Category Archives: Politics

look kids, it’s ronnie and he’s pretending today! he’s telling everyone about holocaust remembrance day….oh the irony….

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So yesterday, Ronnie the Realtor switched back into his Stepford Wives for Totalitarianism superhero costume of Ronnie The Rep. (See yesterday’s post HERE.)

A day later, Vogel may indeed be running for 6th Congressional District
Michael P. Rellahan
PUBLISHED: April 27, 2022 at 5:25 p.m. | UPDATED: April 27, 2022 at 5:57 p.m.

A day after he announced the suspension of his campaign for the 6th Congressional District’s Republican nomination, candidate Ron Vogel is said to have decided to re-enter the race, butting up against Chester County GOP officials who objected to his candidacy because of controversial social media posts attributed to him, sources said.

On Wednesday, a representative of Vogel’s campaign confirmed to a MediaNews Group reporter that Vogel had changed his mind about suspending his campaign for the seat, and would continue running, even after saying Tuesday that his candidacy would not be in the “best interests” of his family and the Republican Party.

Daily Local/Michael Rellehan

So last evening Ronnie hung with his besties the Stepford Wives for Totalitarianism:

Today, however, Ronnie is remembering holocaust survivors but is he actually just pandering because his DC consultant undoubtedly knows that the head of the PA Republican Party is Jewish?

Well Ronnie, I have to ask if you know what people can’t forget about YOU?

Ronnie wants people to see images like:

Yet, more people seem to think things like this are more what he’s about:

So Ronnie are you listening to Rammstein on Holocaust Remembrance Day? Asking for the 6 million European Jewish people who died at the hands of the Nazis.

Ronnie is still around because the Chester County Republicans as in party leadership are allowing him to be around. They said censure, it’s time for censure. Has anyone asked Lawrence Tabas ? Mr. Tabas is the head of the PA GOP and a lawyer living in the Philadelphia area. He’s always been a good guy so hopefully he is appalled by this situation?

This is a lesson to both parties in Chester County. You can’t just run every person who is interested in running and you have to vet the candidates.

I vote for Ronnie the Resigner. As in NO MORE Ron the Rep candidate. I will further note that he is deleting comments on his page already. That is not something politicians can do. I have to ask is he is also blocking people at this point on his campaign page? The only comments he allows are his drooling sycophants.

Ron Vogel is being advised by Matt Braynard. A former Trump guy, literally.

Matt Braynard is a guy who pop-pooed January 6, 2021. Or more simplistically, really, it was okay . That event was not okay. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Washington Post: Matt Braynard, former Trump campaign aide, nabs spotlight with Capitol crusade

By Ellie Silverman and Rachel Weiner
September 17, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. EDT

So now you know, that’s who’s running Ronnie with campaign Tourette’s. And once again those who are in charge of the Chester County Republicans are allowing people from outside our area and even our state to interfere in general. It’s not just elections it’s everywhere.

So it makes perfect sense that Ronnie would be courting the Stepford Wives for Totalitarianism. They are birds of a feather if not anything else. The question for everyone in Chester County and the 6th congressional district is are you going to allow birds of a feather to take over our lives?

Our country was founded to run on a two party system. In my humble opinion both parties are freaking dysfunctional right now. But the Republican Party has the highest level of dysfunction because they are allowing themselves to be controlled by people that are literally not actually Republicans. Those people are the ones who are the actual RINOs or Republican in name only.

Eventually friends of mine who are Republicans are going to reach out to me and tell me how wrong I am. But I’m not. And I understand full well their frustration with the way the Chester County Republican Party is run out of West Chester. But supporting candidates who actually do not share their values and who will do more harm than good is worse than doing nothing at all.

Just say no. He won’t represent the plurality, he will represent mob mentality.

sometimes you’re in, sometimes you’re out…one day he’s ron the rep, next day he’s ron the realtor…

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Ronnie the Realtor has made a Sybil-like reversal to Ronnie the Wannabe Rep again.

Yesterday we heard he was suspending his campaign. Yesterday we heard if he didn’t suspend his campaign the Chester County Republican Party was going to censure him. (Read about it HERE.)

So now it’s another day and Lil’ Ronnie has UN-suspended his campaign.

