The LuLac Edition #571, Sept. 13th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: 13 QUESTIONS LOGO.

13 QUESTIONS

1. ANY THOUGHTS ON THE ELECTION?

WHERE DO I START? THE McCAIN CAMP HAS HAD A BOOST WITH THE PICKING OF SARAH PALIN. IT HAS BROUGHT IN MONEY, ENERGIZED THE TICKET AND GIVEN HIM A SHOT. BUT IF OBAMA HAD PICKED CLINTON, I BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE NO PALIN BUT RATHER A POWELL ON THE TICKET. HOW BETTER TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM BUSH THAN TO PICK COLIN POWELL BUT STILL KEEP HIS (McCAIN’S) CREDIBILITY ON THE SURGE. I THOUGHT BIDEN WOULD BE BETTER ON THE STUMP, I MEAN ADMITTING HILLARY MIGHT’VE BEEN A BETTER PICK, C’MON. BUT ONE THING STICKS WITH ME ABOUT BOTH CONVENTIONS. ON THE MORTGAGE CRISIS, OBAMA TALKED ABOUT A FAMILY LOSING THEIR SOLE HOME TO THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS. McCAIN CITED A FAMILY WHO HAD 9 RENTAL PROPERTIES AND WERE “STRUGGLING”. PLEASE, TO ME THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

2. FRED ASTAIRE OR GENE KELLY?

I’M NO STUDENT OF DANCE BUT I THINK KELLY WAS MORE OF A RISK TAKER IN HIS PERFORMANCES. ASTAIRE SEEMED TO FOLLOW A FORMULA. TO ME, YOU ALWAYS KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING TO GO NEXT. KELLY ON THE OTHER HAND WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND FILLED WITH ENERGY. HIS PERFORMANCE OF “SINGING IN THE RAIN” WAS FILLED WITH IMPROVISATION. PLUS HE HAD A FEVER AND WAS DEATHLY ILL WHEN THEY FILMED THAT SEGMENT. I LIKE ASTAIRE BUT LOVED GENE KELLY AS A DANCER.

3. DO YOU THINK GOVERNOR ED RENDELL AND SENATOR BOB CASEY HAD COMPARABLE ROLES AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION?

NO. CASEY WAS IN PRIME TIME. BOTH DID WELL BUT YOU COULD TELL WHO SUPPORTED THE WINNER.

4. I SAW YOUR WARM BLOG AND THINK ITS WONDERFUL. DO YOU HAVE A TOP LIST OF LOCAL RADIO NEWSCASTERS YOU RESPECTED?

AT THE RISK OF TORKING PEOPLE OFF, I HAVE A FEW. I LEARNED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT FROM DAVID DECOSMO IN THE 70S. DAVID COULD MOVE BETWEEN THE CORRIDERS OF POWER AND POLITICS EASILY, NEVER CHANGING WHO HE WAS. IN THE NEXT MOMENT, HE COULD COVER A FIRE AND SHOW SUCH GREAT COMPASSION IN MAKING SURE THE DETAILS WERE RIGHT BECAUSE HE KNEW THE STORY INVOLVED EXTENDED FAMILY. KEVIN JORDAN WAS A FAVORITE OF MINE TOO. I SAY THIS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, BUT KEVIN WAS LIKE THE “PROVERBIAL SKUNK AT THE GARDEN PARTY” WHEN HE ASKED QUESTIONS NO ONE WOULD EVEN DARE. HE WAS FEARLESS AND WAS ULTIMATELY VINDICATED IN HIS QUESTIONING WHEN NATIONAL MEDIA NOTICED HIS TOUGH LINE OF INQUIRY. IN THE 80S, KEVIN SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AS PRISIDENT OF THE NEPA NEWS MEDIA ASSOCIATION. HE WAS JUST GREAT. KITCH LOFTUS FROM WARM SET THE STANDARD FOR FEMALE BROADCASTERS IN RADIO NEWS. IN THE 70S, SHE WAS PRETTY MUCH IT AND THE THING I REMEMBERED ABOUT HER WAS THAT WHILE OTHERS WERE SATISFIED TO GET A “POOL” SOUNDBITE, SHE ALWAYS STAYED AFTER AND GOT HER OWN SOUND. I ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID, “THINK I WANT MY STATION TO SOUND LIKE ALL THE OTHERS!!!” BUD BROWN AND BILL GRAHAM WERE WONDERFUL IN THE 70S WHEN WBRE WAS ALL NEWS. RICH MATES FROM WEJL ALWAYS FILED MORE STORIES TO THE AP THAN YOU COULD SHAKE A STICK AT. IN HAZLETON, L.A. TARONE IS STILL RELENTLESS IN HIS PURSUIT OF THE NEWS AND ANDY MEHALSHICK HAS SHOWN TENACITY FOR BREAKING NEWS THAT SERVES WBRE TV VERY WELL. DAVID KUSH WAS A FORCE IN THE MARKET AT WILK AND WBAX AND IN 1977-78 FORMED A CONCEPT ON PUBLIC RADIO CALLED “THE DAY BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT”. ALONG WITH ROGER HEYDT AND A FEW OTHERS, THEY DID AN ALL NIGHT NEWS PROGRAM THAT WAS PRETTY INNOVATIVE. WDAU AND WGBI’S TOM POWELL WAS A FORCE IN LOCAL NEWS MAINLY BECAUSE HE COVERED EVERYTHING FROM MINING DISASTERS TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. MIKE STEVENS TRANSITIONED FROM RADIO TO TV AND WAS AN ALL OUT STAR IN EVERY MEDIUM HE WAS IN. KATHY BOZINSKI AND KAREN HARCH MADE THEIR BONES WHEN THEY INTERVIEWED IRAN HOSTAGE MICHAEL METRINKO. NANCY KMAN WAS AN EXCELLENT RADIO REPORTER BEFORE SHE GOT THE CHANCE TO RUN WILK. ANDY PALUMBO ALSO MADE THE TRANSITION FROM RADIO TO TV WITH VERY GOOD RESULTS. I KNOW I’VE LEFT OUT MORE THAN I’VE MENTIONED BUT THOSE ARE MY TOP ONES.

