The LuLac Edition #1889, January 5th, 2012
Attorney Bill Vinsko. 
Our 1967 logo.
LULAC POLL RESULTS
Our new feature year is 1967. In the most recent LuLac poll, 44% picked 1967, 37% 1976 and 19% picked 1980. So every week we’ll feature 1967 as our feature year. If there are any LuLac readers who have memories or photographs of events that happened politically or in pop culture and want to share them, just e mail me and if they are relevant we’ll put them up. All items will be scanned and returned if we connect by mail.
VINSKO GETS BIG CHECK
Bill Vinsko recently received some big support from one of the local unions. Vinsko is running for the Democratic nomination in the 11th Congressional district. Vinsko, publicly thank the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.) and the Local Union 163 for their generous donation to Vinsko for Congress, and their support in his bid for the United States House of Representatives. Vinsko said, “I am very proud to receive such great support from I.B.E.W. and its outstanding membership. Their workers exemplify the hard-working Americans and Pennsylvanians that I will represent when elected to Congress. They need jobs, the 11th District needs jobs, Pennsylvania needs jobs and America needs jobs. It’s time to ensure that the middle class is protected and that we put America back to work. With the help of I.B.E.W., other great organizations, and the people, it can still be done. I want to publicly thank I.B.E.W. and Mike Kwashnik for their faith in my candidacy.”
Politically the money is a big deal. You don’t see many big checks like that going to local, rookie (and I say that with all due respect) local candidates. But what comes with that is even more important. The candidate gets a major lift from the union members and the people who are connected to them by relation, neighborhood or just acquaintances. This is a good move for Vinsko from many standpoints.
CARTWRIGHT CALLING
Dunmore residents were treated to calls about the possible candidacy of Attorney Matt Cartwright. Cartwright has said he is interested in running in the newly formed 17th Congressional district against incumbent Tim Holden. This polling is just another toe in the water for the popular and well known Moosic attorney.
THE GOVERNING CLASS
I’ve come to the realization that there are five classes of people in LuLac land. The rich and the poor are the most obvious. No matter what, you will always have those two. Then there is the hard core criminal element, the people who rob and steal and kill because it’s just what they do. Then of course there is the struggling middle class beset by taxes, high prices on tuition for their kids, food, gas, etc. These are the people who play by the rules and still get screwed. Then there is the new class, the governing class. These are people who have had government jobs. Some are very hard working and make the government function. Others are there because they got lucky and knew someone. Nothing wrong with that. In private industry, it helps to have a relative working in the company you are applying to. But in Luzerne County, I was struck by a union representative being interviewed on the news saying that the potential layoffs would be a disaster and cut down on services. Here’s my question: how do you know that? The County government has been over staffed for years. The Courthouse is not a 24/7 operation like a hospital, fire station or police headquarters. There are regular business hours. You can’t conduct any business before 8AM nor after 5PM. So even in an office with say a staff of 6 helping to administer it (and I’ve worked for national and international companies that had an office staff of three, a GM, an Administrative Assistant and a Human Resource person-everything else was outsourced) are you telling me that that amount of people can’t get the work done?
Then there is the issue of the part time people getting benefits. That doesn’t happen anywhere in the world but local government. Steve Corbett brought up the fact that many lawyers are part time in the Counties and get health care benefits for themselves. I even heard they get the benefits for their families. Again, my question is why?
As the County Council starts to go through the budget, maybe it would be a good idea to really take a hard look at “the governing class” and really see if these jobs are needed in some areas. If they are not, maybe they can be reallocated to areas that do need them. The Council should start from within its own walls and then work outside toward the mandated agencies they need to fund. Private business has been cutting back, copying and pasting, shifting people about for years. It’;s time government in Luzerne County did the same thing. Lackawanna County has started and might be a good example to follow.
