The LuLac Edition #1550, April 13th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: "13 QUESTIONS" LOGO.

13 QUESTIONS

1. Why aren’t you holding any forums during this crucial election year for Judges and County Council?
Tried to set something up with a local TV station but the GM wanted to charge the candidates for air time. LuLac is far from the Edward R. Murrow school of journalism but even I know that’s kind of snarky. Then I tried to put together something like we did in ’09 at Genetti’s but finding a place and time was difficult. (That’s still under consideration though). A forum was held on Monday night at the Ramada and the only people who showed up were the people running. The sheer magnitude of the Council candidates running is unmanageable and while we had a turnout of 75 in ’09 for our deal at Genetti’s, I’m not sure we can pull it off. We had discussions regarding a judicial forum like the League of Women Voters did for the primary in ’09 but that turned out to be more of a trade show type event where you had each candidate hawking their wares in front of a table that was draped with white linen. If that alone wasn’t an invitation for Merit Selection of Judges, then I don’t know what was. So to answer your question, still efforting but a LuLac sponsored event doesn’t seem likely.

2. Do you have any favorites for the Judge race and will you reveal them today?
Yes and no.

3. Are you planning on doing any extensive coverage of the Cordaro/Munchak trial?
Yes. It depends on the time constraints in my life.

4. How ‘bout those Indians and your newly adopted team, the Pirates?
It’s early but I’m pleased with the way both teams are playing.

5. What do you think of the Donald Trump for President talk?
It just might be that, talk. But Trump’s message is pretty compelling in the sense that he puts things in a way that the average guy can understand. Like the China policy. The oil policy and my favorite, the foreign policy quote where he says if our people died for oil, then admit it and let’s claim the oil. Interesting guy but I fear he will run as an Independent and throw the election to a less deserving candidate of either the Democratic or Republican party.

6. Another Trump question, you’ve stated you watch the Apprentice. Got a favorite Apprentice chick?
Yeah, I like that receptionist that looks longingly at the contestants that are fired as they get on the elevator. I think she has some chops.

7. When you were a kid did you ever have a favorite child hood star that you related to, I’m talking a guy here, a boy.
I liked Paul Peterson who played Jeff Stone on The Donna Reed Show because he was a combination of smart ass and nice kid. He busted his sister but was not mean to her. I never liked “The Beaver” because I thought he was a real dope and easily led astray. So yeah, I thought Jeff Stone was the type of kid I’d want to aspire to.

8. What did you think of the latest budget battle between the White House and the Congress?
I think both sides are at polar opposites and doing their best to one up each other. I find it interesting that the GOP ran on Jobs. Job creation does not come from cutting programs for little kids in Head Start, defunding Public TV and Radio, dithering about Planned Parenthood and screwing the middle class out of their Social Security. Like guys, where the hell are those jobs you were going to create?

9. Books you’re reading now?
I’m just starting Donald Rumsfeld’s biography. His political life spans more than 55 years so even though I thought he did a horrible job in Iraq, his travels getting to that point are pretty interesting. Another book I’m looking forward to is a new one by Jeff Greenfield called, “Then Everything Changed”. It is a historical novel that is based on true vignettes turned into suppositions. The scenarios are; If the car bomb plot against JFK succeeded what would have happened? What if Bobby Kennedy lived in 1968? What if Gerald Ford answered the question about Soviet domination more forcefully in the 1976 debate against Jimmy Carter? I’m looking forward to that book.

10. What in your estimation is worse in terms of a price increase, gas or a Hershey bar?
My heavens a Hershey bar. But I’ll buy one anyway.

11. Why didn’t you mention anything about Casey Evans personal life like the newspapers did?
First off it doesn’t matter, second, Casey didn’t need LuLac to get mileage out of this circumstance and third, I’m usually the last to know or realize in terms of what people are doing or not doing behind their closed doors. Even in the workplace I was always the last to know who was getting hitched, who was off the reservation, who was zoomin’ who…..

12. Why does it seem you tend to print more news about some parties and fundraisers for some candidates and then ignore others?
Send me the information and I’ll put it up. My staff (lol) are on more important earth shattering assignments. Seriously, send it and I’ll run it. Don’t, and I won’t.

13. Do you agree that there is more than political corruption going on in this area and that’s the reason why we’ve not progressed?
Oh yeah. There are private non profits that are being run like little fiefdoms. Health care non profits like Drug and Alcohol centers are rife with layers and layers of bureaucracy and waste that would make Chicago politicians blush. Plus business people would rather squeeze the life out of an entity rather than see it thrive. I use as an example the old Tudor Book Store. The place was a cultural gem that had events for people of all ages. The owner had to close because her landlord, right there on Wyoming Avenue in Kingston gave her a big rent increase. She couldn’t afford it and closed. Three years later the building is still vacant. So there is no great book store on the west side, no place to gather, meet and learn, no taxes being generated and the building sits empty because someone decided they wanted more. Smart business people in this area? Uh no. And we only have to look at the Robert Mericles of the world who sought to bypass proper business practices and buy people off. Some politicians are only the bottom feeders who eat the bait. So yeah, there are good honest business people here but certainly not enough of them.