The LuLac Edition #321, Oct. 11th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND AWARD WINNING MAN ABOUT THE WORLD, AL GORE AND FORMER SENATOR RICK SANTORUM, CIRCA 2006.

DRAFT GORE?

Friday morning the Nobel Peace Prize is going to be awarded and Al Gore has been nominated. Former members of the Executive Branch who have won the prize have been Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Charles Dawes, Calvin Coolidges Vice President but the man more well known for writing that great standard "It's All In the Game" (which reached the top of the charts by Tommy Edwards in 1958). If Gore joins this august body, will it create a buzz for him to enter the Democratic field for President? Some people think so like the Draft Gore movement.

In a full-page ad in the New York Times Wednesday a group called DraftGore.com told Gore, “Only from the Oval Office can you wield the kind of influence needed to move countries, policies and corporations to bring about meaningful change” on the global warming issue he has addressed so often.Some are urging Gore to see the prize as his signal to run.

Christopher Hitchens wrote on Slate.com that if Gore did win the Nobel and then chose not to run, “he would retrospectively abolish all the credit he has acquired so far. It would mean in effect that he never had the stuff to do the job and that those who worked and voted for him were wasting their time.” Kind of harsh if you ask me but there are people passionate about Gore. Time is running short but here something to think about, there are no votes cast just yet in both the Republican and Democratic primaries. With the 24 hour news presence a late entry by Gore will get a great deal of free media.

But even though I love Al Gore, according to MSNBC there are concerns among voter blocs that helped lose him the election (well that's debateable) in 2000. Gore scored low with these groups:
White men: 36 percent
Married men: 38 percent
Men with some college education, but who never graduated: 40 percent
Southern white voters: 31 percent
Rural voters: 37 percent
People who attend church at least once a week: 39 percent.

These numbers though are eight years old and those shy about voting for Gore were that way before this disaster of a Presidency. As the old song says, "That's was then and this is now!" We shall see.

HE'S BACK!!!

Got an e mail from former Senator Rick Santorum. I get all kinds of Republican e mails and stufff in the mail from when I changed my registration from Dem to Republican to vote for Arlen Specter against Pat Toomey. Here's what Mr. Santorum is up to these days: http://www.thecatholicassociation.org/index.php?option=com_acajoom&act=mailing&task=view&listid=2&mailingid=23.

FADE TO BLACK

Scranton City Council has reneged on a promise to give Channel 61 a$25,000 donation. Now, the public access cable channel's future broadcasts could be injeopardy. Despite a unanimous January vote to give $25,000 to Channel 61 to helpkeep it operating, council members now say the city just doesn't havethe money. Officials stopped short Wednesday of saying the station could fold if it doesn't receive the money, but it was noted Channel 61 would be "in a very difficult position" without the funding. Councilman Bill Courtright said he had no idea where additional money would come from. The dumbest comment on this came from Robert McGoff a city counhcilman who said giving the money could open the door for other groups, such as WVIA, the local PBS affiliate, to seek funds from City Council, Councilman Robert McGoff said. Yeah, like WVIA is going to shelve their incredible inventory of award winning documentaries featuring the likes of the late Gino Merli, WARM's Sensational 7 and former Governor Bill Scranton in favor of Judy Gatelli and that other hottie Sherry Fanucci insulting, deriding and laughing at hard working Scrantonians. Give me a break. Council broke a promise because they got their feelings hurt. The late Harry Truman said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen". And he might have added, keep your damn promises. Scranton City Council: the definition of the word "lame".

AND IN WILKES BARRE

Breaking news. Listen to this. All of a sudden, three weeks before the election, people (the ones in power) are worried about signage. They better keep their mits off my Cleveland Indians and Draft Gore signs, I'll tell you that. But serioiusly, here's a note from Taxpayer Advocate and Council attendee Walter Griffith.

Tonight at City Council the City Solicitor made an announcement that the City Public Works Dept. will remove all political signs that are in violation of the City Zoning Laws...this law has been on the books since 1960 and now they plan to enforce it!!!!
Mr. Viinsko said only the signs that are on private property are going to be permitted unless they are within the guidelines of the 1960 Zoning laws..Which means any Political signs that are on the corners of the streets or near any intersection, along wilkes Barre Blvd or anywhere the City feels is a violation, then the City will remove them...My question is ...how does anyone know if it is a public works dept. employee or a person that just wants to remove the sign ? They wont clean up the gutters of the city of the litter because of lack of manpower but they somehow have the manpower to enforce this ordinance...Seems odd to me...where was this ordinance in the Primary when the signs were all over the place..this is truly a set back for freedom and democracy..
We need to make this a loud noise and make it heard all over the City...The Candidates are being stifled by the City Council and our Freedom is being taken away.

Thanks Walter, what are they afraid of?