Tip of the Spear

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In the summer of 2005, Pennsylvania state government revealed its seedy underbelly when the General Assembly gave itself and others an unconstitutional middle-of-the-night pay raise.

In response, the people of the Commonwealth awoke from a long slumber and rose up in defiance of the Political Class. They made history - and the reverberations are still being felt. Things may never be the same again in the Keystone State.

Beneath the battles of right versus left, liberal versus conservative and Republican versus Democrat, the Establishment strained to maintain power and continuity. Traditional political ideologies took a back seat as the very fabric of the Political Class was torn apart.

In 2005-2006, Pennsylvanians got a taste of what happens when the ivory-towered crowd is running scared. But what we read in the papers and see on television is never the whole story. Follow the journey of one individual who just happened to get caught in the middle of it all and observed it from a unique perspective...

Click to learn more about Tip of the Spear author Russ Diamond.

“Diamond [is] a thorn in the side of the political establishment… [a] maverick who turned Pennsylvania politics on its head… passionate about sticking it to the political order...”

Tony Phyrillas, Pottstown Mercury

“Russ Diamond has the kind of high-octane personality that earns salesmen houses in the Hamptons.”

Judy Laurinatis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“It’s no surprise Russ Diamond, the incumbent slayer, has made an enemy or two.”

Jeff Hawkes, Lancaster New Era

“…the pioneer of the anti-pay-raise movement. Diamond was out there within days of the pay grab and flew solo for a while. He had the guts to take on legislative giants while others were still warming up. He’s street-smart and savvy…”

Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“You’ve got to give this to Russ Diamond: He keeps it interesting.”

Lebanon Daily News