Posts for category ‘Uncategorized’

Observation: With the church in Flordia set to burn Korans on 9/11, we’re sending a clear signal to the world — that Americans are bigoted and hateful. Now, you and I know that’s not the case and this is a fringe minority and we know it’s barbaric and disgusting and that, really, it isn’t a reflection on anybody but the doers. Sadly, Muslims in the Middle East just see Americans burning Korans. The “churchgoers” that are sponsoring us make us all look bad and generals are warning that this will bring harm to our troops. While I’m never a fan of that George Bush “criticizing me gives succor to our enemies” meme, it’s one thing to be critical of an administration and another to burn holy books. It’s a deliberately provocative and hateful act. And they are supposed to be doing this in the name of Jesus.

Observation: Redistricting hangs in the balance. It seems undemocratic when you think about it. I mean, instead of voters choosing their leaders, leaders choose their voters. And it looks like Republicans will be making those choices. Even worse.

Observation: The Susquehanna River is still bubbling with methane from gas drillers and the environmental degradation they perpetuate. Pretty soon, it’ll catch fire.

Observation: I’m back teaching the little ones (juniors and seniors are still little to me). Expect posting to be more prone to spelling errors (I post over lunch on my iPhone if I have time) and also expect the posting flow to decrease. I’m adjuncting at night, so posting after school will be harder as well. Gotta pay the bills! Once I’m in a rhythm/routine, all will be back to relative normalcy, I promise.

Over a century ago, with the Labor Movement in full swing, working clamoring to be treated fairly – a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work – the forces of the status quo fought back.

We’re taught about events like the Pullman Strike in 1894, when the President of the United States, Grove Cleveland, ordered the military to end the strike.  Thirteen workers were murdered and fifty-seven were wounded, all because they wanted a fair shake.  We learn of the Pinkertons, employed by companies to make sure unionists stayed in line.

Later, in the McCarthy era, unions, a product of socialism, were seen as allies of the Communism that our government, in its paranoia, propagandized against.  Yet another era of victimization and demonization set in for organized labor.

Many still remember Reagan and the Air Traffic Controllers.  He simply brushed them off and destroyed them in one fell swoop, refusing to negotiate in good faith and dealing a major blow to all unions.

Many may know, and many may not, that workers died for their rights in the early days of the movement, that companies used force to accomplish their anti-worker agenda.  Violence and outright murder were legitimate tactics for the business-owners who wanted to go on exploiting their workers unchecked.

Now, the war against workers has evolved.  Rather than physically suppress activists, how, companies asked themselves, can we break their movement?  As Jack London outlined in the ever-relevant book, The Iron Heel, large capitalists, as he called them, had a realization: make the laws business-friendly.  Sure, workers could have their rights, as outlined by the law, but laws could be amended and in the century since the Labor Movement was in its heyday, business interests have succeeded.  London’s imagining of their plan was simple: buy politicians who alter law.  If the courts disagree, buy off the courts.  He gave us this warning 100 years ago, with the union movement in America at its strongest.

Now, companies can simply move to other countries where labor can be exploited.  Outsourcing is somehow a legitimate business practice, boosting the bottom line and shareholder profits at the expense of the working class.

Union membership has been on a steady decline for decades, slowly chipped away at by laws that provide for declining relevance.

In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, the Pigs in charge propose the construction of a windmill.  That windmill was supposed to reduce the workweek to three days.  The animals of the farm would use technology to enrich their lives.  Instead, the Pigs kept the workday the same and simply boosted production, selling the excess for profit.  Technology, instead of making the lives of citizens easier or more meaningful, now puts the jobs at risk in the name of profit.

I’m a union-man from a union family.  I belong to a teachers’ union.  My father was a union steward.  My uncle is the Vice President of a major police union.  Another uncle is in a pipe-fitters union.  And the list goes on.

Unions fight for decent wages, a fair treatment by employers.  It’s not all that unreasonable to the average person.  It is, however, a dangerous threat to mega CEO salaries and the bottom line.  A strong middle class is a strong America and strong unions are an integral part of that.

I don’t know what the answer to the decline is, or how to fight back, I just know that something needs to be done to ensure a viable working class.

Observation: I saw a great quote posted on the Susquehanna River Sentinel, a blog following the destruction of our region by gas drillers.  It comes from Jacques Cousteau, “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.”

Observation: Obama is calling for more infrastructure spending.  This is good, because it’s guaranteed to create jobs and to strengthen our country with tangible projects that last.  He could’ve been more ambitious, but it’s a step in the right direction.  Republicans have already announced their opposition.  Big surprise.   The biggest positive is the creation of a new Infrastructure Bank.  It would presumably be run by the Federal Government.  I like state-run banks, they are absent the profit motive and can lend at lower rates, which is better for small businesses.

