PSoTD

Yeah, another year that I didn't make it. I do know a couple of people on the list - not well, but on a first name basis - but I have no clue how this list is constructed. What does it even mean?

For years, one of the big items of talk around the General Assembly in Harrisburg was Maglev. I hardly ever hear talk about it anymore, but it's still floating around...

Maglev Inc.'s proposed Pennsyl vania project has the very practical application of whisking folks from Pittsburgh International Airport to downtown Pittsburgh initially, to later run out to the suburbs of Monroeville and Greensburg.

The longer-term vision is to extend the regional maglev system east to State College, Harrisburg and Philadelphia; west to Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago; north to Erie and Buffalo; and south to Morgantown and Charleston, and beyond.

While maglev projects have been proposed to link Baltimore and Washington and Atlanta and Chattanooga, they're merely on paper. The Maryland Legislature passed a law specifically prohibiting the state from spending any money on the study, development or constructions of a maglev system. As for the Atlanta-Chattanooga project, a decision has yet to be made whether to go with a maglev system or traditional steel wheel.

Pittsburgh's Maglev Inc., on the other hand, has been quietly developing the fabrication capacity necessary to build a ground-transportation system for the 21st century. And unlike other states where maglev systems have been proposed, Pennsylvania -- to its considerable credit -- has been financially supportive of maglev, which has proven particularly crucial over the last two years when federal maglev funding was nonexistent.

Maglev Inc. has not limited the scope of the advanced technology required to fabricate thousands of "individual and geometrically unique guiderail sections" on which the trains would run. It also has demonstrated its value in the construction of steel-hulled ships and girders for bridges.

Contracts with the Office of Naval Research for its stealth ship program have kept Maglev Inc. and its critical technology afloat.

The huge economic and employment potential of maglev also is reflected in the fact that Maglev's McKeesport facility is rapidly becoming a cutting edge industrial learning center where students from a growing number of institutions of higher education are coming to earn degrees in precision fabrication.

Now you can buy one of their old domains.

I guess there's more than one way for somebody to "be packing" at Old Country Buffet...

No guns allowed.

The Police Department has been querying businesses to see where people are allowed to carry weapons, and where it is prohibited by company policy.

The query follows an incident in which a dozen customers at Old Country Buffet were questioned by police for openly carrying guns. One person was detained and his gun confiscated.

To Chief Stadnitski’s surprise, the response from business owners has been overwhelmingly against allowing gun-carrying patrons in their establishments.

“And many, they’re not just saying ‘no.’ They’re very vocal about this,” he said. “We expected more businesses to allow it.”

The only Dickson City business that has said it will allow customers to carry firearms to date is Cartridge World, said Chief Stadnitski.

Hey, I don't want any guns in my place of business. Nor do I want any guns where I go to dinner.

I guess Cartridge World must have some printer varmints, so you need some firepower to stop 'em before they destroy the stock.

Seriously, if I, for some reason, worked at Cartridge World and some dude came in carrying a gun, I'd be thinking WTF, I gotta get out of here, unless the guy is wearing a police uniform.

It doesn't appear that Orrs Bridge in Hampden Township "made" the Rebuild PA Accelerated Bridge Program.

When they can't even produce reasonable districts?

A relatively big lobbyist in Pennsylvania - and not a client - sent me an email inviting me to join him in a "professional" social networking group (not FaceBook, in case you were wondering). I have a theory that it's really an effort to try to build some internet buzz about the company providing the software/framework, because I don't do any work with this lobbyist but I suppose I'm known to the community for our web development.

So... I guess I'll refrain from joining.

Here's one possible solution to the lawn mowing problem!

HARRISBURG - State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo's remarks that the General Assembly would enact slavery if given a chance were met yesterday with anger and disbelief, even as the Philadelphia Democrat sought to distance himself from his own words.

Fumo made the slavery comments during an Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday in Harrisburg on a bill that would define marriage as between a man and a woman - a measure Fumo opposes.

"What you are advocating here is that we take away the rights of a minority. And I don't think that's right," Fumo told Gilbert Coleman Jr., senior pastor of Freedom Christian Bible Fellowship in Philadelphia, during the hearing. ". . . If we introduced a bill on slavery, it might pass. That doesn't make it right."

"I doubt that, sir," responded Coleman, an African American who testified in support of the measure.

"Oh, don't bet on it in this General Assembly," shot back Fumo, who is preparing to leave the legislature after 30 years. "I know some people up here, especially on a secret ballot, it would be almost unanimous."

Jaw-droppingly over-the-top rhetoric aside, Vince has got the basics right. The government has no business legislating who can get married or discriminating based on sexual preference. Even in Pennsyltucky.

BTW, do you have any idea what Republican received the most votes yesterday in Pennsylvania?

It looks like it was Tom Corbett. Nearly 150K more than McCain.

Has anyone been able to believably explain the long-term benefits of leasing the toll collection and management processes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike for a 75 year period?

Whatever happens, there's absolutely no way that this should be approved in June, with so little sunlight so far being spread on the proposal.

