Bracing For Specter Defeat

As polls prepare to close in Pennsylvania all indications are that Senator Arlen Specter will go down to defeat tonight.
In fact, the White House is said to be bracing for a Specter defeat.
Yes, vote turnout in Philly has been light and that's not a good sign for Arlen.
But in Washington, establishment Dems have been gloomy over this all week. The open secret is that Specter is going down.
In fact, the Senator wiped a tear from his eye as he left his polling place today.
Many say that the margin for Shestak may be as big as 52/48.
Meanwhile, GOP challenger Pat Toomey is gearing up for a race against Shestak. Toomey's been focusing nearly all his ammunition on Shestak for weeks and will probably launch his first major salvo tonight and during stops throughout Pennsylvania tomorrow.
The Democrats will have beaten each other up after tonight and Big Time Dems like Rendell et. al. will be uncomfortable in the Shestak camp. Ouch!
Meanwhile, Pat Toomey will be ready.
And in Shestak, Toomey will be facing a reckless, radical, uber-liberal.

39 Mayors Endorse Jersey Tax Cap

Day by day, the tide is turning in New Jersey, the former tax 'n spend capital of America.
Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's Office announced the support of 39 mayors from Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties for Governor Chris Christie’s Cap 2.5 constitutional amendment and Reform Agenda to bring real property tax relief to New Jersey families.
Mayors are on the frontline of the property tax crisis, forced to deal with ballooning expenses, unfunded mandates, and cost-drivers which in many cases they have little control over.
“The Christie Reform Agenda is the change we need to put a firm cap on property taxes and empower the people with the tools to control their own future,” said Linden Mayor Richard Gerbounka. “Our hands have been tied, hindering our ability to control skyrocketing costs and resulting in rising property taxes. Mayors across the state should stand up and support Governor Christie’s Cap 2.5 Reform Agenda in order to provide real property tax relief right now.”
Last week, the Governor outlined a sweeping 33-bill reform package to solve New Jersey’s property tax crisis and control spending at every level of government. The centerpiece of the plan is Cap 2.5, a constitutional amendment creating a 2.5 percent cap on property tax increases.
Property taxes have grown an astonishing 70% over the last ten years, resulting in an average annual property tax bill of $7,281 on New Jersey families – the highest rate in the nation. Cap 2.5 will halt the astonishing growth in property taxes while the Christie Reform Agenda will give towns and school boards the tools needed to control spending to make Cap 2.5 both realistic and achievable.

Christie Vetoes Wasteful Spending Again

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today exercised his veto power again to guard against potentially wasteful spending by partially rejecting minutes of the April 26, 2010, meeting of the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority in connection with a $1.3 million land purchase in Pleasantville.
The veto concerns the Pleasantville project known as “City Center Property Acquisition Phase VI.” Funds for the project were to be used for costs associated with the purchase of three properties in Pleasantville’s Central Business District, to allow for future redevelopment of the sites. However, for two of the properties, Pleasantville reached agreements with the property owners for sales prices far in excess of the appraised value of the properties.
For the two properties, Pleasantville had agreed to purchase prices that were a total of $165,000 more than the actual appraised value of the properties. “This is just the sort of spending that needs scrutiny and explanation,” said Governor Christie. “Before the funds are released, those premiums above appraised value must be justified. This is the kind of accountability we and the taxpayers of New Jersey should reasonably expect.”
At the UEZ Authority meeting, the chair raised several questions regarding justification for the high purchase prices. Pleasantville provided an explanation that is not reflected in the UEZ Authority meeting minutes; nor was there written justification for the purchase prices included in the application materials submitted by Pleasantville. No other veto power was exercised as to any other action of the UEZ Authority at its April 26 meeting.
This UEZ veto is the ninth veto exercised by Governor Christie against actions taken during meetings of various state authorities and commissions.
Meeting minutes are scrutinized by the Governor’s Office Authorities Unit, headed by Director Deborah Gramiccioni, to flag potentially wasteful spending.

PA: Vote Chet Beiler For Lt. Governor

We can grow the government or we can grow the economy. We cannot do both.

Chet Beiler believes we can make Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, play, raise families, create jobs and build businesses. That's why he is running for Lieutenant Governor.

While Chet has experience working in local, statewide, and national campaigns, he is far from a career politician. Chet is a businessman from Lancaster County. He has more than 20 years of experience building successful businesses, and is an expert in operating budgets and demanding accountability.

With extensive experience in both the political and business arenas, Chet has what it takes to fight to reform Harrisburg, and finally bring financial stability and honesty to state government.

World's Cutest Dog On Table

When you're the world's cutest do you can sit anywhere you want.
You don't have to sit on a proper chair or sofa.
And you certainly don't have to sit on a doggy bed.
You can just hop right up onto an end table and plop yourself there.
And you can be quite coy about it too.
It's OK. It's just fine.
Because you're Moose, the world's cutest dog. You're a Lancashire Heeler and you're the toast of the town. You know you're one of a kind.
And you also know we're gonna take your picture and send it all over the world so you'll even pose real nice 'n cute.
You go, Moose!