Observation: An exciting announcement is in the works!  A new contributor will be joining the site very soon.  My original intent for the site was to have contributors join me in covering and commenting on politics in NEPA.  I really only have two major ideological concerns: social liberalism (i.e. gay people are people too) and a vehement support of the working class.  Those two ideas are the foundations of my outlook.  I support politicians whom I believe will be fair to everybody in terms of civil rights and I support politicians whom I believe will enact policies that will help working middle and lower class families.  You know, the people that need it.  The new contributor, who will be introduced soon, will be a general commenter, much like I am, with particular focuses on the Carbondale area and on issues facing the disabled (much like I focus on Scranton and education).  On that note, I’m always willing to open the site up to more contributors!

Observation: A Republican Teabagger Senate candidate in Delaware is running an anti-masturbation campaign.  Obviously, that’s an important issue that concerns us all.  Keystone Progress, in covering this, hilariously opened up by saying, “This rubs me the wrong way.”  Ha!

Observation: At La Festa Italiana last night, I have to say, I was disappointed that more political figures weren’t there.  The only one making the rounds that I saw was John Blake.  Dan Onorato won’t be coming, which is a mistake, but he should’ve had people handing out literature.  Same with Joe Sestak.  This is a poor ground game and it makes me sad.  They need to be smarter than this or they are going to lose.

Observation: The Scranton Times used the word “paean” in a headline today.  The word refers to a triumphant song, usually celebrating someone or something.  I’m pretty impressed that the Times stepped up the reading threshold.

I received an e-mail yesterday from one Nick Falvo, who claims that he is the one Tom “Meltdown” Marino yelled at in the now infamous “What Kind of Welfare You On?” YouTube video.

In addition to yelling at voters/protestors about their employment status, before the camera rolled, Marino, according to Falvo, called all the protestors losers.  Nice.  Falvo is a Marine Corp veteran and has more integrity than the Marino campaign accused him of having.  It’s understandable that he would want to defend himself.

Falvo gave me permission to print this, so here you are:

I think I can shed some light as to why the length of the video and what exactly was said. I was the gentleman that Marino was yelling at. I was there to protest because Toomey wants to privatize Social Security which effectively means giving it to Wall Street to invest in derivatives. So if you think Social Security is a scam, you would be against what Toomey wants to do; if you think Social Security is a legitimate social service, you would ALSO be against what Toomey wants to do.

Be that as it may, when Marino first came out of the Toomey Rally, which I was surprised to see him at, I yelled “Hey Casino Marino, can you tell us the truth about your ties to DeNaples? Why won’t you do an interview and come clean?” Marino then walked north along the building to engage those of us protesting telling us to go home and that we were just a bunch of losers. I have many witnesses to that. That initial conversation would not have been able to have been recorded due to him just leaving the building and the acoustics would not allow for the audio recording to be clear. The video that everyone has seen takes place after Marino walks back towards the main entrance and then sees the camera and decides to yell “what do you do for a living” what you don’t hear is my answer to him due to him shouting while I was answering. Then I respond to his Welfare question as loudly as I can “what do YOU do for a living?” knowing full well he was until recently on the DeNaples payroll & has picked up sleeze ball mob connected clients in Florida & New York.

I read in the paper and online that Marino’s campaign director, who I have personally met on several occasions, released a statement saying that I was “making derogatory comments regarding Mr. Marino and his family in front of children.” The children in question were Pat Toomey’s kids who were in his little mobile home with his wife at the time of the altercation and calling him Casino Marino is far from derogatory.

I am a veteran of the Marine Corps Reserve and make a living as a freelance video editor, videographer, photographer, and producer. I also own my own events and entertainment company. I work with various non-profits in Lycoming County and am an avid kayaker and fisherman.

Not only was I offended by Tom Marino’s questioning if I had a job or if I was on welfare, I am offended by his campaign manager’s response and the lies that were told about the event. Tom Marino’s words regarding veterans has been offensive. His words regarding Carney hiding behind his wife’s illness is offensive as someone who’s mother dealt with cancer.

Sincerely,

N. Falvo

In case you haven’t seen the video, here’s the Republican, Tom “Meltdown” Marino, who wants to represent you (unless you’re a woman, veteran, senior citizen, small child, voter, or protestor):

That’s not the only problem Marino is having.  He claimed to have gotten written permission from the Department of Justice to be used as a reference for the DeNaples family.  The issue of DeNaples is irrelevant (although lots of people like to throw “Casino” Marino around, I prefer “Meltdown” Marino), what is relevant is whether or not this permission actually occurred.  The DoJ has not confirmed it.  And they will not.  Which very well may mean that they did not and Marino lied.  If that’s the case, that sounds like it would either be criminal or against DoJ policy.  It’s one thing to be somebody’s reference, but when you’re a US Attorney, things get murky.

WILK’s Steve Corbett is asking people to copy and e-mail a column he wrote on the issue to the DoJ.  We’ll see if Justice decides to comment.  I’m guessing not.

What that means, though, is that Marino will continue to walk the lines of ambiguity when it comes to his integrity.

