The LuLac Edition #836, June 3rd, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: RONALD REAGAN CIRCA EARLY 1960S DEFENDING AGAINST A HOT 2009 ISSUE AND LAW AND ORDER LOGO.

LAW, ORDER AND POLITICS

With the recent news in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties about various killing and murders that seem to permeate the area, one has to wonder about the political implications of such statistics. With both Wilkes Barre and Scranton polishing up their downtowns, it seems like two major steps are taken backward every time there is a murder. But rarely are there political consequences for office holders. Now I’m not saying that a city mayor should be voted out of office because of citizen’s bad behavior or the obvious disregard for human life. But both counties seem to have a habit of shunning law enforcement officers when it comes to running a city. In Scranton, going back 60 years, no police representative ventured onto the political stage. And in Wilkes Barre, voters rejected Ed Soltis and former Police Chief Tony George’s effort never got off the ground. You would think though that with the crime stats going out of control, voters would clamor for a Law and Order candidate. Maybe the fact that city Mayors seem happy with their selection of police chiefs has blunted any political ambitions of crime fighters. But it is interesting that there has not been a viable political challenge, like Frank Rizzo in 1971 to the political status quo from a lawman.

REAGAN CENTENNIAL

With the stroke of a pen Tuesday, President Obama created the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission, an 11-person panel that will plan and carry out activities to mark the 100th anniversary, in 2011, of the president's birth. His widow, Nancy, watched as Obama signed the bill in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.