The McCain Terrible Towel!

I wasn't at the rally yesterday (that's why the pics aren't very good). On the off chance that Obama wins, I worked so I could save money to pay all the new taxes. Actually, I had front row seats to see Squeeze in Cleveland, but I had to stay home and cough my lungs out instead. What a terrible cough I had!

Family enjoyed the rally, but the traffic getting home was terrible.

McCain in Washington, PA

People starting to arrive for the event at 3pm.

With Palin on the ticket...

I will not resign my position under any circumstances. I have been hoping for a McCain/Palin ticket for a while. They will have to kick me out! Even if they do, I will donate more money and volunteer more than most of them.

This guy deserves a lot of credit.

I think his blog helped focus attention on Governor Palin.

http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/

Palin for VP

Readers of the old blog know I have been supporting Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the VP spot for the last year. As Don Thomson will tell you, I was the only one in the christian coalition poll who voted for Palin.

This is a slam dunk McCain victory in November! I can't believe he made such an incredibly smart decision.

Now, I wish I had run for delegate. Come on over disgruntled Hillary supporters!!!!

Silliness of trying to eject me from the Westmoreland County republican committee

The McCain campaign celebrates this cross over voter and encourages more democrats to do the same. I am saying that I would be a hypocrite to ask democrats to vote for McCain, Murphy, Corbett, Krieger and now Kim Ward if I do not put party aside and vote for the truly better candidate in the 59th, Mike O'Barto. Come on guys, you can't have it both ways. Be consistent.

Why is this the Westmoreland GOP blog anyway?

I thought I should clear this up. When I took over as chairman, there was no website. So, I personally registered a domain and paid for it. I also paid the hosting fees through Yahoo! I never asked for reimbursement because I wanted editorial control. I found out that updating websites is sort of cumbersome. Then, I found blogger. I loved it. You can write anything really fast and publish it. Gets you in trouble sometimes. The official Westmoreland County Republican Committee website never got many hits, but the blog got tons and was free. So, after the last election, I closed the website so I could spend the $20/month on something useful like pepperming white chocolate lattes. I forward the www.westmorelandgop.com domain here until a new chairman took over.

While I was still chairman and before I endorsed Mike O'Barto, a new "official website of the westmoreland county republican committee" appeared. It was a surprise to me. But that was OK, I had skipped the last meeting to go running. So, it was my fault.

I fully intended to hand over the domain names, but some on the executive committee of the county GOP started talking like I stole the domain names. That wasn't cool. I just had enough ambition to buy them and teach myself how to design a website. I didn't really appreciate the negative accusations. So, I keep it parked here. I am a republican. This is Westmoreland county. So, WestmorelandGOP is an accurate description of content.

If anyone wished, I did purchase other domains which anyone can have:
www.democratsforswann.com
www.democratsforlynnswann.com
www.joelreiter2006.com

Keb' Mo' at the Palace was awesome

Went to see Robert Cray and Keb' Mo' at the Palace. I have never heard Keb' Mo' before. He stole the show! Hats off to the Palace. They have some great shows. Robert Cray was better in Nashville at the Wildhorse Saloon. Or maybe it was the fact that the waitress there kept bringing me really tall beers to go along with the fried pickles. Also didn't hurt that we were in the front row and staying at a cool hotel without the kids (I love the kids, but I love time with the wife too.)

Almost got in trouble. I said to myself before the show that I was voting for any candidate that was cool enough to be there. I was minding my own business drinking that foreign beer, Budweiser, when I saw a lady wearing a Bompiani button. Well, it was Mrs. Bompiani and while she was very nice and I had just met her husband at my door and my puppy, Samantha, may have puppy nipped his hand and he was very nice about it--a deal is a deal--The actual candidate must be in attendance.

Romney!!!!???

Politico is reporting that McCain may have settled on Mitt Romney for vice president. Awesome news. At least my donation to Romney for President will amount to something!

Info on John McCain's visit to Washington, PA on Aug 30

Join Senator John McCain and Cindy McCainfor a Road to the Convention Rally
August 30, 2008
Doors open 3:00 p.m.
Special Guest: John Rich of "Big and Rich"
Consol Energy Park
1 Washington Federal Way
Washington, PA 15301


Get your tickets at these locations:

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Calendar/Detail.aspx?guid=97118433-46da-4bce-b846-bc53f384c150

McCain rally in Washington, PA Aug 30

From a McCall.com:

John McCain’s presidential campaign has approached a minor league baseball stadium in southwestern Pennsylvania about hosting a rally for the Arizona senator the Saturday before the GOP convention, further fueling speculation that former Gov. Tom Ridge is among the finalists to join him on the ticket.

The Aug. 30 rally would come just two days after Democrat Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention in Denver and provide an opportunity to roll out McCain’s running mate before a 7,000-person crowd. McCain is expected to announce his choice the day before at an event in Dayton, Ohio, Politico reported Tuesday.LINK

I think it was just the bus at the fair without McCain

Tell me what you think:

All John McCain Supporters are invited to welcome John McCain's Straight Talk Express at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds, Main Gate Entrance at 3:00 sharp today. Come out and show your support for our nominee for President of the United States of America by welcoming the Straight Talk Express. From the "official site of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee"

Well, that is silly. Who would want to see a bus? McCain has a townhall meeting in New Mexico tomorrow. It would have sucked to go out there expecting to see John McCain and all you see is a bus. Now, I don't feel so bad. My kid would have thought I was a nut dragging her out there to see a bus.

I have been asked to resign from the GOP

The Westmoreland County Republican Committee is asking me to resign from the committee because I support a prolife, pro-second amendment, pro-business and experienced elected official to be my state represenative. When the two people I wanted to run for the 59th declined, I knew I was then going to support Mike O'Barto for the seat. He has been a good township supervisor and I have a good relationship with him. Most of all, he has the experience to be an independent voice in the state house. We need that. Anyway, I did not circulate a petition because I knew I was supporting him. But, I was written in. So, I find myself on the committee.

Over the past few years, my wife and I must have given over $10000 to GOP candidates. This does not included the amount of money that can drain from your wallet when you are chairman of the party. I guess I should itemize it so I can have them amend their reports. It is a lot.

So now, some on the committee want to kick me off. Here is my problem with that:

• Vast majority of the committee did nothing (Don't believe me, read Carl Duda's current complaint that no one on the committee helps)
• Vast majority of the committee gave no money
• Those who complained the most, helped the least.
• I watched some of the same people who probably will vote to remove me from the committee work actively against Sen. Arlen Specter.
• Every election, we asked prominent democrats to endorse our GOP candidates. Is this what we really think of them when they support a republican? Is it such an evil act to cross party lines? Why would any democrat cross party lines to support a republican if we, as republicans, act in this manner? Seriously. Do we hold democrats who cross party lines in such disdain?

So, I will not resign my position. I am not a quitter. I don't want to present that example to my kids. How silly is it to kick me off the committee when all I have to do is circulate a petition next time around and be back on the committee?

I'm missing a lot of excitement

Regola dropping out. Picking a new candidate. All I had to do was run 8 miles today and take my kids to gymanstics and music. And, have lunch with the wife.

I think Kim Ward can win that senate seat. Hempfield School District is sort of a mess and I bet you can blame Bompiani for that. Very unfortunate that she will not be county commissioner.

My prediction is: Kim Ward wins the senate seat. Mike O'Barto beats Mike Reese in the 59th. Mike Reese is named commissioner to replace Kim Ward. And I finish the Philadelphia marathon faster than my goal time. Happiness all around this November.