Tony Barr PA09

Tony Barr PA09 https://www.dailykos.com/user/Tony Barr PA09/rss/index.xml News Community Action Copyright 2005 - Steal what you want Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:40:28 +0000 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:40:28 +0000 Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) I Will Never Forget https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/9/11/1015518/-I-Will-Never-Forget The news this past week has been filled with stories regarding the horrific events of 9-11-2001.  Each story is punctuated with the line “Never Forget.” I will never forget the atrocities committed on 9/11/2001, and I will never forget the true heroism displayed by the American people--men and women, gay and straight, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, atheist, and Jew--on that awful day.   I will also never forget the cowardice/incompetence/venal politicizing of President George W. Bush and VP Dick Cheney.   rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 9-11 Afghanistan Bush Civil Rights CivilRights Iraq National Security NationalSecurity White House WhiteHouse _1015518 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:06:00 +0000 PA-09  Chambersburg Public Opinion Endorses Barr https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/26/643128/-PA-09-160-Chambersburg-Public-Opinion-Endorses-Barr Whew, what a weekend!  Friday night, after an extensive interview with the Altoona Mirror's editorial board and an equally extensive interview with the Blairsville Dispatch for a pre-election feature,  I found out about Shuster's latest attempt to smear me.  He is telling people that I want to give millionaire's solar panels for their homes.  HaHaHa!  Like they taught me at Camp Wellstone, "First they ignore you, then they lie about you, then you win." rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Endorsements House PA-09 TonyBarr _643128 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:54:17 +0000 PA09 Let's Celebrate Labor Day by Creating Jobs https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/582006/-PA09-Let-s-Celebrate-Labor-Day-by-Creating-Jobs The following remarks were presented at a press conference at the Tony Barr for Congress headquarters in Duncansville, PA on Friday, Aug. 28 leading off the celebration of Labor Day weekend. TB I want to thank Harry Zeznanski for his kind words; I want to thank the members of the Machinists Local 2348 and the members of PA SEIU for their support here today. I’m honored to have the support of working men and women across our district. These are the people who build things and provide services; these are the people that we should celebrating this weekend. It is Labor Day Weekend and like many Americans, I’ve been guilty in the past of forgetting what this weekend is all about. To some, it’s another excuse for a sale at the mall or another reason to cook outdoors. For others, a signal that summer is over and that it’s time to get the kids ready for school.  We had it good for many years in this country, and it is easy to forget when things are good. Labor Day was created back in 1892  by the Central Labor Union to "create a day off for the working citizens" to celebrate "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organization." rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections energysmart Green Energy GreenEnergy House Jobs Labor Day LaborDay NAFTA PA09 Taxes TonyBarr _582006 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:34:17 +0000 PA09 Who I am and How I think Government should work https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/5/563304/-PA09-Who-I-am-and-How-I-think-Government-should-work I gave the following remarks as an opening statement at a town hall meeting tonight in Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA.  After these remarks were given, audience members asked many questions. Unfortunately, we don't have any video of my responses.  Sorry, I wasn't thinking.  TB HI! It's great to see everyone here tonight. I'm so glad you folks were able to make it. We've got big problems in this country. I don't have to tell you folks that. Gas Prices, Jobs, Health Insurance, Global Climate Change, National Debt, and the War in Iraq are just a short list. I know these are the issues on your mind because you've told me so. I've spent the summer driving around this district, walking door to door, talking and listening to you the voters. The question is: what can we do? Well,before I tell you what I think we should be doing, I want to tell you who I am. I want to do this because who I am directly affects how I am going to go about the job. The how, of course, affects the what. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Campaign Finance CampaignFinance Future GovernmentCorruption House PA-09 TonyBarr _563304 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:47:00 +0000 PA-09 Let's Build Something https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/24/556330/-PA-09-Let-s-Build-Something My Dad, an extremely wise man, who went from being a ditch digger out of high school to becoming a successful small businessman, has a favorite phrase, "Do Something!" Throughout my life, from the football fields and wrestling mats of my youth to the classrooms and stumps of the present, I have heard the exhortation, "Do Something!" I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Everyday, while talking to people, either at their doors or at a local fair, I hear the same story. People are worried, frustrated, and angry about gas prices, the economy, the Iraq War, and health insurance. Gas, food, and health-care costs are going through the roof, people (rightly) are cutting back, people are losing homes due to foreclosure, job layoffs are just beginning to be announced, and winter is just over the horizon...Congress, meanwhile, does nothing. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 Economy Elections Energy House Oil PA-09 Pickens Plan PickensPlan TonyBarr Transportation _556330 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:29:38 +0000 PA-09 Fighting for Hospital Employees https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/26/542663/-PA-09-Fighting-for-Hospital-Employees I gave the following remarks this evening at a candlelight vigil for hospital workers who are negotiating a new contract.  They are in serious jeopardy of losing their defined-benefit pension.  I was invited to attend by organizers from SEIU.  I thank the organizers for the invitation, and I thank the hospital workers for their warm reception.  It was an honor to speak at their vigil.  They are fighting the right fight for important benefits.  I wish them the best of luck. Keep the faith. Yes, I had a candlelight vigil sandwich on door-knocking bread for dinner tonight.  The Good Book advises that a person does not live on bread alone.   Similarly,  a campaign is not run on door knocking alone.  If anybody is so inclined, donations to the campaign would be greatly appreciated.  <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18561">http://www.actblue.com/...</a> Thank you all so much.  For my remarks, please read below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 Elections House Labor PA-09 Pensions SEIU TonyBarr _542663 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:10:06 +0000 Walking to Washington with Principals for Change https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/6/530933/-Walking-to-Washington-with-Principals-for-Change A couple of weeks ago, I happened to hear a news report of some area principals walking to Washington DC to call attention to their SOLUTION to our present energy crisis. Though it was only a short blurb on the TV, it hit me like a shot. These guys were hitting the nail square on the head, and I wanted in. Emails were sent, phone calls were made, and last night after working a full day, I joined the Principals for Change (PFC, <a href="http://www.principalsforchange.org/">http://www.principalsforchange.org/</a> ) for the last 6 miles of the first leg of their trip to DC. To find out who these guys are, what their goals are, what this means, and how to help, please join me below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections EdRendell Education Energy GasPrices House Nancy Pelosi NancyPelosi PA 09 PA09 Rescued TonyBarr _530933 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:26:28 +0000 PA09 Superman Does Yoga https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/20/518823/-PA09-Superman-Does-Yoga This is going to be as pretty as a middle aged guy in spandex... I've had a long history with Superman.  Years ago when somebody would express serious confidence in my ability to do an impossible job, I'd say, "...Well, I don't have an S on my chest, yet..." Lately, I like to joke about my twice-daily change ritual(I'm a bicycle commuter <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/16/203249/364/432/517215)">http://www.dailykos.com/...</a> as the "Superman" routine.  Just this past week, a student asked me, "Mr. Barr what superhero would you be?"  I tried to think of somebody obscure, but all I could think about was Superman.  So the other morning, my back stiff from too much driving, stress, lack of sleep, and myriad other issues, I knew it was time to do some Yoga.  As I was doing my routine, I looked down...I had my Superman pajamas(my wife gave them to me for Christmas) on.  I laughed. Does the Man of Steel ever have to work the kinks out?  What this has to do with anything, I will explain below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections energycrisis Global Warming Globalization GlobalWarming House PA09 Peak Oil PeakOil TonyBarr _518823 Tue, 20 May 2008 13:02:10 +0000 PA09 Celebrating National Bike to Work Day https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/16/517215/-PA09-Celebrating-National-Bike-to-Work-Day Today was National Bike to Work Day.  I rode as I do 3 to 4 times per week.  In light of the recent admissions by our Fearless Leader on how he has stopped playing golf, it was the least I could do.  There are many reasons why I ride: money saved from gas, health benefits, time saved (I get a 1 hour ride, but it only costs my family ½ hour), mental health benefits (My ride makes me easier to get along with).  All of these are good reasons to ride, but that is not what got me on my bike today.  At 7:30 am, it was raining hard in Bedford, PA, but my thoughts were not on the cold, or the wet, or the wind.  Rather, they were on our fine men and women lugging 100+ lb packs in 100 degree heat fighting this Godforsaken War for Oil.   rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Global Warming GlobalWarming House Iraq NationalBiketoWorkDay PA09 Peak Oil PeakOil TonyBarr _517215 Sat, 17 May 2008 00:37:44 +0000 PA09 Fixing the Pain https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/4/508779/-PA09-Fixing-the-Pain On Friday while I was eating my lunch, I was explaining to my lunchmates why the "free market" is not adequately addressing our current energy crisis in this country.  "...Eventually, the free market will kick in, but in the meantime, people are going to feel a lot of pain..." As soon as those words tumbled out of my mouth, I thought back to something my chiropractor said to me about a year and a half ago, "Tony it appears that you have a really high threshold of pain, and I'm not so sure that is a good thing." The people of my district, like so many rural people, like Americans in general have a high tolerance for pain.  Though there is something to be said for rugged individualism, at some point, enough is enough, we must get some relief. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 Economy Elections GasPrices Health Insurance HealthInsurance House PA-09 TonyBarr _508779 Sun, 04 May 2008 14:07:56 +0000 PA-09 Barr Beats Shuster! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/24/502335/-PA-09-Barr-Beats-Shuster Ok, It doesn't really count for anything, but in Tuesday's primaries, Tony Barr got more votes in the Democratic primary than Bill Shuster got in the Republican primary.  I know that it doesn't stand up to statistical scrutiny, but I think it does show what is possible here in Central PA.  There is hope that we can rid ourselves of yet another George W. Bush rubberstamp.  Our press release is below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections BillShuster House PA-09 paprimary TonyBarr _502335 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:21:59 +0000 PA09 Who is Responsible for Educating Our Students? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/6/491335/-PA09-Who-is-Responsible-for-Educating-Our-Students My oldest son will start kindergarten at our local public school this coming fall.  Like any other parent, I worry about the quality of education that my sons will receive and what things they will be exposed to in the community.  As a teacher, I am relieved to hear that changes have been made to reduce class size in the kindergarten, but I also know that my sons’ education is not the sole responsibility of their teachers or their school.  My wife and I have a responsibility also.  We will make sure that our boys are well rested and fed before school, that their homework is done, and we will back the teachers should behavioral problems come up. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Economy Education greencollarjobs House PA09 TonyBarr _491335 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:20:30 +0000 PA09 Being a Dad: Love and Money https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/4/490464/-PA09-Being-a-Dad-Love-and-Money I wrote this earlier this week.  Since this writing, it's been a tough week: a former student of my school beat his father to death with a splitting maul, a current student( a relative of the previous father/son) had to help clean it up, one of my students was abducted...Ohh, And we had the PSSA's (NCLB) on top of it all.  Today, I have been looking to the memory of Dr. King for inspiration. It has helped me focus on why I do what I do and to carry on.  Dr. King died fighting for economic justice and civil rights.  His battle is our to pick up and carry on.  To see the connection, please read on. TB As a Dad, I’ve had many proud moments, but last night may have surpassed them all.  Last night, my youngest son brought a book home from pre-school and read it to me.  When he got stuck, he sounded out the words, and he used the pictures for clues.  As a learning support teacher who has spent the last 11 years teaching 17-18 year olds to read, this was a beautiful moment.  I was very proud. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Education HealthCare House King PA09 TonyBarr _490464 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:34:58 +0000 PA09 Hope https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/1/488523/-PA09-Hope Two years ago, this coming April 29, I sat on the chair outside my son’s bedroom having just put them down for a nap.  At the time, my wife had stopped watching the news with me because I would yell at the TV set.  As I sat in the big, comfy chair luxuriating in that all too rare phenomenon that parents sometimes experience—both son’s napping, my wife gave me the news that our last hope for someone to run against our do-nothing congressman had decided against it.  Then, my wife, in a strange piece of kismet, joked that I should throw my hat in the ring.  When responsibility calls, you’ve got to answer. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Economy Global Warming GlobalWarming Hope House PA09 Peak Oil PeakOil TonyBarr _488523 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:42:22 +0000 PA-09 We Cut It Twice And It's Still Too Short! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/10/434746/-PA-09-We-Cut-It-Twice-And-It-s-Still-Too-Short That is a joke that my Dad likes to tell when we are working on a project, and we screw up.  The joke does the trick.  The levity breaks the tension, and it allows us to refocus on the job.  I was thinking of this today on my way home from work.  On NPR, it was reported that Ben Bernake, the Federal Reserve Chairman, announced today that the Fed would again cut interest rates.  I'm sorry, but I think the job ahead (staving off a recession) is much bigger than the tool (cutting interest rates) that we are using.  Unfortunately, using ineffective tools is typical for the Bush administration. Of course Mr. Bush, with Bill Shuster's approval, likes ineffective tools.  They have no interest in fixing the problem.  They and their fat cat pals get even richer off the broken system.  They are more interested in rewarding wealth than developing a vibrant economy by creating family sustaining jobs.  Before I offer my own ideas, let's (briefly) review their failed policies. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections BenBernake FederalReserve House InterestRates Iraq Jobs Oil PA-09 Recession TonyBarr _434746 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:35:20 +0000 PA-09 Dig! Dig! Little Pig! Root Hog! or Die! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/4/430514/-PA-09-Dig-Dig-Little-Pig-Root-Hog-or-Die No, this piece is not about pork barrel politics.  Rather, this piece is about the power of people to affect the status quo.  The title of this piece came from an exhortation of my college football coach.  He used to yell it at us linemen when we were in the trenches far away from the glamour doing the dirty, necessary work of football.  I think this little saying is appropriate in the wake of the Iowa Caucuses last night. I don’t mean to endorse a single candidate.  Rather, I endorse a platform, and last night in the guise of a few candidates, I saw that platform win.   rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections House Iowacaucus PA-09 Populism TonyBarr _430514 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:46:28 +0000 PA-09 New Year's Resolution https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/31/428257/-PA-09-New-Year-s-Resolution Much to the chagrin of my Dad, I don't like to make New Year's resolutions.  It is not that I don't think introspection is important; it is incredibly important to assess where you are in life and what changes should be made.  I just am uncomfortable with New Year's resolutions.  First, there is the failure rate, and, therefore, many people don't take your resolutions seriously.  Second, when I find something in my character or practice that needs to be changed, I do it immediately. To find out what this has to do with politics, please read below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Fundraising House NewYearsResolutions PA-09 TonyBarr _428257 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:15:57 +0000 PA-09 Fortune Favors the Brave https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/29/427715/-PA-09-Fortune-Favors-the-Brave Forgive me if this gets silly (and slightly long), but I do have a point.  First,... Yesterday, I taught my sons to ski!!!  More accurately, probably, I got the heck out of the way and allowed my sons to discover skiing.  I made the realization first with my younger son, Zeke.  I was experimenting with different ways to teach a child to ski when finally he said, "Daddy, could you get out of my way so that I could ski?"  That was that.  Away he went.  He did not look back.  My youngest son was now a skier. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Courage House PA-09 TonyBarr _427715 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:52:03 +0000 PA-09 We Salute a Progressive Hero https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/18/424041/-PA-09-We-Salute-a-Progressive-Hero Today we, my wife and I as well as many other Blair County Democrats, mourned, saluted, and buried a progressive hero, Ray Shaw.  My wife, Liz, wrote a great piece for the Blair County Dems website <a href="http://www.blairdems.org/">http://www.blairdems.org/</a> .  I will reprint it below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections House PA-09 Progressives TonyBarr _424041 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:28:25 +0000 PA-09 A Real Thank You to Vets https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/11/409153/-PA-09-A-Real-Thank-You-to-Vets There will be many teary speeches today regarding the indebtedness we Americans have to OUR veterans.  OUR hearts will swell, and we will become misty eyed.  But as the day closes and we lay our heads down on our pillows, the facts will not change.  One in four homeless people are veterans <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/11/08/homeless.veterans/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail.">http://edition.cnn.com/...</a>  1.8 million veterans lack health insurance <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=84888.">http://www.medicinenet.com/...</a>  And, our present wars(Iraq and Afghanistan) are making new veterans with more severe problems than ever before. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Health Care HealthCare House PA-09 TonyBarr Veterans _409153 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:22:05 +0000 PA-09 Shuster leaves 3 million children behind https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/5/394573/-PA-09-Shuster-leaves-3-million-children-behind I submitted the following guest editorial/letter to the editor to many newspapers throughout the 9th CD of PA last Friday. Some may say that the media window on this story may have passed, but I believe that we Democrats allow this to occur at our own peril. It is with great sadness and frustration that I read about the latest vote by Congressman Bill Shuster. Mr. Shuster, on Wednesday, voted against health insurance for kids. This is an unconscionable act by a man that does everything that George Bush tells him to do. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections House PA-09 schip TonyBarr universalhealthinsurance _394573 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:55:55 +0000 PA-09 Incident at the Lake Reinforces That We Are All in This Together https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/19/373444/-PA-09-Incident-at-the-Lake-Reinforces-That-We-Are-All-in-This-Together The giggling girls playing in the surf below was making great background music for my meal.  I was sitting on the deck of a cottage on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie enjoying some R&R.  