The LuLac Edition #27-June 11th, 2006

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JERRY BROWN BACK IN ACTION……….One of our favorite politicos of all time, Jerry Brown has obtained another nomination for office in the state of California. It sems like Brown’s main goal is to hold every office he can statewide. A former two term Governor of California (he succeeded Ronald Reagan in 1974), Brown ran for the Senate a few times, President in 1976, 1980 and 1992 (giving Bill Clinton fits) and serving as the Mayor of Oakland for a few terms. Brown won the Democratic nomination for Attorney General in this past week’s California primary by a comfortable margin. He’ll face a Republican challenger in November. The best line from Jerry Brown came in his aborted 1976 Presidential campaign when he told a Newsweek reporter, “A little vagueness goes a long way in this business.”

COMETH THE POLITICAL YEAR 2007 ....………….The recent progress in the revitalization of downtown Wilkes Barre should scare any competition incumbent Mayor Tom Leighton may have in either the 2007 primary or general election. Leighton has had a few missteps along the way, but they weren’t anything that were insurmountable. For example, his “I Believe” announcement of last year was at first ridiculed by some but the fact that the Mayor has stuck with his story and worked well in making tangible progress that people could see works well in his favor. The new theatre complex looks beautiful and with some strategic street paving about to get underway, Leighton seems to have put together a balanced menu of services that pleases both the proponents of the downtown as well as the neighborhoods. The Mayor’s race may actually be overshadowed by the primary battles among city council members who will be facing off as the size of the council is reduced from 7 to 5 due to the new council district plan taking effect.


THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS…….WENT ON IN WILKES BARRE….Thursday June 8th was a great night for the city of Wilkes Barre. Mayor Tom Leighton had the Governor as his special guest when he threw the switch to illuminate the town with the new streets lamps. A crowd gathered in the rain to see the event but reportedly no one was singing Herman’s Hermits “Leaning On the Lampost At The Corner of the Street”. Rendell had a full day, speaking to the Graduation class at Leadership Wilkes Barre as well as appearing on Channel 16 with Scott Schaffer. Rendell got the best quote of the night when the anchor asked him about the bill the State Legislature was considering regarding civil unions and same sex marriages. Rendell harrumphed, “They (the State Legislature) have time to fool with this stuff but can’t do anything about property tax reform”. Go Ed go!!!!!

SWANN ON SWANN, AND RACE ON RACE.
GOP Governor’s candidate Lynn Swann made an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Your World with Neil Cavuto." Swann fielded questions about why, as a black man, he's running as a Republican. "I've chosen to be a Republican," Swann said. "I am a black man who happens to be a Republican. And so we need to have that choice." If Swann beats Rendell in the fall, he could become the first black Republican elected governor in U.S. history.

WHERE WAS FRED BELLARDI WHEN GOVERNOR ED NEEDED HIM??
The vice president of the Brookline Little League in Pittsburgh has reached out to Republican candidate for governor Lynn Swann after Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell failed to visit his group. Chris Cicchitto claimed that the governor was supposed to stop by the league's ball field last weekend while on the campaign trail, but that the campaign canceled the visit at the last minute. Cicchitto said the governor disappointed the families and children who thought he was coming. Rendell's official campaign schedule did not include a stop at the ball field. Perhaps the Governor should have contacted defeated State Rep Fred Bellardi who ducked out of pre primary election debates because his schedule was too full attending Little League opening days where he tossed out the first pitch.

UPCOMING: HOW TALK RADIO INFLUENCES THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND TV DRAMA AND POLITICS