Specific quotes from Pgh City Paper article: The Third Degree -- Third-party candidates say their perspectives deserve airing too

THE THIRD DEGREE (Main Feature Extra)
Third-party candidates say their perspectives deserve airing too
By: Charlie Deitch, Melissa Meinzer and Chris Young - October 25, 2007
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws//gyrobase/Content?oid=37509

The specific points about me in the article are re-typed below. The article starts on page 26 and ends on 27.

Meanwhile, probably the best known of the city's third party candidates, Mark Rauterkus, is running for two offices simultaniously, city controller and city council district 3. (He abandoned a mayoral run.)

Rauterkus, a South Side political advocate and vice chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, doesn't deny the third party curse.

"Conventional wisdom says my chances are not very good," he says, hit tie almost completely shielded by a name tag and two large "Elect Rauterkus" pins. "But [Libertarians] have to fight the good fight and not give up. We help to keep the other candidates honest."

For Rauterkus, that means raising questions about corporate tax incentives and other big-dollar development initiatives that have often failed to deliver the promised benefits.

"The first thing you do when you dig yourself a hole is you put the shovel down. You can't keep digging the same hole."

In his council race against endorsed D, ... Rauterkus says he could provide new energy and leadership to council's Citiparks and Youth Policy committee. Boasting his experience as a swim coach, Rauterkus says he is "phenomenally more qualified" to oversee Citiparks from a council seat than any other candidate.

As for the city controller position, Rauterkus says his opponent, Prothonotary, ... is a "Bureaucrat who won't rock the boat" while Rauterkus calls himself a "tireless, vigilant watchdog."

While he hasn't spent much money campaigning, Rauterkus say he has used his blog, Rauterkus.blogspot.com, as an open-source campaign tool.

"Mo opinions are up there for peer review," he says. "My advisers are everyone. In fact, a lot of my ideas are really just other peoples' ideas."

The article was written by three reporters: Charlie Deitch, Melissa Meinzer and Chris Young. I guess it is no wonder I get so little ink. It takes three of them to cover the third party.

BTW, my buttons are not so large. They are very attractive. Each is different. And, the text of the button is my website, Elect.Rauterkus.com. The new website and the new DVDs didn't get mentioned. But the song, "Lay the Shovel Down" -- did get great exposure.

Updated from 10 pm on the 24th.

Where's the fire. No sense rushing into anything -- like in a hurry

This report was due after the election for mayor concluded. Imagine the shock when it hits!

City fire study recommends closing stations City fire study recommends closing stations

No changes expected soon, mayor says.

That could be the city's motto. If it printed money, and it should or would if it could, they'd use that slogan, "NO CHANGES EXPECTED SOON."

Pittsburgh has way too many abandoned houses. Each makes for a ticking fire trap. So, they double the spending on demolitions -- yet -- NO CHANGES EXPECTED SOON. The increase rate of tear downs will hardly match the increased rate of buildings that are becoming abandoned.

The city needs to get its police force up to 900 officers, so mandates the agreement with the overlords. So, a new class of recruits is to join the force. However, "NO CHANGES EXPECTED SOON." Seems that lots of other members of the police force are departing for other jobs in other cities. The new hires can only slightly increase the others being replaced.

The city fires eleven managers of various departments to show that a new leader is at the helm of this burgh. National searches occur. NO CHANGES EXPECTED SOON.

A special task force swarms the South Side on weekend nights and dish out 804 citations for pissing in public in the course of five months. Meanwhile, NO CHANGES EXPECTED SOON. Lots of people get tickets. However, behaviors don't change.

Overlords get assigned to the city to watch that the budget makes sense and spending is within acceptable ranges. The city's bond rating improves from XXX to PG-13. Yet the city's five year projection from some has the city back in bankruptcy again in the 'out years.' NO CHANGES EXPECTED SOON.

The city issues a RFP for the closed indoor ice rink. The deadline comes and folks are eager to re-open the facility, with private money. NO CHANGE EXPECTED SOON. The news in September is that the proposals all suck. Failed applicants get the news in October and cry foul.

Water main break, traffic jams, cracking bridges, under performing schools -- NO CHANGE EXPECTED SOON.

Go Red Sox!

The other blog post wonders if he was DeSantis...

IF I WERE MARK DeSANTIS...: "The Boy Who Would Be Mayor, who's never met an ethical decision he couldn't regress "

Go Red Sox. I'll have to read this when the World Series isn't being played.

Media Blitz -- next up, Erik and Grant on SLB Radio on Saturday

On this week's SLB:

-- At 10:05 a.m., Extreme Strings performs live in our studios.

Erik and Grant play violin. They're part of a class that meets on Saturdays at CAPA. This week they have a field trip. They'll be playing on the radio. The class is great. They play jazz, rock and fiddle, even with electric violins from time to time.

We know Larry, the show host, well. We've been on his show a number of times for a number of reasons.

SLB is more than "The Saturday Light Brigade." It is a non-profit organization that encourages children and adults to be together, respect one another, and learn with each other through radio and related work. Although the $150,000 budget includes money from corporations, foundations and services, the org depends on donations from people who believe in what it does.

The approach to seeking individual donations is different than most public radio and television stations:

-- We conduct our campaign once per year
-- We don't suspend regular programming
-- We send one letter to past supporters and friends (along with an email campaign) to minimize postage and paper use

If you enjoy our weekly broadcasts, value the off-air work we do with youth and the community, or believe we have made a significant impact, please consider making a contribution via http://donate.slbradio.org or 412.586.6300 x3. You also can send a check to SLB, P.O. Box 100092, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Working together, we can reach our goal of $15,000. We're up to $1,135 after just a few days.

SLB Radio Productions is a non-profit that has produced public radio from Pittsburgh since 1978. We produce a program of live music and talk ("The Saturday Light Brigade", Saturdays, 6 to noon), weekday workshops and related activities for children and adults from our studios in the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

-- TELL A FRIEND --
Do you have a friend who'd like "The Saturday Light Brigade"? Please forward this e-mail as an invitation to tune in Saturdays, 6 a.m. to noon, Eastern, at WRCT Pittsburgh 88.3 FM, WLFP 1550 AM, WSAJ Grove City 91.1 FM, WIUP Indiana 90.1 FM, WNJR Washington 91.7 FM or http://www.slbradio.org.

RUN, don't walk, to pick up the latest Pittsburgh City Paper

Another strong media mention, about me, with a photo this time, is in the Pgh City Paper, now out on the streets at local news stands, cafes, bars and tattoo shops.

I'll post more about the article, if not the entire article, shortly. The City Paper web site gets updated tomorrow, a day after the print edition hits.

The cover story talks about Maria and her funk. She is a bleeding heart liberal Dem and is going to vote for Mark!

Chapters 1 to 5

Chapter 4 is too long for YouTube, yet.

Mon Wharf Parking is Closed Today...

Jason blogs about me a bit.

Mon Wharf Parking is Closed Today... Full disclosure; Mark my words!

Jason seems to be in hot water for his spelling goofs by some Perfection CZARs. Jason also has been kicking up some dust by raising wonderment as to why a District Justice (DJ), Luke's Father, is showing up in political campaign materials. Plus there is that letter to the editor in the PG.

Oh well.

Here is what Jason blogged about concerning me.

For the record Mark Rauterkus is my friend. We don’t agree much on politics, but we get along great. Over the Summer Mark taught me how to swim along side his boys at their swim practices. On another occasion we tested the waters of the “mighty Mon” in Mark’s newly purchased canoe. We even went for a few 4 mile runs together, damn sounds like Mark is mostly responsible for my weight loss of 35 pounds. I’ve also help Mark more an old refrigerator to Appliance Warehouse and move a reel type device that holds the lane dividers of a swimming pool (he reimbursed me for the gas).

Jason is a bit of a maverick, a marathon running maverick no less.

He floats well too!

I don't think that the 'lock-step boosterism' that the dominating party leaders expect from the rank-and-file, yet alone each other, is healthy. The suppression sucks and is another big example of why the city is in a tailspin and why more people move away from Pittsburgh.

If I could just get one tenth the people who have voted with their feet to cast votes for me on election day, I'd win in a landslide.

Another bit of insight concerning common ground with Jason and me. Last month, I put in three complaints to Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board. At the coverage of this month's meeting, it was published that my three complaints bring the total number of complaints ever sent to them to four. Understand, the history (some 15 years on the books) of the body, has had four total complaints from citizens. I put in three and one came from elsewhere. I suspect, but don't have proof, that the other citizen to complain to them was Jason Phillips.

Jason and I both understand that it is okay to rock the boat from time to time. Plus, we both aim to work from within the system rather than picking up a brick and chucking it through someone's window.

Jason's letter ran in Tuesday's P-G (yesterday):

Letters to the editor: "This mayor still doesn't get it regarding ethics"

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

In a letter to Pittsburgh's ethics hearing board, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl stated elected officials and municipal employees should be allowed to accept event tickets unless the gift exceeds $500 in value, in which case the recipient should report it on their annual ethics form ("Task Force to Review Free Ticket Rules," Oct. 13).

This isn't reform -- it's adding corruption to an already questionable practice. What Mayor Ravenstahl is suggesting appears to be the price tag for a payoff. Need to influence or sway a building inspector or the "Redd Up" crew? Try giving them $500 in Steelers tickets.

Nothing of value should ever exchange hands with a city employee, starting at the top with the mayor and his underlings. City residents won't be hurt if there are no more free rounds of golf, lavish meals with billionaires or free tickets to sporting events.

Why can't the mayor come to his senses and support the Ethics Hearing Board's position? Its stance is that anything of value should come directly from a charity and not be sponsored by a third-party special-interest group that does, or wants to do, business with the city of Pittsburgh.

Come on, mayor, do the right thing. Forget about the perks.

JASON PHILLIPS
South Side
The writer is a Democratic committee member for the 17th Ward

Think Again! See Chapter 5 of the Value Added Mini Series

This chapter has drama, action and suspense. Check it out. And, you've got to watch all the way to "the end."

See it on blip.tv:

Click To Play

Or on YouTube. If the file isn't able to be seen, just wait. It is being processed on the server. Might take 20 minutes or so.

Post-Gazette endorsement meeting for three seeking Allegheny County Council's At-Large Seat

The meeting is slated for Wednesday at 2 pm at the PG offices. That would be a fun one to attend. You'll have three candidates, D, R and Reform. One room. And an interesting bit of slime -- Ghostbusters sized -- to deal with.

I won't be going, but I'd love to be there for the enjoyment. It would be better than any SNL routine in years. And, to see the outcome in the paper will be most interesting too.

Libertarians Rising - TIME magaine

Libertarians Rising - TIME

My son saw this article the other day. He subscribes to TIME.

I told him the image, headline and clincher were excellent. However, much of the middle weirds out with all these labels.

They are going to be an increasingly powerful force in politics.

City Council sustains mayor's veto on parking tax

City Council sustains mayor's veto on parking tax: "'We all realize that at the end of the day, if we end up on that crash course with the state Legislature, then city taxpayers lose.'"

The city is infamous for playing games of political chicken. They all pile in and drive at breakneck speeds to the cliff. Well, really, the generally don't get in themselves. They love to pack the speeding car hurling into the future with reckless abandon with our kids and the future.

The ones being held hostage are those that would choose to put themselves into bondage by design.

This week's city clerk notice bring news of four or more public hearing devoted to the passing of TAX BREAKS for special interest groups -- TIFs.

They want to expand the TIF zone for Station Square, for North Side and for Downtown. Plus the Bakers Square tax break, TIF, comes to a public hearing too.

I'm signed up to speak at all of them. I don't like TIFs. The city should not be doing any more TIF deals.

The mayor's debate last night showed a contrast with Mark DeSantis and Luke Ravenstahl -- and I was sitting next to Mike D of the DeSantis campaign for a good bit of the event. DeSantis was trying to drive home the point that the city's redevelopment efforts have been with a complete focus on "buildings." DeSantis was saying the city is more than just some 'buildings.'

DeSantis is right, but he didn't deliver the message as strongly as I would have liked.

The city's development, planning, URA, and efforts to avoid blight boils down to buildings. I call them bricks and mortar deals. Build a T-stop here. Build a parking garage there. Make a new office building. Put in downtown condos with subsidized parking.

Those are 'hardware' elements.

DeSantis is a software guy. Same too for me.

Life, generally, isn't about the hardware. Rather it is about the software. Programming, process, smarts, and other factors that live, breath and make transactions are more important.

Buildings, by and large, big and small, sit. They can be vacant. They can be green -- but -- what goes on inside really matters more than the facade.

The crash course matters when you've got big objects that collide. Boom. It is a train wreck.

Pittsburgh needs to be nimble. Organic growth is what we need.

The ram-rod, stick-to-it approach that misses the big picture is depressing.

The big deal of the parking tax isn't 50%, 45% nor 40%. Rather, it is the ownership of so many parking spaces and parking garages by the Parking Authority. Others are not going to build their own parking garages for their tenants, workers, customers and increased returns on investments when the Parking Authority is so pervasive. The Parking Authority twists the marketplace. Pittsburgh suffers. And, the real money is within the ownership of that land and buildings.

Selling the parking garages, over time, will generate far greater incomes to the city than the extra 5% for the tax over the years as it declines.

Same too with the stadiums. Rather than bucking the sports teams to make payments in lieu of taxes for the buildings that they occupy -- the teams should own the buildings. Give a tax discount as the transaction occurs. Then have them own the buildings.

Otherwise, these teams opt to destroy the old stadium (3RS, Civic Arena) while the public still holds the millions in debt.

Not only do those on city council run the city onto a crash course with destiny -- they also have a grand old time of batting at the leaves on the tree of suffering.

Let's get folks onto Grant Street in elected posts that aim to get to the roots of the problems.

Man admits to robbery that left partner dead

Man admits to robbery that left partner dead: "Police have not charged Mr. Reid, who was visiting the apartment with another man. Detectives are reviewing the case with the district attorney's office to determine if he will be charged."

Humm.... Let's think about this for a second. Okay. I've pondered long enough.

[412] Got a major lead in an article today -- lone debate in six days

[412] Got a major lead in an article today -- lone debate in six days:

The newspaper gave some coverage to the Pittsburgh City Council races today
(Tuesday). I'm featured.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_534058.html

Next Monday night, Oct 29, a lone debate has been scheduled. I'd love to
have you and yours attend.

Program beings at 6:30 pm (don't be late), at St. James AME Church, 444
Lincoln Ave, Pittsburgh 15206. I'll be on the debate stage speaking as a
controller's candidate. Following our 30-minutes comes the two candidates in
the city council district 9 race.

I'd love to have large turn out, and associated buzz in advance of the
debate as there is reason to wonder if the opposition candidates from the
party of domination, will even attend. This debate is hosted by both the
League of Women Voters and B-PEP (Pgh's Black Political Empowerment
Program). It won't be on TV or radio -- so bring your cameras.

I'll have DVDs for all in the audience.

Chapter 4 of Value Added Mini Series: Youth Tech Summit, Schools, Literacy

On Google.Video.

Click To Play

Other pointers to same video via Rauterkus.blip.tv.
Link to the video.
AVI file of the video for downloading.
Web flash video.

Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Got ink in today's Trib. Libertarian makes the 'headline' even.

Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races"

Solid article.

Now I get the newspaper and the headline in the print edition and the online headline is not the same:

On the web = Libertarian, 2 independents enliven City Council races

Paper edition = 3 take on Democratic dominance

Article stretched the heigths of the newspaper. Photos of the six of us are included in the newspaper, district 1, 3 and 9. My head shot is one from the past, but it is okay. The one of David Adams is the one I provided to the reporter from his kick-off event.

Blended within the masthead are photos of Ravenstahl and DeSantis from the debate last night. The lead of the local section is the headline of the Controller asks teams to pay city. The city council race article is on page B3. Also on the page is a 4 column photo of a Carlow student getting her hair cut. Hair jokes aside, the lone ad on the page in the bottom right corner is with the headline, "Are you still suffering?" (Chiropractic)

Notes: Bruce Kraus, "lifelong South Sider" went to high school in Baldwin. My high school, Penn Hills, isn't mentioned but Ohio Univ and Baylor Univ is.

Five of the six have Previous elected office: "None."

Updated at 6:52 am.

Controller asks teams for payments in lieu of taxes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Controller asks teams for payments in lieu of taxes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Acting City Controller Anthony J. Pokora released an audit Monday suggesting the sports teams make payments to cash-strapped Pittsburgh in lieu of property taxes, which the teams are exempt from paying because their venues are owned by the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority.

Tony went for a release of this news on Monday, following a Sunday night loss by the Steelers.

I don't agree with Tony Pokora. He asks the teams to pay in lieu of taxes. Heck no. The property taxes are just a pimple on the face of the whole stadium saga.

The taxes on the stadiums are not nearly as expensive as the stadiums themselves.

Heck, I'll try to work a tax break to the teams -- once they buy the stadiums. Buy the stadiums. The venues are what should be sold -- not the lieu of taxes.

I want the teams to own their respective venues.

Presently, the Steelers are renters. The Pirates are renters. Even Don Barden is going to own his own building. Don Barden, as an investor in the North Shore, should not be too worried about what the renters might say about traffic and parking.

If the Steelers want to buy Heinz Field -- it is for sale.

