The LuLac Edition #123, Jan. 4, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: ROBERT CASEY AND HIS FAMILY AT HIS 2004 SWEARING IN CEREMONY AS STATE TREASURER IN HARRISBURG, CASEY AS A YOUNGSTER (HOLDING THE CATCHER'S GLOVE) WITH HIS STORIED POLITICAL CLAN, AND THE CHRIS CARNEY FAMILY IN A PHOTO USED DURING HIS RECENT CONGRESSIONAL RACE.


THE NEW KIDS IN TOWN


Sen. Bob Casey, the first Democrat from Pennsylvania elected to the Senate in four decades, was sworn into office Thursday.
Casey raised his right hand, and then smiled after saying "I do." His wife, Terese; their four daughters; his mother, Ellen; and his seven siblings were in town for the swearing in and a party in his honor later in the day.
Four House Democrats from Pennsylvania were also sworn in Thursday.
The swearing-ins were the high point of a day of celebrations planned for the five new members of Congress. Hundreds of Pennsylvanians arrived by the busload for the ceremonies and receptions in the new members' honor.
Casey, 47 and the son of the late Gov. Robert P. Casey, was the state treasurer and is the first Democrat elected senator from Pennsylvania since 1962. He beat Sen. Rick Santorum, a two-term incumbent who was the No. 3 Senate Republican.
Despite Democratic gains in Pennsylvania and across the nation, Casey said he gets the sense that his colleagues from both parties want to work across the aisle. Casey indicated that he will be focusing on the Iraq War issues as a new member of the SEnate Foreign Relations Committee.
The election of the four House members tipped the balance of Pennsylvania's 19-member House delegation in the Democrats' favor for the first time since 1998. There are now 11 Democrats and eight Republicans.
All four of the new House members are political newcomers.
Carney is a political science professor and former Pentagon intelligence analyst who serves in the Naval Reserves.
It was revealed in a news article that Casey's father, Robert P. Casey, Senior once considered a run for the U.S. Senate in 1964 but was shunned by party leaders. That Democratic primary that Casey did not enter pitted Judge Michael Musmanno vs. Genevieve Blatt. Blatt won but later lost to Hugh Scott, despite the '64 landslide election of Lyndon Johnson.
On the Congressional side, Wilkes Barre Mayor Tom Leighton made the trip to D.C. to watch Paul Kanjorski get sworn in for another term.

MORE ON THE PA HOUSE

Caught the debate and wrangling at the initial session of the Pa. House on replay the other night. It was pure entertainment. My feeling was that it was a masterful stroke of political strategy by House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese as well as an act of statesmanship. DeWeese, recognizing that he had no shot to become speaker himself stepped aside in favor of Rep. Dennis O'Brien. This act of political gamesmanship and courage was applauded by no less an authority than Governor Rendell who called DeWeese's actions "The finest 24 hours of his (DeWeese's) political career." I disagree with my fellow bloggers Gort42 http://gort42.blogspot.com/and his comrades who characterized this as a back room deal. Spur of the moment to be sure, but my feeling is that DeWeese sacrificed himself to take the Speakership away from Perzel because he recognized after 12 years there needed to be change. You will most likely see more machinations but nothing will ever repeat the surprise or the reaction of the GOP for a very long time.
And I might be too hard on the new members who expressed surprise, dismay and ignorance of Rep. Dennis O'Brien's 30 year Legislative career. HELLO, EVER HEAR OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MANUAL? ARE YOU SO GREEN THAT YOU WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH A THIRTY YEAR HOUSE VET? Frank Shimkus, who was a news anchor should've known better. Or worse yet, why share with the press on your first day in office that you had no idea what party he was? YIKES guys, get a clue!

POLITICAL NOTES

State Representative Phyllis Mundy who will step down as Caucus Secretary to enable the new arrangement in the Pa. House introduced the new members of the Democratic House. Mike Carroll, Eddie Pashinski, Ken Smith, and Frank Shimkus were introduced by Mundy in ceremonies on the House floor.
And on the GOP side, Karen Boback was introduced by her caucus chair. But check out this comment from the Times Leader:
"Boback, a Republican representing the 117th District, could not be located before the ceremony Tuesday and was not available once the session started."
What's that all about??????????
On the local scene, Bill Jones from the Crestwood School Board will be tossing his hat into the ring for Luzerne County Commissioner on the Republican side. Jones is articulate, young and energetic. If he runs his own race and stays away from the slugs in the local GOP leadership, he may have a fighting chance.
On the Democratic side, Councilwoman Kathy Kane has said she will fight for another term on council rather than go for a Commissioner seat. With the new re-districting plan, Kane will be pitted against Councilman Jim McCarthy unless of course McCarthy does not run and gets a city job to compensate for the loss of his Council wages. Of course that would never happen in the Diamond City, now would it????
Steve Flood, former county controller, said he’s 90 percent sure he will run for commissioner. Now that would be entertaining. Even more crazy would be if Flood switched to the GOP but he has denied those reports as false.
Luzerne County Controller Maryanne Petrilla and Commissioner Greg Skrepenak – both Democrats -- have announced they are running. Petrilla and Skrepenak will run as a team.
Other Democrats considering a run are Pittston Township Supervisor Tony Attardo, Wilkes-Barre attorney Ray Hassey and former Bear Creek Township Supervisor Ed Benkoski.
Urban plans to seek re-election. Other Republicans considering the race are Hanover Area School Board member David Shipula, Dallas chiropractor Dave Madeira, former West Hazleton Mayor Carl Puschauver and electrical contracting businessman Bill James.
And finally, back to the national scene, the new Speaker of the House's stunt at the end of her swearing in ceremony bringing up all the children in the House with visitor's passes was ridiculous. I like kids and I like women, but Nancy Pelosi's symbolism was lost on me. The kids on that floor were privileged children, I'd have felt much better if she did that ploy with inner city kids who actually would represent the true need of Congress's help. Second, we know you're a woman and a mom and a grandmother, nice, good for you. Now shut up about your gender and do your job.

MEDIA WATCH

David DeCosmo showed us why he's the man with his reporting on WYOU TV of the swearing in ceremonies in Washington. Quite poignant was his interview with Senator Casey's mother, former Pa. First Lady, Ellen Casey.
WYOU TV interviewed political consultant Ed Mitchell by phone. Apparently Mitchell was out of town or just didn't want to cross the river to the TV Station.

LOCAL ISSUES

If you are interested in looking at some local issues, check out this blog. http://unamericanluzernecounty.wordpress.com/Eye opening and passionate. It's a little flamboyant, a tad on the edges but quite entertaining. And if politics can't be entertaining, then why should we even bother with it!