Ron Vogel Is Back In The Race For Congressional Seat By Holly Herman Patch

Posted Wed, Apr 27, 2022 at 2:15 pm ET
Updated Wed, Apr 27, 2022 at 2:25 pm ET

WEST CHESTER —Chester County Realtor Ron Vogel said this afternoon he is back in the race for the Republican nomination for the 6th Congressional District, after a 24-hour break.

Vogel, 36, of Chester Springs, said he suspended his campaign after publicity about old social media reports that were taken out of context.

“I am still in the race,” Vogel said. “I took a break to have a team huddle.”

“Team Huddle”?

Ok Chester County GOP you voted to censure him if he didn’t comply, so time to step up.

And I’m going to share some of the screenshots. These are woman hating and homophobic.

Yeah Ron, love is love if you actually know how to love. How does whom people choose to have as their life partners, husbands, wives, whatever affect your life personally?

I actually feel sorry for his family. Because I doubt any of them signed up for this.

This entire issue with this candidate shows you how weak and dysfunctional Chester County Republican Party actually is. I said already once this week that you would think they would have learned the consequences of not vetting candidates after the school board shit show as far as elections this past fall.

Enjoy your Waterloo, Ronnie boy. Or Battle of Berlin.

Somewhere, Lincoln is weeping.

asked and answered: ronnie go bye-bye

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I love it when my sources are RIGHT!

Ronnie the Rep is back to just Ronnie the Realtor as per The Daily Local. I think I may have had my other post asking up just before the paper published, not totally sure. Actually it doesn’t matter, I am thrilled this is actually true. And it is fascinating that the Chester County GOP actually and apparently exhibited a bit of a spine for once. I credit County Commissioner Michelle Kichline there. And truthfully, the Chester County GOP would be better if she were at the helm there. It’s time for a woman who knows what she is doing. Yes, I just said that out loud.

So bye bye Ronnie for Rep, we hardly knew ye. But I know a lot of realtors and had never heard of Ronnie the Realtor, either. But you seem to work hard at being a Realtor so maybe stick to that for a while? It’s kind of that fabulous line out of the 1988 movie Working Girl when Cynthia played by Joan Cusack said “Sometimes, I dance around my apartment in my underwear… doesn’t make me Madonna, never will.” Maybe take that quote to heart regarding politics, Ronnie?

to ron or not to ron? a burning question (apparently) in chester county

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Someone on Twitter said recently that Ron Vogel who is running for US Congress hoping to take Chrissie Houlahan’s seat looked like Alfred E. Neuman from MAD Magazine. Sorry not sorry, it just made me giggle.

Now Ronnie boy has been a bit controversial especially since a Daily Local article came out about his social media before it was I guess scrubbed? Even the Chester County GOP who has been saying O.K. to every nutter running for school boards was not happy. Here is an excerpt:

DL-Vogel-excerptDownload

Around that point I got an anonymous comment to my blog:

I did not write about it on the blog then, but did share the Daily Local article. I didn’t care enough to write about it. This is always a hot congressional seat no matter what political party, there is always drama with a capital D. And today all the unseasoned candidates never, ever seem to get that people read their public social media posts. Heck the past five years or so has been nothing but stupid politician tricks via social media.

So then Ronnie was whipping them up to protest outside a town hall Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan was having in Phoenixville. His big thing? People had to show proof of vaccination to enter? That is how The Colonial Theater is comfortable and it’s in the district and who doesn’t love that theater? Ronnie the Realtor/Ronnie the Rep? (Yawn!)

He also went politicking to a gun show in Oaks, which is good old fashioned political pandering. He went politicking at First Friday in Oxford, and that is something I abhor. Candidates for political office show up at First Fridays to politick and schmooze off of the hard work of others. People who remember my involvement in First Friday Main Line will remember when I flat out yelled at Septa’s Leslie Richards for doing that one First Friday long ago when she was running for Montgomery County Commissioner along with Josh Shapiro. I think that is seriously crappy. And then of course there is the whole Stepford Wives for Totalitarianism love fest. But still…YAWN.

Then April 22nd is when his social media firestorm broke. The next second same day as article hits, the guy runs a statement from his campaign on Facebook calling the article fake news. Pretty damn amusing considering he was dying to get their attention before.

