The LuLac Edition #1873, December 26h, 2011
Iowa.....a big deal every 4 years.
Scranton resident and businessman Bob Bolus. (Photo Times Tribune).
IOWA RISING
The state of Iowa has 3 million people. It is estimated that 323,000 people will participate in the Iowa caucuses next week. Iowa is not terribly representative of the United States of America but because they have always been first since 1972, the results are met with what I feel is exaggerated importance. The Iowa caucuses operate very differently from the more common primary election used by most other states (see U.S. presidential primary). The caucuses are generally defined as "gatherings of neighbors." Rather than going to polls and casting ballots, Iowans gather at a set location in each of Iowa's 1,784 precincts. Typically, these meetings occur in schools, churches, public libraries and even individuals' houses. The caucuses are held every two years, but the ones that receive national attention are the presidential preference caucuses held every four years. In addition to the voting and the presidential preference choices, caucus-goers begin the process of writing their parties’ platforms by introducing resolutions. Next week might tell the tale of Iowa’s future as a bellwether state. If a candidate deemed unelectable in the general election like Ron Paul or Rick Santorum wins, Iowa will be known as the incubator for fringe candidates. A Romney win would not only boost the Romney candidacy but might bolster Iowa’s reputation and help it maintain its first in the nation status in 2016. (We should all live so long!!!)
Iowa 2012 is tightening up. Because it is a caucus state, the ballots can change. People get together in meeting halls or homes and pick their favorite. At some point they can change their vote. The polls as of today show Ron Paul with a 23% lead, Romney at 22% and Gingrich at 14%. Two weeks ago Gingrich had a commanding lead but the combination of negative ads plus his lack of organization put him down in the pack. Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congresswoman Michele Bachman and Rick Santorum make up the bottom three. Bachman who won the straw poll last summer is definitely down for the count. Perry has money but not much of an organization and Santorum while having the support of the Religious right that catapulted Mike Huckabee to victory in 2008 has not made any traction in the polls.
Paul has great strength among college kids but he might face a Howard Dean 2004 problem. The kids are all on college break and may not be as supportive as the Paul people hope.
Romney has made an effort again but he has not raised expectations. I think he has a better than even chance of eking out a win. But this is Iowa. They gave Bob Dole R a win over the eventual nominee George Bush (41) in 1988 (with Pat Robertson coming in a respectable third) and Mike Huckabee in 2008 over John McCain.
The madness and charm of Iowa is its unpredictability. Next week the 99 counties in Iowa will have 99 meetings to decide the fate of the Republican party in 2012. With President Obama’s ratings in the tank, the 49 other state Republican organizations will be watching and waiting with baited breath.
OBAMA IN HAWAII
Last Christmas Eve me and Mrs. LuLac were crossing the 8th street bridge after our Christmas Eve traditional supper at the Edward’s home in Franklin Township. Out of the blue, I had the thought about President Obama's vacation. I don’t begrudge anyone a vacation but I wondered if then Senator or private citizen Obama ever vacationed in Hawaii before he became President? And if he did, how many days did he stay? Just wondering.
BOLUS COMES THROUGH
Say what you will about Scranton businessman Bob Bolus (and it was all said in the 2009 Scranton Mayor’s race) but you have to give him credit for having his annual Christmas dinner at St. Lucy’s in Scranton. Everyone is welcome, no questions asked. You can tell by the news reports the happiness he brings to the poor, the lonely and those just needing a hand. Nice job Mr. Bolus.
IOWA RISING
The state of Iowa has 3 million people. It is estimated that 323,000 people will participate in the Iowa caucuses next week. Iowa is not terribly representative of the United States of America but because they have always been first since 1972, the results are met with what I feel is exaggerated importance. The Iowa caucuses operate very differently from the more common primary election used by most other states (see U.S. presidential primary). The caucuses are generally defined as "gatherings of neighbors." Rather than going to polls and casting ballots, Iowans gather at a set location in each of Iowa's 1,784 precincts. Typically, these meetings occur in schools, churches, public libraries and even individuals' houses. The caucuses are held every two years, but the ones that receive national attention are the presidential preference caucuses held every four years. In addition to the voting and the presidential preference choices, caucus-goers begin the process of writing their parties’ platforms by introducing resolutions. Next week might tell the tale of Iowa’s future as a bellwether state. If a candidate deemed unelectable in the general election like Ron Paul or Rick Santorum wins, Iowa will be known as the incubator for fringe candidates. A Romney win would not only boost the Romney candidacy but might bolster Iowa’s reputation and help it maintain its first in the nation status in 2016. (We should all live so long!!!)
Iowa 2012 is tightening up. Because it is a caucus state, the ballots can change. People get together in meeting halls or homes and pick their favorite. At some point they can change their vote. The polls as of today show Ron Paul with a 23% lead, Romney at 22% and Gingrich at 14%. Two weeks ago Gingrich had a commanding lead but the combination of negative ads plus his lack of organization put him down in the pack. Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congresswoman Michele Bachman and Rick Santorum make up the bottom three. Bachman who won the straw poll last summer is definitely down for the count. Perry has money but not much of an organization and Santorum while having the support of the Religious right that catapulted Mike Huckabee to victory in 2008 has not made any traction in the polls.
