So much for courting the macho vote. As recently as yesterday morning, Bucks County’s GOP Commissioners were ready to face down Hurricane Irene for a fundraiser on the Jersey shore. When you have Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley scheduled to host an event, you don’t cancel because of a little inclement weather. But alas, Cawley is also Chairman of PEMA, and the event has been postponed.

In other Bucks news, Dem Commissioner Diane Marseglia says the county’s AAA Rating is in danger of a downgrade. Bucks has been granted AAA status two years in a row under Republican leadership – a crown jewel of their re-election effort. But Marseglia has pointed out that reserves are low, and the county’s fiscal health – and bond rating – are in question.

Redistricting Watch: Rep. Bob Brady is being accused of complicity with GOP. The congressman and Democratic chairman of the City of Philadelphia has been accused of working with Republicans to bolster his district and those of his Philadelphia allies.

He’s leaving Madison, but this time his location won’t be a secret. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party will feature Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach as their keynote speaker at this year’s Keystone Dinner.

The dramatic saga of Lou Barletta and town hall meetings continues. The congressman is taking major lumps this week over his decision to nix public town halls. The rocky relationship between the Congressman and town hall meetings continues.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking their Medicare message to the streets. The committee placed ads signs at gas stations in the congressional districts of Reps. Pat Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick, Lou Barletta and Charlie Dent.

Former Philadelphia Magazine writer Sasha Issenberg’s research on Rick Perry’s groundbreaking 2006 campaign for Governor of Texas just got a lot more relevant. He turned a chapter into a book, focusing on Perry’s scientific approach to campaigning.

Our Chief of Staff spotlight, like so many Chiefs of Staff themselves, is on hiatus this week. See you in September.

And don’t forget to check back later for this week’s Ups & Downs.

National
Jewish Exponent: PA Reps Visit Israel
Iowa Independent: Santorum Sits Down For Q&A On Gay Marriage
Keystone Politics: Casey One Of First To Call For Syrian Regime Change
Pennsylvania Ave: Casey Challenger Hires Toomey’s Campaign Manager
Pennsylvania Ave.: Toomey Most Conservative In Pa.
Tribune Review: Campaign donations boycott urged
Tribune Review: Deficit to reach $1.3 trillion in 2011
Tribune Review: Watchdog probes voter registration campaign
AP, Indiana Gazette: Poll: Pessimism grows over economy
Centre Daily: US to cut estimate of Marcellus Shale gas reserves
Indiana Gazette: Cheney reveals secrets in new memoir
Somerset Daily American: Obama in dead heat with four GOP contenders
AP, Somerset Daily American: AP-GfK Poll: 87% in disapprove in Congress: Boehner, tea party take hits from debt debate
AP, Somerset Daily American: Energy Department says it will slash Marcellus Shale gas estimate, after USGS report
AP, Altoona Mirror: Views on economy, Obama role sour
Post Gazette: Daily Santorum: Chinese Buffet
Post Gazette: Toomey Tops Conservative Card in PA

Statewide
Wall St. Journal: Harrisburg Moves to Forestall Default
Huffington Post: Hershey Guest Workers Knew What To Expect According to Non Profit CEO
Public Opinion: WalMart Pulls Out Of Wine Kiosk
PR Newswire: PA Protects Additional Farmland
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Transportation Commission Waits on Corbett
Citizen’s Voice: Calley Calls For Improvements in Drilling Regulations
Republican Herald: Jack Wagner To Audit Superintendent Buyouts
Tribune Review: Transportation committee waiting for Corbett’s stance on funding proposal
AP, Tribune Review: Residents wary of drilling appeals to feds
The Patriot-News: Former Pa. Deputy Labor Secretary Who Quit After DUI Crash in State Car Sues for Pay, Benefits
AP, Tribune Review: US Court upholds ex-NJ Sen. Bryant’s conviction
KDKA: Voter IDs: Distinguishing or Disenfranchising voters?
Centre Daily: Pa family settles civil suit over gas drilling
Centre Daily: Agency works to revise best practices
Indiana Gazette: Auditor faults Marion Center tax group

Philly
Inquirer: Green Beret Claim Threatens David Oh Campaign
WHYY Newsworks: Ackerman Gives Her Side On Airwaves, Nutter Visibly Upset
Inquirer: Nutter Says Ackerman is Wrong

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: North Allegheny asked to allow political literature
Post-Gazette: Board believes city pension fund will avoid Pa. takover
Early Returns: City: Pension Takeover Not Needed
Post Gazette: More on Ravenstahl
Post Gazette: House GOP Appoint New ICA Member

Southwest
Tribune Review: Former councilwoman pleads guilty to sexually assaulting girl
Post Gazette: Marcellus Co-op Members Discuss Impact Fees
Indiana Gazette: Indiana County: Commissioners to buy two ATVs for county EMA

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Board gets harsh news about district’s finances
WFMZ: Pa. lawmakers want to put an end to teacher strikes
WFMZ: Board Member: Zahorchak is about money
WFMZ: Emrick takes on toll bridge hikes

South Central
Patriot-News: Former Sen. Rick Santorum plans PA fundraising tour
Patriot-News: Education reform discussion continues at PA state Capitol
Lancaster Era: Human Services Development Fund cut by 37%

NEPA
Pocono Record: Monroe can make some noise at redistricting hearing
The TImes Leader: Summers’ sub from GOP
The Times Leader: Eight county workers to get $500 payment
Citizen’s Voice: Cawley tours firm bolstered by natural gas industry
Citizen’s Voice: Cawley calls for improvements to drilling regulations
The Times Leader: Pa. township supervisor arrested at meeting
Go Lackawanna: GOP hears job ideas

North By Northwest
Erie Times – News: Pa. Gov Corbett designates day in honor of starved Erie toddler
Sun Gazette: City attorneys present at statewide elder law event

Opinions
Baer Growls: Ramblin’ Rick Santorum
Tribune Review: Liberals’ Wisconsin Waterloo
Tribune Review: Legal obedience
Young Philly Politics: Ending the Celebrity CEO Role of School Chief
Tribune Review: Fumo’s sentence: A judicial slap
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Is This the Way to Spend Your 53rd Wedding Anniversary?: At Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board Meeting
Pennsylvania Town Hall: Green Light for More Education Tax Credits
The Centrist: Berks County to Honor First Responders
The Centrist: Obama’s Next Vacation Cartoon
Keystone Politics: Barletta Is No Fan of Town Halls
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Big Oil Myths Struck Down
Jon Geeting: No Poor People Did Not Cause the Crisis
Keystone Progress Blog: Public Sector Earnings on Par with Private Sector
2 Political Junkies: Now That We’re On the Same Page
Post-Gazette: Biden in China: The Vice President’s visit came at a pivotal time
Altoona Mirror: Questions for Obama