The LuLac Edition #333, Oct. 26th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON, SCRANTON WILKES BARRE YANKEES LOGO, AND WILK RADIO HOST SUE HENRY WITH BLOG/SITE EDITOR.

MEDIA WRAP

It’s getting late and the candidates have taken to the TV and Radio waves to plead their case. On TV, we have Skrepenak and Petrilla buying the networks and cable, and in Lackawanna County Cordaro and MUnchak followed the Bill Clinton strategy before the ’96 election, being on the air on a consistent basis since the primary. Their opposition has responded with two ads, one staid and conventional, the other funny featuring a bunch of chimps trying to run a government. The ad is funny, biting and attention getting. The only thing wrong with it, in my opinion was the placement at the end of the head chimp wearing glasses. A person I was watching it with said, “Do either Cordaro or Munchak wear glasses? Doesn’t the Democrat?” True, Munchak has been seen at meetings with glasses but not all the time and Cordaro wears none. With the terrible attention span of voters, they might confuse it as an anti-Washo/O’Brien ad. But other than that, it’s pretty good. Take a look at it:

http://www.washo-obrien.com/index.php/media/bananas/

Mayor Tom Leighton in Wilkes Barre has been on both cable and the nets with an effective spot that touts his positive accomplishments.
On the radio there’s Barry Stankus for Sheriff, Bill Jones for Commissioner, Cordaro and Munchak, and Walter Griffith, Junior in Wilkes Barre Council District A. Expect more to come as the days close.

ME AND SUE

One of my favorite talk show hosts, Sue Henry and I have two questions for public office holders.
1. Why do you inundate talk shows before an election asking for free exposure and yet, never bother to show up for a debate or public forum?
2. And then after the election, there seems to be no clamoring for free time or even an explanation of how you govern. How come?



THE BIG D

$467.00 round trip airfare to Chicago for a conference.
$48.00 for a dinner on the road at a non chain restaurant.
$12.00 for cab fare.
$16.00 for an airport breakfast.
$1,000.00 conference registration fee.
$800.00 for 4 day hotel stay.
$100.00 tips and incidentals.
NOT KEEPING TRACK OF THE RECEIPTS


S T U P I D ! ! ! ! ! ! !

NOT DURING AN ELECTION

FREAKING STUPID!!!!!

The County has asked that the debit cards for employees be returned and the policy cancelled. This is a shame because the employees that need them for travel are being penalized. The tracking issue is curious, credit card companies routinely send summaries of expenses. They enjoy adding that interest. My guess is that every voting (especially these days) use credit cards for convenience. Sadly, some use credit card to live on given the $8.00 an hour jobs some people are forced to take because there’s nothing else here. My point is, unlike our parents, people understand credit cards. They know how they work, they can know in minutes by phone or on line how each penny is spent, where it went, if it was misdirected and how that can be corrected. This is a more understandable and concrete issue than the Juvenile Detention Center and reassessment. People in this day and age understand how easy credit cards can be to use, abuse and pay off. Unless of course your work for a government entity. Linda Stets has weighed in on this and what this has do with her campaign for Council or Mayor is besides the point. As always, it’s entertaining.
Well, well, well, what do you know......some of our fine elected officials at the court house are "USING" your hard earned tax money through another source.....DEBIT CARDS. Check out Tuesday, CV News, page 2. Gee, I wonder if they are planning to report the additional income on a 1099 tax return? After all it is "REPORTABLR INCOME."Whom is funding the debit card accounts? What person/s have taken the liberty to give away our tax dollars? Gee, here again, no one knows. Even the County Controller Petrilla. So who does know? Answer: A local banker that's who. Question: Where are the receipts?What are these men using their debit cards for? Dinner - drinks - flowers - gifts - bar tabs - gas - vehicle repairs and to what vehicles - cash for trips - catered events - what? Again, where are the receipts? No one at the dome knows......Don't they earn enough money to manage their job descriptions? Does your boss give you a DEBIT CARD? Where are the bank statements to reflect the monthly, or bi-monthly amount "placed" into these accounts to draw down for these "expenses" ?Since the debit cards were never approved.....I wonder if our county boys know what the word L A R C E N Y....means under PA Crime Code? Hmmm......Somebody has alot of explaining to do as far as I am concerned.......Remember the last cash scam we found? The $10,000.00 California trip for what?Stealing is theft and the word larceny also means the same thing; BUT worse!The cards were NEVER APPROVED......that is theft.Commissioner Urban again; not involved. He knows better. It's called ethic's. PLEASE CAN'T WE RID OURSELVES OF SUCH GREED? YES. NOV. 6TH!STOP THE CORRUPTION NOW.

HILLARY TURNS 60

Senator Hillary Clinton turned 60 this week. This added gravitas has got to help her campaign. Plus boomers her age are hitting retirement. Health care are huge concerns to aging boomers, maybe her health care plan of the 90s will come full circle as an issue whose time has come.

THE OFFICE CONVENTION

So this weekend “The Office” convention is in Scranton. One of my favorite shows, “The Office” makes me laugh and cringe at the same time. I’ve had radio bosses very similar to Michael, that’s what makes me cringe. What makes me laugh are the older characters like Creed and Stanley, guys that are mailing it in a very distinct ways. “The Office” also illustrates the vast difference between economic development in Scranton (where buildings are middle aged and filled) and Wilkes Barre (where the buildings are empty but shiny and new).

THE YANKS

And how about Cordaro and Munchak making the announcement that the Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees had extended their contract through 2010. That was part of the initial deal but the usage of it right before an election is meant to remind the voters that Cordaro brought you the Yankees. A good, workable ploy.