The LuLac Edition #520, July 13th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: 13 QUESTIONS TWICE, MAKING IT 26 QUESTIONS.

26 QUESTIONS

We missed our last “13 Questions” feature in June because of the shocking news on that day (June 13th) of Tim Russert's passing and the condition of my mom. So, because this feature is so popular and we have a backload of questions, we decided to double up for July, thus the two “13 Questions” logos.

1. HOW WOULD YOU RATE THIS SEASON’S PRIMARY ELECTION SEASON?

IN ALL OF THE ONES I’VE SEEN, THIS WAS THE MOST INTERESTING IN TERMS OF DRAMA AND OVERHYPED EXPECTATIONS. IT WAS LIKE A SEESAW. NOW IT DIDN’T HAVE THE TRAGEDY OF 1968 (WHICH IN A STRANGE SORT OF WAY WAS A MORE PREDICTABLE ELECTION THAN THIS ONE EVEN WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF L.B.J. AND THE KILLING OF R.F.K.). FROM AN ELECTORAL STANDPOINT, YOU KNEW WHERE THE 1968 PRIMARY SEASON WAS GOING TO GO AFTER CALIFORNIA. BUT THIS YEAR WAS REALLY A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE.

2. DID YOU MAKE ANY OF THE EVENTS THIS POLITICAL SEASON?

TWO. I’D HAVE LIKED TO ATTEND MORE BUT WORK AND MOBILITY ISSUES PREVENTED THAT. I WENT TO THE HILLARY RALLY AT KING’S AND STOPPED IN AT THE OBAMA RALLY AT WILKES. I WROTE MORE ON THE HILLARY RALLY BECAUSE I WAS THERE LONGER.

3. IS IT HARD TO DO A BLOG/SITE EVERYDAY AND WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE?

SOMEDAYS THE BLOG WRITES ITSELF. OTHER DAYS I TRY TO SORT OUT WHAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO READERS. I WANT THIS TO BE A TYPE OF “MUST READ” FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE POLITICS AS SPORT. I STRUGGLE WITH TRYING TO POST STUFF THAT MIGHT SEEM SELF SERVING. BUT THEN I REALIZE THAT A PART OF THIS BLOG IS ABOUT MY LIFE AND IF I’M AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS, OR AM RAILING ABOUT SOMETHING, IT IS, AFTER ALL MY OPINION. BUT I TRY NOT TO BORE PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO READ THAT THEY CAN RELATE TO. KEVIN JORDAN, FROM WYOU TV, WARM RADIO AND WILK RADIO DOES THAT ON HIS SITE WITH STORIES ABOUT HIS TAKE ON NEWS MAKERS THAT ONE CAN EASILY SAY, “HEY, I MIGHT HAVE DONE THAT” OR “I WISH I SAID THAT!” THAT'S MY GOAL, MAKE IT INTERESTING, HAVE IT RELATE. POLITICS IN THIS AREA IS MORE THAN A CONTACT SPORT, IT'S LIKE THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION.

4. ANY COMMENT ON BRETT FARVE?

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ATHLETIC BUT EVEN I KNOW HOW TO EXIT WHEN YOU'RE ON A HIGH NOTE. LOVE FARVE, THINK HE'S ONE OF THE BEST, BUT THIS LATEST DEAL WILL DIMINISH HIS LEGACY. SANDY KOUFAX, JIM BROWN, BARRY SANDERS, GREAT EXAMPLES FOR DEPARTING THE SCENE WHEN YOU'VE HAD YOUR TOP GAME ENDING MOMENT.

5. WHO WAS YOUR FIRST VOTE IN AN ELECTION, NATIONAL AND LOCAL?

GEORGE McGOVERN IN THE ’72 ELECTION, PRESIDENT NIXON SIGNED THE LEGISLATION IN JUNE OF ’72 SO I WOULD’VE LOVED TO VOTE FOR HUMPHREY BUT THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE. MY FIRST LOCAL ELECTION WAS A VOTE FOR A SCHOOL DIRECTOR CANDIDATE FROM INKERMAN, SHERMAN SARTIN. IRONICALLY, THE GUY NOW BELONGS TO MY CHURCH OR I SHOULD SAY I BELONG TO HIS SINCE HE WAS THERE LONGER THAN ME.