The food and wine was great equaled only by the comradeship of the old friends I was sharing the meal with.  My boys were playing in the grass below. Laughing, talking, it was the great end to a great day.  Someone mentioned the girls below.  What, you may ask, does two young girls playing in a lake have to do with politics?  It further reinforced my belief that we are all in this together, that this idea goes across party lines, and that progressives can use this to not only win but to make this country a better place.  To find out why, please read below the fold. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Books House JaredBernstein PA-09 Personal TonyBarr YoyoEconomics _373444 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:03:36 +0000 PA-09 Support the Fair Elections Now Act https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/9/369119/-PA-09-Support-the-Fair-Elections-Now-Act I'm a politician.  I admit that.  I haven't been elected to anything yet, but still, I am a politician.  I have been a politician for over a year now, and the more I run for office, the more that I am convinced that if we are going to save our democracy, we are going to need to have more candidates.  Not only do we need more candidates, we need candidates who will represent us, the American people.  Our present system is FUBAR.  Because of this, we have the Iraq war, warrant less wiretaps, 20 year old CAFE  standards, and collapsing bridges.  The list goes on... How do we clean up this mess? Support the "Fair Elections Now Act". <a href="http://ga3.org/campaign/fair_elections_now">http://ga3.org/...</a> rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections CampaignReform FairElections House McCain-Feingold PA-09 TonyBarr _369119 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:59:09 +0000 PA-09 Bridge Collapse-Let's Fix Our Infrastructure https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/2/365609/-PA-09-Bridge-Collapse-Let-s-Fix-Our-Infrastructure Last night, I sat down to my computer after my kids were put to bed, and to my horror and astonishment, I saw that the bridge had collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minnesota.  I called to my wife, and we watched, transfixed,  for hours the coverage of the rescue and recovery efforts.  The first reaction was a combination "Holy Sh..!" and numbness.  Then, I worried about the people who were on the bridge or under the bridge when it collapsed.  My heart and my prayers go out to these  people.  This morning, my mind races, but the questions fall into two categories.  First, what caused the collapse, and how many other bridges are vulnerable?  Second,  when are we going to wake-up and realize that you can't run the greatest country on the earth on the cheap? rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections BridgeCollapse House Infrastructure Minneapolis Minnesota PA-09 TonyBarr _365609 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:47:24 +0000 PA-09 Biodiesel Now! One Man's Quest for Carbon Neutrality https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/25/362193/-PA-09-Biodiesel-Now-One-Man-s-Quest-for-Carbon-Neutrality I have always tended toward the excitable, but a couple events in the past few days were enough to send me off the excite-o-meter.  First, over the weekend on the MS 150 ride, a guy who I had never met, but about whom I had heard about recognized me as I was rocketing through State College on a bike.  Granted, I wasn't exactly traveling incognito having "Tony Barr for Congress" in giant letters on my ample back.  Still, this guy was interested in making Biodiesel, and if he was going to make it, I wanted in.  Then, today I had a meeting in Harrisburg.  On the way home, I wanted to check out a place that I had seen listed on the biodiesel.org website.  My wife was game, so we made a visit to what will hopefully be the far eastern part of my district. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Biodiesel Energy Environment Global Warming GlobalWarming House PA-09 Personal TonyBarr _362193 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:39:17 +0000 PA-09 We Can Make a Difference, That's Why We Ride https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/22/361098/-PA-09-We-Can-Make-a-Difference-That-s-Why-We-Ride "When I see an adult on bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." --H.G. Wells.   Well said Wells.  This weekend  I saw a lot.  Four hundred and thirty to be exact.  I and 429 others did the  MS 150 Keystone Country ride from Hollidaysburg to State College.  Though there were many reasons to ride 150 miles in two days, raising money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was the major reason.  The final fund raising totals have not yet been posted, but I did hear that one team from Pittsburgh raised a whopping $60K.  It would be easy to write this one team from Pittsburgh or the entire MS 150 crew off as a one-time freak phenomenon, but I see it time and time again.  At the school that I work at, a Relay for Life team raised $10K. In the newspapers in my area, there are regular news stories about people raising money for others in need.  Regular people are good.  Wouldn't it be great if our elected leaders matched the generosity and the willingness to work for the common good of the people they have been elected to represent? rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Bicycling House PA-09 TonyBarr _361098 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 01:00:14 +0000 PA09 Support the Troops--Bring Them Home Now https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/20/360487/-PA09-Support-the-Troops-Bring-Them-Home-Now The following essay was submitted to multiple papers throughout the 9th district.  