BACHMAN OUT
Congresswoman Michele Bachman leaves the Presidential race after her poor showing in Iowa. Bachman who won the meaningless Straw Poll in August (something to do between the corn dog vs deep fried butter eating contests) exited the race. Bachman had a penchant for articulating the positions of the new right. She was energetic on the trail and seemed to be gaining momentum last summer. But I wonder how many people were put off by her presentation. She had a first grade teacher type of cadence when she was explaining something and had what Mrs. LuLac refers to as “crazy eyes”. Either way, she makes her way into history as the Presidential race of 2012 goes on.
PERRY STAYS IN
When Rick Perry hit 10% the other night in Iowa, he said he was going home to reassess his position. After Gene McCarthy nearly beat President Johnson in the 1968 New Hampshire primary, Bobby Kennedy reassessed his position and got in the race. Perry said he thought about droping out but changed his mind. Here’s why:
1. Perry’s strength is in the South. To drop out before North Carolina and Florida would be foolhardy. He has a natural constituency there. Why cede it to Santorum?
2. He has a lot of money to reach voters. More than Santorum and Gingrich.
3. Perry has made just about every mistake you could on the debate stage. He has survived it with good humor. He has nowhere to go but up.
4. Ronald Reagan in 1976 lost a ton of primaries to Gerald Ford until the Texas primary in the latter part of spring. He came within a hair’s breath of beating Ford. Losses don’t mean much if you are piling up delegates.
5. The longer Perry hangs in there and if he does show some strength, even if Romney or Santorum beat him, he’s primed as an alternative for the Vice Presidency.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
LOVELACE BIO
The biopic of former porn star-turned-activist Linda Lovelace has added three new cast members. Chief amongst the new stars announced on Monday is Demi Moore, who will play the role of feminist and women's liberation activist Gloria Steinem.
Moore will get a short cameo in the film, which will star Amanda Seyfried as Lovelace and Peter Sarsgaard as her ex-husband and porn production manager Chuck Traynor. It is a bit ironic that she'll play Steinem, as one of her best known roles is that of a stripper in "Striptease." Featuring as Lovelace's co-star in "Deep Throat," the iconic porn film that made Lovelace famous, will be Adam Brody, who is best known for his work on "The OC." Eric Roberts has also been added to the cast as a lie detector expert.
In December, James Franco was reported to be in talks to join the film as Hugh Hefner another celebrity cameo. Hank Azaria in December signed on to play Jerry Damiano, the director of "Deep Throat."
Last seen in the ensemble financial drama "Margin Call" and the Sam Levinson-directed drama "Another Happy Day," Moore will next be seen alongside Miley
MEDIA MATTERS
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
This week Shadoe Steele’s Saturday Night Live At the Oldies will feature Spencer Davis. You can listen to Saturday Night Live at the Oldies from 7pm to midnight with ABC News on the top of the hour on WILK AM and FM.
ECTV LIVE
Electric City Television's weekly Public Affairs program ECTV Live will welcome Paula Rochon Mackarey during the week of January 9th. Paula is the President of "Happenings Magazine" which has been published in Northeastern Pennsylvania since 1969! Host Judge Tom Munley and co-host David DeCosmo will be discussing the history of the magazine and highlight some of the many "quality of live events" area residents can expect during this New Year.
ECTV Live can be seen at Noon and Midnight each day of Comcast Ch19 with additional showings at 6pm on selected days each week.
STORM POLITICS
This week Doctor Joe Leonardi is the featured guest on WYLN TV 35’s Storm Politics hosted by Tiffany Cloud. Leonardi talks about childhood obesity. Storm Politics can be seen on WYLN THURS @ 9:30 PM • SAT @ 5 PM • SUN @ 11 AM, MON @ 9:00 PM • TUES @ 4:30 PM.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Shannon Ludwig from the American Red Cross about the big regional blood drive in Scranton, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton & Pottsville coming up on Wednesday, Jan 11th.
This Week in Harrisburg features comments from State Senator John Yudichak about the Marcellus Shale impact fee legislation.
Brian Speaks with Dr. