Mayor's Election Must Take Place In 2007

Soon the city of Pittsburgh will be back to normal on Grant Street. The tragic death of Bob O'Connor will continue to cast a shadow over our city for some time; however, we must move forward.

New interim Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is a "transitional" leader: a compromise canidate from Pittsburgh City Council, undoubtedly scared out of his wits. He's probably a good guy, but no 26-year-old on the planet can successfully run a major metropolitan city with no experience.

When he was appointed city council President, the city was being led by a healthy, robust Mayor who was easily expected to serve two terms.

Bill Peduto should have been council president, but he ran against O'Connor and the "powers that be" weren't going to allow him to be in the city's second-most-valuable position.

Jim Motznik thought the position was going to be his, but the Overbrook resident's only claim to governmental claim is publicly running away from a television news reporter. He's now President of City Council.

Tawanda Carlisle reportedly wanted the city council president post at the beginning of the year. Can you imagine if she had been the original "compromise" canidate? She grabbed headlines earlier this year for allocated untold thousands of public dollars to personal friends.

Bob O'Connor's former chief of staff, now councilman Doug Shields, reportedly also wanted the city council presidency, but he didn't have the votes.

That allowed Ravenstahl, a former college placekicker and council's only four-year college graduate, to be given what was perceived to be a largely ceremonious tip of the hat.

There is already differences of opinion how long Ravenstahl can serve as interim Mayor. Common sense says that a special election will be held next year; however, there is arcane verbiage in the city charter that states a city controller and Mayor's race cannot be held in the same year. And you guessed it, that row office election is in 2007.

Ravenstahl has just started to represent his north side constituency; only those with a pure personal agenda can believe that the interim Mayor can serve until 2009, which is the next year of municipal elections.

Ravenstahl has not been elected Mayor. He was not even a decisive choice as city council President, as O'Connor had been years ago. It can be successfully argued that Ravenstahl shouldn't be an interim Mayor at all.

IF the smartest and most civic-minded heads prevail, there will be a special election for Pittsburgh's 60th Mayor in 2007. Don't count on it, however, as this issue will surely bog down our system for some time to come.

R.I.P. Mayor Bob O'Connor

Bob O'Connor was a good man who worked for 12 years to become Pittsburgh's top guy on Grant Street. He ran for Mayor in 1997 and 2001 but barely lost to Tom Murphy both times.

The third time was the charm as it was clearly "Bob's Turn" to become Mayor. He was clearly the nicest guy in a crowded pack of mostly Democrats. He would make eye contact with you from across the room and it made you feel like the only person in the room. He was that type of guy.

He quickly took charge of Pittsburgh and his "Redd Up" campaign was a successful clean up project to make the city sparkle for the Major League Baseball All-Star game and festivities.

When he was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer the same day the city shined for the Home Run Derby at PNC Park, the news sounded incomprehensible. Not Bob. Not the healthy, robust 61-year-old who had more energy than a man half his age.

At first, news came that he was taking the cancer treatments well. Then those positive news reports suddenly stopped. Somewhere along the line it just seemed that Bob wasn't doing well.

People prayed. People prayed A LOT. Prayer serves were held that brought hundreds of people from all faiths together downtown.

Secular radio hosts began having DAILY PRAYERS for him. Bob released an appreciative statement, thanking people for their overwhelming prayers and concerns.

It might have been those prayers and concerns that helped him hang for all those weeks.

His entire family were class acts throughout the whole ordeal, especially his wife, Judy, who attended the prayer services downtown.

Bob O'Connor did more in six months as Mayor than his predecessor, Tom Murphy did in 12 years.

The city has lost a great man on Friday, September 1. Rest in peace, Bob O'Connor.

Flag Freedom Bill Approved By U.S. House

I guess this bill was created because some homeowners associations and apartment owners were holding back people's freedoms.

You may note that in the last line, Pennsylvanians have enjoyed a state bill for some time.

I guess the American Flag does earn some respect, despite still not being protected by members of the "98 IQ club" who from time to time set it ablaze.



