On November 19th, 1863 President Lincoln spoke these words.
Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
From time to time I reread this and his second inaugural address. I don't think we have ever had a President who spoke with such eloquence and inspiration about this nation. Yes, we have had memorable speeches given by our leaders but Lincoln's words stand above all others. Remember that he wrote these words himself he did not have a Peggy Noonan to write them for him.
Today our most quoted political leader relies on the 140 spaces Twitter allows to get her message out. Look how far we have come.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Shop Online and Help Meals on Wheels
Do you shop online? Of course you do. Now you can shop online and benefit a very important charity.
Meals on Wheels of Northampton County.
When you shop at the more then 700 stores on www.iGive.com/MOWNC a portion of your sale will go to Meals on Wheels of Northampton County. It is free for you and does not cost MOWNC. You don't pay any more than you normally would and with so many online companies offering free shipping this is an offer you can't refuse. No lines, no parking problems and no time at the mall.
iGive.com also has a lot of great money saving coupons.
Some of the participating merchants are: Gap, Nordstrom, Best Buy, Office Depot, Expedia, The Home Depot, Amazon.com and nearly 700 more.
Remember there is no extra cost to you.
Fun Fact: You are not just benefiting Meals on Wheels of Northampton County but also the Lehigh County and Monroe County programs. The kitchen at the Northampton County site provides all the meals for the other two county branches.
Meals on Wheels is truly one the best charities you can support. They feed hundreds of seniors and home bound folks everyday.
I know you are going to shop online this holiday season, so why not support Meals on Wheels.
www.iGive.com/MOWNC
Meals on Wheels of Northampton County.
When you shop at the more then 700 stores on www.iGive.com/MOWNC a portion of your sale will go to Meals on Wheels of Northampton County. It is free for you and does not cost MOWNC. You don't pay any more than you normally would and with so many online companies offering free shipping this is an offer you can't refuse. No lines, no parking problems and no time at the mall.
iGive.com also has a lot of great money saving coupons.
Some of the participating merchants are: Gap, Nordstrom, Best Buy, Office Depot, Expedia, The Home Depot, Amazon.com and nearly 700 more.
Remember there is no extra cost to you.
Fun Fact: You are not just benefiting Meals on Wheels of Northampton County but also the Lehigh County and Monroe County programs. The kitchen at the Northampton County site provides all the meals for the other two county branches.
Meals on Wheels is truly one the best charities you can support. They feed hundreds of seniors and home bound folks everyday.
I know you are going to shop online this holiday season, so why not support Meals on Wheels.
www.iGive.com/MOWNC
Fighting Cancer While Eating Wings and Chili
Q: What are you doing on Sunday, December 19, 2010?
A: Tasting wings & chili, watching the Eagles vs Giants game and fighting cancer.
My friends at the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring their;
A: Tasting wings & chili, watching the Eagles vs Giants game and fighting cancer.
My friends at the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring their;
3rd annual Chili & Wing Cook Off Competition
Hampton Inn on Route 248 - Easton/Nazareth
The event benefits the American Cancer Society
- Doors open at 12:00 and the event goes through out the game.
- $15 per person
- Cash bar
- Raffles
- If you don't like Chili or Wings other restaurants will be providing pizza, snacks and other tasty treats
- Professional massage sessions are available
- You will be able to vote for the best chili and wings
- Wear your best Eagles, Giants or any other sporting team gear
- For last minute holiday gifts a last minute shopping area will be set up
We are still looking for food vendors both for the chili & or wings and for side dishes and snacks. Please contact either myself or the Nazareth Chamber @610-759-9188 or 610-759-5262.
This really is a great time and even my friends who could care less about football come and enjoy the food. We have some great caterers and restaurants participating. I will publish that list once it is finalized.
If you want tickets please contact me or call the numbers listed above.
I hope to see everybody there.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A School For Campaigns
I received an e-mail from Northampton County Democratic Party Chairman Walt Garvin announcing the following:
The League of Women Voters of Lehigh Valley is holding a Candidates Workshop on Saturday November 20th. The workshop will be held at NCC 8:00AM to 12:30PM
The deadline to register is November 12.
