PA CleanSweep Opinion: Who Is Really In Charge?

When most Pennsylvanians think of government, a certain image comes to mind. They imagine policemen protecting us from violent criminals, clerks diligently processing paperwork to administer justice in the courthouse or green-vested highway workers heading out to fill potholes in the spring.

Others think of the continuous struggle of ideologies under the dome in Harrisburg. They imagine their conservative or liberal heroes going into battle on the floor of the House and Senate to win the privilege of steering the Commonwealth on new paths of righteousness.

While these elements of government in action do exist, a closer examination reveals that government is actually an industry, providing profit and investment opportunities to anyone willing to adopt the proper business model. The payoff can be massive. After all, what better way to guarantee a return on investment than by putting the force of law on your side?

There are plenty of experts to help you on your way to success by stepping on the backs of average taxpayers and short-circuiting the lawmaking process. For a price, of course. Two stunning examples of such modern-day privateers have come to light in the past week.

You may remember one Michael S. Long. The former chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer and brother-in-law of former Senate Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill wrapped up his career on the inside by pocketing $41,000 in taxpayer-funded bonuses in his last two years and collecting a $95,000 severance package on his way out the door.

While Jubelirer and Brightbill were ultimately tossed from office for their big spending ways, Long was a master engineer behind the scenes crafting their "conservative Republican" game plan. Also a prominent member of the Lebanon County Republican Committee, Long was perfectly situated to take on the "liberal Democrats" at every turn.

And you may also recall one Ray Zaborney. As 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann's campaign manager, Zaborney was eager to bash Ed Rendell on any issue whenever a microphone or camera was nearby. In his effort to get a Republican in the governor's office, Zaborney even contacted this writer in an attempt to lend anti-pay raise and reform credence to Swann's campaign after an independent gubernatorial bid was sideswiped by Pennsylvania's ridiculous petitioning requirements.

But the "conservative Republican" ideologies of Long and Zaborney seem to have taken a back seat to personal profit of late.

Long is now lobbying Harrisburg for the environmental and renewable energy causes, working under the guise of a lobbyist for PennFuture, an organization closely tied to Rendell's vision for greening up Pennsylvania. This plan could arguably give Rendell front-runner status for the position of US Department of Energy Secretary in a future Democratic administration in Washington.

Zaborney, who has long been politically linked to Long but is not listed on the state's lobbyist disclosure website, was witnessed this week arriving at a Senator's office in the Capitol "to advocate for a sensible environmental plan for the Commonwealth." When asked to clarify exactly what he was pushing, Zaborney replied, "the Governor's plan."

Widely reported in headlines recently was PennFuture's CEO John Hanger touting a poll claiming that Pennsylvanians support renewable energy. (The same poll likely would have revealed they also support puppies, Mom and apple pie.) A bit less reported was Hanger's odd tirade earlier in the year defending Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis - both Rendell appointees - on the issue of ethics questions surrounding public dollars and their spouses.

The government business model is pretty straightforward. Place your investment dollars into campaign contributions and/or lobbying fees, make a few public statements revealing whose team you're really on, and soon enough you too can enjoy the profits of social policy backed by the force of law.

Such programs are not only lucrative for recipients of the resultant taxpayer funded state grants, but also for the lawyers who deal with bond issues, the lobbyists who help push them through and of course, supportive incumbent legislators who may receive special consideration from program backers during the next election cycle.

The ability of citizens to influence their government is a good thing. The notions of protecting the environment and making Pennsylvania energy independent are good ideas that markets just might support someday. But if these issues truly warrant the power of governmental force, wouldn't they already be at the top of every legislator's priority list rather than needing a constant barrage of monetary influence to get there?

Rendell, in a recent bizarre twist on morality, claimed that Jesus himself would support some of his bold initiatives that use force to generate the resources required to fund them. One could more easily imagine Jesus, upon glimpsing the pillage and plunder of the common man by the speculators and lobbyists controlling Harrisburg, angrily tossing these moneychangers from our temple.

What Long and Zaborney are doing is not illegal. In fact, it's sanitized by laws currently in place. But let's not be confused about their ideologies. Their former cover under the umbrella of "conservative Republicanism" appears only to be due to its ability to put money in their own pockets.

This is the ideology of self interest, not public interest. For true believers in the causes of conservatism, liberalism, republicanism, democracy and even environmentalism, Long and Zaborney serve as sad case studies in gaming the machinations of government for personal benefit. How many other proponents of the ideology of self interest are currently lurking about in Harrisburg, eager to prey on the common taxpayer in search of personal treasure?

Pennsylvanians would do well to think about this government-as-industry model the next time they find themselves waiting for a crime to be solved, a legal case to be heard or a pothole to be filled.

Russ Diamond is the founder of PACleanSweep and an avid believer that government should do what's best for all citizens, not just the privileged few.

About PACleanSweep

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to reforming state government in Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com.

[412] Summer invites from Mark at Rauterkus dot com

Email blast, 412-public-campaign, message archive: [412] Summer invites from Mark at Rauterkus dot com

Hi All,

We are home and thankful for a wonderful trip to New Zealand. Lots of our photos are on the web. Come over on the evening of July 4 to check out the scrapbooks.

My blog, Mark Rauterkus and Running Mates, was recently named the 7th most influential political blog in Pennsylvania.

There is plenty to do. Hope our paths cross soon. Consider yourself invited to:

1. Our 4th of July house party. (more)
   


2. Water polo clinic and shoot out, July 1, 2, and 3 in the evenings. (link below)
   


3. A new Biathlon = 5 K run and 1 K swim on July 4 (with Crafton Celebrates) (link below)
   


4. Water polo clinics starting July 30 to August 17 (drop in any time for three weeks) (link below)
   


5. Help with getting signatures so we can field candidates for the November 2007 general election.
   


6. Introduction to Dr. Ron Paul, a native of Pittsburgh, and a member of US Congress who is all about peace and common sense -- and his run for the White House in 2008.

It is too soon to talk at great lengths about presidential politics because we still have some work to do for 2007's general election. However, I'm loving what presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul, former Libertarian, is saying. How he is delivers his message and the grass-roots energy is nearly as impressive as what he stands for. Take some time to understand his positions as Ron Paul bring a needed and most welcome change to the national political scene. Google "Ron Paul" or check out his videos at http://www.YouTube.com.

My efforts to stand for office in 2007 and get onto the ballot for multiple offices as a 'stand-in' are in full swing. But, ... we need more signatures. Some have been very encouraged at the opportunities and messages I'd bring to the campaign trails. However, hundreds of signatures on notarized forms are needed to help make this occur. http://elect.Rauterkus.com/papers/

I'll be meeting with Mark DeSantis tomorrow to talk with him about his views, campaign and community engagements in issues in the weeks to come. It takes two, or more, to tango. I'm at a cross-road. We'll have plenty to talk about, in person, by our 4th of July gathering. Arrive at 6 pm in the park to play badminton, Sarah and 12th Street. Or arrive at the house by 7 pm. More at my blog.

PDF handouts for other events I'm organizing are attached.

We're hosting a Biathlon: 5 K run + 1 K swim on July 4 in the morning. I'm leading water polo for 3 nights with Crafton Celebrates, July 1, 2, and 3 from 7:30 to 9. August features three water polo clinics, M-F, 9:30 to 11:30 am. Everyone is welcome.

Links to one-page PDFs of various events listed above:

• Biathlon Handout with July 4 5K run and 1K swim, (PDF)
• Evening Water Polo Clinic July 1, 2, 3 with Crafton Celebrates
• Morning Water Polo Clinic(s) for 3 weeks starting July 30, ending August 17

Stay safe.

New study from Pilots for 9/11 Truth: No Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon - Yahoo! News

New study from Pilots for 9/11 Truth: No Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon - Yahoo! News 'The Pentagon has become a kind of litmus test for rationality in the study of 9/11,' Fetzer said. 'Those who persist in maintaining that a Boeing 757 hit the building are either unfamiliar with the evidence or cognitively impaired. Unless,' he added, 'they want to mislead the American people. The evidence is beyond clear and compelling. It places this issue 'beyond a reasonable doubt'. No Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon.'

So there.

Meeting of the Marks, plus, Bits & Bytes in Biz: DeSantis and Mobile Fusion's fulltime boss, now

Mark the occasion. I was able to visit with Mark DeSantis today. Two Marks. Two with strong political opinions. We agree and understand that our city, the City of Pittsburgh, is on the brink.

I took a few notes. But, a real interview with all sorts of fact-finding can unfold elsewhere. Mine, now, is a hype posting. We gathered. We talked. Little else is going to come of this update posting. We didn't do any 'Vulcan Mind Melt' nor even 'Have a Good Sandwich Tuna Melt.' Our schedules merged with face-time for an hour. Discussions began.

I ran for Mayor in the primary in 2001 in the GOP party. I gave him some of my insights. Meanwhile, I listened to what he had to bring.

We agree that the present mayor is out of time. The sky is falling. The city is half of what it used to be. He predicted that the city would be legally bankrupt in two or three years unless something is done. And, he doesn't see anything being done from Luke Ravenstahl's administration.

I said that we (naysayers and I) had been talking about the financial distress of the city since 1999. When Dr. Carmine and I were running (2001), we predicted the financial collaps of the city. Ours was a near term warning as well. But, it didn't resonate. We got oversight, thanks to Tom Murphy and the city's one-party rule, as we predicted, two short years later.

The city is going to go bankrupt. It already, nearly, has. Nothing is better. Ho hum. That prediction and situation is grave -- but it isn't going to win an election.

The city doesn't have any more tricks. Phantom budgets and phantom revenues are, we hope, a thing of the past.

We agree that things are bad. But, I'm not sure that the message of "Oh My Gosh -- Life Sucks for City Government" is going to convert to changes on Grant Street in the Mayor's office. It counts. Some votes will flip with the understanding that 'enough is enough.'

DeSantis is confident that he offers a range of experiences and maturity that isn't within our young mayor. Luke being Luke coupled with the condition of the city presents a formula for getting more voters. The mayor's office, in a time of pressing crisis, is not the place for on the job training.

I agree with DeSantis: Luke Ravenstahl will make serious mistakes every month. These blunders, big and small, will be visible and drag down his popularity. This city can't afford mistakes. City voters will tune into the trends from this administration's tenure.

Furthermore, doing nothing is perhaps the most serious mistake Luke Ravenstahl could make.

Thank goodness for the forward thinking City Council and its cat legislation, said DeSantis. (That's his joke. It was funny. Guess you had to be there. Having a sense of humor and history helps.)

He'll use history in his statement on Tuesday while launching his campaign at the central train station, The Pennsylvanian. Trains are important to me. He likes the rotunda. He'll announce that his race is 'on' then and there. I'll be at swim practice so I can't attend. I'm working with future voters, I guess.

My reflection of history puts today's Pittsburgh in the same situation as the people of Poland in the mid to late 1930s. Hitler was to the west. Stalin was to the east. There was no place to hide. Poland had no place to go. Change was bad. Mark DeSantis needs to convince the people of Pittsburgh that he is neither Hitler nor Stalin and moving his way will be a change for the better.

Mature managers with a sense of political duty in our beings are called to act. We both feel that we've got to do something. As a coach, I understand that the mind leads and the body follows. Well, there are many things to think about. Junctions ahead. Decisions are looming. Time will tell.

Bits&Bytes: Big-name investors betting on BubbleMesh GOP mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis confirmed he's taken over South Side-based startup Mobile Fusion in the absence of former CEO Ric Castro, who left the firm recently to 'pursue other business interests.'
Prior to becoming Mobile Fusion's president, Mr. DeSantis was an adviser to the young firm, which is developing a prototype for a softball-like device equipped with a camera and sensors that when tossed into potentially dangerous situations acts as the eyes and ears of "first-responders" and soldiers.

"We decided that it was time for a reorganization," Mr. DeSantis said of the shake-up at the year-old firm.

Mobile Fusion experienced a growth spurt earlier this year, securing an undisclosed amount from private "angel" investors in addition to roughly $300,000 from startup generator Innovation Works.

Mr. Desantis' quest to unseat Mayor Luke Ravenstahl won't distract him from manning the six-person firm, he said. "Mobile Fusion is my full-time job. My spare time is running for office."

This gadget that DeSantis and others are working on is a probe. It provides detatched eyes and vision in unsafe places.

I say that the mind-leads and the body follows. Humm. It would be nice to have a softball like device to toss forward to sense what the future holds. That's an extension of the body. The mind still has to think and understand when and where to chuck sensory devices.

On the campaign trails in the weeks and months to come, DeSantis might wish for the functionality of Mobile Fusion. He'll be walking into some awkward situations. But mostly, he'll be in a sea of nothingness. Community groups are not going to have debates. And, should Luke get put on the ropes in public, so to speak, I expect Dan Onorato to quickly rally to Luke's defense.

DeSantis sees a great divide between Onorato and Ravenstahl. Ravenstahl is baggage that Onorato doesn't want, he feels. Mergers are a wedge issue too. Ravenstahl is against mergers and Onorato is for them. So DeSantis sees the two going their own ways. I don't agree.

I see Onorato and Ravenstahl in morph mode. And, a third character in that mix is Rendell. I expect DeSantis is going to see a lot of tangled relationships as he tries to battle Ravenstahl. Ravenstahl won't go toe-to-toe, one-on-one because others will swoop in just as the bell sounds. And, the stage won't be set with the voters in their seats.

Oh, the webs we weave.

Grant gets a day of "Lump Camp"

We've made "Lump Camp" a regular part of our summers. That's when you sit around like a lump. Generally it is an all-day thing. But, we've been moving more and more to half-day lump camps.

Grant gets a full day of lump camp tomorrow, Saturday. Erik is in a two day meet. But Grant is only in events on Sunday. So, Grant has Saturday 'off.'

The summer schedule for Mondays to Fridays includes a swim practice from 7 to 9 am at Carlynton High School (indoor, 25 yards). Then there is a short drive and another swim practice, outdoors, 25 yards, at Crafton Swim Pool, from 9:30 to 11:30.

On some days the boys take a run and then swim in the second practice. Or, they'll do some sculling, reverse swimming, and other skills/drills with a script in the diving well for a good part of the second practice. But, Mike has been doing a lot of work on turns in that outdoor practice. I've been trying to teach lots of fly and breast in the first couple weeks. Almost all of the younger swimmers have mastered breast.

48 hour film event in Pittsburgh in August

Hello, my name is Rick Frisco and I am the local producer for the 48 Hour Film Project coming to Pittsburgh for the first time this year.

I am contacting you or your company to spark interest for Pittsburgh’s first annual 48 Hour Film Project.

Here is a little about how the festivities will be produced:

Write - Produce - Shoot - Edit ... All in 48 hours. That's the mantra behind this unique project.

The 48 Hour Film Project will be kicking off at The Star City Theatre in Bridgeville, PA, on August 3rd at 5:00 P.M. At 7:00 P.M., more than 40 Teams of filmmakers will be rushing off with their blind picks of; Genres, Characters, Props and Line of Dialogue to Write, Produce and Edit their films which are to be returned within 48 Hours.

We are expecting more than 40 teams of filmmakers to produce a 3-5 minute video for their entry. Our expectance is to have 3 screenings of 14 films at each screening, starting on the Tuesday, August 7th 2007 at The Star City Theatre and ending on Thursday August 9th.

Our Awards Ceremony will be held once again at the Star City Theatre on Saturday August 11th at 4:00 P.M. We are expecting to show 14 different films with the winning titles such as “Best use of Prop”, “Best use of Character”, "Audience Choice Winner” and also crowning “The best short film in Pittsburgh 2007” which will move on for a chance to face other cities in their quest for the Grand Prize. That team of filmmakers will have the chance to win the Showdown and win an HD camera and $10,000 from Visa.

More than 66 cities across the nation have promoted this project with spectacular results and sell out crowds at their screenings. Please take the time to review the projects website and see all the other happenings with this international phenomenon http://www.48hourfilm.com/Pittsburgh

We would like to extend the invitation not only to attend the screening of the films but to spend the weekend on set with any of the local film teams. Please let me know if you would like more information or to speak to me, or any of the local filmmakers competing in the weekend.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely yours,

Rick Frisco, “Local Producer”, 48 Hour Film Project
Email: rfrisco -at- remnsproductions -dot- com

Rick Frisco, RemNS Productions, 85 Williams Street, Brownsville, PA 15417
Email: rfrisco -at- remnsproductions -dot- com
Web: remnsproductions.com
Sign up for Pittsburgh's 48 Hour Film Festival August 2007!
http://www.48hourfilm.com/pittsburgh

I nuked the guy's cell phone number. But it was sent to me in his invite.

Saturday, June 30 -- parade in Crafton

I'm going to be in the Crafton Parade on Saturday, June 30 to represent the Crafton Crocodiles swim team.

We will meet at First United Presbyterian Church on Bradford Ave. @ 3:30 p.m. Parade Starts @ 4:00 p.m.

Ron Paul -- swim dad

Ron Paul's son was a nationally-ranked butterflier as an age group swimmer when he was in high school in Texas.

Hat tip to fellow swim coach, George Block, from Texas for that insight.

Water Polo Opportunities: July 1, 2, 3 -- and for 3 weeks in August in the mornings

I'm organizing two different water polo experiences. Anyone who can swim 4 lengths of the pool is welcome. Boys, girls, and adults. Rookies to the sport are encouraged to give it a go as well.

Our Crafton water polo team is still undefeated. That's right, we've never lost. (giggle)

We always have a good time and a great workout.

Info at these URLs (PDFs):

Three-weeks of clinics in August (from July 30 to August 17) from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Just $5 per week. More details.

With Crafton Celebrates, we'll do an intro clinic and a 'shoot-out' in the evenings of July 1, 2, and 3. Come to the park's swim pool and then go eat a hot dog or funnel cake without any guilt. Cost, again, is just $5 for one, two or three nights. I'll give away some fun gifts to those in the shootout. More details in PDF.

Feel free to pass the word about these events. You could take these one page posters, print them and display them at your local swim pool, library, school, or church. Feel free to give them out to neighbors too.

Biathlon: 5 K run + 1 K swim, July 4, 2007

Details, in PDF, about the Biathlon with Crafton Celebrates on the morning of July 4.

This is a brand new event. It is not expected to be large.

Want some free fatherhood info for your organization?

National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) just released two RFPs for bundles of resources that community-based organizations can apply to receive at no charge. All that is required to potentially receive these resources is a little time and effort to write a brief proposal.

Please spread the word among your contacts. I have attached an announcement about the resources.

www.fatherhood.org

National Fatherhood Initiative Announces Two Request for Proposals (RFPs): We are currently offering quality resources FREE to eligible organizations.

DADDY PACK™ DISTRIBUTION GRANT Through this great opportunity, we're offering the Daddy Pack™, our BEST SELLING product, to organizations working with new and expectant dads! Up to 100 Organizations will receive $2500 worth of Daddy Packs™! Filled with important information about child health and safety, child development and more, this innovative resource has what new dads need to know to get involved with their little ones right from the start. Learn more about the Daddy Pack™ here FATHERHOOD RESOURCE CENTER DISTRIBUTION GRANT Complete with curricula, interactive resources, brochures, and posters, these resource centers have what you need to get dads involved! There are 145 fully-stocked resource centers available - each with $3,000 of resources! You can apply for the custom option which best suits your needs: 24/7 Dad Package New and Expectant Dad Package Comprehensive Fatherhood Package

For more information about the Daddy Pack™ opportunity, or to apply, click here Questions? Email us For more information about the Fatherhood Resource Center opportunity, or to apply, click here Questions? Email us *organizations may apply for, and possibly receive, both sets of resources* To learn more about the National Fatherhood Initiative visit www.fatherhood.org

Visit FatherSOURCE Learn more about our programs

Part time job

Environmental work in the city

The Pennsylvania Resources Council is currently searching for four to six part-time contract project assistants to support PRC staff in implementing a neighborhood recycling awareness campaign in the City of Pittsburgh. Interested individuals should send a cover letter and resume to David Mazza, Western Regional Director, via fax (412-488-7492) or email davem@ccicenter.org ASAP.

Invite: You can visit with us on the 4th of July

We are having our annual party / open house. Last year, Russ Diamond came to mingle and socialize.

Schedule: 6 pm badminton in the park by our house, 12th and Sarah Street. If you don’t want to play or watch badminton, plan to show up at the house (108 S. 12th Street) any time after 7 pm.

We’ll have the usual arts and crafts and some “water” games.

We supply napkins, plates, utensils, cups and lemonade and chips. If you want something more exciting (and we hope you do), please bring some to share (food or beverage).

You’ll be viewing the downtown fire works from our NEW deck just after dark. Yes, it is NEW. The deck is higher, larger, and really, really nice.

Plus, the room on the third floor where heads were often hit on the ceiling has changed as well. Come see the new room with 3 meter tall walls. We invite you to write a message on the unfinished inside walls (This year only!) that will be preserved with the house when we put up the final walls.

Everyone is welcome – please feel free to bring friends, relatives, etc.

If you need to reach us, email at mark@rauterkus.com.

Hope to see you. You can check out some of our New Zealand scrapbooks too.

Mark, Catherine, Erik, and Grant (plus our two cats)

PS: We're playing three evenings of coached water polo (any level) on July 1, 2 and 3 at the Crafton pool. Email for more information – it will be lots of fun.

The 'Burgh Works, A Pittsburgh Jobs Blog: Pennsylvania State Police Unveil New Cadet Recruitment Website

We have a problem with the recruitment of officers in the city and state. Perhaps one way to deal with the problem is to have fewer police forces. New Zealand has one police force for the entire nation. I don't advocate that solution, but it is interesting to study it. Today I talked to the Chief of the Pgh School District Police about that concept as we both were getting lunch at the Pickle Barrel.

The 'Burgh Works, A Pittsburgh Jobs Blog: Pennsylvania State Police Unveil New Cadet Recruitment Website We were notified recently that the State Police have unveiled a new cadet recruitment site at www.patrooper.com. The intent of the website is to make it easier to obtain information on becoming a Trooper as well as testing schedules and what current requirements are in effect. We found the new site very easy to navigate and well designed from a graphics standpoint. Information was easy to find and the overall effect is very web 2.0 (audio and video). State Police recruiters will be in attendance at our next big job fair on July 25th at Mellon Arena.

CollegeSwimming.com reports on White House visit: Brief - Body Suit? Bush Ops For Jammer

CollegeSwimming.com::Brief? Body Suit? Bush Ops For Jammer Auburn, which has won five consecutive men's national titles and five of the last six NCAA women's championships, presented the President with a beach towel with his name embroidered on it and both men's and women's Auburn swimsuits.

Blog Rankings:

This blog, Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates, was ranked #7 in the original rankings of the most influential political blogs in Pennsylvania.

Blue Flu Alert: Mayor wants 10 city officials to resign by Friday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Insanity looks like this:

The mayor wants 10 city officials to resign by Friday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Say 10 guys resign on Friday. And, say they walk off the job too. Hell might begin to freeze over.

I think this 'resignation request' might be the straw that breaks the back of a few of these guys. But, what about all ten? Solidarity could be very interesting.

