Chris Freind
Thu, September 09, 2010
Gov. Christie and the DRPA
Has New Jersey Governor Chris Christie just driven his successful Administration off a bridge?
Not yet, but he's nearing the edge.
Tue, September 07, 2010
Why Are We Arguing About the Ground Zero Mosque?
A frequent, and well-founded, criticism of American journalism is that too many reporters focus more on a good story than telling the truth.
To be fair, though, that label must also be applied ...
Tue, August 31, 2010
Vacationing in Avalon? Think Twice!
Without question, Avalon is one of the best beach towns on the South Jersey coast. Jutting a mile further out in the Atlantic than other shore points, its cool ocean breezes and pristine beaches make ...
Thu, August 26, 2010
Could School Choice Prevent Cop Killings?
On a recent weekday at Annunciation B.V.M. Church in Havertown, a Mass was celebrated to pray for and honor police officers — both those on the front lines and those who have fallen in the line of ...
Tue, August 17, 2010
DRPA 'Reformers': Inmates Running An Asylum
It's Business As Usual at the DRPA. And despite all the "reform" rhetoric flying around, don't expect real changes anytime soon.
The reason is ...
Wed, August 11, 2010
Eminent Doman: the New Amerika?
There's good news and bad news.
First, the bad. As we all know, there just aren't enough places to play skee-ball in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
Wed, August 04, 2010
DRPA Vice Chair Nash Has Conflict
In a February, 2008 media report, Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Vice Chairman Jeff Nash, also an elected Camden County Freeholder, ominously warned that "…the deck of the Walt Whitman ...
Tue, July 27, 2010
Arizona Immigration Law
Oh the hypocrisy.
Ever since Arizona passed its controversial law allowing police to check a suspect's immigration status, the federal government had been ...
Wed, July 21, 2010
Five Reasons to Dump DRPA Chief Matheussen
Five Reasons To Dump DRPA Chief John Matheussen:
An Open Letter To Governor Chris Christie
Governor Christie:
Political ...
Tue, July 13, 2010
Phil's Phans Beware!
The cries are getting louder.
Despite their sweep of the Reds, the Phillies are still in third place, 4 1/2 games behind the Braves, with the trade of Cliff Lee ...
Tue, July 06, 2010
Armageddon in Pennsylvania
Bill Murray must be furious.
Two decades after the release of his classic Groundhog Day — in which a series of events is repeated over and over — Governor Rendell ...
Mon, June 21, 2010
Obama & Offshore Drilling: Opportunity of a Lifetime
They say timing is everything.
And they are right.
If not for perfect timing, and a near impossible confluence of events, Barack Obama would most ...
Tue, June 15, 2010
BP & The US Government: No Common Sense
Teaching a child how to ride a bike always involves certain lessons.
How to pedal, how to balance yourself, how to steer.
We teach these things because they ...
Tue, June 08, 2010
Bucks County Republicans Imploding
Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines "grow" as "to spring up and develop to maturity" and "to increase in size…to expand."
Unfortunately ...
Fri, May 28, 2010
Sestak/White House Could Face Legal Trouble in Job-Gate
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak, fresh off his primary win dethroning 30-year incumbent Arlen Specter, may have thought he was entitled to a brief honeymoon.
Tue, May 25, 2010
Corbett and the Twitter Subpoena
Why does it seem that every time a politician takes on corruption, his motives are called into question?
We often hear that investigations of this sort are ...
Fri, May 21, 2010
Obama Will Pay for Abandoning Specter
On far too many occasions, the media gets a story wrong. Whether that stems from laziness, ignorance or incompetence --- or all three --- the people deserve better.
Tue, May 11, 2010
Analysis of PA Governor Race
Pennsylvania's elections this year will be front and center on the national scene, as there are numerous hotly contested congressional races and a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs. But attracting the ...
Fri, May 07, 2010
Catching the Times Square Bomber was Luck
During a television interview, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly was asked how a bomb-laden car could be driven into Times Square, and how to prevent such a recurrence. He answered, correctly, ...
Thu, April 29, 2010
Inky Gets New Owners
This is probably the easiest column I've ever written.
A no-brainer.
Unequivocally, Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News ...
Wed, April 21, 2010
The Rendell Legacy: PA's Fiscal Catastrophe
Let's give credit where it's due. Fast Eddie never gives up, no matter how short-sighted his ideas may be.
