Right before his primary loss to Hillary Clinton, this is how Barack Obama summed up Pennsylvania voters. "[T]hey get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them." Now he's decided to make Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley the very stop' [...] 
I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when a Lehigh County election analysis suddenly fell from the sky and hit me on the head. The raw data, which I've attempted to load as a spreadsheet, is quite informative. It lists election results both' [...] 
Northampton County Democratic bossman Joe "Bossman" Long is affectionately referred to by lame duck Charles Dertinger as "chairman for life." But if truth be told, he's been an unmitigated disaster. I want to tell you how it happened.
Sooner or later, it had to happen. Tonight's the night. Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle and I team up on Business Matters (Channel 69, WFMZ-TV, 8 PM) for a cage match against Michael Donovan and former Obama campaign worker Jude-Laure Denis.
Most sports junkies I know subscribe to Direct TV so they can catch every second of their favorite team in action. Well, if that's you, I've got some good news. I can't help you in any divorce actions that may be pending, but might be able to [...] 
Northampton County Council member Ron Angle has proposed a one-year moratorium on open space funding. This will reduce next year's tax increase by half, but is contrary to the popular will expressed in a referendum. It's even contrary to the sentiment expressed when County Exec John Stoffa [...] 
Several years ago, Northampton and Lehigh County both overwhelmingly adopted referendums to approve public funding for farmland preservation, county and municipal parks and environmentally sensitive land. It's what we call open space.
We could be the turkey.
Northampton County's seal contains just two words - "mercy" and "justice." Those lofty words are there to remind us, better than any mission statement, of the County's core responsibilities.
Rumor has it that Paul Marin once wowed his house guests by donning a matador's costume. But in many ways, he has been very much like those flamboyant showmen, considered both artists and athletes, who are willing to face the bull alone.
I've always thought foxes are supposed to be clever and sly. One of my distant cousins, Dessie O'Hare, was an elusive IRA member nicknamed the Border Fox. He would slip through the grasp of police ... until he got caught. Well, this story is about another [...] 
When Sam Bennett ran against LV Congressman Charlie Dent last election cycle, she would often tell her listeners "Charlie's a nice guy, but I'm a nice guy, too, and have better hair." I'm guessing that was a mistake. But let's face it. That is Dent's' [...] 
Relying on realtors for news about the housing industry is kinda' like letting the foxes tell you how many chickens are in the hen house. But amazingly, news organizations routinely accept these housing industry reports as gospel.
Over the past two weeks, I've been regaling you with stories about a female inmate at Northampton County's jail. Her name is Lorena. She claims to be a victim of medical neglect and to have even witnessed what certainly appears to be physical abuse. A drug' [...] 
Northampton County may be increasingly Democratic, but you wouldn't know that from the election results. Bossman Joe Long's heavy handed machine style of politics, in which candidates are pre-selected by some small group and foisted on the rest of us, has been an unmitigated disaster. Thankfully, [...] 
This year alone, LV Congressman Charlie Dent has conducted seventeen town halls with his constituents. By tomorrow, it will be nineteen. He has a town hall scheduled for both today and tomorrow.
It's located here, and provides meeting dates, actual minutes and useful links to other public health resources. Once (or should I say if?) a bi-county health department is established, this website will serve as a central location for information on public health services that will [...] 
When I told you that Easton activist Dennis Lieb was waging a write-in campaign against Mike Fleck for city council, one of the first comments posted on my blog was this: "Didn't Bernie O'Hare torture and/or rape a girl in 1990? I heard about a federal" [...] 
If there were any doubts in my mind about DA John Morganelli's intention to remove Ron Angle from County Council for purely political reasons, they were erased at last night's County Council meeting. Morganelli lackey Lamont McClure made sure of that. Before the night was over, [...] 
In his most recent news release, independent Congressional candidate Jake Towne is now suggesting we pull out of Afghanistan and treat al-Qaeda like Barbary pirates. Here's an excerpt.
Just a few weeks ago, Northampton County DA John Morganelli was crying to County Council he's broke. He's so cash-strapped, he actually turns down 75% of extradition requests from other states. "We can't afford to go get them." With an expanding caseload and rising expert witness' [...] 
