six devoted its lives to our pettiness. Tomorrow we owe it to them to sacrifice like they did for a common cause.

Obama Doesn't Understand Debt Period

The debt crisis held the country's attention. Republicans in Washington worked on the underlying problem of too much government spending(yes, Gort too much spending, not spending alone) during the negotiations while Obamacrats wanted tax increases aka MORE government spending.

This spendthrift President threw billions at the economy and look where it is today. But that action wasn't enough to ruin the United States.

On Tuesday last week he continued the train wreck by catapulting our debt to new heights. In one day we went from $14.294 trillion to $14.532 trillion adding $239 billion. (and I guess that was George Bush's fault again). Obama, in one day, used up 60% of the debt ceiling increase You can read all about it in this Washington Times article.

The previous one-day record debt increase was $186 billion, set on June 30, 2009. Imagine that, another Obama record.

Standard and Poors for the first time in history announced a downgrade of our credit according to this ABC NEWS article.

For the first time ever, the United States lost its perfect credit rating as Standard & Poor's reduced its U.S. long-term debt assessment from AAA to AA+ with a negative outlook.

In announcing the move late Friday, the ratings agency said a deal this week to reduce the nation's debt did not go far enough and exposed paralyzing political dysfunction.

The downgrade could cost the government and ordinary consumers billions of dollars by jacking up interest rates the U.S. must pay on its $14.4 trillion debt and a host of rates consumers pay for items such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards.

The move by S&P follows decisions by two other major ratings agencies, Moody's Investor Service and Fitch Ratings, to maintain the United States' AAA rating, though Moody's assigned a negative outlook.

When will this President and the Democrats get it. Enough is enough. Excessive government spending is not a Tea Party issue. It is a crisis for all Americans.

Barack Obama was ill prepared for this job but more importantly so are those who surround him it seems.

Senator John Yudichak Leads The Effort On Marcellus Shale Impact

Back in March of this year Senator John Yudichak(D-Luzerne) proposed legislation that would implement a severance tax on the extraction of natural gas in Pennsylvania. He was joined in his bipartisan effort with Senator Ted Erickson (R) and Senator John Blake(D) at the news conference according to PA Environment Daily.

“My goal is to initiate a fair and responsible severance tax in Pennsylvania. This proposal will generate significant revenue for local governments, our clean water infrastructure, and the Growing Greener program,” Sen. Yudichak said. “At the same time, such a moderate tax would allow the industry to continue expanding and creating jobs, as well as generate the economic development activity that Pennsylvania so desperately needs.”

Under Sen. Yudichak’s plan (Senate Bill 905), the severance tax would be gradually implemented based on the gas production of each well:
• A severance tax of 2 percent of the gross value of the natural gas severed at the wellhead; this tax rate would be in place for the first three years of well production;
• When the well has been in production for more than three years, the tax rate would increase to 5 percent;
• The tax rate would readjust back to 2 percent if a well’s rate of production fell below 150 MCF of natural gas per day and above 60 MCF per day;
• Wells that produce less than 60 MCF of natural gas per day are exempt from the tax.

If implemented, the severance tax would go into effect on July 1, 2011.
According to Yudichak, revenue from the severance tax would be distributed to three program areas:
• 33 percent of the revenue generated to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater and flood control projects;
• 33 percent to the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener); and
• 34 percent to local governments in those areas of Pennsylvania that are experiencing the direct effects of natural gas drilling.

Senator Yudichak has been closely monitoring this legislation as it moves along in the Senate process.

Let me be the first one to put this observation out there in public. I met Senator Yudichak during the last election cycle. He is a straight shooter, very intelligent, and well versed on government and issues affecting the public.

His bipartisan approach out of the gate as Senator is worthy of mention. He has worked well with Representative Tarah Toohil and Congressman Lou Barletta, both Republicans. Keep an eye on Yudichak for a stab at the governor's seat one day. If he continues on this path he will be a formidable candidate.

It is also worthy to note the great job Rep. Tarah Toohil and Congressman Lou Barletta are performing in "crossing the aisle" to reach out to everyone they represent. It is a new era in politics for this area, quite refreshing actually.

Urban Switching From Republican To Democrat

Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban announced he is switching his political registration from Republican to Democrat. In this Times Leader article by Jennifer Learn-Andes he cites lack of support for his latest candidacy within the Republican party and lack of unity among the Republicans for his main reasons to jump ship.

