Kanjorski wearing Flip Flops

Paul Kanjorski decided to do a flip-flop. Just wanted to give him a few for future use. He will be sure to use them all before this election is over.

"Kanjorski signed on as a co-sponsor of House Resolution 6709, a bipartisan bill called the National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act, on July 3. The bill, which would have lifted the ban on offshore drilling, had broad bipartisan support and Kanjorski was one of its 138 co-sponsors.

H.R. 6709 would repeal the offshore ban and allow drilling beyond 25 miles from shore, with states having complete authority from 25 to 50 miles off their coastline. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, voted against that measure on Tuesday, which subsequently failed .Minutes later, he voted for H.R. 6899, which passed. That bill bans offshore drilling within 50 miles of shore. "

So much for Kanjorski being truly interested in solving our energy crisis. Did anyone tell him the oil is where its at, not where he wants it to be? Gotta love Foghorn Leghorn -"Boys as sharp as a bowling ball."

"I'm Willing To Let Them Fail" Paul Kanjorski

In the same Saturday, September 20, 2008 article Paul Kanjorski is quoted making a sarcastic statement "I'm willing to let them fail" referring to the financial institutions that are seeking a federal bailout. In a fair and balanced look Paul was not sincere but sarcastic with his comment.

Now let's look at Paul Kanjorski and Ed Mitchell's smear campagin against Lou Barletta regarding healthcare. In a recent commercial put out by the Kanjorski campaign it distorts one of Barletta's statements made to the Pocono Record in a March 26, 2008 story. In the article he stated "Government-run health care scares me to death," he said. "I don't think the government should be in the health care business. It could encourage more people to come into the country illegally for health care."

Ed Mitchell took the statement "I don't think the government should be in the health care business" and used it out of context in a political ad aimed square at Barletta. The Kanjorski ad uses the quote to proffer that Barletta opposes current government-funded health programs, such as Medicare and Children's Health Insurance (CHIP), Va hospitals, and Medical Assistance. Clearly Barletta's statement was "stretched" by the Kings of Stretch, Ed Micthell and Paul Kanjorski.

When one reads that article Paul Kanjorski makes the statement "I don't do the ads," claiming not to know the specific content. Hello, Paul. "I am Paul Kanjorski and I approve this message" is at the beginning of the ad on KanjoTV.

The ad starts by stating "Lou Barletta is a threat to your health." It is the typical smear that is characteristic of a fight against Ed Mitchell. He chooses to ignore the private and employer sponsored insurances in America today. Ed charges that George Bush has the U.S. in a world of debt. Yet, he and Paul Kanjorski want to put American taxpayers into more debt by funding all health insurance. With double digit inflation in healthcare expenditures it won't be long before 100% of GDP will be used to pay for "Kanjorski's master plan."

The ad ends with a statement that Lou Barletta opposes health insurance for all Americans. That charge is another distortion of Lou Barletta's position. Is Paul Kanjorski making us believe that the only way all Americans can have health insurance is if the United States Government pays for it? When did Lou Barletta ever state he opposes health insurance for all Americans? Let's see that one in writing.

What he did state is that he is opposed to the government in the healthcare business. No government should ever be in business, otherwise it competes with the very entity that supports it. Medicare, VA hospitals, and Chips are not goverment healthcare business entities. They are entitlement programs. The services in two out of three programs are provided by healthcare providers paid by the government. Even the VA hospitals do not compete as they do not serve the public. Their subsidies are paid for by the government to only treat military personnel.

But, as one would expect, Ed and Paul wouldn't know the difference. Washington has clouded Paul's vision. If Barletta wanted to stoop to the Ed Mitchell mentality he would come out with a commercial that states Paul Kanjorski wants all financial institutions to fail. After all Paul did say he was "willing." And that is scary to our health.

Ed Mitchell has the nerve to rip Barletta over negative campaign ads. Jeff Brauer from Keystone College was almost right when he said "it’s common for challengers to make incumbents out to be untrustworthy, corrupt or out of touch. In this case Ed Mitchell and Paul Kanjorski are doing it to themselves. "It's free money." "But you know, the temptation to want to win back the Congress, we sort of stretched the facts...and people ate it up." "You’re telling me I can’t take care of my family?"

