The Specter Steamroller - From WSJ.com's Political Diary

All-Out for Specter

The big question since Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties was just how hard his new Democratic patrons would fight to get him re-elected next year. The early answer? Hard enough that Majority Leader Harry Reid is willing to shut down the nation's business on behalf of the Pennsylvania Senator this afternoon.

Mr. Reid announced on Friday that the Senate would hold no votes after 3 p.m. today. According to CQ Politics, "His office later said that the scheduling decision was meant to accommodate a long-planned fundraiser that President Obama is headlining in Philadelphia to benefit Specter's campaign," CQ reported. And not just any fundraiser: The event will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and feature many of the state's prominent Democrats, including Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

One of the organizers, Comcast executive and Democratic heavyweight David L. Cohen, circulated the details to potential guests in a widely reported email: The night will include a cocktail reception at $1000 per head, a special reception open to those who raise at least $10,000, and a super-special dinner for which "an individual must write (not raise) a minimum of $10,000 or raise $50,000 to attend." Attendees at the dinner, Mr. Cohen added, will get their picture taken with President Obama and Senator Specter. Organizers are hoping to raise $2.5 million.

One Pennsylvania Democrat not likely to show up is Rep. Joe Sestak. The party went to great lengths to dissuade Mr. Sestak from running against Senator Specter in next year's Senate primary. Gov. Rendell at one point promised that the Democratic congressman would "get killed" and "marginalized" and fade "into political obscurity" if he defied the party's wishes. But Mr. Sestak sensed an eagerness among the liberal base for an alternative to the party's Republican-turned-Democrat designee.

Yesterday, the now-candidate fired off a pointed response to the Reid announcement: "I urge Arlen Specter to speak with Harry Reid and ask that the Senate hold votes Tuesday afternoon, instead of delaying the public's business. This gets to a larger issue, and why I am running against the establishment's wishes, because too often it favors the powerful and well-connected who are also too often rewarded at the cost of those who are at the bottom. Can Arlen Specter -- or anyone in this fundraiser -- explain why it is okay to hold up the entire U.S. Senate to benefit his political campaign, but it's -- in Arlen's own words -- a 'court martial' offense for missing a few primarily procedural votes?"

That's a question some Pennsylvania Democrats are probably asking themselves. A Franklin & Marshall poll late last month showed Mr. Specter still leading his challenger by 26 points, even as his "unfavorable" ratings have also been rising steadily since his party switch. But party leaders appear to be doubling down. The fundraiser is part of a bigger Specter strategy to stockpile enough to cash to swamp his lesser known rival, whose greatest foreseeable challenge will be in raising enough money to remain competitive.
-- Kim Strassel

Under 40 Grassroots GOP We Are doing It for Ourselves!!! We are not Waiting!!!!

Sooner or later it was bound to happen! The way we get our message out Peter Cowman!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPF9-o-YHGM

Please Call Your PA Legislature in Support of HB 1588

Today, HB 1588, is set for a vote on the House Floor. This bill allows for $35.00 from Marriage Licences and $25.00 from Divorce Fees to be allocated to a fund to help victims of Domestic Violence.

Please contact your State Legislature and tell them to VOTE YES on HB 1588.


Here is the summary Courtesy of Pennsylvania Legislative Services

HB 1588 - (PLS Summary)(PN 1969) Amends Titles 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary) by stating that the fee for issuing a marriage license or declaration and for returns to the department shall be $38, of which $2.50 shall be retained by the county where the license is issued and $35.50 shall be remitted to the State. The money remitted to the State would be transferred to the State Treasurer and be placed in the General Fund. Of the money remitted to the state, $35 shall be forwarded to DPW for use for victims of domestic violence. The bill also charges a $25 fee for the commencement of an action for divorce or an action for annulment of marriage. The money collected shall be made available for use for victims of domestic violence.

Power of 5 USA

How Important is Coal to Pennsylvania? Obama-Biden Does not get it!

How important is coal to Pennsylvania? Here are some facts.

Most anthracite coal is found in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania has 29 billion tons of coal reserves, or 6.1% of the country's reserves.
The combined direct and indirect contributions of the coal industry to Pennsylvania's economy are more than $10 billion.
Using more than 57 million tons, Pennsylvania ranks fourth in coal use.
Pennsylvania employs more than 9,300 miners.
Pennsylvania distributes more than 75 million tons of coal each year.
Pennsylvania has 82 underground mines and 225 surface mines.
About 58% of the electricity used in Pennsylvania is produced by coal.
Pennsylvania produces about 7% of the country's coal supply.
Pennsylvania has 23 coal-fired power plants.

Source American Coal Foundation

Recently, Mr. Biden made some comments(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rXyTRT-NZg ) about coal and where they stand...YIKES! and he says he is from Scranton??? Maybe he forgot what happened to Scranton when the coal industry fell.

And they want the huddled masses to think that McCain doesn't get it?
There is so much that this ticket does not and will not ever understand about this country and the people they wish to "lead". They want to make us feel that the government will save us, when all the while for decades, as we seek to re-tool out communities and extend infrastructure and technologies to the "last mile", we have long been abandoned by that government, and have fended for ourselves.
Well, Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama, let me help you "get it". We are a resilient people. We believe in ourselves, our families and our country. We have small businesses and we help our neighbors. We care for our old and feed our poor. We go to church. We believe that roosters always come home to roost, and a person is always held accountable for their own actions. This is the end of your belittling the people who live on Main Street, because on November 4, 2008, we who are called to a cause greater than ourselves will be voting for McCain-Palin. That cause is not about making history, but more about putting Country First.

Northeast Pennsylvania Activists Create New Conservative Grassroots Organization

Northeast Pennsylvania Activists Create New Conservative Grassroots Organization

For Immediate Release
July 9, 2008
Contact: Tanya Callaway Crews
Email: tanyacrews@gmail.com
www.ccmajority.org

Northeast Pennsylvania Activists Create New
Conservative Grassroots Organization

Clarks Summit, PA - A new grassroots organization aimed at furthering conservative activism started in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre-area and is looking for like-minded members. The group, Coalition for a Conservative Majority - Northeast Pennsylvania, is the local chapter of the national organization founded by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Chaired by former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

As the first order of business, the CCM chapter has requested meetings with their area members of Congress, whether they're conservative, liberal, or anything in between. Chapter President Tanya Callaway Crews said earlier today the group will focus on monitoring federal and state policy to ensure conservative thought is represented. "It's time conservatives take a page out of the liberals' playbook and start holding our politicians accountable for the actions here and in Washington," Crews said. "CCM will be the primary organization that will hold their feet to the fire."

The National Chairman of CCM, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, said the Northeast Pennsylvania group is one of 8 targeted media markets with a burgeoning CCM chapter. "Across the country we are seeing candidates who run as Barry Goldwater, then govern more like Walter Mondale. CCM is here to keep their voting records in line with true conservative ideology."

During their recent monthly meeting, the organization elected a board and developed an organizational plan. The aim of the group, said Crews, is to unite the different factions of conservatives - security, social, and fiscal - into one organization that can work on a variety of fronts. "We don't care if you're here to fight illegal immigration or higher taxes - if you call yourself a conservative and you want to in the fight, you're welcome to join CCM."

CCM NEPA meets on a monthly basis and events are only open to registered members. For more information about CCM and how to become a member of the grassroots organization, please visit www.ccmajority.org.
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Coalition for a Conservative Majority (CCM) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and advocacy organization under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are not tax deductible as charitable gifts. More Information