It’s amazing to me how many liberal pundits are attempting to draw parallels between Egypt and Wisconsin. Other than the fact that people are protesting in the streets, the two have nothing in common.

Egypt’s revolution at first glance appears to be a quest for freedom; Wisconsin is a protest more in line with what we saw in Greece and France. In those two countries, we saw powerful public sector unions trying to protect and preserve overly generous health, retirement and pension benefits — benefits the people paying their bills neither have nor can afford.

Wisconsin’s Governor is doing exactly what he was elected to do. Chris Christie was the first Governor to lead the way on this difficult but necessary path. When first elected, he announced his intention to seek reductions in public sector benefits the bankrupt State could ill afford. He quantified the overly generous retirement and healthcare benefits enjoyed by State workers. He gave facts and figures of benefits the average taxpayer could only dream about. He gave examples of State workers “double dipping on taxpayer funded pensions.”

Shortly after Governor Christie made his intentions known he was asked to speak to the firefighters union. As he walked into the room, he was greeted with loud booing by the angry union crowd. His response was classic Christie: he said for years Governors were lying to the firefighters, the past Governors agreed to terms they knew we could not afford, and they kept kicking the can down the road. The previous governors’ strategies were appeasement and re-election with union support. Their hope was that the day of reckoning would be on some future Governor’s watch. Then Christie hit them right between the eyes with this question: “These Governors were all lying to you. I’m the first Governor to stand here and tell you the truth…so why are you booing me?”

The dirty little secret that is beginning to become abundantly clear is that there has been a very unholy relationship between Governors (mostly Democrats, but sadly some Republicans) and the Public Service Unions. Generous salaries, lifetime health benefits, early retirement and guaranteed pensions were the gifts given to these powerful unions in return for votes. The Unions received benefits far in excess of what taxpayers in the private sector were getting. The Unions were happy, the Governors got re-elected and the taxpayer was handed the bill.

What you are seeing in the Wisconsin protest is more Greece and France than Egypt; what you are seeing in the actions of newly elected Republican Governors in States like Wisconsin, Indiana and New Jersey is something called bold leadership. They are doing exactly what the voters elected them to do in the face of Union opposition that is ugly, uncivil and unprofessional – complete with Democratic legislators in hiding, Hitler posters, and teacher job actions that bring shame on their profession. (I thought we were going to be more civil after Arizona?)

Let’s hope the President is watching, because these courageous governors are lighting the path to fiscal responsibility. The President would do well to follow their lead.

Now wouldn’t that be some hope and change we could believe in?

Anthony Oleck is a patriot from Kennett Square, PA, and a regular contributor to the PACC.

Daily Local News

Nov. 6, 2010

On Election night the American people put the team of Obama, Reid and Pelosi in check.

Precisely because all levels of government were being run by a team of unchecked progressives, the people got an up close and personal look at what a far left progressive America would look like. They did not like the view and to their credit they resoundingly rejected Obama’s “change” for America.

Based on his comments today, Obama still does not seem to get it … in his view the people are just mad and confused about the economy … we don’t understand that all his programs, his initiatives were just one-time measures to deal with a crisis.

Wake up Mr. President … we know exactly what you were doing. You were fundamentally changing America and you were attempting to rewrite the Constitution. Basic to American exceptionalism is the strength and the power of the individual, the entrepreneur, small business, big business, free markets and the rule of law.

Your attacks on business, on Arizona, on a police officer doing his job, your divisive style calling honest Americans holding a different view “enemies,” your big government solutions to every problem, your spending, your Cap and Trade tax, your czars, your refusal to protect our borders. This is what we were rejecting Mr. President, why do you continue to try and “spin” what is clear to most of America? It’s not just the economy and it’s not just jobs … it’s your approach to these problems that we are rejecting.

When Bill Clinton was faced with a similar repudiation and a Republican controlled Congress, he was pragmatic … he moved to the center. He supported much of what Republicans offered in their Contract With America. We know the results, the economy prospered. Clinton was pragmatic … your comments today make it very hard to envision you as a pragmatist, you still sound like you have not gotten the message … are you too much of an ideologue Mr. President? Did you really mean what you said to Republicans when they first came to you with suggestions for the health bill? You said … “look, I won”… you did it your way and now you must live with the results.

If you maintain that attitude Mr. President, this CHECK is going to turn into a CHECKMATE in just two short years.

To our newly elected Republicans, this is the beginning of a GOP cleansing. It is going to take several election cycles to rid the party of RINOs (Republicans in name only). We are looking for true Conservatives, bold Conservatives in the image of Ronald Reagan and more recently Chris Christie and Marco Rubio.

Consider that candidate Rubio had the courage to raise the issue of a hike in the Social Security age as a possible solution to that problem. He did that as a candidate in a state loaded with seniors on Social Security … he touched the “third rail” of politics and guess what … he won. We respect that courage and we want real solutions.