Paul Kanjorski Supports George Bush

In Saturday's edition, September 20, 2008, of the Hazleton Standard Speaker there is an article titled "Kanjorski halts campaigning to help with economic issues"

In the article it states "Kanjorski said he would spend the weekend helping Paulson and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke author legislation aimed at resolving the crisis." Paulson was a Bush appointment in 2006 and Bernanke was appointed to his position in 2005 by George Bush.

Ed Mitchell, Kanjorski's failing media guru, created commercials against Lou Barletta stating he supported George Bush. Now any "student of government", to borrow a Kanjorski phrase about stretching the facts, knows that Lou Barletta, as Mayor of Hazleton, never had an opportunity to support George Bush because Barletta has no vote in Congress.

If one were to look at how Paul Kanorski votes it is readily apparent that he has supported George Bush and the Republicans on more than one occassion.

Since the 2002 race, Mayor Barletta has become known for his strong opposition to illegal immigration. Kanjorski attacked Barletta's views on the issue in February, 2008, comparing Barletta to David Duke by saying, "What David Duke was to civil rights, my opponent has done that with immigration...He's used that issue the same way Duke used the civil rights issue." In the ensuing controversy, Kanjorski apologized for implying that Barletta was a racist.

However, it you look at Paul Kanjorski's campaign website you will see his own position against illegal immigration. It is titled "Curbing Illegal Immigration" . Here is what it states:

"Paul believes that we need secure borders and strong enforcement of laws already on the books to prevent illegal immigration. He opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, and is a cosponsor of the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. This bill would combat illegal immigration through stronger worksite enforcement, increased border security, and improved interior enforcement.

Paul has long been a supporter of making English the official language of the United States government because the use of English as a common language remains vital to our nation’s prosperity.

As a land of immigrants, America has prospered by attracting talented and ambitious people from around the world. Paul supports streamlining the process by which those who aspire to become Americans can immigrate to our country legally."

So if Lou Barletts is labeled a racist by Kanjorski and others, what does that make Kanjorski? Don't be swayed by Mitchell's campaign rhetoric designed to make you look right when you should be looking at his leftist tactics. Let Paul Kanjorsk stand on his record. His record includes giving taxpayer money and political donations to his family; His record includes admission of stretching the facts; His record of suppporting George Bush.

As for Paul Kanjorski supporting George Bush. Well, that is only true now. Let's see what happens come November.

The Twist On Universal Healthcare

Most Americans believe government can play a role in fixing the health care system. If you read the latest quips about universal healthcare the pundits will try to tell you private corporations would run health plans paid for by the U.S. government. In an effort to create a distinction Democrats and Paul Kanjorski are claiming that system is not a government entitlement program. Yet, that setup exactly mirrors the way Medicare dispenses healthcare today. Ask yourself this question- do you believe Medicare is a government program? The elderly already have virtually universal healthcare coverage due to Medicare.

It is only partially true to state that the United States does not have a national healthcare system similar to other nations around the world. With the introduction of Medicare Part D prescription programs governement now pays for approximately 45% of all healthcare expenses in America. This estimate includes funding for Medicare, Medicaid, workers' compensation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, public hospitals, and government public health activities. Thus, public funds directly pay for the health care of many people in the United States.

In the United States around 84.7% of citizens have some form of [here] health insurance; either through their employer (59.3%), purchased individually (8.9%), or provided by government programs (27.8%; there is some overlap in these figures).

In 1960 the percent of GDP that went to national healthcare expenditures was 5.2%. In 2005 that figure rose to 16%. In 1965 households paid 61 percent of national healthcare expenditures. Click Here In 1960 federal, state, and local government payments for healthcare services were 13.1% of their total budgets. In 2005 that figure rises to 40.4%. Out of pocket expenditures in 1960 were 55% however they decreased to just 15% in 2005. Government was paying 21.4% in 1960 but that figure has risen to 45%. When one looks at hospital expenditures out of pocket expenditures were 20.7% in 1960 and only represent 3.3% in 2005. Governments share was 42.2% and rose to 56.8% in the same time period. Private insurance remained fairly steady in the 35%+ area.

