Baltimore is pissed it’s getting passed up for Amtrak’s Acela express service between New York and Washington, DC. The only stop will be in Philadelphia.  Usually, Philadelphia is the city everyone just passes by. Now Baltimore knows how it feels.
Category: Politics
Philadelphia Grocery Store Shooting
Eric has a pretty good read over at Classical Values. I’m always impressed with the depth that he looks into issues, especially in regards to our area.  In this article, he’s looking at a recent murder in a Chinese owned grocery; a robbery gone sour.
Wyatt Earp also has some thoughts on it.
Flyover Country
I don’t actually live in “flyover country” myself, living six miles northeast of Philadelphia.  Philadelphia is not part of flyover country. We’re drive past country. We’re the city, that if you’re driving through on the way to Washington DC from New York, you made a mistake.  We’re not flyover country, as in people look down on us from afar as they fly between the coasts, we’re “Don’t care country”, as in no one gives a shit about Philadelphia. It’s the forgotten city.
Nation of Islam Suing NRA
Cam Edwards talks about the Nation of Islam’s move to sue the NRA for gun violence in Philadelphia. I’d say that ought to get thrown out of the court, but this is Philadelphia. Anything can happen.
The 2010 Governor’s Election
Geez, Midge Rendell probably barely has her inauguration gown back from the dry cleaners, and they are already talking about the 2010 election. Pennsylvania has alternated between Democrat and Republican Governors for half a century. I’d like to keep things this way.
On the slate for the Republicans, we have folks like former Congressman Pat Toomey and Attorney General Tom Corbett. On the Democrat side, it seems that Robert Mellow, Auditor General Jack Wagner, Dan Onorato, and Don Cunningham.
Advantage so far goes to Republicans as far as names go. Most everyone who follows Pennsylvania politics knows who Tom Corbett and Pat Toomey are. For the Democrats, only Jack Wagner holds statewide office, and not a very well known one. The rest are local players. It’s still really early yet, but so far it’s looking like we might have some good candidates.
Passing Blame
Bryan Miller, President of CeaseFire New Jersey and Pennsylvania, is busy blaming the handgun manufacturers for the tragedy in Newark. Also blamed are Pennsylvania’s gun laws.  Glossed over is the fact that New Jersey’s very strict gun laws did not prevent this tragedy.  I’ve had my say.  Go have yours.
Congressman Peterson’s Editorial
Go check out Congressman John Peterson’s editorial in CenterDaily, in regards to I-80 tolls.
Tolling of I-80 has little to do with solving Pennsylvania’s transportation and infrastructure problems. It has a lot to do with paying off debt and fixing problems that should have been addressed years ago.
Until, the governor and our leaders in Harrisburg find the courage and political will to take on the likes of Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Turnpike Commission and start managing our transportation system properly, they will be tolling every highway in Pennsylvania.
I agree here. I’m not in favor of continually dumping money into SEPTA. SEPTA has to reform itself, and at least develop a modicum of efficiency and accountability, before I’m going to agree to dump massive amounts of state dollars into the system, no questions asked.
Ambitious Growth Plans
My alma mater seems to be intent on creating a presence on the west coast. I was skeptical when Drexel decided to buy a medical college, and then create a law school. Because I think this seems like a boondoggle, the smart money is on it being radically successful. It’s a good rule of thumb, I think, that it’s a bad idea to bet against “Taki” Papadakis. I look forward to being wrong once again.
Small trivia fact. Â I’m not the first Drexel guy Bitter has dated :)
Attention Garden State Gun Owners
The New Jersey State Police might be about to make you a hardened criminal, by changing the state regulations that allow for magazines to be blocked to 15 rounds.
Turning the law abiding of today into the criminal of tomorrow; It’s just the kind of gun control that Bryan Miller says has overwhelming support in New Jersey, and who is intent on bringing into the Keystone State!
Camera’s Fighting Philly Crime?
Camera’s work if you listen to the Philadelphia media, but the murder rate still seems to be climbing.