PNC Park is for sale.

And the new arena, for the Penguins, should be owned, operated, insured, programmed, updated, maintained, heated and cleaned by the Penguins.

Keep the names: Assessment Web site doesn't need a fix

Keep the names: Assessment Web site doesn't need a fix The Post-Gazette Editorial Review Board is in agreement with me. The names should be posted on the website.

Wonder if the Editorial Review Board is watching what I have said about technology.

My value added mini series, chapter 4, is out today. It includes the campaign song as well. Watch for the next post.

Pennsylvania Political Landscape -- presidential votes

An article from 2000 about the way PA operates in undemocratic ways. http://www.fandm.edu/x2320.xml

2000 Pennsylvania GOP Primary

Land of the Blind, February 2000

(author attribution at the end)

No one has cared about the Pennsylvania presidential primary for decades. Coming as late as it does, so late on a national front-loaded primary calendar, presidential nominations in both parties have been resolved long before Pennsylvania’s primary. The Bush/McCain contest, however, holds out the promise, slim though it be, that Pennsylvania might become important in the Republican nomination race.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that thousands of state Republican primary voters cannot be sure their vote will matter. They might not matter because of an essentially anti-democratic and somewhat cynical political anachronism known as the “blind primary.”

Blind primaries are aptly named. In these primaries delegate candidates are listed on the ballot without any information regarding which presidential candidate they support. Voters are asked to vote for convention delegates--often popular and well-known public and party figures--while literally kept in the dark about delegate intentions.

Blind primaries make it difficult or impossible for GOP voters to express their presidential preferences. On April 4th Republican rank-and-file voters will select convention delegates out of congressional districts. Voters will have a choice of electing either three or four delegates, depending on the congressional district. The
delegate candidates include many of Pennsylvania’s most important political, public, and economic leaders, who happen to be the choices of Republican organizations throughout the state. The implications for Senator McCain and his insurgency are ominous, since many Republican organizations have already thrown their support behind Governor George W. Bush.

Many voters, in fact, won’t have the foggiest notion of whom the presidential delegates are supporting, and even if they did, there is no guarantee or pledge that the delegates elected to the convention will support the desires of the voters of the congressional districts. More typically, voters end up casting ballots for names they recognize, which usually are the better known political and public figures in their communities.

If all of this seems troubling enough, it is not the only problem. Pennsylvania Republicans combine blind primaries with non-binding “preferential primaries,” better known as “beauty contests.” Beauty contests are top of the ticket presidential elections in the state, but the outcome of the presidential election is not linked to the selection of convention delegates

Voters participating in these beauty contests have the opportunity to express their candidate preferences by voting for a presidential nominee--but these preferences don’t determine the selection of delegates. They are merely “advisory.” In other words, they don’t count.

Presidential beauty contests coupled with blind primaries can produce the electoral perversion in which one candidate wins the popular vote, but loses the delegate vote. This is not merely an unlikely possibility. It happened in Pennsylvania in 1980 when George Bush won the popular vote convincingly over Ronald Reagan, but lost 80 percent of the delegates because voters had little clue as to the presidential choice of the delegates they elected. Amazingly, it could happen again. It is conceivable in 2000 that Senator John McCain could win the popular vote of Pennsylvania Republicans, but actually win few convention delegates.

Defenders of blind primaries argue that rank-and-file voters should contact party officials or consult “slate cards” on primary day to discover the presidential choice of delegate candidates. The other defense made for blind primaries is that Republican candidates run technically uncommitted. So once elected, they are free to support any candidate they wish at the convention.

Neither of these arguments in defense of blind primaries is convincing. Expecting voters independently to track down information about whom a delegate really supports is wildly unrealistic. Why not simply list delegate intentions on the ballot rather than burden the electorate with that task. Moreover if delegates were really uncommitted, information about whom they support wouldn’t be available anyway. John McCain might discover how really uncommitted these delegates happen to be.

These specious arguments in defense of blind primaries are really just smokescreens covering the real reason blind primaries remain a part of Pennsylvania politics. The real reason has to do with power. Blind primaries allow powerful party insiders to control the selection of delegates--while keeping rank-and-file voters in the dark. Keeping voters dumb as well as blind is what these primaries are all about.

By themselves, blind primaries amount to little more than a cynical fraud perpetrated upon Pennsylvania’s rank-and-file Republicans. Combining blind primaries with presidential “beauty contests” adds insult to the injury. First, voters are asked to cast ballots for convention delegates, but are not told whom the delegates support. Then these same voters are asked to vote in a presidential primary election that doesn’t count. It would be hard to conjure up a system that treats the electorate with more arrogant disdain than this one.

G. Terry Madonna, Director, Center for Politics & Public Affairs, Millersville University

Dr. Michael Young, Director, Survey Research Center, Penn State Harrisburg

The Real ID Act is NOTHING that I support, either

I do not like the Real ID. That fight is brewing in PA now. Some great work is being done by a few experts in recent weeks.

Pennsylvania,

Are you in favor of the federal government collecting, maintaining and sharing your personal and sensitive information both domestically and internationally?

This should be a rhetorical question, but unfortunately, it is not. The Real ID act would require that sensitive information be transmitted to a centralized database, and even shared with MEXICO and Canada as part of a new treaty! This information is not simply numbers and letters. Real ID paves the technology way for personal, financial, medical, and even biometric (retina scans, high resolution photography, DNA, etc.) information to be attached to this new federalized driver's license!

How many times in the recent past have there been stories telling us how a government agency allowed sensitive, personal information to be stolen?

This is being billed as an effort to stop terrorism. Let me ask you this. How many times have criminals made sure to follow the letter of the law before committing a crime?

Real ID can only serve to codify and control the citizens of this nation. Speaking as a Pennsylvanian , it should be the sworn duty of all Pennsylvania legislators, in upholding the oath they swore to Pennsylvania Constitution, to oppose this legislation to the utmost. Speaking as an American and a Veteran, this bill is an affront to everyone who shed even a drop of blood for this country and is a direct violation of the Bill of Rights.

Rep. Sam Rohrer introduced a bill, HB1351, that says, in no uncertain terms, that Pennsylvania will not abide by such draconian federal tactics and will take no part in Real ID.

Now the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee does not feel that the House is intelligent enough to decide this for themselves and will not release the bill to the floor . In fact, Rep. Thomas issued a memorandum asking for co-sponsorship of "a resolution urging the federal government to make changes to the Real ID act in order to reduce the cost of this unfunded mandate on the Commonwealth and all other states required to implement the act."

Frankly, I am disgusted with the thought that this man could stab Pennsylvania in the back by reducing our rights and our privacy to dollars and cents.

Every legislator in the House and Senate of this state should bring every effort to bear in forcing Rep. Thomas to allow HB1351 to the floor so that we can live freely as our Founding Fathers intended.

If they are to live up to their oath of office, every legislator, (including Rep. Thomas), must oppose any measure that will pave the way for Real ID, such as Mr. Thomas' 'just make it cheaper' option.

This is not about money; it is not about whining over 'unfunded mandates'. This is about preserving the shred of liberty that we have left as Americans and as Pennsylvanians.

Our legislators are supposed to be servants of the people. We need to let them know that "We The People" need them now.

Jim Comptonm AFTF Pennsylvania State Coordinator
http://freedomtofascism.com

Chapter 3 of the mini series

More about the person and the family.

Click To Play

Same video but posted on YouTube.

Marty Griffin on KDKA Radio gives a teaser about the FOP endorsement

My message to Marty on Instant Access:

The FOP endorsed Bob O'Connor -- and O'Connor was NOT a "sitting mayor."

The 'sitting mayor' statement for 70 years is wrong.

The valid question for him to investigate and talk about is how much MONEY from the FOP came to Mark DeSantis with the endorsement. When the Pgh Firefighters endorsed Joe Weinroth and gave $0 to his campaign it makes people wonder. The Firefighters endorsement was a 'gottcha endorsement' to snub O'Connor.

Payback.

Count "payback" with MEASURED DOLLARS from those institutions.

Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog

Mcall.com: Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek Blog: "Rep. Mike 'Wants To Be Governor So Badly It Makes His Hair Hurt' Turzai, R-Allegheny, holds a press conference on unemployment compensation reform. He'll be joined by members of the PA Chamber of Business and Industry."

Look at the new nickname given by a blogger/journalist to North Hills State Rep, Republican, Turzai.

Co-constructing politics - wikis and politics | BlogSchmog

My wiki gets talked about in the context of historic wikis dealing with politics by a researcher in Bloomington, Indiana.

Co-constructing politics - wikis and politics | BlogSchmog: "Platform for Pittsburgh—aids local politician (and former PoliticWiki participants) Mark Rauterkus in crafting policies and priorities for his city, region and state."

