The LuLac Edition #52, August 30th, 2006

THE PRESIDENT AS A UNITER, CUPID PERHAPS???? A few years ago the Pretenders had a song out called "There's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate". That sentiment was never so true this morning when talk show hosts Kevin Lynn and Sue Henry of WILK got into verbal fisticuffs over the President's interview with NBC's Brian Williams. Normally at 8:57AM, Nancy and Kevin close out their talk show and intro Henry's program. The trio usually jokes but today Lynn and Henry got into a rather passionate arguement on "The Eclectic One" and his contributions or lack thereof to the country. Now even though Lynn is a well known and well thought of bachelor about town and Henry is married with three kids, the duo make an intriguing couple. Lynn does not go to church, Henry does. Lynn hates baseball, Henry is a devoted Red Sox fan. Lynn does not like the President and says so at every opportunity, Henry defends him against all comers. Surely these are not insurmountable differences for these two crazy kids. Opposities do attract. Maybe we witnessed on the radio not a bickering difference of opinion.............but the start of what could be a beautiful, long lasting relationship that will live on in the annals of time. Romeo and Juliet, Bonnie and Clyde, Nicholas and Alexandra, Sonny and Cher, Dolf and Eva.............

THE PRECEDING ARTICLE WAS "SATIRE".

THE INTERVIEW...........I did see the interview Brian Williams had with the President. And it was vintage Bush. There should be no surprises here. This is the guy who talked over and over about how the Presidency was "hard work"when he was stumped for something to say in the 2004 debates. It's the guy, for better or worse, America picked. I agree with Kevin Lynn that Bush is perhaps the worst President in our history. But after seeing the recap of the interview on MSNBC with some cackling, shrill, third tier anchorwoman filling in for Chris Matthews, I also have to agree with Sue Henry that there should be respect toward the office. Williams questions were fine snd Bush's answers are what we've come to expect, but the treatment on MSNBC of the questions and answers were disrespectful.

MEET THE PRESS......Welcomes Senator Rick Santorum and State Treasurer Bob Casey this Sunday, Sept. 3rd for the first in a series of U.S. Senate debates. Look for the two to come out swinging.

LEONARDI ISSUES STATEMENT ON DAM......11th Congressional candidate Joe Leonardi issued a statement on the prposed inflatable dam. It makes sense.

August 29, 2006
Dear Editor
I recently heard an area talk show host suggest two ways to revitalize Wilkes-Barre. The first, with which I wholeheartedly agree, is to capitalize on Wilkes and Kings and become a full-fledged college town. The second, with which I vehemently disagree, is to dam the Susquehanna to create a small lake.
I’m not sure where the idea of damming the Susquehanna originated, but it is an idea that must cease to exist. The following are but a few of my many reasons for wanting to terminate this dam project.
1- Basic science. Rivers cleanse themselves through perpetual motion. I didn’t pick this tidbit up in professional school or college. I learned this in Miss Pupa’s 5th grade science class. So why in the name of science would anyone halt the essential, healing motion of a polluted river?
2- The Butler Mine Tunnel. From the EPA web site "In 1979, an oily discharge coming from the tunnel created an oil slick on the river." "The oil contamination was then traced to the illegal dumping of hazardous chemicals into a four-inch borehole located 3 ½ miles from the outlet of the tunnel. The borehole was found to drain into the Butler Mine system." Interestingly, there was another discharge in 1985, approximately one year after the discharge monitors were deemed no longer necessary and removed.
Does illegal dumping continue today? Possibly. Commercials still air from time to time asking people not to dump into bore holes. Obviously there is no predicting when or if there will be another discharge, but if there is, how fast will the contaminants settle in a motionless river?
From the same site, "Potential human risks exist if individuals ingest or come into contact with contaminated surface water and groundwater."
Do you really want your children exposed to a "potential human risk" recreating in this contaminated lake?
3-Combined Sewer Outflows. According to the American Rivers web site there are "16 sewage outflows that pour untreated human waste into the very reach of the river where the current would pool behind the dam."
Now we have untreated human waste and contaminants from the Butler Mine Tunnel! Who will be held responsible if someone gets sick?
4- Potential flooding. I testified at the hearing at King’s college. We were assured that in the event of potential flooding the dam could be deflated in 20 minutes. I’m not sure about you, but I’m glad I don’t live downstream. Can you imagine a 450 acre, 4 ½ mile long lake rushing over your community? For the sake of argument, what happens if the river crest is underestimated? What will happen to upstream communities? We reside in a flood zone. These questions are real. The wrong answer could make us forget Agnes ever happened.
5-Damming the river is not necessary. I am astonished to be told, that unless we dam the river we cannot utilize it. Well I’m sorry but that is just plain, old hogwash. A free-flowing river can be just as vital a community centerpiece as any lake.
6-A tourist mecca? We need to honestly examine what we are being sold. With our proximity to the Poconos, the shore, Atlantic City, the Finger Lakes, New York and Philadelphia — are we to believe that a polluted, man-made, mini-lake is going to become the tourist destination of the northeast?
7-Political will. I’ve heard that this may create the political will to clean the river. Well, that is flat out the sorriest statement I have ever heard about past and current leaders. The free-flowing Susquehanna River is our heritage and plain and simple it must be saved.
If you want to create the political will to clean this river — elect me to Congress.
Thank You,
Dr. Joseph Leonardi
Candidate PA-11
U.S. House of Representatives
Www.LeonardiForCongress.com