Governor Of Puerto Rico: ‘My Duty As A Christian’ To Sign Anti-Discrimination Laws | The New Civil Rights Movement

Times are changing - Join in or get left behind

Governor Of Puerto Rico: ‘My Duty As A Christian’ To Sign Anti-Discrimination Laws | The New Civil Rights Movement

Louie Gohmert Envisions 17-Year Old Gay Scouts As Pedophiles Molesting 11-Year Old Boys | The New Civil Rights Movement

Why is that Conservatives always think of dark sexual things?  Like Santorum and his hot man on dog action.  They always have to go there. They conjure up dark sexual fantasies at the drop of a ....zipper.


Louie Gohmert Envisions 17-Year Old Gay Scouts As Pedophiles Molesting 11-Year Old Boys | The New Civil Rights Movement

John Callahan, Hope, Willie Reynolds and Me.

I waited a week to review this past local primary because I wanted to be sure I calmly thought things through.  Something I did not always do during the heat of the campaign. 

Part 1

This was the most I allowed myself to be engaged in a campaign since State Rep. Bob Freeman's Campaign for the State Senate in 1994.  I dabbled, I commented, I worked the polling places or did some election day GOTV but I had not jumped in feet first since then.

So, why did I do it this year?
John Callahan
Hope.
And, somehow Willie Reynolds took over.

John Callahan:
If John Callahan would stop running for office I would stop wanting to ensure he was elected.  I can't resist wanting to help the single best politician I have met in years and more importantly one who lives up to his potential and tries with everything he has to make the lives of the people who entrusted him with public office better.

Hope
I have discussed this before - Election day gives me hope and even when the results do not go the way I wanted I never give up in my belief in this great republic.

Willie Reynolds
I was willing to sit back - work for the sure bet (John Callahan) and vote for Willie because he was not the establishment, good ole boy network chosen one.  At first I ended spending more time and thought and effort on Willie's campaign because of the disgusting campaign against him but the more I got to know Councilman Reynolds the more I came to believe he had the vision, the vigor, the stomach and the energy to keep my city moving forward.  I still do.

Councilman Reynolds and a couple of other young guys who wanted to make their communities better lost and I have to say that I am bitterly disappointed.  The voters missed an opportunity to elevate the conversation about the issues facing our area.  Alfonso Todd in Allentown and Frank Hesch in Northampton County were the type of candidates who should run for office and the type of young people who we need to serve in public office.

But, I still believe in a place called hope... As far as Bethlehem is concerned  I believe that there is so much momentum that things will keep moving forward and opportunities for growth will keep happening.

To be continued
Part 2; I love politics but campaigns bring out the best and worst in me.

The Gettysburg Address

Four score 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 battle-field 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 can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not 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.

Cynthia Nixon A Key Player In The NYC Race For Mayor

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/style/cynthia-nixons-embrace-of-political-activism.html?smid=pl-share

A Tough NYC Mayoral Primary

As we recover from a tense Bethlehem Mayoral primary a look back at the 1977 Democratic Primary for New York City Mayor 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/nyregion/in-earlier-mayoral-races-lessons-but-little-direction.html?smid=pl-share

Voting For.......

Voting is about hope!

These folks give me hope!

For Northampton County Executive  ---> John Callahan
He has been an extraordinary Mayor - the changes and growth in Bethlehem over the last 10 years will be stuff of legend.  John has not done it alone and he never has claimed it but it was his leadership.  He knows how government can work for the people as well as for business and he knows how government can create opportunities.  He has run a positive campaign that has focused on what we can do together to move the county forward.  John may very well be the best and most passionate politician I have ever met.  Combine him with his amazing wife the future is so bright we may all need shades to watch his next act in politics.

For Mayor of Bethlehem ----> J William Reynolds
I have blogged a great deal about how disgraceful Bob Donchez has been but I have said very little about why I am voting for Willie Reynolds.  I am voting for Mr. Reynolds because I have gotten to know Mr. Reynolds, I have discussed the future of our city with him and I believe he is best suited to take over from John Callahan.  Willie Reynolds is engaged, he is smart, he is driven and he really cares about the issues I care about and he really cares about this city.  I have not doubts - I believe in  J William Reynolds.

For Allentown City Council ----> Alfonso Todd
I don't have a real dog in this hunt - Allentown is Allentown but ALLENTOWN you have an opportunity to make a real change this year.  I have gotten to know Alfonso through my activity as a Board Member of the Nazareth - Bath Chamber of Commerce.  I wish I could vote for Alfonso.
He as set up educational opportunities for ex prisoners and "At Risk Youth" to develop skills to create their own businesses and opportunities.
He is an entrepreneur who has developed and on-line magazine and and really terrific on-line radio station.
But, I am supporting Alfonso Todd because he believes in community, he believes in people and he believes that together we can improve our neighborhoods and our cities.  I support Alfonso Todd because he believes in the future of Allentown (something I gave up on a long time ago) but Mr. Todd and his partner Gina Blevin believe and because they do I have no choice but to believe.