Life's not fair. Pennsylvania state representative Bob Freeman will be facing Hellertown wingnut Ron Shegda for the third time in the battle for the 136th legislative district. In his first effort, a write-in campaign, Shegda was beaten 50 to 1. He vows to [...] 
Beaten, but unbowed, Allentown Watchdog Lou Hershman has been attending every city council budget hearing. For that alone, he deserves a People's Purple Cross. Here's his latest report.
DA John Morganelli has announced his intention to file quo warranto proceedings against Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle, challenging his right to sit on Northampton County Council and the Bangor School Board. I'll have details later.' [...] 
Last Thursday, Bethlehem Mayor and Democratic Congressional candidate John Callahan wandered from city hall to participate in a health care reform demonstration outside Congressman Charlie Dent's office. He bravely announced he was "proud to stand with the hard working members of SEIU so that'" [...] 
State rep. Joe Brennan, a former Northampton County Council member and strong advocate of government transparency, has a challenger to his state House seat. It's right-winger David Molony, a prominent acupuncturist, who wants to stick it to him. Molony and his wife, Ming Ming, are [...] 
"When I was raped for the first time by my uncle at the age of eleven, my aunt told me to smoke a joint to feel better."
Lou Hershman may have fallen short in the vote count department on November 3rd, but his interest in Allentown is as intense as ever. The day after his defeat, this 73 year-old was at a city council meeting, sitting in the peanut gallery.
Jarrett Renshaw's Morning Call story about the war between an aspiring Eagle Scout and Allentown's largest municipal union, has hit the big time. Apparently, clearing a walking path in an east Allentown park is a function that can only be performed by Service Employees International [...] 
At last week's Northampton County Council meeting, Ron Angle suggested selling Gracedale, the county's nursing home. Suffering from declining numbers and escalating maintenance costs, it's become a financial nightmare. But for some reason, it remains very attractive to potential investors. Sale proceeds could be used [...] 
Northampton County's population is estimated at 294,787. Did you know that ten percent of its population - around 30,000 people - are getting medical assistance from our mandatory Medicaid managed care program, called HealthChoices (HC)? That's what a program administrator told Northampton County Council during [...] 
The state Department of Health is conducting free clinics this weekend to administer free H1N1 vaccines to at-risk individuals.
Despite the headline, this story is about law enforcement. Honest!
When Northampton County's new Council is sworn in next January, seven of its nine members will be Republican. It's a safe bet that Democrat Ann McHale will lose the presidency.
A few weeks ago, some Lehigh County Democrats were sure that Dean Browning was positioning himself up as the new Strongman on the Board of Commissioners. But Dean believes the Board needs a "Chairman who has substantially more time to devote to the position than I" [...] 
"She's on TV so much she's going to need an agent."
Earlier this week, I told you about Controller Steve Barron's audit pointing to overtime abuse at Northampton County's jail. Although no fraud is alleged, Barron's job was certainly made more difficult by the destruction of daily time sheets. At the time Barron's report was released, I [...] 
At 4:00PM today, Moveon.org will rally outside LV Congressman Charlie Dent’s Bethlehem office to criticize his NO vote on Pelosi care, which squeaked through the U.S. House on Saturday. They are outraged, outraged I tell you.
Allentown's favorite conservative, Scott Armstrong, posted an essay here last week questioning the basic intelligence of Allentown's Democrats. In a little ditty called "Are Allentown Dems Stuck on Stupid?," Scott questions how people who know how to drive cars and get their children to school, could [...] 
LV Congressman Charlie Dent's NO vote on Pelosi care has drawn the ire of some of his constituents. In the Morning Call letter-to-the-editor, one reader chides Dent for caving in to Big Insurance. And blogger Rylock is convinced Charlie has sold out to Big' [...] 
Karen Armstrong is no educated theologian with Doctor of Divinity degrees. She's actually a former Catholic nun who ended up working in televising. She has unconventional religious views, believing that all major religions share an emphasis on the importance of compassion. Intrigued by a story on' [...] 
Something very strange happened at yesterday's budget hearing. Northampton County Council actually listened to Ron Angle.
