The LuLac Edition #1148, Apr. 12th, 2010

PHOTO INDEX: RETIRING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEPHENS, WILK'S NANCY KMAN AND JOHN WEBSTER AND FORMER LACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMISSIONER BOB CORDARO (WHO WILL NO DOUBT BE A FREQUENT SUBJECT OF THE NEW SHOW ON WILK) AND JOHN WEBSTER.

GO BIG OR GO HOME

John Paul Stevens, the only Supreme Court Judge appointed by the late Gerald Ford is retiring. Stevens was Ford's pick in 1975 and it is telling that he was the final pick by the last moderate pro choice Republican leader of any kind. Our politics has gone so far right that Stevens, a moderate back then, is regarded as a leftist. There are many political pundits saying that the President needs to make a careful choice, he needs to take a calming unifying approach in order to keep the court appointment from becoming a partisan battle in an election year. What crap. Anyone this President names is going to be pilloried by this Republican national party of no. There will be major cases coming before this Supreme Court not the least of which is the President's Health Care bill. The President needs to make a bold choice, not a safe one. He needs to go for broke and appoint a nominee that is going to lead, not follow. Obama is never going to get the support of the GOP so it would be wise for him to think in historic terms instead of trying to work with a party of political assassins hell bent on blocking any constructive progress in America. Mr. President: GO BIG or GO HOME!

YUDICHAK ISSUES CHALLENGE

John Yudichak, Democratic State Senate candidate in the 14th Senatorial District, which encompasses parts of Carbon, Luzerne and Monroe Counties in Northeastern PA, today challenged his Democratic Primary opponent, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, to a series of public debates (see copy of attached letter, mailed to Leighton’s campaign office today). Yudichak’s challenge to engage Leighton in an unlimited number of public debates was prompted, in part, by two scurrilous press releases written and issued this week by Leighton’s chief campaign strategist, long-time northeast PA hardball political operative Ed Mitchell. “It’s time to put an end to the Leighton campaign’s schoolyard antics of calling me names in press releases. Today, I am issuing a formal challenge to Mayor Leighton to engage me in a series of open, honest, and thorough public debates about the numerous important issues and challenges confronting the citizens of northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Yudichak. “It’s time for Mayor Leighton to stop hiding behind Ed Mitchell’s sophomoric and diversionary press releases and start answering the tough questions people have – beginning with exactly what he knew about the criminal activities of former City Clerk Bill Brace, when he knew it, and what, if anything, did he do to stop it. Leighton’s continued silence on the Brace scandal only serves to further erode the public’s trust in government.” In addition to demanding public discussion with Leighton on ending the culture of corruption, Yudichak listed as priority debate issues the following: job creation, property tax reform, public education, public safety, preserving the rights of senior citizens, protecting the environment, and transportation funding. “These are the critical issues we should be debating,” Yudichak concluded. “I look forward to Mayor Leighton’s response.”

Here's the interesting thing about this challenge, does Tom Leighton need to participate in a primary debate with the Representative? Leighton seems to be running a stealth campaign that is not noticeable to the political observers but he appears to be making inroads all across the county quietly. A debate would be a great show...but will his honor say yes or no?

SCHU SCHU PASSES

Ever wonder who Terry McNulty's character Schu Schu Schumacher was when Terry did his show on WARM? It might have been well know radio host Bob Schumacher who happened to be the brother of WARM Program Director and legend George Gilbert. Bob Schumacher had a grand career in broadcasting himself until he did a very smart thing in 1970: get out of the business. Schumacher died last week and his passing is still another reminder of a bygone time when broadcasting in this area made you a hometown celebrity. Bob began his radio broadcasting career at WKOP in Binghamton, N.Y., in 1952. He worked for WBRE-TV and radio in Wilkes-Barre from 1953 to 1970 in several positions, including announcer and radio program director. In the 1950s, he was host of the popular “Kitchen Magic Show,” one of the first television programs produced live in the Wilkes-Barre market. During the 1960s, he also was part of a sports broadcasting team covering local high school and college basketball games. In 1970, Bob changed careers and became the Area Manager for central Pennsylvania U.S. Treasury Department, Savings Bonds Division, based in Harrisburg until his retirement in 1993. In this position, he worked closely with several Pennsylvania state governors in promoting the savings ethic among state employees and was instrumental through his network of contacts in media, banking and regional companies in garnering support for the savings bonds campaigns. Bob is remembered as a guy who never lost his roots in NEPA and a person who many young broadcasters looked up to. Another local broadcast legend gone.

WEBSTER AND NANCY

John Webster always knew how to make an entrance. A High Court gave Webster the go ahead to use his name from Rock 107 just in the nick of time. Webster and Nancy are slated to begin their broadcast adventure this morning on WILK. We wish them the best.

FRONT PAGE!!!!!

Many thanks to the Times Leader's Bill O'Boyle for that nice story in the TL yesterday on local bloggers. I saw Pittston Politics' Joe Valenti in churcxh on Sunday night and I had not yet seen a paper, I saw it on line. I asked him where it was in the paper and he told me page 1 right under the fold. Mrs. LuLac cracked, "You guys got front page and weren't even indicted, how 'bout that!". Anyway, here's the link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Getting_the_message_across_by_the_minute_04-11-2010.html

And here are some of the comments from the Times Leader story. Valenti and I seem to have gotten a few shots.

Blah...Blah...Blah.... said...
All self inflated bors!
April 11, 2010 at 5:09 AM
Go Get Them said...
Freedom of Speech could get you in trouble around here. Funny how Luzerne County is the only Place in the State and the Country that has Corruption. Other Places it's called Business as Usual. Go for it guys.
April 11, 2010 at 7:31 AM
Ed J said...
I enjoyed this story and I read Lulac and Gort 42. I no longer or seldom read Pittston Politics simply because there is too much negativity and Valenti has a tendency to use the blog in a hurtful manner. I will take a look at Marc Cour's blog and I appreciate the honesty that those I read strive to meet. A good example of why I don't read Valenti's blog is the truth is ofen times hard to determine. A good example is that he did not leave the Sunday Dispatch, they cut his column because it was too personal. I've spoken with Valenti and he seems to be a likable guy, I just don't like his format and negative control.
April 11, 2010 at 7:42 AM
Kathy Dobash said...
Hey Guys.....do I receive designated name too? READ my commentary on NewsTalkPA! http://newstalkpa.com
April 11, 2010 at 9:20 AM
BOB A. CLAPPS said...
I don't know much about Ben Hoon or Mark Cour, but Dave Yonki blogs are based on hear-say, with an absence of moral values..
April 11, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Frank said...
I think Yonki's blog is the best because he actually researches history and includes pop culture in it. His is fun and informative.
April 11, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Life in the TON, PittsTON said...
Great to see this is all going down at Rooney's pub in Pittston..a town with no shortage of topics worth discussing and a bar owned by a good man.
April 11, 2010 at 11:58 AM
TK said...
I support Blogs wholeheartedly! Although I think everyone should read blogs with a grain of salt, the free exchange of ideas is at the heart of any democracy.
April 11, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Mona said...
Yeah, well, MY boyfriend is the UniBlogger. LOL!
April 11, 2010 at 1:57 PM
mike said...
joe valenti is arrogant,ill- informed,lives up to the sterotype of pittston , gives pittston area school district a black eye every chance he can and goofy to boot!!!!!!mike
April 11, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Kevin Dougherty said...
Everybody in the pool! The more, the merrier. http://www.valleyscanner.com