The LuLac Edition #1005, Nov. 13th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: 13 QUESTIONS LOGO.

13 QUESTIONS

1. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ’09 LOCAL ELECTIONS?

AS I SAID ON WYLN TV ELECTION NIGHT AND ON SUE HENRY’S SHOW, IT WAS A SPLIT DECISION. I THINK THE DEMOCRATS SHOWED THEIR REGISTRATION SUPERIORITY IN WINNING THE TWO JUDGESHIPS. HOWEVER THAT SAID, THEY HAD TWO CANDIDATES THAT HAD STRONG, FANATICAL BASIS OF SUPPORT. DICK HUGHES WAS ONLY BEHIND BY 5,000 VOTES AND IF HIS FOOT SOLDIERS IN THE TRENCHES WERE AS NUMEROUS AND STRONG AS THE DEMS REGULARS AND HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST LESS CHARISMATIC CANDIDATES, HE MIGHT HAVE WON. THE GOP AFTER NARROWING LOSING TWO ROW OFFICES IN ’07 REBOUNDED AND WON BACK TWO. THINK ABOUT THIS THOUGH, IF MARY DYSLESKI AND BARRY STANKUS HAD RETAINED THOSE OFFICES IN 07, THE GOP WOULD HAVE 4 ROW OFFICES RIGHT NOW. SO AGAIN IT WAS A “SPLIT DECISION” FOR BOTH PARTIES. IF I HAD TO GIVE A SLIGHT EDGE TO IT THOUGH, I’D SAY IT WAS ONE FOR THE GOP BECAUSE THE DEMS WITH THEIR REGISTRATION SHOULD’VE TAKEN SOME ACTION IN THE PROTHONOTARY’S RACE WHEN THINGS CHANGED IN THE SUMMER REGARDING THE BELLAS FAMILY AND TRIED TO MAKE SOME KIND OF ACCOMMODATION WITH WIL TOOLE. IN THE OLD DAYS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THAT WOULD’VE HAPPENED.

2. DO YOU THINK CHRIS DOHERTY HAS A CHANCE IN THE 2010 RACE FOR GOVERNOR?

I DO. HERE’S WHY, YOU HAVE TWO WESTERN CANDIDATES, ONORATO AND WAGNER. THEY’LL SPLIT THAT VOTE. YOU HAVE TWO PHILADELPHIA AREA DEMOCRATS, HOEFFEL AND KNOX. THEY WILL SPLIT UP THAT AREA. DOHERTY WITH A LITTLE MONEY CAN CARRY HIS REGION AND THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. HIS CAMPAIGN TEAM CAN WEAVE A PICTURE OF SCRANTON AS A CITY OF GROWTH. AND TRUTH BE TOLD ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SHOW PICTURES OF THE DOWNTOWN BEFORE DOHERTY AND POST DOHERTY. I’D SEND HIS WIFE WITH HER “POCKETBOOK” TO EVERY SENIOR CENTER IN THE STATE, I’D RECRUIT A FEW OF HIS OLDER KIDS TO GO ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND THINK UP A STRATEGY THAT WILL SET HIM APART IDEOLOGICALLY FROM THE OTHER FOUR. DOHERTY SEEMS TO HAVE NO GREAT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE STATE SO EVERYTHING IS PRETTY MUCH OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION. HE DOES HAVE A CHANCE.

3. ARE YOU OFFENDED BY THE CHRIS FARLEY AD FOR DIRECT TV WITH DAVID SPAIDE?

NOT AT ALL. I THINK IT BRINGS BACK TO LIFE FARLEY WHO FOR A SHORT TIME WAS HILARIOUS AND CELEBRATES HIS COMEDY. I MEAN IF HERSHEY COULD BRING BACK THE STOOGES WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL.

4. THOUGHTS ON PETER PAUL OLSZEWSKI JUNIOR’S REJECTION AT THE POLLS?

TERRIBLE COLLATERAL DAMAGE. I THINK HE GOT A RAW DEAL FROM THE SHAMROCK PAPERS WHEN THEY PUBLISHED THAT PHOTO WITHOUT ATTRIBUTION. MY FEELING IS THAT WE LOST A GOOD JUDICIAL MIND WHO WAS COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE. THE COURT WITH MANY NEW JUDGES WILL BE CLEANSED AND THAT’S A GOOD THING. BUT THE DOWNSIDE TO THAT WILL BE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME EXPERIENCE ON THE BENCH AND WITH HIS LOSS WE’RE JUST TOSSING THAT OUT THE WINDOW.

5. TINA FEY OR SARAH PALIN?

TINA FEY BECAUSE I THINK THERE’S DEFINITELY SOMEBODY AT HOME UNDER THAT HAIR AND GLASSES.

6. HOW MANY PEOPLE, AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE WILL BE CHARGED IN THE LUZERNE COUNTY SCANDALS?

I’M PICKING A RANDOM NUMBER OF 50.

7. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT STEVE CORBETT’S PHONE CALL TO THE JUDGE THAT MIGHT BE INDICTED AND THE REACTION HE GOT FROM THE JUDGE’S OFFICE STAFF?

LET ME SET THIS UP FOR MY READERS. CORBETT SAID HE CALLED THE OFFICE OF A LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE WHO WAS LONG RUMORED TO BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. WHEN HE ASKED A QUESTION OF THE STAFFER THEY LAUGHED AT HIM. SOMETIMES THE STAFF A PERSON HIRES DOES NOT SERVE THAT PUBLIC OFFICIAL WELL. THAT’S BECAUSE THEY ARE HACKS TO BEGIN WITH, INEXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH THE PRESS AND ILL EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ADVERSITY. THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN IN POLITICS EITHER, IT HAPPENS IN PRIVATE BUSINESS. LAST WEEK I ENCOUNTERED A SITUATION FROM ONE OF MY FORMER EMPLOYERS THAT STILL HAS ME SCRATCHING MY HEAD. SOMETIMES WELL MEANING BUT UNINFORMED AND UNEDUCATED STAFFERS ARE THEIR BOSSES OR COMPANY’S WORST ENEMIES.

8. YOU HAD A FEW PEOPLE WRITING YOUR NAME IN FOR JURY COMMISSIONER, WHAT OFFICE WOULD YOU WRITE IN GORT 42’s NAME IN FOR?

GORT WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT COUNTY TREASURER IF MIKE MORREALE EVER RETIRES. AND IF NOT THAT, I’D TRY TO GET GORT AS COMMISSIONER OF THE NCAA FOOTBALL SO THAT HE COULD ADD SOME COMMON SENSE TO THIS BCS NONSENSE.

9. WILL OBAMA’S HEALTH CARE PLAN PASS?

NOT THE WAY HE OR TEDDY KENNEDY WANTED. ONE THING PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T ADMINISTER AND WILL NOT ADMINISTER HEALTH CARE. THERE WILL BE A THIRD PARTY FISCAL INTERMEDIARY LIKE BLUE CROSS OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS FOR THE MEDICARE PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE HEALTH CARE PLANS FOR FEDERAL WORKERS. THE BIG STICKING POINT POLITICALLY IS GOING TO BE THE ABORTION ISSUE. THIS MIGHT BECOME SO POLITICALLY CONVOLUTED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE THE LIBERAL BASE THAT WANTED HEALTH CARE REFORM IN THE FIRST PLACE VOTING AGAINST THIS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM WOMEN’S GROUPS ANGRY WITH THE STUPAK AMENDMENT. IT IS GOING TO BE A BUMPY ROAD AND AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, NO ONE WILL BE THRILLED WITH THE OUTCOME.

10. FORMER JUDGE MARK CIAVARELLA WAS SEEN GROCERY SHOPPING IN A LOCAL STORE LAST WEEK. IF YOU ENCOUNTERED HIM WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM?

I’D ASK HIM IF HE WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING TO MY READERS AND IF HE DECLINED, I’D ASK HIM HOW HE WAS DOING AND WHAT WAS HE DOING WITH HIS FREE TIME.

11. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TESTIMONY OF FORMER D.A. AND CURRENT JUDGE DAVID LUPUS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AT EAST MOUNTAIN INN?

LUPUS SAID HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE TWO JUDGES WERE DOING WHEN HE WAS DA AND GIVEN THE TENTACLES OF THE DA’S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE PURE GOSSIP THAT GOES ON IN POLITICS, I FIND WHAT HE SAID HARD TO BELIEVE.

12. FAVORITE LOCAL WEATHER PERSON?

C’MON, WHO’D YA THINK?

13. YOU’RE A CLOTHES GUY, IS A DESIGNER SUIT WORTH GOING TO JAIL FOR?

NOPE. HERE’S MY TAKE ON DESIGNER CLOTHES. IF YOU FIND A DESIGNER/COMPANY THAT FITS YOUR TASTE AND STYLE, PAY THE EXTRA MONEY FOR IT BUT DO SO WITH ITEMS THAT ACCESSORIZE YOUR OTHER CLOTHES. I PURCHASE CLOTHS FROM POLO.COM AND THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THEM IS THEY LAST FOREVER, ARE ALWAYS IN STYLE AND ARE SO COMFORTABLE YOU CAN SLEEP IN THEM. I ONCE BOUGHT A PAIR OF DESIGNER SLACKS FROM DONNA KARAN. LOVE HER SHIRTS AND TIES BUT TO THIS DAY, THOSE PANTS DO NOT FIT MY BODY THE RIGHT WAY. THE POCKETS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE BELT LOOPS ARE TOO NARROW, THE PLEATS ARE TOO DEEP AND THE FABRIC IS FLIMSY. BUYING EXPENSIVE SOMETIMES IS NOT BUYING SMART. PAYING TOO MUCH IS DUMB, TAKING A BRIBE FOR A DESIGNER SUIT IS JUST PLAIN NUTS.