The LuLac Edition #336, Oct. 31rst, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: THE FIRST ALBUM COVER OF PAUL McCARTNEY GOING SOLO AFTER THE BEATLES WHERE THAT GREAT SONG, "MAYBE I'M AMAZED" CAME FROM KICKING OFF A NEW LULAC FEATURE, AND HENRY FONDA AS SECRETARY OF STATE BILL RUSSELL IN THE CLASSIC 1964 MOVIE "THE BEST MAN".

Going to the candidate's debate.

Laugh about it, shout about it

When you've got to choose

Every way you look at this you lose.

THE LAC DEBATE

Yes my frriends there is a "Lac" in LuLac and last night there was a rip roaring debate at the University of Scranton featuring 4 fine fellows by the name of Cordaro, Munchak, O'Brien and Washo. And guess what?? Unlike in Luzerne County, they are running as team mates.

Anyway, llast night Republican Lackawanna County Commissioners Robert C. Cordaro and A.J. Munchak defended their four-year record while saying their foes knew nothing about government.They said county taxpayers are better off than four years ago when they took office. Both defended the tax increase they signed on for when they took office saying they gave the bucks back to the taxpayers. But Democratic candidates County Commissioner Mike Washo and Corey O’Brien said "not so fast" reminding the crowd that what the GOPers gave with one hand, they took away with another. Commissioner Washo said taxes were just as high now as they were in the earlier part of the administration and that an FBI probe was putting a cloud above the county. He referred to a company that administered a compensation fund owned by a close friend of Mr. Cordaro.

Mr. Munchak and Mr. Cordaro repeatedly returned to a campaign theme: they made tough decisions to rid the county of $20 million in deficits. they inherited from the previous administration. Mr. Munchak blustered that he and Cordaro fixed a county courthouse and bridges that were falling apart. He also said their government was transparent in bringing to the fore any and all mistakes they made. THere seemed to be a look of concern on Cordaro's face when Munchak mentioned that. Still the GOP team conceded and you have to give them this that they acted quickly in bringing the investigation to the public. The Dems critcized the cost of the renovated courthouse with both Majority commissioners shooting back that the project is on budget and they'll release the names of all vendors. The cost of the 911 center was also criticized but the Republicans rejoinded with the old "we're as safe as we can" routine" which for a 911 center was legitimate.

Politics reared its head to with Munchak accusing O'brien of trying to derail Evie McNulty his Democratic foe off the primary ballot as well as blaming he and Mr. Cordaro for the new ethanol project in Mayfield. O'Brien and Washo pushed back saying there was more cronyism in this administration in 4 years than at any other time in county history and that they would instiitue a personal policy where jobs would be advertised to get qualified people. When Munchak said beware of people who run on a code of ethics and then don't act according, both Washo and O'Brien seemed ready to jump out of their seats.

And of course, the GOP team heralded the attraction of the New York Yankees Triple-A baseball. The Democrats said they welcome the investment associated with the team but warned they wanted to see the team here longer than the proposed agreement.

IMPRESSIONS

All in all things were a bit more animated than the Luzerne County Commissioners debate but this campaign has been intense because the Democrats feel they have a chance to regain power. And as I've said a hundred times on this site, Joe Corcoran lost that 2003 race by only 200 votes...More than 100 attended the debate and the crowd virtually hung on every word.

FASHION REPORT

All candidates wore navy blue with white shirts except for Cordaro who had on a sky blue shirt anmd navy tie.....Both O'Brien and Cordaro seemed to corner the market on hair jell while the bespectacled Washo and Munchak looked absolutely studious on the dias....Bianca Barr from WNEP looked rather fetching in a light colored blazer and sensible shoes.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

With all this nonsense of each state on both the Democratic and Republican side trying to move up their primary dates to outlast the others and be the first to conduct their primaries, here's a prediction. It may not happen in 20012 but sooner or later political conventions and their intrigue is going to make a comeback. Since 1952, when President Eisenhower was nominated by the GOP in a bitter convention fight and in 1956 when then Senator John Kennedy lost a Vice Presidential bid, conventions have been coronations. But with this siliness of one state trying to outdo the other in becoming the earliest state, you might see the pendulum swing the other way in the future. Here's the plot line of that great movie.

William Russell (Henry Fonda) and Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson) are the two leading candidates for the Presidential nomination of an unspecified political party. Both have potentially fatal vulnerabilities. Russell is a principled intellectual (believed by many critics and fans to be based on Adlai Stevenson. A sexual indiscretion has alienated his wife Alice (Margaret Leighton). In addition, he has a past nervous breakdown to live down. Cantwell portrays himself as a populist "man of the people", but is a ruthless opportunist, willing to go to any lengths to get the nomination. Neither man can stand the other; neither believes his rival qualified to be President.
They clash at the nominating convention and lobby for the crucial support of dying former President Art Hockstader (Lee Tracy). The pragmatic Hockstader prefers Russell, but worries about his indecisiveness and overdedication to principle; he despises Cantwell, but appreciates his toughness and willingness to do what it takes.
One of Russell's aides digs up Sheldon Bascomb (Shelley Berman.) He served in the military with Cantwell, and is willing to link Cantwell to homosexual activity. Hockstader and Russell's closest advisors press Russell to grab the opportunity, but he resists. As the first round of voting begins, he arranges to meet Cantwell privately, to let his rival know what he can do. But though Cantwell does not understand what makes his opponent tick, he knows this much - Russell does not have the stomach for tactics that dirty. Certain of this, Cantwell refuses to concede. In the end, Russell shocks him by throwing his support behind a third, relatively unknown candidate, ending both their chances.

MAYBE I'M AMAZED

........That Ross Street is finally being paved weeks before the election?

........That the Times Leader, that rebel, that bastion of community involvement, that agent of change are not endorsing any New candidates in the general election? You might say you're a rebel, but in the end, you're under the thumb of "the Man".

........That the city street sweepers find their way to downtown every morning cleaning up in front of the empty store fronts but ignoring the neighborhood streets filled with residents in their homes?

........That people still refuse to believe that Lou Barletta has his sighhts on bigger fish to fry that Congressman Kanjko's lttle Congressional seat?

........That now the entire Napierkowski family, including the kids are mad at Greg Skrepenak launching attacks in the local paper every other day? What did he do to tork off that family?

........That the DPW guys in Wilkes Barre never pick up stuff they drop on recycling day and just let it sit in the street or on the sidewalk?

........That by this time next week, at least in Luzerne County, the same names and families will be running things?

........That a group of candidates in Mayfield, Pennsylvania are taking it upon themselves to run a write in campaign against the powers that be who backed the ethanol plant?