A group called One Nation Working Together is going to hold a rally at the National Mall on October 2 of this year.  That’s the day of the Pages & Places Book Festival in Scranton, so I won’t be able to attend, but this is a rally of and for the unemployed.

This seems to me to be far more noble, maybe even more honorable, then Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” self-aggrandizement fest.  Thousands of unemployed people marching on Washington demanding jobs is Depression-era activism.  And FDR gave us the WPA and CCC.  Instead of incensed upper-income yokels (polls show many Tea Partiers are white and upper middle class), we’ll get people who actually need help from the government, people who don’t want it to be torn down, people who want it, instead, to build the working people up, as it should.

From their website, “This movement includes human and civil rights organizations, unions and trade associations, nonprofit organizations, youth and student groups, religious and other faith groups, educational, peace, environmental, and ethnic associations, and any other groups and individuals who are committed to pulling our country back together now.”

That sounds like something anybody can get behind.  A stark contrast to the Beck crowd.  I doubt local Teabaggers will be heading to Washington to support job growth.  It’s not full of enough demagoguery and supplication to pseudo-prophets.

Observation: Chuck Norris is championing a new campaign called Trigger the Vote.  I love how gun violence and the suggestion of it is a legitimate campaign tactic on the right.

Observation: If you want a loud (at least in terms of the typewriters) local blogger-type punditish person, go visit Big Dan’s Big Blog. I love reading and it’s on my daily list (all the blogs on my blogroll are).  http://bigdanblogger.blogspot.com/

Observation: I’m about a quarter of the way through the book American Taliban, which examines parallels between right wing American ideology and Taliban ideology: violent rhetoric, sexual repression, suppression of homosexuality, aversion of women’s rights, desire for theocratic rule, and on and on.  It’s pretty scary to think about, although it makes sense that extremists would have similar outlooks.  It’s just odd that those two groups hate each other as much as they do when they have so much in common.

Observations: Republicans have said that if they win big in November and take over Congress, their plan is to start impeaching Democrats, including Obama, and repealing all legislation that was passed since Obama got in office.  How is this a plan?  Take us back to where we were when the crisis started?  Do they want this country to become third world?  Yes, they do.  If it’ll mean tax cuts for the rich and breaks for corporations, absolutely.

Observation: My grandmother keeps talking about how this country needs another Roosevelt.  Agreed.

Observation: Dan Onorato, who needs to beat Tom Corbett, will not be here for La Festa.  That’s a mistake.  Especially for an Italian.  Remember when that rabid animal, Zell Miller, came to La Festa?  Ah, the good old days.

Observation: It’s absurd that somebody has to campaign for County Coroner.  With Joe Brennan’s retirement, the County should consider making the Coroner’s position an appointed one.  What sense does voting for this job even make?  How competitive can this race get?  Are people really going to pay a lot of attention to who gives autopsies?

Observation: Today is La Festa Italiana in Scranton.  Go there!

Observation: I just had a great meeting with Rep. Ken Smith about WFTE (the community radio station that’s working on opening in Scranton).  Given that I hammered him in the primary over the near weekly reports from the Times on him, it’s pretty gracious that he agreed to sit down with me to talk.  Then he was gracious in the meeting, pointing out that the Times doesn’t always print the full story (I hear this from every office holder these days) and he explained quite a bit about the situation with his taxes, loans, and business.  I’m impressed that he took a critic head on.  And liked the organization I was speaking on behalf of.  It takes a lot to do that, and I respect the man for it.

Observation: I just got back from Anthology Books (where I went post-Smith) and picked up a copy of Markos Moulitsas’s new book, The American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right.  Aside from liking long subtitles, Markis is responsible for founding and running DailyKos, which I enjoy reading every day.  The reviews of this book have been pretty scathing (which is probably good for sales) because it compares Taliban and Islamic Extremist values to right wingers.  Maybe people are thinking NIMBY, but there are a lot of valid comparisons.  I’ll report back when I’m done reading.

Observation: Republicans are touting their “Young Guns” – a new generation of conservative leaders.   So, what? They’ll shoot us when they get in there?  I can understand liking guns, but being one?  That’s a bit much.

Observation: Republicans keep saying cut taxes while simultaneously saying to pay down the deficit.  Logic.

Observation: Despite universal fear of The Great Brown Horde, crime is down along the border and the amount of undocumented immigrants getting into the country has dropped dramatically under Obama.

Observation: According to the blog Susquehanna River Sentinel, which monitors the environmental degradation caused by fracking, the Susquehanna River is bubbling gas.  Farewell, Mother Nature.  http://srs444.blogspot.com/

Observation: Barack Obama’s popularity is still more than double that of Congressional Republicans and Democrats.  Now, he’ll be stumping for Joe Sestak next month.  Good idea, especially since it’s Philadelphia.  The vast majority of the state’s Democratic voters are from Philly.  If Philly turns out big, Sestak wins big.

Observation: Condolences to Mayor Doherty and the entire Doherty family after the passing of his mother.

Observation: Drill, Baby, Drill!