An audit report released yesterday by Northampton County Controller Steve Barron reveals a stunning 76.1% overtime (OT) increase since 2004. What's even more amazing, as he revealed during a budget hearing later that day, is that "Lehigh County's around seventy percent. So both counties have seen some" [...] 
Last election cycle, LV Congressman Charlie Dent's detractors claimed he was in the pocket of Big Oil. This time, the refrain is that he is a slave to Big Insurance. Ironically, if that were true, he would have supported the Pelosi care legislation adopted on Saturday.
Late Saturday, the U.S. House narrowly adopted health care reform legislation that will provide health care to nearly everyone while simultaneously imposing tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. This measure now heads to the Senate, where survival is no sure thing. It will be paid [...] 
If you ever visit the judges' new palace in Easton, be prepared for a rude awakening. You'll circle the campus, searching in vain for a place to park. Eventually, you'll just run out of gas and abandon your car. That's when the real problem starts. You [...] 
Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan, scheduled for deployment to Iraq, went on a rampage at a military processing center in Fort Hood opn Thursday, fatally shooting 12 and wounding 31. Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent has released this statement:
Northampton County Exec John Stoffa told County Council last night that the list of Sheriff applicants has been whittled down to five, and he'll be meeting with President Judge Kim McFadden to determine which of these candidates is the best fit for the job.' [...] 
With only Lamont McClure opposed, Northampton County Council last night approved a $16,000 webcasting system for meetings, starting next January. In addition to the livestream, viewers will be able to view portions of a meeting, using the agenda as an index.
What is it with Lehigh County and all these major awards? I'm getting notified of at least one every week. The latest one goes to Andrea Naugle, Lehigh County’s first ever Super Clerk.
Pennsylvania Ave. blogger and Morning Call reporter Josh Drobnyk is the person who first broke the story about State Senator Lisa Boscola's chief of staff Bernie Kieklak and his penchant for dropping by this blog, late at night, with uncharitable comments about local political' [...] 
[...] 
With Tuesday's defeat of incumbent Council member Charles Dertinger, is it safe to conclude his political career is over? He has now lost four races in ten years. He's also part of a cabal making regular appearances before a grand jury investigating deceptive campaign practices. Maybe he [...] 
For over a year, a statewide grand jury has been probing the deceptive campaign tactics of political consultant Tom "Scissorhands" Severson, who was hired by local Democrats in 2007 for a smear campaign against Northampton County Council members Peg Ferraro and Ron Angle. Senior [...] 
Back in June, Northampton County Council member Charles Dertinger dropped in on a meeting of Bethlehem Democrats to crack the whip. They were growing upset about county endorsements and state mailings made on behalf of some, but not all, candidates. Instead of playing peacemaker, Dertinger alienated [...] 
Northampton County Republicans had a clean sweep in Tuesday's County Council races. Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham, a Democrat, was nearly defeated. It was a bad day for Democrats. Unless you live in Allentown.
Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham currently contends with a 5-4 Republican Board of Commissioners. He hoped to change that this year, pouring at least $70,000 into two District Comm'r races. Most of that money went to negative mailers. Cunningham not only failed, but nearly lost his own' [...] 
At 5 PM last night, my grandson was racing up and down a basketball court under the careful supervision of Judge Emil Giordano, who sacrifices countless hours coaching basketball and baseball. As I watched Giordano, I couldn't help thinking that he missed his calling. The kids obviously' [...] 
In a stinging rebuke to Democrat bossman Joe Long and his autocratic, machine-style politics, voters have rejected all five Democratic candidates for Northampton County Council. They even said "No thanks" to another four years of incumbent Charles Dertinger, probably ending his political career. According to WFMZ-TV [...] 
I've been told to turn my flip cam off twice now, once during deliberations by Bethlehem Township's Zoning Hearing Board, and another time during a candidates' night at Allentown's NAACP. My reporter friends tell me I'm a gutless wimp who should have stood up for' [...] 
Hey, mammas and pappas! Got Christ? It's Me, the Divine who's so fine. Just breezed in from Vegas, where I couldn't lose. Table games, baby. Can't wait until they hit the Christmas City. Closest thing to Heaven here on Earth.
