Coffee Talk with Mike Untermeyer

Getting the pastries set for this edition of Coffee Talk. The cake pictured above was created by Flying Monkey Patisserie:

Our Signature Rooibos Cake – South African herbal tea-infused buttercake, layered with raspberry buttercream and milk chocolate buttercream.

Can’t wait till 7 pm! Looking forward to talking with Mike Untermeyer at the kitchen table. Stay tuned for updates, folks!

Coffee Talk with Mike Untermeyer

I’ve got another edition of ‘Coffee Talk’ brewing this coming Saturday evening. This coffee talk will feature the Republican candidate for District Attorney – Michael Untermeyer. A candidate who promises to bring ‘best practices’ to the job as District Attorney. I like that, who wouldn’t want evidence based practice as the foundation of the DA’s office. You expect that level of quality from your doctor – why not apply the same principles to law enforcement in Philly?

How many times has a politician sat down at your kitchen table to discuss issues that are pertinent to you? It is one of the benefits for subscribing to MidnightBlue. I am working to bring candidates to the kitchen table to discuss issues with their potential constituents. Social Media is the way to take in the candidates hype; sitting at the kitchen table with residents puts the character of the candidate over the hype.

All this served up with delicious pastry and divine java – when was the last time Twitter offered this benefit? Stay tuned folks!

Coffee Talk with Dan McElhatton

Friday night Coffee Klatch with Dan McElhatton. Philly residents know him as a leading candidate for Philly’s District Attorney seat. He took time from his busy schedule visit my house and chat with guests about the issues facing this city. I want to thank Dan for making the case of why the city would benefit with him as Philly’s DA.

Coffee served was a Costa Rica medium and the desserts by Flying Monkey and Termini Bros. Delicious! I want to thank all my guests for attending this coffee talk and for all of your insightful questions for Dan.

UPDATE: A Tangled Web contributor posted on this talk

A lively debate ensued between Dan and Patrick over topics such as gun control and crime in Philadelphia. The video does a good job of highlighting the common sense approach embraced by Dan on these issues.

Little Ava following in the footsteps of her beautiful and talented Auntie:

The Gift of Giving Part 2

H/T Tony Phyrillas:

Rep Curt Schroder, R-155, has announced he is returning his COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) back to the state Treasury:

With many families across the state and nation in crisis due to the credit crunch, the housing market decline and general economic free fall, Schroder said now is the time for substantive action to prevail over symbolism in order to save taxpayer money.

Schroder is starting in his own 155th Legislative District by:

· Returning his COLA to the state treasury.
· Returning nearly $3,000 left in his legislative expense account for 2007-08.
· Returning a new color copier that is being installed in all district offices, noting that the existing black-and-white copier was adequate and working just fine.
· Cutting postage costs by eliminating the mailing of 2009 House calendars. (Schroder invites anyone interested in obtaining the 2009 House calendar to stop by his office at 315 Gordon Drive in Exton).
He also noted he will continue to explore other ways to save on postage by using more electronic communications.

Now would be a great time for you to discover what your State Senator and State Representative have done with their COLA. Unsure who is your Senator and Representative? Check out this helpful LINK. Just type in your zip code and you will be given the names and contact information of your state Senator and Representative.

I have already emailed mine: State Senator Mike Stack (D) and Representative John Sabatina (D). I will post my inquiry and their replies as soon as they become available.

We Are Screwed 08

969 point drop since Tuesday. Post 9/11, stocks dropped 15%, we are at an 11% drop at the moment.

In other depressing news: Poland and other former Soviet satellite nations are screwed!

Philadelphia is screwed as well:

Philadelphia will close libraries and swimming pools, suspend planned tax reductions, cut more than 800 jobs and trim salaries for some administrators in order to weather “an economic storm” that could leave the city with a $1 billion shortfall, Mayor Michael Nutter said Thursday.

Don’t blame me, I didn’t vote for him! What do you expect from a Mayor that squanders tax payers dollars on a DNC Convention vacation? No worries, the Lightwalker promised hope and CHANGE, he simply did not elaborate much on the fine details of the CHANGE he was proposing.

Tragically True Photos

H/T to Caleb Howe

Vote for Obama and get a free instant tax INCREASE! A Obama campaign office in Las Vegas gives a view of the future of the Obama administration:

Vote Obama and get an instant tax INCREASE.

I stumbled upon this scene in my own neighborhood. Congressman Patrick Murphy is working hard (or hardly working) to GOTDV (Get Out The Drunk Vote) in Northeast Philadelphia. What you cannot see in this photo is an AA meeting place located across the street from Jack’s Bar, where no Murphy campaign signs are visible. Ironic, no?

Wenesday Troika

Karen Heller, The Inq’s resident expert on “ignorant, semi literate boob’s” and cheesesteaks is feeling the after-effects of a political equivalent to a one night stand.

We’re sad, not bitter, sad. Bereft, even. Hillary’s left. Barack’s departed. They’ve moved on.

We haven’t.

The phone slumbers. The mail slot’s liberated from the clot of political mailers. Our Outlook inbox is cleared of hourly missives.

The governor and mayor called nightly, never at 3 a.m., but nightly. “Bet it’s Ed, again,” we declared before lifting the receiver. Sure enough, it was.

In the final stages, the surrogates receded.

Barack, Hillary and the Big Dog phoned directly, as well they should. We
mattered, big time.

Now, where, oh where, is the love?

Yeah, love and politics can bite – big time. Despite these clanging chimes of doom, the writer finds a familiar theme to cling to in this dark time – BDS .

