Wednesday, August 05, 2009

The LuLac Edition #898, Aug. 5th, 2009

SNAPPLE "REAL FACT" #918, The first lollipop was invented in Connecticut.

PHOTO INDEX: SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER HAVING A CUP OF "JOE" IN HIS SENATE OFFICE.

A DO OVER

A Lehigh County judge has recommended that a $3.5 million defamation verdict against The Citizens' Voice be vacated. He recommended a new trial be held too. President Judge William Platt, appointed by the state Supreme Court to hold a hearing on allegations of case-fixing, made the recommendation to the high court. During the July hearing, the newspaper offered evidence that William D'Elia boasted of having intervened with a former Luzerne County president judge to ensure a "positive outcome" for the plaintiff in the case, who was a friend of D'Elia's. The newspaper's attorneys alleged the judge, Michael T. Conahan, used his influence to have the case assigned to former judge Mark A. Ciaveralla Jr., who handed down the $3.5 million verdict following a non-jury trial. Conahan and Ciavarella were later charged with accepting $2.6 million in kickbacks in an unrelated case.

CHUCKIE'S IN THE HOUSE

Charles Costanzo, convicted of stealing nearly $650,000 of county funds, had his bail revoked this week and is behind bars. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to revoke his bail Friday and an arrest warrant was issued. Costanzo, was taken into custody Saturday morning at his Dunmore home. Costanzo is being held at Lackawanna County Prison at the request of federal authorities, and was ordered detained Monday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion, according to court documents. A bail revocation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik. Costanzo had been free on bail while awaiting sentencing on a host of federal charges, including money laundering and fraud relating to the theft of nearly $650,000 in county funds. He was found guilty after a jury trial in April.

BUDGET BLUES

The Governor will sign a stop gap bill Wednesday that will clear the path for state employees to be paid. The money should be available to them as early as next week. However a full blown solution to the budget impasse is not anywhere near an end. Rendell said he would use his veto pen to blue line items in the budget authored by the GOP. Uh, Guv, can you cut out those per diems and car allowances for the Legislators? Maybe let Chuckie Costanza handle their reimbursements from his new digs on Washington Avenue in Scranton.

HEALTH CARE CRAZIES

It is going to be a long month for federal lawmakers with the stones to face the voters face to face. Argument and discourse can be done with respect. But apparently the woman babbling in this video didn’t get that memo.



21 Comments:

At 1:20 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Town Hall disruption is right on point for point with Fox "News".
Then they film it, re broadcast it and build on their agenda. This is Bullshit, pure and simple! The Media is more than the message now, Marshall McLuhan. At least the Media on the Left has a sense of humor and pokes fun at the assinine GOP and sometimes themselves. These zealots are like the Religious Right, there the same people in most cases, and they know whats right for you whether you like it or not! It will be intertesting to see how they find a way to attack Bill Clintons work freeing the American journalists in North Korea. Rest
assured they will.

 
At 2:46 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 10:56 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave, why is it that when people express outrage and passion you refer to them as crazies but when your dead ass heroes like king and kennedy protested, it was okay?

 
At 11:01 AM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
This post has been removed by a blog administrator. 2:46 AM
THE COMMENT DELETED HAD INFORMATION ON MR. COSTANZO THAT WAS ANECDOTAL AND NOT VERFIABLE. IT WAS ONLY UP FOR 5 SECONDS BUT TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE OF THAT. IT IS OUR POLICY TO EXPLAIN WHY COMMENTS POSTED WERE DELETED.

 
At 11:05 AM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
why is it that when people express outrage and passion you refer to them as crazies but when your dead ass heroes like king and kennedy protested, it was okay?
YOU CAN'T COMPARE MARTIN LUTHER KING AND BOBBY KENNEDY'S PROTEST AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR WITH TOTAL DISRESPECT FOR A CABINET SECRETARY AND A U.S.SENATOR. C'MON!! KING WAS CALLING EVERYBODY "SIR" WHILE BULL CONNOR WAS KICKING HIS ASS ALL THE WAY TO JAIL. SPECTER SAID ONE THING REGARDING PROCESS AND THEY STARTED TO BOO. SPECTER SHOULD KNOW THAT PROCESS IS NOT SEXY BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET BOOED FOR IT.