For Northampton County Judge ----> Jennifer Sletvold
It is tough to campaign for Judge in Pennsylvania - you can't discuss issues - you can only discuss who you are and what you have done as a citizen.  But, what you can do is be visible and campaign like you really want the job.  Attorney Sletvold really believes in this opportunity. I have seen her more over the last few months than I have my guy.  She is everywhere and she is working hard.  I know she is a Republican but is there really a partisan way to carry out justice in The Court of Common Pleas?  There is not.  Jennifer is smart, aggressive, hard working and she is really funny.  I want a Judge who is not afraid to work hard and Jennifer Sletvold will be that Judge.

For Northampton County Council (At Large)
On the Democratic side I am voting for Tom O'Donnell and Ron Heckman - both are a little grey and both have been around for a bit but both are thoughtful and are concerned about the future of this county.
Tom O'Donnell  and his wife Ellie have been my friends since I was 19/20 years old.  Tommy is one of the most decent people I will ever know and it is an honor to call him my friend.  He will look out for the taxpayer and keep the powerful on their toes.
Ron Heckman - There are few people in this area who understand how local government works and how to make it work better and smarter.  Ron Heckman is honest, he is decent and he cares.
Of the other Democrats I only know Jerry Seyfried and I will not vote for him.  As far as the rest I know nothing about them and quite frankly they did very little to allow us to get to know them better.

On the GOP side there is 
Peg Ferraro - a Republican I have always voted for. Peg is thoughtful, she is dedicated and she really cares about her community, she has given a great deal to this county.  Peg deserves one more term on County Council because she is Peg Ferraro and my friends that is enough.

Fran Hesch - I am sorry I can't vote for Frank in the primary. He gives me hope.  I got to know Frank through my involvement through the local Chamber movement.  He transformed the Whitehall Chamber and set it up for a very bright future.  He runs his family small business and he is there for any charity that needs his help. Whenever I have a called on Frank to assist with a fundraiser he stepped up and helped. He is smarter and more engaged than most people his age.  He is running for this office because he believes in county government and he wants to make it services are run  as efficiently and cost effective as possible.  I am looking forward to voting for my friend Frank Hesch in November.

I am also voting for 

Karen Dolan for Bethlehem City Council - She has become the conscience of this campaign - speaking out on behalf of Willie Reynolds even if it meant her campaign for re-election.  Karen Dolan deserves another term on council.

Brian Callahan - He has discussed economic development and neighborhood improvement.  He is a decent man and having  a small business owner on Council will benefit us all

I have heard good things about Mr. Waldron but I do not know him.  I think it is time to elect a councilperson from the west side.

Donchez Convincing Folks To Vote for Reynolds

Three very thoughtful postings about the upcoming Bethlehem Mayoral primary.

http://silagh.blogspot.com/

http://academicdad.blogspot.com/

http://todddietrich.com/

I am honored and privileged to call these three folks my friend.

They are fun to chat with.

They are a delight to argue with.

They are a riot to have a drink (and solve the world problems) with.

And, they are some of the best people I know.

I was the first Reynolds for Mayor supporter among them and I worked hard to convince them.

But, it was Mr. Donchez and Mr. Reynolds who convinced them to vote for Mr. Reynolds.

But, Not Bob Donchez

There is a long tradition in American politics that has candidates end their campaigns on a high note they make their final pitch to the voters by talking about their vision for the future.  It's called their closing argument.

These closing arguments are usually the only positive moments of the campaign. Campaign operatives hope the final weekend of positive messaging will erase the stain of months of negative campaigning thus improving their chances on the following Tuesday.

But, not Bethlehem Mayoral Candidate Bob Donchez. He has decided to keep his loathsome campaign going and sinking it even deeper into the muck with yet two more misleading mailers.

Early polling must have shown Mr. Donchez some pretty shocking numbers and he knew the only way he could win was to destroy Willie Reynolds, he must have figured out that he could not win by being the Councilman Bob Donchez we have all come to know over the last 16 years.

What does that tell you about the last 16 years?

Something Silly From Bob Donchez

The latest Donchez campaign mailer claiming that J William Reynolds is not a TRUE Democrat and Bob is The Real Democrat is so laughable and may be the silliest campaign flier of the season.

It is yet another example that there is no limit to how low Bob Donchez will go. There is clearly nothing beneath him and mailer smacks of desperation.

Is this really the man we want to be our Mayor as the city moves into a new era?

Is this really the man we want to succeed John Callahan?  Clearly he doesn't think so.

Bethlehem...We can do better - We need to continue moving forward. We need a Mayor who will unite us to face the challenges of the future.

