The LuLac Edition #1560, April 21st, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: FORMER CONGRESSMAN PATRICK MURPHY, TV STAR MARLO THOMAS (CIRCA 1970s) AND OUR 1972 LOGO.

MURPHY’S BIG HILL


Former Congressman Patrick Murphy is going to attempt to climb the biggest hill in Pennsylvania politics. He is running for state attorney general, an office that has not had a Democratic occupant in it since the office was formed in 1980. Before then Pennsylvania Governors appointed Attorney Generals but the Shapp administration had such a dismal cast of AGs (one Robert Kane was indicted while in office) that it was deemed prudent to let the voters decide.
Murphy became the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress in 2006, when he defeated Republican Mike Fitzpatrick for the suburban Philadelphia seat. Two terms later, in 2010, Fitzpatrick won the seat back. The office has been held by Leroy Zimmerman, Ernest Preate, Mike Fischer and Tom Corbett, all Republicans. Fischer and Corbett used the office as stepping stones to run for Governor. Corbett, has nominated federal prosecutor Linda Kelly of Pittsburgh to complete the rest of his second term as attorney general. Kelly has promised not to run for a full term. Former Congressman Murphy is related to local Leighton Administration Aide, J.J. Murphy.


CHIEF’S DILEMMA

Wow, how about the Scranton Police union going after the Chief of Police Dan Duffy because he followed up on a warrant and arrested a guy for drug possession? The Chief, who I guess throws people around here because he actually looks the part, finds himself in a battle with the union and his officers. The union says they aren’t against the chief and neither is the rank and file members. But because the chief was not covered under the union contract, we are being told that the union would have preferred the Chief not get involved and leave it to a union guy. So if you go to Scranton and are under detainment for a crime, just ask not to see the policeman’s badge but their union card! You might get off. Two points, first off if you ever wonder why reasonable people, reasonable liberals even have problems with unions, it is because of this behavior by the union heads. Second, for every step unions have won for their public service employees, those gains are obliterated by actions like these. And finally, on 911 as those planes in New York city crashed into those buildings and thousands of New York police and fire personnel were risking it all, do you really think they were thinking of their union cards, bosses or dues? I think not.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT


BAKER BASHED

State Senator Lisa Baker is being bashed by Freedom Works. A radio ad criticizing Baker for supporting Governor Tom Corbett’s education plan is up and running. The ad says that public education is suffering in the state because of the actions of politicians. I think public education is just fine, where the problem is with parents who think the schools and teachers are magicians that are going to turn their all but ignored little brats and al ah kazam, turn them into solid citizens in half a year. Baker now is officially a veteran of the Pa. Senate. She’s being vilified by an interest group because she won’t see it their way. Senator welcome to hardball.


O’BRIEN SAYS NO

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien has said publicly that he will not run for Congress in 2012. O’Brien, running for re-election with Mid Valley Mayor Jeanette Mariani was asked by outgoing and not to mention indicted Commissioner A.J. Munchak about his plans. According to the Scranton Times, O’Brien said "My intention is to be a county commissioner," O'Brien told Munchak. "I'm running for re-election because I think we have a done a decent job - not a great job, but I think we've done a decent job - and my focus is running for and serving as a county commissioner. That's why I'm running. I wouldn't be running if I didn't want to serve." O’Brien faces a stiff challenge from former State Representative Jim Wansacz and Brian Jeffers. The latter two are campaigning very hard and were at the Commissioner’s debate on Monday night, however O’Brien and were not.


LOCATION LOCATION

Federal Judge Richard Caputo has granted Lackawanna County Commissioner’s A.J. Munchak request to have the corruption trial moved from Wilkes Barre to Scranton. Munchak’s lawyers requested the change because it would be more convenient for the witnesses, (some who are Lackawanna County employees) to just take a short stroll from the county facility to the federal building.


1972

The Lockheed L-1011 Tristar enters service with Eastern Airlines.........A no-confidence vote against German Chancellor Willy Brandt fails under obscure circumstances.....In Pennsylvania United Steelworkers Union President I. W. Abel says that many of his rank and file members could do worse than not voting for former Vice President Hubert Humphrey in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary. Abel later endorses Humphrey in the primary race..….and in Wilkes Barre, “That Girl”, TV’s Marlo Thomas makes an appearance in Wilkes Barre stumping for the McGovern for President effort. Thomas appears at the McGovern headquarters located at 91 South Main Street in Wilkes Barre and 39 years ago this week the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was “Me and Julio Down By the School Yard” by Paul Simon.