McCain and the financial crisis

How do they spin this mess in Congress? Was this McCain's intended result? I guess he is going to have to suspend his campaign again to straighten out this mess. McCain staked much on putting his leadership to work on this legislation. I don't see how this does anything but hurt his campaign.

I think a public apology is owed to someone...

If you happened to view the Westmoreland County Republican Committee's site over the past several days, it was just nuts. Fortunately, it looks like that is behind them now. However, some mean (and totally untrue) things were said about a really nice person. A public apology should be part of any agreement to settle things.

Last night's Presidential debate.

First, I am voting for John McCain. If you are truly objective, the debate last night leaned slightly toward McCain toward the end. Unfortunately, people were most interested in economics and Obama did better on that topic. When you factor in McCain's "I am suspending my campaign and not attending the debate" position of the last several days AND the fact that foreign policy is McCain's strong point, John McCain needed to annihilate Obama and he did not.

Initially polling shows the public perception that Obama won and as much as it pained him, Dick Morris thought so too.

Unless they kick me out, I am still a member of the Westmoreland County Repulican Committee. I don't think their website should be calling Obama "Osama" or calling him a muslim when he clearly is not. Obama can easily be beaten on ideas. McCain has the better plan and experience. It does not serve Senator McCain well to put slurs on the website. As a matter of fact, McCain opposes that.

Busy night last night.

Elizabeth, my daughter--not the extraordinary political genius Elizabeth Yorio, had piano and other music lessons in Greensburg from 7 pm to 8:30 pm last night. So eventhough I had injured my leg earlier in the day, I went running in downtown Greensburg which has great hills to train on. The run sucked, but I saw and met interesting people.

Bompiani was having a fundraiser at The Palace Theatre. Doesn't look like he could have raised all that much money from the looks of things.

Tom Balya was standing out in front of the Obama headquarters. He is a partisan guy and his writings seem a bit "angry" at times, but he was very pleasant to have a conversation with. He introduced me to John Boyle who is running against my friend Tim Krieger. There was lots of activity going on inside the Obama headquarters. FYI, McCain will win Westmoreland by at least 25,000 votes.

Stopped by the Westmoreland GOP headquarters. Lots of calling was going on there. Picked up some McCain stickers. I met the guy who was being talked about on the other "Westmoreland Republicans" site. He seemed nice and capable. I also know the girl who is being talked about on that site and she is pretty awesome. I would want her involved in any campaign I was in. I only mention this because my name was mentioned on that site. I want to make certain that people know I like the girl who is being discussed on the site very much. She is intelligent and very capable. Physically, the description attributed to her is just not accurate.

A negative push poll in the 59th State House race?

I need some help. I have been told that the campaign for Mike Reese used a negative push poll recently. For those of you who aren't sure what that is, the caller is given negative information about the opponent. Then, they are asked now that you know so and so is a scoundrel, who will you vote for in the 59th. It is a dishonest way to run a negative campaign. Did anyone receive this push poll call? If so, please e-mail me the questions at perry@westmorelandgop.com

If this is true, it just demonstrates that his campaign is more of the same Harrisburg insider crap that we have all come to dislike. If the Harrisburg insiders are running and funding his campaign, how can Mike Reese reform or stand up to the Harrisburg insiders and lobbyists?

If anyone has the poll questions, please let me know. I intend to help refute any negative charges made against Mike O'Barto in this election. I have lived in Unity Township. I know Mike O'Barto and he is a good supervisor. Mike O'Barto will make an excellent state represenative.

Looks like an expensive state senate race

UPDATED: So far, 5 Kim Ward mailers have made it to my mailbox and 4 Tony Bompiani mailers. Its only September 23 (September 24)

Today, Kim Ward sent out a piece spelling out the facts that School Director Bompiani raised taxes almost 50% while in office. Bompiani sent out a piece that he is a spending/tax hawk. Who do we believe? The record or Bompiani's mailer.

Tim Krieger Picnic reminder

Tim Krieger for State Represenative
2008 Fall Picnic
Saturday September 27
Hempfield Park, Pavilion A from 5:00 p.m. - Dusk

www.timkrieger.com

Bill Clinton is not helping Obama

After reading his comments over the past couple of days, I think he is trying to actively work against Obama without trying to give that appearance. To me, it is pretty clear he does not want Obama to win.

Incredible!!! No way else to describe it!

Sarah Palin has a HUGE crowd in Florida!

"Sa-Rah! Sa-Rah!" they chanted at every mention of her name, applauding loudly and waiving tiny American flags that were distributed -- along with free water bottles -- by local volunteers. The fire chief estimated the crowd at 60,000. Link to the article

I bet Obama just gets sick to his stomach when he sees these crowds.

Me in the Tribune-Review Whispers Column

The Tribune-Review did a little blurb about me and my support for Sarah Palin.

CRYSTAL BALL. Seems that former Westmoreland County GOP Chairman Perry Christopher might be just a little clairvoyant. Or maybe he's just goofy. Whatever, Christopher was on the Sarah Palin VP bandwagon long before anyone here even heard of the Alaska governor.

Christopher blogged earlier this year in support of Palin's being put on the GOP ticket with John McCain. This came from the man who had once supported Mitt Romney for the top spot on the GOP ticket and had even toyed with backing Democrat Barack Obama, so his Palin-love was hardly taken seriously by local Republicans.

But now there's a little back-slapping going on between Christopher and local Christian Coalition head Don Thompson, who in a newsletter sent out this month noted that Palin was not exactly a popular VP choice by locals who responded to a survey he sent out in January.

"One person mentioned Sarah Palin for VP and had to explain that she was current governor of Alaska," Thompson wrote. "I might say that person was Perry Christopher, former Westmoreland County GOP Chairman, who must have had a clear crystal ball that day."

Here is a photo of me and my wife!

Pretty astute observation by Jonathan Martin on The Politico

More than anything, I think the truth in this statement is going to hurt McCain's campaign.

We're All Socialists Now

Time to take a step back: A Republican President just sent out his Treasury Secretary to announce the federal government will spend "hundreds of billions of dollars" to takeover a not-insignificant chunk of the economy. Jonathan Martin, ThePolitico.com

You have to admit...

Obama has quality economic advisors:

The Illinois senator said he would be discussing the Fed-Treasury proposal with his top economic advisers on Friday morning. Among those who have been advising Obama on his response to the financial crisis are former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and former U.S. Treasury secretaries Lawrence Summers and Robert Rubin. From a Reuters report

I am looking at Real Clear Politics polls

Looks like a dead heat in all the battleground states. I disagree. Due to the Bradley effect, I bet McCain is ahead in those states. I am not condoning it at all. I am making an observation. One caveat, the polls could be totally wrong if Obama succeeds in getting more young and new voters to the polls.

Something that's been bothering me

The constant "things are much better since the new leadership took over" over at the official website of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee is pissing me off. Old leadership only did what was asked of us by Bush/Cheney'04, Santorum'06, and Ward/Dunbar for Commissioner. We did a pretty good job the last 4 years and supported some great candidates. I did whatever was asked of me by our candidates. I only wished that we could have gotten Santorum, Diana Irey and Bill Scranton elected.

This is not joke! It really happended!

We received a Tony Bompiani for state senate piece in the mail. My wife told me to put it aside so she could read it later. Before she could, Samantha got to it! I am not making this up. For the record, Samantha has never met Kim Ward or had the opportunity to feast on one of her mailers.

Palin, Me and the Christian Coalition newsletter

Thanks to Don Thomson of the Westmoreland County Christian Coalition for mentionting me in the September newsletter. The Christian Coalition meets the 2nd tuesday of every month. I can never attend the meetings because my kids always have me hauling them somewhere or my wife has her Greater Latrobe School Board meeting. It is a good way to get involved in conservative causes without becoming a member of the republican committee. That means you won't get kicked out for supporting a prolife candidate for state represenative like Mike O'Barto simply because he is a democrat. Here is the piece from Don's newsletter:

Up to that point I was favoring Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as a bright young face with truly conservative views. His strong handling of the evacuation process in advance of Hurricane Gustav’s arrival raised his stock in my opinion, but no one had him on the short list as the GOP convention neared. But then came Friday morning, August 29th and from my rented beach house at Topsail Beach, NC, I heard the rumors that Sarah Palin was to be the nominee. At first I thought I had been out in the sun too long but it was only 9AM! As the day unfolded and her conservative credentials were being touted, I became more and more impressed with her being chosen. I must admit I had never heard of Sarah Palin until I conducted my informal Presidential and Vice Presidential poll in January of this year. From the more than 150 responses our members submitted, ONE person mentioned Sarah Palin for VP and had to explain that she was current governor of Alaska. I might say that person was Perry Christopher, former Westmoreland County GOP Chairman, who must have had a clear crystal ball that day!

No crystal ball. I'm just a genius:)

This is interesting...

Remember when I complained about the McCain training session being limited to the executive board of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee and that I thought that was silly. I was catching up on my e-mail and look what I found from the McCain campaign:

...I am the McCain Campaign Field Director for Westmoreland County. This is a flier to let you know about a volunteer training/information session this upcoming Wednesday, September 10th in our Greensburg office, located at 23 N. Maple Avenue. Please feel free to stop by.

I am certainly glad I did not blame the McCain campaign for that silliness.

Is Tim Krieger the only person running for state rep?

As a drive around, all I see are Tim Krieger for State Represenative signs. Combined with his excellent website and door to door activities, I have to say that Tim Krieger is running the best campaign of anyone in Westmoreland County at this moment. Good job Tim and best of luck! You deserve to win because not only are you the best suited person to be state represenative, but you are also working the hardest of anyone!