These papers include the Uniontown Herald-Standard, Somerset Daily American, Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Altoona Mirror, and the Chambersburg Public Opinion. Soon Congress will revisit continued funding of the Iraq occupation.  Our current Representative in Congress, Bill Shuster, continues to recite President Bush's line "Stay the Course."  I urge all of you to contact him and tell him that he should bring the troops home by voting against continued funding of this occupation.  This occupation is bad for our troops, it is bad for our country, and it is doing nothing to effectively fight the War on Terror.  For these reasons, we must come up with a new plan that ensures troop safety, allows the United States to regain its status as the preeminent moral force, and effectively fights the terrorists. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections House Iraq War IraqWar PA-09 Terrrorism TonyBarr _360487 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 02:28:33 +0000 PA-09 Multiple thoughts on Important Issues https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/7/355143/-PA-09-Multiple-thoughts-on-Important-Issues Holy Cow!  What a weekend!  I'm still trying to get a handle on it.  It has gone from the weird to Murphy working overtime to great family fun. And, oh yeah, great ideas for a series of diaries.  I am going to attempt to wrestle this mess into a coherent stream of thought.  Good luck to me and to you (if you stick with me) because right now what is going through my head would make James Joyce hang his head and cry.  I'm going to touch upon multiple topics tonight that I will go into much greater detail during future diaries.  Let's start with the tale. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Crime Energy Global Warming GlobalWarming House PA-09 TonyBarr _355143 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:48:34 +0000 PA09-Happy 4th-Let's do something real for our Vets https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/4/354162/-PA09-Happy-4th-Let-s-do-something-real-for-our-Vets I've had a great 4th weekend. I took a couple of days off to expand my kids playpark in the back yard.  The story I'm about to tell you has been burning in the back of my head for the past couple of days. I'm not a vet.  I was never in the armed forces, but here is my vet story. Chuck Sitar was a vet.  He served in Vietnam.  He was my first football coach.  He had a head like a 30 lb. bowling ball with a pair of fists to match.  With a lit stub of a cigar clenched between his teeth, he would bellow obscenities at us 8 year olds to hit him harder while he held the the blocking dummy. Terrified, I hit him like all hell.  For the next 5 years depending on what team he was coaching and what team in the program I was playing for, he was my coach.  I've learned much from many coaches and teachers over the years, but education ends up shining through the prism of your base.  Life is filled with mean SOB's, and it's going to be scary.  But, when you have a job to do, you must do it. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections House Iraq War IraqWar PA-09 PTSD TonyBarr Veterans _354162 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 03:36:54 +0000 PA 09 Rural America—It's Time to Put Boots on Ground! https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/19/348130/-PA-09-Rural-America-mdash-It-s-Time-to-Put-Boots-on-Ground I said it earlier but I really believed at one point that I was the only Democrat in the county.  The sad part is that just about every Democrat that I've talked to in the last couple of years felt the same way at some point.  Worse yet, there are registered Republicans who are either progressives at heart or more progressive in their views who don't know that Democrats exist in the county.  They are Republicans because their parents were Republicans.  And they, like John Prine noted, "...voted for Eisenhower because Lincoln won the war."Again repeating myself, don't tell me the numbers. I know the numbers.  Forget the numbers.  As long as we continue to focus on present voter registration and past history, and use these realities as excuses for inaction, we will accomplish nothing,  This is defeatism, and I won't stand for it rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections GOTV House Organizing PA-09 Rural TakeBackAmerica2007 _348130 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:50:55 +0000 PA09 Rural America-Issues and How They Should Be Framed https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/15/346892/-PA09-Rural-America-Issues-and-How-They-Should-Be-Framed This past spring, I was in a meeting with a parent ( I am a special education teacher by profession.) when she looked at me and said, "Mr. Barr, you need to do something about health insurance."  When she said this, her look was a mixture of anxiety, fear, and hope.  This family is good people.  Hard working, polite, and generous, they get by on $13,000 a year. I'm not kidding you.  They are family farmers. Rural areas, whether it is Central Pennsylvania or elsewhere, are filled with similar people.  Family farmers, small business owners, wildcat loggers, retirees, former factory workers now service workers, the list goes on.  Only a very few of these people are rich.  Most are beginning to realize that the Republican party has done nothing for them.  Many would vote for the right candidate, even if  that candidate were a Democrat. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Abortion Energy Global Warming GlobalWarming Health Care HealthCare House PA-09 Rescued Rural _346892 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:40:29 +0000 PA09 Rural America-Why Grassroots and Netroots Must Take Lead https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/13/346139/-PA09-Rural-America-Why-Grassroots-and-Netroots-Must-Take-Lead In the winter of 2005-2006, there was a great deal of buzz in the political circles I ran in regarding a guy who was seriously considering a run for Congress for my district.  Smart, good-looking, and wealthy, maybe he could be a winner.  He was doing everything by the book.  He met with the leaders  in the Democratic party, and they told him that unless he had a million dollars that he was ready to burn not to bother.  End of campaign. A couple of months later, this and other incidents were weighing on my mind when my wife joked that I should run. I'd felt for a while that sooner or later I was going to have to run for some office.  I'd even discussed my dilemma with my wife.  We had agreed that there was no magical candidate who was going to appear from wherever and save us all.  National was not going to send a candidate to us nor was it going to recruit a candidate  for us.  It was up to us to do it ourselves.  It was up to us to quit whining and moaning and to get it done.  Now was the time. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Democratic Party DemocraticParty Grassroots House Netroots PA-09 Rural _346139 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:03:38 +0000 PA 09 Why Progressives Must Focus on Rural America https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/11/345271/-PA-09-Why-Progressives-Must-Focus-on-Rural-America Progressives must focus their attention on rural America in 2008.   Recent events such as the failure to withdraw troops from Iraq show just how tenuous the Democratic Party's hold on power is.  If we as progressives want to get anything done, whether it is bring our troops home, effectively mitigate global warming, ensure affordable health care for all, make our energy supply secure, renewable, and clean, we are going to have to organize, recruit, and get progressive candidates elected in rural America.  Leadership on these activities is going to have to come from the grassroots and netroots. To do this, we must fully embrace Governor Dean's 50-state strategy at all levels.  We must get progressives to run for school board, township supervisor, and county commissioner.  We must get progressives to run for state government, and we must get them to run for Congress.   rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections House PA-09 Rural Take Back America TakeBackAmerica TonyBarr _345271 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:20:30 +0000 PA09 Iraq Supplemental--I would have voted No https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/24/338690/-PA09-Iraq-Supplemental-I-would-have-voted-No I would have voted no on today's Iraq War Supplemental Funding Bill.  I am angry that the Democrats allowed it to pass. I'm tired of Democrats that go ducking and covering every time the Republicans go "Boo". Kudos to the No Voters.  All 142 in the House and 14 in the Senate.  To the rest, shame on you.   As I sit outside my boys bedroom digesting the days news, thoughts and emotions build like a nasty thunderhead.  A couple of thoughts.  Planning. Trust. Fortitude.  Does the Democratic leadership exhibit any of these qualities? rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Congress IraqWarSupplemental PA-09 TonyBarr _338690 Fri, 25 May 2007 02:04:00 +0000 PA 09 Global Warming--The Debate is Over. It is Time to Act. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/23/338065/-PA-09-Global-Warming-The-Debate-is-Over-It-is-Time-to-Act I have been unhappy with the coverage of global warming in the local media in the last couple of weeks.  Ch. 6 WJAC, The Outdoor Times, and the Altoona Mirror have all run stories or editorials that either give the impression that there is still a debate regarding this issue or worse, ran editorials that get bogged down in petty disagreements.  Let me be clear.  The debate is over.  Global warming is occurring. It is human caused.  Out time to act is running out.   rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Environment Global Warming GlobalWarming Pennsylvania _338065 Thu, 24 May 2007 01:31:32 +0000 Thoughts on a Democratic Primary in Rural America https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/16/335453/-Thoughts-on-a-Democratic-Primary-in-Rural-America Laughter, squeals, choked speech, hugs, fist pumps, excitement, adrenaline.  Last night was the first election night in a long time that I really enjoyed.  Joanne Nardelli, John Vatavuk, Irv Dasher and others made it through to the November election with good showings in yesterday's primary.  I felt good for  them  and for their teams.  I know many of them well since they formed the backbone of my team last November.  Still, when the excitement died down and we went home, I couldn't shake one single thought.  We need more candidates. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2008 elections 2008elections Pennsylvania Primaries Rural _335453 Thu, 17 May 2007 01:38:40 +0000 PA-09 Support Our Troops--Bring Them Home Now or Support the Draft https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/27/328338/-PA-09-Support-Our-Troops-Bring-Them-Home-Now-or-Support-the-Draft Now that the Senate has passed the $124 billion war spending bill, the President is sure to veto it because it will require that the troops be brought home starting October 1.  