The LuLac Edition #1611, May 26th, 2011
OUR 1972 LOGO AND CONGRESSMEN MARINO AND BARLETTA.
NO LOGIC
The recent announcement by Congressmen Marino and Barletta that they were not going to allow recording devices in town hall meetings was to me devoid of any type of logic. Both men are afraid of a “You Tube” moment where either of them will be caught off guard. The fact of the matter is that in this new world of politics, “You Tube” moments are part of the territory. And if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the proverbial kitchen. It is ironic that both Marino and Barletta who seized on their opponents unguarded video moments at town hall meetings are now afraid that they will have the same political consequences. Both Congressmen Carney and Kanjorski were taken to task by both Barletta and Marino for not being in touch with the people. And I get the fact that a certain amount of campaign rhetoric exists but I don’t get the logic of this pronouncement. Barletta and Marino say they don’t want citizens, regular folks and uncredentialed media allowed in a meeting with a video recorder. Yet they are okay with the regular, traditional mainstream media covering the media. But do they honestly think that if they are ambushed on an issue, fairly or unfairly that the media will not cover it? Do they actually think that WBRE’s Joe Holden, WNEP’s Sarah Buynovsky, WYLN’s Anne Gownley, the Citizen’s Voice’s Mike Buffer, the Times Leader’s Jennifer Learnes Andes, the Scranton Times Erin Moody, the Hazleton Standard Speaker’s Sam Galski or WILK’s Steve Corbett is not going to cover the meeting? If there is an outburst or a citizen going wild, do the new Congressmen actually think that’s not going to wind up on the Internet? That’s where the illogical direction of this comes in. When politicians try to manipulate coverage of any type whether it be a meeting or an event, we expect that. They want the best outcome. But when they try to undermine freedom of speech, they look at best desperate and at worst cowardly. The national GOP Congressional Leadership since the mid 90s has been both desperate and cowardly. I just thought it would take a bit longer for those two elements to rub off on our new guys we sent to Washington.
PLAY BALL
The Luzerne County Commissioners announced that their appraiser has valued the local Triple-A baseball franchise at $18 million -- $3.4 million more than the sales price set by Lackawanna County officials. Lackawanna County had agreed to sell the franchise to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees for $14.6 million. The Times Leader reports that Luzerne county wants compensation for their original investment in the mid 80s. The counties had co-purchased the franchise, and Luzerne County has a pending suit arguing that Lackawanna must give Luzerne half the proceeds if the franchise is sold. Lackawanna County also has a pending countersuit arguing that Luzerne County isn't entitled to any proceeds and owes Lackawanna millions of dollars for past stadium repairs.
How this plays out is anyone’s guess. But Governor Corbett released the allocated money for the upper deck to come off PNC Field and remodel the park. The Yankees are going to be here longer than I’ll most likely be alive. NEPA has given them pretty much whatever they wanted to locate here. The least the rich and powerful Steinbrenner clan can do is cough up a few bucks for a settlement and get this issue off the table. Luzerne County took a chance on this thing in the 80s, they were in effect taken out of the loop by the Lackawanna County Commissioners so the county is owed something. Let’s just quit the countersuit and get this thing done.
NO FREEZE
The recent announcement by Congressmen Marino and Barletta that they were not going to allow recording devices in town hall meetings was to me devoid of any type of logic. Both men are afraid of a “You Tube” moment where either of them will be caught off guard. The fact of the matter is that in this new world of politics, “You Tube” moments are part of the territory. And if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the proverbial kitchen. It is ironic that both Marino and Barletta who seized on their opponents unguarded video moments at town hall meetings are now afraid that they will have the same political consequences. Both Congressmen Carney and Kanjorski were taken to task by both Barletta and Marino for not being in touch with the people. And I get the fact that a certain amount of campaign rhetoric exists but I don’t get the logic of this pronouncement. Barletta and Marino say they don’t want citizens, regular folks and uncredentialed media allowed in a meeting with a video recorder. Yet they are okay with the regular, traditional mainstream media covering the media. But do they honestly think that if they are ambushed on an issue, fairly or unfairly that the media will not cover it? Do they actually think that WBRE’s Joe Holden, WNEP’s Sarah Buynovsky, WYLN’s Anne Gownley, the Citizen’s Voice’s Mike Buffer, the Times Leader’s Jennifer Learnes Andes, the Scranton Times Erin Moody, the Hazleton Standard Speaker’s Sam Galski or WILK’s Steve Corbett is not going to cover the meeting? If there is an outburst or a citizen going wild, do the new Congressmen actually think that’s not going to wind up on the Internet? That’s where the illogical direction of this comes in. When politicians try to manipulate coverage of any type whether it be a meeting or an event, we expect that. They want the best outcome. But when they try to undermine freedom of speech, they look at best desperate and at worst cowardly. The national GOP Congressional Leadership since the mid 90s has been both desperate and cowardly. I just thought it would take a bit longer for those two elements to rub off on our new guys we sent to Washington.
