LackawannaGOP.com

Commissioner Munchak's 63rd Birthday Bash

2009-07-29T11:40:00.003-04:00

AJ’s Backyard Birthday Bash
Celebrating his 63rd Birthday
at the
Tiki Bar at Waldorf Park
Waldorf Lane, Scranton
Wednesday, August 5th
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tickets are $15 per person
Children Under 12 FREE!

RSVP via Email to jacokijo@aol.com

Democrats Once Again Lose Focus

2009-05-28T13:14:00.001-04:00

In Troubled Economic Times, Pennsylvania Democrats Focus on Gay Marriage Instead of Economy-Senator Mellow Silent

Scranton – As Pennsylvania faces surging unemployment, higher gas prices, budget turmoil, and a troubled economy, Democrats in Pennsylvania’s State Senate have decided to instead focus on gay marriage.

According to recent news accounts (Patriot News, 5/27/09) Democratic State Senator Daylin Leach has proposed a bill to authorize gay marriage in Pennsylvania. To date, Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow has been silent on the proposal. According to press accounts, Democrat Senator Leach has looked on recent actions authorizing gay marriage in New Hampshire and Maine as motivation for this proposal.

“Pennsylvania needs more jobs, lower energy costs, and lower taxes…not gay marriage. I question Senator Leach and his Democratic allies in the State Senate’s priorities if they think the largest issue facing Pennsylvania is whether or not gay marriage should be legally recognized here,” said Lackawanna County Young Republican PAC Executive Director Dave Weber. “Pennsylvania is currently facing a budget crisis and weighing tax increases on working families. These are the issues of the day that need to be addressed immediately. I question the judgment of any elected official that believes gay marriage proposals are a higher priority than taxes, energy, and our economy.”

“This is an excellent example of how Pennsylvania’s Democratic leaders are out of focus and out of touch with the needs of regular, everyday Pennsylvanians,” Weber added. “We call on Senator Mellow to break his silence and state publically his support or opposition of this bill and whether it should really be a legislative priority considering the economic turmoil and budget problems Pennsylvania is facing.”

Republican Party of Lackawanna County Announces Slate

2009-04-19T15:59:00.001-04:00

Republicans Support Experience Instead of Politics

In the spirit of fairness, transparency, and the non-partisan nature of judicial races the Republican Party of Lackawanna County held candidate interviews for all of the candidates for the open judgeship in Lackawanna County yesterday evening.

After each of the candidates addressed and answered questions posed by the committee the Committee voted unanimously to endorse Frank Castellano for Lackawanna County Judge of Common Pleas.

“Frank Castellano is exactly the kind of person Lackawanna County needs to serve as its next Judge. Frank possesses the qualities and experience that will best serve our County,” said Chairman Paul Catalano. “I am proud to have such a qualified, experienced candidate seeking the office and the endorsement of the Republican Party.”

The Committee also voted unanimously to endorse District Attorney Andrew J. Jarbola for Lackawanna County District Attorney as well as Judges Michael Barrasse and Terrence Nealon for retention in the upcoming November General Election.

Challenge to Consolidation Issued

2009-02-09T12:02:00.003-05:00

From the Times Leader:

February 9

Election district changes disputed
County court will receive objections to voting district consolidation petition.
RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent
SCRANTON – This morning the Lackawanna County court of common pleas will receive objections to a recent petition made by the county’s board of elections to consolidate election districts.

The objectors are seeking to halt the plan they say will result in increased difficulty for voters.
Paul Catalano, chairman of the Lackawanna County Republican Party; Lance Stange, Republican Party secretary; and Republican county Commissioner Anthony Munchak, who serves on the board of elections, were named on the objection.

The petition they are fighting proposes consolidating 41 Scranton voting districts into 19 and 44 county districts in 13 municipalities down to 23. Filed on Jan. 29, the petition was signed by county Commissioner Corey O’Brien, chairman of the board of elections.