Observation: Okay, don’t drill.  Stop drilling.  Use renewable resources please.  I’m tired of explosions, injuries, deaths, and oil spills.  Most people don’t like that kind of thing, even if it makes money for the already super-rich.

Observation: Lou Barletta’s Anti-Brown crusade has spread into Kingston, which has one or two minorities in the whole town.  Hat tip to Gort for pointing this out.  Evidently, a Councilman there wants to pass an English-Only ordinance.  That has already been declared Unconstitutional.  And, on top of that, Americans are allowed to know languages other than English.  Puerto Ricans are Americans.  They speak Spanish.

Observation: Democrats are filing suit with Fox News.  Why?  Fox donated to Republican candidates.  Why the hell does a NEWS organization donate a political party?  Bias?  Naw, not that.  Fair and balanced.

Observation: Stephen Hawking, the Einstein of today, has come out and said, fascinatingly enough, that the Universe does not need God to have been created.

In an article posted over at Doherty Deceit, I saw that nine towns in Massachusetts have gone after the Catholic Church on property taxes.  Empty or abandoned or non-religious buildings owned by the diocese in the Boston-area are pretty common.  Declining attendance, closure and consolidation of parishes and parochial schools, along with financial problems due to sex scandal payouts have all affected the Boston Diocese.

Scranton isn’t far different, except that it’s smaller.  Holy Cross in Bellvue is now off the rolls, owned by businessman Bob Bolus.  I’m sure there are many unused properties in the diocese that remain off the tax rolls.  They should be removed from the tax rolls to generate revenue.  If I’m not mistaken, in New York City, the Catholic Church owns more property in Manhattan than any other organization.  That’s a lot of valuable property that doesn’t generate tax dollars.

Sure, religious organizations utilize city services, but are tax exempt.  No problem.  But owning property that isn’t used for its tax-exempt purpose isn’t good for cash-strapped municipalities.  Again, I don’t know the number of properties that fall into this category, but I’m willing to bet there are a few.  The city of Scranton, along with any local municipalities in need of money, really, should take a look at this.  I know it’s unpopular to say, “Hey, Church, give us money,” but it’s fair.

Observation: Tom Marino has demanded nine debates with Congressman Chris Carney.  He’s called for them before, so calling for them again may be damage control after he alienated women, veterans, the elderly, small children, and then most recently, voters in general.  I suppose he just wants to ask Chris Carney what kind of welfare he’s on.  Maybe Marino will pull a Glenn Beck and start weeping.  Actually, he’ll probably just start frothing at the mouth as he tries to scream “liberal” and “Obama” and “Pelosi” at the top of his lungs.

Observation: I’m 27.  I love history and read about the past pretty voraciously.  But it’s strange to contemplate the emotions tied to an event that happened when I wasn’t alive.  It’s one thing to read about the first Moon landing.  How did that feel for people, though?  I saw a reference to the Fall of Saigon on Coal Region Voice.  I wonder how that felt to Americans after the disaster that was Vietnam.  And now, with combat operations over in Iraq, I’m not sure how I feel about it.  Probably because 50,000 troops will still be there.

Observation: A Conservative Republican Senator from Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, lost to a Teabagger.  This is welcome news for the Democrat in the race, McAdams, because he’s within striking distance now.  Dear Republicans, please keep doing this.

Observation: Meghan McCain released a book called “Dirty, Sexy Politics.”  Being John McCain’s daughter made her career.  She is more reasonable than most Republicans.  But I don’t like that she gets taken seriously because of her father.  What makes her better than Bristol Palin?

Observation: Okay, I made the calls and figured out the scoop on the suspended principal at McNichols yesterday.  I should just start posting this stuff.  I could’ve beaten the paper to it.  Dammit!

Observation: The new elementary school going up in West Side needs a name.  Scranton had the first school in the country named after JFK.  Why not be the first school in the country named after Joe Biden?  Yeah, yeah, people went nuts last time I suggested it.  I like for our city to be precedent-setting, and he’s an extraordinarily accomplished native son.  Sounds like a good formula.  If not, then I’m for Hillary Clinton!

Observation: The Republican Governor’s Association, which spends money to elect Republican Governors (if you couldn’t figure that out), got hit with a $2 million fine.  HA!

Observation: I’m tired of BP commercials.  Feel good music and a soft tone of voice won’t make me forgive or forget.

Observation: The Obama Administration is considering a new nationwide infrastructure program.  Is this a new WPA?  Finally, the government spending money directly on things that benefit the country!  It’ll employ people, pump money into the economy, and we’ll have tangible results!  Why did we do this sooner?

Observation: The annual incomes of the bottom 90% of wage owners has stayed the same since 1973.  This is disgusting.

Observation: Jesus, yes, the Bible Jesus, took a whip to money-changers.  He wasn’t a fan of bankers and moneylenders and all that.  He used physical violence against them.  Jesus did this.  It’s in the Bible.  Why doesn’t the evangelical right do that?  You know, in Jesus name.  Amen.  (I’m not joking, Jesus had the right idea.  He would’ve been anti-bailout.)