Northampton County's nine-member County Council, widely considered the most dysfunctional legislative branch in the Lehigh Valley, is certainly the worst I've ever seen. The problems actually started four years ago, when John Stoffa, Charles Dertinger and Diane Neiper were first elected.
During the Civil War, Union and Confederate generals would each insist God was on their side. Eventually, Abraham Lincoln was drawn into this controversy, and finally told a commander, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be [...] 
Despicable.
Six candidates - Joe Brudnak, Mike D'Amore, Julio Guridy, Lou Hershman, Ray O'Connell and Mike Schlossberg - are duking it out for four open seats on Allentown City Council. On my left sidebar, you will see links to information about each [...] 
Fellow blogger Ken Petrini has posted an outstanding series of interviews with ten candidates fighting over five district Commissioner seats in Lehigh County. Currently, Lehigh County's legislative body holds a 5-4 Republican edge. That may change on Tuesday.
If you think Charles Dertinger is running for re-election to Northampton County Council, think again. His sights are set on Harrisburg, land of midnight payraises. Twenty-four hour finance reports, filed late last week, reveal he's given the Pa. Demcratic Party $6,000 for a mailer. It's insufficient [...] 
Morning Call columnist Bill White. learning of Dennis Lieb's write-in candidacy against Michael Fleck for Easton City Council, offers these encouraging words:
Tom Dietrich is one of four Republican Northampton County Council candidates who decided he had to look out for himself instead of attaching himself to popular Peg Ferraro. Never mind that she's the one person from both parties who will clearly win on Tuesday.
According to a Twenty-Four Hour Report filed Friday afternoon by Lehigh County Comm'r hopeful Hillary Kwiatek, County Exec Don Cunningham has just poured another $7,000 into her campaign coffers. She's just picked up another $11,000 from a mysterious "Committee for a Better Lehigh Valley" PAC.
Remember the Lusitania!
An Archangel just flew by to tell me I'm in deep doo doo. Slamming the religious right is no biggie, I'm told. That might even help my eternal salvation. But nobody messes with Mennonites.
If Northampton County Democrats manage to sweep all five at-large Council seats on Tuesday, I hope they remember to send a Thank You note and flowers to Bob Kilbanks. He may be former Chair of the Northampton County Republican Committee, but he's just pulled the most [...] 
This week, we learned that Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, a Democrat, is indirectly funding two county races. He's come under attack for trying to stack the Commission with rubber stamps. We also learned that Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning has done pretty much the [...] 
If you're a wonk like me, you start every day with C-SPAN’s Washington Journal . I livestream the show.
While tooling into the courthouse today, I saw something unusual - Dennis Lieb yard signs. Interestingly, I saw them planted in people's yards, too, instead of plastered all over telephione poles a la Fleck. I'm certainly no expert, but it looks like his campaign is gaining momentum' [...] 
Northampton County corrections officers had a little reception at the Hecktown Fire Hall last night. Can you guess the identity of the featured speaker?
Yesterday, The Express Times' editorial board endorsed five of the ten candidates seeking a seat on Northampton County Council, recommending three Republicans - Peg Ferraro, John Cusick and Tom Dietrich, as well as Democrats Deb Hunter and Bill Wallace. Far more interesting than the actual endorsement' [...] 
Don Cunningham campaign manager Dan Kelly, responding to claims that the Lehigh County Executive is the sugar daddy for Comm'r candidates Hillary Kwiatek and Jeanne McNeill, has decided to turn tables on Republicans. In a news release published yesterday, LC Comm'r Dean Browning [...] 
In the bottom of the first, Phillies ace pitcher Cliff Lee blew Derek Jeter away with just three pitches, an omen of things to come.
Earlier today, I told you Easton smart growth advocate Dennis Lieb is mounting a write-in campaign against Mike Fleck for Easton City Council. Since the Fleckster spends most of his time in Allentown picking up paychecks as King Edwin's campaign manager, he may have forgotten [...] 
Did you know Don Cunningham works for Superior Court Judge and Supreme Court candidate Jack Panella? It's true.
