The LuLac Edition #1756, September 13th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: "13 QUESTIONS" LOGO.

13 QUESTIONS

1. What did you think of the performance of Mayor Tom Leighton, the Luzerne County Commissioners and others in the flood of 2011?

I think they and their staffs did an excellent job. The most important thing is being present, visible. I think both Mayor Leighton and Commissioner Petrilla in particular were hands on with cautious and accurate information. And of course Steve Bechanich and Jim Brozena are the best at what they do.

2. Who was the guy who was the official river watcher in the flood of ’72?

Nick Souchak.

3. What did you think of the new show WBRE TV debuted yesterday at 4 O’Clock?

I think the show was very good. I’ve always liked Dave Kuharchik and Monica Medeja is one of the best reporters to come on the scene. It was weird though seeing them so relaxed after last week’s flood action were Dave was up all night and Monica was traipsing through the mud. I think the cooking segment was great and the music thing has potential for both good and bad. Good because it kind of reminds me of the old afternoon talk shows, bad because you better make sure you have someone with talent. They obviously did that in the first show but down the line they have to keep up that standard. Overall, I liked it.

4. How were you affected by the flood this year?

We lost power on Thursday night and had some water in the basement. My sister in Wyalusing got nailed with their summer place. I knew she was in trouble when I saw 16 News on Saturday night and Route 6 was still flooded. They were below that road in Quick Bend so they got it bad.

5. Will this recent flooding impact the election?

Yes it will in a negative manner. I think you’ll see people, especially those in areas like West Pittston, Duryea and Shickshinny not getting interested or involved in the process at all. I mean they’ll be rebuilding their lives. I think the challenge for the candidates, especially the ones running for County Council will be to try and connect with those folks.

6. Do you think that President Obama will be the next Jimmy Carter?

No. I think if Obama doesn’t get his principles in line, his administration will be known as George W. Bush’s third term.

7. Will you be watching the TV show on the Jackie Kennedy tapes? Thoughts?

This is powerful stuff because she never wrote a memoir, never really granted interviews. Keep in mind that the tapes were made in the 60s (actually this was the smmer of 1964) so her wounds were raw, from her marriage, the witnessing of her husband’s murder, her ambivalent feelings about LBJ and whether or not she was thinking about history or what she was going through at that time. I thought Richard Nixon’s relationship with her was rather poignant. She and the children had never been back to the White House until Nixon invited them. Ironically they both were being treated in the same hospital in New York and died within weeks of each other. Anyway to answer your question, I thought it was useful for historical perspectives.

8. What did you think about Applebee’s prohibiting an employee from saying bad things about them on FaceBook?

Makes sense. Especially a restaurant. I never bit the hand that fed me and I always tried to be a loyal, hard working, seldom absent employee. If he has such a problem with them, I’d leave and then blast them.

9. One of your former employees you refer to as the on line pagan travel company. Why?

Well they insisted on being open 365 days a year. And one Christmas I was on my way to work and noticed that McDonald’s, Burger King, donut places, gas stations, convenience stores and super markets were shut down for the day. We essentially sat there and got sent home an hour after we got there. So the only thing I concluded was that they were pagans. And I was fine with that, I accepted the job, and all but that’s how they got my designation.

10. I see you on TV with L.A. Tarone every week. You’re not bad. I see the Reverend Al Sharpton on MSNBC. He is real bad. How did he get that show?

Damned if I know.

11. You are obviously disappointed with President Obama. If he has no primary opposition and the current group of GOP is all there is, who will you vote for in 2012?

I’m not a firm believer in wasting ones vote but this President has to show some stones. Failing that, I’ll write in Bruce Simpson or Wil Toole.

12. How are those Pirates doing?

They didn’t disappoint, they went in the tank.

13. Michael Conahan is set to be sentenced in a few days. Will anyone pay attention?

Good question. Mark Ciavarella was sentenced during a slow news cycle and he was all over the place. Conahan who appeared to be the mastermind of this whole deal might get a lesser sentence than Ciavarella and because of the Flood, 911’s tenth anniversary, the flood recovery and the pennant races might not get the same coverage the other judge had in the summer.