Meanwhile, city residents get the shaft.

I know how hard it is to get good people to agree to run for public office. Getting great people to work in the public sector for goofy leadership, without being elected, is going to be much harder.

People vote with their feet. When things are not right, they notice. They walk. They don't subject themselves to crazy situations. People leave the city to live elsewhere. And, people will not have a great attraction to come to the city as residents nor as directors.

Rudy missing in action for Iraq panel - Newsday.com

Rudy missing in action for Iraq panel - Newsday.com WASHINGTON -- Rudolph Giuliani's membership on an elite Iraq study panel came to an abrupt end last spring after he failed to show up for a single official meeting of the group, causing the panel's top Republican to give him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit, several sources said.

Giuliani left the Iraq Study Group last May after just two months, walking away from a chance to make up for his lack of foreign policy credentials on the top issue in the 2008 race, the Iraq war.

Iowa -- let it rain let it rain let it reign

Ron Paul Excluded in Iowa

Iowans for Tax Relief and Iowa Christian Alliance will host a presidential candidates forum on Saturday, June 30th in Des Moines. Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee, Tommy Thompson, and Tom Tancredo will participate.

Ron Paul, however, will not participate. Why? Because he wasn’t invited.

We heard about this forum from numerous supporters in Iowa who asked why Dr. Paul was not going to participate. Those supporters assumed that Dr. Paul was invited.

The campaign office had not received an invitation so we called this morning; thinking we might have misplaced the invitation or simply overlooked it. Lew Moore, our campaign manager, called Mr. Edward Failor, an officer of Iowans for Tax Relief, to ask about it. To our shock, Mr. Failor told us Dr. Paul was not invited; he was not going to be invited; and he would not be allowed to participate. And when asked why, Mr. Failor refused to explain. The call ended.

Lew then called Mr. Steve Sheffler, president of the Iowa Christian Alliance, to talk with him. Mr. Sheffler did not answer so Lew left a message. He has yet to respond.

Why are the Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance excluding the one Republican candidate who scored at the top of every online poll taken after the MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN debates? Why are they denying Iowans the opportunity to hear from the Republican presidential candidate whose popularity is growing by the day?

We couldn’t get answers to these questions from Messrs. Failor and Sheffler. Maybe you’ll have better luck. Their contact information is below.

It's ironic that on the same day we learned the Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance excluded Dr. Paul from their candidates forum, we received a call from ABC News confirming Dr. Paul’s participation in its nationally broadcast August 5th debate to be held in Des Moines.

Kent Snyder, Chairman
Ron Paul 2008


Contact Information

Edward Failor
Iowans for Tax Relief
2610 Park Avenue
Muscatine, Iowa 52761
Phone: 563-288-3600 or 877-913-3600
Fax: 563-264-2413
E-mail: itr@taxrelief.org

Steve Sheffler, President
Iowa Christian Alliance
939 Office Park Road, Suite 115
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
Phone: 515-225-1515
Fax: 515-225-1826
E-mail: slscheffler@iowachristian.com

Pittsburgh Pist-Gazette: Peduto Says Cool Hand Luke Out In Left Field

Pittsburgh Pist-Gazette: Peduto Says Cool Hand Luke Out In Left Field He Might As Well Ask For (Dan) Onorato's Resignation While He’s At It

During today’s City Council session, Councilman Bill Peduto read the City Charter rules as they pertain to the firings of department heads and directors. Something Mayor Lukey should have done prior to waving his hand, trying to get most of the 5th floor to disappear.

A couple of embarrassing points for an administration which is building its legacy on embarrassment ……

Great recap at the insanity that the rookie Mayor has caused.

I don't like to have an insult of being on some kind of meds, however. That is just silly and does not help the cause. There is plenty to be upset about for what it is without putting in some fictional boogie man causes.

Libertarians to gather on WED night this week.

Click here to check out
The Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh Meetup Group!

Working on a special event with Pirate game for end of summer for lifeguards and swimmers

Save the date: Sunday, September 30, 2007. That is the last game of the year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. We hope to pull together a special event with the game to honor and celebrate the end of the summer. And our special focus will be the swimmers, coaches, lifeguards and fitness participants and leaders who make the summer-time days safe and enoyable.

Ideas, co-organizers, volunetters are welcomed to join this effort.

Write to me via Mark -at- Rauterkus -dot- com or call my cell: 412 298 3432.

Nameless, faceless bloggers -- and why they occur withing and without the media

At another blog there is a thread about posting comments from those who don't sign their names.

One theory says that the anon postings are from those in the media. By and large, I don't agree.

Because one is in the media is not an excuse to use anon, UNLESS, you're media in Fiji. Fiji has had a military take over. The general / dictator has had a thing against bloggers and free press. So, anon bloggers and postings are needed, else one would be jailed or worse.

I venture that there are 100 or so that use, with monthly postings, the "Anon" handle. Perhaps 10% are media.

If there are anon posters in the media -- what the hell are they scared of? Are they chicken to stand by their words? Are they spineless?

For example, Jon Delano (KDKA) and Bob Mayo (WTAE) use their names, generally, I assume. Others in the media do as well.

The media has a job to do -- and that is to report. If the media people leverage influence to sway the news in ways they desire by using "anon" postings on blog comments, then there are concerns that should be pulled into the open. Does anyone want to pick a bone with media people posting in "anon" ways here?

My conclusion: I feel that they don't do that. It doesn't happen much.

Media posting in regular ways as anon is too bush-league for even the media around Pittsburgh.

Anon postings come from people who are citizens and fearful of powerful ones who are in government and in hiring capacities for other reasons. And, that fear is justified. And, those people are NOT generally 'media folks.'

Finally, I'm certain that the media folks READ blogs and do research. But, they'll be less engaged as people who 'post.'

Agree, or not? Use the comments and tell us why.

R.I.P. -- times NINE

Nine firefighters died in Charlestown, South Carolina, in a furnature warehouse blaze. Seems the roof fell on them.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/19/charleston.fire.ap/index.html

Life is precious. Let's end this theme on the blog now, shall we.

Update:

Terry Hoeppner, Big Ben's college coach, dies: "Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner died today of complications from a brain tumor, a university spokesman said. He was 59."

Another RIP: WESLEY, (Wes) THOMPSON reports that his mother passed away.

Unfortunately the Lord chose to take my mother, Mildred Thompson, home on Sat. 6-16. Friends will be received fron 7-9 Mon., & tues. 2-4 & 7-9 at Thomas Smith funeral home 930, Center Ave B, Blawnox PA 15238. A service will be held Wednesday morning 10 AM.

Hat tip to Kathleen Stewart of the western side of Pgh.

Pennsylvania lost a leader. RIP Dr. George Osborne

He was a leader at the PA College of Optometry, an audiologist, a professor. He helped to launch the Pennsylvania Accademy of Audiology. He hired a couple of Univ. of Pittsburgh graduates. He has been a pioneer in distance education. He was a pilot.

Last Friday, the College announced with great sadness that Dr. George S. Osborne, Dean of the School of Audiology died suddenly on June 14th.

The Memorial Service for Dr. Osborne is as follows:
Friday, June 22nd at 7 p.m.
Paoli Presbyterian Church
225 S. Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301
Phone number at the church is 610-644-8250

Should you like to get a condolence note to the Osborne family, we ask that you send it to our offices here at PCO, and we will be sure to have all communications forwarded to the family.

PCO
Alumni Office
8360 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027

Dr. Osborne's family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to
PCO Foundation's George S. Osborne Scholarship Fund.

Presidential candidate Ron Paul drawing diverse crowds - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Article in the Sunday Trib about my favorite candidate for US President, 2008, Dr. Ron Paul.

Presidential candidate Ron Paul drawing diverse crowds - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review What struck the candidate ... was the diversity of the crowd.

'Young and old, hippie types and business types, Republicans and Democrats and independents, anarchists, people who hate the IRS and the Federal Reserve,' said Ron Paul, a Green Tree native, Dormont High School alumnus and Republican congressman from Texas' Gulf coast.

Diversity works for Libertarians. Diversity works for me too.

Medical Marijuana should be defended.

Most of all to those who are NOT convinced already, my friends in Pittsburgh should get behind Ron Paul, because he is a home-town hero.

When was the last person from Pittsburgh in the White House -- as President?

This quote that "Everyone knows he's not going to be the nominee" is total crap. But, those are they types of quotes I expect from the Tribune Review.

Politics is partly about the power of ideas. And, if politics is going to improve, it needs to be ALL ABOUT the power of ideas. Politics is in the toilet because it is about money and NOT about ideas. Politics is in the toilet because it isn't about the future.

Polls that don't register his candidacy are not worth a wasted breath. But, the Trib cares about spreading the soiled goods.

Ron Paul's wife, Carol Wells, is also from this area. Not like T. Heinz. This are Pittsburgh's people.

Dormont. You gotta love this guy. He was a state track champion. He was class president. He didn't play football -- so his head wasn't bashed about!

Sure, there are a lot of good things that the government does. The government needs to protect freedom. Protect privacy. Protect the people from the government.

Greater words can not be said about a guy in politics if you listen to what Tom DeLay said about Ron Paul. "You always understand where he's coming from." That is key. That can't be discounted.

Earmarks never worked for Dr. Paul. YES!

I've said all along that we need to nix the earmarks in Western Pennsylvania that come here and HURT our economy. The tunnel under the river for light-rail expansion is a great example of an earmark that doesn't work.

Then the Trib goes out of its way to interview the opposition of Dr. Paul. Talk to Ds in Dr. Paul's area. Talk to DeLay, 'the hammer' -- an in-party foe to Dr. Paul. Paul won after a controversial redistricting. I remember that period. Texas had a strike. It was a mess.

Rudy Giuliani sharply rebuked him, so the article goes. Really, Guiliani was rude and dull and without any rebuke. Duhh. Rudy gets a thank you note for being one to tango with, but Rudy was flat foolish. Rudy's attack on Dr. Paul is going to be the telling moment of Rudy's career.

School Sports -- merge the City League with the WPIAL

Now is the time, when school is out and when sports teams are not taking all the available attention, to have serious conversations about scholastic sports.

The Pgh Public Schools has its own "City League." The City League needs to be taken apart. Rather, the city schools need to merge in and among the schools in the W.P.I.A.L.

Talk of consolidation mergers and metropolitanism has loomed large in recent years. Both scorn and infatuation spills. I'm willing to push to make sports, our playgrounds and our extra-school activities be the ones to step to the line next and MERGE.

We need to get the city kids playing well with the suburban kids.

We need to get the city school administrators understanding the competition. The school administrators in the PPS district are too insulated from the rest of Allegheny County.

We need the boosters in the city to see how boosters in suburban districts operate.

We need to be competitive -- and competition in sports is a week to week, day to day, and minute to minute ordeal. In sports, we keep score all the time.

Let's merge.

Ron Paul, the Mahatma by Gary North

Ron Paul, the Mahatma by Gary North

I was watching Gandhi recently, as I do every year or two. It is inspirational to me. It tells the story of a man who could not possibly win the battles he chose to fight, but did anyway. There is no doubt that it is a propaganda film, funded in part by the Indian government. It scrambles his chronology. But, on the whole, it got the story right. Mohandas K. Gandhi, a lawyer, was able to transform Indian politics. He did this through force of moral character and shrewd tactics that made every official response either 'Damned if we do; damned if we don’t.' I read 'The Gandhi Nobody Knows' when it was published in 1983, a year after the movie was released. I know the strange side of the man. But he mobilized a huge nation without recourse to violence. That was his great legacy.

I also like the movie because it is the story of a failed empire. By 1945, the British Empire had spent itself into near bankruptcy because of two wars. It was a pale shadow of itself. It would soon grow much paler.

Great quote: The public does not know who Ron Paul is. But TV viewers who were politically active enough to go to the websites of the broadcasting networks are big supporters of Paul.

World Record gets cut by 10-seconds

Swimming World has some fantastic swim news for Americans. A new mega star is born. This, to me, is way more impressive than the U.S. Open.

Flash! Ziegler Shatters Evans' World Record in 1500 Freestyle

MISSION VIEJO, California, June 17. SHE'S been tracking her idol for years, winning world titles and living up to the high expectations placed on her shoulders. Sunday night, swimming at the TYR Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo, California, Kate Ziegler passed Janet Evans on the long-course scene. Contesting the 1500 freestyle, Ziegler lopped an unheard of 10 seconds from Evans' 1988 standard of 15:52.10.

Already the winner of the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles at the meet, Ziegler saved her best for last and went 15:42, a time that is almost unfathomable. Ziegler, the two-time defending world champ in the 800 and 1500 freestyles, has been compared to Evans since she arrived as a rising force on the national scene. At the World Championships earlier this year in Melbourne, Ziegler posted a mark of 15:53.05, the second-fastest in history at that moment.

In Mission Viejo, she attacked the 30-lap event with a vengeance, moving ahead of world-record pace from the get-go. Obviously, since she broke the record by 10 seconds, there was never a question whether she would remain on target. It was only a matter of how low she would take the record, which was the oldest on the books, set March 26, 1988 in Orlando.

Considering Ziegler broke the oldest effort by such a large margin, one has to consider the swim as the finest performance in history. Forever, debate will rage as to which swims are the most impressive, but Ziegler at least can make a strong case for the distinction. Ziegler, of course, is trained by Ray Benecki of The Fish.

Check SwimmingWorldMagazine.com for more coverage of Ziegler's record-breaking swim.

On YouTube:

I got a 'tie' for Father's Day -- and I love it. Plus, my t-shirt got new hand prints

From Logos

I have a new tie in the wardrobe. It has a fern pattern. I love it. The fern is a symbol of New Zealand. Word on the street was against giving dad a tie for Father's Day -- but -- they'd be wrong in this case.

I also have a t-shirt with nearly a dozen years of blooming hand and foot prints from my kids. These shirts are all the rage now. At the zoo today I must have seen a dozen of these styled shirts -- 'best dad, hand's down.' Clever. Must have been in a lot of craft catalogs in recent times. I am such a trend setter.

Policies that boost fathers are needed- PennLive.com

Policies that boost fathers are needed- PennLive.com: "Policies that boost fathers are needed
Sunday, June 17, 2007
BY RICK SANTORUM

I suppose it's flattering when people ask what office you're looking at next. Since last November, however, I've told anyone who asks that the only thing I'm running for these days is 'Father of the Year.'

I don't know how I'll fare when the returns pour in today, but I hope I'll do well in the Santorum precinct.

I know this: Losing last year's Senate race in Pennsylvania was a great blessing. It gave me an opportunity that won't be there a few fleeting years from now. The opportunity to be a more fully involved father of a family that will only be under one roof for a few more years. The opportunity of time. The opportunity of a lifetime for my six children, my wife Karen and me."

Blognetnews.com -- Pennsylvania's ranking of most influential political blogs -- Running Mates -- we're #7

Blognetnews.com � Pennsylvania: "Pennsylvania's Most Influential Political blogs"

The top 20 include:

1	GrassrootsPA
2	Attytood
3	The Pennsylvania Progressive
4	Suburban Guerrilla
5	PowerBlog!
6	The Carbolic Smoke Ball
7	Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events
8	www.keystonepolitics.com
9	PSoTD
10	Above Average Jane
11	:::Philebrity...media, culture, music and more:::
12	Pennsyltucky Politics
13	passopenrecords.org
14	Phillybits
15	Brendan Calling
16	TONY PHYRILLAS
17	Mark A. Kilmer (the weblog)
18	2 Political Junkies
19	Save The GOP
20	The Rittenhouse Review

Director advice at PNC Park last night: Hang in there!

