Just in case anyone is wondering...

I am circulating no petitions for myself. I am not even sure if this is the cycle for GOP county or state committee. I probably should have in case the tea party movement tries to move the GOP in the wrong direction, but I am just a bit tired of it. My candidates are never seen to be conservative enough until it is too late (Scranton and Romney). After buyer remorse sets in, my candidates always look like the right pick. At that time, it is just too late.

Next presidential election scares me. It should be Romney, but who knows...

George Dunbar to run against Casorio?

I have heard from several folks that George Dunbar will resign as GOP chair and run for state represenative againt Jim Casorio.

Mike O'Barto switched to the GOP

How did I ever miss this? You all know I have been working at this for a while? As a matter of fact, the reason I endorsed him for state represenative over Mike Reese was because I thought he was going to win. I was then going to work on getting him to switch as a state represenative. I had no idea the PAGOP were going to go all out to elect Mike Reese and that the PA Democratic party was going to do nothing.

So, I lose my committee spot over this. Now, the Chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee had this to say in the Tribune-Review on December 23.

George Dunbar, chairman of the county Republican Committee, said O'Barto recently approached him and several other executive board members about the switch.

"Through our discussions, it was clear that his views are much more in tune with the Republican Party as opposed to the Dems," Dunbar said.

No shit, Sherlock! By the way, I wasn't alone when I sat down with Mike O'Barto discussing his party switch or how to help our GOP candidates. One only has to look at last November's election results to see that this is a move in the best interest of Mike O'Barto.

Who took my committee spot anyway? I will be working for Tom Corbett, Mike Reese, Tim Krieger and Pat Toomey in the next election.

Frank Schiefer

Frank Schiefer deserves some kudos for that clerk of courts win last night. Frank (and Pat Laughlin) ran some pretty good county wide races which helped set the table for Bryan Kline. Frank knows his stuff!

Huge night for Westmoreland County Republicans!

It was just a matter of time until the success we have had at the state and federal level trickled down to the county level. I see a very crowded republican primary for commissioner.

On to Toomey and Corbett!!!!! I am definitely not sitting out the Corbett race. Tom Corbett is an outstanding individual and should be governor. Pat Toomey is the right person to help restore some sense to the US Senate.

Sen. Jim Bunning to retire

Sen. Bunning did an event for me while I was chairman. I spent the whole day with him. Sen. Bunning was honest and plain spoken. How many people get the chance to spend the day with

• an outspoken conservative senator
• a baseball hall of fame member
• and some who pitched a perfect game in the majors?

Well, I was treated to that all at once. It was quite enjoyable. I thought it was the perfect kick-off to getting folks in Westmoreland County fired up for Sen Santorum's reelection. Sen Bunning was an awesome featured speaker. However, the attendance was just so-so and that truly marked the beginning of my loss of interest in organized politics. After that, I had to endure Scranton's unsuccessful bid for governor, Santorum's loss and people's inability to move on from the whole Toomey/Specter controversy, and the final straw--Mitt Romney's loss. I personally blame that loss on Iowa's conservative christians and some of their "problem" that Romney didn't have exactly the same religious beliefs that they held. Huckabee, what a wasted vote Iowans!!!!

Tom Ward in Whispers column...

If Tom is going to challenge Tom Murphy for recorder of deeds, he should go ahead and be the replacement candidate for prothonotary. If he loses, no one will hold it against him because he is the replacement candidate. However, a countywide run now will help his name ID when he does run against Murphy. He would be helping both the party and himself.

Why did some guys in the Westmoreland GOP Committee...

have such a huge man crush on Judge Paul Panepinto (I don't know if I spelled it right, but don't care enough to look)? I just don't get it. Someone explain it to me.

Tom Marflak withdraws as GOP candidate for Prothonotary

Too bad, I like Tom Marflak and thought he was a good candidate.

What now? Should the GOP just forget about it and concentrate on Bryan Kline's race? After all, Patterson did poorly in his re-election primary for Clerk of Courts.

Frank seems pretty popular!

Better get on board the Frank for County Commissioner band wagon!

Saw this somewhere...

The official blog of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee. No other blog has been authorized or endorsed by the WCRC or its candidates.

What other blog could they be talking about? I don't think I ever claimed this to be an official Westmoreland GOP blog. I never wanted it to be. I always wanted to have complete editorial control.

I don't think Gordon should be kicked out!

During my time as chairman, I think I circulated 2 petitions for the republican nomination for school director (my wife's and another person) who were registered democrats. I do not think it should violate by-laws because of the cross filing nature of the office. It is nuts to kick Gordon off the republican committee for this. After all, he had to ask a democrat to circulate his own petition. It is just the nature of the race.

Shame on you GOP committee (update: troublemaker not committee). Gordon was a HUGE help to elect a good conservative republican to the state house. Just go ask Tim Krieger how much help Gordon was. What a boneheaded move! If I was chairman, I never would have allowed this case to be heard!

As for me, I did violate the spirit of the by-laws. I have no problem with being expelled.

I was told by someone that Gordon has not been kicked out yet. Due to the cross filing nature of the race, the by-laws are open to interpretation. We shall see. Kicking Gordon out does no one any good. I can state for a fact that Gordon wore a McCain button to the Obama rally at Hempfield High School. He attended because he was a school director. I was there because my wife and kid wanted to go and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Obama wasn't any different than any other politician I have seen. Spoke better than some, but no "magic"

Update from George Dunbar. Matter settled. Whole press release in comments.
I did not believe that Gordon’s actions necessitated his removal. Gordon has been a loyal and hard working committee man for years and I am looking forward to continuing that relationship in the future.