Let's tackle his claim- the lack of support for his candidacy. Anyone who paid attention this election knows that the independent voter determined this election, hands down, not Republicans. According to Luzerne County statistics there are 188,091 registered voters- 110,165 Democrats, 61,287 Republicans, and 15,933 Independents.

In this last election 15,775 Luzerne County Democrats and 15,457 Luzerne County Republicans cast a straight ballot. In case Urban wasn't paying attention that means he received overwhelming Republican support since his vote total was 18,863. House Representative John Yudichak, now Senator Yudichak, received 30,171 total votes.

In this report filed by Terri Morgan-Besecker the day after the election she made these observations. Urban performed much better in Monroe County, defeating Yudichak with 2,131 votes compared to Yudichak’s 1,697 votes. Urban also performed well in Carbon County, garnering 4,553 votes to Yudichak’s 5,122 votes

Obviously Urban's math doesn't pass the litmus test. Switching parties will almost certainly mean defeat for any future office he seeks. Tom Stish, Parker Griffith, and Arlen Specter. The homework lesson Urban failed to perform is evident in his presentation to the public.

I'll paraphrase Dale Carnegie. Politicians just do not want to admit to any wrong doing, and put the blame on everyone else instead of really looking at the situation. There you are; human nature in action, wrongdoers, blaming everybody but themselves.

GOP County Chairman Terry Casey aired a little dirty laundry in the article by stating the possibility that a few party leaders may have “overstepped their boundaries” by supporting Yudichak. Engineering an effective campaign effort gets the desired results not boundaries set by party bosses. Polling would have told Urban his weaknesses. That is how a politician tailors his messages during the campaign. But I guess Urban didn't ask anyone for advice. It wouldn't have mattered anyway.

Look at Yudichak's record as a representative and look at Urban's as a commissioner. Hands dow the voters pick the right person for the job. The days of straight party voting are long gone. And for now it appears so is Urban.

Senator Robert Mellow Remarks In 2000

In the year 2000 Senator Joseph Loeper was charged with falsifying tax related documents. According to the Free Library here are Senator Robert Mellow's comments regarding that indictment.

Statement Issued by PA Sen. Robert J. Mellow Regarding Indictment of PA Sen. Joe Loeper

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ --

The following was issued today by the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Information Office:

Today, I am deeply saddened by events surrounding the indictment of Republican State Sen. Joe Loeper, the Republican leader. Over many years, Sen. Loeper and I have served as respective leaders of our parties and share a mutual respect.

This represents the third guilty plea by a Republican senator in three years. In 1998, it was Sen. Dan Delp of York County York County for misuse of taxpayer funds. Earlier this year, Bill Slocum of Warren County was convicted of dumping 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage into a pristine creek. Now, Sen. Loeper joins them.

This illustrates the problem with no checks and balances in Harrisburg and the dilemma that one-party control represents. On November 7th, the people of Pennsylvania will, hopefully, change the political balance in Harrisburg. On Election Day, voters will have an opportunity to make a difference in how politics and government are decided in Harrisburg.

We can no longer accept this kind of leadership. The people of Pennsylvania need honest representation and action on issues of substance such as providing affordable and accessible health care to seniors. We should also be providing leadership on smaller class sizes and meaningful tax relief for working families who are being squeezed by rising school property taxes. Furthermore, the legislature will be prioritizing and allocating funds from the tobacco settlement in the near future.

Republican scandals, controversies and indictments detract from these real issues. They also take away valuable energy and resources that should be used in solving real problems.

Lately, Republicans have been running for cover rather than running the people's business. I hope that Pennsylvanians are watching these events carefully and will decide to take the necessary steps to correct this problem on Election Day.

Sen. Loeper knows what is expected of him in light of the guilty plea. He should resign immediately. That way, we can put this episode behind us and concentrate on real issues that affect real people.

It's amazing how some words tend to bomerange when uttered in a "pristine" career.

What's The Definition Of Insanity?

House Democrats keep Nancy Pelosi as their leader

For the Democrats "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

Clinton Stumping For Kanjorski

It's old news that Bill Clinton came into Nanticoke yesterday to stump for Paul Kanjorski.

A little observation about Clinton by John Baer today. The article is discussing voting trends in Pennsylvania over the years.

In 1994, Clinton was seen as more liberal as president than as a candidate and got hammered over deficits and health-care reform (sound familiar?). Democrats lost 54 House seats, eight Senate seats and control of Congress.

Will history repeat itself?

Stop Kanjorski's Spending Now

Tony Phrillas talks about Out of Control Spending on his blog today.