Ok so apparently as per The Daily Local, that release came from a Washington DC dude named Matt Braynard.

In the rest of Vogel’s statement — which was emailed by Matt Braynard, a Washington-based political strategist and former Trump campaign official — Vogel did not directly address the substance of the posts and instead pivoted to his stance on transgender people.

~ Ron vogel campaign as per daily local 4/23/22

And on April 23rd, his campaign Facebook page seemingly started using the word “woke.” Have to tell you, I really dislike that phrase. It’s like misusing the world “cool” when someone isn’t – it just makes you cringe, you know?

So I truly haven’t paid much attention, and today had to go looking at stuff. I discovered he was not really talking about other than the Chrissy Houlahan platform:

Well then today arrives. I get another comment:

I don’t know if he is still running or not so it’s a case of to Ron or not to Ron. (He’s still not particularly exciting one way or the other.)

Ron Vogel are you still running for Congress? I got the question, so I am in turn asking you: ARE YOU STILL A CANDIDATE OR IS THAT ALSO FAKE NEWS?

The favor of a reply is requested.

the wildflower farm tale continues: giving it the good old NOFIMBY college try in willistown

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Wildflower Farm posies (yes grown there)

I love the smell of “placed” media, don’t you ? It’s marvelous spin describing a working farm as “an event venue”.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about a little piece that has appeared in places over the last day or so. It’s about Wildflower Farm. But this time, it’s from the neighbors perspective. And I am of the opinion, and allowed to have the opinion that it smells of professional placement. It’s not even honest, is it?

Yes it’s a clear case of spinny, spin, spin isn’t it?

I mean let’s get real these neighbors will do anything to get this farm and these people out of their neighborhood, won’t they? And you have someone who is portrayed as Mother Freaking Theresa in a sweet little media-esque blip when she has shown her true colors even at public township meetings?

And the Emmy goes to…the NOFIMBY (no farm in my back yard) neighbors of Castlebar Lane.

Oh bless their cold, dark hearts and clap, clap, clap. Cue the tiny violins of pity with a side of barf bag. Sorry not sorry that is how this makes me feel.

Neighbors of Wildflower Farm, a Point of Contention in Willistown Township, Share Their Side of The Story

By Leah Mikulich
Published: 5:30 am EDT April 6, 2022

Main Line Tonight wrote about Wildflower Farm and covered it before.

Let’s unpack this: It’s not an event venue, it’s a farm. And is it REALLY true that some affiliated with these people tried to inquire or perhaps set up the farm early on when they made a folksy, friendly inquiry to see if they could host a small gathering there? And was the answer not essentially that the Heenans did not know then it would be possible? They were not told yes, no deposits were taken, and no “event” was planned or held, was it? It was a fishing expedition, wasn’t it? Yes, yes person who asked, I know this happened and I know who you are and I found that very sad that you stooped so low to shall we say, curry favor with whom you perceive to be the popular kids of the McMansion set?

The berm I have dubbed Mt. Rushmore after seeing it live in the fall

Let’s also discuss Our Heroine of Castlebar Lane. When we last left she was (metaphorically speaking) wringing her hands in a seemingly “placed” puff piece? Their side or just her side? Are we to interpret that the NOFIMBY neighbors aren’t really so bad, they just fear for their PUBLIC road in Willistown Township? That they really aren’t UNneighborly when they call the police on their neighbors? And is this the neighbor with that Brooklyn Bridge project of a Mt. Rushmore berm that always seems to be being worked on whenever I have popped over to visit my friends the Heenans? And that’s a funny thing, Our Heroine always seems to have lots of vehicles in and out? I mean, maybe I am imagining things, but does she have a home based business that generates traffic? Or is that just berm building?

And was it not Our Heroine who said

“It’s beyond comprehension why they would invite the public to come and spend time in the country.” 

“Bringing the public into the neighborhood is completely unacceptable.”

`our heroine

And while we are at our revisionist history best, if these are neighbors NOT trying to ruin the lives of other neighbors do we remember them at a township meeting in Willistown December 2021? By all means, explain how they are lovely people not trying to ruin their neighbors’ lives?

