What The Hell Is It With This Guy, Anyway?

First Lady Lashes Out Against 'Cowardly Actions'

Statement of First Lady Melania Trump:

Freedom of speech is an important pillar of our nation’s founding principles and a free press is important to our democracy.
The press should be fair, unbiased and responsible. Unidentified sources have become the majority of the voices people hear about in today’s news.
People with no names are writing our nation’s history. Words are important and accusations can lead to severe consequences.
If a person is bold enough to accuse people of negative actions, they have a responsibility to publicly stand behind their words. And people have the right to be able to defend themselves. To the writer of the op-ed, you are not protecting this country. You are sabotaging it with your cowardly actions.

Anonymous? Best Commentary On It So Far!

You Want The REAL Lowdown? Here It Is!

I’ve known Donald Trump for 25 years and I can tell you he is EXACTLY the same in private as he is in public. So, if you’re wondering what the ranting is they are describing, it’s the same stuff you have seen in the unscripted rally speeches. Straight talk and humor.

— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) September 6, 2018

The Effed Up Guy Who Puts The 'X' In TeXas!

Watch out, Texas, the EFF man is on his way! Take children by the had and run, run, run!

Is It Really Over? 18 Big Reasons Say NO!

The perpetuation of the ridiculous myth that summer ends on Labor Day must stop. This nonsense must end.
We ask you: Does winter end as soon as the calendar says it's March? We like to think that it does, but we know it does not.
And we all know that winter doesn't begin on December 1, even though by that date we're already overwhelmed by the senseless rush toward (and commercialization of) Christmas.
So, summer doesn't start at the end of May (Memorial Day) and it doesn't end at the beginning of September (Labor Day). Those artificial bookends of summer are bogus. That's why we're still experiencing hot, hot, HOT summer weather right now. But the heat will break this weekend.
Anyway, summer doesn't end till September 22nd.
Which means we still have nearly three full weeks of summer left to enjoy. And these days are among the best in the year.
With that in mind (and in no particular order) here are 18 big reasons to hold onto summer:

1) The beach. You can really enjoy it now since the kids are gone, it's blessedly uncrowded and there are no beach fees!

2) The sun. It bathes you at a beautiful angle this time of year.

3) The evenings. Just a bit cooler and more refreshing now than at the middle of the season.

4) Tennis. The US Open provides high drama, excitement and the Big Prize.

5) Lazy afternoons. You can still sneak away for some fishin, walkin, sky-gazing or whatever.

6) Fairs and carnivals. Some of the best ones are held now.

7) Late summer blooms. These include coneflower, asters, mums, Russian sage and heliotrope.

9) Travel bargains. At many locations the cost of lodging and dining is slashed as summer winds down.

10) The ocean water temperature. It's generally warmer now and much more enjoyable.

11) Late summer vegetables: corn, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, melons (even some peaches) and plums, all still available.

12) Baseball. The grand finale as we run up to the playoffs and World Series. Exciting!

13) Quietness. Most of your favorite open-air spots are quieter now so you can really listen to the sound of nature.

14) Fewer bugs buzzing. Except for those damned yellow jacks, you won't have to worry as much about insects.

15) Energy savings. Go ahead, open the window.

16) Al fresco dining. As nice this time of year as it's ever gonna be.

17) That deep, deep, green. Catch it before the trees begin to turn.

18) Summer's endless spirit. That spirit is still here and the moments and memories your savor during these final days of summer will warm you all the way through till next year.

Oh, and one more just for fun: The Philly Naked Bike Ride -- this Saturday! No kidding!

False, Anonymous Sources, In The Realm Of FICTION!

Angry -- Well, Here's One Way To Express It!

Listen In On Woodward-Trump Phone Call!

Listen to this phone call closely.
When your'e finished listening, think about this:

1) If Bob Woodward was able to call President Trump and get through to him on the phone and chat with him directly like this (and you're listening to it as it happened) why didn't Woodward simply call the president directly right from the start? Why did he go through all those underlings? After all,  Woodward's been a reporter in DC for more than 40 years.

