The LuLac Edition #936, Sept. 10th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: DR. JOE LEONARDI, OUR 1964 LOGO, GOP CONTROLLER CANDIDATE WALTER GRIFFITH JUNIOR AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR LUZERNE COUNTY CONTROLLER WIL TOOLE.

THE M&M BOYS

The 60s Yankees had Mantle and Maris, Mars Candy company had the actual M&M candies but here in Luzerne County we have our own set of M&M boys in the form of Mike and Mark. The judicial duo got the collective book hurled at them the other day from a very annoyed group of feds. A federal grand jury on Wednesday issued an indictment that charges the former judges with racketeering, bribery, extortion, money laundering, fraud and tax evasion. As you remember Conahan and Ciavarella had previously reached a plea deal with prosecutors. The agreement called for them to plead guilty to charges of honest services fraud and tax evasion and serve 87 months in prison. When Judge Edwin Kosik rejected their plea because of what he perceived as non cooperation and arrogance, both former judges then withdrew their plea. The law is going to take care of this eventually but right now from a political standpoint, this latest development does not bode well for the two Judges running for retention in Luzerne County, Judge Tom Burke and Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. Both men are seeking another 10 year term each. Voter anger just might cause electors to just vote no on both of them even though neither has been touched with any scandal. Usually a retention race is a yawner but this is one people will be watching. In the meantime, Ciavarella and Conahan are scheduled to be arraigned next Tuesday at 10 a.m. in federal court. Whether they will be remanded or not is an open question.

A SPOT OF TEA

A national bus tour organized by conservative groups attracted about 750 people on Courthouse Square Thursday. Some expressed displeasure at President Barack Obama, cheering as speakers accused the president of leading the nation into socialism. During the 1930s the same type of people said the same thing about Franklin Roosevelt. The day after Mr. Obama's congressional address on health care reform, the 34-city Tea Party Express visited Scranton hoping to gin up support against the Obama health plan and for that matter the rest of his agenda. The tour, according to the Scranton Times accompanied by a CNN bus and national reporters and scheduled to end with a large rally Saturday in Washington, D.C., drew followers from as far away as New Jersey and upstate New York. WBRE reported that local activists were not given an opportunity to be a significant part of the program and WILK’s Corbett reported some “tension” in the crowd. The term tea bag comes from the revolution war when residents of England poured Tea into Boston Harbor as a protest against King George of England. The 2009 edition of “patriots” is a lot more multi functional than our founding fathers. The boys of liberty from the 1770s were against taxes, these guy are against everything. To lighten things up, how about we see them all on Sunday. Here’s Peter and Gordon from 1967.


CONTROLLER’S RACE

WALTER GRIFFITH JUNIOR

Walter Griffith is having a fundraiser next week. Here's the information:
Meet Walter Griffith
Candidate for Luzerne County Controller
Friday, Sept. 18, 6-9 p.m.
Tiffany Room, Ramada Hotel
Public Square, Downtown Wilkes-Barre
Donation: $25
It's your chance to meet the county's next controller and to hear why Walter Griffith is the only candidate who will do what a controller is supposed to do: KEEP AN EYE ON COUNTY SPENDING.
We need a watchdog under the dome -- and Walter Griffith is the man. To make reservations, e-mail WalterGriffithJr@aol.com or call 735-5577 or 239-0025
If you have more questions, please call headquarters at 208-4671 or e-mail luzernecountygop@gmail.com.