In the 2011 Municipal Election in the Lehigh Valley we will elect:
Lehigh County Commissioners (at large) and row officers
Northampton County Council Members (by districts), District Attorney & County Controller
City and Borough Council Members
Mayor of Easton and Whitehall
Township Commissioners and Supervisors
School Directors
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Judges
This workshop will help you get your campaign off and running. They will have experienced campaigners on hand to discuss successful techniques.
County elections officials will explain the often-confusing paperwork and answer your questions.
If you haven't decided if you are going to throw your hat in the ring next year, the workshop may help you make up your mind.
Potential candidates, campaign treasurers, and committee members will all benefit from the experience and knowledge of the panelists and speakers at the workshop.
Spread the word!
http://www.lwvlv.org/
This actually sounds like a fun time but I have VIP tickets to the Lafayette / Lehigh football game with my father that day, which will be even more fun.
The League of Women Voters of Lehigh Valley is holding a Candidates Workshop on Saturday November 20th. The workshop will be held at NCC 8:00AM to 12:30PM
The deadline to register is November 12.
In the 2011 Municipal Election in the Lehigh Valley we will elect:
Lehigh County Commissioners (at large) and row officers
Northampton County Council Members (by districts), District Attorney & County Controller
City and Borough Council Members
Mayor of Easton and Whitehall
Township Commissioners and Supervisors
School Directors
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Judges
This workshop will help you get your campaign off and running. They will have experienced campaigners on hand to discuss successful techniques.
County elections officials will explain the often-confusing paperwork and answer your questions.
If you haven't decided if you are going to throw your hat in the ring next year, the workshop may help you make up your mind.
Potential candidates, campaign treasurers, and committee members will all benefit from the experience and knowledge of the panelists and speakers at the workshop.
Spread the word!
http://www.lwvlv.org/
This actually sounds like a fun time but I have VIP tickets to the Lafayette / Lehigh football game with my father that day, which will be even more fun.
An Interview With A Newly Elected Republican
This week I had the pleasure of guest hosting a Sunday news maker show; this is a transcript from my first guest.
My questions will be in normal font and my guest; a newly elected Republican Congressperson’s responses will be in italics.
----------
Good morning I’m Donald Flad Jr and I will be sitting in this morning while the usual host takes some time off to recover from sitting in this chair talking nonstop for 24 hours during the recent midterm elections. My guest this morning is a newly elected, Tea Party backed Republican.
Welcome Congressperson elect
Um Thanks
This was not your first run for office was it?
What’s your point asking me a question like that? Is this going to be one of those Lame Stream Media hatchet by an elitist East Coast person who reads books is it? Sarah Palin said that I should only speak to Fox but my backers thought I should come on this show.
For clarity sake let me say upfront that I went to Penn State, my father was a printer and my mother was mostly a home maker who worked outside the home and I write a blog that 25 people read so how does that make me an elitist? I was asking because you campaigned as an outsider and one of the common folks but you have held public office off and on for 25 of the past 30 years and for the last 4 years you had a lobbying job.
Don’t try to play gotcha with me you little poofter, I was not a lobbyist I was a public interest advocate.
For the Health Care industry.
I gave voice to the voiceless I advocated for free markets and protecting the American people from government takeover of their medical care.
What was the name of your organization?
KMMFOGI: Keep my Medicare free of Government Intervention. We were a group that informed senior citizens of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Carter/Johnson/Kennedy/Truman/Roosevelt attack on their private medical care. We warned them about death panels and brown foreign born doctors.
Death panels? Nowhere in the legislation was there a mention of death panels. Did you read the bill? And you do know that Medicare is a government run program?
I read Sarah Palin’s in-depth Tweets about the Hitler like attack on our perfect health care system. Obama was trying to take over our health care like a foreign invader.
One of your campaign promises was to reduce the size of government, cut government spending and balance the budget. How will you do this?
By reducing the size of government, slashing spending and balancing the budget.
But how will do accomplish this?
By doing just what I said.
But how are you going to do it?
Man up Donald and listen to what I am saying.
You are not saying anything specific. I just want to know how you are going to cut the size of government, what specific spending will you cut?
By balancing the budget
How?
Man you elites are such sore losers all you know how to do is attack
I am not attacking you I am simply asking what programs, departments and spending you are going to cut. Can you be specific?
By cutting fraud and waste
Can you be more specific? Would you cut defense spending?
No – How can you even suggest we hurt our brave service members like that? I will do anything to protect our troops.
