Canthook

This is getting fun.

Pennsylvania has closed primaries, and I'm registered as a Republican. I thought about registering again as a Democrat so I could vote in the presidential primary, but now, I'm starting to enjoy the brouhaha in the Republican state senate primary.

Lloyd Smucker, a drywall contractor with 175 employees, sold his business (to his brother) and decided to run for the state senate. He announced right away that he had $185,000 in donations and pledges, which indicated a wide base of support.

Who were these people supporting him? He refused to say, and some people were pretty aggressive about asking. Well, the end of the quarter came, and he had to file a report. Turns out Lloyd Smucker gave 430,000 on February 28, and Lloyd Smucker gave $37,500 on March 31, and Lloyd Smucker gave $53,560 on April 4. Mervin Smucker - the brother who he sold the company to - gave $10,000 on February 5. Oh, and there were $160 in contributions of $50 or less.

Boy, I have to think that Lloyd and Mervin Smucker really think Lloyd Smucker's policies.

Every day in the mail, there are ads on glossy cardboard trashing Smucker and his principal opponent, Thibault. They're calling each other the L- word, and the phrase tax-and-spend is bandied about a lot. Smucker claims he didn't raise taxes, and Thibault claims he doubled one tax, which, it turns out, he raised from $26/year to $52/year.
When I read the ads, I want to laugh. When I think about the fact that I need to vote, one week from today, I cry. There are actually four candidates on the ballot. Steve McDonald is the third, and the fourth is so forgettable, I can't remember his name.

The morning newspaper, the Intel, has a phone poll each week, and last week, it was about this race. Smucker was the leader by far, with Thibault in second, McDonald way back in third, and what's-his-name got a vote or two as well.

Don't you just love that expression on McDonald's face? I stole these candidates' pictures off the Intel's website, and I'm pretty sure the one of Thibault is by a photographer of theirs named Jeff. The one of Smucker looks like it came from Glamour Shots. The one of McDonald looks like it was taken by an ex-wife. Does he have an ex-wife? I don't know, but if the photo was shot by anyone who likes him, it would never have seen daylight.

I think you can count on me casting a vote for what's-his-name.

And then there is Cindy. The McCain website posted these favorite recipes of hers on their website - and it appears that those awful people at the Food Network have stolen her recipes, lock, stock, and barrel. And that's a shame, because they show that McCain is down to earth, unlike Barack Obama, who is an elitist for suggesting that small town people in Pennsylvania are POed at the way old-style politicians like Hillary and John have been screwing them over. Gee, don't they know that small town people love having done to them what Eliot Spitzer does to his $4300/hour friend?

Anyway, these are the non-elitist down-home recipes, that Cindy McCain learned at her grandmother's side:

• Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Slaw
• Crab Scampi and Whole Wheat Spaghetti
• Passion Fruit Mousse

• After her remarks about Michelle Obama being really proud of her country, perhaps Michelle could pay her back by teaching her to cook elitist foods like canned tuna casserole, canned spaghetti, and jello mousse.

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  Sorry, but no update on what the Hillary/Obama matchup looks like at ground level. Blondie's car is in the shop, and I've been spending hours on long distance trying to get the money back that Weis Markets stole from me. And yes, they finally did give it back. But be careful to check your checking account statement regularly. I didn't think it was really very necessary, since the bank's computers can add and subtract as well as I can; I didn't consider that they weren't the only ones performing subtraction on my account.