Our house received two different Hillary Clinton for President mailers on Monday. My wife and I are both registered Democrats, but for some reason, both mailers were addressed to her. Funny.

Quinnipiac Poll Results:

April 15: Clinton 50 - Obama 44

April 8: Clinton 50 - Obama 44

April 2: Clinton 50 - Obama 41

March 18: Clinton 53 - Obama 41

It seems somewhat stable to me, Clinton can't put the big number up in Pennsylvania, and Obama can't catch her. There's a week to go, and short of any mind-numbing gaffes, the sort we haven't really seen in the past month (I don't care what people say about Tuzla or bitter, they aren't the kinds of mistakes that scare big numbers of supporters off), we're going to go into Election Day with the same kinds of numbers. I figure that 4% of the unknowns will go with Hillary, and 2% will go with Obama, leaving it at 54-46.

I suspect it's a sign that the candidates agree if they don't spend the entire next week in Pennsylvania.

What is the normal reaction of someone who is bitter when they are described as bitter? What is the normal reaction of someone who is not bitter when they are described as bitter?

What is the normal reaction of someone who is bitter about the asininity of our political media coverage on said political media coverage about the word "bitter"?

Did I say bitter? Bitter? Bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter?

Something I don't understand about this policy...

The state House took steps yesterday to ease the financial crunch that has left thousands of families scrambling to avoid losing their homes.

Five bills that address how mortgages are sold were approved. The legislation would tighten oversight of real estate appraisers, let banking regulators disclose discipline taken against mortgage brokers and bankers more quickly, and make information about delinquent loans more readily available.

It also would ban prepayment penalties for loans of $197,000 or less, an amount that would be adjusted for inflation in the future, and create a single type of license for all mortgage originators.

What is magical about $197K? I understand that a lender might want to require a minimum amount of interest to be paid on a loan, to help the lender determine the most effective use of capital. However, I don't understand why it should be couched as a penalty, rather than a specific payment requirement. And I think legislators ought to explain in public what the magical reason for $197K would be for penalties - it seems arbitrary but we all know it isn't, so what's the reasoning?

MEET THE PRESS WITH TIM RUSSERT
WEEKEND LISTINGS 4/06/08

SEN. BOB CASEY (D-PA)
Obama supporter

GOVERNOR ED RENDELL (D-PA)
Clinton supporter

Definitely a contender for the stupidest whining of the campaign so far:

After envisioning Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama stumping from one end of the state to the other, dipping into diners and delis, all but taking up residence here in the run-up to the state’s critical April 22 primary, Pennsylvania Democrats are teetering on the edge of a letdown.

Having seen far less of Clinton and Obama than they had expected and nearing the halfway point between the last contest in Mississippi and their big primary day, they want to know: Where’s the love?

“We feel neglected here,” said Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who has not yet endorsed a candidate. “People just assumed that, because they had such a long period, they would spend a lot of time in the state.”

Please. Normal people don't want six weeks of political saturation in March and April. Plus, the campaigns want to peak right on election day. Neglected? What did you expect?

Is this really what Pennsylvania wants?

Pennsylvania rivals gun-friendly Southern states like Virginia or Georgia as a firearms exporter, according to data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Each year, hundreds of guns seized from criminals in New York and New Jersey are traced back to Pennsylvania gun stores, the ATF statistics show.

In 2006, ATF traced 332 guns from New Jersey crimes back to Pennsylvania gun dealers. No other state sent more.

The same year, 461 Pennsylvania guns were seized in New York City and state. Only Virginia sent more crime guns there, ATF found.

Unless there's a health issue, he seems like a natural pick for McCain to make as a running mate, especially if Pennsylvania is supposed to be so important in the General Election.

Herb Asher, an Ohio State University political science professor, said Graham would make the most sense among the three S.C. Republicans.

"A guy like Lindsey Graham is better known nationally and has broader appeal," Asher said.

Asher added, though, that choosing a running mate from South Carolina -- or another Deep South state -- could be perceived as a sign of political weakness in McCain's general election campaign.

"Presumably, he would be shoring up what should be a fairly solid Republican base," Asher said. "John McCain should be looking for someone from the Great Lakes states or another battleground region."

More likely choices for McCain, Asher said, would be Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty or former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

That's Obama-speak for "Alabama in the middle".

On a call with some of his major California donors yesterday, Barack Obama acknowledged that Pennsylvania will be a steep uphill battle, and said that his aim is to get within 10 points of Hillary there, something that he said would be a "victory" for him, according to a donor on the call.

"He said that Pennsylvania is tough for them and that the demographics really are not the best for them," the donor tells me, adding that Obama was speaking to the group of 40-odd contributors via conference call.

Okay, now I'm taking the "No Primary Blogging" pledge too!

This analysis basically says that Obama has no shot of winning Pennsylvania in the primary, and his only option is to keep the loss down to a minimum so that he can overcome the difference with North Carolina and Indiana afterwards.

More of Pennsylvania will know it, intimately, within a few years.

