The LuLac Edition #558, Sept. 1st, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: GOP LOGO AND REPUBLICAN DELEGATES FROM LULAC LAND, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT PAUL DEFABO, DOLORES STRISH, ROSEMARY GAETANO AND MICHAEL TALUTO.

CONVENTION CONFIDENTIAL

EVENTS TAKE OVER

We all know that any poltical campaign is at the mercy of breaking news events. This happened to the Republicans this week in St. Paul when it was decided that the convention would be scaled back due to the hurricane that was set to land in the Gulf coast. The local delegates arrived on Saturday fully expecting it to be your normal convention. However that changed when party leaders and the presumed nominee John McCain said "We put the country first". McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin toured the area and there are even reports that he may deliver his speech via TV if he is in that distressed area. Some observers have said that the storm, which has caused President Bush and Vice President Cheney to cancel their participation in the event might turn out to be a lucky break for the most part since the administration is aligned with the slow response to Katrina.

The Monday schedule for the convention has been scaled back to three hours. Even with the somber nature of the gathering, the local delegates have not seen a dearth of celebrated Washingtionians spotting columnist George Will in one of the hotels.

PALIN MEDIA REACTION

It was interesting to see the national media reaction to the choice of Sarah Palin this past Sunday. I kept on hearing over and over again about her lack of foreign policy experience. Again, I contend that her experience level is the same as Vice President Spiro Agnew's tenure as Baltimore County Executive and then a year and a half term as overnor when he was chosen by Richard Nixon. Before Watergate broke and the Agnew scandal came to light, the then Vice President was being touted for the 1976 Presidential nomination by of all magazines Newsweek. People learn on the campaign trail and grow in office. Palin is in a sink or swim situation in this campaign, if she swims, all the negative comments about the chattering class will be forgotten.

GOP VIDEO VIGNETTE

In a conversation between President Nixon, Vice President Agnew asks for a meeting concerning bi partisan legislation to prevent leaks of classified information. And the two also talk about razors. And yes, this is the same Spiro Agnew who had experience comparable to Governor Palins. From You Tube:

KANJO ON THE MOVE

Congressman Paul Kanjorski was at the Plymouth Kilbossi Festival on Saturday meeting and greeting the folks. That festival has grown by leaps and bounds every year and we were only too glad to see our friends Rich and Irene Mackiewicz there. For my money, they have the best kilbossi in the world. But I digress, the Congressman circulated and did the type of campaigning that is appreciated and expected by the folks in the 11th Congressional Districtt. Next week Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and Scranton Mayor Christopher Doherty will help reopen the nearly 140-year-old White House mansion on Jefferson Avenue as Downtown Scranton’s newest business. The new special events venue and catering facility, now known as The Colonnade and located at 401 Jefferson Avenue near the University of Scranton campus, is the product of an approximately two-year renovation overseen by owners Paul Blackledge and Joshua Mast. The two partners are also putting the finishing touches on six upstairs suites to provide overnight accommodations for guests.
Tuesday’s opening will also mark a major milestone in a small business financing program created by Congressman Kanjorski, known as the Banking On Business program. Banking On Business, which helped finance the renovation of the White House mansion, has now committed $15 million in funding for new and expanding small businesses across northeastern Pennsylvania.