The LuLac Edition #1033, Dec. 9th, 2009
PHOTO INDEX: MAYOR LOU BARLETTA OF HAZLETON.
BARLETTA IN
Ending a long period of speculation, Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazleton entered the Congressional race in the 11th district for a third time. He sent out this communication to his base.
After careful consideration with my family, this morning I announced my intention to run for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. You can watch my announcement at www.LouBarletta.com. In 2008, you helped my campaign in so many ways that I can never thank you enough. Now, I am asking you to do it again. Judging from the cards and letters I receive from you every day, I know you feel that neither Northeastern Pennsylvania nor the United States are better off today than they were in November 2008. I know you want to do something about it. Your letters of support and prayers are very humbling to me.Together, with your help, support and prayers, we will set America back on the right track – not just for today, but for the days when our grandchildren inherit our country. I am planning an announcement tour for the New Year. That is why it was important to make my intentions known now. We must begin working right away to prepare for a hard fought campaign.Help us get off to a strong start with by contributing at LouBarletta.com/contribute. I look forward to seeing you all again on the campaign trail. Please visit LouBarletta.com often and sign up now to be a part of our fight. My family and I would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and happy Holiday Season. Thank you for your time. God bless you, and God bless America.
Reaction from the Paul Kanjorski camp was instantaneous and pithy. The Congressman's spokesman said, “Hearing that Mr. Barletta is running for Congress again reminds me of what Yogi Berra said: This is like deja vu all over again.’ Having been rejected by the voters twice, I guess Barletta is looking for strike three and you’re out. “The Congressman is busy reforming the financial industry, bringing jobs to the district and providing for affordable health care that protects Medicare. He also remains a champion for preserving Social Security, so we have no further comment at this time.”
Kanjorski challenger Corey O'Brien also weighed in with this reaction. "Earlier today, Hazleton's Republican Mayor Lou Barletta announced his candidacy for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. Despite higher taxes and rampant crime in Hazleton, Mayor Barletta will -- for a third time -- run for U.S. Congress and attempt to return us to the failed Republican policies of George W. Bush.Our district needs new Democratic leadership to stave off Lou Barletta in 2010 and to keep PA-11 in Democratic hands. As a Lackawanna County Commissioner, I worked to balance three budgets without raising taxes, instituted a Code of Ethics which prohibits me from even accepting a cup of coffee from a county vendor, and replaced our fleet of inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles with hybrids.We need a Congressman with executive-level leadership experience and a long-term vision for the future of the district. A Congressman who has balanced budgets during difficult economic times, while still finding ways to invest in our communities. A Congressman who will focus on finding ways to create jobs, improve educational opportunities, restore confidence in our elected officials, and promote energy independence.If you would like to ensure that PA-11 stays in Democratic hands, please donate to my campaign today."
Barletta almost won in 2008 and gave the Democrats and Paul Kanjorski a scare. Barletta, to be successful needs to run against the phenomena that defeated him two years ago. He needs to tap into the fear and discontent voters feel about the Obama administration and its policies. The wild card in all of this is O'Brien. Barletta has had practice running against Kanjorski but O'Brien just might be another proposition all together.
HEALTH CARE FORUM
Representative Eddie Day Pashinski will participate in a health care forum Thursday night at Luzerne County Community College. The event is in the Educational Conference Center Auditorium and is from 7 to 9pm. The public is invited to attend.
KEVIN HAGGERTY EVENT
State Representative for the 112th district Kevin Haggerty has set a fundraiser for Thursday night. Here are the details:
THURSDAY DEC, 10TH AT 7PM
FOX AND HOUND (RALLY TO ELECT KEVIN HAGGERTY)
MOSCOW, PA
posted by David Yonki @ 6:47 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Coreys got all the answers, but one thing he didnt mention is that like him or not Barlettea finishes the terms he is elected to serve.
OBrien suffers from Palinitis. The commissioners job is hardly begun
and he didnt raise taxes by laying people off. Neither is the desired answer to the problem. I say we lay him off and let him concentrate on the job he wants because he has no time for the one he has!
Barletta's best days are behind him. The fiscal condition of Hazleton will bury him. Some think that the third is a charm but I don't think so. The more a person runs for office, the better name recognition they get but the down side is that more is known about the candidate and Barletta does not need or want scrutiny.
I'm worried about Kanjo because it was close when Barletta ran against him in '08, and Obama at the top of the ticket might have been--probably was--the difference between him winning and losing. In 2010 there will be no Obama at the top of the ticket pulling up Kanjo's numbers. Plus I think next year might be rough on incumbents.
If next year is going to be rough on incumbents that means that Corey might have a shot at beating Kanjo in the primary, but he is going to need to become a MUCH stronger candidate than he is now in order to do that (which he very well may). If Corey prevails in the primary he is also going to have to work on being a stronger candidate so that he can beat Barletta. On the other hand, if it's Corey versus Barletta he doesn't have the baggage of incumbency that Kanjo would have, and he might be able to mobilise younger voters if he works at it. Also, Latino voters will hopefully be motivated to participate heavily in this one.
We'll have to see what happens, who will look like the best match-up against Barletta in the weeks and months to come. Barletta has his own primary opponent to face too.
Anon 11:50 I guess the weed in your part of the country is super potent. Barletta ran twice and this will make three. If he had won, he would not have finished his term of office. Do you see a difference? Dumb Ass!
2:26 I was making a point, asshole! OBrien is a phony with no accomplishments except a senior center which will get him nothing in washington or anywhere else but Dunmore. Smoke some more of your mediocre weed and chill out a bit.
Dumb Ass
If there is any super potent weed around here , I'd like to know about it. Perhaps asshole or dumb ass could let me in on the source.
Kanjo, Barletta and Obrien have one thing in common. They are all politicians. Kanjo has been drinking from the well for a long time. Barlettas best days, as stated, are most likely behind him and Obrien is just another self promoting young lawyer lookin out for himself. Beware young lawyers with all the answers from Dunmore! I wont be voting for any of them. Now lets stop the name calling, you jerks!
IN RESPONSE
GUYS I'M TOO TIRED TO EDIT OUT THIS STUFF. QUIT CALLING EACH OTHER NAMES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OBVIOUS PASSION AND INTERESTING POSTS.
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