Inaccessible ballot - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Inaccessible ballot - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Inaccessible ballot"

Great editorial in the Trib today. This ballot access point is a real jug of poison for Pennsylvania's political landscape.

When the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider a case from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals this term challenging Pennsylvania's grossly unfair ballot-access rules, it accepted the premise that voters are incapable of exercising their constitutionally protected franchise.

In Rogers v. Cortes, parties such as the Greens, Libertarians and Constitutionalists rightly claimed that the state plays political favorites. There is one set of rules for Republicans and Democrats -- and much tougher rules for everybody else.

A duopoly candidate running statewide only needed 2,000 signatures on a nominating petition in 2006. For other statewide candidates, it's 60,070 signatures -- and a small fortune to hire lawyers for a likely court challenge by Democrats or Republicans questioning the validity of the signatures.

And, if a court decrees, to reimburse the costs of those challenging the signatures.

story continues below



The circuit court concluded that Pennsylvania, controlled for decades by the two-party system, has a legitimate interest to limit competition. If voters have too many choices, it might "clutter" the ballot.

Presumably more than two choices would befuddle commonwealth voters. Heaven forbid they should have more choices of viable candidates instead of the status quo.

Article 1, Section 5. of the state Constitution is clear: "Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage."

Free? Equal? Please.

Jason finished the Columbus Marathon

It is sad that Pittsburgh doesn't have a marathon. Akron has two. Columbus has one. Jason ran in the Columbus Marathon today. Here is his report:

Columbus Marathon 10/21/07 Beautiful weather-- blue skies and a high of 75.

4:25:05 overall (new PR by 20min) 10:07 ave. pace

first half in 1:58:38 20 mile in 1:58:38 (new PR for the 20mi.)

2398th Place of 3636 finishers (who wouldn't finish after paying to run?)

and boy are my legs hurting!

Pittsburgh should have a marathon. I've got some strong opinions about it too.

If the city does a marathon, do a marathon. No need to do a 5K and 10K. Do the marathon, and if necessary, allow for the Mario-thon too. Remember that? In the Mariothon, the runners start the Marathon and finish at Mario's on the South Side and get refreshments and brunch. I think it was 13 miles or so into the race.

Furthermore, and I always get certain people nagging me on this suggestion, I think the course does NOT need to go AROUND the entire blasted city so as to tie up traffic in as many neighborhoods as possible -- by design. Out and back courses, busways and other pathways could provide for a splendid experience and not choke quality of life issues for those of us who still live here.

Peak oil, and Pittsburgh's transportation revival

Hello Mark and everybody!
James Kunstler has long been writing about the effects that high energy costs would have on our society, and a recent article about restructuring our transportation system has some implications for Pittsburgh's (re)development.

I don't want to get into the issue of "Peak Oil" itself, but I do think that we will have to deal with substantial increases in energy prices over the next several decades, barring some radical change in our technological or economic trends. Kunstler has been predicting that increased fuel prices will shift our transportation system away from cars and trucks and towards boats and trains. Luckily for Pittsburgh, we are much better suited for train and ship traffic than we are for highway traffic. Correct me if you know of data showing otherwise, but it seems like Pittsburgh really lost out when America shifted towards using highways for long-distance shipping.

Anyway, if trucking becomes expensive, shippers may no longer send goods to the middle of the USA via west coast ports (California or Mexico), but instead will send boats through the Panama canal and then up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. With this in mind, we may want to think twice before we tear down all of our riverfront warehouses and piers for retail and recreation.

Enough with the introduction, here's Kunstler:

We have to move things and people differently. This is the sunset of Happy Motoring (including the entire US trucking system). Get used to it. Don't waste your society's remaining resources trying to prop up car-and-truck dependency. Moving things and people by water and rail is vastly more energy-efficient. Need something to do? Get involved in restoring public transit. Let's start with railroads, and let's make sure we electrify them so they will run on things other than fossil fuel or, if we have to run them partly on coal-fired power plants, at least scrub the emissions and sequester the CO2 at as few source-points as possible. We also have to prepare our society for moving people and things much more by water. This implies the rebuilding of infrastructure for our harbors, and also for our inland river and canal systems - including the towns associated with them. The great harbor towns, like Baltimore, Boston, and New York, can no longer devote their waterfronts to condo sites and bikeways. We actually have to put the piers and warehouses back in place (not to mention the sleazy accommodations for sailors). Right now, programs are underway to restore maritime shipping based on wind - yes, sailing ships. It's for real. Lots to do here. Put down your Ipod and get busy.

David C. Adams is talking about crime -- to all who will listen

Campaign 2007: Ravenstahl's rapid rise has been tempered by hard lessons

Campaign 2007: Ravenstahl's rapid rise has been tempered by hard lessons Mayor Luke Ravenstahl meets the Post-Gazette's editorial panel. At right is Ryan Scott, candidate for the Socialist Workers Party.

They had to do this just to yank my chain.

Where's Waldo?

Tony's nose is in the frame. First his ear. Now his nose.

This is a follow-up from the Trib's photo of the back of Tony Norman's bald head. The P-G has equal merit now, proving the point that there often is not a dime's worth of difference.

One choice is egg shell white. The other choice becomes mother of peal white.

Ballot machines up for court review - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ballot machines up for court review - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'I don't see how they can say the machines are reliable when they have no way of showing whether the machines are reliable,' said Chester County attorney Marian K. Schneider, who took state officials to court last year to ban use of iVotronics and other machines.

Here is another reason why we have Tony Oliva, Libertarian, running for mayor.

It has nothing to do with Tony. But, I don't trust the blasted voting machines and the entire election process. I'm a technocrat. I still don't trust them. Dan Onorato really screwed up when he went against the advice of others.

The voting machines are what they are, so might say. Well for me, that just is NOT good enough.

Allegheny County executive seeks to limit property info (phillyBurbs.com) | Pennsylvania News

I stand for open records and do NOT want Onorato to turn the clock back on access to info.

Allegheny County executive seeks to limit property info (phillyBurbs.com) | Pennsylvania News Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato wants to restrict the county's online real estate assessment Web site so people cannot search by owner name.

Onorato said he has been made aware of instances in which people have searched for law enforcement officials, teachers, judges and crime victims.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant. If he is able to turn off the lights, the corruption can spread more easily.

How will we know what streets to pave if we don't know where the ward bosses live?

Law enforcement officials have guns, badges, and peers who can pick up those that would be a threat to them.

Judges only need to worry about a retention vote every ten years -- and that's very peaceful democracy in action.

Taking info off the web site will not prevent crime victims from those crimes. Onorato would need a real "turn back the clock machine" for that to occur -- not simply his flash-back taxing metric.

If people don't want to have their name in a property ownership database, then they should form a corporation and hold the property by that name. They won't need the homestead exemption either.

Does Dan Onorato want to limit the access to the voter database too?

The killing of a judge in an Atlanta courthouse is sad news, indeed. However, it happened in the courthouse, not at his home. How can that be justifications for removal of the data from citizens.

Judges who are fearful of the 'boogie man' should hang up their black robes and retire. Judges can always buy another property in another part of town and rent out. Then they can rent where they live. There are hundreds of ways rich people can hide themselves from the property database already.

Heck, sometimes those with influence are able to hide whole properties from the tax database so tax bills are never sent nor paid nor missed.

I'd much rather have everything in the open.

Atlantic City Sands casino demolished - Yahoo! News

Atlantic City Sands casino demolished - Yahoo! News In about the same time it takes for a roulette ball to fall and settle on a number, the Sands Casino Hotel was demolished Thursday night.

It took less than 20 seconds for the 21-story, 500-room tower where Frank Sinatra once held court to come crashing to the ground shortly after 9:30 p.m. in the first implosion of an East Coast casino.

The demolition makes way for a mega-casino to be built on the Sands site by Pinnacle Entertainment at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to $2 billion. The as-yet unnamed complex is to open in late 2011 or early 2012.

In Pittsburgh, we talked a great deal about Atlantic City in recent times. Pittsburgh is still ramping up to its first slots parlor.

Meanwhile, table games have hit West Virginia.

Pittsburgh's slots parlor "blowback" is yet to take root, mostly. The mega "gentlemem's club" is still just a 'fantasy' for the local landscape -- err -- nightmare. Poker machines are still in action in the 'back rooms.' Tour buses are not parking by the river's edge either.

As they plan the Slots Parlor for Pittsburgh, are they making it so it "implodes" in a straight down fashion?

We'd hate to see it come down and bring with it the nearby parking garage. Our parking garages are already on weak legs. The airport parking garage crumbles. The South Hills Village garage is ghostly. The Second Ave garages need double TIFs (tax breaks).

Yummy. I eat crow. I was wrong. Weinroth only got the firefighters endorsement.