Check out Tim's website!

http://www.timkrieger.com/

And make sure you plan on attending Tim's picnic on September 27 at Hempfield Park starting at 5PM. Details may be found here.

McCain admits Obama didn't call Palin a pig!

Are we like in the third grade?!

Time for these candidates to start seriously addressing the issues! Look at the banks, markets, and insurers. It is not time for a STUPID campaign like we have been having for the last few weeks.

Latest Obama quote.

Barack seems to be losing it. Wow, I bet a lot of democrats wished Hillary was the VP. Who thinks they might be looking at a way to push Biden aside?

The latest from Obama about the republicans:

"You can put lipstick on a pig," he said as the crowd cheered. "It's still a pig."

Hurry! Get your Sarah Palin action figure!

Maybe you could get a bigger room...?!

McCain/Palin training session in Greensburg limited to executive board of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee. From the official site:

Wednesday, 09-10-08 Headquarters in Greensburg. 8pm. A McCain training session hosted by Sara Kennedy and she will have with her Ted Christian, The PA State Chair for the McCain Campaign, this should be interesting and informative. Again lets show them we're all committed in our county. Maybe then the next western PA visit from John or Sarah will be in our backyard.This is for the executive board as of room size constraints

I believe for Bush/Cheney'04 we found a bigger room. With all the excitement over the ticket, I think a more inclusive meeting would be wise and of course--A BIGGER ROOM. Let's attract those independents, democrats and republicans who may not be on the executive board or the committee who work like crazy to be at the training session. Remember, our ticket is the ticket of change and crossparty appeal. Our ticket is the ticket reaching out to everyone. The McCain/Palin ticket is the team that is not politics as usual.

I suggest if you want to get heavily involved in the McCain/Palin campaign, just show up at the meeting. Unless they are nuts, they will welcome you to stay. For those that were heavily involved in the Santorum campaign or the last presidential election and have been waiting eagerly for an organizational meeting, I would just go to this meeting.

Just my opinion, but remember they are thinking about kicking me out because I support Unity Township Supervisor Mike O'Barto for state represenative in the 59th. Like Joe Lieberman, I can put party aside for the betterment of my country and state. Mike O'Barto has the experience, independence and integrity to go to Harrisburg and be an agent of change and reform. A less experienced candidate would be eaten alive by the career politicians and lobbyists in Harrisburg.

Obama had a funny line...

It is good he can keep his sense of humor with his rapidly declining chances of winning the presidency. The latest polls are great news for McCain/Palin. Just wait until after the vice-presidential debate when Sarah Palin bests Joe Biden. We are going to see a dramatic victory in November for the McCain/Palin ticket.

Here is the funny Obama quote:

Palin's bio is "compelling," Obama said.

The crowd booed. "No, it's an interesting story." More boos. "No, no, it is. I mean that sincerely. Mother, governor, moose shooter."

The crowd broke out in laughter. "That's cool. That's cool. That's cool stuff," Obama said.

Of course that is the problem for Obama. He is underestimating Sarah Palin and her appeal to average voters. His lack of understanding will be his demise. I still wonder what Hillary Clinton is thinking...Can Obama still dump Biden and put Clinton on the ticket? That is his only hope.

Press overreached on Palin family

The fact that the entire family was there (including Bristol's fiancee) clearly demonstrated that the Palins are a loving and supportive family. I do not care how much crap the press writes about the Palin family because the images of little Piper Palin holding her little brother Trig just wipes all the stupid attacks from the minds of most Americans. The left wing media cannot compete with an adorable little girl. I laughed out loud when I saw this scene which I consider the most memorable of the night.




By the way, who else would have liked to read Hillary Clinton's mind last night. How does this affect her? No matter how this election turns out (and I think it will be a McCain victory), Sarah Palin will be the first female president of the United States.

In another interesting tidbit, Jamie Lynn Spears sends a baby gift to Bristol Palin.

Palin rises to task!

Excellent speech tonight. Surely to be a hit in Westmoreland County. Undoubtedly, McCain will win Westmoreland County. I knew she would be a great candidate!

This piece of news make the Palin "controversy" even more stupid

The two were already planning to marry before the pregnancy!

From NBC's Mark Murray
The AP reports: "Bristol Palin's boyfriend plans to join the family of the Republican vice presidential candidate at the GOP convention. Levi Johnston's mother said her 18-year-old son left Alaska on Tuesday morning to join the Palin family in St. Paul, Minn."

"Sherry Johnston also said there has been no pressure put on her son to marry Bristol Palin, the pregnant daughter of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. 'Absolutely not,' Sherry Johnston told reporters outside the family's Wasilla home. Johnston said the two teens already had plans to marry before they knew she was pregnant.