6. DO YOU THINK DICK CHENEY REDEFINED THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENCY? FOR BETTER OR WORSE?

I THINK HE REDEFINED IT. I THINK HIS ACTIONS WEREN’T IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COUNTRY BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT HE MADE THE VICE PRESIDENCY A FORMIDABLE OFFICE.

7. WILL OBAMA PICK HILLARY AS HIS VEEP?

I DO. HE IS A UNITER, HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING BAD ABOUT HER AND WILL BUILD A COALITION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT WILL LAST GENERATIONS. THE CLASSY THING ABOUT OBAMA WAS THE WAY HE REACTED WHEN HILLARY STUMBLED OR HER HUSBAND WENT OFF THE RESERVATION. HE DIDN’T RAIL BACK, HE JUST SAID STUFF LIKE, “WELL WE ALL SAY THINGS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHEN WE’RE TIRED”. CLASS ACT IF YOU ASK ME.

8. ON OBAMA, WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST?

FIRST OFF WINNING IN IOWA, A STATE WITH VERY LITTLE BLACK POPULATION. THAT WIN SAID TO THE PARTY ESTABLISHMENT THAT HIS CAMPAIGN WAS PROMISING AND GAVE BLACKS PERMISSION TO HOPE HE MIGHT BE THE REAL DEAL. ALSO, ANYONE WHO CAN GET AN ETHEL KENNEDY OFF THE SIDELINES AFTER 40 YEARS AND HAVE HER ACTIVELY CAMPAIGN FOR HIM WAS, TO ME, A VERY IMPRESSIVE FEAT.

9. FAVORITE LAW AND ORDER CHICK?

ORIGINAL SERIES, ANGIE HARMON HANDS DOWN. LAW AND ORDER SVU, STEPHANIE MARCH.

10. DO YOU THINK THINGS WILL GET ANY BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY ANYTIME SOON?

NOPE. ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME, KNOWS I’M AN OPTIMIST. I GOT THAT FROM MY MOM. BUT THE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SO DEEP AND SUCH A MESS, IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A HUNDRED YEARS TO FIX.

11. WHY IS CONGRESSMAN KANJORSKI HAVING SUCH A TOUGH TIME THIS YEAR?

WELL, THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT I THINK THE CONGRESSMAN HAS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE RELATIVES AND THE 11 MILLION DOLLARS THEY SPENT ON A FAILED BUSINESS FROM FEDERAL FUNDING. KANJORSKI IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON IS NOT BELOVED. DAN FLOOD WAS, BUT NOT KANJO. I THINK A LARGE PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THAT LITTLE CLOUD. ALSO, THE GUY HAS ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL BUT UNLIKE FLOOD, IT HAS NOT BEEN TOP OF MIND AWARENESS WITH LOCAL VOTERS. IT MIGHT BE IRONIC THAT WHEN THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS GOING DEMOCRAT, LULAC LAND MIGHT BE ELECTING GOP CONGRESSMAN IN BARLETTA AND HACKETT.

12. DO YOU READ OTHER LOCAL BLOGGERS?

THE ONES THAT STAY, YEAH.

13. WAS MARY ANNE PETRILLA’S INDEPENDENCE A SURPRISE?

YES AND NO. YES BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE WIDEMAN/CROSSIN YEARS THAT AN ELECTED MAJORITY MEMBER ABANDONED THEIR RUNNING MATE ONCE THEY STARTED GOVERNING. TRINI AND PHILLIPS AT LEAST HAD 5 GOOD YEARS TOGETHER. MANY WILL SAY CROSSIN NEVER DESERVED THE TREATMENT FROM WIDEMAN WHILE OTHERS WILL SAY SKREP DID DESERVE WHAT HE GOT. AND AS FAR AS NO, LET’S JUST SAY SHE’S A SMART POLITICIAN AND HAS TO HAVE AN INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL. SO FAR, SHE’S DOING A GOOD JOB.

