The LuLac Edition #399, Jan. 20th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: VINCE SWEENEY, FORMER WBRE TV WEATHERCASTER AND THE LULAC TELEMARKETING CHICK.

SWEENEY OPTS OUT

Vince Sweeney, Executive Director of the Luzerne County SPCA has opted out of running for Congress in the 10th Congressional District. Sweeney cited his commitment to the position at the SPCA as well as his feeling that the time is just not right for a run for Congress. While Sweeney has huge name recognition and wouldn’t need the reported millions Donald Meuser is spending to get known, it is a smart move on his part. Here’s why:
1, Chris Carney has built a record as a middle of the road moderate. He has been visible in the district and has made some good moves. For the most part he has been accessible to the local media and has not slapped around any blondes during his first term in D.C.
2. It is going to be a Democratic year and even with the large GOP registration in the 10th, the inclination is to go for the Democrats in 08. Pennsylvania has gone Democratic in the last 16 years in Presidential elections.
3. Also as far as registration goes, Phyllis Mundy has proved in the 120th District that an incumbent can be re-elected even if the opposing party has the edge.
Sweeney can bide his time, build his off camera resume and still be involved in community activities utilizing his high profile for something down the road. And folks, let’s face facts, being a Congressman isn’t what it used to be. Even though I love politics, there are so many of my fellow Americans if you will who have nothing but disdain for the political process. Sweeney might have taken that into consideration when he made his decision too. However no one can doubt his sincerity and interest in the process. He may want to make this stop at another time in his life, but for right now, many observers are saying Sweeney did the right thing by pulling back. In politics, like comedy, timing is everything. And ’08 is just not going to be the year for Sweeney or any new face to take on and beat Chris Carney.

HELLO? HELLO?

So yesterday afternoon the phone rings and it's someone from the REpublican National Committee specifically asking for me. I've been getting these calls and e mails from the GOP since 2004 when I chanfged to the Republican party for a few weeks to vote for Arlen Specter against Pat Toomey in the primary. Even though I changed back to the Dems right after the Specter primary win, apparently I'm still on their radar screen. So with that as a backdrop, here's how the phone conversation went with the telemarketer from the Republicans.

T.C. (Telemarketing Chick): Mr. Yonki, how are you today?

Me: Fine.

T.C.: Good. Mr. Yonki, how important is it to you to have a Republican elected to the White House in 2008?

Me: Not very important at all.

T.C.: Pardon me?

Me: Not important at all, my God I wouldn't even let a Republican near the White House for the next three or four generations, do you have any other question for me?

T.C: Click.

Me: Hello, hello.

Needless to say I'm not going to getting calls from the national GOP anytime soon. Or..........maybe I will!

PRIMARIES

In Nevada, it was Senator Clinton over Senator Obama on the Democratic side and Mitt Romney over Ron Paul and others on the Republican side. South Carolina embraced Senator McCain by a small margin over Governor Mike Huckabee and an entire TV audience is wondering just what the heck former Senator Frted Thompson was trying to say in his Saturday night speech to the country. Next up, South Carolina for the Dems next Saturday and then Florida at the end of the month.