The Tea Party is not going away, we have just begun the fight to get our country back on track.

http://www.letfreedomringusa.com/

August 18, 2010

A recent CNN poll shows that 68% of Americans oppose the construction of the mosque and Islamic center planned near Ground Zero in lower Manhattan. Most Americans don’t know that the mosque’s proposed name is Cordoba House, nor do they realize that the first Cordoba Mosque was built by Muslims in Cordoba, Spain after they conquered the Spanish kingdom. Many historians see the mosque there as a symbol of the conquest of Spain by the forces of Islam.

Recent public outcry in print and on talk shows demonstrates that many Americans instinctively oppose the construction of a mosque anywhere near Ground Zero. A mosque near Ground Zero is seen as an intentionally provocative act, a declaration of triumph and supremacy over a symbol of America by the forces of Islam. Many of the victims’ families view the potential 15 story mega-mosque as an affront to their suffering and sorrow. Arguments against the mosque arise out of this innate sense that it is simply inappropriate in that location, religious freedoms notwithstanding.

Proponents of Cordoba House claim that it will heal wounds and build bridges between America and the Islamic world; they also claim that the guarantee of religious freedom in the First Amendment to our Constitution trumps all arguments against building it. However, there are Constitutionally-sound limitations on the freedom of religion, just as there are limits on freedom of speech. For example, slander, libel and disclosure of classified information are not protected by the First Amendment.

Similarly, freedom of religion has its limits. For example, human sacrifice in the name of religion is not protected by the First Amendment. Neither is rape or physical abuse. These acts are criminal regardless of what exemptions a religious group might claim. One religious group cannot attempt to annihilate another religious group and still be protected by the First Amendment. The First Amendment does not protect the incitement to treason, such as jihad. Therefore, a fair question to ask is whether or not incitement to treason is likely to take place at Cordoba House.

While most American Muslims are peaceful and patriotic, there are radical Muslims whose goal is to incite treason in the U.S. When radicals use mosques to breed their anti-Western, anti-Christian, anti-Jewish doctrine, those buildings lose any claim to First Amendment protection. In a recent survey by the Washington-based Center for Security Policy called “Mapping Sharia,” former FBI, CIA, and members of the U.S. military conducted undercover investigations of 2,300 mosques across America. Their findings were alarming.

The study revealed that “Some of the 9/11 hijackers, in fact, received aid and counsel from one of the largest mosques in the Washington, D.C. area. Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center is one of the mosques identified by undercover investigators as a hive of terrorist activity and other extremism.” Interestingly, leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood currently run the Dar al-Hijrah mosque. Investigators concluded that Dar al-Hijrah’s ultimate goal is to turn America into an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. Dar al-Hijrah is a perfect example of extremists cloaking treason in religious clothing.

Hasan al-Bannain formed the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 to spearhead the radical Islamist movement and its violent campaign against the West. Out of the Brotherhood were born al-Qaeda and Hamas. In a 1991 memo to the Brotherhood, radical Mohamed Akram explains that members “must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.” Do those words meet the definition of inciting treason?

Potential ties to radical Islam are what make opponents of the Cordoba mosque skeptical of its purported benevolent intent. Cordoba Initiative leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf unabashedly supports Sharia law as a “supplement” to our Constitution and refuses to condemn Hamas, recognized by the U.S. as a terrorist organization. According to Pamela Geller of Stop Islamization of America, Imam Rauf also has ties to other terrorist organizations including al-Qaeda and the anti-Jewish Perdana Organization.

The more radical forms of Islam combine both church and state into a theo-political construct known as a Caliphate. The Caliph, or successor to Mohammed, exercises both spiritual and temporal sovereignty—a stark contrast to our tradition of separation of church and state.

The Cordoba Mosque controversy became more political within the last few days. After having initially tried to duck the issue, President Obama plunged himself fully into the controversy on Friday. In a clumsily-worded address that he has already partially retracted twice, he took what the Los Angeles Times called “a strong stand in favor of building” the mosque. On Monday, the New York Post quoted Mahmoud al-Zahar, a co-founder of Hamas, as saying that Muslims “have to build it.”

If there are national security implications to the Cordoba Mosque, then it is not merely a local matter; it is a national matter that involves the President directly. For Obama to find himself on the same side of a raging controversy as a confirmed terrorist is a political disaster of the first order. It will confirm the suspicions of many that he is naïve or worse when it comes to understanding the national security threat posed by radical Islam and its call to jihad against America.