 
At 2:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes he should get booed!
Long and loud. He should be glad that booing is ALL he gets.

To expect me to buy what he is saying shows his contempt for me and my beliefs.

 
At 4:06 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

According to Kevin Lynn Billy D'Elia was a nobody, he had no influence. It is amazing the apparent lengths Kevin went to downplay the rumors surrounding and anyone involved with his good friend the former judge.
Why didn't the morning person who hosts a show titled the morning news, a person who gets media credentials, not look further? Why is it the afternoon host continue to clamor that what they do their at WILK is hard news but not question his co-worker?

Kevin has continued to not defend, defend his good friend. He has been on the verge of attacking the victims of the former judge. He had down played Billy D'Elia in the past, I often wondered why; now I think we may know why, he is alleged to have been connected to his good friend.

Now I hear another gentleman is being looked into for something gone wrong in the county gov't. Of course, said individual is another friend of Kevin Lynn, so he said this morning on the radio. If this other person turns out to be rotten as the former judge either Kevin has bad judgement in friends, he was blind as a bat, an idiot, or he was abusing his position and Entercomm's FCC license to shape public opinion.
This is more for you Mr. Yonki, because as is evident we are not allowed to raise legitimate questions concerning those, your friends at WILK, who question and criticize and attack others on the airwaves. You can say it ain't so, but if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it should at least be reasonable to ask if it is a duck.

 
At 5:11 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
This is more for you Mr. Yonki, because as is evident we are not allowed to raise legitimate questions concerning those, your friends at WILK, who question and criticize and attack others on the airwaves. You can say it ain't so, but if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it should at least be reasonable to ask if it is a duck.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I FIND IT AMAZING THAT WE BOTH LISTEN TO THE SAME GUY AND HEAR SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

 
At 7:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You and Anon hear something different because he is listening without being involved, whereas you are a friend and frequent guest of those at WILK. Much the same way Kevin does not see what is evident to everyone else about Mark Civarella. I agree with Anon 4:06pm that something is fishy. I don't know if I agree with his/her conclusion but I think the questions are fair. (EDITED FOR CONTENT).

 
At 10:10 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Yonki,
Just curios why my comment was edited? I presented my opinion in a respectful way. I didn't make any accusations, I simply asked questions.

Anon 7:51pm

 
At 10:28 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

David:

What I find fascinating about the Town Hall/Health Care news is that voters are getting vocal in August about this. That's a dead month in politics, as Joe Scarborough noted this morning on his show. (He said he never campaigned in December or August. December is all about Christmas, and August is the end of vacation season and the start of "Back to School" season.) Traditionally, the last thing voters pay attention to in either month is politics.

This does not bode well for the Democrats. The polls show the President's support among voters is dwindling by the day.

Bloomberg reports that President Obama may abandon bipartisanship on Health Care Reform. That will not sit well with Independents or Republicans who decided to take a chance on "change" and cast their vote for Obama last November.

This administration may well founder on the shoals of the Health Care debate.

Yes, there are crazies in some of these town hall meetings. There are always crazies (from the left and right) who show up at town hall meetings, conventions, etc. to make a loud point.

But it's August David...and Americans are showing up at Town Halls. If support continues to fall among voters, Health Care reform will either be a dead issue or a gutted and ineffective reform that leaves everyone unsatisfied.

The Administration has dropped the ball on this.

 
At 12:33 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
Just curios why my comment was edited? I presented my opinion in a respectful way. I didn't make any accusations, I simply asked questions.
I EDITED THE LAST PART BECAUSE YOUR QUESTION WAS FAR FETCHED. A TALK SHOW HOST SHOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI AND A RADIO STATION'S LICENSE SHOULDN'T BE REVOKED BECAUSE A TALK SHOW HOST IS FRIENDS WITH A PERSON ARRESTED. THAT'S WHY.

 
At 4:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Far fetched????

How far fetched was it that 2 county judges would conspire to cut off funding to the juvenile prison for the sole reason of having a new one built because they were paid to do so?

How far fetched was it that not one but two county judges would take cash to put children into prison?

How far fetched was it that a former district magistrate would steal in her new job and then get the chance to repay and resign and the crime not be reported to the police?

How far fetched was it that the alleged head of a crime family would have a weekly breakfast with the then president judge and then said judge gives a case to another judge that he has conspired to sell children into prison with that the alleged crime boss allegedly wanted a certain verdict?

How far fetched was it that a president judge would use county employees to relay messages to the alleged head of a crime family?

How far fetched was it be for a judge to populate the probation department with family and friends, even after an investigation into his alleged corrupt dealings became public?

How far fetched was it that a judge who pleads guilty, agrees to a deal in writing and then goes on T.V. saying he is not guilty of what he agreed to being guilty of?

How far fetched was it for a respected school director to throw away an entire career for $5,000.00?

How far fetched was that certain lawyers were allegedly getting certain verdicts from the 2 judges who pled guilty?

How far fetched was it that a president's administration would out a CIA agent?

How far fetched was it that the President would blunder so horribly as to send troops away from the real target into another country for no reason?

How far fecthed was it that the U.S. Congress would pass a bill that treads on many constitutional "patriotic" rights and never read the bill?

How far fetched was it that a woman would give birth to a child in a jail cell and no one know it was happening?

How far fetched was it that the head social worker would alter a document after all eyes were on the juvenile court?

How far fetched was it that the only female judge in the county attempted to raise awareness of corruption in the courthouse that she would be railroaded out of her position?

How fucking far fetched is it that this so much went on at the courthouse and not a single person knew about it?

How far fetched was it that people would use county debit cards for personal use like I don't know say in a strip club?

So tell me honestly is it that far fetched to think that one of the former judges may have used his position and friendship with a local broadcaster to shape public opinion? A broadcaster who has repeatedly stated on air that he has used illegal drugs (but has never been arrested) a broadcaster who every year talks about his huge illegal fireworks display (and has never even been so much as cited)?

How far fetched is it that a rumor would abound for over a year prior to an arrest, but a broadcaster who is a friend of one of the judges would not have the journalistic integrity to look into it?

If people like Corbett and the FBI did not start asking far fetched questions much of this may never have been uncovered.

How far fetched is it that you will publish this unedited?

I never stated that he did anything wrong, I stated that in consideration of all that is going on; the above being only a small sample, that the other poster's questions were not unreasonable. And as someone such as yourself who vehemently defended Ann Lokuta I am amazed that you can't open your eyes to the possibility that there is more than meets the eye.
That something smells rotten here.

I never stated that he should be investigated because he is friends, I am asking if his actions were part of a plan to shape public opinion? What did he know, more importantly when did he know it? Considering all that is going on is that really all that far fetched?

Anon 7:51pm

 
At 9:39 PM, Anonymous Wondering if there is something there said...

Hey Anon 4:55pm that really makes me think. When it is laid out like that maybe you and the other poster have a point. And don't forget the latest.

How far fetched is it that judge #2 would rule for a bank that judge #1 sat on the board of?

 
At 10:10 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
A broadcaster who has repeatedly stated on air that he has used illegal drugs (but has never been arrested) a broadcaster who every year talks about his huge illegal fireworks display (and has never even been so much as cited)?
How far fetched is it that a rumor would abound for over a year prior to an arrest, but a broadcaster who is a friend of one of the judges would not have the journalistic integrity to look into it?
FIRST OFF, I POSTED EVERYTHING. YOU MAKE GOOD POINTS. BUT A TALK SHOW HOST IS NOT A JOURNALIST, KEVIN NEVER PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS SUCH. EVER. ALSO, FRIENDS DON'T TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WANT TO TAKE SOMEONE OUT IN CUFFS AND PUT THEM UNDER A LAMP BECAUSE THEY ARE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE AND HAVE A TALK SHOW. AS FOR THE FIREWORKS, COME ON MY STREET ON THE FOURTH, AT LEAST KEVIN HAS A JOB AND ISN'T ON WELFARE USING FOOD STAMP MONEY BLOWING UP HIS FRONT YARD. I SMOKED DOPE IN THE SUMMER OF '71, THERE, I JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT IT, YA GONNA BUST ME? THAT RUMOR WAS AROUND AND BLOGGERS, REPORTERS AND MANY OTHERS COULDN'T CONFIRM A SECOND SOURCE UNTIL THE FBI RELEASED IT. SO GIVE IT A REST. WE ALL KNOW YOU CAN'T STAND KEVIN LYNN. WE GOT IT.