When we last left our lameduck leader during the 2009 ...
Thu, April 15, 2010
Back from the Dead? Philly Political Tricks Continue
Should Philadelphia GOP Boss Michael Meehan Be Disbarred?
It's no secret that Philadelphia has a long and proud history of political corruption.
Wed, April 07, 2010
Catholic Church Still Wrong on Money Grab
As a product of Catholic school, I remember the nuns drilling into our heads a simple but extremely important concept: WWJD---What Would Jesus Do? We were instructed to use this question as a guide ...
Tue, March 30, 2010
AG Health Care Lawsuit: No Conflict of Interest
The idiocy of some people never ceases to amaze.
For the latest example, just look how the political hacks reacted to the recent week of Pennsylvania Attorney ...
Tue, March 23, 2010
Blame Bush, GOP for Health Care Mess
"I believe that the will of the people is reflected sooner or later in the will of the government."
So says the only man in America who can make George W. ...
Mon, March 15, 2010
Jihad Jane Show the Need for More Profiling
The arrest of "Jihad Jane," a white American woman accused of plotting with known terrorists, is both good and bad.
Good, of course, because those ...
Wed, March 03, 2010
The 'Jack Murtha Philadelphia Shipyard'?
Reports have surfaced that Pennsylvania Democrats are in favor of naming the iconic Philadelphia Navy Shipyard after the recently-deceased Congressman Jack Murtha.
Fri, February 26, 2010
Madeleine McCann: Forsaken by Gerry and Kate -- Again
Being in the media is pretty cool, especially when you run your own news bureau, as I now do (www.FreindlyFireZone.com)
I recently flew in an F-16 fighter jet, ...
Thu, February 18, 2010
Is Curt Schroder Still a Possible PA-6 Candidae?
Hollywood couldn't have scripted the drama any better in the GOP's nomination race for Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District.
Try to follow along:
Tue, February 16, 2010
Blame Trial Lawyers for Seattle Child Beating
The now-infamous video of a 15-year old Seattle girl being brutally attacked while not one, not two, but THREE security guards --- and numerous other bystanders --- literally stood by and took no ...
Fri, January 29, 2010
Senator Anthony Williams: Remarks Racist?
If you're wondering why race relations in America haven't improved at all, look no farther than the recent comments of state Senator Anthony Williams' concerning the current field of Democratic ...
Wed, December 09, 2009
Anchors Aweigh:
TV's Dawn Stensland May Run for Congress in the 7th District
Finally, the Delaware County GOP Machine thought it was safe to go back in the waters of congressional politics. Popular incumbent Joe Sestak decided to run for Senate, and the party bosses had ...
Mon, November 02, 2009
Panella's Abortion Flip-Flop Makes Him Unworthy
State Supreme Court candidate Jack Panella obviously doesn't learn from history.
When former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney entered the 2008 Republican ...
Fri, October 09, 2009
Nobel Peace Prize Goes Into the Trashcan of History
All good things come to an end. And so it has for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In an unprecedented display of sucking up, the sycophants behind the Nobel Prize chose ...
Thu, October 08, 2009
Phillies Werth Should Have Been Yanked for Lack of Hustle
Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel had the opportunity of a lifetime during Game 1 of the National League Playoffs. He could have shown the world the real definition of "winning," and, in ...
Mon, September 28, 2009
Analysis: Democratic Candidates for PA Governor
The 2010 election cycle in Pennsylvania will be one of the most important in decades, highlighted by the gubernatorial contest. History favors the Republicans, since the governor's office has ...
Thu, September 24, 2009
America's Walkout of Ahmadinejad Was Disgraceful
When will America learn that the largest part of politics is psychology? Time and again, we fail to see the implications of our actions, with our errors in judgment only leading to victories for our ...
Fri, September 11, 2009
7th Congressional District: A GOP Battle or an Uncontested Primary?
Pennsylvania's 2010 election cycle is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in decades, with gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races taking center stage. And since several candidates in those ...
Fri, September 04, 2009
Rendell's Taxes Would Kill Pennsylvania
Despite a constitutional requirement that a budget be in place by June 30, the impasse remains, giving Pennsylvania the distinction of being the only state without a fiscal plan.
Tue, September 01, 2009
Face to Face With Hurricane Bill: Freindly Fire Rides with USAF 'Hurricane Hunters'
"Jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft is not a natural act. So let's do it right, and enjoy the view."---Clint Eastwood's U.S. Marine character in "Heartbreak Ridge."
