The LuLac Edition #906, Aug. 13th, 2009

SNAPPLE "REAL FACT" #841, the most popular ice cream flavor is vanilla.

PHOTO INDEX: 13 QUESTIONS LOGO.

13 QUESTIONS

1. ARE YOU FOR THE SINGLE PAYER OPTION IN HEALTH CARE?

WELL, EVEN IF I AM OR NOT IS A MOOT QUESTION AT THIS POINT. IT WON’T COME TO PASS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS LOST THEIR NERVE AND ARE FORGETTING THAT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO WON THE ELECTION. BUT I BELIEVE THAT A SINGLE PAYER PLAN WILL HELP EVERYONE INCLUDING THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. DON’T FORGET, MEDICARE IS SINGLE PAYER BUT THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED ALLOWS FOR A SUPPLMENT TO BE PURCHASED. INSURANCE COMPANIES MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON THOSE MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS. IF SINGLE PAYER IS STRUCTURED SO THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN GET A PIECE OF IT, I THINK IT WILL WORK WELL. THE PROBLEM WITH MEDICARE NOW IS THAT THERE ARE SOME EXCESSES IN CARE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THAT SAID THOUGH, IT IS A POLITICAL THIRD RAIL BECAUSE EVEN THE MENTION OF TINKERING WITH IT, DRIVES OLD PEOPLE CRAZY.

2. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A LULAC FORUM ON HEALTH CARE?

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OFF THE GROUND SINCE JUNE. BEEN TURNED DOWN BY A FEW INSURANCE COMPANIES WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND BUT WHAT MYSTIFIES ME IS THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT’S FUNNY I GET E MAILS FROM THIS ONE PRESS SECRETARY WHEN THAT PERSON’S BOSS DOES EVERYTHING BUT CUT HIS NOSTRIL HAIRS. BUT WHEN I ASKED FOR THE GUY’S AVAILABILITY AND EVEN THE DATES OF THE RECESS….NOTHING. I FELT BAD FOR A WHILE BUT EVEN CORBETT ON WILK IS BEING DISSED SO I GUESS I’M IN GOOD COMPANY. IT IS SOMETHING WE’RE STILL TRYING TO PULL OFF BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

3. WHERE’S THE BISHOP?

HE’S BEEN UNDERGROUND FOR A WHILE. MY SOURCES TELL ME HE IS IN ROME TRYING TO DO A RICKY RICARDO ‘SPLAININ’ HIS ACTIONS TO AN ASSORTMENT OF VATICAN BIG CHEESES IF NOT THE CHIEF JARLSBURG HIMSELF. VARIOUS PARISHES IN THIS REGION HAVE KEPT THE PAPAL NUNCIO VERY BUSY WITH LETTERS, COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS NOT NECCESARILY ON THE CHURCH RESTRUCTURING BUT HOW IT WAS PRESENTED. MY OLD BOSS TIM DURKIN AT ROCK 107 USED TO SAY THAT THERE WAS NO PLACE IN THE WORLD LIKE “NEPA”. CHANGE DOES NOT GO DOWN WELL HERE MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SCREWED OVER THROUGH THE YEARS BY THE COAL BARONS AND THE POLITICOS OF BOTH PARTIES. I THINK THAT IN THIS GREAT SEA OF CHANGE REGARDING THE CHURCH, A MORE DEFT AND COMPASSIONATE APPROACH WAS EXPECTED. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT’S WHERE HE’S BEEN. ROME.

4. WHAT HAS A LEFT LEANING LIBERAL PHILOSOPHY IN THIS COUNTRY EVER GOT US?

UH, CIVIL RIGHTS, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, THE SPACE PROGRAM, THE G.I. BILL, THE MARSHALL PLAN, THE TVA, THE CLEAN WATER AND FOOD ACTS, THE W.I.C. PROGRAM, HEAD START, THE CHIP PROGRAM. SHALL I GO ON? THESE PROGRAMS WERE ALL OPPOSED BY THE RIGHT WING OF THIS COUNTRY.