 
At 10:24 PM, Anonymous Wondering if there is something there said...

I didn't get the impression Anon 4:55 wanted him taken out. It appears some are asking if Mr. Lynn perhaps part of this. I remember him saying the same thing the other poster said.
Also, this rumor was going around the courthouse for more than a year.
Mr. Lynn may not hold himself out as a journalist, but it seems that Mr. Corbett has hammered home the point that WILK is about news. The name of the show is "The Morning News" and the repeated defense that Mr. Lynn continues to put out there makes one wonder.
I didn't agree with the posters until the long list of - "how far fetched."
I took a moment to look up some FCC stuff and it seems that to maintain a license a station must act within the public interest. I'm not really sure what that means, but if Mr. Lynn is or was trying to shape public opinion concerning an admitted felon, maybe it is, maybe it isn't against public interest, but I think the question is fair.
You seem to be very much pro-WILK and their freedom of speech and very fascist in other areas, ie censoring opinions that do not agree with you.
However, I love your blog and glad I finally took time to post on it. Even though I don't always agree with you or you censorship I enjoy your writings.

 
At 6:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

just reading about ann lokuta's new filings. didn't kevin lynn try to discount her as well?

Maybe anon and wondering have a point....

 
At 10:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It seems you were right about Lokuta. also it seems that these posters who I thought were a little whacked out and just hated Kevin Lynn may have a point. Wasn't Kevin kind of doing a lot of Lokuta bashing?

That "How far fetched" posting makes one really wonder if Kevin was the PR guy in this whole mess.

Reading the latest statements from Brulo my boyfriend said, where were they before? They are all talking now. It seems the people who have asked the same about Kevin have a point. If he asked his good friend but didn't like the answer he was going to get, but goes on the air and deflects and builds up the judge did he really not know the truth or what he helping him out?
What did Arsenio Hall used to say? Kind of makes you go Hmmm?

 
At 11:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"ALSO, FRIENDS DON'T TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING."
I seem to remember Kevin saying on the air that he asked Civerella about all this before it became public. And I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was to the effect that he didn't like what the answer was going to be and then didn't want to ask again. I am starting to agree with other posters, this just seems wrong. Actually, I am wondering with the latest coming out on Lokuta, were these all just coincedence, or much more going on by a self proclaimed local media expert.

I now agree with another poster here wondering why Steve, "let's investigate everyone" Corbett is asking many of these same questions concerning his colleague.
I agree with you David that it is wrong to accuse, but I don't think it is wrong to ask.

 
At 11:24 AM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
Reading the latest statements from Brulo my boyfriend said, where were they before?
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT UNTIL THE FBI CAME DOWN HARD ON THESE GUYS AND ONE OF THEIR OWN, POWELL WORE A WIRE, COUNTY EMPLOYEES LIKE BRULO WERE UNDER EVERYONE'S THUMB. SO I'M NOT ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, JUST GRATEFUL THEY'RE TALKING NOW.
And I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was to the effect that he didn't like what the answer was going to be and then didn't want to ask again.
SO???? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE JUDGE WAS GOING TO SPILL HIS BEANS ON THE GOLF COURSE? THIS IS A BENIGN STATEMENT THAT YOU SEEM TO TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN TOUTING. AND AS FOR LYNN TRYING TO SHAPE PUBLIC OPINION, HELLO, HE HAS A TALK SHOW. HE EXPRESSES OPINIONS. BUT IF PEOPLE ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO BELIEVE YOUR PERCEPTION OF HIS OPINION, THEN THAT EXPLAINS THE DUMBING DOWN OF SOCIETY IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE POWER OF RUSH AND MICHAEL SAVAGE. WHEN KEVIN LYNN STARTS INCITING PROTESTS LIKE LIMBAUGH AND SAVAGE, THEN I'D AGREE WITH YOUR POINT.

 
At 2:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You may not think Kevin has influecne, I may not think he has influence, but he thinks he has influence and that is what makes the difference. he took partial crediet for Careny's win in the 10th

 

Post a Comment

<< Home