FW_-Heenan-Property_Loni-Grey-Email_RedactedDownload

My understanding is that a possible settlement has been reached between the township and the Heenans. Again, the neighbors who will be most affected by the traffic, noise, invasion of privacy, liability, and a reduction in the quality of life not to mention our property values have no idea of what has or will transpire through this agreement.

I understand the zoning and the Farmstand ordinance, let’s keep it to a farmstand and not a full fledged business which is what I believe the Heenans intend. You determine the quality of life in Willistown and I urge you to be guided by the long standing nature of what exists here, open space, conservation, protection of the land, privacy, and a quality of life that is the model for other townships.

Letter discovered via RTK written 12/2021

The flower truck at another farm, Life’s Patina

So the Vista piece came out of a larger more expansive “article” from “Main Line Tonight”. They have an interesting “board”. However, I will point out, we are Chester County, and not the Main Line. And Wildflower farm is in Willistown in the heart of Radnor Hunt. Historically speaking, farms were here before any of the rest of us today, yes?

So here is the article from Main Line Tonight written by a gentleman named Davis Giangulio:

Part Two: The Wild Saga of Wildflower Farm

Feeling demonized by social media and ignored by Willistown Twp., Wildflower’s neighbors share their side of the story.
by Davis Giangiulio, Contributing Editor

I just feel that this piece I excerpted is placed. And oh, not all of the hyperlinks in this piece work. Here are some things released under a Right to Know. Now that the public face of the neighbors of the poor, poor neighbors who feel demonized has been polished and scrubbed like shiny new pennies, how about reading what has flown around Willistown over this issue:

The above is just a sampling. Do you want me to REALLY believe they don’t want to destroy the Heenans and Wildflower Farm? And they talk about “back room deals” ? Where? Are they confusing public township meetings as “back room” deals? Yet they can send somewhat unctuous emails to Willistown Supervisors essentially saying “hop to”?

Willistown Meeting December 2021

I just do not GET IT, do you? I mean, and correct me if I am wrong, but do these neighbors NOT benefit from living in McMansions in an agricultural district? And Willistown is one of those places where farms still exist, so if they had their way would farms cease to exist? What’s their next target? Farms like Sugartown Straberries? Heartwood Farm? Ohana Farm? Windy Hill farm? Canter Hill Farm? Willisbrook Farm? That farm with the “oreo” cows AKA Belted Galloways?

Now a lot of what is going on here is of interest to those who follow the ACRE law, correct?

Here is a state pamphlet on the ACRE LAW:

acreDownload

There is an entire section on the PA Attorney General’s website about ACRE. For the entire kitandkaboodle CLICK HERE. And truthfully if Willistown is dancing with this, didn’t they dance before? A little Googling found this:

ACRE-issue-2020Download

We’ve been talking about Wildflower Farm and the NOFIMBY neighbors for a long time now. How can people be so determined to all but literally kill their neighbors? Why is a flower farm so bad? I still think this is one of the ugliest examples of misplaced sense of entitlement I have ever seen.

At the end of the day, this just makes me sad. These NOFIMBY neighbors can say they are lovely, caring people but the thing is this: actions speak louder than words. If they want to be seen as good, they can’t just write lovely checks to non-profits can they? They actually have to be good. I can’t help but wonder what they are in fact costing the taxpayers of Willistown with all of this swirling nastiness?

Sadly the NOFIMBY drama seems to go on and on and on. As I said the first time I waded into this topic, I think these people are wrong. Their lives aren’t adversely affected by flowers and a flower farm. They are responsible for this swirling ugliness, not the Heenans.

I am a lover of farms. Small farms matter. All farms matter.

I am also a gardener. Plant more flowers. Stop and smell the flowers NOFIMBY neighbors. Stop this madness, except you won’t will you? So sad.

#SupportLocalAgriculture #SmallFarmsMatter #AllFarmsMatter #TeamWildFlowerFarm

For more coverage:

the strange tale of wildflower farm: in willistown when is a farm not ok to be a farm?

this is wildflower farm

christmas comes to wildflower farm in willistown (hopefully)

the new trend in willistown, the land of farms and open space is NOFIMBY?

it’s simple: save wildflower farm.