Last night we had a nice time at PNC Park with a group of folks in Pittsburgh for an event that was hosted at the Univ. of Pittsburgh. My wife is involved with a teach the teachers conference that runs every other year. This was the second event and the third topic for 2009 is booked. (Practice management) This year's topic for the audiology educators was A.R.

Quiz: What is A.R.?

I'd type it here -- but want to make this more interactive and my spelling stinks.

A corporate sponsor, Starkey, was able to bring 45 or so to the game. Wonderful. It was a nice ending to three days of meetings.

BTW, the Pirates lost. BTW 2, some really young kids are going to see "High School Musical."

While at the game I talked for a moment or two with one of the ten directors who has been given notice that his job would become advertised for a national search for his replacement. I'll keep his identity secret for fear of blowback for now. But, this gentleman is one of the very few that I'd feel confident that I'd want to interview for that post he currently occupies should I become mayor. He is good at what he does. He has always been honest and straight with me, personally, and in my quest of political insights into the budget and such.

I told him (and his associates -- sorry, no clues) that was with him my thoughts about how in the real world one should measure twice THEN cut once. That isn't the case with our young mayor -- nor with Onorato and Bland. So, this isn't just a youth knock. Mine is a process evaluation -- and they're clueless as to how to evaluate objectives and such.

After some nice conversations, and as we were getting back to the game and our respective groups, my parting words were, "Hang in there Scott." This advice needs to be repeated, in public. I hope he does hang in there and is around Grant Street when I'm mayor -- and the insanity dissipates.

Coaching Polar Bears at Pgh Zoo -- today at 2 pm

Father's Day -- and going to the zoo and aquarium. Sponsor, www.Fatherhood.org.

From people & vips

From people & vips

If I can coach in New Zealand, Canada, swim with hector dolphins and help to lead open water efforts as well as water polo at Crafton, I think I can coach a butterfly workout with the polar bears at the Pgh Zoo and Aquarium. Be there today at 2 pm.

Getting some advice on comments in other blogs.

Folks, I'm open to suggestions on the blogs of others -- as well as this blog too.

HaloScan.com - Comments If I were you I would focus on Bruce Kraus. I know you can beat him. You should represent the people on the Southside and be their voice.
Good luck !!
anonymous | 06.15.07 - 5:34 pm | #

Two Pitt swim coaches (assistants) are moving on to other gigs

CollegeSwimming.com::Resignations in New Orleans and Pittsburgh Resignations in Pittsburgh

Coaches seeking an elusive college gig can rejoice as three vacancies were announced in separate announcements from Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Pitt assistants, Eric Stefanski and Eric Limkemann, are stepping down.

Stefanski (1994-98) will be introduced as the new assistant at the University of North Carolina and Limkemann will leave the coaching sidelines. Limkemann will dedicate himself to becoming one of the nation's top triathletes as he relocates to Dayton, Ohio with his wife.

The Crossed Pond Blogger quoted about Ron Paul and Pittsburgh and Washington Post

The Crossed Pond - The Crossed Pond in the Washington Post If you head on over to your local newsstand this morning and pick up a copy of The Washington Post, you’ll notice a front page article about Ron Paul and his massive online reach. At the end of the article, you might notice some random kid from Pittsburgh is mentioned talking about how inspiring Ron Paul is, and how important is his message.

Pittsburgh mayor axes

Pittsburgh mayor axes status quo - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "'He's doing this uniformly so it doesn't reflect any agenda,' said Ferlo, ...

Heck, don't show an agenda.

I want an agenda to be visible. I want to have moves by city leaders to reflect an agenda.

When the ax swings and no agenda is reflected in the swinging -- it is a hatchet job.

And, when the ax swings and the no agenda is reflected, it is just a power play.

Relay Carnival Idea Discussion

Talkshoe.com

On Your Mark - Summer League Relay Meet ideas

Description: Our Summer Swimming League's Relay Carnival needs a drastic overhaul. I'll offer my suggestions to fellow coaches, parents and officials.

Start Time: 06/19/07 10:00 PM EDT

Duration (minutes): 30

kdka.com - No Shortage Of Events This Weekend In Pittsburgh

For sure.

kdka.com - No Shortage Of Events This Weekend In Pittsburgh Any visitors to Pittsburgh won't be able to complain about a lack of entertainment this weekend, as the city is buzzing with a host of activities.

Pitt Audiology is hosting a teach the teacher even with people from around the US and different nations in town. So I'll be going to the Pirates game with them tonight. Then I expect to hit Flux.

The dad of one of my son's classmates is playing in the band that takes the Flux stage at midnight. I'm going to do my best to stay up to see them.

If time permits, after our swim team league meeting of coaches from all the teams, we'll hit the gay pride events. But I still need to print-up some water polo and biathlon handouts and update a web site with that and my Father's Day messages.

Mayoral candidates' Web presence and response is varied | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Politics: Local

Dallas is holding a mayor's race. And, Dallas may elect a gay mayor. But, this article covers some of the technology of being an eMayor and eCandidate.

I worry because the GOP write-in guy for mayor doesn't have squat on the net.

Koch and Kraus don't understand the internet. Ravenstahl's web and email replies as a candidate and as an elected official have been poor at best.

Mayoral candidates' Web presence and response is varied | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Politics: Local Increasingly, in the case of state and high-profile city elections, a well-organized and appealing Web site can make or break a campaign.

But many of the tools billed as reaching out to voters provide nothing more than the illusion of accessibility, said Phil Noble, founder of politicsonline.com, which monitors how politics and the Internet interact. That's because most politicians don't know how to effectively use Web sites to reach people, he said.

Three Rivers Fishing Report - trend revealed

Here is how it works in the real world:

Three Rivers Fishing Report In organizations and companies I am familiar with, one reviews the job performance of an individual against the responsibilities and goals of that position to see how that individual adds up. You don't ask for resignation letters and then review their application for their job.

Review in carpenter's terms: Ravenstahl cuts first. Mends second because the existing dead-wood can remain. Shops third with a national search. Picks fourth. Offers fifth. Hires sixth. Fills the dis-jointed part seventh. Introduces and trains eighth. Finally, gets onto life the new direction and his stamp upon the administration.

Remember how Steve Bland and Dan Onorato did the PAT cuts? Sorta the same way. They cut first and measured second. After the routes were cut, they then tried to figure out the impact and if that route should be cut or not.

In life, you measure twice then cut once.

Onorato and Ravenstahl don't understand how life works. That is another good reason to use the word, 'hack.'

They hack the city's department heads or they hack up the PAT bus routes without justifications and purpose to the desired mission and outcomes. The hacks are wreckless. Hacks don't have a process that thinks thing through. The hacks operate without rhyme nor reason. Hacks never learn how to "Think Again."

Cut this, cut that.... whack, whack, whack = hack.

Saying "Do more with less" and not being able to prove it -- just hacking away -- is the talk of a hack.

We want the city to provide value and be efficient. We understand that cuts should be made and must be made. But, how one cuts and how one guides is very important.

PAT needed to make changes. The department heads need adjustments. But terror can't work either.

Rather, evolve.

Carbolic Smoke Ball nails LUKE, but this last one isn't funny

Read and giggle.

Carbolic Smoke Ball PITTSBURGH - Mayor Luke Ravenstahl yesterday asked for a resignation letter from his sixteen-year-old grass cutter Noah Swayne in an effort to re-evaluate his performance.

In a statement, the mayor said he was 'not satisfied with the condition of my front lawn' and will conduct a nationwide search for the best candidate to assume the duties. Swayne is being asked to apply.

Swayne was a holdover from the O'Connor administration. He cut then-Mayor O'Connor's grass from April 2006 until O'Connor's death in September 2006.

Mayor Ravenstahl reportedly will ask for similar letters of resignation from his dentist, auto mechanic and barber.

But, I wonder, does this mean more? If my wife did hair for her job, I'd not have a 'barber' to fire -- unless -- ...

Fineman: The Politics of Pittsburgh - Newsweek Howard Fineman - MSNBC.com

Fineman: The Politics of Pittsburgh - Newsweek Howard Fineman - MSNBC.com What Pittsburgh Can Teach the Country
A city down on its luck has an optimistic young leader. The scene there mirrors our national situation. Maybe we can all learn something from Luke Ravenstahl.

What Pittsburgh and America need, above all, is vigorous, shrewd, knowledgeable and optimistic leadership. We need to unite community and country in common effort. And—just a thought—perhaps we need to turn to the generation coming up after the baby boom.

Maybe I’m just a homer — isn’t everybody, in one way or another? But if Pittsburgh can take the next step, so can the country; conversely, if this city fails, so does the country, at least in my mind.

Homer fits him well. At least he told the world that he's a homer himself.

I'm from Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is my home. But, I'm not a homer.

The saga of Pittsburgh and the saga of the nation are NOT linked as this homer states in his article. Sure, there is overlap. But, wondering if Pittsburgh can take the next step and that being a sign for the rest of the country is silly. That's something only an ugly 'homer' would write and try to 'sell.'

Pittsburgh can stand and fall on its own merits. Pittsburgh is a bit of an island even when it comes to political thought.

Perhaps the old benchmark, "Will it play in Peoria?" is being conjured with his thoughts. If Pittsburgh can get vigorous, shrewd, knowledgeable and optimistic leadership, then the White House can be filled with leaders of the same moxie.

Who is going to burst this homer's bubble by explaining that Pittsburgh is still without vigorous, shrewd, knowledgeable and optimistic leadership, even from its 27 year old mayor? A unicorn is cute, rare and mythical but not a vigorous, shrewd, knowledgeable and optimistic leader.

There are hopeful signs.

Did he see the billboards with the hands on hips?

The 88 neighborhoods are remarkably intact — a rarity.

Our city's neighborhood nightlife is such a draw that parents go "out on the town" at wee hours of the night. Intact? Rarity?

... The real problem of this region is political. I’ve been around, and I’ve never seen a place more desperately in need of unified, inspirational, smart political leadership. The government structure is, to put it mildly, a mess: too many bureaucrats and elected officials doing not much.

Hold the phone. He talks of four problems, not one real problem. One is government structure. Two is the abundance of bureaucrats. Three is too many elected officials. Four is not much action from the many elected officials.

Pittsburgh needs to understand its situation before Pittsburgh can begin to grapple with the possibilities of building its solutions. Talk on one front, say elected officials who do squat, can influence what to do in other matters. This is a quagmire. But, first things first.

I agree we have too many elected officials who do nothing. Furthermore, the do nothing elected officials don't have the mental capacity to see the real problems and offer creative solutions to those problems. They can't attack the roots as they are not smart enough to know about them or they are not creative enough to address them.

Pittsburgh of 2007 has plenty of elected officials with do-nothing attitudes except to fill their power-hungry ways of self-preservation. So, we've got to throw the bums out. We need to clean house. But, we might not want to toss out the baby with the bathwater. Our governmental house might be in fine order, except for the slobs who have been squatting there in recent times.

It is important to replace, re-direct, then reform. We can't put the reform of government into the hands of those who should be replaced. We can't allow the lazy politicians of today's Pittsburgh be the ones to build themselves new structures.

We need to be certain that the efforts of replacement are geared to bone-headed politicians and not directly linked to the structure of our government.

Democracy is messy. Community interactions are scary. Getting along is hard work and not always about being neat and tidy. Problems with process and the problems with people in leadership roles (and would be leadership roles) are two distinct elements. Multiple conversations are needed. Otherwise, its all just wasted gibberish.

The writer mentions the 129 other independent municipalities in surrounding Allegheny County. Well, they are throughout the county, not around it. And, the other municipalities might go a long way to making for one of the best features of the region -- mentioned above -- the intact neighborhoods. Edgewood is not the same as Wilkinsburg. Verona and Oakmont and Plum are not the same. West Mifflin and Duquesne are different. I tend to feel that the 129 different municipalities is a strength. Otherwise, we all might be in the same boat, without diversity with bigger headaches.

The writer also gets it all wrong by saying "The mayor is in a constant tussle with the county, run by County Executive Dan Onorato." There is no tussle. Even Tom Murphy and Jim Roddey were on the same page and talked constantly as late as 2002.

Saying that the county has bigger access to state funds is weird reporting too. The big projects are in the city -- stadiums, convention center, tunnels under river to North Side, slots parlor, new arena. Some go elsewhere, like the Mon Valley Toll Road or a warehouse around the green fields of the airport -- creating sprawl.

The county's income stream is limited in more ways than that of the city. The county's 'bread and butter' is the property taxes -- and Dan Onorato has been as was written -- a do-nothing elected leader.

Access to state funds has gone to the city for its bailouts. Act 47, I.C.A., and other state spending stop-gap goodies have come to the city, not the county. PAT's meltdown isn't getting state aid. Dan Onorato's knees are worn with all the begging he has done to the state's do nothing elected leaders.

Ravenstahl was reported to have said, "No one would pay attention to urban issues." Does he do that himself? What urban issues does he care to address? Cats running at large? Transportation?

The state's budget-control office that shares space with the mayor is not just symbolism. Self-determination has gone down the drain and it isn't being sucked back by Luke nor any of the do-nothing leaders.

I agree that "the notion of going hat in hand to a Philly guy is galling beyond words." But, sadly, Onorato and the others do not share that view. Pittsburgh needs to have a new attitude. We need to get the city to pull its own weight.

Ravenstahl is pushing biotech, proudly noting that more than a million square feet of “wet lab” space is on the drawing board.

Ravenstahl might as well be pushing a rope up the river if he is pushing biotech. Ravenstahl needs to let the market place and the science take care of itself. Ravenstahl should be worried about good government. Ravenstahl should be worried about city-wide wellness. Ravenstahl should worry about ways to prevent the next deaths from the next fire from the next poor family that resides in our neighborhoods.

But what the city and region need most is unity and optimism.

The city needs unity like a hole in the head. We need freedom. We need a rule of law, not a rule of a few men (or boys). We need government officials to focus on governmental concerns, not biotech plans.

Ravenstahl can’t be a new Lawrence because he can't thing and do the things that should be done. Ravenstahl is in a tough spot because his principles are soft. One aim of Lawrence was to clean the air. That's something we all share. Biotech is not everyone's domain.

Ravenstahl wants to convene the corporate chieftains who belong to something called the Allegheny Conference, but he would go to them to beseech rather than command. He has little bargaining power.

Telling statement. Ravenstahl wants to kiss butt to the Allegheny Conference. I say screw them. The Allegheny Conference is often what is wrong about this region.

I don't agree that the city needs to attract those in their 20s. If they come when they are 20 but leave with they hit 30, it is all a waste. The city can't even keep what it has. The city needs to be square with the residents of Pittsburgh. First things first.

Polar Bears swim in an Endless Pool-simulates arctic stream

Swim Pools are OPEN!

Polar Bears swim in an Endless Pool-simulates arctic stream The polar bears at the Central Park Zoo have been going with the flow - and going against it as well. An 'Endless Pool' has been installed into their exhibit that has, literally, been making waves!

Meanwhile, Dr. Fu operates on a monkey. Polar Bears in Pgh Zoo demand a flume too.

We'll be at the zoo on Father's Day. I'm going to coach the bears in an butterfly workout. Be there at 2 pm to witness the coaching session.

New bike lane is more like a logo -- where is the lane?

It was great to hear about the new bike lane that is starting to show up on city streets. Then I saw one last night. That is not a lane. It is only a logo.