In the past two years, the Obama Administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress have spent $6.97 trillion, a 21.4% increase in federal spending, according to The Wall Street Journal.

And what do we have to show for the record government spending? Record unemployment, record home foreclosures, record deficits, a record number of Americans collecting food stamps, a record number of Americans living in poverty.

The national debt has risen by $2.7 trillion under Obama, passing $13 trillion ... and will continue to rise under Obama's spending projections.

Stop the madness on Nov. 2 by voting out every Democrat on the ballot.

Eachus Challenges Toohil On Character??

From the bully pulpit comes gutter politics Todd Eachus style. His attempt through the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee to define Tarah Toohil is clearly an attempt to assasinate Tarah Toohil's reputation. It is right out of the Veon/DeWeese playbook where hardball politics is its own ideology. It takes class to act competitively but it takes no class to attack in a ruthless manner. His political syndrome tries to hide behind a public veneer of idealistic concern where he hopes to accomplish shock and awe before the election and the truth surfaces.

In this book by Lloyd Etheredge "Hardball Politics A Model" he suggests that it is a subculture of the domestic and international political culture, a subculture constructed and sustained by a particular personality type, men with what is clinically known as narcissitic personality disorder. The book describes persons with this disorder as having a "grandiose self." Enter Mr. Eachus.

This flyer mailed into 116th district homes calls Tarah Toohil a "political opportunist". Todd Eachus and the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee must have very short memories.

The year was 1995 when Tom Stish, a Democratic State Representative, decided to switch parties and become a Republican.

Now convicted felon Michael Veon and Bonusgate defendant Bill DeWeese persuaded a young Democrat in 1995 named Todd Eachus who was born in Harrisburg, moved to Wilkes Barre in 1964, graduated from Coughlin High School in 1980, graduated from Pitzer College, Claremont, California, in 1984 with a political science degree, began his public service career in 1985 on the staff of Congressman Frank J. Guarini(somewhere along the line he mentions that he also worked for Congressman Paul Kanjorski), until opening his own small business in 1990 as President and Owner of Portable Space in Exeter which he owned until 1996 to run against Tom Stish.

Eachus was not from the area but, as a typical carpetbagger, moved into the area to run for Stish's seat. Eachus should talk about being a political opportunist.

The flyer attacks Tarah Toohil for switching to Republican from Democrat. It makes the erroneous assertion that she was "talked into running" by citing her press conference announcing her run for Eachus's office on 02/09/2010.

This article that appeared in the Citizen's Voice on January 13, 2010 Ms. Toohil confirmed her intentions to run against Eachus as a Democrat.

"I've been approached by some members of the Democratic Party in the Hazleton Area and have received a lot of encouragement," said Tarah Toohil, an attorney with a Kingston law firm.

The 30-year-old political newcomer she said she wants to make a difference in the area and has some specific goals.

"I would be someone who is accountable, hard-working and take my job very seriously if I decide to run for state representative in the 116th Legislative District," Toohil said.

She is a Hazleton Area graduate, who received her Juris Doctorate from Penn State University and the Dickinson School of Law. Toohil also has a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology from Northeastern University.

But then something happened.

In this follow-up article on February 9. 2010 Andrew Seder reports Until Jan. 25, Toohil was a registered Democrat but switched parties. She declined to go into detail but said she was dissuaded by some party members she would not name.

The party bosses wouldn't support her in her bid against Eachus. One of those persons was Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla. Toohil was so committed to cleaning up Harrisburg she decided to register as a Republican after being turned away by Democrats.

Tarah Toohil was quite clear why she decided to go after Eachus. Read her announcement in the Times Leader dated February 8, 2010. “When you look around our community, you see the hard times that people are facing. You also see the lack of leadership and support coming from Harrisburg. It is time to stand up and say we deserve better,” Toohil said.

Eachus is feeling the pressure according to party insiders. His latest diatribe about Tarah Toohil's character at a Democratic meeting went over like a lead balloon. He walked away publicly displaying his acts of desperation.

There will be another post on Tarah Toohil's values. It is an area that Eachus has made one of the biggest political mistakes of his career. He probably skipped the political science course on character assasination. Rarely do you ever cross the line and attack a person's profession to ruin their public image and perception by the public. Misquoting the article to make people believe she was talked into running when she announced as a Democrat that she was going to run shows amateurs at the helm of the attack. Attacking a trial lawyer who specializes in juvenile cases is another amateur mistake in trying to convince people Tarah does not care about children. In the next post more points about Tarah Toohil's excellent reputation as a person will demonstrate how bullies like Eachus are part of the distant past political system. It's time to end the stinkin thinkin and replace Harrisburg with forward thinking.