And so now, we have 7 weeks of Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential Primary campaigning ahead of us. I believe this quote is appropriate:

"There's so much time that the candidates are not going to be just flying back and forth between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia," said David Sweet, a Harrisburg lawyer who was manager of Gov. Rendell's 2002 campaign and is now supporting Obama.

"It's going to get down to looking at polls to see if the western part of Washington County is in play, what parts of Allentown to visit, or even the upper vs. the lower portion of Dauphin County," Sweet said.

And don't forget about Cumberland County. Sure, there's a lot of red out here, but there's a few liberal bloggers out on the West Shore as well, and maybe, just maybe we could get our act together to have a Drinking Liberally meeting if Obama or Hillary wanted to visit such esteemed individuals.

Just don't send Mark Penn or any other grouchy members of either campaign.

Seriously, I wonder how much business at local diners the upcoming time will provide Pennsylvania. Meet and greet, meet and greet, meet and greet...

Pennsylvania really, really needs to change this image:

It's been said that Pennsylvania consists of Pittsburgh on one side, Philadelphia on the other, and Alabama in the middle.

When somebody actually uses that as some sort of analysis of Pennsylvania's politics, or a socioeconomic analysis, or whatever, then I usually look at that person as either full of shit or dumb as shit. First of all, it's an old adage that didn't even make sense whenever it was first created. Exactly how is Central Pennsylvania like Alabama? Those who say this line should be forced to explain exactly what they mean.

Secondly, it ignores what is going on in Central Pennsylvania - pockets of growth greater than the state average. In the 21st Century, Cumberland County has been growing at 4 times the rate of the entire state. Centre County - nearly 3 times. Franklin County? Six times the state rate. York County - seven times. Meanwhile, Allegheny County is losing population, Philadelphia County is losing people, and many of the counties surrounding Pennsylvania's two biggest cities have slowed down in growth.

Why is that? Because Central Pennsylvania is a relative bargain in cost. Cultural, recreational and educational assets are growing in the local regions and in addition, the advantages of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, New York City and Pittsburgh are a short drive away. Is that what they mean by that comparison with Alabama?

Well, this rain ain't gonna be nothing compared to the political downpour we're about to face as the primary season shifts here.

Congratulations to Hillary Clinton - she did what her campaign said she had to do.

So when am I going to see a news story about one of these events having an impact on specific Pennsylvania local government bond ratings?

The Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (FGIC) lost its triple-A credit rating, due to guarantees it had made on structured securities, and this raised serious questions about whether it could meet obligations on US$220bil (RM708bil) of municipal bonds that it had also guaranteed.

Ed Rendell says he's not vice presidential material, either.

Pennsylvania still has lots of rural areas and communities that do not have options for high speed Internet service. This is an example of what a small local government entity can do to help bring service to the area. Little things in leadership help.

Hamilton Township supervisors unanimously agreed Monday, Feb. 11 to sign the township up for Hi-Speed Internet service through Verizon, should that service be made locally available. Township supervisor Rebecca Davidson is spearheading an effort to have the company bring the service to her neighbors in Hamilton Township. She recently put up a notice at the post office informing Verizon customers, or those wanting high-speed internet service, that Verizon will consider bringing in service to the area provided that fifty of its customers, living within a two-mile radius of the telephone building on State Rt. 6, inform them of their interest. They also must commit to a minimum of one year of the service, if it is provided, Davidson said. Currently, there is no high-speed internet phone service offered in Ludlow, and the majority of computer users must rely on the frustratingly sluggish dial-up service provided.

Could we really be "the deciders"?

Pennsylvania supporters of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama said Wednesday that their near-draw on Super Tuesday heightens the prospect that the state's primary will be crucial in deciding the Democratic presidential nomination.

...

Philadelphia lawyer Mark Aronchick, a national fundraiser for Clinton, said it is unlikely that either candidate will break away as the clear front-runner before the Pennsylvania primary, but "if it's going to happen, it would be Hillary Clinton."

...

Aronchick said Clinton's effort would be aided by Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who have endorsed Clinton and have strong political organizations.

It will be interesting to see if Rendell's "political machine" means that much in this primary election. I personally hope not - mostly because I can't say I'm impressed with Big Ed's tenure as Governor, and somewhat because I can't say I see that much advantage to the country in providing Rendell with some sort of big political appointment if he ends up helping get Hillary elected as President. I like watching him on the post-game show after Eagles' games. Maybe he should just stick with that.

This Kos post brings up the sorry state of Pennsylvania's state legislative Democrats. As a Democrat, I have to say, they've been a disappointment since I moved here in 1991. I absolutely do not understand why House legislators choose to make Bill DeWeese their leader - I admit that I don't know what goes on behind the scenes, but it seems to me that leadership requires more than an intricate knowledge of the legislative rules and owning the world's greatest thesaurus.

On the state level, there is not one Pennsylvania Democrat visible that can serve as an inspiration to the voters of things to come. Not one.

Something to read while the school delay goes on...