PLAY BALL
The Luzerne County Commissioners announced that their appraiser has valued the local Triple-A baseball franchise at $18 million -- $3.4 million more than the sales price set by Lackawanna County officials. Lackawanna County had agreed to sell the franchise to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees for $14.6 million. The Times Leader reports that Luzerne county wants compensation for their original investment in the mid 80s. The counties had co-purchased the franchise, and Luzerne County has a pending suit arguing that Lackawanna must give Luzerne half the proceeds if the franchise is sold. Lackawanna County also has a pending countersuit arguing that Luzerne County isn't entitled to any proceeds and owes Lackawanna millions of dollars for past stadium repairs.
How this plays out is anyone’s guess. But Governor Corbett released the allocated money for the upper deck to come off PNC Field and remodel the park. The Yankees are going to be here longer than I’ll most likely be alive. NEPA has given them pretty much whatever they wanted to locate here. The least the rich and powerful Steinbrenner clan can do is cough up a few bucks for a settlement and get this issue off the table. Luzerne County took a chance on this thing in the 80s, they were in effect taken out of the loop by the Lackawanna County Commissioners so the county is owed something. Let’s just quit the countersuit and get this thing done.
NO FREEZE
The teachers in the Wilkes Barre Area School Board are not going to allow themselves a pay freeze. While other school districts across the state realize the shared sacrifices that must be made, the Wilkes Barre Area teachers do not. While other school officials realized that the Obama stimulus money was a short term increase in funding and that those levels would return to pre Obama/Rendell levels, the Wilkes Barre Area School teachers do not. It is typical of a teacher union that looks at the short term rather than the long term. Sue Henry brought up a great point today saying that if there are layoffs in the district, the newly minted teachers will be hit and those long term recipients of largess will still be standing. Unlike Wisconsin, no one is asking to take away their benefits or salary. It will stay the same, it will be a freeze. But Wilkes Barre Area school teachers just don’t get it !
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
ON THE BUDGET ROAD
Majority Republicans in the Pennsylvania House sent their state budget proposal to the Senate on Tuesday over the objections of Democrats during a marathon floor debate. The chamber voted 109-92 to approve a $27.3 billion spending plan and move the process closer to negotiations among legislative leaders and Gov. Tom Corbett in the weeks ahead. The vigorous debate divided the chamber sharply along party lines, with Republicans pushing their proposal as a responsible approach amid a trying economic climate and Democrats predicting dire consequences from wide cuts in government programs. The budget plan has the same total spending figure that Corbett, a Republican, has proposed. Like the governor’s budget, it also would not raise additional taxes. The House GOP plan, however, dedicates less money to the Department of Public Welfare to restore money for education and makes other changes to specific line-items. With the House and Senate having a clear majority of Republicans, this budget will be one of nuances not monumental differences. And for the first time in 8 years, Pennsylvania will have a budget on time.
DISMISSED!!!
The complaint filed by the city’s police union against the city of Scranton has been dismissed by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, The complaint centered around the March 20 arrest of a drug user by Scranton Police Chief Dan Duffy. The criminal arrested allegedly was in possession of marijuana.
The union contended that a Dec. 27, 2002, order excluded the department superintendent from the collective bargaining unit, removing Duffy’s ability to conduct off duty arrests.
Duffy made the arrest off duty. The complaint as it should have been was dismissed. This case proves that sometimes union officials don’t use one thing that most people expect of them: common sense.
MEDIA MATTERS
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
This week on Saturday Night Live at the Oldies Shadoe Steele’s guest will be Andy Kim. Saturday Night Live at the Oldies is heard Saturdays from 7pm to midnight with ABC News on the top of the hour.