5. WATCHING A LOT OF DAYTIME TV SINCE YOU WERE ON MEDICAL LEAVE?

NOPE. IT GETS PRETTY BAD WHEN SPRINGER’S BOUNCER GETS HIS OWN SHOW.

6. YONKI, YOU HAVE A CHOICE. 24 HOURS IN A ROOM WITH THE LADIES FROM “THE VIEW”CHATTERING AWAY, (ANY ERA) OR THE SAME TIME WITH KEVIN LYNN AND STEVE CORBETT?

NOT TO SOUND SEXIST HERE, BUT I’D HAVE TO GO WITH KEV AND THE CORB. AT LEAST THERE'D BE A SANE DEBATE DEVOID OF SILLINESS.

7. CONGRESSIONAL RACES? OPINION?

KANJORSKI, AS I SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN HAS TO ADDRESS CORNERSTONE. BARLETTA IS SURGING. HACKETT HAS A PUNCHER’S CHANCE BECAUSE CARNEY IS NOT ENGAGING HIM IN MANY DEBATES. I THINK ALL OF THEM ARE TOSSUPS AND TO BE HONEST, THEY SHOULDN’T BE.

8. WHEN I SAW YOU ON WYOU TV ONE TIME, YOU WERE TALKING WITH ERIC ABOUT BONUSGATE? ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH THAT?

TOM CORBETT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THERE MIGHT BE MORE INDICTMENTS BEFORE THE ELECTION. BUT THE TIME IS RUNNING SHORT AND IF HE DOES INDICT, THAT WILL OPEN THE CHARGES FOR POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM. THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY AND YOU’LL BE HEARING MORE. BUT THAT’S CORBETT’S CALL. BY THE WAY, IT LOOKS LIKE CORBETT WILL BREEZE TO A SECOND TERM. SINCE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAME AN ELECTED OFFICE IN 1980, NO DEMOCRAT HAS EVER WON IT IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

9. ANY MEMORIES OF YANKEE STADIUM AND WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE YOUR TRIBE IS OUT OF IT?

MANY OF THE STADIUM, YOU’LL SEE THEM NEXT SUNDAY IN LULAC. AS FOR THE PLAYOFFS, I’M ROOTING FOR THE DODGERS AND TORRE. THE YANKS SEEMED TO DIMINISH EVERYTHING HE DID FOR THEM AS A MANAGER IN THE MANNER IN WHICH HE WAS LET GO. THEY SEEMED TO BE SAYING, “ANYONE CAN GET US A DIVISION”. UH, NO! SO I’M ROOTING FOR JOE TORRE. IRONIC HE GETS IN THE PLAYOFFS WHILE HIS OLD TEAM SITS AT HOME THIS YEAR.