As one can see the government has played an ever increasing role in purchasing healthcare for the last 48 years. Now the Democratic battle cry is for universal healthcare. Congressman Paul Kanjorski is an avid supporter of universal healthcare. However when you read the issue he provides no details on how to accomplish his goal. With an ever increasing share of healthcare expenditures already absorbed by government the only way to attain his goal is to raise taxes. That solution is already a component of Obama's plan.

Despite this relatively high level of spending, the U.S. does not appear to provide substantially greater health resources to its citizens, or achieve substantially better health benchmarks, compared to other developed countries.

Only 15% of Americans lack health insurance in this country. While it is a significant burden to those without insurance the unacceptable rise in overall healthcare costs bears examination. If government and private insurance companies have been regulating the cost of healthcare for decades why is the cost of healthcare spiraling upward out of control?

If you think of healthcare in a global sense like oil you will find a striking statistic. Government healthcare expenditures have been growing much more rapidly than GDP in OECD countries (Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development). For example, between 1970 and 2002 these expenditures grew 2.3 times faster than GDP in the U.S., 2.0 times faster than GDP in Germany, and 1.4 times faster than GDP in Japan. The growth in healthcare expenditures has been rising globally as well. What is the common denominator in each of these cases? The price controls used by these governments are not working to contain costs. And universal healthcare as proposed would be more of the same.

The U.S. should be looking to the consumer as a conduit of change. Look at the price of lasik surgery today compared with its inception in 1990. A person can pay as little as $295.00 per eye. Competition due to total out of pocket expense on the part of the patient is the main reason for the significant decrease in the face of increasing healthcare costs.

The government should look to reform the tax treatment of health insurance payments and use health care tax credits to offset out of pocket expenses incurred to compensate consumer driven purchases of healthcare. Health insurance exchanges could also be established state by state to facilitate the consumer and small employer purchase of health insurance, private insurance at affordable rates through competition. Employers could be facilitators for their employees to have access to these insurance exchanges. Consumers would be able to look to small businesses as access points to the same exchanges. This avenue would transition away from the traditional model of employer sponsored health insurance.

Paul Kanjorski, that is how one starts to solve the health care crisis in this country. The babble on this issue contained at your campaign site only serves to demonstrate that your thinking is not forward looking but "people feel good" words. It is time to place forward thinking people like Lou Barletta in Congress if we are to pave a successful path for the future.

More Than Streching The Facts

Paul Kanjorsk won't talk the issues so this piece is an attempt to let his record speak for "himself." In Kanjorski's 2002 campaign he made some claims about the issues.

On his 2002 website that is archived at the Library of Congress Paul Kanjorski lists issues during that campaign. There seems to be a problem with the issues . When one checks the record what is stated under the issue it appears to be an inaccurate representation of the Congressman's voting record.

On this issue Winning The War on Terrorism "Because he believes it is important to track, capture and prosecute terrorists, Congressman Kanjorski supported passage of the USA PATRIOT Act, which President Bush signed into law last October. The problem is when you go here you will see he voted NO.

On Safeguarding You Money, Investments, and Privacy it states "Congressman Kanjorski also believes that we need to crack down on corporate crime. To hold CEOs accountable and subject them to criminal penalties for knowingly lying, Congressman Kanjorski worked with his Democratic colleagues to introduce the Corporate Responsibility Act." Again there seems to be a misunderstanding of the record. This bill never became law. This bill was proposed in a previous session of Congress. Sessions of Congress last two years, and at the end of each session all proposed bills and resolutions that haven't passed are cleared from the books.
Last Action: Apr 29, 2002: Referred to the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises

I guess these problems are why he confessed to the world that the Dems strectched the facts about the Iraq war to win the 2006 election. Stretching the facts seems to be a habit. One has to wonder whether counseling will help this propensity to stretch.