I just talked to City GOP Chair, Bob Hillen. I stand corrected. Joe Weinroth, R, candidate for mayor in 2005, did NOT get the FOP endorsement then. He only got the endorsement of the Firefighters.

I had it wrong. Sorry.

Bob O'Connor was not the incumbent in 2005, still.

Endorsements are what they are. Sometimes those that make endorsements play power games and have been even known to put on blinders. Sometimes those that make endorements do serious research and investigation.

I'd love to see more open endorsement debates where more democratic priorities and processes were leveraged in the decisions.

FOP Endorsement Of DeSantis Meaningless

Pittsburgh's police union on Friday endorsed Mark DeSantis for Mayor, but the real impact of such a move remains sketchy at best.

First and foremost, the Fraternal Order of Police needs to make a SIGNIFICANT financial contribution to DeSantis immediately for the "endorsement" to mean anything other than news-cycle hyperbole.

The official line is the FOP prefers DeSantis because of a need for more equipment and a secure pension fund. Most notably is the "right" to live outside of the city.

According to regulations, every police officer employed by Pittsburgh needs to live within the city limits. For years, officers have complained that they must run into perps they've collared while enjoying time with their families at ice cream parlors, movie houses and the neighborhood watering hole. Apparently, every criminal lives within city limits and doesn't take in the latest Hollywood has to offer at Homestead's waterfront, Southland's dingy cinemas or whatever the name is for the primary movie theater in the North Hills.

Oddly, many local conservative pundits, like who-knows-what-he-really-does Bill Green think that having the choice to live outside the city is blissful.

Fact of the matter is, largely because of 70-years of Democrats in power, most city neighborhoods have deteriorated to the point that even the highly-paid police officers want out.

Real estate listings would explode to the tune of nearly 1,000 homes if officers were permitted to live outside Pittsburgh borders. Neighborhoods like Brookline, Crafton, Carrick and Bon Air, among others, would lose the "lots of police officers live here" selling points. Who would purchase these homes that police officers would abandon in mass?

Some officers do own uninhabitable shacks or other "shadow addresses" and commute to far away lands. However, this isn't the norm. Many live in their communities and gripe endlessly instead of making their neighborhoods a better place to live "off the clock." Some are active in their communities. Those "leaders" would hopefully stay.

Sure, police officers should be allowed to live outside the city. They just don't have to be employed by the city of Pittsburgh. Good police officers who live in outlying areas or suburbs can either remain good police officers and make $9 an hour, or they could be fantastic leaders for the city of Pittsburgh and move here.

Likewise, Pittsburgh's police officers are more than welcome to move to crime-free suburbs like Ross Township, Monroeville and Wilkinsburg and make vastly less than their "enormous compared to their average neighbor" salaries.

More oddly, I agree with Interim Mayor Luke Ravenstahl who supports the requirement that all city employees should live within its borders. Otherwise, nothing should be able to stop Diana Irey, the cutest Washington County Commissioner ever, from being Pittsburgh's next Mayor (after DeSantis wins on November 6th).

Pittsburgh's teacher's union somehow got their residency requirement lifted a few years ago. Now, the vast majority of those employees trod into town from Cranberry, Butler County, well before the usual rush hour traffic begins. They spend their "tremendously high compared to their former Pittsburgh neighbor" salaries in bistros and outlet malls that are now closer to their yuppie cul-de-sacs.

DeSantis said that the police department should be able to hire anyone they want into the department. That's absolutely true.

They should just have to follow the law and reside in the city.

Suprise! One thousand dollars richer. Can you still hear me now?

Photo shows Donna Westbrook, head of Speech-Language Pathology for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Emily Crow, award winner, speech language pathologist in the schools, and Catherine Palmer, Ph.D. Professor at Pitt and Director of Audiology at UPMC Eye and Ear. Both PPS employees are Pitt alumni.

UPMC Musicians’ Hearing Center Recognizes the accomplishments of Emily Crow in the promotion of hearing protection.

This work has impacted the health and quality of life of individuals in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Sponsored by the UPMC Musicians’ Hearing Center of the Department of Otolaryngology, the Department of Communication Science and Disorders University of Pittsburgh, and Etymotic Research, Inc.

October 2007 marked the second time this award has been given. The band director at Langley High School, Nancy Addy, got the award last year.

Click and see the 'presentation' of the award at Friday's in-service.

(OFFICIALLY ENDORSED) NOTES FROM A FRIDAY AFTERNOON

(OFFICIALLY ENDORSED) NOTES FROM A FRIDAY AFTERNOON First, the huge -- as in historic, as in unprecedented, as in unbelievably great -- news: The Pittsburgh Fraternal Order of Police today endorsed Mark DeSantis for Mayor. Not the incumbent Democrat who happens to be their boss, but the Republican challenger who, with each passing day, looks more and more like he could be their boss.

• And how's this for adding honest insult to mayoral injury? FOP Secretary Chuck Hanlon, noting that DeSantis has got clear, concise answers to how to fix the pension and how to fix the budget. He has business savvy. We see a lot of the same things in him that we saw in Bob O'Connor. Might be something worth mentioning the next time Master Ravenstahl wants to wrap himself in his predecessor's burial shroud.

In 2005, Joe Weinroth, R, attorney, candidate for mayor, got the endorsement of the FOP over Bob O'Connor.

The FOP gave Weinroth the endorsement and then didn't do anything.

Let's not re-write history.

Meanwhile, also in 2005, Mark DeSantis donated more money to Michael Lamb's race for mayor than he gave to Joe Weinroth.

Meanwhile, DeSantis, in 2007, is running without any other running mate. Ravenstahl has five city council candidates as running mates in 2007. Well, to be really honest, DeSantis could look to share a running mate status with the Republican who is running for Allegheny County Council At-Large. He is guy who was spreading around $10,000 checks to other political campaigns from the estate of a women who hardly voted.

Which brings us to the 'Reform Party' candidate, David Tessitor. David will have a big week soon. He launched a transit plan this week. Next week he'll be in the Post-Gazette endorsement meeting on Wednesday at 2 pm. That should be a wild meeting.

Update: Speaking of Joe Weinroth, he was a guest on the Friday night show -- Nightalk. It was a round-table discussion on everything political under the sun. Nothing of great importance on the show. Dan Deasey was on as a guest too.

Nebraska fires AD, citing lack of progress - College Football

ESPN - Nebraska fires AD, citing lack of progress - College Football: "Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was fired"

Steve Pederson was the former AD at Pitt. I hated what he did at Pitt.

Honz Man and Steve Pederson are equals in my book.

Australia cemetery trains lifeguard gravediggers - Yahoo! News

Australia cemetery trains lifeguard gravediggers - Yahoo! News An Australian cemetery is training gravediggers as lifesavers and has installed a defibrillator to jumpstart the hearts of grief-stricken mourners who regularly collapse at funerals.

Pittsburgh needs this too.

As controller, I'll do an audit of all the defrib machines in town.

I'll monitor how many have taken CPR.

We'll increase the fitness and wellness index in Pittsburgh by ten-fold!

KDKA - Freds Homepge has an interview with Tony Oliva, L, Mayor Candidate

KDKA - Freds Homepge New Libertarian Mayoral Candidate Tony Oliva tells Fred Honsberger what he would do if he were elected Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

Talks about lack of experience. Talks about lack of special interest to be a slave to.

The belt has to be tightened a couple of notches.

Underground tunnel was raised as an idea. Honz loves the tunnel. So Honz said it was not city money.

Cut the staffers.

Pass savings to taxpayers.

City does NOT have much to do about school board. But Tony was talking about after school. That's a park project.

Honz says unions are not traditionally willing to have give-and-take. Tony would take a firm line. Enough is enough. Hey, you are hard workers. You do good things. But the city can't stay afloat.

Chances? Tony said, "I've got a punching shot!"

Flow: Drew Carey with Reason.TV and libertarian views

Traffic sucks.

Called Blog Baron. Got in the P-G and didn't even notice until now

Put the new handle, BLOG BARON, into the realm of 'digital dust' in the MSM (mainstream media). I was watching the story unfold about the goofy love of chair blog and the people who are at the helm of this city. But, I didn't notice that I was mentioned in the coverage in the P-G.

In loving memory of "Love of Chair": "Before midnight, though, Burgh Report commentators reported that the content was gone. Alert Burgh Report readers then found cached versions of portions of the blog online, and posted links to them. Blog baron and multiple-office candidate Mark Rauterkus challenged his fellow techies to 'take the old blog content from the cache and redeploy it into another blog -- to live in infamy.'"

Call 9-1-1 as the P-G's first editorial on candidates ran today

From people & vips

The Post-Gazette editorial board is getting to the task of publishing its editorials on each of the campaigns slated for the November 6th ballot. The first one is about city council district one.

