Bird’s-Eye View

Is no place safe from hard feelings and protests and politicking and doing anything to attract a camera? When covering the state Legislature or the presidential primary, it helps to think of places where you can get away from the rancor. I guess Hawaii can be checked off the list. Seriously?! Hawaii?!

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Jonathan Alter of Newsweek, whose columns consistently favor Obama, explains in detail tonight why the gas tax holiday supported by John McCain and Hillary Clinton is a bad idea. Among his reasons:
If the federal excise tax were lifted, oil companies would simply raise prices and pocket most of the difference …
It offers taxpayers only peanuts. […]

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This is why people should care more about polar bears beyond just seeing them jump into the deep blue water tank at their local zoo. See, polar bears may end up being the trumpet pronouncing a radical shift in how the United States deals with global warming.
A U.S. District Court has ordered the Bush administration to […]

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The state Senate today overwhelmingly approved a measure to create a Do-Not-Call list for political robocalls, glorious news I’m sure for some who live in the state’s 13th Senatorial District.
From Senator Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi’s news release today:
“We just came through a hotly contested presidential primary during which some people received four or more robo-calls […]

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From the Associated Press:
Pennsylvania rang up $3.7 billion in revenue, or $256 million above projections, in the year’s second-biggest tax collection month.
That boosts the state’s running surplus for the fiscal year to $437 million, or nearly 2 percent over projections.
Cue you, Mr. and Ms. We Need Tax Cuts. Cue you, Mr. and Ms. Let’s Use […]

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HARRISBURG - If anyone embodies the anger and intellect of those who oppose passage of Senate Bill 1250, the one that would essentially define marriage in Pennsylvania’s Constitution as only a heterosexual relationship, it’s retiring state Sen. Vincent Fumo, a Philadelphia Democrat. The best show at the Capitol today was inside the Senate Appropriations Hearing on […]

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Ah, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.
You may have seen over the weekend the Nevada GOP attempted to distribute delegates for the upcoming Republican National Convention where, barring any unforeseen fatal tragedy of politically lethal controversy (an I’m not holding my breath), John McCain will assume what he’s earned through the primary contests - the Republican […]

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I can hear a lot of people saying, “Finally!” I also can hear groaning about how this would make alcohol more acceptable and this may lead to underage drinking and so on and so on.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is seeking applicants to carry one of 100 statewide kiosks that would distribute wine in places […]

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Well … I guess if the newspaper industry could draw up an ideal candidate to head the new Office of Open Records, she might be it.
(Terry) Mutchler, 42, is a native of East Stroudsburg and a Penn State University graduate who worked for The Morning Call in Allentown and The Associated Press in Harrisburg, New […]

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The number at the bottom of my computer screen said “937.” Then I moved the cursor to the “Delete” option, clicked the mouse and enjoyed the absence of static, the sublime nature of an empty e-mail mailbox. No more tug-of-war for your attention from campaign staffers who are oh so nice to you for six […]

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