Paul has great strength among college kids but he might face a Howard Dean 2004 problem. The kids are all on college break and may not be as supportive as the Paul people hope.
Romney has made an effort again but he has not raised expectations. I think he has a better than even chance of eking out a win. But this is Iowa. They gave Bob Dole R a win over the eventual nominee George Bush (41) in 1988 (with Pat Robertson coming in a respectable third) and Mike Huckabee in 2008 over John McCain.
The madness and charm of Iowa is its unpredictability. Next week the 99 counties in Iowa will have 99 meetings to decide the fate of the Republican party in 2012. With President Obama’s ratings in the tank, the 49 other state Republican organizations will be watching and waiting with baited breath.
OBAMA IN HAWAII
Last Christmas Eve me and Mrs. LuLac were crossing the 8th street bridge after our Christmas Eve traditional supper at the Edward’s home in Franklin Township. Out of the blue, I had the thought about President Obama's vacation. I don’t begrudge anyone a vacation but I wondered if then Senator or private citizen Obama ever vacationed in Hawaii before he became President? And if he did, how many days did he stay? Just wondering.
BOLUS COMES THROUGH
Say what you will about Scranton businessman Bob Bolus (and it was all said in the 2009 Scranton Mayor’s race) but you have to give him credit for having his annual Christmas dinner at St. Lucy’s in Scranton. Everyone is welcome, no questions asked. You can tell by the news reports the happiness he brings to the poor, the lonely and those just needing a hand. Nice job Mr. Bolus.
posted by David Yonki @ 2:16 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
God bless Mr. Bolus!!!!!!
Mr Bolus deserves mucho kudos for what he does year after year. This is a man who walks the walk. Thank you Mr Bolus.
Obama on vacation ...... Yonk, do you seriously think that any American carries the level of stress as the President of the United States? Who the hell cares where he vacationed or how many days he spent there. Do you think even for a minute that when he is on vacation that he gets away from his auwsome responsibilities? Sometimes Yonk, you fall out of the wagon and begin to sound like some of the idiots who don't have a clue but think they have all the answers.
Bogus comments on the President and a vacation. Do ya think that even though he's on vacation, he's not being kept up on events and has the capability to act on aynthing in a moments notice? Don't sound like these Conservative "Crackers" who mostly complain about everything this President does as I truly feel it is based on a racial bigoted idea that an intelligent black man should not be in the White House!
Bogus comments on the President and a vacation. Do ya think that even though he's on vacation, he's not being kept up on events and has the capability to act on aynthing in a moments notice? Don't sound like these Conservative "Crackers" who mostly complain about everything this President does as I truly feel it is based on a racial bigoted idea that an intelligent black man should not be in the White House!
I do not begrudge the President a vacation. I'm just wondering if he vacationed in Hawaii BEFORE he was President, that's all. You have to admit that if he did, he was most likely flying coach. Just curious.
Again Yonk, I hae to ask if you are on serious medication for your recent surgery? Of course he didn't vacation back then as he is capable of now. He was just beginning his work caree and who has the time or money to vacation anywhere when first starting out? Is Hawaii a special place that only certain people get to go there? Hell, I have friends who have regular jobs who have been to Hawaii on vacation. The trick is to SAVE! You seriously can't defen askin that question, you should simply say, "sorry folks, brain fart!" Next thing you will be promoting Petrilla for a special job and comment that she deserves it. How about making her the official executioner. That way she seldom has to go to work and when she does, somebody will be very unhappy with the results of her work. Get a grip my friend.
Good for Bolus!
Regarding the Prez's vacation. We can be certain that if the former Guv from Mass. Romney is President on Christmas Eve 2013 you won't have to ask if he flew coach when he was a private citizen.
You can save your "wondering" because I am guessing we won't have much else to save if this comes to fruition.
As the unpaid spokesperson and defender of all things WILK, how do you feel about the recent budgetary cuts? It seems awfully unfair that with all the revenue that ******* is costing the station that entercom would chose to unceremoniously fire a low paid producer, who was a loyal employee for 27 years. How do you feel about it? Do you think they fired the wrong person? Wouldn't it be a better business decision to get rid of the cause of the decline?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The LuLac Edition #1873, December 26h, 2011":
As a former WILK advertiser I am saddened that Mark was let go. I had told both my rep and the GM that the reason I was pulling my advertising was the loss of my business to business revenue caused by my being affiliated with (edited) program.
It just goes to show you that they are not paying attention to what is actually hurting their bottom line.
Fortunately, my revenue rebounded, not 100%, but about 60% once I severed my relationship with the "News/Talk" side of entercom. Many of my former customers still hold it against me that through my dollars, I supported the employment of (edited). I wish I had recovered enough to hire Mark, hopefully in the future I will be able to offer him a job.
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