Senate Approves Congressman Bartlett Freedom to Display the Flag Bill – First American Values Agenda of House Republicans on Track to be signed into Law by President Bush

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Roscoe Bartlett applauded the unanimous approval by the Senate last night of his bill, “The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005” (H.R. 42). It will ensure the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States at their home. The House approved it on June 17. The President is expected to sign it. Congressman Bartlett’s flag legislation is the first of ten on the American Values Agenda announced by the House Congressional leadership that will become law. Passage of the bill was also supported by Jewish War Veterans of the USA, American Veterans (AMVETS), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), the American Legion, and the National Independent Flag Dealer’s Association.

“It’s very exciting to know that Americans will soon be free to fly the flag at their homes,” said Congressman Bartlett. “I was alarmed to learn from my constituent Hugh Warner, who is a flag dealer, that some homeowners associations and condos all over the country prevent Americans from flying the American flag. It’s hard to see how flying an American flag could depreciate the value of a condo. That’s why I introduced this bill. H.R. 42 will guarantee Americans the freedom to display the American flag at their homes.”

U.S. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said: "Every American should retain the right to display the American flag, the very symbol of freedom upon which our nation was founded. Rep. Bartlett should be commended for his leadership on this issue and his work to help preserve the core values of this great country."

“This is what America is all about,” said Lori Watson, President of the National Independent Flag Dealer’s Association. The right thing has been done by those who represent us in the Congress. We thank Congressman Bartlett for making this a priority for our American citizens and for his role in getting this done. We’re thrilled that President Bush will be signing this into law. We are proud to be able to sell this great American symbol every day. We are the only Association committed in our bylaws that the United States flags we sell are manufactured in the United States with all U.S.-made components. Each one of us in every state has had customers affected by not being able to fly their flags at their condos. I’ve had WWII veterans in tears, calling me and begging us for years for our help so that they can fly the American flag. This is just great news.”

The bill states, “A condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use.” The bill specifically permits “any reasonable restriction pertaining to the time, place, or manner of displaying the flag of the United States necessary to protect a substantial interest of the condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association.”

Eleven States had previously passed similar laws: AZ, AR, CO, IL, MD, MN, NV, NJ, NY, OH, PA.

Get Well Mayor O'Connor

Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor has been released from a Pittsburgh hospital after spending several days being treated for an ulcer, viral infection.

Mayor O'Connor is a good, honorable man who seemingly has been working hard as our first new Mayor in 13 years.

Here's to good health, and enough strength to make it to the All Star game festivities in and around PNC Park! We Republicans want Mayor O'Connor at tip top health come the next election cycle. :-)

Our prayers are with you.

Why Isn't The American Flag More Important?

Why is it that the only thing protected from free speech is showing the prophet Muhammad on television?

A constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the American Flag died in the Senate yesterday but ONE vote.

What is needed? Perhaps we need savages tearing apart the landscape whenever someone lights up the flag on television?

Earlier this year, creators of the South Park cartoon angrily responded to not being able to depict Muhammad at all on television by lampooning the President, the American Flag and Jesus Christ in vile ways. While initially angered myself, I stepped back and saw what Trey Parker and Matt Stone were doing. They were expressing the free speech they deemed necessary for not being able to take their usual shots at a prominent figure.

If everyone had gold, it would no longer be valuable. To paraphrase the villain in “The Incredibles,” if everyone had super powers, no one would be super. If everything is allowed to be burned, defecated on or otherwise defouled, nothing would be important.

The American Flag is important. Old Glory is just as important to Americans as Muhammad is to extremist Muslims, if not more. As far as I know, no one has gone on a mass killing spree because some clueless alternative rocker took a cigarette lighter to the Stars and Stripes. That means even our debates include value to human life.

Something besides Muhammad has to be untouchable.

The American Flag is the most important symbol Americans have. It must be protected. Anyone who voted against the measure just doesn’t “get it.”