5. DO YOU THINK YOUR BOY ED RENDELL’S LEGACY HAS BEEN TARNISHED BY THE BUDGET DEBACLE?

TEMPORARILY. BUT WHEN THE DUST SETTLES PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT WHEN YOU WANT SERVICES YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. THE GOP SENATE HAS REALLY SHOWN THEMSELVES AS CLONES OF THE NATIONAL PARTY CUTTING SERVICES FOR LEARNING, CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE. THEY ARE A DISGRACE AND IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR GOVERNOR ED IS GOING TO LOOK GOOD.

6. MANICOTTI OR SHELLS?

BOTH.

7. DO YOU THINK THAT THE BATTERY CHARGED CAR WILL BE A SELLER?

CAN’T SAY.

8. HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS SUMMER AS OPPOSED TO LAST?

MUCH BETTER. I’VE BEEN TO PNC PARK A FEW TIMES, TOOK MY FIRST DIP IN A POOL SINCE 2007 AND HAD NO GREAT SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE CHEMO WHEN I HIT THE WATER. DESPITE THE SPOTTY WEATHER, THIS IS A MUCH BETTER SUMMER. WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH, EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY.

9. READ ANYTHING GOOD LATELY?

YES. MARTY APPEL’S BIOGRAPHY ON THURMAN MUNSON. APPEL WROTE THE FIRST ONE IN THE 70s AND DID THIS NEW VERSION IN TIME FOR THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF #15'S DEATH. I’M ALSO RE-READING JIM BOUTON’S “BALL FOUR”. AS A RESEARCH TOOL, I’M LOOKING AT THEODORE WHITE’S “THE MAKING OF THE PRESIDENT 1964”.

10. IS R. SARGENT SHRIVER STILL ALIVE?

YES. AS YOU KNOW HIS WIFE EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER DIED THE OTHER DAY. HE’S 93. ONE POLITICAL ODDITY. HE REMAINS THE LAST “PRO LIFE” CANDIDATE TO RUN ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET WHEN HE RAN FOR VEEP IN 1972. AS A SIDE NOTE HERE, MICKEY MANTLE’S WIDOW MERLYN DIED MONDAY. SHE WAS 77 AND TODAY IT IS 14 YEARS SINCE THE MICK’S PASSING.

11. ARE YOU A NASCAR FAN?

NO. BUT I RESPECT THE SPORT AND THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW IT.

12. YOU’RE DOING THE YEAR 1964 AND FOCUSING IN ON THOSE 1964 PHILLIES. WAS THEIR COLLAPSE REALLY GENE MAUCH’S FAULT?

YES AND I BELIEVE IT KEPT HIM OUT OF THE HALL OF FAME. MAUCH PITCHED JIM BUNNING AND CHRIS SHORT DAY IN AND DAY OUT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO WIN THE PENNANT QUICKLY. WHAT ASTOUNDS ME IS THAT MAUCH, WHO USED THE PLATOON SYSTEM ALL THAT YEAR DIDN’T JUST TAKE A GAME AND PITCH A FEW OF THE CALL UPS FROM TRIPLE A THAT YEAR. THROW THREE GUYS OUT THERE AND GIVE YOUR BIG GUNS A REST. EVEN TAKE THREE OF THE STARTERS YOU GAVE UP ON, CULP, MAHAFFEY AND BENNETT AND PUT THEM IN THERE. BUT HE DIDN’T AND THEY LOST. I REMEMBER THE WHOLE THING LIKE IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

13. WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE “SECOND LADY”?

WELL, I MET JOAN MONDALE ONCE BUT MY FAVORITE HAS TO BE JANE BARKLEY THE WIFE OF HARRY TRUMAN’S VICE PRESIDENT ALBEN BARKLEY. BARKLEY WAS 72 WHEN HE MRRIED HER IN 1949. SHE WAS 37 SO WE’RE TALKING A 35 YEAR AGE DIFFEENCE THERE. GO ALBEN!!!! OBVIOUSLY SHE WAS TAKEN BY HIS CHARM AND WIT.