STORM POLITICS
This week Tiffany Clloud’s guest on “Storm Politics” will be the Hazleton Police Chief Robert Ferdinad. “Storm Politics” is seen weekly on WYLN Wed 8PM, Thurs 9:30PM, Sat 5PM, Sun 11AM, Mon 9:30PM, Tues 4:30PM.
ECTV
Norma Reese will be the featured guest on ECTV Live the week of May 30th.Ms Reese is with a group conducting informational tours of the Forest Hill cemetery where anumber of area Civil War Veterans are buried.She'll discuss a few of their stories on ECTV Live seen at Noon and Midnight on Comcast Ch 19.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Weekend on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Shannon Ludwig of the American Red Cross who discusses Upcoming June blood drives, and some incentives to give blood, as well as the Red Cross response to flooding in the South, and tornado damage in the Midwest Brian speaks with Tara and Kelly from the Volunteers in Medicine free clinic in Wilkes Barre, who discuss their big 1970’s theme Fundraiser Gala June 17th at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Brian also speaks with Paul Taylor, the Vice President of Met Life Group Disability about how all Americans should have Disability Insurance.
An encore of Brian’s interview with Dr. Don Rucker, who discusses the increase of allergies and asthma in children.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5:30am on JR 93.7 & 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:30am on Magic 93, and 9:30am on WARM 590 AM.
OBAMA AND THE QUEEN
Take a look at this video where the President talks over "God Save the Queen" at a formal dinner in London. These British are very formal and stick to protocol. The President seemed like a disc jockey trying to hit the post as the anthem played. Who in the hell in the White House protocol office let this happen? He most likely has a wet behind the ears 20 something who has no clue on how national anthems and foreign visits work. Just when you think the guy is getting out from under, he reverts back to Jimmy Carter.
1972
Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT I treaty in Moscow, as well as the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and other agreements……The Watergate first break-in, the "Ameritas dinner", fails……..Wernher von Braun retires from NASA, frustrated by the agency's unwillingness to pursue a manned trans-orbital space program……Willandra National Park is established in Australia……..On May 27– A second Watergate break-in attempt fails……in Pennsylvania Governor Shapp and Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo clash over the death penalty…….and in Scranton produce supplier Joseph Notariani says he is seriously thinking about running for Mayor of Scranton in the 1973 election. Against Gene Peters…and 39 years ago today the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was Todd Rungdren’s “I Saw the Light”.
ON THE BUDGET ROAD
Majority Republicans in the Pennsylvania House sent their state budget proposal to the Senate on Tuesday over the objections of Democrats during a marathon floor debate. The chamber voted 109-92 to approve a $27.3 billion spending plan and move the process closer to negotiations among legislative leaders and Gov. Tom Corbett in the weeks ahead. The vigorous debate divided the chamber sharply along party lines, with Republicans pushing their proposal as a responsible approach amid a trying economic climate and Democrats predicting dire consequences from wide cuts in government programs. The budget plan has the same total spending figure that Corbett, a Republican, has proposed. Like the governor’s budget, it also would not raise additional taxes. The House GOP plan, however, dedicates less money to the Department of Public Welfare to restore money for education and makes other changes to specific line-items. With the House and Senate having a clear majority of Republicans, this budget will be one of nuances not monumental differences. And for the first time in 8 years, Pennsylvania will have a budget on time.
DISMISSED!!!
The complaint filed by the city’s police union against the city of Scranton has been dismissed by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, The complaint centered around the March 20 arrest of a drug user by Scranton Police Chief Dan Duffy. The criminal arrested allegedly was in possession of marijuana.
The union contended that a Dec. 27, 2002, order excluded the department superintendent from the collective bargaining unit, removing Duffy’s ability to conduct off duty arrests.
Duffy made the arrest off duty. The complaint as it should have been was dismissed. This case proves that sometimes union officials don’t use one thing that most people expect of them: common sense.
MEDIA MATTERS
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
This week on Saturday Night Live at the Oldies Shadoe Steele’s guest will be Andy Kim. Saturday Night Live at the Oldies is heard Saturdays from 7pm to midnight with ABC News on the top of the hour.
