The LuLac Edition #455, April 8th, 2008
PHOTO INDEX: GREG SKREPENAK AND MARYANNE PETRILLA ON ELECTION NIGHT, A LITTLE LATER MARYANNE PETRILLA ECLIPSING SKREPENAK ON THE SAME NIGHT.
SPLITSVILLE!!
I'm told that when people go through a divorce (and I thank God I never had to go through that despite some pretty bad behavior on my part) there are two stages. The first is the quiet rumblings of something afoot. Friends specualte and gossip but there's no real hard proof of disdsain. Then the second stage when all the gatorade hits the fan and there is an open discussion of the other partner's faults. That happened this weekend with the revelation that Luzerne County Commissioners MaryAnne Petrilla and Greg Skrepenak were disolving their joint campaign committee. And it wasn't pretty. From the Times Leader today and a story by Jennifer Learnes Andes, here's what Skep said:
"She doesn't want to be a partner. She wants to be a dictator. She wants to tell people what to do".
TRANSLATION: "Hey I didn't even listen to quarterbacks when I was in the NFL and I have to deal with this!" Telling people what to do and sometimes where to get off is part and[parcel of leadership. Skrep might have done himself some good had he not been that loyal to his appointees. Personally, I admire that kind of thing but in this political climate, it isn't a smart strategic move.
And from Petrilla:
Skrepenak's reaction has been "juvenile" and "impedes the progress the government is making," she said."If restoring confidence is perceived by Commissioner Skrepenak as'dictatorial,' then so be it, but it is an unfair characterization and below him," Petrilla said."The fact is, I take my marching orders from the taxpayers of Luzerne County, and the changes currently being made are exactly what the public demands and why I finished first in the election".
TRANSLATION: Get out of the way bub. I'm on a roll here. Using the vaunted "taxpayers" as a political shield, covers what Skrep calls opportunism. "Hey, the taxpayers made me do it!!!" she says as she's grinding her stillettos in the big man's big head. Then for the grand finale, she runs full speed twenty feet away, jumps onto a step stool and wacks Skrep in the head with the "why I finished first in the election" comment.
Wow! Luzerne County now has a county government of coalitions. Petrilla has already demonstrated her ability to work with GOPer Steve Urban but Skrep may have a hard time being nice to Steve when he referred to him as a "terrorist" during last year's election. Skep's best bet seems to be to take on the role of a minority watch dog. Urban was referred to by Citizen's Voice Mike McGlynn as a guy "who shouts fire when the barn has been buring for a few hours". Skrep can be the minority guy, much like Frank Crossin Junior was in the Trinisewski-Phillips years. The role will be tough because he's going to have to defend his past actions but that's no big deal since we're at the stage of insults and name calling already.
Fractured government among the Commissioners in Luzerne County is nothing new. Ed Wideman and Frank Crossin Junior had professional and political jealousies but they managed to run as a team three times and win Democratic control. Jim Phillips a true Reagan believer never fully trusted Frank Trinisewski even though Trini won election as a Republican many times. There always has been friction but never a split. Never a public split that has taken on such public dimensions.
While other Commissioner teams stayed together "for the kids" (Translation: the votes) Skep and Petrilla have decided to confirm what everyone knew the last few months, "It's Over", with apologies to Roy Orbison.
KANJO THE FDR DEM
Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11), the Chairman of the House Financial Services Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee, will participate in a panel symposium led by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) in honor of the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. FERI invited the Chairman to participate in a panel discussion focusing on the current financial crisis and on the policies needed to address it. Now if I can only convince the Congressman that I'd do him proud as a "nephew" and get myself some huge government grant.
STUCK!!!!
The top U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress Tuesday that hard-won gains in the war zone are too fragile to promise any troop pullouts beyond this summer, holding his ground against impatient Democrats and refusing to commit to Army Gen. David Petraeus painted a picture of a nation struggling to suppress violence among its own people and to move toward the political reconciliation that Bush said a year ago was the ultimate aim of his new Iraq strategy, which included sending more than 20,000 extra combat troops. It was a political sight to see Senators Obama, Clinton and McCain on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee weighing in on this issue. Here's my comment: more money, more dead soldiers, more wasted lives. Do you realize that before we invaded Iraq's people had electric power 24/7, now most have it for an hour a day? Yeah, we're doin' great over there!
OBAMA GAINING
Some polls in the state have Senator Obama gaining ground on Senator Clinton in the important Pennsylvania primary two weeks from today. Obama is outspending Clinton three to one and Governor Ed is back tracking and saying that a win in Pennsylvania will be impressive enough in single digits for Senator Clinton. Footsteps, footsteps..........
CASEY AND THE CLEARY'S
Senator Bob Casey was supposed to deliver medals of honor to slain Iraq veteran Eric Cleary in Dallas last week. Casey promised he'd hand deliver them. Turns out he didn't and went on the bus with Barak Obama and had an aide send his regrets. Everyone is saying Casey was insensitive and tone deaf about this issue, snubbing the family of a veteran who gave his life for his country. Here's my take: where the hell was Casey's staff on this matter? These are the little twenty somethings who have no clue about the history of a region or the ramifications of a political or personal moment. How great would it have been if Casey showed up at the door with the man who opposed the war in the first place? Would the family have turned him and the Illinois Senator away? I don't think so. Casey should have gone to see the Cleary's, maybe not when he said. However, his staff, if they were thinking and not strutting around like they invented politics in the modern world let him down. Someone should have had the gravitas to say to Casey, "Uh, Senator, let's look at this again". But they didn't and that's why a good decent man is being criticized because his high paid staff, political and office, hasn't a clue.
posted by David Yonki @ 6:42 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
on skrep, he is a child... when anyone disagrees with him or questions him the big fat dope who probably played too many downs without a helmet gets into name calling.
casey, he better hope obama wins and he gets a cabinet position because this will haunt him and make him a one term senator. snubbing the family of someone killed in a war is classless. then again the privilaged senator never actually served his country so he doesn't get what real honor isl.