The consolidation promotes the public interest because “fewer election districts will be understaffed on election day” maximizing “efficiency” of the new voting system, according to the petition.

But, Stange said the petition was filed without a public meeting as required by law. He said he found the whole thing “startling” because of its seeming secrecy. He was denied a copy of the petition twice before it was filed, he said.

“It’s illegal, period,” said Munchak in a phone conversation Sunday night. Besides lacking public input, there was no involvement from either the Democratic or Republican parties, and O’Brien signed it as the board of elections chairman without ever being selected to that seat, Munchak said.

Munchak feels confident the court will at least delay the petition. He also hopes O’Brien will “fess up to another mistake” and change course.

Stange said the objections are a case of “right verses wrong.” If the consolidation happens, some of the most populated voting districts will be “smashed together.” The combined districts will have as many as 3,000 voters, he said, creating problems with space, privacy, parking and accuracy.

The integrity of the voting process will suffer, Stange said. In addition, the large districts will violate state rules that say districts cannot exceed 1,200 voters unless a “demonstrated convenience” is proven.

Catalano said part of the problem lies in a shortage of voting officials. Each site must have a judge, machine operator, majority and minority inspector, and clerk, he said, adding the county has not taken any steps to stem attrition.

The positions offer very low pay and mandate up to 16-hour days on election day.

Catalano said larger voting districts conflict with the Help America Vote Act, which is intended to make voting more manageable. A district with 3,000 voters is anything but manageable, he said.

Catalano and Stange stress they are not fighting on party lines, but because the overall petition is flawed.

2009-01-30T19:41:00.001-05:00

The Republican National Committee has elected a new Chairman...

MICHAEL STEELE

RebuildtheParty.com Video

2009-01-29T18:53:00.001-05:00

Here is a new video from RebuildTheParty.com

MSCRW Celebrates 10 Years

2009-01-09T12:26:00.001-05:00

Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women Celebrate 10 years Scranton, PA:

10 years ago, several women came together for form the Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women. The late Mary Dippre was the founding member according to Rose Ann Gaetano. Mary was the person that can be credited for bring back the republican women’s group in Lackawanna County.

The Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women was named after the mother of former Governor William Scranton. “Mother would have loved it,” stated former governor William Scranton. “The work she and her women did was the joy of her life.” He thanked the group for honoring her.

The Margery Scranton Council has participated in many activities over the years. They participated in campaign activities for local, state and national candidates, conducted campaign workshops, honored women in the community and took part in several community service projects. One of the group’s signature event is to honor a women of achievement in March as part of Women’s History Month. In the words of Rose Ann Gaetano, founding member “In politics if you want something said ask a man, if you want something done ask a woman. Lets not forget the five W’s when women work we win.” She also made note that under republican leadership in county government there were more women heading departments than any time in Lackawanna County’s history.

The group is a member of Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women and is also active in the National Federation of Republican Women Organization.

The officers for the 2009-10 are:
President - Barbara Davenport
1st Vice President - Aida Velez
2nd VP - Kelly Ann Walsh
Corresponding Secretary - Kim DeMatteo-MacDonald
Recording Secretary - Tanya Crews
Treasurer - Fran Francis
Assistant Treasurer - Michelle Mancuso

Barletta Speaks on Diversity

2009-01-07T11:20:00.000-05:00

Mayor Lou Barletta will be a featured panelist for a Diveristy Summit taking place at Penn State University's Hazleton Campus. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 pm.

The panel will also include members of the law enforcement community, civic leaders and illegal immigration advocates.

The event is open to the public and will also be broadcast live on television.

If you are interested in attending, please arrive at PSU's Hazleton Campus in the Evelyn Graham Center by 6:30pm.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to watch Lou, you view the event on the Pennsylvania Cable Network PCN at 7:00pm.Come out and support Lou or tune and watch him stand up for America.