10. YOUR FAVORITE GIRL ON “PETTICOAT JUNCTION?"

EASY, LORI SAUNDERS. THE DARK HAIRED GIRL WHO PLAYED BOBBIE JO AND LATER BECAME THE DODGE GIRL. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE E MAIL EACH OTHER. SHE’S IN HER 60S, HAS A SLEW OF GRANDCHILDREN AND IS A CHRISTIAN.

11. ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

NOPE, I’M A CATHOLIC.

12. WELFARE, HOW DO WE SOLVE IT?

WE STOP IT. WELFARE BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE WHO CAN’T MOVE, NOT FOR SOMEONE WITH DIABETES AND IS AMBULATORY. IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO MENTALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE WHO CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. FOR THOSE PEOPLE, WE SHOULD MAKE A LIFETIME COMMITMENT OF CARE. FOR OTHERS, WELFARE SHOULD BE LIKE A SENATE TERM, 6 YEARS. NO MORE. THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT ON KIDS. TWO. IF A THIRD ONE IS BORN, THAT CHILD GETS REDUCED BENEFITS. NOW MY FRIEND JOE LEONARDI WILL SAY THAT’S PUNISHING THE CHILD BUT IT ISN’T ANY MORE PUNISHMENT THE CHILD IS GETTING FROM A MOTHER WHO THOUGHTLESSLY SPREAD HER LEGS AGAIN WITHOUT AN ECONOMIC PLAN TO RAISE THAT KID. MY HEAVENS, I KNOW WORKING COUPLES WHO ARE AFRAID TO HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY FEAR THEY WON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THEM ADEQUATELY. IF A FOURTH CHILD IS BORN, MANDATORY STERILIZATION. IF THE “MOTHER” HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT, MOVE OUT OF THE STATE. ANOTHER THING, A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT HAS TO BE IN PLACE FOR AT LEAST 8 MONTHS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS PENNSYLVANIA WELFARE. I’VE KNOWN THREE WOMEN ON WELFARE WHO USED IT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. THEY WERE ALL DUMPED BY THEIR HUSBANDS, (ONE IN THE BIRTHING SUITE) AND HAD TO RAISE KIDS. EACH ONE USED WELFARE TO FEED THE KIDS AND GET EDUCATIONS. ALL THREE DID IT IN 6 YEARS AND ALL THREE HAVE MASTERS DEGREES AND ARE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN AND ME AND MRS. LULAC COMBINED. I SAY GOOD FOR THEM. THEY WENT TO SCHOOL, HAD NO OTHER CHILDREN, SUBMITTED TO HAVING THEIR GRADES REVIEWED AND HOMES INSPECTED BUT PREVAILED. ON THE OTHER HAND, I’VE KNOWN OF A FEW OTHERS WHO MILKED THE SYSTEM, ARE STILL ON IT AND SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING. GET TOUGH, GIVE THEM STANDARDS TO MEET AND IF THEY DECIDE NOT TO, NO CHECK. CUT THEM OFF. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WELFARE COIN IS THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE SYSTEM. I’LL NEVER FORGET ONE DAY IN THE NINETIES WHEN I HAD TO GO TO THE WELFARE OFFICE TO DROP OFF A FEW PHOTOS FOR A GUY I ATTENDED A MET GAME WITH. THE WAITING ROOM WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE, AND EVERY DESK IN THE OFFICE HAD A CLIENT. AT 10:15AM, ONE HALF OF THE CASEWORKERS STOOD UP IN UNISON AND WALKED OUT OF THE JOINT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A STRIKE. SILLY ME, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE ALL GOING ON BREAK. I POINTED OUT THAT IT APPEARED TO ME THEIR WORK WASN’T FINISHED AND THE RECEPTIONIST SAID, “THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEIR BREAK”. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND IF A COUPLE OF PEOPLE GET HURT ALONG THE WAY, SORRY. THEY’LL FIND A WAY. THEY ALWAYS DO.

13. HOW WOULD YOU FIND BIN LADEN?

HERE’S WHAT I WOULD DO, I’D GO TO CIRCUIT CITY AND BUY EVERY BIG ASS SPEAKER THEY HAVE. I’D TAKE A RADIO ENGINEERING GENIUS LIKE ROCK 107’S KEVIN FITZGERALD AND HAVE HIM SET UP A SYSTEM OF WALL TO WALL SOUND IN THE TARGETED AREA WHETHER IT BE AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, OR IRAN AND HAVE THIS SONG BLARE 24/7. IT’LL SMOKE HIM OUT.