The LuLac Edition #446, March 25th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: FORMER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON AND SENATOR BARAK OBAMA.

CAMPAIGN STAGING

There can never be a Presidential campaign in America, even into the 21rst century where there is no mention of one of the most dominant politicians of the last era, Richard M. Nixon. Dead now just under 14 years, Nixon and his tactics still loom large. Recently it has come to light that Senator Obama's speech against the war in Iraq, given when he was a State Senator is not all its cracked up to be. Apparently those who were there feel there wasn't a lot of tub thumping or passion and at best it was a lackluster but sincere effort. NPR reports today that in some of the latest campaign commercials, Senator Obama has re-enacted parts of the speech to make it more "relevant". Shades of Richard Nixon who in the '68 campaign held town meetings with handpicked questioners with you guessed it, handpicked queries. Now I'm not saying that Senator Obama is a Nixon, I mean the guy glides on a stage and through a speech while the introverted Nixon struggled. But it is worth noting that if you hear an ad for Obama in the Pennsylvania primary talking about the Senator's opposition to the war long, long ago, there are parts that are re-created. He was right on the war from the start, give him a gold star on that. But so was I and a few thousands of other people. And we don't have to exagerrate or re-create our opposition to the war. I'll say now what I said then, "another Vietnam".

BOBACK/MAY

The claws have come out in the 117th District race for State Representative. Challenger May says Boback won't debate. Boback says the dates provided by the League of Women Voters conflict with her Legislative duties in Harrisburg. May says she's ducking the debates, Boback says she's doing her job. And the beat goes on. But a debate might have been fine, maybe a discussion on public education vs. home schooling. I'm just sayin'............

PETRILLA'S PLACE

If anything, Maryanne Petrilla the newly minted County Commissioner is solidifying her place in Luzerne County history as a person broaching no nonsense when it comes to the hint of scandal. Give her credit, she is giving investigators free reign to look into everything that smells fishy under the dome. Wags say she hasn't just taken a broom to the joint, but a fleet of Orecks. (Which by the way, I think is an overpriced, medicore hyped up product that has not served me well in vacumming dutues around the LuLac abode but I digress!) Anyway, it will be interesting to see how the electorate will judge Petrilla and how history down the road will view her actions. I was outraged when she canned Kathy Bozinki but fair is fair and she's doing things unheard of in the County for the last 60 years, looking under the rug instead of sweeping under it.