There is no fraud or waste in the defense budget?
Who wrote your questions Karl Marx or Nancy Pelosi?
OK, so you won’t touch defense – Where else will you cut the fraud and waste?
It’s everywhere so I am going to find it and cut it.
Would you cut earmarks? Would you eliminate a government agency? How will you identify the fraud and waste?
I will know the waste and fraud when I see it and remove it.
Why won’t you tell me what you are willing to cut?
What part of I will cut fraud and waste don’t you understand?
You will not be able to remove it alone, you will be only 1 of 535 votes what if other members do not agree with what you find?
I have asked God for assistance with this and he will guide me and smite those who oppose the will of the American People who elected me.
With that, the newly elected Congressperson answers his cell phone; Yes Sarah I know you were right; I should have gone on Fox and Friends.
My questions will be in normal font and my guest; a newly elected Republican Congressperson’s responses will be in italics.
----------
Good morning I’m Donald Flad Jr and I will be sitting in this morning while the usual host takes some time off to recover from sitting in this chair talking nonstop for 24 hours during the recent midterm elections. My guest this morning is a newly elected, Tea Party backed Republican.
Welcome Congressperson elect
Um Thanks
This was not your first run for office was it?
What’s your point asking me a question like that? Is this going to be one of those Lame Stream Media hatchet by an elitist East Coast person who reads books is it? Sarah Palin said that I should only speak to Fox but my backers thought I should come on this show.
For clarity sake let me say upfront that I went to Penn State, my father was a printer and my mother was mostly a home maker who worked outside the home and I write a blog that 25 people read so how does that make me an elitist? I was asking because you campaigned as an outsider and one of the common folks but you have held public office off and on for 25 of the past 30 years and for the last 4 years you had a lobbying job.
Don’t try to play gotcha with me you little poofter, I was not a lobbyist I was a public interest advocate.
For the Health Care industry.
I gave voice to the voiceless I advocated for free markets and protecting the American people from government takeover of their medical care.
What was the name of your organization?
KMMFOGI: Keep my Medicare free of Government Intervention. We were a group that informed senior citizens of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Carter/Johnson/Kennedy/Truman/Roosevelt attack on their private medical care. We warned them about death panels and brown foreign born doctors.
Death panels? Nowhere in the legislation was there a mention of death panels. Did you read the bill? And you do know that Medicare is a government run program?
I read Sarah Palin’s in-depth Tweets about the Hitler like attack on our perfect health care system. Obama was trying to take over our health care like a foreign invader.
One of your campaign promises was to reduce the size of government, cut government spending and balance the budget. How will you do this?
By reducing the size of government, slashing spending and balancing the budget.
But how will do accomplish this?
By doing just what I said.
But how are you going to do it?
Man up Donald and listen to what I am saying.
You are not saying anything specific. I just want to know how you are going to cut the size of government, what specific spending will you cut?
By balancing the budget
How?
Man you elites are such sore losers all you know how to do is attack
I am not attacking you I am simply asking what programs, departments and spending you are going to cut. Can you be specific?
By cutting fraud and waste
Can you be more specific? Would you cut defense spending?
No – How can you even suggest we hurt our brave service members like that? I will do anything to protect our troops.
There is no fraud or waste in the defense budget?
Who wrote your questions Karl Marx or Nancy Pelosi?
OK, so you won’t touch defense – Where else will you cut the fraud and waste?
It’s everywhere so I am going to find it and cut it.
Would you cut earmarks? Would you eliminate a government agency? How will you identify the fraud and waste?
I will know the waste and fraud when I see it and remove it.
Why won’t you tell me what you are willing to cut?
What part of I will cut fraud and waste don’t you understand?
You will not be able to remove it alone, you will be only 1 of 535 votes what if other members do not agree with what you find?
I have asked God for assistance with this and he will guide me and smite those who oppose the will of the American People who elected me.
With that, the newly elected Congressperson answers his cell phone; Yes Sarah I know you were right; I should have gone on Fox and Friends.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday Evening With John Callahan
“I opted not to join you because I was seething with anger”. A friend was explaining why she was a no show to John Callahan’s victory party. I understand the emotion and lord knows I have been there often myself on election nights in the past. John Callahan’s party Tuesday night was different.