Thu, August 27, 2009
Nutter's Tax Increase Is a Joke
It was a rainy, warm March back in 1936, and the snow in the hills around Johnstown began to melt. This caused the unfortunate city to be leveled by yet another flood. To help rebuild Johnstown, ...
Tue, August 25, 2009
Rendell: Always Sticking His Nose Where It Doesn't Belong
Ed Rendell just doesn't get it.
Pennsylvania's Democratic governor has always had a long history of sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, but an article in ...
Thu, August 20, 2009
New Jersey Devils: Knights of the Sky
A media ride with the NJ National Guard
“We live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded... you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use them as the backbone of a ...
Thu, July 30, 2009
Open Letter to Governor Rendell: Why Your Approval Rating is So Dismal
Dear Gov. Rendell:
I noted with interest that your current approval rating stands at just 39% --- the lowest point in your career. Despite denying my repeated ...
Thu, May 21, 2009
Ballard, Rendell Conflicts Intensify at DRPA
Conflicts of interest at the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) were taken to a new level at yesterday's board meeting.
Ballard Spahr Law Firm partner John Estey ...
Wed, May 20, 2009
Gerlach Takes Aim at His 2010 Opponents
Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, who represents parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties in the 6th Congressional District, is in a unique position heading into the 2010 election ...
Mon, May 18, 2009
Supreme Court, Philly DA Race Headline Election 2009
Tomorrow's primary election features several significant races. As usual in most primaries, they will be largely ignored with a low voter turnout.
Locally, five ...
Fri, May 15, 2009
Saul, Ewing & PA Turnpike: A Conflict of Interest?
Allegations of conflicts of interest and pay-to-play politics continue to dog Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and his administration.
Notably, millions in secretive ...
Wed, May 13, 2009
Federal Stimulus Contract Watch
Editor's Note: This is an ongoing series examining how state government contracts are awarded federal stimulus money.
For many years, conflicts of interest and ...
Wed, May 13, 2009
Sestak Edges Closer to Specter Challenge
Since 2007, rumors have circulated that Democratic U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak — who represents the 7th Congressional District in Delaware, Montgomery and Chester counties — has had his eye on the 2010 ...
Wed, May 13, 2009
Board of Ethics: Williams, McCaffery Campaigns in Violation
The Philadelphia Board of Ethics has determined that the campaigns of Seth Williams and Dan McCaffery, two leading district attorney candidates, were in violation of campaign finance laws, with just ...
Tue, May 05, 2009
Political Realities of the 2010 PA U.S. Senate Race
The fallout from U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party continued this week as politicians jockeyed for position and rumors flew about who might be running in the key Senate race ...
Tue, May 05, 2009
Jane Orie Melvin: A Reformer's Bid for the Supreme Court
She was the first woman, and first Republican, to serve as Chief Magistrate Judge on Pittsburgh's Municipal Court.
She was the first female Republican elected to ...
Wed, April 29, 2009
Specter's Switch: An Election Analysis
A political earthquake shook the nation yesterday, quite possibly leading to a seismic shift in how America is governed. Despite several prior statements that he would not leave the Republican ...
Fri, April 24, 2009
Campaign Violations by McCaffery's Firm's PAC??
Law Partners Reimbursed For Political Contributions; Recipients Still Unknown
By CHRIS FREIND, The Bulletin
Friday, April 24, 2009
Fri, April 10, 2009
Questions to DRPA About Its Tram
Below are the inquiries made to the Delaware River Port Authority. The original request was made on November 18.
• It has been reported that $17 million has been ...
Fri, April 10, 2009
DRPA Silent on 'Tram to Nowhere'
Millions spent on now idle project
In December 2000, the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) started building a tram project to carry passengers between Philadelphia and Camden. The authority spent a considerable sum — possibly as ...
Fri, April 10, 2009
Casino Investors Make Safe Bet With Rendell
Financiers, Associated Entities Donated $3.8 Million to Governor
A Philadelphia investment group, awarded a casino license this week by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, has substantial financial connections to Gov. Ed Rendell, D.
Wed, March 25, 2009
FBI, State Police Investigate Williams Campaign Contribution
The Seth Williams for District Attorney campaign suffered another setback with news that federal and state investigators are looking into a campaign contribution linked to convicted mob attorney ...
