The LuLac Edition #992, Oct. 31st, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: OUR INTERVIEW LOGO.

INTERVIEW

As Election Day draws near I had the opportunity to talk with an 88 year old man who has been voting in almost every election since the 40s. Met him as I was putting my monthly supply of Snapple, Aquifina and Tab in my trunk at a local market.
Q: What was the first election you voted in when you turned 21?
A: I was overseas in ’43 so I couldn’t vote locally but my first was 1944.
Q: Mind telling me who you voted for?
A: Dewey.
Q: Are you a Republican?
A: Nope I’ve always been a Democrat but I thought Roosevelt looked sick. And I was right.
Q: Weren’t you worried about another party taking over?
A: No things were different back then. It was more civil. Nobody was trying to gnaw the other guy’s posterior off.
Q: Ever attend any rallies?
A: Only for the national candidates. Went to see JFK in ’60 at the Watres Armory because I was working at the Globe Store then. Once you got there you couldn’t leave. Then in ’88 went to see his boy Junior (Editor’s note:John F. Kennedy, Junior aka John John) at the Courthouse because my granddaughter thought he was a pretty boy.
Q: Indeed he was?
A: Huh?
Q: Never mind. I’m just saying women found him attractive.
A: Oh yes they did.
Q: Ever miss an election?
A: ’68. I was so damn mad at everything going on I just stayed home. Never did that again.
Q: Why not?
A: We got Nixon.
Q: Your thoughts on the stuff going on here in Luzerne County, the corruption?
A: Awful, awful, these guys give crooks a bad name. What I saw here before was dime store petty stuff, guys trying to do unethical things to get ahead. You know get a softer job, help their kid out but these guys, they want the whole store. The top money I ever made in my life was $19,400 a year. And I was satisfied with what I got. I read about these guys making so much money and they take bribes? Where did all that money go?
Q: When you were raising a family though butter was 29 cents a pound, a loaf of bread was maybe 12 cents. Prices are higher.
A: Does higher prices make stealing right?
Q: No.
A: Well then shut (edited) up.
Q: What do you think about the Juvenile cases being overturned?
A: That’s just damn wrong. Kids were bad and they needed to be punished. Others were mischievous and got the same treatment. They can’t all be dismissed. That’s wrong.
Q: Who are you going to vote for this year?
A: That’s between me and the Lord above.
Q: C’mon, give me a hint.
A: You are a real pain in my ass you know that?
Q: I’ve been told that many times. C’mon.
A: Okay, then you can leave me to shop. I’m going for any independent not affiliated with any party, I’m writing in a few people too for school board, like that Jewish fella…..
Q: Sam Troy?
A: Yeah that’s him. And I think I’m going to vote for all the new fresh faces. The newer the better.
Q: Good luck on Election Day. If I see you at the polls I’ll give you a hand getting out of your car.
A: (He replies eyeing up my cane) Seems to me I can move better than you on any given day. Maybe I’ll have to help you.
Q: Maybe you will.
A: Why do you have so many bottles of water and tea in your cart?
Q: Like to keep hydrated.
A: You better with all the hot air coming from you.
Q: Thanks.
A: You’re more than welcome.