But when Pennsylvanians get angry and frustrated about the state of things, they don’t cling to guns or religion.

They cling to their utter disgust with the Bush administration.

And so goes another notch in the political landscape of Pennsylvania. If this encounter left liberals blue, imagine how they will feel when McCain moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Jennifer Gallagher’s New Blog!

To my friends, I have started a new blog. I created it to try and change things. I got tired of hearing “oh, nothing is made made in American anymore” when nothing could be further from the truth. You can purchase American made products and I’m going to point in the direction how. I’ve been working on this for a while. If anyone has any information or input feel free to do so. I have many links and it will be a while before it starts going anywhere but the first company I posted on my site as a proud American manufacturer is Valley Forge Flags. These are the brand of flags I display and carry when going into battle with anti American peace protesters. I hope everyone will help out by taking the time to do some research visit my blog and the links before you plunk down your hard earned cash and end up with some foreign made junk. My blog is called “Made in the USA” and here is the address:

http://madeintheusabyamericans.blogspot.com/

Iraq War Veteran and Family Assaulted

Peace Protesters, College Professors and Hillary Supporters assault Iraqi War Veteran and Family while citizens do nothing to intervene. I am saddened, but not surprised, to read this account. My thoughts and prayers are with this family.

Others reporting:

Melanie Morgan

Peace Thugs

My Vote

This is how the cookie crumbled in Pennsylvania – VOTES BY COUNTY

Interesting to note that Obama did not do so well outside metropolitan areas and their adjacent suburbs. Also, why is Chester County so slow in counting their votes? H/T: Mike

Rest In Peace

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― For 25 years Officer Chuck Cassidy chose to dedicate his life to protecting the citizens of Philadelphia.

On October 31, 2007, while doing what he loved most, Officer Cassidy, a member of the 35th Police District, was gunned down on the very streets he was working to protect.

Chuck Cassidy, a 54-year-old husband, to Judith and father of three to Jody, Casey and Colby, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Albert Einstein Medical Center. At about 9:40 a.m., November 1, with his family by his side, Officer Cassidy was at peace.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so in the following ways:

By mailing a check payable to:

The Charles Cassidy Family Memorial Trust Fund
901 Arch Street
Philadelphia PA, 19107

Donations can also be mailed to the 35th Police District, which is located at 5960 N. Broad St. Philadelphia PA, 19141 or to any of the following Philadelphia Police and Fire Credit Union Branches:

901 Arch Street

7604 City Avenue

8500 Henry Avenue

3338 S. Broad Street

Leo Mall, Byberry and Bustleton Avenues

7500 Castor Avenue

3330 Grant Avenue

Meanwhile in the city of brotherly love, Mayoral candidate Michael Nutter, is running a campaign commercial promising to make Bush&Cheney accountable for nebulous offenses – while Philadelphia officers are murdered on our streets…

Christmas in April???

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RESOLVES VOTING RIGHTS

LAWSUIT AGAINST PHILADELPHIA

LAWSUIT AGAINST PHILADELPHIA

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today reached a settlement agreement with the City of Philadelphia related to allegations that the city violated the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). In addition to the settlement, the Department filed an amended complaint, adding claims to those filed in the original Oct. 13, 2006 suit, which alleged that the city had violated the rights of Hispanic and other voters under two key provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The settlement agreement resolves the government’s complaint.

“Federal law sets basic standards of fairness in voting for all citizens in the United States. The City of Philadelphia has an obligation to ensure that its polling places are free from discrimination, that effective assistance, in Spanish where necessary, is available to those who need it, and that citizens with disabilities are able to cast a private, independent ballot,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The city also has an obligation to maintain accurate voter registration lists. The Department will vigorously enforce the requirements of federal law.”

The agreement provides multiple layers of protections for Philadelphia voters, many of which the city has been implementing even as negotiations have proceeded. It provides for additional Spanish speaking poll officials to meet the changing population of the city, as well as an assurance that voters who need assistance in voting can receive it. Election workers will receive training and sign commitments to avoid discriminatory or other illegal practices. The agreement also ensures that accessible voting machines will be operating and available to disabled voters, and that voter lists be accurate and consistent with federal law.

The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in voting based on race, color or membership in a language minority group. It also requires the city to provide all voting materials and information in Spanish as well as in English, and to ensure voters who need assistance in voting, such as those unable to see or read the ballot, have the right to receive that assistance from a person of their choice, other than the voter’s employer or union representative. The amended complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, charges that the city failed to comply with these requirements.

The Help America Vote Act requires that the city have at least one operational voting machine that is accessible to voters with disabilities, and that the city post information on voters’ rights and obligations in each polling place. In addition, under the National Voter Registration Act, the city must maintain reasonably accurate registration lists by removing registrants who have died or who are no longer eligible because they have moved to another county or state. The amended complaint also charges that the city did not meet these basic requirements for the administration of elections.

The Civil Rights Division works to ensure compliance with all of the provisions of the Voting Rights Act with respect to all citizens in all areas of the United States. Since 2002, the Civil Rights Division has filed over three-fourths of all cases to protect the right of voters needing assistance in the history of the Act, and approximately 60 percent of all minority language cases in the entire previous history of the Voting Rights Act. The Division also has filed important cases under the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act, including 2006 cases in Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey and New York.

To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931. More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm <http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm> .

It is a good step in the right direction for a city that has been indicated as having the highest amount of voter fraud in the nation. Is it any coincidence that this city votes heavily democrat? Hmmm…