 And, that is not Bob Donchez.

It is Willie Reynolds.

From Bernie's Blog - Bob Donchez Using Convicted Criminal as Campaign C...

I never thought I would re-post anything from Bernie's Blog but here it is.

Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bob Donchez Using Convicted Criminal as Campaign C...: Primary pre-election campaign finance reports, due tomorrow, are starting to trickle in. Bethlehem Mayoral candidate Bob Donchez, who has fi...

Older = Better Mayor

I am more mature!

What exactly does that mean? 

Does being older ensure you are going to make the best decisions?

What evidence is there to support the argument that older means wiser? 

Does a lot of experience guarantee that you will make the best choices?

The answer is of course no.

*I could end this here because I have made my point but I will continue.

Have you learned from your mistakes or do you still insist you were right and just misunderstood?

Do you live with your past glories or do await new opportunities?

Are your best days behind you or have they just prepared you for this moment?

Will you embrace change with open arms or hold it back because that is not the way we did it?

If you are in the last third of your life span are you as concerned about the future as you would be if you were in the first third?

Some would say that the more mature you are the less likely you are to be open to new ideas, that you are set in your ways and that change is more difficult for you.

Does a more mature person have the same level of energy and stamina as a younger person?

*I know I am asking a lot of questions here but my point is coming.

In my various jobs throughout the years my best bosses the ones I learned the most from have been younger than me.  There was often a trade off of learning.  I would be a calming influence on them and my age and experience was a good sounding board for them to bump ideas against. But, what I learned from them about technology, how to survive and thrive in a corporate setting and some basic people management and time management skills helped me to grow as a person and they opened my eyes to new ways of thinking to new ideas.  I was constantly shifting my paradigm.

In 2008 John McCain claimed his age and experience to be an advantage over the younger and untested Barack Obama.  Mr. McCain chose Sarah Palin to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency and Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.  I will leave up to you to decide whether the older more experienced man made the better choice. 

It is true that Obama did choose an older and more experienced man to be VP and he chose him for those very reasons.  But, the younger Barack Obama is the one in charge.

Bethlehem Mayoral candidate Bob Donchez is claiming to be more qualified to hold public office because he is more mature than the other candidate in the race.

Older = Better Mayor

Being Mayor of Bethlehem is not a retirement job.  Maybe in the past you would have had your career and now that you have the time and a pension you can give your full attention to the city and serve as Mayor.  The office of Mayor has changed since Mr. Donchez’s self professed role model for the office left in 1987.

Mr. Donchez and his benefactors have run a negative and disgraceful campaign and one they should not be very proud of.

I want a Mayor who will work hard to unite this city; Mr. Donchez is running a campaign that is trying to divide us.  If this is an example of how Mr. Donchez’s mature leadership will lead this city I say bring on the youthful J. William Reynolds.

Bethlehem Councilperson Dolan Takes A Stand For Her City

Like many voters in my fair city Ms. Dolan is disgusted with the tone the Bob Donchez for Mayor campaign has taken.

What makes this statement even more significant is that Karen Dolan is running for re-election.  She has the integrity to stand up for her city and stand firm to her convictions even though it may cost her votes from the Morganelli/Leeson/Donchez old boys network wing of the Democratic party.

Bethlehem needs a mayor with vision, it needs a mayor with ideals and it needs a mayor for all the people - Bob Donchez is proving that he is not going to be that mayor.

This is the statement from Councilperson Dolan, few people in the city could have said it better or with greater clarity or from greater experience.

http://www.jwilliamreynolds.net/index.html?entry=city-councilwoman-karen-dolan-reacts

Every time I discuss the mayor's race with someone I hear but "Bob Donchez is such a nice guy".  Is he?

Santorum: NRA Are ‘Warriors’ Defending Second Amendment That Comes ‘From God’ | The New Civil Rights Movement

Rick Santorum is the best panderer on the planet.  I find it hard to believe that he believes anything he says.  And, have you noticed his better then normal DRAMA QUEEN skills?

Bethlehem Conversations About Bob Donchez

I attended the annual Bethlehem Library fundraiser at the Sand's Mall last night and as usual I spent a lot of time listening in on other peoples conversations.

Bethlehem is in the midst of a hot and heavy Democratic Mayoral Primary and since there is no Republican candidate the Democratic Primary is the election for our next Mayor.

I heard these two conversations

"I really hate that the Mayor's race is so nasty"
"It's only nasty because of Donchez"

Another one

"I don't know what happened to Bobby  (Donchez) but this campaign is so not like him"
"He is taking orders from Morganelli and Leeson"
"But, Bobby has never been like this it is so strange to see this coming from him"
"It is a typical Morganelli nasty campaign"
"So, will Donchez be Mayor or Morganelli?"
Shrugs