Observation: ECTV has promised, but failed to deliver, online videos of programming, including Council meetings.  As such, many people don’t see them.  I’m included.  I don’t have cable, or satellite, or any of that.  So, I would LIKE to watch the new SAPA programming that they’ll be putting on, but since they haven’t bothered fulfilling their obligation (probably because there is no written agreement with the city), I can’t.

Observation: I just saw a commercial (I’m at my grandmother’s visiting, I told you I have no TV!) with minorities pleading that the government not raise taxes on the oil industry.  …

Observation: This egg recall is bad.  How bad?  We aren’t allowed to know.  Why not?  I just watched a news report that said, “The truth is so disgusting and disturbing that we’ve cleaned it up for you.”  Really?  Thanks, journalism, for failing us again.  What did they tell us that was “cleaned up”?  That there were piles of shit eight feet high in the egg production facilities.  What’s worse than an eight-foot high pile of shit filled with yesterday’s omelet?

Observation: Big Dan points out that Glenn Beck is like Rev. Jim Jones, but with his own TV show.  Sounds about right.

Observation: The AP has reported that PSERS, the retirement system for public school employees, has seen a 14.6% return on its investments this year.  That’s above the expected 8%.  This is great news for teachers, so let’s hope the legislators stop discussing ways to ruin our retirements (that we pay in to and haven’t mismanaged).

Observation: Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit.  Crazy, huh?  I wonder who perpetuates that falsehood.

Observation: Bristol Palin is following in her mother’s footsteps.  She’ll be getting paid $14,000 to speak at a “Christ-centered” maternity home called The Lifehouse because, according to them, “she represents the story of many teenage mothers.”  Especially that $14,000 that all teenage mothers get as speaking fees, right?

Observation: When speaking of Republican governance, my grandmother very solemnly stated today, “There are good Republicans in Congress.  One, two, maybe three.  But not more than three.”

Observation: The OED may not go to print for the first time in over a century!  Online dictionaries have changed the way we look up words and the OED may go all online.  Crazy.

Observation: 57.7% of publicly disclosed poll results are provided by Republican or Republican-leaning outfits.  I wonder if that skews the narrative?

Glenn Beck basically makes his money (Palin-style) by inciting hatred and playing on fear.  This man will stand in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech.  How sad and pathetic the Tea Party has come in their desperation to be relevant.

Beck said he didn’t know that it was the anniversary of the speech.  It makes sense that he would be ignorant of black history.  Beck said, “We are going to take back the Civil Rights movement!”  Okay.  From whom?  The last Civil Rights movement, you know, helped legally achieve equality for black people.  Also, Glenn Beck has his own University.  Seriously, there are classes like Faith 101, Hope 101.  This man has no business being taken seriously by anybody.  Too bad he makes Fox a lot of money.

So Beck is all about saving the Republic, he said.  He’ll outline it in his I Hate Your Dream speech.  Or I Have A Scheme.  Or whatever you want to call it.  Steve Albert over at NCFE has gone with White Stock. I’ll stick with that one.

Of course, local state senate candidate and epic Teabagger, Frank Scavo, is going to DC to embrace fear and loathing.  He’ll be bringing along a cadre of conspiracy theorist.  Hopefully they’ll follow the Tea Party’s guide to avoiding black people on the subway.

Yesterday, I had a pretty fun evening on two accounts.  The latter took place at Joyce’s Cafe, wherein myself, some writers and some actors did a table reading for a political mockumentary that we’ll be filming next month (stay tuned for this, you’ll love it).  The first event of the evening, though, was County Controller Ken McDowell’s Annual Summer Outing.

I’ve gone to the summer outings in the past and they are always fun for the same reason: we get a nice day, outside at the Waldorf on East Mountain.  August has decided it was jealous of September and has been cloudy and cool all week, but the sun thankfully came out yesterday and it was nice to spend it outdoors.

I arrived after six and the party was in full swing, and pretty well packed despite the obvious absence of a few notables.  Firstly, the only elected officials from the City of Scranton in attendance were Mayor Chris Doherty and Roseann Novembrino.  I can only imagine that means they’re all getting behind rumored County Controller candidate Gary DiBileo.  Or they’re staying out.  But I’ve rarely seen elected officials not to take sides.

I’m sure I didn’t catch all the attendees, but the Upvalley was represented by Mayor Justin Taylor, who spoke to me about his battle with the Commissioners (more to come), and Frank Burnett, former Carbondale Area School Director.  I had an excellent conversation with Sid Michaels who is running in the 114th (I worked for his opponent, John Moran, if you all recall).  Dickson City Mayor Tony Zaleski was around, as well as Councilman Paul Nardozzi of Dunmore, Democratic State Committeeman Mike Cummings, County Treasurer Eddie Karpovitch, Clarks Summit Mayor Harry Kelly (whose first campaign up there I proudly worked on — 1st Democratic Mayor in the borough’s history), and local message board guru Joe Pilchesky.  The only person mildly affiliated with the Scranton School Board was Bill Fox, one of the Democratically endorsed candidates last time around.  I also had an excellent and in depth conversation with former and soon-to-be Scranton City Council candidate, Tom Charles. I’m sure I didn’t catch a lot of people, so sorry if I left you out.

