by Tribune-Review staff
If Louisiana governor and anti-volcano monitor Bobby Jindal doesn't want any federal stimulus money for his state, Braddock mayor and all-around good guy John Fetterman gladly will take it.
Fetterman made that offer publicly Wednesday during a five-minute appearance on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" to tout his town and appeal for money.
Though there were jokes aplenty during the segment -- host Stephen Colbert at one point suggested that Braddock add skyboxes as a way to generate revenues -- Fetterman's message was serious.
In fact, no one in the audience laughed when Fetterman seriously suggested what many might have perceived as a joke in better financial times: Braddock would gladly welcome something as simple as a Subway franchise to revitalize its ailing business district.
Fetterman good-naturedly endured some ribbing from Colbert about his 6-foot, 8-inch, 300-pound frame. "You look like you received a dose of gamma radiation," he quipped.
Colbert warmed to Fetterman, however, when the mayor said Braddock was interested in being the site of the Colbert Museum and Gift Shop.
SEN. SPECTER FALLS OFF THE WAGON. No wonder Arlen Specter has gone back to drinking martinis.
Pennsylvania's senior senator continues to take considerable heat for his vote last month supporting President Barack Obama 's economic stimulus plan.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele reiterated remarks last week that the committee might not back Specter in the GOP primary.
"Of course, the senator's gonna have to account to primary voters," Steele said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show. "He's gonna have to go through that gauntlet first and stand before those voters."
Also chiming in on the issue, Pennsylvania Republican Committee Chairman Michael Gleason Jr. acknowledged to the Morning Call of Allentown that Specter might also be without the state committee's support.
Specter revealed last week that he had given up his beloved martinis for several months for health reasons, but recently began downing them after doctors found no change in his glucose levels.
His timing couldn't be better. He certainly has reason to drink these days.
PROUD OF HIS PORK. Wondering exactly where Rick Santorum stands on federal budget earmarks?
If you caught the former Republican Pennsylvania senator's confusing appearance on the Fox News Channel show "Hannity" on Thursday, you probably still are wondering.
Santorum began by seemingly speaking out against the nearly 9,000 earmarks in a budget bill passed Wednesday by the House, criticizing them as rewards to supporters of the Democrat-controlled Congress.
Moments later, however, Santorum did an abrupt about-face.
"I'm not saying necessarily earmarks are bad," he said. "I have had a lot of earmarks. In fact, I'm very proud of all the earmarks I've put in bills. In fact, I'll defend earmarks."
In the ex-senator's mind, there apparently is good pork and bad pork. The bad pork is any pork doled out by people not named Santorum.
A LASTING PEACE? What's next⢠Will India make nice with Pakistan⢠Will Tom finally settle his long-standing differences with Jerry ?
Those were among the questions we pondered upon hearing that Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and his most vociferous City Council critic, Bill Peduto , were teaming up to develop a plan to bring more environmentally efficient streetlights to the city.
The two had been advancing separate studies to determine the best illumination option when replacing the 40,000 streetlights.
Perhaps we're being overly cynical. But despite this luminous detente, we think it unlikely that you'll see Ravenstahl and Peduto pounding brewskis at Cappy's anytime soon.
JUST DESSERTS. That's the best he could do?
We're disappointed in Republican state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Cranberry for the lame name he gave to an informal constituent meeting he has scheduled for March 5 at the Middlesex Township Municipal Building.
Apparently attempting to entice people to attend by offering them snacks, Metcalfe is calling the evening "Desserts with Daryl."
That doesn't move us.
Given his conservative bent, Metcalfe could have been a bit more creative and gone with "Pie With a Right-Wing Guy." Or he could have capitalized on his well-earned reputation for being, well, offbeat and called the evening "Cake With a Flake."
Such a squandered opportunity.
LINE OF THE WEEK. We didn't hear a better one last week than this gem offered by The Washington Post's Dana Milbank on President Barack Obama 's Fiscal Responsibility Summit, which came on the heels of the $800 billion stimulus package:
"Holding a 'fiscal responsibility summit' at the White House in the middle of a government spending spree is a bit like having an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at a frat house on homecoming weekend."
MOVING ON UP . Latrobe Mayor Tom Marflak may be bidding adieu to that job after one term.
Marflak, a Republican, is circulating nominating petitions to run for Westmoreland County's prothonotary.
The move may also clear the way for county Human Resources Director Chuck Dominick . Dominick, a Latrobe councilman, is circulating petitions to run as a Democrat for the mayor's post.
ETHICS 101. Fayette County engineer B. Todd Radolec , vice president of Penn Development Services in Uniontown, recently asked the state Ethics Commission whether he could participate, as a board member of the county airport authority, in awarding an authority contract if his own firm submits a bid for a project.
No surprise here, but the commission issued an advisory stating that his participation in authority action involving his own firm would not be a good idea.
"As to your specific inquiry, you are advised that pursuant to ... the Ethics Act, in your public capacity as an authority board member, you would have a conflict of interest in matters pertaining to actual or anticipated contracts between the authority and the company, including but not limited to such involving the project. In each instance of a conflict of interest, you would be required to abstain fully from participation," the commission wrote.
The commission also noted that Radolec "generally would have a conflict of interest in matters that would financially impact you, the company, or the company's clients."
SPEECHMAKING. Newly seated state Sen. Kim Ward , a Westmoreland Republican, is already hitting the speakers circuit.
Ward will be keynote speaker at the Indiana County GOP's annual Lincoln Dinner March 5 at Rustic Lodge. Also included in the festivities is a reading of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address by former Indiana Mayor John D. Varner .
