Christian Bartulovich

The 122nd PA House district (all of Carbon County) has been represented by Republican Doyle Heffley since 2010, about 16 years too long.  The district is MAGA country, although the Dems have been making some inroads recently. 

This year no Democratic candidate gathered enough signatures to run against Rep. Heffley.  Heffley then sent out a mailer asking Democrats to write in his name to ensure he would be running in both parties, just like elections in Russia.

Democrats are countering this ploy by running their own write-in campaign for Christian Bartulovich, a Penn Forest Township Supervisor.  Penn Forest is the largest municipality in Carbon County.  The interesting thing is that Bartulovich is a registered Republican.  

He is, however, intelligent, engaged, concerned about data centers and what they do the the environment, a real environmentalist, and willing to listen.  Tonight he was invited to speak to the Palmerton Area Democratic Club.  The questions were pointed, but I believe Bartulovich handled himself well.  I’m reasonably sure he will get everyone’s write-in who heard him tonight.  I know he got mine–my ballot was mailed in about two weeks ago.

A formation of Canada geese

I have seen Canadian geese flying all my life, but I never saw what I saw today.  Usually they go over in huge Vee shapes, sometimes five or six giant Vees, all honking away.

Today I saw, and I will swear to this in court, four flocks, one after another, and each flock made a number, and it looked to me like they were forming an 8, then a 6, then a 4, and the last flock a 7.  

It was one of the few times I really wished I had a cell phone because I thought to myself, No one is going to believe this.  I just hope some other person witnessed it.  I have no idea why those numbers.

Sometimes they land in our fields, but I think these were probably on the way to Ontario. 

Venezuela as the 51st state

Today I was prescribed a steroid and an antibiotic, and I m feeling just a bit queasy.  So I’m not going to pontificate at length about Trump's proposal to make Venezuela our 51st state.  I do approve, however.  I think the incoming Representatives and Senators are likely to be Democrats.   

A Warning for Republicans

The gerrymanders just instituted are based on past performance.  Red congressional districts will now have additional voters who have no connection with the incumbents.  Voters have changed as well.  In 2024 Mexican-American voters in the Rio Grande valley went for Trump.  In 2026, I’m guessing not so much.  Same for younger voters.  

Remember that quite a few special elections in the last year and a half have ended with Democratic victories in conservative areas.  You might just be in for a shock. 

Lean Left PAC

Lean Left PAC is a Republican front group that is hoping to turn Democrats against one another so that Republican candidates can win in the general election.  The PAC recently sent out hit pieces claiming that candidates Brooks and Crosswell were pro-MAGA, and urged people to vote for Lamont McClure.  Obando-Durstine, the 4th candidate in the race, was not mentioned in the mailer

McClure, Crosswell, and Brooks have all condemned the ad.  Under federal law and Supreme Court decisions, independent PACS can say anything they want to as long as they are not in contact with a candidate.  The candidates have no power to stop them.  Think about how ingenious this ad is.  If you are a Democratic voter and you believe the ad, you may vote for McClure.  If you don’t believe the ad and think McClure had sponsored it, you will be angry at him.  It will create rancor within the party and make it less likely that the Democrats will unite to oppose the real MAGA candidate in this race, Republican Ryan Mackenzie.

Primary elections are low turnout elections.  Most Democrats will not investigate Lean Left PAC.  This is the kind of scurrilous campaign activity that turns people off and creates division within the party.  You can blame our campaign finance laws or the Supreme Court.  You can also spread the word about what is happening.

A Warning to Democrats

I am getting very tired of CNN and MSNOW repeating how Trump’s popularity has dropped.  It has not dropped very far.  After all the family enrichment schemes, a rather stupid war, Cabinet officials who couldn’t pour piss out of a boot if directions were written on the heel, and economic pain for farmers, drivers, and just about everyone else, Trump still has the support of approximately four out of ten Americans.  After ICE murders and $4 gas and ballooning deficits, Trump still has the support of about four out of every ten Americans.  It doesn’t matter how bad it will get–these are people who continue to worship Trump, and worship is the correct word.

They are concentrated in certain places.  The South, the middle of the country, Texas, rural areas.  They will do well in November.  And if the economy rebounds, if tankers are moving from the Middle East, if Democrats continue their usual infighting, the Republicans may do very well come November.

Remember also they are cheating like crazy.  MAGA followers will do everything in their power to game the system.  That’s their motto–if you can’t win fairly, cheat.

Tomorrow:  A warning to Republicans

Kind of like a guide to ticks

If you live in Pennsylvania you have seen warnings about ticks.  You probably know that you can’t get Lyme disease from dog ticks, which are about twice the size of deer ticks.  That doesn’t mean you don’t need to worry about dog ticks, since they can infect you with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  The best thing you can do is avoid ticks.

It has occurred to me that we also need a guide to help us avoid people with irrational or absurd political opinions.  Let’s say you are reading a letter in the Times-News.  You don’t want to waste your time on reading drivel or nonsense.  If you come across any of the following terms or phrases, stop.  No need to read further.

I did my own research:  Turn the page.  They didn’t.  Or they might have, but their info was from a Florida podcaster making shit up.

Vaccines cause autism:  Run from these people.  They did their own research.

George Soros:  Mr. Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary, became incredibly rich, and has given away billions to strengthen democracies around the world.  Fascists hate him.

Millions of illegals vote:  No, they don’t, but you will never convince the bigots.  Don’t try.

Trump really won the 2020 election:  I have yet to hear how that election was stolen, but not the 2016 or the 2024 elections.  Did we forget?  

Remember, you will not change or convince these people.  Move along.  Nothing to see here.