'Letters To Juliet' Is A Delight

Over the weekend the new movie Letters to Juliet opened and it is a delight.
If you're looking for light-hearted romance this summer this is the movie for you.
In this film, An American girl on vacation in Italy finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by a the "secretaries of Juliet" -- and she goes on a quest to find the lovers referenced in the letter.
The journey that she undertakes will change her life and the lives of everyone involved.
The film stars Amanda Seyfried, Gail Garcia Bernal, Christopher Egan Venessa Redgrave and Franco Nero.
Since this is a road trip movie it's important to note that the scenes of Italy are absolutely breathtaking and the movie is worth it if only for the spectacular scenery.
But the acting is largely first rate and the story is certainly uplifting though nonetheless implausible. Still, this isn't real life and no one is pretending that it is. This is a what the film critic Judith Crist used to call a "movie movie." It's a flight of fancy.
This film is actually a companion piece to the 1979 film A Little Romance in which the late Laurence Olivier played a role similar to the role that is played here by Redgrave. Of course, A Little Romance which also starred the great Diane Lane and was directed by George Roy Hill, was a superior film. And of course Lord Olivier was superb.
But this summer you will have a fine time with Letters To Juliet. Put it on your list under "light summer fare."
BTW: It's great to see Franco Nero back on the big screen. His role here is small but his presence is huge throughout the film.

Philly Museum Of Art: Great Doings Ahead!

I recently had a chance to chat with the Philadelphia Museum of Art's new Director and CEO Timothy Rub and I can report that exciting events are underway at the museum. And, the year ahead and beyond promises even more blockbuster exhibitions and intriguing attractions.
Timothy Rub brings many talents to his new role and I'm convinced he is well on his way to becoming a great asset to the city and to the art world. He possesses an impressive knowledge of art and artists, great enthusiasm and the ability to grow the museum and bring it into a dynamic new era.
My interview with Rub is part of a Philadelphia Bar Association podcast that you can listen to by clicking here.
You will enjoy this quick interview which previews many of the upcoming attractions at the museum.
Many of the upcoming Museum attractions focus on Italy and/or Italian artists. Here are some of the highlights that you and I can look forward to:
Water Works - Modern and contemporary art in which water is the main theme; 5/15 - 7/18/ 2010.
Late Renoir - Focusing on the final three decades of the great Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This will be a blockbuster. 6/17 - 9/6 2010.
To Love, Honor and Obey? - Italian Renaissance marriage chests; through 7/3/2010.
Hanging Around - Modern and contemporary lighting; 7/17 - 10/10/2010.
Eakins' "The Gross Clinic" Restored - The nineteenth century masterpiece as you've never seen it; 7/24 - 1/9/2011.
Picturing the West - Yokohama Prints from the 1800s; September - November, 2010.
Eakins on Paper - Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Philadelphia Sketch Club; September - December 2010.
Desert Jewels - North African Jewelry; 9/4 - 12/2010.
Mark Cohen: Strange Evidence - Contemporary street photography; Fall 2010.
Michaelangelo Pistoletto: From One to Many - One of Europe's most influential living artists showcased with more than 100 works. 11/2/10 - 1/16/11.
Alessi: Ethical and Radical - Focusing on the influential Italian design house and its "house-hold objects." 11/21/10 - 4/10/11.
George Innes in Italy - Ten oil paintings from the pioneer of Tonalism. February - May, 2011.
Marc Chagall: Paris Through the Window - Chagall and his friends in Paris. March - July, 2011.
Roberto Capucci - An wide-ranging survey of the works of the widely-admired Italian fashion designer and artist ; 3/16 - 6/5/2011.
Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus - More than 50 related paintings, prints and drawings from the great Dutch master. August - October 2011.
Van Gogh Up Close - A blockbuster exhibition including 45 paintings from the great impressionist in a show organized by curators Joseph Rishel and Jennifer Thompson. January - May 2010.

'Please Help' Needs Help

Critics throughout the country have been extolling a small independent film called Please Help.
So many good things have been said about it that I felt I must see.
And last night I did.
The film runs about 90 minutes. It's blessedly short.
And there's really not much to it.
Basically, it's a series of inter-related character studies without much of a story.
There isn't so much as a plot to it. Not very much actually happens.
And the characters don't really interact very much.
And then there's this: Most of the characters are sad and/or misguided.
So the film winds up being not merely dark but downright depressing.
For some strange reason, people are comparing this to Woody Allen's best films. They are wrong.
Woody Allen's best films had a European-style human touch to them. The stories embraced the characters and you got the sense that, even with all their faults, Allen was loving and forgiving toward his characters. He could be brutally honest and generous at the same time.
This film is not like that.
Please Help needs help.
Sadly, it's a total downer. And, it's just not worth seeing.

Capitalism's Champion: Who Was it?

Who was it that said capitalism is "a great system if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it?"
Was it a shameless promoter like Phineas T. Barnum?
Was it the father of the bully pulpit, Theodore Roosevelt?
Was it an unscrupulous gangster such as Al Capone?
Was it a captain of industry such as John D. Rockefeller or Andrew Carnegie?
Or was it a modern-day entrepreneurial success such as Martha Stewart?
Who do you think it was?
Vote at the top right of this page.
In about a week, we'll reveal the answer.

Blog Welcomes Visitors From All Over The World

Hello Great Britain and France.
Welcome Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Thanks for visiting from Norway and Greece and Finland and Argentina.
And yes, we welcome Iran as well.
People from all of these countries have visited this blog just within the last few days.
With nearly 150,000 visitors and more than 325,000 page views, we proudly proclaim: "We welcome the world!"