District 1: North Side: "Councilwoman Darlene Harris has not always been a favorite of ours."

Nor is she a favorite of mine.

I talked with Dave on the phone after the editorial board meeting. It was held just the other day.

Going into the meeting he had high hopes as to what he might expect. The P-G had some great things to say about David in the past. But, the citizenship thing was a problem for them, as an unreasoned objection. Now that the citizen matter has been resolved, there was no reason to think he wouldn't get the endorsement.

The other pressure element comes into play when the P-G endorsement meeting is the LONE meeting with both candidates throughout the entire campaign. Do or die situations, one-time deals, all-the-eggs in one basket approaches are not preferable. Rather, I want to have a sustained conversation. I'm not into one-night stands, nor blind dates, yet alone prescribed marriages.

The hunger to unseat Darlene Harris must have been visible. There is no shame in that, if you ask me. But, the P-G saw it in a different light. How many of the P-G editorial board live in the city? How many have a good understanding of what happens and what doesn't on a week-in and week-out basis within council chambers?

I've watched Darlene in action. I'd be thrilled to have her replaced. But, she does have a long resume. And, her school district board service is nothing to rest her reputation upon.

The mention of the need for citizens to carry an I.D. comes from David's work as a 9-1-1 operator. His work puts him in the mix as police and citizens interact on the streets. Dispatching back up, moving officers to the night court with company and doing research on identities is all part of his job in moment to moment communications.

I raised this exact issue just two weeks ago at the South Side Forum Meeting. I asked about the police policy for releasing or removing a person with charges when on the streets.

Just a while ago the police and citizens, on our street, stopped a person who was making trouble. Once it was vandalism and an aborted auto theft. The other time the person nabbed by the police had assulted a person. Witnesses were there. The police were there, and in charge of the situations. The alleged troublemaker in both instances was without an I.D. Hello Jane Doe.

The perp walks each time.

Citations were issued, but to who?

The police spokespeople at the South Side meeting explained it to us. There are three types of violations. On the first two, citations are issued on the spot and everyone goes home. This might take 40-minutes of noisy chatter outside our windows, but everyone gets to depart the scene without going to jail, night court or the police station.

Seems that the police do their best to ascertain the identity of the person with pointed questions and a link back to the dispatchers. Social Security numbers, address, birthdays, etc. are discovered. If something sounds fishy -- they leave the scene together.

David's call for the need to carry an I.D. would fix this entire quagmire of 20-questions on the street with Jane and John Doe.

If you are grabbed by the police after a fight and don't have an I.D. on you -- take that person to the police station until a positive I.D. arrives. Same with attempted auto theft and vandalism.

Dave and I talked about his solution idea that makes it mandatory to carry an I.D. He knew that I'd be cold to the idea, given my libertarian perspectives. Dave does have a great point. And, his solution makes life easier for those who otherwise must play 20-questions with Jane Doe on the streets at 2 or 3 in the morning.

It seems to me that if you are going to go out and graffiti a bridge, you might not want to bring your I.D. It might slow you in your escape. And, if caught, it might be used against you when an alternative name, address and identity could be used.

It is an instance when a 'digital camera' with the police might be a perfect solution.

Mayor vetos Parking Tax Freeze -- but I'm still waiting for him to say he'd liquidate the Parking Authority

Folks, the mayor didn't 'veto the parking tax.' No.

The mayor put the veto pen to a bill that would have kept the parking tax at its current sky-high amount. The parking tax is due to drop again this year according to state measures. Then the parking tax will sit at another sky high amount, but slightly less than before.

Other than one fleeting mention by Jim Motznik (after he becomes mayor) (giving credit where credit is due), I have not heard anyone request the liquidation of the Parking Authority.

I've been calling for the liquidation of the Parking Authority for years.

Campaign evidence found in Dems' files

Campaign evidence found in Dems' files It is illegal for campaign work to be done in state offices, on state equipment or by state employees on work time.

Darn tootin' it is illegal.

The Duquesne Duke: Serving Duquesne University Since 1925

Great breakdown of the Duquesne University debate from a junior journalism student. Great article. He says that one party rule is bad. Also offers the idea that DeSantis didn't deliver a knock out against Ravenstahl.

The Duquesne Duke: Serving Duquesne University Since 1925 It seems the future of Pittsburgh’s economic problems will not be solved in the November election or by candidates of either party. Nevertheless, the future of the city is in the hands of Pittsburgh’s young people.

Ron Paul's letter to folks like me and readers of this blog

Ron Paul wrote in an email:

October 17, 2007

The other day, my old sparring partner in so many Congressional committee hearings, Alan Greenspan, was on the Fox Business Channel. After Alan promoted his new book, the reporter asked if we really needed a central bank. Greenspan looked stunned, and then said that was a good question; he actually talked about fiat money vs. a gold standard. Now, the ex-Fed chairman is not about to endorse our sound monetary policy, but you know our Revolution is working when such a question is asked in the mainstream media, and this powerful man gives such an answer.

You and I are reopening a whole host of questions that the establishment thought it had closed off forever: on war, on taxes and spending, on inflation and gold, and on the rule of law and our Constitution.

A few years ago, I asked a famous conservative columnist a question. What did he think about the prospects for a restored Robert Taft wing of the Republican party? He thought I was joking. As you know, I was not.

After all the aggressive wars, the assaults on our privacy and civil liberties, the oppressive taxation, and the crazed spending and deficits, I believe that many Republican voters are ready to return to our roots. And the big boys feel it too. It is no coincidence that the Republican National Committee invited me to a fundraising dinner involving only "top-tier candidates."

Some of the opposition claims that I am not a "real Republican," whereas I am the only one in the race. And our campaign is registering new Republican voters by the boatload. None of my opponents is doing anything approaching that.

Of course, they pooh-pooh our success. "He's just registering Democrats and Independents and people who have never voted before." Well, yes. It's called growth. We are laying the groundwork for the primaries.

All over America, our support is wide and deep and growing, and young people are joining like never before. After the Dearborn debate, I went to the University of Michigan for a rally. 2,000 students turned out, something that has happened to no other candidate this year.

The crowd cheered all our ideas, but especially our opposition to the Federal Reserve, and our support for real money of gold and silver, as the Constitution mandates, instead of prosperity-wrecking fiat money. American politics hasn't seen anything like this in many decades. It is truly revolutionary.

But time is getting short. We must do massive radio and TV advertising, open many small offices (three in just South Carolina the other day), staff them, pay all the bills, and turn out our vote with massive organizational and phone-bank efforts.

As you know, the blackout is ending; our campaign is starting to get mainstream media attention, thanks to growing donations and volunteers. And contributions are the key to more attention, and to our being able to do the actual work of victory. Good news: our recent green-eyeshade analysis of all the candidates' net finances, which got so much press attention, shows our campaign as one of only three in the top-tier.

But we must keep moving up, and the Iowa caucuses are now on January 3rd. The New Hampshire primary may be in early December!

As always, everything depends on you. Please, make the most generous donation you canhttps://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/ as soon as you can. I need your help so badly.

The other day, an 8-year-old boy handed me a small white envelope. It contained the $4.00 he had saved from his allowance, as a donation to our campaign. I can't tell you how seriously I take my responsibility to work hard, and spend frugally and effectively, to be worthy of his support, and yours.

Please help me keep working, even harder and more effectively, for all we believe in. Without you, I'd have to pack it in. Donate now https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/ .We have more than an election to win. We have a country to save.

Ron Paul

So-Called 'Off-Year' Elections Anything But Off

kdka.com - So-Called 'Off-Year' Elections Anything But Off I'm on page 4 of 6, either once or twice, depending upon where you live.

Ron Paul audio from Odeo

ODEO is a podcast service and it seems as if one of my old high school classmates is the President there. So, let's take a moment and hear from the guy I want to be president of the USA, Ron Paul.

powered by ODEO

This is an interview with Ron Paul via ABC News.

Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21

How about if we retire a bunch of members from the PA House instead.

I love Roberto. I hate over-reaching politicians.

FAQ on new website gets put into place today.

Have you seen the new website at Elect.Rauterkus.com?

What leadership skills do you possess?

As a former NCAA Division I swimming coach, I have led many athletes to great performances. I've coached teams with more than 200 swimmers. I've been a boss with staffs of dozens, in competitive sports. I've hired and employed lifeguards and swim instructors in multiple facilities. Managing them is much like leading public employees but lifeguards and instructors have higher stakes than what the average bureaucrat faces.

Leading employees in the controller's office or with a staff will not be a problem.

When dealing with rivals on various issues, my experience in coaching competitive sports will be an asset. Building teamwork among peers within the halls of government will leverage these same team building strengths. Even with rivals I am know for my respectful demeanor.