WIL TOOLE

Wil Toole the first Independent candidate by my estimation in the history of Luzerne County has sent a huge mailing to voters touting his credentials. A few excerpts:
Obviously, you take the electoral process serious and every election is important to you. These past years have been very frustrating in that the voters cry out for change and all we get is more of the same or even worse than we had.
I have given up on Party politics and I believe that most Americans want a moderate government that serves all people equally and being a Democrat or Republican should not matter when it comes to government services.
Like you, I want good government. I have attended commissioner’s meetings and I’ve written letters to the editor. I’ve offered many suggestions and they go ignored. County government seems to want the status quo. Unfortunately, Luzerne County status quo means nothing less than higher taxes and scandal on top of scandal. What happened to the community we were proud to live in and the community we wanted to raise our children in? Every time we vote for a change, the change we get is worse than the government we had.
I want to be the County Controller and I am an Independent candidate. I did the difficult chore of gathering over 1500 signatures in order to qualify to be on the November General Election ballot. The ballot for this election will offer three candidates, a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent. I’m the Independent.
I am an Independent and I do not owe any politician a thing. I do not have the influence of the Democrat or Republican Parties but that means they do not control me. I work for you and you alone. I am not controlled by the political “machines” and I owe no favors.
If you feel that I am the most qualified candidate to hold the office of County Controller, then I will appreciate your vote and I can tell you without fear that the “machine” will not control me; the “machine” will not elect me, people just like you will.

JAMES WILSON REVISITED

I’ve been thinking about this Congressman James Wilson incident all day long today. The Goober Congressman said he was sorry and the President accepted the apology. But I fear that the next big wedge in health care is going to be a scare tactic using the illegal immigrant situation. People are concerned that health care should not be available to illegals. Well I hate to break it to you, it already is. A truckload of illegal immigrants get into an accident after picking fruit. Do you leave them on the side of the road to die? No, because no one is ever denied care in America they go to the hospital. Their bill is paid by your health care premium because if a hospital or ambulatory care facility turned them away there would be hell to pay. And how about the little boy or girl with tonsils or a ruptured appendix, are we going to deny them coverage because their parents snuck over the border? They had no role in that crime. Why should the kids (and I’m not crazy about little kids, you pretty much know that) suffer? We should be a compassionate country when it comes to illness. Denying health care is not in our character as a nation. We seem to have the immigration thing ass backwards. People here who are honestly trying to work and abide by our laws should be given respect and dignity. The others who commit crimes (like the moron on Parish Street in Wilkes Barre the other night shooting at the police) should be detained, given a shave and shower and then shipped back to their homeland never to be seen again. Don’t waste money on trials, lawyers, jails, get them the hell out of here. Save the compassion for those willing to contribute. The others, ship them out four hours after they were arrested.

JOE GOES

Had a few e mails the other day that former Congressional candidate Joe Leonardi has switched parties. Leonardi did the deed at the Election Bureau the other day and now belongs to the party of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich and Dave Yonki! I sensed Leonardi was getting disgusted with his party as long ago as January of this year when we both appeared on WYOU TV discussing President George W. Bush’s farewell address. We agreed more than we disagreed. I hope the good doctor is welcomed and not disappointed by the donkeys. In future editions, I’ll share with you some provoking thoughts that Joe has sent me but that are still lodged in the “in” basket due to our content limitations. In the meantime, check out Dr. Leonardi’s very popular and useful site, Fat then, Thin Now. Here’s the link: http://fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com/

1964

Germany receives its 1,000,000th foreign worker.....The third period of the Second Vatican Council opens... The London Daily Herald ceases publication, replaced by The Sun......... Shindig! premieres on the ABC, featuring the top musical acts of the Sixties………….Republican Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater asks President Johnson to debate him in a series of appearances across the country. Johnson leading big in the polls refuses……In Pennsylvania Judge Michael Musmanno finally endorses Genevieve Blatt, Secretary of Internal Affairs who beat him in a hotly contested primary race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate..…..Phillies pitcher Chris Short wins his 16th game over fellow 16 game winner Ray Sadecki in a 5-1 Philadelphia win over St. Louis...in Plains Township work begins on the Pocono Downs Race Track. United States Steel Corporation is the subcontractor and all public relations and announcements will come from its President, Hazleton businessman Victor C. Diehm…..and 45 years ago the number 1 song in LuLac land and America was “We'll Sing In the Sunshine” by Gale Garnett.