Romney's campaign bus was in front of the Cambria County Courthouse today July 25, 2012

[happyslug]

It was parked outside the County Courthouse. I avoided it but notice it was being set up for cameras. I wish I was handicap, it was park to block the handicap ramps from Center Street (Which the courthouse is on), Technically anyone in a wheel chair could have just gone down to the next ramp on either end of the block, but it would have been a fun few minutes while the person in the wheelchair try to use the ramp to cross the street (a ramp blocked by the bus).

When I saw the bus I was glad I did not have my camera, now that I think of the opportunity to picture the bus blocking a handicap ramp, I regret NOT having my camera.

[KansDem]

1. Maybe it was blocking the ramps...

...because someone had slashed the tires and it couldn't move?

Just a thought...

[happyslug]

4. With the Sheriff Deputies all over the place?

And when they bring prisoners over from the County Prison, they use another entrance reserved for such prisoners and their guards. Thus no prisoners will be around the Bus and neither will be the Deputies. Cambria County is a Democratic Stronghold as is most of South Western Pennsylvania (Through tend to be more prejudice then most other Democratic area, tied in with the use of African Americans as strike breakers in the 1920s).

McCain split the vote in most Southwestern Pennsylvania Counties (While Obama won big in Allegheny County). Cambria went for Obama by a small percentage, while Beaver (47% for Obama), Washington (46%), Greene (48% for Obama), Fayette (49% for Obama) went with McCain by an small percentage. Somerset (36% for Obama) Armstrong (36% for Obama) (36% for Obama), Venago (39% for Obama), Jefferson (34% for Obama) and Butler (35% for Obama) still gave 1/3 of their votes to Obama with Westmoreland (41% for Obama) Indiana (45% for Obama) and Clearfield (42% for Obama) Counties between these two extremes.

County........Obama%...Obama#...McCain%...McCain#
....
Allegheny........57.1%.....373,153.....41.6%....272,347
Armstrong.......36.8%.......11,138.....61.3%......42,895
Bedford...........27.0%........6,059 ....71.8%.....16,124
Butler ...... .....35.5%......32,260......62.9%.....57,074
Cambria..... ....49.2%......32,451......48.5%.....31,995
Clarion............37.8%........6,756.....60.1%......10,737
Clearfield.........42.8%......14,555.....54.9%.....18,662
Fayette..........49.2%......25,866.....49.6%......26,081
Greene...........48.6%.......7,829......49.0%......7,889
Indiana...........45.7%......17,065.....52.9%......19,727
Jefferson... .....34.1%.......6,447......63.8%......12,057
Somerset... .....36.4%.....12,878......61.3%......21,686
Venango.... .....39.4%.......9,238.....58.5%......13,718
Washington......46.8%.......8,539.....51.5%......46,122
Westmoreland...41.0%.....72,721.....57.6%.....102,294

The extremes in Pennsylvania, Bedford 71.8% for McCain, and Philadelphia 83% for Obama
Bedford.........27.0%,,,,,..6,059....71.8%......16,124
Philadelphia....83.0%,,,,595,980....16.3%.....117,221

Thus the local have to be careful, to high a Democratic Base. Worse part Ebensburg and north in Cambria county is a Democratic Stronghold, mostly former steel workers and coal miners. The GOP strength is in the suburbs of Johnstown (Johnstown itself is a Democratic Stronghold).

Thus this is to give the image that Romeny cares about Johnstown/ Cambria County so he "visits" now, while before the real start of the Campaign with the start of the Conventions.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Was there a huge throng of people

waiting for him? I wish you would have had your camera too.

[happyslug]

3. When I saw it at 9:00 AM when I enter the Courthouse and 9:45 when I left, about a dozen people

But it was just the people setting up for some new event, I have seen more people at the front door at lunch time.

I suspect it was set up for a 11:00 to 1:00 "Visit", probably during lunch hour to get as many county workers in the photos as they enter and exit the Courthouse.

Before 9/11 and the push to increase court security, you had a dozen different entrances into and out of the Courthouse. Since "Security" was installed, most people have to go in and out through the front door with its metal detectors. Thus today it is easy to get a crowd around the Front door especially during 11:00 to 1:00 as people take early and late lunches so that offices can stay open during lunch.

Local Newspaper article on the "Visit":
http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x1236706897/Romney-bus-tour-takes-aim-at-Obamas-anti-business-stance

EBENSBURG — Two Cambria County business owners and state Republican Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr., whose family owned a financial/insurance business in Johnstown, on Wednesday attacked President Obama for being anti-business.

Thomas McAneny of McAneny Brothers, a food distributor, and Rex McQuaide of McQuaide, Inc., trucking business, joined Gleason as the Romney campaign bus made a stop outside the Cambria County Courthouse.

It’s one of 26 events with the Romney bus to call attention to Obama’s recent statement that wealthy Americans “didn’t get there on (their) own” in becoming successful.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. If I had to go out on the steps with him there,

I would have taken a sign saying "I am here for a cigarette, not Rmoney".

[blue neen]

5. Heck, maybe Romney is here to join up with Tom Corbett on his kayaking trip!

Now, there is a photo op if there ever was one!

[happyslug]

7. The Quemahoning Reservoir is releasing water into the Stoneycreek River for white watering

For more see:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/31394/

Now the Stoneycreek meets the Little Conemaugh to form the Conemaugh River in Johnstown, but Ebensburg is in the Little Conemaugh Water Shed NOT the Stoneycreek River Water Shed, but is in the same county, so maybe such a kayak trip is planned?

Stony Creek near Johnstown, PA is one of the finest class III+ rivers in the region. The Canyon section has many miles of interesting ledge and boulder rapids and lots of great play holes. Twenty years ago paddlers who inquired about releases from Quemahoning Reservoir and were told that a $500,000 valve was needed to let enough water go. After much groundwork the Stonycreek Quemahoning Initiative Inc., a nonprofit corporation formed by recreational,conservation, economic, and historical groups, raised over $2 million dollars! They bought and installed the new valve at the dam and created a whitewater play feature at Greenhouse Park.

The recent Stonycreek Rendezvous was the kick-off for the first year of scheduled releases from Quemahoning Reservoir, with 11 scheduled releases remaining in 2012. These 500cfs releases will reach the Foustwell Bridge put-in between 10 am and 2 pm, adding to the natural flow to make the river runnable. Releases are dependent on having sufficient water in the Quemahoning Reservoir. On the Wednesday prior to a release, water levels at the dam will be assessed and the Benscreek Canoe Club website will announce/confirm the release. Check http://benscreekcanoeclub.com/quemahoning-releases/ for the latest information.