LCYR PAC Now on Facebook

2009-01-06T13:38:00.001-05:00

The Lackawanna County Young Republican PAC is now on facebook. If you would like to check out the group, simply click here.

2009 Elections in Lackawanna County

2008-12-29T12:40:00.002-05:00

In 2009, Elections will be held for the following offices:

Lackawanna County District Attorney currently held by Republican Andy Jarbola.

Lackawanna County Sheriff currently held by Democrat John Szymanski.

Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds currently held by Democrat Evie Rafalko McNulty.

Lackawanna County Register of Wills currently held by Democrat Linda Munley.

There will be a judgeship available. This is an open seat. According to the Scranton Times, Republican Frank Castellano and Republican Brian Cali are considering the position.

In the cities, boroughs, and towns, all of the mayors with the exception of Carbondale will be on the ballot. Many of the tax collectors, council members, supervisors, auditors, school directors, judges of election, and inspectors are to be elected.

Republican Judge Michael Barrasse and Democrat Judge Terry Nealon will be on the ballot for retention.

The District Judges (Magistrates) in part of Scranton (Hailstone), Dunmore, and Carbondale will also be up for election in 2009.

If interested in running for any of the above listed positions, please contact us! Contact information can be found in the volunteer section of the page.

Important Dates for 2009 Primary Election!

First day to circulate and file nomination petitions is February 17.

Last day to circulate and file nomination petitions is March 10.

Last day to withdrawal by candidates who filed nomination petitions is March 25.

Last day to register to vote before the 2009 Primary is April 20th.

Primary Election day is May 19th.

Joint MSCRW & YR Christmas Party

2008-11-30T22:38:00.000-05:00

The Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women and the Lackawanna County Young Republicans would like you to join us at our 5th Annual Christmas Party
When: Friday, December 5, 2008
Where: Ramada Inn, Route 6, Clarks Summit
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Food Stations serving all evening
DJ dance music
Silent Auction

$25.00 per person (spouses, friends, family welcome)
Beer, wine, soda included, cash bar available

Checks payable to: MSCRW
Fran Francis, Treasurer
RD #1 Box 626
Olyphant, PA 18447

Or contact Barb Davenport – davenportx@aol.com or (570) 343-9909
Or e-mail to: mscrw1@aol.com

YR Ad Campaign

2008-11-23T20:24:00.004-05:00

The Lackawanna County Young Republican PAC is starting their first ad campaign to solicit candidates for the 2009 Election.

The first ad will appear in the Abington Journal.

If you are interested in either seeking office or volunteering for the 2009 Republican candidates, send us an email.

Many of our local offices like mayor, council, township supervisor, auditor, controller, tax collector and school board will be on the ballot in 2009.

There are also several county level offices such as sheriff, recorder of deeds, register of wills, and a judgeship on the line in 2009.

Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women

2008-11-13T16:32:00.000-05:00

It is with great pleasure we announce the 2008-2010 officers of the Margery Scranton Council of Republican Women:

President – Barbara Davenport
1st Vice-President – Aida Velez
2nd Vice President – Kelly Ann Walsh
Recording Secretary – Tanya Callaway Crews
Corresponding Secretary – Kim Dematteo-MacDonald
Treasurer – Fran Francis
Assistant Treasurer – Michelle Mancuso

Please join us as we recognize the service of our outgoing officers and welcome our incoming officers at our Installation ceremony to be held on:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ramada Inn, Route 6, Clarks Summit
6pm Buffet Dinner
$15.00 per person (payable at the door)

Please RSVP to Barbara Davenport, 343-9909 or davenportx@aol.com or
Karen Lilik, 586-3600 (evening) or 961-3933 (day) or MSCRW1@aol.com

Sarah in Scranton!

2008-10-13T11:00:00.002-04:00

Please join Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Scranton, PA!