Thu, March 19, 2009
DRPA Pulls Plug on PA Construction Company
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), already under attack for conflicts of interest and excessive spending on non-bridge projects, ignited another controversy yesterday by awarding a contract to ...
Tue, March 17, 2009
Specter, Luksik, Toomey May Square Off
Democrats control the United States Senate with 58 votes, and it seems likely that the Republican incumbent from Minnesota, Norm Coleman, will lose his seat in the recount. With 59 votes, the ...
Fri, February 13, 2009
Senator Specter on the Bailout: One-on-One with The Bulletin
Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter recently voted in favor of the $800 billion bailout legislation designed to right America's economic ship. Since he is one of only three Republicans to ...
Fri, February 13, 2009
Inquirer Bailout Talks Raise More Questions
The Bulletin and other media outlets have recently disclosed ongoing discussions between Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, D, and Philadelphia Media Holdings (PMH) Publisher and CEO Brian Tierney. A ...
Thu, February 12, 2009
Rendell to Veto No-Bid Contract Reform?
The Pennsylvania Senate recently introduced 10 bills aimed at reforming state government. Senate Bill 102, sponsored by Majority Whip Jane Orie, R-40th, of Allegheny County, deals with how no-bid ...
Mon, February 02, 2009
NBC Refused to Air Pro-Life Ad During Super Bowl
TAMPA - A storm of controversy has engulfed the NBC television network after it refused to air a pro-life commercial during yesterday's Super Bowl on the grounds that the ad involved "political ...
Thu, January 29, 2009
Reaction to Inquirer Bailout Discussions Draws Fire
On Dec. 29, the publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News wrote a column entitled "Papers Matter More Than Ever."
In his essay, Brian Tierney ...
Wed, January 28, 2009
Bailout for the Inquirer?
A Discussion With Rendell's Press Secretary
By Chris Freind, For The Bulletin
It is no secret the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News have severe financial ...
Wed, January 28, 2009
Port Authority: $11 Million in Non-Bridge Projects
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) resumed its controversial "economic development" program yesterday, doling out millions of dollars to projects having nothing to do with the ...
Tue, January 20, 2009
Does Comcast Phone Service Violate FCC Rules?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that Philadelphia-based Comcast Corporation submit a response by Jan. 30 to questions regarding the company's broadband network management ...
Mon, January 19, 2009
Ballard Spahr and Governor Rendell: An Intimate Relationship
Ballad Spahr is Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's former firm. Numerous partners at the firm maintain intimate relationships with the Governor. Brothers-in-law John Estey and Adrian King, Jr., both ...
Mon, January 19, 2009
Legislators, Citizens React to Ballard's 'No-Contract' Work
Pennsylvania state legislators and community activists expressed outrage this week in response to the Bulletin's Jan. 9 revelation that the politically connected Ballard Spahr law firm performed ...
Fri, January 09, 2009
Ballard's $774,000 'No-Contract' Work for PA
Governor Rendell's former firm went beyond 'non-bid' contracts
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has recently come under fire as more information emerges regarding the frequency and high-dollar amounts of no-bid state contracts doled out to his political donors ...
Fri, January 09, 2009
Rendell, Richardson, and Rubin - Pay to Play Politics?
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is facing felony charges that he allegedly attempted to sell President-elect Barack Obama's senate seat in a pay-to-play scheme. New Mexico Governor Bill ...
Fri, January 09, 2009
A Recap of Rendell's Ballard Spahr Connections
* Ballard attorneys have contributed nearly a half-million dollars to Gov. Rendell's campaigns. The Ballard firm, a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), contributed another $481,000.
Mon, December 15, 2008
Knox: No to Blue Cross Merger
Tom Knox is an immensely successful businessman who built his reputation on efficiently directing companies, such as UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, where he served as CEO.
Mon, December 15, 2008
Mellow's Blue Cross Board Seat A Conflict
Pennsylvania Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-22nd, of Lackawanna County, due to his 38 years in the chamber, has become one of the most powerful politicians in Harrisburg.
Fri, December 05, 2008
Rendell, His Political Friends -- And More State Contracts
Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., has come under increased fire as more information comes to light regarding his relationships with campaign donors.
Awarding contributors ...
Fri, November 21, 2008
Legislator to Rendell: End Insider Contracts
Governor's relationship with Ballard Spahr leads to questions
Last Friday, The Bulletin published a series of articles and a box chart detailing the intimate relationship between Governor Rendell and his former law firm, Ballard Spahr. The investigative report ...
