Monday round-up

• Politicians
  
  
  
  • US Senate candidates are talking about ethics, but that may not be a big issue for voters thinking about national offices.
    
    
  • A second Inquirer piece looks at differences between Santorum and Casey on Iraq, in particular that Casey wants solid standards for measuring success, while Santorum sees a wider battle that may go on for years.
    
    
  • Closer to home, Philadelphia City Council shows the power of a political legacy, as two of the new nominees have parents who were politicians before them. (The piece notes that this tradition appears to extend to state representatives from the area, judges, and all sorts of governmental offices.) Worth reading to the end, as it talks, too, about diversification of the "legacy" ranks and other factors...
    
    
  • Some Inquirer short bits include the ties between Carol Campbell and a powerful African-American ward leader PAC, openings in Street's office, and jokes about Vallas' loquaciousness.
    
    
  • Councilman Kenney visits with Young Philly Politics, answering a bevvy of questions from posters there. A rare opportunity.
    
    
  • Meanwhile, Stu Bykofsky bemoans the taxpayer-funded "legacy polishing" being undertaking by Mayor Street, and provides his own summary of Street's record in office.
    
    
  • Tom Ferrick gives his second "terrible week award" to Don Sherwood, who's reliving the low moments in his life via his opponent Chris Carney's pointed campaign. He also looks at the close House races in the Philly suburbs.
    
    
  • A Daily News opinion piece puts regional politicians on notice that their constituents are going to demand more responsiveness.
    
    
  • Stan Shapiro notes that this could be the year to unseat Perzel, and the guy running against him could use everybody's support.
    
    
  • Signe offers a pointed opinion on Harrisburg's notions of reforming Philadelphia.
  
  
• The woes of local life
  
  
  
  • The Daily News offers a saga to strike fear in the heart of anybody who has to park in Philadelphia: getting towed into the sunset. In this case, even the proper ransom didn't get the car back, and the tower is trying to duck responsibility for an apparent theft. shivver...
    
    
  • A letter to the Daily News reminds diners to tip their waitstaff, who may be working hard to make ends meet.
    
    
  • Albert enjoys the novelty of dining smoke-free.
  
  
• Fall tourism
  
  
  
  • Fact-esque gives us a tour of the Garden of Reflection, a 9/11 memorial in Bucks County. Sounds and looks like a thoughtful and lovely place.
    
    
  • Also, Berks TV offers a video visit to Hawk Mountain, a fantastic park in SE PA through which thousands of raptors migrate every year. (This is the first of a series of visits; a good introduction to the place for folks who haven't visited or heard about it.)
    (via PhillyFuture)