Governor Sarah Palin will appear at a Road to Victory Rally

Tuesday, October 14th at Riverfront Sports Complex

Doors open at 11:00am

Road to Victory Rally-Scranton

PARiverfront Sports Complex

5 West Olive PlazaScranton, PA

Tuesday, October 14th

Doors Open: 11:00am

If you would like details and information on where you may pick up your free tickets for this event Click here!

Joint Lackawanna and Luzerne County Republican Dinner

2008-10-09T09:29:00.001-04:00

Lackawanna & Luzerne County Republican 2008 Victory Dinner

Sunday, October 19, 2008
6:00 pm Social Hour
7:00 – 10:00 pm Dinner & Program

Special Guests
Chris Hackett, 10th Congressional District Candidate
Honorable Lou Barletta, 11th Congressional District Candidate
Honorable Dr. Karen Boback, 117th State Representative seeking re-election

At the Convention Hall in Pittston Township
1073 Oak Street
Exit 175 off of Interstate 81

$40 Per Person
$100 Per Patron (includes one ticket & program listing)
$400 Per Table of Ten (name of table captain listed as program patron)

Please make checks payable to the Lackawanna County Republican Committee.

For further information contact:
JoAnn Wilson
570-876-1477
Jawilson98@verizon.net

McCain drops Ayers Bomb!

2008-10-09T09:20:00.002-04:00

From Fox News:

MILWAUKEE, WI — The McCain campaign is not putting a new hard-hitting 90-second web ad slamming Obama for his relationship with former domestic terrorist Bill Ayers up on TV yet but that probably doesn’t make a difference. The video is sure to be the political topic du jour on Thursday and is already heating up the morning shows.

The spot introduces Ayers’ past as a member of the Weather Underground and his interactions with Obama but says the bigger issue is the Democratic nominee’s candor.
“We know Bill Ayers ran the “violent left wing activist group” called Weather Underground. We know Ayers’ wife was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. We know they bombed the Capitol. The Pentagon. A judge’s home. We know Ayers said, ‘I don’t regret setting bombs. …. I feel we didn’t do enough,’” a narrator intones. “But Obama’s friendship with terrorist Ayers isn’t the issue. The issue is Barack Obama’s judgment and candor. When Obama just says, ‘This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood.’ Americans say, ‘Where’s the truth, Barack?’ Barack Obama. Too risky for America.”

McCain campaign adviser Nicolle Wallace appeared on a number of morning shows today to argue that Obama’s lack of openness on Ayers raises questions about his veracity on other policy issues, acknowledging that Americans “don’t care about a washed-up terrorist.”
“The point of this ad is that Barack Obama, when asked about his association with Mr. Ayers, was less then truthful. He called him a guy in his neighborhood. Now the truth is he is somebody who Barack Obama launched his political career with at a coffee in his living room,” Wallace said on Fox and Friends this morning. “The point here is if you don’t tell the truth about your associations, how can you be trusted to tell the truth to the American people about your plan for raising taxes, about your plans for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about your plans for health insurance? How can we trust you if you don’t tell a simple truth about who the guy in your neighborhood really is?”

She added, “I think John McCain is someone who always tells the truth and lets the chips fall where they may. Barack Obama always polishes the truth puts the best spin on the facts and hopes that it will serve his political ambitions.”

Barletta Event in Lackawanna County

2008-10-01T13:32:00.001-04:00

Please Join Us
For a Meet & Greet
in Honor of
Lou Barletta
Candidate for the 11th Congressional District

Wednesday
October 8th, 2008
7:00pm - 9:00pm
St. Mary’s Center
320 Mifflin Ave.
Scranton, PA
RSVP to Kristin at: 570-454-0635
or
kristin@loubarletta.com

New Rankings from Rothenberg

2008-10-01T12:05:00.000-04:00

New 2008 Rankings from the Rothenberg Political Report

Pure Toss Up
PA-10 Carney Vs. Hackett

Toss Up/Tilt Democratic
PA-11 Kanjorski Vs. Barletta

Message from Rick Santorum

2008-10-01T11:43:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

Many of you know that part of my post senate career has been focused on becoming the next Cecil B. DeMille. You also know how difficult it is for someone of my political persuasion to find both the financial and creative resources you need to produce a successful film.