I wouldn’t doubt it upwards of 300 people were there, probably more counting the volleyball crowd (many of whom meandered over to hang out).  So we had great food, a great view of the valley, great weather, and a great time.

Update: It’s possible I mistook Pilchesky’s presence, I’m told.

Observation: Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin have broken up again.  Levi says that he regrets apologizing to Palin and that what he originally said about the dysfunction of the Palins is totally true.  Palin, according to him, made him take it all back as a condition for supporting the marriage.  Awesome.

Observation: People keep calling Pennsylvania a Swing State.  Obama won it by ten points.  How does us make us a Swing State?

Observation: St. Rose Academy, doing God’s work, decided not to pay its employees.  Nice.

Observation: Hurricane Katrina hit 5 years ago.  The horror that was a failure of our government should not be forgotten.  Nearly 2,000 Americans died, and we need to remember that.  By the way, the official death toll is near 2,000.  Other estimates put it over 4,000.

Observation: My grandmother keeps saying this, and politicians should listen – we need a new WPA.  It’ll put people to work with tangible results.  WPA works are still standing all over this region.

Observation: Are Americans dumb or do we believe dumb things?  Striking. http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/24/dumb-things-americans-believe.html

KANJORSKI ANNOUNCES POTENTIAL PROJECT TO BUILD FEDERAL

TRAINING FACILITY IN NEPA THAT WOULD BRING 1,000 JOBS TO REGION

Facility Would Be Built on Land Owned by Earth Conservancy,

which Kanjorski Helped Found

ASHLEY – Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) announced that the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) are looking for a location to build a new facility to train about 10,000 diplomatic security trainees annually, and property in Luzerne County is receiving serious consideration for the site.  If the local site is chosen for the project, the facility could bring 1,000 jobs to Northeastern Pennsylvania and greatly impact economic development locally through the creation of new jobs and growth of small businesses.  Currently, such training occurs at 19 different locations throughout the country and DoS is looking to consolidate these efforts into one facility.  Today, Congressman Kanjorski led a tour for officials from DoS and GSA around the location under consideration in Conyngham Township.  The potential property was bought years ago by Earth Conservancy, which Congressman Kanjorski helped found.  Congressman Kanjorski had the foresight years ago to realize that one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s greatest resources is its land.  Now that land is available for use and DoS is seriously considering developing it for a new training facility.  Earth Conservancy works to restore and reuse mine-scarred land for recreational, industrial, and residential purposes.

“Northeastern Pennsylvania is under serious consideration for a project that could bring 1,000 jobs to Northeastern Pennsylvania and significantly promote economic development throughout the area by benefiting local businesses,” said Congressman Kanjorski.  “Since I first joined Congress, one of my top priorities has been to save and create jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Especially during these difficult economic times, it would be particularly advantageous to have such a boon for area residents and our local economy.”

Congressman Kanjorski added, “Since I helped start Earth Conservancy in 1992, the organization has done a tremendous job working to reclaim mine-scarred land in the area and put it back to use to help with economic development in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  This project would highlight exactly how Earth Conservancy has been so successful.  By preserving this 2,300 acre parcel, Earth Conservancy has made it possible to locate a large job creating project such as this one.  I am pleased that that property is now available for use, and I greatly hope that the Department of State will choose to build its training facility there.”

“As one of the founders of Earth Conservancy, Congressman Kanjorski has always supported the organization’s efforts to revitalize the environment and economy of this region,” said Mike Dziak, President/CEO of Earth Conservancy.  “This project would only help further Earth Conservancy’s goals which are to reclaim mine-scarred land and ensure that it can be put back to use to help foster economic development locally.  Congressman Kanjorski has worked diligently with Earth Conservancy on these goals, and now he is working to bring a substantial project to the area to use the land as we envisioned.  We are grateful for his support in getting the Department of State to consider this area for such a large project.  The location of this training facility in the area could help to bring much needed jobs and economic development to our regional community and would reclaim a large area of mine-scarred lands.”

What This Means for Northeastern Pennsylvania

If DoS and GSA, which is responsible for providing workplaces for federal employees and managing federal properties, choose to build the training facility in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the region will reap the economic rewards.  The training facility would bring up to 1,000 permanent jobs to the area, plus between 350-550 construction jobs just for the initial phase of the project.  DoS would need to hire many new jobs at the facility for buildings and grounds, range operations, emergency medical services, administrative, custodial, vehicle maintenance, security, telecommunications, and food service.

The training facility would bring about 10,000 trainees to the area each year which would greatly benefit small businesses, hotels, and restaurants as they would receive an exponential increase in business.  Currently, DoS books about 25,000 hotel rooms each year for existing training programs.