There are real bike lanes throughout Christchurch, NZ. We rode on those lanes throughout the month of May. They are in the same general area as our lanes -- but -- our lanes are without lines. Our lanes are but hints of a bike lane.

Do all the bike lines in Pittsburgh NOT have a line? I'm looking for a painted line that goes along the side of the street for the length of the street. Generally there are two -- one for each side of the road. Pittsburgh has none.

Sure, it is more paint. Sure, it is more time. Sure, the Pittsburgh roads generally are not with the freshest coat of paint, even for yellow lines and cross-walks. But I'm wanting real lines for the bike lanes.

Furthermore, the bike lanes in New Zealand have a background color at major intersections. They are not put through the intersections, but rather only at the end of the road at the edge of the intersection -- for about 10-15 meters (yards).

That extra paint is very nice -- but that might be too much for our broke city to cover.

The bike lanes in Christchurch were with red paint. The ones in Auckland had green paint. Pittsburgh has a little logo with some arrows. That's not enough.

In other cities in other nations they often have the bike lane next to the sidewalk, then the parked car, then the traffic in the street. That would be interesting to try on a city street or two.

The bike lanes in China often have a physical fence to keep the cars and bikes with a divide. That is great. It would be nice to set up a road or two in Pittsburgh with those added guard rails -- as a test.

Luke is going to do a bike ride on Monday at 11 am. Big deal. Ask for lines on the road for the duration of the bike lane. Autos won't follow them all the time, but they will provide extra reminders to both bikers and drivers.

Finally -- I want to see those share the road signs with additional statements -- no bikes on the sidewalks. I saw a guy in Oakland zipping along last night. He was way, way, way too fast to be on the sidewalk. If I had seen him sooner, I would have done more than beep my horn.

Bikes on the sidewalk need to be with those under the age of 7 or at slower than walking speed. Walk the bikes on side WALKS.

Bikers who are on the sidewalks with speed should have be fined $50 or more -- and have their bike taken away for a week. We're talking bike jail, bike court, bike ER and bike row office next. (That's a joke.) And, citizens should be able to file the complaint against bikers who are on the sidewalks. (That's not a joke.)

What do you suggest with iPod listens?

I've been doing a lot of listening to my iPod. I'm open to a few suggestions. What do you like? I'll post some of my better audio subscriptions later.

Republican Candidate For Mayor Not Backing Down - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Republican Candidate For Mayor Not Backing Down - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh DeSantis said he wants debates in the race for mayor, and he wants to debate not only Ravenstahl, but also any other candidates that get into the race.

Libertarian candidate for mayor, Mark Rauterkus, will also be on the ballot this fall.

The wind up, the pitch.... either a strike or a home run

This from Tom Gillooly on a local email discussion group about Dr. Ron Paul and his bid for US President.

Last year, I saw Jon Stewart interview another libertarian, John Stossel (MSM investigative reporter). It began well, but as soon as Stossel said something to the effect that he trusts business and the market more than government, Stewart cut him off with an anti-corporation rant, and ended the interview. He started something like that in his interview with Ron Paul, asking if reducing government wouldn't give more power to corporations.

Paul handled it perfectly, first distinguishing between businesses like Halliburton that make money by using government, from those that make money by selling a product or service that people want; then putting entertainers like Stewart himself in the latter category.

The same pitch that Stossel had swung at and missed, Ron Paul knocked out of the park.

I call myself a "free market" candidate. I hate the corporate welfare efforts and folly. We've got a lot of corporate welfare Republicans -- like Tom Ridge, former PA Governor. These are interesting times and big distinctions.

Pittsblog backs into a liberty discussion

See: http://pittsblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/up-up-and-away.html

Pittsblog But the regulatory gauntlet is daunting, and there aren't enough people in town who are trained to manage it.

This is not the way I'd want to skin the cat. If the regulatory gauntlet is daunting, and it is even more than daunting, then I'd want to streamline that process. We need to extend freedom and liberty to eliminate and rid the process of daunting regulations. We need to get more into a buyer beware mode. We need to get off the backs of those who want to sell supplements. We need to open up a few tax-free-zones but switch the free pass to whole segments of marketplace advancements. Cut red tape. Get government out of the position of playing boss of a nanny state. Put more responsibility upon the consumers, the drug makers, the doctors, the health-care advocates, the pharmacy experts.

Don't have the D.A. and the State-Commerce-Auditors do 'crack-downs' on gyms for selling "Gator-Aid" and other supplements.

I hate steriods. Here I'm talking about the 'roids' that are famous for short-cuts to building bulk, HGH and such. I won't use them. I'll teach others about their troubles. But I'd like to sidestep the need for Pittsburgh to recuit a bunch of human capital so we have people who are trained to manage the hurdles of a bloated, over-taxed, public sector process of agencies, permissions and plain-old red tape.

If we had 10 people take that on as a mission, getting to the roots of the problems, from positions of power in certain offices -- the thaw of our economy would begin.

This is why Libertarian thinkers, such as Ron Paul, would be a boom to America at this time.

Today's blog is brought to you by the Trudeau/Hayden Moving Sale

Trudeau/Hayden Moving Sale

Chez nous 91 S 24th Street in South Side on Saturday, June 16, 2007 from 9 to noon (no earlybirds please).

Books, Action Figures, Hats Galore, Costumes, Games, Videos, Ceramics. Stuff you would never find at a regular Sidewalk Sale.

Please don't phone...just come

Wilburn is moving to Canada. After the house sale comes the sale of the house as well. It is a wonderful find. Hardwood floors, plenty of space. The house is going to go onto the market in a week or two. The family is headed to their camp in Canada shortly, then they'll be into their new home in Toronto by mid-August geared up for the new school year.

Mayor Ravenstahl asks 10 to resign - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mayor Ravenstahl asks 10 to resign - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Insane. This is goofy.

Doing a national search for ten directors at one time is going to absorb the time and energy of many people.

I agree that I'd not want to keep all ten directors should I become mayor. But, I'd not fire them all in the summer of a re-election year.

Rather, evolve.

Furthermore, the Parking Authority boss heard about the request to resign from a reporter it seems. He said "no comment." He was off the job yesterday. So, what's that about? Was he at the US Open too?

Time to open the Pgh Cereal Bar

After a year and a half of negotiations, CSPI has come to an agreement with Kellogg Company to adopt nutrition standards for the foods it advertises to young children. This is an historic commitment, and thus the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), and two Massachusetts parents will not proceed with a lawsuit against the company.

According to the agreement with Kellogg, foods advertised on media—including TV, radio, print, and third-party Web sites—that have an audience of 50 percent or more children under age 12 will have to meet new nutrition standards. In addition, Kellogg will not:

• Advertise to children any foods in schools and preschools that include kids under age 12;
• Sponsor product placements for any products in any medium primarily directed at kids under 12;
• Use licensed characters (Shrek, SpongeBob, etc.) in mass-media advertising directed primarily to kids under 12 (for example, on the labels of food packages unless those foods meet the nutrition standards);
• Use branded toys in connection with foods that do not meet the nutrition standards.

Video: CSPI Executive Director discusses the settlement.

More information: Press release and related documents

Police: Community input casts doubt on baby sitter in fatal fire

We talked about this with our family and my wife's first reaction was -- where were the dads? A focus is upon the babysitter, the moms -- and not the dads?

One of the dads was on a TV interview talking about defense of his wife. Time will tell.

Police: Community input casts doubt on baby sitter in fatal fire Investigators have doubts whether a teenage baby sitter who was supposed to be watching five children killed in a row house fire really exists.

Witnesses and neighbors are providing information that 'has a tendency to cast doubt' on the baby sitter's existence, Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard said.

'Legally, and in all fairness, we will continue the investigation so we can completely rule that out,' she said.

The blaze, reported at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, ...