Failure To Communicate- A Kanjorski Trait

During a WVIA interview in January 2008 moderator Bill Kelly asked Paul Kanjorski if he would commit to a debate in the fall of 2008. Paul replied "Did you say 180 debates?" When pressed he agreed to participate in that debate.

Lou Barletta challenged Paul Kanjorski to eleven debates, one on each issue. Paul Kanjorski has refused that request. He is refusing to discuss the issues just as he refused to discuss energy on August 1st. The scheduled congressional break was August 10th. But on August 1st Paul Kanjorski and Nancy Pelosi voted to and actually turned out the lights and shut off the micrphones of Congress then walked away.

Today Joe biden ripped into Sarah Palin charging that she refuses to face the media. He is qouted on the Political Radar Blog of ABC news http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/biden-rips-mc-1.html .

"I’ve done a lot of press, I’ve done, I don’t know, I was told I did 68, 70 press conferences, and the person says, "What do you think about Sarah Palin?" I said, “When she does three, I’ll let you know." I don’t know! I don’t have any idea! I don’t know! I don’t know!" Biden said as the crowd rose to their feet.

"You know, I mean, look, and it’s not, look guys, it’s not just Sarah Palin," he continued. "When’s the last time John, when’s the last time John’s had a press conference? I’m serious.”

Biden then turned to Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who introduced him.

"Ted, you and I know, when an elected official stops having press conferences, it ain’t because he’s found a way to communicate," Biden said. "It’s because he doesn’t want to communicate. Look folks, I mean, I, I, it’s just, if I sound angry it’s because I am angry. I mean, it’s like I don’t get it, I don’t get it!”

So the question goes out to Paul Kanjorski - "Do you know how to communicate?" "Is Paul Kanjorski afraid to face the media?"

Why is Paul Kanjorski afraid to debate Lou Barletta? Is he afraid he will have to explain how he has come to amass $6 million in assets as defined in his finance records while earning a Congressman's salary?

Time and again Paul states he will run on his record. Does that record include the debacle of $10 million from Cornerstone Technoligies? Does that record include taking $234,000.00 from the National Association of Realtors? Lou Barletta should make the claim that Paul Kanjorski is the candidate of Big Business with that type of infusion into Kanjorski's campaign.

When does Main Street become Broad Street in Hazleton?

In an interview on Channel 13 from Hazleton dated March 21st, 2008 Paul Kanjorski claimed “I brought into Hazleton City millions of dollars of federal grants that have never been used, and I find it incredible that, over all these years, with millions of dollars of grants, we have some of the conditions that I see on Main Street in Hazleton,” “The main street could have been repaved, sidewalks paved.”

Barletta, on behalf of the City, was insulted by the congressman's remarks.

“I am surprised that Congressman Kanjorski chose to not only attack me but also insult the City of Hazleton, its business owners and developers, and its citizens,” Barletta said. “The fact that Congressman Kanjorski is unaware of the development projects — past and present — here in Hazleton is further evidence he has spent too much time in Washington and has lost touch with his district.”

The mayor also jumped on Kanjorski’s mistake of referring to Broad Street as “Main Street.”

“The fact that the congressman didn’t even know what street he’s on while criticizing its condition speaks volumes about how out of touch he is,” Barletta said.

The question to Paul Kanjorski "What Hazleton were you in??" Hayden Towers, three tenants in its new annex, and a new restaurant, new drug store, intermodel started Lackawanna College opened in the old Post Office building, Luzerne County bought the former KNCB building on Broad St and is locating offices there, mine reclamation project, A.D. Thomas apartment renovation.

So when was the last time Paul took a walk down Main Street, oh sorry, Broad Street, Hazleton? It has become apparent that Paul Kanjorski is out of touch with his distrct. Washington has changed him. He said it in his own words- "Congress has its own laws."

Let's Talk About Fairy Tales

Let's talk about fairy tales. Biden was elected to the Senate in 1972. McCain was elected in 1982. So who's been part of the 'ole boy network longer? Obama talks about change. "Change we can believe in." He picks Biden who's there since 1972 and ignores Hillary who was only elected to the Senate in 2000. McCain picks Palin who has never been there but Obama talks about change. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. The 'ole boy network all of the sudden has a crack in its presentation.