Finally, DoS would likely need to contract and subcontract with many local businesses particularly during and after the construction to help create the facility and provide services to it.

About the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC)

The FASTC would provide up to 10,000 students with state-of-the-art training to effectively and efficiently train DoS’ Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) employees. DS is the security and law enforcement arm of DoS and works to protect people, property, and information at U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world.  In the United States, DS protects the Secretary of State, who is currently Hillary Clinton, conducts visa and passport fraud investigations, and provides protection for some visiting foreign dignitaries.

A May 2008 report to Congress identified the need to create a consolidated facility, rather than have 19 locations spread throughout the country, to improve training efficiency, decrease operating costs, and ensure that the training facility meets current agency standards.

The training facility would include classrooms, simulation labs, administrative offices, a fitness center, dining facilities, on-site emergency medical and fire services, driving tracks to replicate normal and emergency driving conditions, mock urban environments including streets buildings and facades designed to simulate a variety of urban scenarios, firing ranges, and storage facilities.

For more information about FASTC, visit its website at http://www.state.gov/recovery/fastc/.

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of going to a Meet & Greet for John Blake, the Democrat running in the 22^nd Senatorial District to replace retiring State Senator Bob Mellow.  He is running against Frank “I’m a Teabagger who believes Obama is a Muslim” Scavo.  A list of Frank’s beliefs can be found wherever lists of absurd conspiracy theories are stored.

This event, held at Joyce’s Café in Minooka (or back Minooka for the Scrantonians reading), was organized in only two days by former and current Scranton School Board candidate Nate Barrett (he ran last year for School Board, lost by 200 votes, and is running again next year).  For having only two days, this even was absolutely packed.

Such notables as County Controller Ken McDowell, Possible Controller Candidate Gary DiBileo, Scranton School Director Chris Phillips, Dickson City Councilman Larry West, Scranton School Director Bob Lesh, and Magistrate Lynady were all in attendance.

Chris Phillips introduced Nate Barrett who then introduced John Blake.  Blake spoke of the difference in the governing philosophies of Republicans and Democrats and, graciously, focused on the candidacies of Kanjorski, Carney, Onorato, and Sestak.  I’m fully confident that John Blake will absolutely crush Frank Scavo in November, but Blake is making sure to campaign hard, pointing out that it’s important to remain engaged and not be overconfident.

I had a chance, after the speech, to sit down with Blake.  Allow me to report.

I began very simply by asking Blake what his Legislative priorities were.  He responded that we need to balance the budget without undermining the social safety net upon which many Pennsylvanians rely.  This includes, I’m sure, veterans, seniors, and libraries among other things.  We need to, he said, address the budget thoughtfully, keeping in mind the necessity of a strong economy, job creation, and quality of life.

In terms of revenue raising, I asked him about the Severance tax as a segue into Marcellus Shale.  He said the tax isn’t controversial, or shouldn’t be, since every state but ours has one.  He is in favor.  He also said that we need to consider quite a bit of factors when it comes to Marcellus Shale.  We need to protect the environment and be active and intent stewards of this economic opportunity, as in we cannot allow drilling to harm our land.  In addition, instead of importing labor and materials for drilling, we need to makes sure drillers hire Pennsylvanians and use materials from our state, which I found to be an excellent point.  What economic boon do we get if these companies keep hiring roving workers from everywhere but here?  We also need, he said, to make sure the drilling process transparent, which Senator Casey is attempting to due with an Amendment he recently introduced that will require drillers to disclose the chemical make up of fracking fluid.  Blake is also concerned about emergency preparedness because if a disaster were to occur at these wells (which has happened often and will undoubtedly happen again) municipalities need to be able to handle it.  Finally, the energy produced by drillers should go toward reducing the cost of energy for Pennsylvanians, not be exported to the neglect of the state that produced it.

I asked Blake about his thoughts on the Tea Party and Frank Scavo’s embrace of it.  He diplomatically responded that the Tea Party is a disparate and hard-to-define group.  Fair enough!  They tend not to be able to define themselves, except through their collective opposition to just about everything.  I guess they distinguish themselves by which conspiracy theories they espouse (this is me, not Blake talking, in case you couldn’t tell).

Blake concluded by saying, “I’ll be here for working people.  The difference between me and any other candidate, just as I said during the primary, is that I’ll be at the Borough Council meetings, I’ll be at the community meetings.  I’ll be here as a voice for the everybody in the district.  I’ll be here.”

Blake 2010!

Observation: A Republican on the debt reduction commission has said Social Security is a cow with 310 million sucking from its tit.  Aside from disparaging women by slighting that whole “nurturing” thing, thereby offending NOW, he also angered the AARP.  Both called for his resignation.  The commission hasn’t reported its findings, but this man is already going after Social Security.  Obama will not ask him to resign.  Awesome.  So much for fairness.;

Observation: The former chairman of the Republican National Committee has just announced that he’s gay.  He was required, in his capacity as a prominent Republican, to hide it.  First, good for him for coming out.  Second, the Republican party should be ashamed that they wouldn’t accept gay people leading them.  Lastly, why be a Republican if that’s how you have to live?