Kanjorski Is Out Of Touch

In today's Standard Speaker Paul Kanjorski wants to remind Americans that the Democrats should be proud of what they accomplished.

"First, and foremost, when I say Democrats, stand up tall, be proud. My God, the Democratic Party did everything that was good for this country and good for the working individuals of this country, and good for the middle class of this country. We have nothing to apologize for."

"You know why I'm charged up?" Kanjorski said in an interview later. "Because I think it is one of the most definitive elections in our lifetime. And that's why I'm in it. Because I think we can't afford to make the mistake of going in the wrong direction. And all of these people who are talking about going in another direction, they're (like) pre-Franklin Roosevelt people."

Evidently this chart is what he means.

"They want to go back to when Wall Street billionaires or millionaires controlled this country and their kids could just slosh around, didn't have to work, didn't have to produce and they were guaranteed their membership at the country club and their membership at the yacht club," Kanjorski said. "I don't believe in that. I believe in a merit society.

Paul, are you talking about the firms that gave you $4 million in political contributions? Paul, are you talking about the people who had American working?

This statement by Kanjorski is going to resonate over the next few days.

"The fight's not about the damn mosque in New York," he tells the Democrats at Waldorf Park. "All of us are annoyed at the fact that ... they want to build that mosque, but it's not going to have an effect on our lives.

Kanjo, you tell that to these people.

I feel sorry for you. When you are used to this it is hard to remember the sacrifices I guess.

Misleading Unemployment Statistics

In today's Standard Speaker Borys Krawczeniuk writes a column about unemployment in Hazleton. Ed Mitchell has been touting a misleading figure out there in an attempt to fool the public about the real issue. Why do I say misleading?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States government maintains this website that clearly shows Pennsylvania unemployment unabated rise since the beginning of the year. At this link on their site county unemployment data is listed for Pennsylvania. There is a very important footnote on that page.

NOTE: Rates shown are a percentage of the labor force. Data refer to place of residence. The City of Hazleton does not have any industrial parks. You will find them surrounding the city- Hazle Township, West Hazleton, Sugarloaf, Butler Township, and McAdoo. Firms such as Archer Daniels Midland, Hershey, Office Max, Autozone, etc are located in those parks. If they lay off any workers who live in the City of Hazleton the statistic gets charged to Hazleton even though the workers lived outside the city. How Mitchell can blame the Mayor for loss of jobs that weren't within the city limits in the first place and get away with it is beyond me?

Here is a link to the Center For Workforce Information and Analysis website that shows the Metropolitan Statistical Areas and the Micropolitan Statistical Areas. The City of Hazleton is not listed. The residence issue is the reason the data can be skewed when drilling down too deep. Why don't they list the unemployment figures for Nanticoke, Lattimer, Pardeesville, Hollywood, Ashley, Dunmore,etc. It's simple. To do so would create a statistical anomaly.

Its a Democratic state with a Democratic Representative who worked for a Democratic Congressman. It is not hard to figure out why there is a statistic for Hazleton and not one for Nanticoke.

If Borys wants to be responsible to the people who read his articles he needs not to stretch the facts to create a story. He needs to report them for what they are.

The chart at the top of the article explains what is happening all over Northeastern Pennsylvania. Paul Kanjorski, instead of telling us what's wrong tell us what you did about it. Evidently NOTHING.

I Want Your Money

Barletta 52% Kanjorski 41% In New Poll

In a new poll conducted for the American Action Forum voters say the country is on the wrong track by a three to one margin. A majority of the voters canvassed in the districts included in the poll are against the health care reform plan by a 51 to 39 percent margin.

The 11th Congressional District race poll confirms a previous poll showing Barletta leading Kanjorski by a much wider margin than the last race.

Challenger Lou Barletta’s 93 percent name recognition is very similar to Rep. Paul Kanjorski’s 96 percent, and Barletta holds a 52 to 41 percent lead on the ballot.

A similar result was found for the GOP challenger Tom Marino in the 10th district against Chris Carney. He leads 52% to 37%.

So how did that "Hopey Changey" thing work out for Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and Kanjorski?

