It’s happened so often that it’s now a cultural cliche: the gay politician pretending to be straight. In most parts of the nation, homosexuality or bisexuality is a clear electoral liability.

Not in Center City’s 182d state House district. There, it’s a badge of honor.

Veteran Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.) last Thursday accused her primary opponent, Gregg Kravitz, of pretending to be bisexual in order to pander to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender voters, a powerful bloc in the district.

“I outed him as a straight person,” Josephs said during a fund-raiser at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant, as some in the audience gasped or laughed, “and now he goes around telling people, quote, ‘I swing both ways.’ That’s quite a respectful way to talk about sexuality. This guy’s a gem.”

Kravitz, 29, said that he is sexually attracted to both men and women and called Josephs’ comments offensive.

I could be shaking my head over this one for a while.

1. At age four success is … not peeing in your pants.

2. At age 12 success is … having friends.

3. At age16 success is … having a drivers license.

4. At age 20 success is … going all the way.

5. At age 35 success is … having money.

6. At age 50 success is … having money.

7. At age 60 success is… going all the way.

8. At age 70 success is … having a drivers license.

9. At age 75success is … having friends.

10. At age 80 success is … not peeing in your pants.

11. Success is winning an election at any age.

Political campaigns and the skill to keep political support while governing, are inseparable from the reality of what you say and what you do.

Author unknown

It is amazing how many politicians don’t know or forget that.

And oh one other thing … character does matter.

“I’m too busy,” some said. “I don’t care,” said others. “It doesn’t matter anyway,” claimed the uniformed.

So, the planning of “The Plan” went on without input. As Ad Hoc Select Few proceeded without direction from the masses.

When “The Plan” was presented for approval, the masses said among themselves, “It is a crock of shit and it stinketh.”

The masses went to the Ad Hoc Select Few and said, “It is a pail of dung, and we cannot abide the smell.”

The Ad Hoc Select Few went to the Planning Commission and said, “It contains that which aids plant growth, and is very strong.”

The Planning Commission went tot the City Council and said, “It promotes growth, and is very powerful.”

The City Council presented “The Plan” for voting saying, “This powerful Plan will actively promote growth and vigor in our community with powerful effects.”

The City Council looked upon “The Plan” and saw it was good. And “The Plan” became law.

And that my friends, is how shit happens!

And now I can love concrete and the environment at the same time…

The outer road along Interstate 44 near Six Flags St. Louis is freshly paved _ with asphalt made from recycled swine manure. It is believed to be the first time asphalt has been created from swine manure. Two St. Louis County companies, road contractor Pace Construction Co. and the engineering firm Innoventor, joined together on the project.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Innoventor perfected the process of converting the animal waste into a bio-oil used in asphalt binder.

Hog producers are optimistic that, if the project works, it will create an additional source of revenue while helping the environment.

This just in …

The officials at the Liverpool City Council are planning to ban the word obese for children.

It has been seen that the highest childhood obesity rate is found in Britain. In Liverpool, approximately half of 11 year old boys and 40 percent of 11 year old girls are overweight.

The plans to ban the word obese  for the age group of 9-11 were stimulated by the suggestions made by the School Parliament.

OK, I’ll label these guys are “crackpots.”

Just because you ban the word doesn’t make the kids any less fat.

“What happened?” someone asked.

“The 10 ton truck went trough the 5 ton bridge,” was the answer.

“What shall we do? asked someone else.

A man, who would probably someday be mayor answered, ‘well, first we will rent a crane to pull the truck out and get it on its way – then we will hire a crew of men to repair the bridge.”

This done, everything went smoothly until the next Tuesday morning when the 10 ton truck again crossed the 5 ton bridge with the same results. Everyone gathered around the bridge.

“Didn’t this happen before?” someone asked.

“Yes” was the answer.

“What did we do then?” someone else asked.

“Well,” said he man who would be mayor, “we rented a crane to pull out the truck and then hired some men to fix the bridge.”

So it went every Tuesday, the 10 ton truck went through the 5 ton bridge and the crane was rented and the crew was hired to repair the bridge.

Then one day a man who would be know as the “young up and comer”, said, “I can save the town much money. Let us buy the crane instead of renting it. We can depreciate the value and write off the expense. It will pay for itself in three years, plus we can train our own men to fix the bridge. So the town leaders were able to show a great savings to the community.

Some people wondered why the truck wasn’t rerouted or the bridge reinforced, but then they thought – you know, that’s the way things are.

– Author Unknown

But with that being said, now is not the time to ask for a raise from $37,000 to $80,000.

Some Dallas City Council members appear ready to ask voters for a pay raise and longer terms, even as City Hall struggles to balance its budget with drastically reduced services, layoffs and pay cuts.

On Friday, council member Tennell Atkins said they should be paid $80,000 to $100,000 a year and serve four-year terms. He wants to see voters amend the city’s charter in May 2011 to make it so, he said.

As it stands, most council members make $37,500 a year and serve two-year terms.

Jeez. Can you believe it?

That is why this story from Clinton, UT piqued my interest.

The Clinton City Council has voted to give its city manager, the mayor and itself a written reprimand over $83,000 that was lost when the FDIC closed Centennial Bank on March 7.

City manager Dennis Cluff also will be docked three days’ pay, about $1,300.

The city treasurer will have more oversight, and new policies will be implemented to make sure the city never loses uninsured money in a bank account again.

“I think this won’t happen again,” said Councilwoman Anna Stanton, who made the motion that ultimately passed 3-2.

Council members David Pearson and Cheri Reed, who wanted a stiffer penalty, voted against it.

While I agree with Pearson and Reed and believe a stiffer penalty was in order … at least they did SOMETHING as they admitted a big mistake had been made.

Many city councils would have tried to sweep it under the rug.

What would your council have done?

Local politics are BORING, its all local ordinances, trees, roads, signs and is rarely anything shocking…

Maybe it’s a cynical view, but how valuable is local news exactly? Does anyone really care what the town council has to say?

Sarah, Yoo Hoo, I care.

I care about the police department and what they do for the community. I care about the fire department and the protection they provide me. I care about where my poop ends up so it doesn’t harm the environment. I care about the electricity that powers the computer I am using this minute. There are many services provided by my city and county that I care about.

Maybe when Sarah grows up she will care…?