14. THE EULOGY FOR YOUR MOM WAS VERY TOUCHING. HOW ARE YOU DOING AFTYER HER DEATH?

I’M STILL WAITING TO CRASH INTO ONE BIG MESS. HASN’T HAPPENED YET AND I THINK IT’S BECAUSE SHE WAS SO SICK FOR SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. 6 WEEKS ISN’T LONG BUT IT GAVE US THE IDEA THAT SHE MIGHT NOT BE WITH US ANY LONGER. I TOLD MY SISTER THAT WE WEREN’T SPECIAL, WE WEREN’T GOING TO BE SPARED LOSING OUR MOTHER BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT TOO. I THINK HER DETERIORATING CONDITION AND THE FACT THAT SHE LIVED A GOOD, LONG LIFE KIND OF PREPARED THE WAY. BUT IT IS NEVER EASY TO LOSE A LOVED ONE. ESPECIALLY A MOM THAT WAS SO GENEROUS AND CARING.

15. WHY ARE YOU SUCH A HISTORICAL BUFF?

I TRULY BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR PAST. AND WHETHER PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIANS HAVE DONE SOME GOOD THINGS. ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO FRANCES SLOCUM STATE PARK OR THE STADIUM OR ARENA AND THINK IT JUST DROPPED FROM THE SKY. IT WAS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS THAT BROUGHT IT HERE AND I WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THE PLAYERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THOSE VENTURES.

16. WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST MISTAKES YOU’VE MADE IN YOUR LIFE, WERE THEY PERSONAL OR CAREER?

CAREER. VERY BAD CHOICES UNTIL RECENTLY. FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, MADE A FEW BLOOPERS THERE BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN GROW AS A PERSON FROM THEM AND PICK UP ANCILLARY FRIENDSHIPS THAT OUTLAST THE MISTAKE.

17. WHERE, IN YOUR OPINION WILL THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT GO IN THIS YEAR’S ELECTION?

WHERE THEY’VE ALWAYS GONE, THE GOP. THE BIG DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR IS THAT THEY WON’T BE LIED TO. THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT HAS BEEN USED AND ABUSED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SINCE 1980. NO REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION HAS EVEN TRIED TO OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE, REAGAN FOR ALL HIS POSTURING IGNORED THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IN FAVOR OF PUTTING THE FIRST WOMAN ON THE COURT. BUSH 41, NEVER A TRUE BELIEVER, ESSENTIALLY IGNORED THEM USING HIS VICE PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE TO SERVE THEM UP RED MEAT AND BUSH 43 PRETTY MUCH HAS NOT DEALT WITH THEM EXCEPT DURING ELECTION TIME. SO THEY SHOULD SUPPORT McCAIN BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN NOMINEE NOT JERKING THEIR CHAIN.

18. THERE IS A GREAT ARGUMENT FOR HILLARY CLINTON TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK BECAUSE THAT’S SEEN AS A LAUNCHING PAD FOR SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTS. THOUGHTS?

IT MIGHT BE A LAUNCHING PAD BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS TO GET THE PRESIDENCY FROM THERE. IN THE LAST CENTURY TWO NEW YORK GOVERNORS BECAME PRESIDENT, THEODORE AND FRANKLIN ROOSELVELT. UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WERE AL SMITH, THOMAS DEWEY, AVERELL HARRIMAN AND NELSON ROCKEFELLER. MARIO CUOMO NEVER GOT OFF THE DIME SO YOU CAN’T COUNT HIM, BUT 4 MULTIPILE TIME LOSERS VS. TWO WINNERS DOESN’T MAKE THE JOB OF BEING GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK A WORLD BEATER WHEN IT COMES TO ATTAINING THE OVAL OFFICE.

19. YOUR FAVORITE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE?

THURGOOD MARSHALL. HE BECAME THE CLASSIC GRUMPY OLD MAN AT THE END OF HIS LIFE. GOTTA LOVE THAT. LIKED EARL WARREN TOO. FEEL THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD BENEFIT FROM A PERSON WHO ACTUALLY WAS IN ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. HIS TENURE AS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR HELPED HIM BE A BETTER JUSTICE I BELIEVE.

20. HAVE YOU SEEN “RECOUNT”, THE MOVIE ON THE 2000 ELECTION FROM HBO?

YES, THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL DONE BUT I LOVE
POLITICAL MOVIES ANYWAY.

21. FAVORITE “SEX AND THE CITY” CHICK?

NONE. NEVER LIKED ANY OF THEM. LIKED THE CONCEPT OF THE SHOW THOUGH.

