Results tagged “newspennsylvania”

Pennsylvania is an increasingly Democratic state. In 2004, Kerry won the state by a hair; Obama won it with a handy ten percent lead. In 2004, twelve of nineteen Keystone Congressmen were Republican, as well as the two Senators. Now, eleven representatives and the junior Senator are Democrats. In 2004, there were roughly 500,000 more Democrats than Republicans in the state; during the extended primary last year, that lead expanded to well over a million. To Republican Pat Toomey, however, that's clearly not enough. For this reason—at least, it's the only reason that makes any sense—he announced yesterday that he's considering a primary run against Arlen Specter.

CNN is reporting that a former Army infantryman and National Guard helicopter pilot, Erich Scherfen, and his wife are on an unspecified government that limits or bans their air travel—and may result in the end of his career as a pilot with Colgan Air, Incorporated. The Schuylkill Haven couple may have been targeted because Scherfen converted to Islam when he married his Pakistani wife, Rubina. They sell books and DVDs about a pretty standard, harmless brand of Islam. So that's really it—you just have to be a Pakistani Muslim or married to one, and suddenly you're a terrorist? Really? That's the best they can do? There have been no accusations, no charges, no evidence whatsoever. Luckily, a judge looking into their case has asked Scherfen's employer to postpone his termination one month, which they agreed to do.

Have you been in Rittenhouse Square on a nice Saturday afternoon lately? If so, you've probably seen volunteers from the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) out with some of their adoptable pets. If you've seen the PAWS folks out and about, or if you've checked our recent profiles of PAWS dogs, you may have noticed that many of these shelter dogs are Pit Bull mixes, and that they're complete sweethearts.