Main Line Tonight: The Wild Saga of Wildflower Farm

Vista Today: Neighbors Continue to Sow Seeds of Discontent in Malvern Couple’s Wildflower Farm

My Chesco: Neglected Chester County Barn Transformed Into Organic Farm Producing Flowers for Any Occasion

Find Wildflower farm on their WEBSITE, Instagram, Facebook, and in-person during open farm hours.

oh look mom, it’s freedom to be a jackass day in exton

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Moms Against Suffocating Kids. You just can’t make this stuff up.

How about Kids Against Suffocating Moms?

First of all, personally I am too damn old to protest in the rain. Secondly it’s SUNDAY, don’t they have anything else to do? Thirdly what do they think will happen because they stood in the rain outside a mall on Route 100 at Route 30? Literally no one blink their lights or beeped the horns in support. The people in the car next to us were laughing hysterically.

Also there is that whole thing about respecting our beautiful United States flag and not flying it in inclement weather? So Captain America, do you not respect our flag enough? The flag, our flag, should not be subject to weather damage. Maybe that is an all weather flag, but still? There are actually federal guidelines. How is this even a flag-bearing occasion?

Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up. I would say they should volunteer on a pediatric ward for kids with COVID but who knows if they even have shots?

Shaking my head….just shaking my head….

township manager dearest, and west goshen meeting follies…oh my

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West Goshen Township operates on it’s better days as a little bit Pennsyltucky on this planet. Every once in a while I think they can’t get any kookier….and then, they surprise us all.

The thing about West Goshen is every time something happens, you have to wonder why do they seem to target resident in a petty tit for tat reprisal fashion? And I also have to wonder will they come after me for asking questions as well?

Before we proceed, a history lesson on the laws which gover the USA:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.“

~ 4th Amendment Constitution of United States of America 1789 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.“

~1st Amendment Constitution of United States of America 1789

So now to the meat of the matter. A Facebook post made me stop and take notice. See this screenshot:

Wait? WHOA!!!! Whuuuuut? The Chair of West Goshen Supervisors Shaun Walsh was THAT rude? So I went to the meeting tape (which I have to ask if it will mysteriously disappear at some point I wonder?) and well go to around the 3 hour 7 minute mark and you tell me:

Now, full disclosure: the woman targeted at this meeting is a friend of mine. Her name is Margie Swart. She is a lovely human being. But she has a moral compass and strong sense of ethics, and asks questions, so <<<sigh>>> that can be a problem some places. I respect Margie immensely. We have gotten to know each other over the course of time, and have mutual friends.

I have to ask if Margie Swart is a target of West Goshen Township? As in a resident speaks up and there are cute reprisals? Yes West Goshen, I can indeed ask these questions.

So let’s back up a couple of years to something interesting I learned about just today. So…people can and do record public meetings, they aren’t just some municipality purview, correct? People do that to accurately preserve a record, especially on important topics. People also will record conversations with elected and public officials in public spaces. People like the media, for example. They aren’t doing anything nefarious, they want an accurate record and elected and appointed officials should be glad when citizens are conscientious, right? Maybe not?

So here is this now infamous recording from 2019 and why is it infamous? Oh I will get to that.

So there is that whole conversation of essentially, one cannot have a reasonable expectation of privacy for things put into a public space, right? Now if this conversation had been recorded in a bathroom in a public building for example, that would be different, wouldn’t it? But out there in the open in a public building? Next comes the reprisal, because since it is not illegal to record in a public space to try to file charges against a private citizen like that can be considered well, a reprisal, correct?

2019-287922_redactedDownload

Yes, you aren’t seeing things, West Goshen Township tried to charge Margie Swart with WIRETAPPING and isn’t that welcome to West Goshen Watergate NUTS???

Next comes this curiosity in the West Goshen required reading, yes?

How can West Goshen Township Manager Casey LaLonde claim his phone conversation was recorded? Was he present? Do you hear his voice? I mean talk about d-r-a-maaaa right? I mean his grandma was actress Joan Crawford as in “Mommy Dearest” fame but REALLY? Township Manager Dearest much?