At this point, those that oppose this occupation have two options—fight or retreat.  I’m in favor of fighting. We must call upon those that support giving the President a blank check book without any limitations to wage war to be honest.  If you support the continued occupation of Iraq, then you must support the reintroduction of the draft. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Draft Funding Iraq War IraqWar Rescued _328338 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:12:06 +0000 PA-09 Why I am Doing What I am Doing https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/31/264283/-PA-09-Why-I-am-Doing-What-I-am-Doing This afternoon, I spoke with an old friend during a down moment.  Her mom, retired, was buying her dad's prescription drugs on a credit card.  The balance on the card was $8,000, all from prescription drug bills.  Sometimes, my friend picks up the tab for her mom's prescriptions.  If my friend did not pick up the tab, her mom would not get her prescriptions.   My friend and her husband have good jobs.  They work hard, and they save.  But, it is getting harder and harder for them and their family to make ends meet.  Bill Shuster and the rest of the Robber Baron ideologues just don't get it.   rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Congress Energy Medicare PA-09 PrescriptionDrugs TonyBarr _264283 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:08:11 +0000 PA-09: Economics, Accountability, and Action https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/28/263060/-PA-09-Economics-Accountability-and-Action "When you get in, don't forget about us, don't forget about the working man," said the logger who had a striking resemblance to Willie Nelson and a grip that could rip your arm off.  His words rang in my head as I finally drove home last night.  It had been quite a day--teaching a full day of school, a discussion with a wrestling coach who has a Swann sticker on his truck but who supports me, meeting with the editorial board of the Uniontown Herald-Standard, and my aforementioned conversation with the loggers in the mountain joint over wings.  I've been talking and listening a lot lately, and last night as I drove home, I worked on organizing my thoughts.  What the people are asking for, what the people are hungry for, and what the people are demanding is what I want to deliver.  To me, it comes down to three things--Economics, Accountability, and Action. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Congress Energy Health Care HealthCare Iraq PA-09 TonyBarr WorkingClass _263060 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 18:01:20 +0000 Demanding, Achieving Excellence https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/24/249586/-Demanding-Achieving-Excellence This morning, over coffee and breakfast, I read about the book In Search of Excellence by Thomas Peters and Robert Waterman.  In this book, the authors explore different management techniques to better understand what makes some businesses successful.  In this book, the authors find 8 basic practices that make businesses successful.  I was stunned as I read because they, in eight very short phrases, had expressed the objectives that I want to achieve once I am elected to Congress.  Their prescriptions, I believe, apply to smart, effective government as well as successful business. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Congress EffectiveGovernment governmentaccountability Grassroots Movement Pennsylvania TonyBarr _249586 Mon, 25 Sep 2006 01:26:36 +0000 Boots on the Ground https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/6/243481/-Boots-on-the-Ground My opponent, Bill Shuster, has repeatedly stated that all is well here in Central-Western Pennsylvania.  I guess that we should expect that kind of response from a guy who is used to glad handing the other suits back in the green zone, but the reality is that we have real problems in our communities.  Nineteen businesses have closed shop here in the 9th and moved overseas since Mr. Shuster has been in Congress.  These are 19 body blows to the economic and social health of Central-Western Pennsylvania.   We don't need more suits in the Green Zone.  What we need are boots on the ground.  What we need is action. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) barr Congress Economy Jobs PA-09 Pennsylvania Vision _243481 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 01:02:25 +0000 Ridin the Dog https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/24/230156/-Ridin-the-Dog How many Congressmen do you think take the bus? The train? Any form of mass transportation?  Do you think you would catch Bill Shuster on a Greyhound Bus mixing with regular people.  Not on your life. rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) Energy PA-09 Policy Public Transportation PublicTransportation TonyBarr _230156 Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:30:48 +0000 Hi, I'm Tony Barr https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/17/228115/-Hi-I-m-Tony-Barr Have you had enough?  Have you yelled at your TV one too many times?  Does your wife refuse to watch the news with you any more?  I know how it feels.  I was in the same boat.  I was tired of $3/gallon gasoline.  I was tired of jobs leaving the country.  I was tired of an occupation that is without end from which this country is hemorrhaging lives and dollars.  It was time to do something.  Are you ready for change? rss@dailykos.com (Tony Barr PA09) 2006elections PA-09 Pennsylvania TonyBarr _228115 Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:23:51 +0000