Had my friend attended her anger would have evaporated very quickly. I could sense no bitterness in the room; we were disappointment certainly but not bitter. There was no anger or many serious conversations about how stupid the voters are or how much smarter we were than the 54% of the electorate that gave their votes to Charlie Dent. There was still very much a sense of hope and joy in the room. And, it only got better when the Callahan family arrived. They were clearly hurting and maybe a little stunned but they were smiling and waving. They greeted the people on the way to the stage with bear hugs and kisses, John and Mafalda hugged each other a lot and they both kept the children within reach throughout John’s speech. Their daughter and younger son stayed close to their mother for comfort and to provide comfort. The oldest Callahan son was so stoic and so brave he was almost heart breaking. He stood behind his father like a secret service agent. I had a sense that he would have done anything he could to protect his father from having to say the words he was about to say we could all sense the pain he was feeling, because we were feeling it too.
All of us would have done anything to have John’s words be “Thank you, this victory is not about me but it is about what we have done together and about what together we will do to solve our nation’s problems”. But, those were not the words John Callahan said and yet we still felt hope. John Callahan’s personal joy had impacted us all and changed even a cynical guy like me. He campaigned with such enthusiasm and with such promise we were not ready to let that go. We did not want to let him down or show him anything other than the same sense of the possible and of the positive he showed throughout this long campaign. The same hope we had following Mafalda’s introduction of John back in mid February never left us. Our reaction to this speech was the same as after Mafalda’s speech, there was not a dry eye in the house. He spoke about hope, he spoke about moving forward, he spoke about how lucky he was to be able to return to a job he loved and he spoke about how much his family means to him.
After the speech and the TV cameras were turned off John and Mafalda stopped and spoke to everyone, they did not seem like they wanted to leave. They wanted to thank everyone. I think they wanted to be the ones to turn off the lights and call it a day. The campaign was over and they wanted to end it on their terms and their way by spending quality time with their friends, family and supporters. After my bear hug from John I told him that it was proud of him and it was my honor to have supported him and I looked forward to be given the opportunity to do it again.
I have been to more concession speeches than any normal human would normally survive and I have never been to one so affirming and so positive as this one and was for a good reason. He was a great candidate and more importantly he is a great guy, which is the main reason why I supported him in the first place.
Had my friend attended her anger would have evaporated very quickly. I could sense no bitterness in the room; we were disappointment certainly but not bitter. There was no anger or many serious conversations about how stupid the voters are or how much smarter we were than the 54% of the electorate that gave their votes to Charlie Dent. There was still very much a sense of hope and joy in the room. And, it only got better when the Callahan family arrived. They were clearly hurting and maybe a little stunned but they were smiling and waving. They greeted the people on the way to the stage with bear hugs and kisses, John and Mafalda hugged each other a lot and they both kept the children within reach throughout John’s speech. Their daughter and younger son stayed close to their mother for comfort and to provide comfort. The oldest Callahan son was so stoic and so brave he was almost heart breaking. He stood behind his father like a secret service agent. I had a sense that he would have done anything he could to protect his father from having to say the words he was about to say we could all sense the pain he was feeling, because we were feeling it too.
All of us would have done anything to have John’s words be “Thank you, this victory is not about me but it is about what we have done together and about what together we will do to solve our nation’s problems”. But, those were not the words John Callahan said and yet we still felt hope. John Callahan’s personal joy had impacted us all and changed even a cynical guy like me. He campaigned with such enthusiasm and with such promise we were not ready to let that go. We did not want to let him down or show him anything other than the same sense of the possible and of the positive he showed throughout this long campaign. The same hope we had following Mafalda’s introduction of John back in mid February never left us. Our reaction to this speech was the same as after Mafalda’s speech, there was not a dry eye in the house. He spoke about hope, he spoke about moving forward, he spoke about how lucky he was to be able to return to a job he loved and he spoke about how much his family means to him.
After the speech and the TV cameras were turned off John and Mafalda stopped and spoke to everyone, they did not seem like they wanted to leave. They wanted to thank everyone. I think they wanted to be the ones to turn off the lights and call it a day. The campaign was over and they wanted to end it on their terms and their way by spending quality time with their friends, family and supporters. After my bear hug from John I told him that it was proud of him and it was my honor to have supported him and I looked forward to be given the opportunity to do it again.