Well I found a production team in Hollywood that shares our values and has the courage to make movies that folks like us will enjoy. They have teamed up with the creative force behind 'Airplane' and 'The Naked Gun' to produce a slapstick comedy that opens this weekend, starting Friday, October 3rd, 2008,

The movie is writer director David Zucker's 'An American Carol.'

It's like 'A Christmas Carol,' but instead of Scrooge saying Bah Humbug to Christmas, it's Michael Moore who wants to abolish the 4th of July. George Washington, General Patton and JFK come back as the three ghosts to slap some sense into Michael. Literally.

So if you love your country, and think all Hollywood does is hate America, you'll spit up milk through your nose laughing when you see America's critics so roundly mocked. I saw it, and I can tell you truthfully it not only has lots of laughs, but is courageous in its unabashed conservative viewpoint on some of the most controversial issues of the day.

Here's why you should go see it this weekend -- don't wait.
A movie's financial success is usually judged by the box office opening weekend. So go this weekend!
Going Friday, opening night, is even better. Word-of-mouth and a great one-day box-office then gets others to see it the next two days.
If everyone right of center, or everyone sick of political correctness, or everyone who'd just like to see the other side of free speech presented every once in a while, actually goes to see it -- we'll get more movies like this. Like the one I am working on!!!

Remember if you don't go and support this break-the-mold kind of film, I don't want to hear complaints about the lack of conservative content from Hollywood. But don't go see it out of guilt -- go see it because you will genuinely laugh -- and after this week we all could use one, right?

Please forward this to all your like-minded email friends, and ask them to forward it on too.
Thanks!
Rick

PS Warning you may find some scenes offensive, crude, insensitive and even downright stupid – that's because it was intended to be so!
View movie clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CYSGCoflAA

http://www.americancarolers.com/download_trailer.php

2 Years Asleep at the Switch

2008-10-01T11:36:00.001-04:00

From the Newshour with Jim Lehrer

Constituents expect a plan

JIM LEHRER: Congressman Kanjorski, you're a Democrat. You voted for it. And why? What was it -- what did you see in it that Congressman Scott, your Democratic colleague, did not see?

REP. PAUL KANJORSKI (D), Pennsylvania: Well, of course, I'm on the committee of jurisdiction, so I've been watching...

JIM LEHRER: The Financial Services Committee.

REP. PAUL KANJORSKI: That's right. I've been watching this disaster, if you will, unfold for probably two years now, and particularly since last August -- not this immediate past August, but the August before that, when the subprime mortgage problem was created.

And then we saw the deterioration that occurred in October when the auction market started to fail. And then we saw the infection spread throughout the financial system.

Until now, when Secretary Paulson came up to the Hill 11 days ago and said we are now at a disaster stage, I recognized he was right.

Bailout Vote Fails

2008-09-29T15:15:00.001-04:00

Saddest Thing About This Mess: Congress Had Chance To Stop It

INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

By Terry Jones
Posted 9/26/2008

Could the crisis at Fannie Mae (FNM) - Freddie Mac (FRE) and the subprime meltdown have been avoided?

The answer is yes.

As early as 1992, alarm bells were going off on the threat Fannie and Freddie posed to our financial system and our economy. Intervention at any point could have staved off today's crisis. But Democrats in Congress stood in the way.

As the president recently said, Democrats have been "resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me . . . to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

No, it wasn't President Bush who said that; it was President Clinton, Democrat, speaking just last week.

Interesting, because it was his administration's relentless focus on multiculturalism that led to looser lending standards and regulatory pressure on banks to make mortgage loans to shaky borrowers.

