The LuLac Edition #462, April 17th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: THE LUZERNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

THE FINAL(?)DEBATE

Last night in Phiadelphia, Sentors Clinton and Obama had a wide ranging 90 minute debate. Both were pretty composed against questions from the ABC News team. In the debate, both candidates pledged not to raise taxes on individuals making less than $200,000, and said they would respond forcefully if Iran obtains nuclear weapons and uses them against Israel. Clinton said there would be forecful retalliation. The two differed over Social Security when Obama said he favored raising payroll taxes on higher-income individuals. Clinton said she was opposed, then Obama quickly cut in and countered that she had said earlier in the campaign she was open to the idea. Under the current law, workers must pay the payroll tax on their first $102,000 in wages. Obama generally has expressed support for a plan to reimpose the tax beginning at a level of $200,000 or more. The debate was the 21st of the campaign for the nomination, an epic struggle that could last weeks or even months longer. Pennsylvania, with 158 delegates at stake, is a must-win contest for Clinton, who leads in the polls. She hopes for a strong victory to propel her through the other states that vote before the primary season ends on June 3.

There are reports that former President Bill Clinton will speak at Wilkes University on Saturday along with the C-SPAN bus. Both are not interconnected.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

As a high school student, when Tom Pribula Junior used to accompany his late father to the Luzerne County Courthouse in the summer, then County Controller Joe Tirpak would ask the youngster, "What type of job do you want when you get out of school?" He replied, "Yours". Pribula never got to be County Controller but was named yesterday as County Budget Director replacing Sam Diaz. Pribula most recently worked as a financial advisor for Bank of America Investment Services Inc. He has also worked as an investment representative for Edward D. Jones & Co. and as a manager, financial analyst and accountant at Philip Morris Management Corp. and Nabisco. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wilkes University and holds state insurance licenses. Others hired were Communications Director Jason Jarecki and Transportation Director Anthony DePolo.

Disclaimer: Thomas Pribula is a cousin of the editor of this blog/site.

MORE FOR OBAMA

Even after what many are saying was a weak debate performance, Senator Brak Obama today recieved another big newspaper endorsement. Following on the heels of Sunday's endorsement by the Scranton Times and the Allentown Morning Call, today the Philadelphia Daily News backed the Illinois lawmaker. In part they said: "A candidate's campaign may be the best indicator of how she or he will govern. If so, an Obama administration would be well-managed, inclusive and astonishingly broad-based. It would make good use of technology and communicate a message of unity and, yes, hope. It would not be content with eking out slim victories by playing to the narrow interests of the swing voters of the moment while leaving the rest of the country as deeply divided as ever. Instead, an Obama administration would seek to expand the number of Americans who believe that they have a personal stake in our collective future - and that they have the power to change things". Obama has also been endorsed by the Bucks County Courier Times and the Harrisburg Patriot. With Senator Clinton leading in the polls, it is interesting that the newspapers have bucked the trend. Whether this will help or hurt their endorsee has yet to be seen but it is something rarely seen since I've been following newspapers and politics.