I have another question about this process and shameful debacle. Why should a resident and taxpayer have had to file a RTK or Right To Know Request on something a township publishes in a newspaper and which is also dually published in https://www.publicnoticepa.com/ ? I mean I could see them telling her to look for West Goshen Township notices on that website on X date and Y year, but a Right To Know Request? Wait??? Do we have a new show coming to a cable channel near you? It’s Always Cloudy in West Goshen Township? Lots of municipalities seem to struggle with sunshine laws and being sunshine friendly, but why is it a problem when residents ask questions in this township?

Margie is not the first Local Government Fiscal Watchdog and Transparency Advocate I have known. I have known many and I actually participated in a lack of sunshine protest years ago in Lower Merion Township – April 21, 2010 to be exact. It was a rather large protest and township officials were out taking photos of everyone too. Here’s a photo I took:

So how did the wiretapping thing end? Well there is a middle to it also isn’t there? How would you like to be a resident named as an “involved party in a wiretapping investigation”? And this thing occurred literally TWO years ago in September, 2019 and you find out about it TODAY in September, 2021?

Shall we talk about the final disposition of this? Is that an “Oh yes please?”

The Chester County District Attorney’s said NOPE, correct? So what was West Goshen playing at exactly?

Back to the recent meeting and I have to ask is it wrong to ask for government to be accountable as to their finances for example? And what’s with odd employee or manager practices? Are the taxpayer who pay these salaries not allowed to politely inquire? And Margie WAS polite. Listen to the recording. She is ALWAYS polite. I can tell you that at public meetings, I have not always been polite, but Margie? ALWAYS polite.

I don’t pretend to understand everything that happens in this municipality. I can’t pretend. But as a woman, I fear for my friend Margie Swart and can you blame me? Is she safe living there?

West Goshen Township, you need to find a better way of doing things and as an aside, so y’all are also hired who was the Borough Manager of Malvern as your Assistant Township Manager? Was all that vetted publicly or just announced?

West Goshen Township, you are entirely capable of avoiding thug mentality when dealing with residents. And yes I am entitled to the opinion that y’all behave badly. Residents who demand better aren’t bad people. And this is NOT a woman screaming and cursing and disrupting meetings with violent and angry behavior like we have seen this year at school board meetings. This is a woman who wants the best for her community and the person this seems to threaten the most is the Township Manager and why is that? It’s not his personal fiefdom is it? Or is it?

I am signing off with a note that everything I posted is public record. And I am allowed the opinions I have of West Goshen Township and sure am glad I don’t live there. I also can ask questions. I don’t understand a place where the elected officials kowtow to an appointed, salaried official because he works for them not the other way around, correct? Or have they all lost their moral and ethical compasses?

My final comment? It’s often hard to participate where you live, but we have to. It’s imperative. Elect people you can believe in, and when you can’t believe in them? Replace them.

the darkness of politics

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Fear mongering and misinformation

Being a Democrat is NOT being Socialist, Marxist, or Communist. They are actually their own individual political belief systems and ideologies.

In this country, many (but not all) people characterize their political beliefs and identify with a particular political party. You know like mainly Republican or Democrat or Libertarian?

However, that being said, there is not complete overlap between political party and political ideology, they are NOT necessarily 100% the same. It tends to be as individualistic as each person doesn’t it?

People used to be able to move about freely in this world, identifying with their particular political persuasions yet remaining individualistic.

People used to be allowed to have their own political views, as well as saying they were part of a political party. Some were more conservative than others, some more liberal. Some were just Malcolm in the Middle, neither one extreme or the other.

And that was OK.

I used to be a Republican and I was in the middle. A moderate. I was for the most part socially liberal and fiscally conservative. That is also what they used to call a New England Democrat.

But then changes, and not for the better in my opinion, began to change the Republican Party. I was still the same person but the party I had considered myself part of since I was able to vote no longer really resonated with me because the rhetoric became so incredibly uncomfortable for lack of a better description.

I realized that what the Republican Party was becoming as soon as Trump became the nominee was not something I could identify with (or live with as an updated skewed ideology.) So I became an Independent. I didn’t feel that I was a true Democrat or what I thought a Democrat was.

But because I live in Pennsylvania, if I wasn’t in one main party or the other I couldn’t vote in a primary. I vote. And then I had friends running for office as Democrats, so I changed my party once again after a couple of years.