Maybe, since it was in a hostile republician area, they decided to pass. Can't make them stick to the script. Too risky. Maybe they will do something for the SJE member that was severely hurt in the war. Safer, Democratic area.
Petrilla will take her lumps sooner or later. Siding with Urban will be her political death. Steve is not suited, so to speak, to lead from behind. He is not a person that wants exposure. Skrep is done- He's not much of a team player(politically)considering his background, and hopefully he took care of everyone he wanted to because he's done. The prison kitchen saga has finished him off, unless he turns it towards the controller's office successfully.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the Bob Casey issue re
his staff. Still there is a question of character here. Much like the Clintons, the Caseys seem to have felt a sense of entitlement to public office. The fact is, Casey is better than "Slick Rick", but he is a lightweight!
Great take on all these jokers we elect. Petrilla was heading for the high ground on election night and since Kanjo is running again, his staff is wallpapering the district with new of the K man. Skrep should step back and become a true minority watch dog. Go for broke, it might save his political career.
I heard of this “story” yesterday and as a veteran for Hillary, I went OH? But immediately, I thought wait a moment; I know Senator Casey and I know him well. He would never do that to anyone let alone one of our war dead or their family. His first formal speech running for Senate was to the American Legion. I personally know that his concern for our troops and their families is always a major concern. So I contacted folks on the Senator's staff and others involved. Senator Casey and his staff's attention to and care for the Cleary family is beyond reproach. The family was involved and informed along the way and were agreeable to any changes. While I am disappointed with Casey's presidential endorsement, I know that his support for our troops and their families is nothing BUT supportive and caring.
Hal Donahue, Lt. Col. USAF (retired)
If Skrep is successful in turning the blame back to the comptroller's office under Petrilla, it might create a large enough rift to finally doom the democratic party in Luzerne County, or at least give the republicans a fighting chance. Assuming they can find some credible candidates.
Concerning Bob Casey;
Actions speak louder than words. He can talk a good game, but when push came to shove he chose politics over a military family. Last I heard the medals are still in his possession.
Anonymous 7:55PM
That is utter BS. You know, I get really upset about turning a dead soldier into a political "thing" which is what you are doing. I would love to discredit Senator with his support of Obama but you know what I will not do it this way...
FYI the last I heard was that the medals are and he is trying to obtsin another owed to the LT. Please let us no go this way.
Hey Skrep remember - "Pigs get Fat, Hogs get Slaughtered"
Hal I am an Obama supporter, I was a Casey supporter and I was a rather large contributor to his campaign. I am not making the soldier the issue, I am making Bob Casey the issue. It is his lack of integrity that is the question and this is an example of it. I have lost family members in war and I myself served. You may want to defend his actions and that is your right. I find them to be extremely distasteful.
If Corbett got it wrong and it was reported wrong then I have no problem apologizing for my comments, however his staff and his lack of candor demonstrated by not going on the air are what pushed me away from Senator Casey. He reminds us all of why he will always be Bobby, he is a spoiled, silver spoon fed, poser who never will be his father.
IN RESPONSE
Hey Skrep remember - "Pigs get Fat, Hogs get Slaughtered.
AS I SAID ON WYOU TV LAST NIGHT, I THINK SKREP GAVE OUT THOSE CONTRACTS TO FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS. GUYS LIKE HIM CAN BE GENEROUS TO A FAULT. IT DOESN'T JUSTIFY BENDING THE RULES BUT UNLESS IT'S PROVED OTHERWISE, I SEE NOTHING HEINOUS IN HIS INTENT.
That is utter BS. You know, I get really upset about turning a dead soldier into a political "thing" which is what you are doing.
POINT WELL TAKEN. BUT POLITICS AND WAR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LINKED, I WAS JUST SAYING THAT THE CASEY STAFF COULD'VE BEEN MORE CREATIVE IN HANDLING THIS MATTER.
The Casey "mistake" was just that. I'm sure that the Clinton people are just trying to get something, anything to stick on Obama. Doing it through Casey is gutless.
Dave,
I do not understand your continuing to turn a blind eye when it comes to Skrep. There is a pattern, it is not one error or oversight. This has been done over and over and over again. And I am sorry, but your justification that he is generous, is a contemptible comment. It isn't his ****ing (edited)money!!!!!!! It is county money. It isn't generosity --- it is stealing. He has worked around the rules to get his friends money, money, money.
The debit card debacle as it has been called is known as embezzlement anywhere else in the word. They did not run up credit card bills, debit cards are the same as CASH. There actions wer akin to reaching into the till and taking cash for their own use.
There was a employee at Penn State, Lehman, who did the same thing and he was arrested.
Skreps ACTIONS demonstrate dishonesty period.
His political corruption is detailed time and time again.
He has many other foibles that are not reported, perhaps some diligent reporter will dig deeper. I am sure you will edit this out, (edited: editors comment: yep, you’re right about that!!!!!!) it is the reason Petrilla opted to terminate. If it became more public it would have added to the disgrace Skrep has brought to the court house.
Through his ACTIONS this man has demonstrated that he has no respect for the taxpayers, the rules, his fellow commissioners, nor the law. Due to his athletic celebrity he believes he is above the law. His house of cards will come tumbling down.
However, I remain curious to your defense and justifications for him.
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