Colin Hanna is president of Let Freedom Ring

Greta Montes Scriboni

July 4, 2010

…I would like to share some sobering statistics regarding the impact of illegal immigration on our nation’s economy: 

• Currently it is estimated that there are over 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, which equates to illegal immigrants holding 1 in every 20 jobs. 
• Illegal immigrants fill:
  • 25% of all agricultural jobs.
  • 17% of all office and house cleaning positions.
  • 14% of construction jobs.
  • 12% of food preparation positions.  (1)

It is time for grown-up leadership in Washington and in Philadelphia regarding the issue of illegal immigration.  In his recent speech, President Obama stated that the immigration system is broken.  And he called for a “pathway to citizenship” for the millions of “undocumented workers” in the U.S.  But does anyone believe that providing a pathway to citizenship, also known as amnesty, is going to stop illegal immigration?  I believe providing amnesty to over 11 million illegal immigrants is only going to encourage more illegal immigration!  

Even in our own city of Philadelphia,  Mayor Nutter is refusing to make the tough decisions and to follow the rule of law.  Mayor Nutter wants to block U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials from having full access to arrest records for fear of discouraging illegal immigrants from coming forward to report crime.  Mayor Nutter believes that illegal immigrant informants will fear deportation.  Mayor Nutter, it is not leadership to kowtow to illegal immigrants for fear that they will not report crime.  Pockets of crime should be rooted out and perpetrators arrested and when appropriate deported, on a routine basis.  Mayor Nutter’s approach does not demonstrate leadership, but rather it is the continuation of complacency and neglect in the enforcement of immigration laws.   

Over 1 million immigrants enter the United States legally each year.  They know that to live the immigrant experience is an honor and a tribute to our Republic, for it is a chance to live the American Dream.  Legal immigrants do not take freedom for granted.  They do not feel the government was created to take care of them.  They believe it is their honor and duty to care for our country.  Like anything that requires great effort to achieve, it is greatly valued and cherished.

 My parents and four of my siblings were legal immigrants from Honduras, Central America.  It was their dream to become naturalized citizens.  In order to achieve this dream they were required to do the following:

• Wait their turn to enter the United States, through the quota system
• Post a bond to ensure they would not be a financial burden to taxpayers
• Go to classes to learn about American history and the US Constitution

Our family wanted to assimilate into the American culture, by speaking English,  participating in boyscouts and girlscouts, playing football and baseball, trying out for cheerleader, making the honor roll, and working summers to buy our first car.

From my conversations with many legal immigrants, I believe they think it unwise and unfair to give amnesty to the millions of illegal aliens living in our country.  They understand that our immigration system and its laws were developed to assimilate immigrants into our American culture, not to change our culture or accommodate special interest groups.  Our immigration laws protect our economy, our society and our national security.  Legal immigrants do not believe in politicizing this issue.  They understand that amnesty is just an expedient way of buying votes.  They support following and enforcing the rule of law!

And so, in closing, I ask you to stand with Conservatives like Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who believe in defending the laws of our country.  Please send this message to Washington and to City Hall:

 “Do your job, secure our borders!”

(1) Number of Illegal Immigrants Hits 12M Mar 7 02:38 PM US/Eastern
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press Writer published on Breitbart

It will be a great opportunity to speak to local residents about Conservative values and discuss the upcoming elections.  To volunteer at the table for any amount of time, whether 30 minutes or 3 hours, please email info@paconservativecouncil.com.  Or just stop by and join us!

PACC MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS:

Christian Callahan
Sean Carpenter
Tania Ciolko
Kathy Hartman
Paul Linkmeyer
Marian McGrath
Cathy McNamara
Paula Stiles
Cynthia White

Jason Cann

Diana Cann

Bob Knecht

COALITION FOR ADVANCING FREEDOM:

Jamie C. Cox
John Emmons
Donna Ellingsen
Gwen F. Galligan
David T. Galligan
Harry L. Cochran III
Jane G. Ladley
Susan Hancock
D. William Hovis
William Spicher

If there are other election updates or any corrections, please notify us at info@paconservativecouncil.com. Thank you.

“This is a great opportunity for PACC members as well as others from the community to hear from state representative candidates for these three primary races.”  said Ms. Hartman.  “The candidates will speak directly to the audience who will have the chance to ask questions of them regarding their voting history, political experience and position on critical legislative issues.”

When:  Saturday, May 8, 2010

Time:  9:30 AM to 10:30 AM 

Where:  West Chester Borough Hall – Council Chambers  401 E. Gay Street,  West Chester, PA  19380

Confirmed:  Dan Truitt, Kendrick (Ken) Buckwalter, Warren Kampf, Tim Hennessey, Jonathan Jenkins

Invited: Drae McComas

(Please note:  The monthly PACC meeting will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM with the

Meet the Candidates forum beginning at 9:30 AM)

 156th District

Municipalities include the Borough of West Chester; Townships of East Goshen and West Goshen; part of East Bradford Township (South 1 and South 2 precincts). School Districts.