Yet still, I didn’t feel like I fit. I was still that person politically in the middle. But what I have learned is that at least the Democrats seem to be more accepting and welcoming of the fact of people are individualistic politically and don’t have to be all of the same. We don’t have to be Stepford Wives on this bus. So I’m still not super liberal, but at least I feel like it’s ok to be me.

But then we go back to the Republican Party as it exists today. This screenshot speaks volumes because this is what made me leave: if you aren’t exactly like them, you are against them. If you aren’t exactly like them you are literally bad and evil people to be destroyed. How is it Godly and Christian of them to just be so damn mean?

Truthfully it makes me sad. But it’s something more than that because it’s just so dark.

We have had enough darkness in this country.

It used to be we could be part of a political party and it didn’t become an all consuming, all identifying thing.

What happened to the theory of the worthy opponent?

I said a few years ago that the politics of extremism would ruin this country, and I believe it is. I think as Americans we have to put this bullshit aside and start to come together. Or the darkness will swallow everyone whole.

Be the peaceful change you want to see.

Just little baby steps within your own world.

Re-learn that just because somebody is a different political party they aren’t necessarily a bad person.

Re-learn being able to have actual political and social issue conversations isn’t a bad thing, it’s a conversation.

Re-learn that our history as a country isn’t all sweetness and light and if we try to change it, we are doomed to make the same awful mistakes over and over.

We all do not have to be the same. We can be different from one and other. That’s what our founding fathers fought for. And that has absolutely nothing to do with being asked to wear a mask sometimes in the short term as we try to ditch a global pandemic once and for all. A global pandemic and valid health risk concerns, including to the most vulnerable among us (kids) is not a “tyrannical government” and to restore balance we need to work together, but that is not what the current Republican playbook calls for. They want to tell us about our purported lost freedoms instead of trying for actual unity in this country, or even camaraderie between different groups (including races and religions) of people. The irony is they simply don’t *get* the damage they continue to do. And if we weren’t free, they wouldn’t be able to spew their anger and vitriol and political misinformation.

The politics of extremism and misinformation are killing all of us. Every. Damn. Day. When will enough be enough?

That’s it.

Angry rhetoric and misinformation disguised as “balance”

in downingtown area school district, someone needs to fact check margie miller and those backing her….facts matter…

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The crazy train stopped at Downingtown Area School District last evening at what should have been a lovely back to school evening.

And innocent LOOKING kindergarten teacher (but not employed by DASD), Margie Miller is once again the Fibber McGee candidate for DASD. She’s backed by Republican PAC Keeping Kids in School, founded by Clarice Schillinger who used to work for State Rep. Todd Stephens (R., Montgomery).

…But this PAC doesn’t care about facts or coloring outside the lines as they also back the WCASD candidates like the QAnon gal, #AnonymousAda, Ada Nestor who was in Washington DC 1/6/21 but Keeping Kids in School PAC don’t seem to be bothered by this candidate’s actions and squirrelly politics.

This PAC claims to be non-partisan but I call bullsh🤬t on that. And they should just be who they are, not try to hide who they are. I don’t know what the end game is for this political action committee (PAC) except to get Republican candidates in office which wouldn’t be a problem for me if they were backing sane, rational candidates because in Chester County they are backing the super screwy. Even the Philadelphia Inquirer has asked lots of questions about the QAnon and anti masker candidates and more so really, what do they want? Sister Wives for School Board? The Handmaids Tale candidates for school board?

So I have to ask where Margie Miller and “Friends of Margie” gets data?

Margie teaches kindergarten at a school NOT in a public school district (in essence private) and she is running on a platform to not raise taxes, right? It’s interesting that the increase in taxes being discussed is for an all day Kindergarten program for Downingtown students? She hasn’t offered a way to generate this revenue to fund an all day Kindergarten program that I can find and would a public school all day Kindergarten be a threat to her current school or something?

I have no problem with someone saying they don’t want to raise taxes, but when they essentially accuse someone of being solely responsible for any taxes being raised in the DASD they should offer alternatives.

So last night was a back to school event and Margie Miller’s pals blanketed all of the cars in a parking lot with their crap. And their crap is aimed at my friend, Rebecca Britton. And these people didn’t clean up the mess they left, which means school personnel had to, which means taxpayers paid for Margie’s Mess, correct? How is that saving money?

