Anyone know what is behind this comment I got earlier today?

Anonymous said...
I heard things got really nasty at the Executive meeting last night. Anyone know what actually happened?
June 3, 2009 6:45 PM

I thought being kicked off the GOP committee wouldn't affect me

Seems it would cost me an extra $5 to attend the spring victory dinner featuring Tom Corbett (who I admire very much). DRATS!

In courageous fashion,

I have been kicked off the republican committee--months after the fact of my transgression. The committee waited this long to act to avoid any possible bad press during the election. I do have to disagree a little with their findings. The findings stated that I wrote negative comments about Mike Reese in a letter to the Latrobe Bulletin. I disagree. I purposely wrote a positive letter about Mike O'Barto and his experience. I did not once mention Mike Reese in the letter. Here is the letter. The same letter spoke well of the other republicans on the ballot.

Considering the letter I received today, I will support James Antoniono for Westmoreland County District Attorney in both the primary and general election.

As for the future, my political philosophy has not changed because I am no longer on the committee. I am still a republican.

Colin McNickle and Tom Balya

The Tribune-Review is a major newspaper. Currently, the world economy is in decline. The economy in the US looks bad. We have a new president. We have many new elected represenatives. A new county commissioner. Lots of stuff to write about. So, what does McNickle write about: Tom Balya called someone a dipshit. Shocking. I may never be the same after hearing dipshit. WTF!

Some background. If you e-mail Tom Balya with a question or you want to start a debate, he will reply and engage you in a discussion. From personal experience, Tom Balya considers e-mail between two people to be private. It should be, but it is not. I know all this very well. When Kim and George were running against Tom and Tom, my self-appointed duty was to taunt Balya through my blog and e-mail. I tried very hard to get a good quote to use in the campaign, but he did not bite. I did blind CC: an e-mail I sent Tom to a Trib writer. He did go ballistic over that to me, but he held his tongue until after the election. To my recollection, he did not use profanity. However, I would have not been even slightly annoyed by dipshit. I am not in the third grade.

So, a guy named Bill Eger routinely e-mailed Balya for debate. Balya seemed to engage Eger. It is actually a positive trait if an elected official is so willing to engage in debate. The problem is Balya wrote dipshit in his response. Oh heavens. What should we do? Will the world ever be the same? And Eger forwarded that e-mail to the Trib's McKickle who wasted newspaper space on a column.

I personally think it is great that you can engage your elected officials in policy debate. Without having the complete exchange of e-mails, you can't criticize him for using the word dipshit. Without the tone of Eger and Balya's relationship, the exchange is taken out of context. I should know because I tried to bait Balya into the same thing in the past.

I have since changed. I think others should to. If a column was to be written criticizing anyone, it should have been written about Eger forwarding the e-mail to the Trib.

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

Candidates for WCRC offices

Chairman

1. George Dunbar--Penn Township
2. Frank Schiefer--Hempfield Township

Vice-Chairman/woman

1. Elaine Gowaty--West Murrysville
2. Joel Reiter--North Huntingdon
3. Susan Baur Scherff--Hempfield Township

Treasurer

1. Darrell McMahen--Unity Township
2. no other candidates filed

If you sent me a petition and your name does not appear on this list, let me know. We can work it out.

The election will take place at the Hempfield High School Auditorium on July 8 at 7PM sharp. It is being held at Hempfield because that was the easiest thing for me to do since we have committee members on the Hempfield School Board. I am holding it there because it only took one phone call to reserve not to aid any candidates from the Hempfield area. I was considering the Greater Latrobe High School because my wife is on that board, but I thought people would complain of the location.

Westmoreland GOP Poltical Events

“Spring Victory Dinner”
Thursday, April 23, 2009
6:00 P.M. Cash Bar – 7:00 P.M. Dinner

Ferrante's Lakeview Premier Banquest Facility
6153 Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Attorney General Tom Corbett

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Tim Murphy, 18th Congressional
Kim Ward, 39th State Senate
Tim Kreiger , 57th Legislative
Mike Reese, 59th Legislative


$40.00 Per Person
(Proceeds Benefit the WCRC)
Checks payable to:
WCRC GOP Committee
23 N. Maple Ave., Greensburg, PA 15601
Or Email Elaine Gowaty or Doug Weimer