STORM POLITICS
This week Tiffany Clloud’s guest on “Storm Politics” will be the Hazleton Police Chief Robert Ferdinad. “Storm Politics” is seen weekly on WYLN Wed 8PM, Thurs 9:30PM, Sat 5PM, Sun 11AM, Mon 9:30PM, Tues 4:30PM.
ECTV
Norma Reese will be the featured guest on ECTV Live the week of May 30th.Ms Reese is with a group conducting informational tours of the Forest Hill cemetery where anumber of area Civil War Veterans are buried.She'll discuss a few of their stories on ECTV Live seen at Noon and Midnight on Comcast Ch 19.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Weekend on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Shannon Ludwig of the American Red Cross who discusses Upcoming June blood drives, and some incentives to give blood, as well as the Red Cross response to flooding in the South, and tornado damage in the Midwest Brian speaks with Tara and Kelly from the Volunteers in Medicine free clinic in Wilkes Barre, who discuss their big 1970’s theme Fundraiser Gala June 17th at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Brian also speaks with Paul Taylor, the Vice President of Met Life Group Disability about how all Americans should have Disability Insurance.
An encore of Brian’s interview with Dr. Don Rucker, who discusses the increase of allergies and asthma in children.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5:30am on JR 93.7 & 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:30am on Magic 93, and 9:30am on WARM 590 AM.
OBAMA AND THE QUEEN
Take a look at this video where the President talks over "God Save the Queen" at a formal dinner in London. These British are very formal and stick to protocol. The President seemed like a disc jockey trying to hit the post as the anthem played. Who in the hell in the White House protocol office let this happen? He most likely has a wet behind the ears 20 something who has no clue on how national anthems and foreign visits work. Just when you think the guy is getting out from under, he reverts back to Jimmy Carter.
1972
Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT I treaty in Moscow, as well as the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and other agreements……The Watergate first break-in, the "Ameritas dinner", fails……..Wernher von Braun retires from NASA, frustrated by the agency's unwillingness to pursue a manned trans-orbital space program……Willandra National Park is established in Australia……..On May 27– A second Watergate break-in attempt fails……in Pennsylvania Governor Shapp and Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo clash over the death penalty…….and in Scranton produce supplier Joseph Notariani says he is seriously thinking about running for Mayor of Scranton in the 1973 election. Against Gene Peters…and 39 years ago today the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was Todd Rungdren’s “I Saw the Light”.
posted by David Yonki @ 9:59 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Dave, let's face it Lou and Marino are one termers if they mess with medicare. Todd Rungdren's song was so cool back in the day. And I have to tell you I agree with your assessment that the President's staff made him look like an ass.
"Wet behind the ears 20 something", you hit the nail on the head. Obama has an enormous number of young people in the west wing and that is a mistake.
I believe that both Ham Jordan and Jody Powell were both in their late 20's when they worked for Carter.
JFK was said to have a young administration but truth be told the avg. age of his inner circle was 40.
I'm not knocking 20 somethings, I feel that they do however need time to get seasoned before moving on to the big leagues.
Yonki, you and the Pope are showing your age. What do you have against young people in politics?
I have nothing against young people in politics or government. My point is that someone should have clued him in. He was in a nation that still upholds tradition and formality. This should not have happened. And I have followed the work of Cassandra Coleman who is on the staff of Senator Casey. I have met Harry Haas, Tom Borthwick and Casey Evans on the campaign trail. Under no circumstances if any of those 4 had that responsibility, I can bet all I own there would not have been that foul up.
I'm sure the Luzerne County Commissioners will factor that $9 million (1/2 of $18 million appraisal) into the 2012 budget, whether or not they know the outcome of the lawsuits, to cover the one time fixes in the 2011 budget (e.g. Sale of Valley Crest). They will once again take credit for no additional tax increase only to leave the new form of government with a mess. Not to mention that the proceeds from any large asset sales should go to retire some of the higher interest long term debt; thus, resulting in basically a doubling impact.
Yonk, you have got to be joking! WTF?
That having been said, those two fools are determined to be one termers. If you sae the video of Barlett's town meeting where people were upset and giving him hell, you will see that he laughs at them and finally turns his back, sits on a table and begins to read through apers as people are speaking to him. ***hole! No, make that Arrogant ***hole.
Poor Richard
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