Observation: The roof of the NEIU building partially caved in.  Is God upset about massive payouts?

Observation: So now the County has hired an attorney that is suing the County.  Already, the City is being represented by an attorney who is suing the city on behalf of somebody else.  What the hell is going on in this region?  It’s like punching oneself in the face.

Observation: The PA Department of Environmental Protection fined a volunteer fire company for illegal burning.  Okay, they shouldn’t have done it.  Now please pay more attention to drillers and less to people who protect us.

Observation: 47% of Republicans think Obama is a Muslim.  27% of Republicans think he wasn’t born in America.  50% of Republicans think Obama, not Bush, bailed out the banks.  Why is this?  How is it that facts have become opinions?

The following is a guest post from Jess Durkin, a Knight Media Policy Fellow with the New America Foundation, a non-partisan think tank looking at challenges facing America.  In particular, Jess works in media analysis for the Foundation.  If you recall, I participated in a roundtable involving NAF over at the University of Scranton.

Without further adieu:

Scranton, Pa. — The FCC has granted Scranton a grassroots opportunity.

Armed with a temporary radio construction permit and guided by the Prometheus Radio Project, local non-profit organization Community Radio Collective, Inc. plans to launch full-power FM station WFTE 90.3 and they have five months to do it.

Community Radio Collective has begun a capital campaign to raise $15,000 to be on the air by midnight Feb. 10, 2011, when its construction permit expires. The money will pay for a 60-foot tower to be built 10 miles away in Mount Cobb, creating an FM signal strong enough to reach the city and its suburbs clearly—that is, an area of about 200,000 people.

MPI is studying Scranton’s news and information landscape and has published findings in a case study. The study is based on the recommendations outlined in the Knight Commission’s “Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age” report.

Pointing to Knight Commission ideals, a community radio station could empower citizen participation in self-governance, ensure a local community information hub and expand individuals’ information capacity.

Studying Scranton, we found that while area residents have standard media choices, there is little diversity in media ownership and journalist layoffs have precipitated insufficient community coverage.

Those findings were confirmed Wednesday night by the 25 people who turned out for a discussion, “Scranton’s media problems and potential solutions,” hosted by WFTE founder Alex Allen and Community Radio Collective Chairman Jake Rosen. When asked what they want in local radio, the 25 participants said that they are looking for an antidote to the “sameness” of corporate radio music lists and a counterpoint to conservative talk shows.

Among their expectations: airspace for citizen journalism, ethnic communities, local progressive talk, regional bands and artists and radio theater. Many specifically asked to hear Democracy Now, a popular syndicated program hosted by Amy Goodman. Organizers said that show has pledged a free broadcast feed for one year to the station upon launch.

If WFTE 90.3 is successful, the volunteer- and donation-supported radio station will be a media outlet responsive to listeners and aimed at countering a corporate media environment that, the founders believe, is often disconnected from its audience.

As described by WFTE, the mission is to bring a “sorely needed” progressive movement to Northeast Pennsylvania.

“WFTE shall aim to create and provide high quality, innovative and community-oriented programming serving communities, information, and ideas that are ignored, suppressed, overlooked, or underserved by the mainstream media,” according to WFTE press materials.

About 30 radio stations across the region can be picked up on the dial in Scranton, and nine of those stations are based in or near the city. Times-Shamrock Communications, publisher of the Scranton Times-Tribune, owns three commercial radio stations that are broadcast to the region, operated by the company’s Shamrock Communications division.

Should WFTE raise the money it needs to go on air, it will join WVIA 89.9 FM, the region’s National Public Radio affiliate, the University of Scranton’s WUSR 99.5 FM, plus a number of Christian-themed stations on the noncommercial spectrum.

Beyond the station tower, a second campaign will seek to raise an additional $40,000 for operations and studio space in Scranton.

In October 2007, the Federal Communications Commission opened a one-week window for nonprofits to apply for noncommercial educational (NCE) radio station permits. WFTE was granted the radio construction permit through that offer.

An exact count of community radio stations in the country is difficult to obtain since “community radio” is a loose categorization that can include low and high power FM, noncommercial, and public radio, but the industry trade group National Federation of Community Broadcasters counts more than 200 members.

Prometheus Radio is also assisting the start-up Williamsport Community Radio WXPI 88.5 FM in Williamsport, Pa., in the north-central part of the state. According to its website, Prometheus has “supported hundreds of community organizations to apply for licenses and build their stations, touring the country to reach out to community groups and spread the word about LPFM. Prometheus organized 11 ‘radio barnraisings,’ where hundreds of volunteers gather to build a radio station in three days. These radio barnraisings have helped groups build their base while training a new generation of media organizers across the country.”

Cross Posted at New America’s Media Policy Initiative