The LuLac Edition #206, April 27th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: WLYN TV 35'S DON PACHANCE, WILK'S AWARD WINNING STAFFERS NANCY KMAN AND SUE HENRY.

DEBATE RECAP

It appears that Senator Clinton won the Democratic debate last night on style and substance points. Senator Barack Obama stumbled a bit with a few remarks that showed his inexperience on the national stage. Former Senator John Edwards, while charismatic did not score a breakthrough hit with message or style points. Bill Richardson, a former UN Ambassador made a gaff when referring to the post Castro regime (after the presumed death of the dictator) as "democratic" in nature. Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd did well in articulating their vast foreign policy experience and how it differs from the present administration's efforts. Biden in particular scored well when he said it "was beyond his capacity" to make the President understand his view on the Iraq War. Both Representative Kucinich and former Senator Gravel said things no other candidate could say precisely because they are the underdogs in this race. Both are poised to be the "conscience" of the party, much like former Senator and '72 nominee George McGovern was in the 1984 race. Unlike Al Sharpton's nonsensical comments in the '04 race, both Kucinich and Gravel will add greatly to the national debate among the Democratic contenders.

LUPAS AND LEO

The newest Dave Lupas for Judge TV ad features the very tragic murder of Mary Leo as a linchpin of the candidate's claim of a successful conviction rate as District Attorney. Put together by political guru, Ed Mitchell, the ad is slick and evokes the emotions of Mary Leo's nephews. However, it should be noted that in this murder case, the defendant made a plea and confessed resulting in a conviction for the DA's office. Still, a conviction is a conviction in such an emotionally charged and brutal case as this one. But in comparison to the Hugo Selinski case, this one was pretty much a slam dunk and credit has to go the Wilkes Barre Police Department in bringing the killer to justice. The DA's office expedited the police work well and brought the confessed criminal to justice.

WILK AWARDS

Congrats to WILK News Radio for winning a few AP Awards for 2006. One ofthe Awards was for the coverage of the Summer Flooding toward the end of June. Both Nancy Kman and Sue Henry did great work staying on the airi nforming Wyoming Valley residents of the information they needed to know when the area was evacuated.

THE MOLLY MUSICAL

Mrs. LuLac and I went to the premiere of the Molly Maguire musical at the Kirby Center on Thursday night. It was a delayed anniversary present from her to me. The play was wonderful (although it needs a little beefing up in the history part, less in the romance) and the original music was fabulous. The staging was simple yet elegantly appointed. WVIA TV FM CEO Bill Kelly introduced the play, an official of the United Mine Workers Union was in attendance as well as reportedly a few "Broadway angels" looking to invest. The cast was filled with actors with great Broadway and TV credentials (Law and Order franchise) as an example. Mrs. LuLac and I talked about the comparisions between the way businesses and corporations treated its employees back then vs. today. In a lot of ways, nothing has changed in the job security department in America. But that's another discussion for another time. Had the opportunity to sit next to WLYN TV 35 TV host Don Pachance and his wife. It was a great evening and Mrs. LuLac and I would recommend this to everyone.

HOUSING AND POLITICS

The recent housing stats can't be good news for the party in power for next year's Presidential campaign. Look at these depressing stats: The number of foreclosure filings -- from default notices to repossessions -- continued to surge in March, increasing 47% from the same period a year earlier and 7% from February. The 149,150 filings represent a foreclosure rate of one in every 775 households, according to Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac.
The March increase in foreclosures bucks the historical trend, lenders say. Typically, foreclosure activity declines in March, as more homeowners use tax refunds to bail themselves out of mortgage shortfalls caused by job loss, health problems or divorce.
But this year, industry insiders and economists expect it only to get worse, as more adjustable-rate mortgages reset and borrowers with risky loans continue to falter.
"I don't think we've hit the bottom of the market yet," says Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac vice president. "We should see at least one more short-term spike," as more subprime loans continue to go into default.