U. S. Sen. Rick Santorum received the Union League's prestigious Lincoln Award on Monday and, despite whispers about the latest Quinnipiac University poll that had him trailing likely Democratic opponent Bob Casey Jr. by 15 points, he received a standing ovation prior to his remarks at the Lincoln Room luncheon.

"If you don't think we're in a war, then think again," said Santorum, justifying President George Bush's wiretapping procedures to listen in on possible terrorist conversations. "Most people don't believe there is war. And the war could have been avoided. Now we're in a war, but it's a different kind of war."

Santorum said he believes Iran poses a threat. He also criticized countries that do not follow U.S. efforts to fight fascist regimes in the Middle East. "Spain," he said, "has a bunker mentality."

On the domestic front, Santorum criticized the federal government for not getting more involved in helping families. He hyped the $100 million in funding from the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act to promote healthy marriages (he means marriages between a man and a woman) and fatherhood.

"Many children in this state don't even know their fathers," said Santorum. "It's hard for them to succeed and become high achievers, so we want to locate these fathers, even if those fathers are in jail."

He also touched on other federally funded programs that would counsel unmarried couples with children to get married to provide more stability.

As the audience stood to applaud his closing remarks, Santorum said, "God bless you" as a chorus of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was performed by the Union League Glee Club in honor of Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

Santorum's appearance drew local Republicans including GOP General Counsel Michael Meehan, former district attorney candidate Joe Bongiovanni and Santorum fundraiser Robert Bickhart.

While Casey may be ahead in the polls, Santorum has raised more campaign money. As of the filing at the end of 2005, Santorum had nearly $8 million on hand to Casey's $3.5 million. Supporters said that Santorum has now raised nearly $13 million.

U. S. Rep. Chaka Fattah showed his moral fiber last week when he made a guest appearance on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert, who interviewed the congressman here on home turf.

In an installment of his 464-part series of "Better Know a District," Colbert profiled Pennsylvania's 2nd District, which Fattah represents. Colbert described the 2nd as having "all the excitement of going to Disney World—and never leaving the parking lot" and as "the home of left-leaning radicals."

Fattah endured comedic insults with aplomb when asked if his name was Jewish and pronounced Haka (as in Chanukah) and when called a "job pimp" for sponsoring the 1987 Employment Opportunities Act.

"George Bush—a great president or the greatest president?" asked Colbert.

"The greatest deficits in the country's history, the greatest national debt ever accumulated and the greatest rise in poverty," replied Fattah.

"I'll put you down for 'greatest,'" said Colbert.

Bella Vista activist Vernon Anastasio issued a general e-mail last week to outline his concerns on gambling and tossed in the fact that he plans to run for City Council next year.

It's no secret that Anastasio has wanted to unseat incumbent 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco since 2003, when a DiCicco ally successfully challenged Anastasio's financial disclosure forms in court and had him removed from the primary ballot because he failed to list all of his income.

The seething resentment between Anastasio and DiCicco has only gotten worse and the two may still be in litigation next year while both run in the Democratic primary. Last year, DiCicco sued Anastasio when Anastasio called him "mentally ill," a remark that was printed in the Daily News.

Anastasio is close with Local 98 and its business manager, John Dougherty, but Dougherty may have his own agenda if he runs for mayor, unless he creates the "Dougherty ticket" with his picks for council candidates.

DiCicco was first elected in 1995 and is popular in the district. He is credited with, among other things, the creation of the real estate tax abatement he developed with Board of Revision of Taxes Chairman David Glancey. However, DiCicco may be impacted by the ongoing federal investigation of his patron, state Sen. Vincent Fumo, next year.

But, DiCicco's legislative aide, says, "The councilman is not a target of the probe, and his record speaks for itself."