Pittsburgh Needs A Revolutionary Bishop

I've submitted the following letter to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review; however, I doubt if they will use it. I did not submit the name of my candidate, nor will I here because he is a personal friend of mine and I have yet to hear his comments regarding my "push." He doesn't check his emails often so I don't expect to hear from him until August. LOL!

Below is my letter:

Bishop Donald Wuerl has left his hometown of Pittsburgh for Washington, D.C. The post looks to be a promotion because of it is a higher profile in our nation’s capital. In actually, the constituency is much smaller.

The Pittsburgh diocese is at a cross roads. As reporter Craig Smith notes in his June 22 article (Challenges await Wuerl’s successor), our churches have trouble filling pews and our Catholics are either changing religions, or most appropriately, abandoning organized faith altogether.

At least eight different candidates were recently suggested. All of those mentioned in the article are accomplished; however, none seem to be a revolutionary pick for Pittsburgh. All but one are 56 or older.

What is needed in Pittsburgh is a young voice. Pittsburgh deserves a bishop who not only provides a young face, but a leader who espouses vitality, optimism and energy. The new Bishop needs to be from Western Pennsylvania. He needs to be young. He needs to be someone who can make Catholics from around the country stand up and take notice.

When Karol Jozef Wojtyla was appointed the 264th Pope on October, 16, 1978, he was seen as a "Rock Star" of sort, an impossibly young Pope who was outdoorsy and the leader of youth.

Roman Catholic churches and schools are closing all over Pittsburgh. Appointing a new Bishop who is incapable of relating to young people and families would be a grave injustice for Catholics. And such a choice would be unremarkable.

The diocese and those in leadership in Pittsburgh need to do something remarkable. They need to "lead" by doing something "out of the box."

The diocese needs to pick a bishop who is 45 or younger; someone who can serve for 20 years in Pittsburgh and make a “real” difference.

A new Bishop in Pittsburgh would need to be no-nonsense when it comes to scandals and controversies. And he would need to be able to serve for an undetermined, indefinite period of time.

Pittsburgh needs someone with the personality and people skills to lead and hopefully "grow" the faith in Pittsburgh.

Carlisle Petition Probably Won't Go Anywhere

From our friends at the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, it looks like city Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle will continue to remain in the news. For those of you outside of the Steel City, Ms. Carlisle has dolled out nearly $200,000 in city funds to consultants, some of whom seem to be just friends and extended family members. While the petition and resulting actions are admirable, Ms. Carlisle will ultimately be judged by her peers. And many of them don't want their spending to be put under a microscope, so they'll never throw her to the curb. Don't know if any of the organizers of the petition are Republicans, but they must nonetheless be admired for their courage.

Jeremy Boren's story is pasted below.

Impeachment petition filed against Carlisle

By Jeremy Boren
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, June 20, 2006

East End residents filed a petition with 40 signatures this morning that seeks to begin impeachment proceedings against City Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, who is being investigated by county prosecutors regarding taxpayer-funded payments she authorized to at least 23 outside consultants.
Pittsburgh's City Code says 20 signatures from residents of a council member's district are required to begin impeachment proceedings. If the signatures are valid, a judge could appoint a "citizen investigating committee" to review the case against Carlisle and issue a report. City Council could be given a chance to review the citizen committee's report, according to the City Code.
"We don't think there's a snowball's chance that she'll be impeached," said Phillip Martin, of Homewood, who gathered the signatures with Ora Lee Carroll, executive director of the East Liberty Concerned Citizens Crop. and submitted the petition to the Allegheny County Prothonotary's office at 9:30 a.m. "They'll never impeach one of their own," Martin said of the City Council. "We just want an investigation. We want to show people how they can use the system."
Martin and Carroll plan to submit copies to Carlisle and the Court of Common Pleas president later today.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is investigating about $177,000 in payments Carlisle authorized between 2002 and 2006 to consultants from two taxpayer-fed discretionary accounts that council members are permitted to use. Carlisle had personal and political connections to some of the consultants.
Council passed new rules this month that restrict such spending as a result of the investigation into Carlisle's spending.