Mon, November 17, 2008
Company with 'Checkered History' Awarded State Contract
The state Department of Revenue awarded a five year contract to the GTECH corporation earlier this year "to supply terminal-based game services to the Pennsylvania Lottery," potentially ...
Mon, November 17, 2008
Legislators Introduce Bills to Reform State Contracts
Harrisburg – In a September memo to the members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, four state legislators outlined their respective bills aimed at reforming how state contracts are ...
Mon, November 17, 2008
Ballard's Estey Teaches 'Legal Ethics'
In a twist of irony, John Estey, former Chief of Staff to Gov. Rendell and currently a partner at the law firm of Ballard Spahr, teaches a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) course entitled, ...
Mon, November 17, 2008
Political Contributions and Government Contracts: A Fine Line
Political Contributions and Government Contracts: A Fine Line
By: Chris Freind
BULLETIN
While Americans voted in record ...
Fri, November 14, 2008
Ballard Spahr and Governor Rendell: Perfect Together
In 1999, after serving eight years as Mayor of Philadelphia, Ed Rendell joined the Ballard Spahr law firm, headquartered in Center City. Two years later, during his campaign for Governor, Rendell ...
Fri, November 07, 2008
The GOP Can't Beat Something with Nothing
Give President-elect Obama credit for one thing. His central campaign theme was correct. Time and again, he pounded home the message that the policies of the last eight years have failed.
Thu, November 06, 2008
Braving the Cold for School Choice
They had camped out, some for 19 hours, prior to the event. Huddling in blankets, drinking coffee and playing cards, they slept on concrete sidewalks in freezing temperatures, but not one person ...
Tue, October 28, 2008
Bud Selig: Baseball's Death Wish
Some things never change. Water is wet, the sun rises each morning, and Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is staggeringly incompetent.
What we witnessed during the ...
Mon, October 27, 2008
Convict Flees - Courts Free!
Accountability is still non-existent
For convicted felon Warren Watkins, Christmas came early this year.
Despite being convicted for drug offenses in 2006, sentenced to five to ten years in absentia ...
Fri, October 17, 2008
Attorney General Tom Corbett
First in a three-part interview
As Pennsylvania's Attorney General, Tom Corbett finds himself in an interesting political position. On the one hand, he is routinely mentioned as a Republican front runner for the 2010 governor's ...
Fri, October 17, 2008
Rendell's Judges: Business as Usual
One of the media's biggest shortcomings is its lack of follow-up on critical issues. The recent controversy surrounding judges' lenient sentences for hardened criminals, which has led to the ...
Fri, October 17, 2008
Tom Corbett Talks About the GOP and His Election
Last in a three part interview
Tom Corbett Talks About the GOP and His Election
Last of a three-part interview of the PA Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorney ...
Fri, October 17, 2008
Tom Corbett: Bonusgate, Voter Fraud and Gaming
Second of a three-part interview
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, often mentioned as a Republican front-runner for the 2010 governor's race, is running for re-election this fall. With twelve indictments in the "Bonus ...
Mon, October 06, 2008
George Bush Has Kept America Safer
George Bush Has Kept America Safer
Few will argue that the George W. Bush presidency has largely been one of disappointment. It took the President seven years to ...
Tue, September 30, 2008
Nutter Shoots Blanks on Gun Laws
I'm not sure who's more clueless: Mayor Nutter or the family of cop-killer Daniel Giddings
Gidding's family is eulogizing him as "family-oriented, intelligent, ...
Fri, September 26, 2008
Stop the Killing Fields: Enact School Choice
If you bang your head against a wall ten times, there is absolutely no reason to believe the result will be different on the next try. At least, that would be the rational conclusion.
Wed, September 24, 2008
DRPA: Finally on the Record
CEO Says Economic Development funds will still be spent
On Sept. 14, The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) enacted a 33 per cent toll hike on the four major ...
Wed, September 24, 2008
The Hows and Whys of the Housing Crisis
Danny Cachuela leads a real estate team at Prudential Fox and Roach in Newtown Square. With a background in finance, government affairs, marketing and economics, and as a former CEO of an ...
Wed, September 24, 2008
U.S. Senate GOP Leader Talks About McCain in PA
A Bulletin Exclusive Q and A
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, is the Republican Minority Leader in the United States Senate. A political powerbroker, he is widely ...