Freddie and Fannie, backed by an "implicit" taxpayer guarantee, bought hundreds of billions of dollars of those subprime loans.

The mortgage giants, whose executive suites were top-heavy with former Democratic officials (and some Republicans), worked with Wall Street to repackage the bad loans and sell them to investors.

As the housing market continued to fall in 2007, subprime loan portfolios suffered major losses. The crisis was on? though it was 15 years in the making.

Democrats Blocked Reform

Just as Republicans got blamed for Enron, WorldCom and other early-2000s scandals that were actually due to the anything-goes Clinton era, the media are now blaming them for the mortgage meltdown.

But Republicans tried repeatedly to bring fiscal sanity to Fannie and Freddie. Democrats opposed them, especially Sen. Chris Dodd and Rep. Barney Frank, who now run Congress' key banking panels.

History is utterly clear on this.

After Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers warned Congress in 1999 of the "systemic risk" posed by Fannie and Freddie, Congress held hearings the next year.

But nothing was done. Why? Fannie and Freddie had donated millions to key congressmen and radical groups, ensuring no meaningful changes would take place.

"We manage our political risk with the same intensity that we manage our credit and interest rate risks," Fannie CEO Franklin Raines, a former Clinton official and current Barack Obama adviser, bragged to investors in 1999.

In November 2000, Clinton's HUD hailed "new regulations to provide $2.4 trillion in mortgages for affordable housing for 28.1 million families." It made Fannie and Freddie take part in the biggest federal expansion of housing aid ever.

Soon after taking office, Bush had his hands full with the Clinton recession and 9/11. But by 2003, he proposed what the New York Times called "the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago."

The plan included a new regulator for Fannie and Freddie, one that could boost capital mandates and look at how they managed risk.

Even after regulators in 2003 uncovered a scheme by Fannie and Freddie executives to overstate earnings by $10.6 billion to boost bonuses, Democrats killed reform.

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not facing any kind of financial crisis," said Rep. Frank, then-ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.

North Carolina Democrat Melvin Watt accused the White House of "weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing."

In 2005, then-Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress: "We are placing the total financial system of the future at substantial risk."

McCain Urged Changes

That year, Sen. John McCain, one of three sponsors of a Fannie-Freddie reform bill, said: "If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole."

Sen. Harry Reid, now Majority Leader, accused the GOP of trying to "cripple the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to carry out their mission of expanding homeownership."

The bill went nowhere.

This year, the media have repeated Democrats' talking points about this being a "Republican" disaster. Well, McCain has repeatedly called for reforming the mortgage giants. The White House has repeatedly warned Congress. This year alone, Bush urged reform 17 times.

Some GOP members are complicit. But Fannie and Freddie were created by Democrats, regulated by Democrats, largely run by Democrats and protected by Democrats.

That's why taxpayers are now being asked for $700 billion.

Moosic Barletta Event

2008-09-28T14:10:00.003-04:00

The Moosic Republicans will host a Meet and Greet Pizza Party for Congressional Candidate Lou Barletta on Sunday, October 5th from 2-4pm.

The Pizza Party will be at Grande's Pizza, 4200 Birney Ave, Moosic, PA. The Event is Free and open to the public.

New McCain-Palin Ad

2008-09-27T10:42:00.001-04:00

New NRA Obama ad

2008-09-27T10:37:00.000-04:00

Debate Watching Party

2008-09-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AND DEBATE PARTY

YOU ARE INVITED

to the FIRST Campaign Briefiing and Debate Watching Party

Thursday October 2
7 PM at Arcaro and Genell's Restaurant, Old Forge.

At the famous Old Forge restaurant you will hear a campaign overview from a top campaign official for Pennsylvania, learn about election day tactics, enjoy fine Old Forge Pizza and watch Sarah debate Joe Biden.

PLEASE CALL 604-0809 or EMAIL BY OCT 1st
so we can provide a count to Arcaro and Genell's