2) Listen to Trump as he asks Woodward if he called "Madeline in my office". And Woodward answers "No." And Trump describes Madeline as "the key". So, again -- Woodward (the man who cracked the mystery of Watergate, the ultimate Washington reporter) didn't know to call Madeline -- couldn't find "the key"? Do you really believe this C'mon!

3) During the call, Trump enunciates a whole slew of actual facts that detail his list of accomplishments, including stellar economic accomplishments all delivered in record time. But Woodward seems unimpressed and when Trump is finished, Woodward simply responds dryly: "I understand that point of view".  Point of view? What?

4) Then, Woodward quickly pivots from the above exchange and says we're living in a difficult time "where the political system and you and my business are being tested and I take it very seriously . . . " This is obviously a veiled shot at the president and sounds like Woodward subtly licking his wounds over alleged attacks on the press.

5) At some point, Woodward says he likes to talk to people "outside of their offices". Was he really expecting to talk to the President of the United States one-on-one outside of a formal setting such as the president's office? Apparently, Woodward has a very high opinion of himself.

6) And also, Woodward keeps going back to all the arduous work he did on the book -- the hundreds and hundreds of hours and all the people he talked to and all the information he collected. Hey, Woodward is in the business of writing and selling books for a big time publisher and he has a whole
staff working for him. This is nothing more than a big commercial for the book and an opening defensive salvo combined with a phony mea culpa.

7) Listen to the part where President Trump asks Woodward if he names all his sources as he quotes them in the book. Trump wants to know if Woodward names names, but Woodward demurs and never really answers the question.

8) Reportedly, the book quotes people as calling President Trump "stupid" or "crazy". Listen to the president during the phone call. Is he asking dumb questions? Does he sound stupid to you -- or crazy?

9) What other presidents would allow a reporter to call him one-on-one like this and agree to the reporter taping the call? Trump again comes across as remarkably open and candid.

10) Botton line: Woodward apparently found it very convenient to talk to President Trump after the fact -- after he had already written a book that reportedly trashes the president and his administration. This phone call from Woodward is simply a cover-your-ass call so that Woodward can say: "Ya see. Look how hard I worked and how hard I tried. I really, really, really tried and I'm just so, so, SO sorry I couldn't get Trump's side of the story into my book. Ohhhh, how I wished it would have happened."
Oh, yeah . . . sure . . . we bet you're sorry!

Archdiocese, HS Teachers Agree On New Contract

Earlier today, the Secondary School System of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Association of Catholic School Teachers, Local 1776 (ACT) reached a two-year agreement for a new contract for full-time, lay high school teachers in the seventeen Archdiocesan high schools.

The Office of Catholic Education (OCE) is pleased that the general membership of ACT ratified the contract today. It is the agreement we had hoped to obtain for the current and future benefit of everyone most especially our students and school families.

Since April 2018, the focus of the OCE negotiating team has been to achieve a contract that provides the best possible educational environment for the young people entrusted to our care while respecting the sacrifice and dedication of our educators. We are grateful to the teachers for ratifying the agreement which included the changes we were looking for in professional responsibilities while providing increases in salary and benefits.

Teachers will receive salary increases of $1,200 a year which the average percentage increase being 2.3%. The medical plan and employee contributions will remain the same due to favorable claim experience with the medical plan.

OCE is most grateful for the sacrifices school families make for their children and takes its responsibility seriously to create classroom environments where excellence in faith formation, teaching and learning is paramount. OCE is delighted to have its students and teachers in the classroom for the start of the 2018-2019 school year as scheduled. 

Note: The contract negotiations pertain only to the 17 Archdiocesan high schools. There are approximately 11,600 students enrolled in these schools and approximately 600 full-time lay teachers who are members of ACT 1776.

Parish and regional Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are not affected by this process.

For more information on Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit www.aopcatholicschools.org/.