"Sarah Palin announced Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter was pregnant. The father was not identified beyond the first name of Levi."

Palin and Experience

I am 100% sold on Sarah Palin's ability to be vice-president based upon her experience as governor of Alaska.

But...please stop feeding me that stuff about city council and mayor of a town of around 9000. Not really a selling point.

I also do not consider Obama's time in the Illinois State Senate as a proper qualification to be president of the United States.

I am for Palin because she is a charismatic, strong conservative woman with real life (not government) experience. After her speech tonight, the typical press coverage of her will go away.

Remember to boycott US Weekly magazine. I don't know why people buy it anyway,

Wow, is the McCain Terrible Towel popular

I am getting a ton of hits on this blog from folks googling McCain Terrible Towel. I hope the campaign is selling them in Western PA. That's a hint to my friends on the Westmoreland County Republican Committee. A great fundraising idea. Not as good as a production of the Full Monty, but pretty good.

Great night for John McCain and Sarah Palin

Fred Thompson really did a fantastic job at showing the country that John McCain is a leader far superior to Barack Obama.

Joe Lieberman performed a most difficult task very well. He tried to get the american people to forget about party and vote for the best leader--John McCain. He gave an excellent and heart felt speech. I hope those who want to kick me out of the Westmoreland Republican Committee were watching Lieberman's speech. Sometimes, you have to vote for the more experienced candidate just as I am doing by supporting Mike O'Barto for state rep in the 59th district.

Sarah Palin is going to weather this storm just fine. The media and the left are over-reaching and will only bolster her popularity. If you are a reader of US Weekly, stop now. Just wait until you see the cover with Palin. The headline is ridiculous!

Media coverage of Palin unfair?

I would have to say this is a difficult question to answer. The answer is probably not unfair, but typical. As we saw with Jamie Lynn Spears, the press is all over these sort of stories. It is worth noting that the McCain campaign did see fit to put one of the Spears sisters in one of their anti-Obama ads. They are celebrities now and we have a wierd celebrity worshipping culture. Just look at all the stupid magazines out their: People, US and the rest.

I believe it is fair that the american people know that she is pregnant and that she is keeping the baby and marrying the father. I believe that is admirable. It is part of her story. The campaign has made her family a big issue of why she is a great choice. The whole "hockey mom" thing. This is part of that narrative. I think the Palins have handled this well with their daughter and it should not adversely affect anyone's opinion of them. Beyond that, I don't think this should be a campaign issue.

I think Obama was fantastic for immediately putting this off limits in the campaign. However, I don't think many in the GOP would do him the same courtesy. Proof of this: The stupidity of the continuation of calling him a muslim. He has accepted Jesus Christ as his lord and saviour. As christians, we don't question whether someone really means it. We welcome them into the family of christians. In this instance, Obama has shown he is a good christian man in how he is dealing with this issue.

All this being said, I think proponents of abstinence only sex education should re-evaluate their position and work to teach sex education in a responsible way which teaches abstinence but also gives kids the knowledge to protect themselves.

I still remain convinced that Sarah Palin is an excellent choice for VP. A real person who can identify with the real problems that people have. While on the subject of family problems, I don't know if I could have done as well with what life gave Joe Biden. I couldn't imagine had my wife and youngest daughter been killed in an accident leaving me alone to raise my two oldest girls. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Joe Biden in how he handled that horrible situation. Both of the VP picks are good, strong people.

Latest Westmoreland GOP fundraiser

A local production starring George Dunbar, Frank Schiefer and Chuck Konkus. Other parts still available. This is expected to be a very successful event. Unfortunately, I can't be in the cast due to my impending expulsion.

To audition, e-mail: Frank@thisisabigfatjokesodon'temailortakethisseriously.com

For those who asked, here is Samantha

From the Trib Whispers column on August 31, 2008:

A BITE OUT OF POLITICS. Former Westmoreland County GOP chairman Perry Christopher's pup, Samantha, apparently is a devout Republican.

As Christopher recounts on his Republican blog, Samantha apparently put the bite on Democrat state Senate hopeful Dr. Tony Bompiani when Bompiani was knocking on doors.

Christopher said the 39th District Senate hopeful who is opposing Republican Kim Ward "was very nice about it."

Some Republicans apparently wish Christopher was as vicious against Democrats as his dog is. They are now trying to expel him from the county committee for supporting 59th District state representative hopeful Mike O'Barto, a Unity Democrat, over Republican Mike Reese, a Mt. Pleasant Republican.

As for the bitten Bompiani, he indicated there will be no lawsuit.

"You know how puppies have sharp teeth,'' Bompiani said. "She was just gnawing at everything and I put my hand there and he nipped me, that's all."

"I had no idea it was his (Christopher's) house and had never met him before. But he was very nice," Bompiani said.

Christopher said he still supports Ward in the race.