22. ANY NEW FAVORITE EATING PLACES?

WE WENT TO BELLA VINO ON HIGHWAY 315 RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE OBLATES IN PITTSTON. THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE, THE SERVICE STAFF CATERED TO YOUR EVERY NEED. I DID NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF SERVICE IN ANY NEW YORK OR CHICAGO EATERY IN MY LIFETIME. WHEN I CAME IN, AS I DO IN ANY NEW PLACE, I ACTED LIKE A JERK WHEN I ASKED AN OBVIOUS QUESTION. I DO THIS TO TEST THE REACTION OF THE STAFF. I STARTED BITCHING BECAUSE I COULD NOT BE SEATED INSIDE WITHOUT A RESERVATION. THIS WAS OF COURSE AN UNREASONALE REQUEST BECAUSE IT WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT. I KNEW THAT. THEY SUGGESTED THE DECK (WHERE I REALLY WANTED TO SIT ANYWAY) AND I RAILED ABOUT BEING SENT TO SIBERIA OR SOMETHING. ANYWAY, THEY CALMLY EXPLAINED THINGS, ALL THE WAY TO THE TABLE I WAS STILL COMPLAINING BUT THEY REACTED IN THE CLASSIC TOP LEVEL SERVICE STYLE, MADE THE BEST OUT OF WHAT I PERCIEVED TO BE MY BAD SITUATION. THAT ALL SAID, THE FOOD, SERVICE AND DECOR ((THERE WAS A SMALL COUCH, (ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?) IN THE MEN'S ROOM,)) WERE OUTSTANDING! YOU CAN TALK ABOUT A SMITH AND WOLENSKY'S OR RUTH CHRIS STEAKHOUSE ALL YOU WANT BUT THIS PLACE HAD THEM BEAT! I GAVE MRS. LULAC THE TOUR OF THE BUILDING (WHICH WAS THE OLD MAYFAIR SUPPER CLUB) SHOWING HER THE SPOT WHERE HARRY TRUMAN, BOBBY KENNEDY, HENRY JACKSON, WARREN MAGNUSON AND HUBERT HUMPHREY SPOKE. AND NO, THEY DID NOT PAY FOR MY MEAL! I'M SAYING NICE STUFF BECAUSE THE PLACE IS A WONDERFUL NEW ADDITION AND HAS A RICH POLITICAL HISTORY.

23. GOING TO DENVER FOR THE CONVENTION?

NO. I WAS SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT RUNNING AS A GORE DELEGATE LAST FALL BUT NOTHING CAME OF THAT. OBVIOUSLY.

24. WEEKENDER OR ELECTRIC/DIAMOND CITY?

DIAMOND CITY MAINLY BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY GOOD TO ME WHEN MY FIRST NOVEL HIT THE STREETS.

25. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MAYOR CHRIS DOHERTY’S FILM CAREER? SELF SERVING?

LOOK ANY POLITICIAN IS SELF SERVING BUT DOHERTY HAS BEEN A MAJOR CHEERLEADER FOR THE CITY. HE HAS PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE AND UNLIKE OTHER MAYORS IN LULAC LAND, HE’LL NOT HIDE FROM THE MEDIA OR TALK SHOW PEOPLE WHEN THERE’S A CONTROVERSY. I LIKE HIM AND LIKE HIS STYLE WHICH HAS MADE SCRANTON WAY HIPPER THAN MY TOWN, WILKES BARRE. MY COUSIN P.J. PRIBULA OF EXETER HAS BOUGHT "TINK'S" AND HE HAS HAD SOME GOOD COOPERATION FROM THE CITY.

26. LAST YEAR OF YANKEE STADIUM. WHAT’DYA THINK?

I’M SAD. ANOTHER VESTIGE OF MY YOUTH BEING TORN DOWN. EVEN MY BEST FRIENDS WHO ARE YANKEE FANS ARE TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE NEW BALLPARK BUT IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING TO SEE THAT HALLOWED GROUND SWEPT ASIDE. BY THE WAY, A BUDDY OF MINE “MICK MAN” BOUGHT A BLEACHER SEAT FOR THE FINAL GAME. HE COULD GET $750.00 BUCKS FOR IT ON E BAY BUT HE’S GOING TO PAY HIS RESPECTS. IRONIC THAT MY LAST VISIT WAS THE POPE’S MASS ON APRIL 20TH.