New Republican Ad

The Bottom Line on Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich: “I don’t think this president will control spending. I don’t think the democrats in the House and Senate will control spending. So they want the right to run up the biggest credit card in history, more than any teenager in America, and then turn around and tell the rest of us we have to pay for their credit card,”

Kanjorski's Pothole

In a sign that incumbents like Paul Kanjorski face a daunting challenge to retain their seats in Congress a new ABCNews/Wahsington Post poll out more than suggests the frustration Americans have with their elected officials.

A year and a half into his presidency, 51 percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll would rather have the Republicans run Congress "to act as a check on Obama's policies," vs. 43 percent who want the Democrats in charge to help support those policies. That's accompanied by a 7-point, one-month drop in approval of Obama's handling of the economy, to a career low.

While Democrats are most at risk, the danger's not theirs alone. Registered voters by 62-26 percent are inclined to look around for someone new for Congress rather than to re-elect their current representative – the broadest anti-incumbency on record in ABC/Post polls since 1989. Backing for incumbents has lost 11 points since February, an unusually steep decline. There are other signs of raging discontent: ABC's Frustration Index remains well in the red zone, at 67 on its scale of 0 to 100, right where it's been all year. It's reached higher just twice, likewise in times of deep economic trouble – in fall 2008, 80; and in 1992, 73.

If the question has been when Obama owns the economy , it looks to be now – not at a happy time, given 9.5 percent unemployment. He'd made slight progress on this key issue, inching ahead from 45 percent approval on the economy in March to 50 percent in June. That's now gone, down 7 points in this poll to 43 percent, with 54 percent disapproving, a new high. And "strong" disapprovers outnumber strong approvers by a record 41 percent vs. 20 percent.

Saying the economy's getting better, moreover, may not help Obama and the Democrats, and indeed could hurt. Just 27 percent in this poll see it improving, not significantly different from 30 percent last month, and surely not on the way up. Claiming the economy was advancing when most Americans didn't see it was the precisely the pothole that swallowed George H.W. Bush in his unsuccessful re-election bid in 1992.

"We are helluva alot better off as a country and as an economy than we have ever been in the history of mankind"- Congressman Paul Kanjorski

House of Greed- State of Despair

Newspaper after newspaper are giving a thumbs down to the on-time delivery of the Pennsylvania General Fund budget. Much to the chagrin of our illustreous solons the media is not taking the bait to pat them on the back for a job well done.

The Philadelphia Inquirer assessment. Pennsylvania's state budget meets the deadline... but it's still one ugly baby

Opinion in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Faux budget: Hey, Harrisburg, your work's not done

Assessment of the budget by Pennlive.com Pennsylvania budget: What it means to you

Editorial that appeared in the Times-Shamrock publications. Lawmakers pass sacrifice to others New budget contains many cuts in service

It is painfully obvious that many legislators are going to have a tough re-election battle come this fall. It is evident that the Democratic party attacking the Repulicans over fiscal conservancy will surely cost them dearly. But the Repulicans are not without blame over the lack of cuts in the legislative budget. Per diems, per diems, per diems. That is a message Harrisburg will hear loud and clear.

It in unconscionable that a legislator making a minimum of $78,314.00 per year demands another $163.00 TAX FREE PER DAY to perform his or her work. Don't let any legislator fool you. Eachus keeps saying what he takes is legal. It's only legal because he gets to make the rules. Its like saying you think a hole in golf "shouldn't be PAR 4 I'll change it to PAR 8".

The unaccountable expense account, fully paid healthcare, dental, eye, vision, too generous pension, car allowance, and telephone provisions plus franking privileges will not be tolerated in a 10 plus percent unemployment environment well into its second year.

To thumb their nose at constituents will go down in history as a period in Pennsylvania government when the legislature finally subcombed to a culture of greed. Not all legislators are greedy but those that aren't need to step up to the plate with a voice much louder than what we are hearing from the House Majority Leader.

Mr. Eachus allowed the power of the leadership to haze his understanding of the needs of those he represents. Families are affected directly by his decisions and votes. He ignores that possiblity when he tries to attack his opponents. He quickly forgets what he did to the people of the 116th who once supported him. Well, come November, he will be reminded.

He can't be Majority Leader unless he gets re-elected. Of course from the ramblings in Harrisburg his tenure will be cut short anyway if he is. His bully style of leadership, the same way he deals with certain constituents, has a short leash of toleration.

Pennsylvania will earn the nickname "State of Despair" unless its leaders or those who should be leaders step forward and do the right thing. Don't tell us you eliminated wasteful spending, DO IT!