I have been to more concession speeches than any normal human would normally survive and I have never been to one so affirming and so positive as this one and was for a good reason. He was a great candidate and more importantly he is a great guy, which is the main reason why I supported him in the first place.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Jon Geeting Is Smart
Jon Geeting is one of the smartest people I have yet to meet and Hillary Kwiatek is one of the smartest people I have met started this terrific blog awhile ago.
It is one of my daily reads and and I am always better informed because I have read it.
If you are one of my friends on the left and are interested in issues that impact your lives and opinions that are so well thought out it's scary, this blog is for you. For my friends who are not on the left, if you spend enough time reading Jon Geeting you will regret you ever voted for Charlie Dent.
http://www.lehighvalleyindependent.com/
It is one of my daily reads and and I am always better informed because I have read it.
If you are one of my friends on the left and are interested in issues that impact your lives and opinions that are so well thought out it's scary, this blog is for you. For my friends who are not on the left, if you spend enough time reading Jon Geeting you will regret you ever voted for Charlie Dent.
http://www.lehighvalleyindependent.com/
I Am A Candidate
The New Deal Party
11/1/10
For Immediate Release
Donald C. Flad Jr of Bethlehem, Northampton County has announced his candidacy for the State Senate in the 18th Senatorial District.
The District includes the following communities:
Cities – Bethlehem
Boroughs – Bangor, Catasauqua, Coplay, Delaware Water Gap, East Bangor, East Stroudsburg, Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, Hellertown, Nazareth, North Catasauqua, Northampton, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Stroudsburg, Stockertown
Townships – Bethlehem, Lower Mount Bethel, Lower Saucon, Plainfield, Smithfield, Stroud, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Washington, Whitehall,
Statement announcing candidacy:
There is a hunger in our land – a hunger for competence, a hunger for leadership, a hunger for simple straight forward clear thinking, a hunger for someone, anyone to speak truth to power. I stand ready, willing and able to feed the hunger.
There is a thirst for someone who makes sense when he speaks, a thirst for someone willing to look at an issue from all sides before voting and thirst for someone willing to reach across the aisle and do what’s best for the people. I stand ready to quench that thirst.
We face difficult times and there will be many hard choices ahead I am prepared to bring all people together to find the solutions. Like a master chef I can combine all the ingredients of our problems and the ingredients of our solutions and create a tasty stew that will satisfy our hunger. Like a great bartender I will add a dash of common sense, a splash of compromise to a generous portion of clear thinking and pour it over the rocks of our problems, give it a vigorous shake and pour out solutions to our problems.
I can no longer ignore the urgent and forceful voices that have been calling out to me over the years to enter the arena of public life and run for office not just any office but this office. I have heard the cries of the people; my people and I can no longer deny them their wishes. I can no longer stand on the sidelines and hope for our leaders to actually lead, I must answer the clarion call of the people and run for this high office.
I am a traditional Liberal and so like a great auto racer I will hold the steering wheel of power steady and constantly and consistently keep our great commonwealth turning to the left and not allowing the extremist fringe pass me on the right.
Why I have chosen to run for the State Senate at this time? Because I need to look at myself in the mirror Wednesday morning and I need to ask myself did I do all I could to solve our problems? Did I vote for the candidates that I believe will do what is right for the people? By voting for Dan Onorato I can say that, by voting for Joe Sestak I can say that, by voting for John Callahan I can say “Hell Yes”, by voting for Steve Samuelson I can say yes. When given the choice on the ballot for this year for the 18th Senatorial District I can’t say I will have made the right choice unless I write in myself.
So, on this day at this hour I am announcing my candidacy for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 18th District. This seat was once held by a woman of great vision, of great courage and she helped move this great commonwealth forward. I announce my candidacy in the memory of and to honor the legacy of Jeannette F. Reibman.
I am asking the good people of the 18th District to join me as we serve up a new era of progress for all the people. I am asking the fair minded people of the 18th District to write in the name DONALD FLAD JR for the office of State Senate. When you vote tomorrow please take a few extra moments and type in DONALD FLAD JR in the space for write in next to the State Senate line.
I have answered your call to service please answer my call and join me on Election Day and write (type) in DONALD FLAD JR.
Thank you, may God bless you and may God Bless the United States of America.
Press questions can be submitted via www.twitter.com/donaldfladjr
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