The LuLac Edition #588, Oct. 1st, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: SARAH PALIN AND OUR ELECTION TOP 40.

LINE OF SUCCESSION

There is a controvery brewing in Exeter Borough over the succession of the late Mayor Joe Coyne. Coyne was a remarkable man who served the town of Exeter with great dedication throughout his term. He died in the summer of cancer. Family members of the late mayor Joseph Coyne made impassioned pleas to the council last night to appoint his granddaughter, Cassandra Coleman, 21, as his replacement at Tuesday night's meeting on Oct. 7th. Acting mayor and council president Richard Murawski said there are two candidates up for the position, Coleman and Milly Vasil. He said the six council members will vote, and he has no idea which way it will go.

In what appeared to be a tough remark directed at the Council, Coyne's widow and Coleman's grand daughter admonished the Council for not making an offer to the family after the Mayor's death. This is tricky ground. To be sure, when powerhouse politicos have passed on, their children took their places. When James Musto died in 1971, the Democrat party did not pick his son Ray Musto as the heir apparent instead going with Third District Chair Roscoe Mulcahy. Musto ran in the GOP primary in 1971 and was elected in 1972 for 8 years before going to Congress in 1980. Ray wasn't given the seat, he went out and earned it. When Frank Crossin Senior died in 1981, his son was named to the post. But Crossin Junior was not 21, and had been shadowing the ill Crossin Senior for a few years so he knew what he was getting into. The fact that the family seems the seat is owed them and the fact they want to bestow that honor on a 21 year old college student does not bode well for the town of Exeter. The fact that a family member made a comment that they want a voice vote to see who was against them smacked of blackmail. Joe Coyne was a great man and great Mayor, but the battle to succeed him has tarnished his legacy and the family is a large part of that. There is usually a succession rate in large citiwes, the Council Chair steps into the position. In San rancisco Dianne Feinstein became the Mayor, in Pittsburgh, Luke Resansthal became the Mayor. The next line of business for Exeter is to figure out a line of succession that would make sense.

MURPH TOUTS FUNDING

In a meeting with The Times-Tribune's editorial board Tuesday, 113th District state representative candidate Kevin Murphy highlighted policies he wants to pursue if elected, such as working with other legislators to invest in the local community and putting a cap on county tax increases and utility bills. Mr. Murphy, who won the Democratic nomination in the primary, is running against incumbent State Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus. Mr. Shimkus, D-113, met with the newspaper's editorial board last week. Tuesday, Mr. Murphy stressed the need to work with the governor toinvest in the local community as evidenced by a $28 million project thatwill overhaul the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue into a mix of retailshops and residential condominiums. Again you see a defined difference between Mr. Murphy's plan for downtown development and Representative Shimkus' committment to senior. The former Scranton City Council president pledged to partner and build coalitions with other legislators throughout the state to make sure the local area gets its "fair share" of state funding. One has to wonder though what will happen to that local share of state funding when Governor d is gone from office.

BLESSINGS/BATHING SUITS

The big news on Sarah Palin recently has been that photos emerged of her in a swimsuit when she was competing for a beauty pagent. No big deal, it was for a scholarship. I just wish she studied a little more geography and foreign affairs when she was in school. And as far as the blessing she recieved, ever since I got sick people have been offering me blessings all over the place. I take them because I figure they can't hurt. Another big thing leading up to the debate is PBS moderator Gwen Iffel doing a pro Obama book. Some fear this will interfere with her objectivity in questioning Palin. I think not, Iffel has been middle of the road for a long time and will not do anything to ruin her spot in the limelight. Palin has to be preapred and whether Iffel wrote a book on Obama or Curly Howard shouldn't matter. Palin will rise and fall on her performance.

BLOWOUT?

It looks like the Obama campaign is gaining traction in the key battleground states. The reason is that McCain's major key voters are over 50 and worried about the economy. Although it is still too early to tell, this might become a blowout ala 1980 with Carter vs. Reagan.

ELECTION TOP 40

GUNS #35

OBAMA

Ok for states & cities to determine local gun laws.

Yes, Obama endorsed Illinois handgun ban.

Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok.

Provide somecommon-sense enforcement on gun licensing.

Cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month.

Concealed carry OK for retired police officers.

Stop unscrupulous gun dealersdumping guns in cities.

Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality.

Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban.

Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions.

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.

McCAIN

Prosecute criminals, not citizens for gun ownership.

Don't hold gun manufacturers liable for crimes. Opposes

restrictions on assault weapons and ammunition types.

Callsfor GOP "tolerance" of closing gun show loopholes.

Ban cheap guns; require safety locks; for gun show checks.

Supports ban on certain assault weapons.

Voted against Brady Bill & assault weapon ban.

Guns are a problem, but so are violent web sites & videos.

Punish criminals who abuse 2nd Amendment rights.

Youth Violence Prevention Act restricts guns for kids.

Repeal existing gun restrictions; penalize criminal use.

Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gunmanufacturers.

Voted YES on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence.

Voted NO on background checks at gun shows.

Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations.

Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows.

Voted YES on maintaining current law guns sold without trigger locks. Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC.

Allow firearms in NationalParks.

FROM YOU TUBE: "Give Up Your Guns" by the Buoys.