Why do you not have a job? One of your opponents says you're just running for office because you need the money. Is this true?

We moved to Pittsburgh so that my wife, Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., could pursue her career in Audiology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the School or Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a joint appointment to the School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology. If that sounds impressive, it should. She impresses me everyday. Like so many spouses before, I took on the role of stay at home parent to our sons, to free her to pursue her career.

As a father of two boys, it is a role I am proud of, and an experience I am fortunate to have been able to have.

I've got the best job in the world.

Furthermore, I've been a professional swim coach and expect to coach again, and holding an elected position does not change this. I've worked as a paid coach from 2003 to August 2007.

If I needed money, I would pursue a career in the private sector. It pays better. The reality is, life has put me in a fortunate position in a difficult town. I wish to give something back by dedicating my time to public service at a time when our region is lacking leadership.

Why are you running for both City Council and City Controller?

I am running for City Council because the city's finances are in shambles, liberties are on the decline and new energy is needed in the post of Chairperson of the Citiparks and Youth Policy Committee.

I can't stand idle and give Bruce Kraus a free pass to city council. Hats off to him for winning the 2007 primary to get the nomination from the Democrats. But I've campaigned with him and seen double-talk and his fumbles with the purpose of government. Kraus wants to play give-a-way politics and the city is without any assets to make more handouts.

I'm immensely more qualified to serve the city in the role of chairperson of Citiparks and Youth Policy Committee than Mr. Kraus -- and any of the others elected to office in Allegheny County. I'll do more for kids in Pittsburgh than all the other politicians combined. For Pittsburgh to recover, we need to grow ourselves out of this mess we find ourselves in today. Our kids need to be strong and must be successful competitors in a world marketplace.

As City Controller I will be in a position to exercise performance oversight over the city -- from council's special interest spending to the mayor's office to the school district.

Why did you initially run for other offices as well?

Pennsylvania's law make it nearly impossible to get Libertarians and other third-party candidates onto the ballot. In the hopes of luring other like-minded citizens to also run for office, I charted a course to provide alternatives. Election rules allow for a political body to change candidates, and we were successful in getting another into the mayor's race.

My candidacy in many races assured spaces for other challengers on the ballot, depending upon the primary election outcomes.

What is your agenda?

I want an urban Pittsburgh that is a splendid place to raise our kids. And, as our kids mature, I want them to have the freedom and liberty to grow and stay here.

Some of my strategies for addressing our city's issues, from education, to parks, to the city's ongoing financial crisis follows.

---

Are there other questions you feel should be asked and answered?

Hey, Teachers. Leave that school alone. Memo to Pgh Public Schools: Do NOT sell South Vo Tech

The board of Pittsburgh Public Schools is moving, again, to sell off a treasure -- South Vo Tech.

This should NOT happen.

Keep the school. Don't sell it. There are plenty of other wonderful uses for that building that need to occur. The buildings and space are with too much value. The site has always been a pivotal place for learning and employment.

There are few who are more 'free market driven' than me. And I say -- don't sell it off. The building is at a wonderful cross-roads. People can get there by foot, walking from town. Buses go. When the road is open, people can slip into the site from the mouth of the Liberty Bridge and Tunnel.

Here are some proposed uses:

1. Re-open a Vo-Tech High School!

South Vo Tech should have never closed. Pittsburgh needs a great Vo Tech program. We were promised a re-do of the Vo Tech opportunities when South Vo Tech closed.

2. Turn South Vo Tech's into a different school.

2a. Make it a K-8 building. The existing Phillips is not that good a building for K-5. There is no room for music, gym, science labs, nor expansion. The existing Phillips school could be great for pre-school and K. Grades 1-8 could fit into South. Or put one classroom for K for sibling preferences.

The residents in the "new urban high rise condos" that were slated for the east end of Station Square would find it ideal to send their kids to a South K-8, walking from 2nd Ave to 9th.

2b. Schenley High School might get a face-lift. The 9th graders of Schenley could go to South Vo Tech while the school gets a re-hab for a year.

2c. South Vo Tech could be a great charter school. Put the Science and Technology High School operated by Pgh Public Schools as a charter school there. Yes, as a charter school.

By the way, I don't like the idea of putting grades 6, 7 and 8 with the high school kids within one school.

2d. Make South Vo Tech a haven for 9th Grade Nation. Get the kids that are 'at risk' to have a specialized school to bone up on literature, algebra and writing. Then from this school, they could go to other district schools in 10, 11 and 12th grade.

3. Make South Vo Tech a regional park headquarters.

Put the Pittsburgh Park District there, next to the football stadium. Give the kids a great strength and condition space for year-round training in the basement of the building. All sports participants could use the gym, boys and girls, coaches and parents.

4. Put PCTV 21 studios into South Vo Tech.

There are big rooms, an auditorium and other spaces that would be 'sound proof' and ideal for a TV studio. PCTV is busting at the seams.

5. Make South Vo Tech a POLICE STATION.

The South Side (Zone 3) Police Station is way too small. The parking down by 18th Street is a mess. Keep that station for Fire. Bring EMS either to the 18th St. station, where they were before with fire. Or, bring EMS to the South Vo Tech too, along with the police.

6. Make the old South Vo Tech building a Student Union for bridging the gap from high school to college.

Duquesne, Point Park, RMU, Pitt, CMU and CCAC can all have distance based and outreach programs there. Lifelong learning, inter-generational programs, academic and non-academic courses could be offered. This setting could be a real 'community learning outreach hub.' ESL, drivers ed, PodCamps, music, Parenting groups, and a range of other course work opportunities could flourish there. Think of it as a Regional Enterprise Tower for hands-on learning.

Sell the hard to sell buildings first as there are only a few customers who will want them.

Another important reason to NOT sell South Vo Tech, at this moment, is because other more pressing neighborhoods need their vacant dark schools to be put to use first. South Vo Tech can be put into 'mothballs.' It is a big, visible building. Lots of people go by it all the time. If something bad should happen -- it would get seen and curtailed. Meanwhile, some of these other schools are much more remote. They can be breeding grounds for lots of nasty things that won't be easy to spot and prevent.

I think Knoxville and Hazlewood need help more than the South Side. They have empty school buildings that could be sold to private owners. Then the new business in those settings could help to turn those areas around. The South Side can survive with South Vo Tech in an idle condition. However, I'm not sure if the same holds true with these other neighborhoods.

Furthermore, let's say a high-flying tech start up needs a space for 'wet labs' or some such operation. They want to employ (I'm dreaming here...) 20 people in the first year and grow to 200 in six years. It could be Google, a bio-tech, a spin off from PPG or Bayer, etc. There are only so many of those customers out in the market. They need cheap, sturdy space with options for growth and custom build outs. A school building could fit their needs. But we are NEVER going to find 20 of those customers. We might find three. Sell off the buildings that buses can't get to easily. Sell off buildings that adults can navigate. Sell off some of the harder buildings first.

Otherwise, the demolition costs for the other 20 buildings is going to be expensive.

As a member of Pittsburgh's City Council, I look forward to the challenge of public discussions and measurements of assets. The role of stewardship has been fleeting for those on Grant Street. Facilities and building re-use is a great challenge and problem.

Even as the city's controller, there are plenty of ways we could insure that all the vacant public buildings -- such as schools and the indoor, closed, ice rink in the park -- can be utilized. We need spaces were we can teach kids how to play well with others. We need spaces were citizens can teach government entities how they too can play well together.

I swear, if we took a new look at parks and figured out how to blend responsibilities and entities in an open, responsible, forward thinking way -- that was saving the taxpayers and insisting on democratic decision making -- we'd be able to build skills, relationships and capacity for other topics yet to come.

Merge parks now. It would be fun and rich with expriences. Then the shift to saving pension funds can be made easy.

Tony Oliva, L, candidate for mayor, on with Honz Man, Wed at 5:50 pm

Tony Oliva is booked for the Honz Man show, KDKA Radio, for Wednesday (tomorrow) at 5:50. Sounds like he'll get a 10-minute interview.

I think DeSantis and Ravenstahl are due to be on the early KDKA Radio show on Wed. too.

The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads: 10 Secrets Your Husband Won‘t Tell You” is now available for purchase.

Hogan's new book is out at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com.

Review from Mothering Magazine:

"I received a galley of The Modern Mom's Guide to Dads, and I really liked it. It is so hard to find a male perspective on fathering. I really appreciate your empathy for fathers' feelings about pregnancy and birth - the sense of responsibility, fear, helplessness, and the drive to provide. I love the description of how men feel during childbirth classes, how they object to being called coaches as well as their reluctance to share their feelings in a room full of women! This book is a great service to families. Thank you for writing it.

Melissa Chianta, Managing Editor, Mothering Magazine

Cumberland House Publishing press release, "Why Do New Fathers Behave the Way They Do?"

Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads Reveals Ten Secrets to Strengthening a Marriage

“A must-read for everyone with kids!” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – New moms are frequently confused by their husband’s behavior after the birth of a child. What do they really think about being a father? Why has this new life they created together altered their marital relationship? Authors Hogan Hilling and Jesse Jayne Rutherford offer their own unique, qualified perspectives in The Modern Moms Guide to Dads: Ten Secrets Your Husband Won’t Tell You (Cumberland House, ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-606-7, $16.95, October 2007).

Hilling has been conducting workshops for dads for 15 years and moms for 5 years at conferences, hospitals, and corporations across the country, and he has heard it all – from frustrated women and men. The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads is a “parenting relationship” book, full of thoughtful insights about what new dads are thinking, and how wives can get their husbands more involved in the kids’ lives and the household without nagging or manipulative tactics. In each chapter, there are stories from real dads’ lives that shed light on some of the secrets they try to hide from their wives; quotes from fathers about their feelings; helpful strategies; and a section called “And a Mom Wants to Know,” Rutherford’s input as modern-day mother and wife.

Whether you’re planning, expecting, or raising a family, The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads offers keen insights into what your husband really thinks about pregnancy, parenting, and marriage!

Hogan Hilling is the founder of Proud Dads, Inc., through which he develops and conducts expectant father classes for hospitals in Southern California and conducts workshops for mothers on fathering issues through the United States. The author of The Man Who Would Be Dad and the stay-at-home father of three boys, he is the recipient of a 1995 California “Courage to Care” Award and has made multiple television appearances. He and his wife, Tina, live in Newport Beach, California.

Jesse Jayne Rutherford is a freelance writer and mother. She is the co-author of Speaking Up: How to Help the Children You Work With Who Live in Abusive Homes, and the author of Save the Date: A Curriculum for Teens on Developing Healthy Dating Relationships, which she wrote on staff at the Family Violence Project. She, her husband and daughter live near San Diego, California.

For review copies or high res photography, please contact: Michelle Nikolai, 615-832-1771, ext.18, michellen@cumberlandhouse.com.

South Side Park -- 75 Canadian Geese go south -- if you know what I mean

Someone was in city council today to claim that there may have been another round up of Canadian Geese. Seems that 75 have been taken, with erie flashbacks to North Park's DEP kill-off.

There was some 'doubt' -- so don't be too alarmed. I've asked for her statement via email.

Anyone know anything?

News flash: Water in the South Side -- in our neighborhood -- is bad

What's up with the water? It flows from the pipes, but it is yellow and dirty?

This started today (Tuesday) in the morning.

Let's not elect a Democrat to Council District 9

This is not good for the Democrats.

Carlisle aide pleads guilty and will testify against councilwoman Pittsburgh Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle's defense against theft charges became more difficult yesterday when alleged co-conspirator Darlene Durham pleaded guilty to transferring $19,480 in city money to the embattled official.

Luke Ravenstahl was in city council when some of this went down.

City Officials Develop Plan To Fight Urban Blight

This is a great example why Luke Ravenstahl should not be in charge of the city. For me, this becomes a policy problem.

kdka.com - City Officials Develop Plan To Fight Urban Blight "And I can tell you that the No. 1 issue when it comes to neighborhoods and quality of life is abandoned properties, is abandoned lots, is the neglect from those property owners to take care of them," Ravenstahl said.

To pile onto their train of thought, the #1 person in the mayor's office concerning neighborhoods came to a community meeting last week. She said that the city's #1 asset was its property.

These guys and gals are brainwashing themselves to think about lots, property, blight, buildings and real estate. In feudal days there were land lords and renters. They've got feudal perspectives.

Notice too how he is going to declare war on building. There are 1,400 condemned buildings and the budget gets to be doubled. They want to talk about apples and oranges. Money to building totals paints a bleek picture.

Double the demolishing still means less than half of the buildings get touched.

Presently, more buildings are flipping to racoon hotels than are being torn down. The city is going under farther each week.

After the city doubles its efforts this year, it will need to double its efforts again next year. Then there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

The comprehensive plan the city needs is rooted in the land value tax.

Today, property owners are rewarded with lower taxes when their buildings decline. Today, property owners are punished with higher taxes when their buildings are fixed up.

As taxes are set only upon the value of the land, there will be a city-wide push to retain value in the existing buildings. Or, if they are bad, but in poorer neighborhodds, they'll be fixed up for the value. And, the buildings that have gone to seed in more upscale neighborhoods will get fixed too, as the taxes will be too high to hold onto an under performing property.

The land tax is a win-win-win-win for owners, neighborhoods, city and taxpayers.

Jonathan B. Robison's newsletter. You might have to search for 28 more to find those 30

Jonathan B. Robison: For us, the most difficult contest is for mayor of the City of Pittsburgh

There was some chatter on another blog that there were 30 Dems who were on the city committee who were now on the Mark DeSantis bandwagon. Some said, "prove it." Well, here is one newsletter that proves the point that the bandwagon better have good springs as many may be jumping aboard.

Minor mayor candidates want to make point - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Minor mayor candidates want to make point - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Tony Oliva, Libertarian candidate for Pittsburgh mayor, didn't get to share the stage with the major-party candidates during a recent mayoral debate, but he snagged the crowd's attention at the end.

This was Tony's second joke from the podium. The first, about plenty of people having egg o their face after he won the election, was blogged about before. It is harder to put that joke into a news article and make it as 'funny.'

Good article Dave Brown (Tribune Review reporter)!

The rest of the news on the Libertarian follows.

"I see (Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the Democrat, and Republican challenger Mark DeSantis) as a choice between painting a bare room," Oliva said when given three minutes to add his two cents. "You have the choice between painting it eggshell white or mother-of-pearl white. They even look like they have the same tailor."

When about 200 people, including DeSantis and Ravenstahl, stopped laughing, Oliva added, "Maybe a splash of color is just what this city needs."

Oliva and Socialist Workers Party candidate Ryan Scott -- who each had three minutes to speak after the debate on Thursday -- have no false hopes about winning the Nov. 6 election. Even so, they are scrambling to get their disparate messages out to anyone who will listen. Minor-party candidates appear frequently on ballots in Western Pennsylvania and across the nation, although their campaigns rarely succeed in a political system dominated by the two major parties.

So why bother running at all?

The candidates offer straightforward reasons often set in personal convictions: Generally, they hope to make a point.

Cut stuff about the Socialist Workers Party. Read that in the comments or at the Trib's site.

Oliva said he became a Libertarian because that party best fits his political philosophy.

"I tend to lean toward fiscal conservatism, with low taxes and financial freedom, but I'm also more socially liberal on personal freedoms and liberty," he said. "Neither the Republican nor the Democratic parties speaks to me as well as the Libertarian Party does."

A former Army paratrooper, Oliva, 28, of Oakland is a graduate student in economics at the University of Pittsburgh. He was born in New York and moved to Western Pennsylvania about 10 years ago. The first thing he pledges to do, if elected mayor, is cut his pay. It troubles him that city officials get full pay and benefits at a time when Pittsburgh is in financial distress.

Running for mayor is worthwhile, Oliva says, if only to show voters there are options. After hearing Ravenstahl and DeSantis debate, the Libertarian told the crowd it was just more "political rhetoric that Republicans and Democrats spew at each other."

"I think it's time we heard a new voice," he said.

Tony Oliva

Party: Libertarian

Age: 28 (blog note: Tony is one year older than the existing mayor)

Occupation: Crossing guard and graduate school work

Residence: Oakland

Education: Bachelor's degree, political science, University of Pittsburgh

Family: Single

Political experience: First race for public office

Do you think that the Trib could have made the photo in the online edition any smaller?

Study finds retail glut Downtown

OMG:

Study finds retail glut Downtown 'We have a lot of retail but it's all junk,' such as discount stores, convenience stores and nail salons, said Mr. Sullivan.

Until the city is able to clean out the 'bad' retail, he said, it is going to have trouble attracting high-quality retail.

You know, there is a lot of junk on the internet. However, the junk on the net does NOT prevent the net from being a splendid place for other resources.

The retail places in downtown that are "bad retail" are not trying to be 'bad.'

Perhaps they are bad because of cash flow, customer base, changes in the marketplace, tax free shopping via the internet, and a zillion other reasons. Perhaps they are bad because the competitors get tax breaks.

The same type of BS comes when they say that there are too many bumbs downtown. Hell, the homeless folks are the only ones you see downtown because they are the only ones that go downtown. The homeless are not the real problem. The lack of other people are the problem.

The bad retail isn't the problem. The fact is, downtown can't support great retail at this time.

Lord & Taylor is where?

Lazarus is where?

Old Navy is where?

The list gets too long to make.