A back to school night should be about the kids, not Margie Miller’s selfish political motives. I mean my gosh one would think that Margie should have put as much effort into her campaign paperwork correct?

Yesssss….and is it true Margie Miller didn’t file her PAC paperwork on time so she was fined? So then is it true she not only filed the late paperwork but she only filed one page of the 17 page document? So yo’ Chester County Voter Services why did you accept incomplete paperwork? Chester County Voter Services when will a new letter of campaign violation be issued on bad paperwork?

This woman cannot even follow basic election laws, so does Downingtown Area School District really need this hot mess in office? IMHO that should be a resounding NO.

Margie I hope you are a better teacher than school board candidate but you have to wonder what you teach kids judging from your campaign actions? And who exactly is running you since you don’t ever seem to want to answer questions on your campaign Facebook page either but you (they?) delete any comment or question that makes you uncomfortable?

Dear Margie Miller oh gurrrllll, we’ve got your number. And my final comment is you would holler like a stuck pig if they blanketed your kindergarten parking lot with flyers from Rebecca’s campaign. Your behavior is disgraceful and if you were a kindergartner you would be in time out facing a wall wouldn’t you?

Folks don’t put DASD in time out, keep Rebecca Britton as a School Board Director in your Region 4.

after the storm: destruction in berwyn (easttown township)

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Batholomew Rd.

Last night was a hell of a storm. And no one can say “Oh they are just 100 year storms” or whatever. We are getting these destructive storms out of Mother Nature more and more often. You can thank climate change, you know that thing that no one wants to acknowledge exists?

Personally, I did not get much sleep last night. The storm howled over, through, and around us. The sky was incredibly lit up by lightening and the roaring of thunder.

An Easttown Resident Video: Where is the Stormwater Management??

From my friend Michael:

Storm Water Management


I understand that not everything in life can be prevented. However, 3 Supervisor meetings ago myself and a neighbor specifically complained about storm water management on Bartholomew Rd. Yes, that is where I live. Please allow me to be provincial.


The irony is that the water surge was so strong last night that my neighbor who was with me at that meeting almost had an unspeakable tragedy. A huge tree fell through this house. His son was 3 feet away! The dust was so thick they could not see their way out!! By the grace of God, no one was hurt. The house looks a bomb hit it. I won’t post any photos out of respect for my friend. It looks like a war zone. It will be months before they will be able to live in a home on that land.


Water played a part in this. No more looks of anguish from certain Supervisors. No more “well the water has to go somewhere” comments. No more, “well, it is a 100 year storm”. It isn’t when it happens almost every year. I have no interest in debating why. It is time for action. There is simply too much water flowing down my street. I believe the construction on Waterloo has made it worse. It was a river last night. Yes, we still would have had flooding even with better management.


Let’s focus on preventing people from dying. This one was a close call. We need action on this issue.

Transparency!

I know personally what it is like to have a tree come down on your home. We experienced it during the ice storm of 2014. A tree literally came within inches of my husband’s head. We got through it, and that is what I am so diligent with tree work (a conversation for another day, but also important.)

Because I know what it is like for a tree to come down like that, every time there is one of these storms, right or wrong, I kind of hold my breath until they pass. Last year the Derecho wind storms wreaked havoc in Chester County including all around where we live.

Bartholomew Road. Berwyn. Easttown.

Stormwater management is something I feel most municipalities pay lip service to. They are more interested in salivating over ratables. Easttown is just one of the local Chester County Municipalities playing fast and loose with the well being of residents by just approving development after development willy nilly.

Water during these storms has fewer and fewer places to go. That is just reality. Which means our municipalities NEED to pay attention to density and for what they are approving, the stormwater management needs to be substantial.

Richards Road Last Night. Berwyn Fire Company Photo.

Last night’s storm also produced at least one sinkhole. Berwyn and Midland Avenues. Adjacent to a utility pole no less:

Mother Nature will be Mother Nature, but as communities we can do our part to do better. Which is why municipalities also need to pay more than lip service to responsible development as well as stormwater managerment. Below are snippets of video also from Berwyn and a couple of photos. I guess I am kind of wondering why the construction site was seemingly unprepared to deal with runoff? I know this was a big storm but still…

Get well soon, Berwyn.