Let's get on about drilling in ANWR. There are those that say drilling in ANWR will not drill us out of our problem. Wake up. Oil is a global commodity not just a United States commodity. If extra oil is added to the world supply market forces will correct price even if it is just a small correction. One expects the United States to go to Saudi Arabia and ask them to increase production to bring the global price down while we sit on our own oil. Saving it for exactly what?? We are giving our money to people who would want to see us dead. Why give them a dollar when we can give ourselves the money? Use ANWR as a bridge until we conclusively reach a point of real commercial production and applications of alternative energy. Did someone say we should walk more and take care of the obesity epidemic while we are at it? Nahhh,,,sounds too simple.

DCNR just sold leases on a little over 74, 000 acres in north central PA, land it owns, for about $189 million. You can read all about it here. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/gaslease.aspx Beautiful pristine forests like we all see in northeast PA. I had a pilots license and flew over this area many times.

To listen to the pundits we should not to drill in ANWR which is a desolate place so we don't ruin its environment. Here is a video to watch about exactly what we are talking about http://www.anwr.org/flash.htm and more information can be found here.http://www.anwr.org/backgrnd/where.htm Yet no one is complaining about the land in PA that soon will be sights for gas exploration rigs.

DCNR has over 2 million acres in its inventory. If it is okay for PA, and I don't have a personal problem with it, why are we allowing others to sell us a bag full of bull about ANWR?Back to that $189 million the state never had before. So do you think they are going to use it for highways or bridges? Or more of the same from Rendell and out of control spending.

9/11

I am so mad. Why have people forgotten what happened on 9/11/2001? It is not 2011 nor 2021 or 2031. It is 2008. Almost 3,000 people died that day. Innocent people, not Americans who knew they offered their lives for their country, but ordinary people were terminated from America, from their families, from their dreams. Am I wrong in that sentence? Should we as Americans hold the truth self-evident that as part of our declaration in being America we do offer our lives for our country?

If you watched John McCain during his speech you saw limited mobility on the tele. Did you question why he could not move so much? Did it even dawn on you that there was a problem and why? Did you bother to research his situation to determine the answers to those questions? John McCain was beaten, arms and legs both broke, because he refused to participate in Vietnamese rhetoric. When they found out who he was they offered release to him. True to his honor as an American, true to his patriotism to his fellow comrades, he declined their offer. Insead he held to the tenet that first in is the first person out. He paid a price for that decision.

When you go to vote this election ask yourself one question? Are you going to vote against an American hero or one who wants you to believe he is one?

Don't be fooled by the false message of change. Americans are asking for change. America is not asking to be changed. America knows what it wants.. And it wants Washington to change. If you keep sending the same people to Washington over and over how are you going to accomplish change?

Obama said he is for change yet he chose Joe Biden. Actually his slogan is "Change we can believe in." Biden has been a senator since 1972. He has been in Washington 35 years. Think about that statement. He can claim to be a 5 term Senator but Senators are in Washington 6 years at a time. How does Joe Biden represent change? To me he represents more of the same
Washington and its cronies wanting infamy, destiny, and enshrinememt.
















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11th Congressional Race Pennsylvania

Lets take a look at the 11th Congressional Race in Pennsylvania between incumbent Congressman Paul Kanjorski and his formidable challenger Lou Barletta. Congressman Kanjorski is seeking his twelveth term in Congress and is facing the fight of his political career.

Paul's troubles began several years ago with a company owned and operated by his relatives that received federal grant money through earmarks secured by Kanjorski. Although this issue has been known for several elections since it was first brought to light it is a fire that will not be extinguished any time soon. The mood of the country, the circumstances, the events that Americans feel violate their trust election after election are reaching the Boston Tea Party point.

No matter how Paul tries to persuade his constituents that nothing he personally did was an illegal act he has miserably failed in addressing their underlying discontent. Cornerstone Technologies and Pennsylvania Micronics, both owned by his family, eventually went bankrupt and approximately $10 million in taxpayer money was lost in the process. The Kanjorski clan has yet to disclose how much of their own personal money was lost in this venture.