Candidates:

Drae McComas – Recommended

Website: http://www.draemccomasforstaterep.com/

Dan Truitt – Recommended

Website:  http://dantruitt.com/

157th District

Municipalities include part of Chester County consisting of the townships of Schuylkill and Tredyffrin and the borough of Phoenixville and part of Montgomery County consisting of the township of Lower Providence and West Norriton.

Candidates:

Kendrick (Ken) Buckwalter – Recommended

 Website: http://buckwalterforpa.com/clients/buckwalterforpa/index101.htm?twindow=Default&smenu=101&mad=No

Warren Kampf – Recommended

Website:  http://www.warrenkampf.com/

26th District  
  
Municipalities include Coatesville, East Coventry Twp, East Nantmeal Twp, East Vincent Twp, Elverson, Honey Brook, Honey Brook Twp, North Coventry Twp, Spring City, Valley Twp, Wallace Twp, Warwick Twp, West Caln Twp, West Nantmeal Twp 

Candidates:

Tim Hennessey – Endorsed and Incumbent

Website:  http://www.rephennessey.com/

Jonathan Jenkins

Website:  http://www.vote4jenkins.com/

The Pennsylvania Conservative Council is a grassroots organization promoting conservative ideals, such as individual liberty, self-reliance, limited government, strong national defense, lower taxes, personal responsibility, and the rule-of-law.

The Pennsylvania Conservative Council (PACC) has it’s roots in the Chester County Victory Movement of West Chester PA. In 2008, after a year of Saturday morning Support the Troops rallies in downtown West Chester, American Sheepdog members began to think about taking their action to the next level and the PACC was born.

Urbanization of the surrounding Philadelphia area has resulted in an erosion of conservative voter majorities. Recognizing the key roll these suburban areas hold in state and national elections the PACC embarked on a mission of information and education on issues important to conservatives on a local, state and national level. To this end we sponsor lectures, seminars, forums and debates in the Philadelphia suburban counties. On our website are found articles that range from humorous to scholarly and covering issues from GLSEN activism in local public schools to national defense.

Polls show time and again that the majority of Americans consider themselves as more conservative than liberal. As liberalism continues it’s slide into leftism the PACC believes it’s nonpartisan educational approach will lead to strengthening conservative majorities in Southeast Pennsylvania.

Visit our website at paconservativecouncil.org and join us

at our membership meetings on the first Saturday at the West Chester Borough Hall

Please print this page and take with you to the polls on Tuesday, May 18th:

PACC MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS On the Ballot for Republican Committee Person:

Christian Callahan

Sean Carpenter

Kathy Hartman

Fred Fonseca

Paul Linkmeyer

Marian McGrath

Paula Stiles

Cynthia White

In addition, the following groups have submitted names of members and supporters on the ballot for Republican Committee Persons: 

DELCO PATRIOTS

159 TH DISTRICT consists of city of Chester, Chester Twp., Lower Chichester Twp., part of Upper Chichester Twp., Eddystone, Marcus Hook, Parkside, part of Ridley Twp., Trainer, and Upland

 Lisa Pelurie

 Steve Remenyi

160 TH DISTRICT consists of part of Aston Twp., Bethel Twp., Chadds Ford Twp., Chester Heights, part of Upper Chichester Twp., Concord Twp., and part of Chester County

 John Boehmler

 Beth Ann Boehmler

161 ST DISTRICT consists of part of Aston Twp., Brookhaven, part of Marple Twp., part of Newtown Twp., part of Nether Providence Twp., part of Upper Providence Twp., part of Radnor Twp., part of Ridley Twp., Rutledge, part of Springfield Twp., and Swarthmore

 Lisa Esler

 Frank Calamita

163 RD DISTRICT consists of Aldan, Clifton Heights, part of Darby Twp., part of Upper Darby Twp., Lansdowne, and part of Ridley Twp

 Scott Howell

164 TH DISTRICT consists of part of Upper Darby Twp., East Lansdowne, and Millbourne

 Vicki Thompson

 Joe Spurio, Sr.

165 TH DISTRICT* consists of part of Marple Twp., Morton, part of Radnor Twp., part of Springfield, and Haverford Twp

 Bill Recktenwald

 Mary Ellen Jones

 *Republican State Committee representation for the 165th and 166th Districts have merged into the 165th

COALITION FOR ADVANCING FREEDOM:  Committee candidates cover Elk, Franklin, New London, London Britain, East Nottingham, Upper Oxford, West Sadsbury, Uwchlan 2

Jamie C. Cox

John Emmons

Paul Michael Peterson

Susan W. Pizzini

Donna Ellingsen

Daniel J. Leo

Gwen F. Galligan

David T. Galligan

Harry L. Cochran III

Jane G. Ladley

Susan Hancock

D. William Hovis

William Spicher

Please notify us at info@paconservativecouncil.com if you are running for committeeperson and would like to be added to this list.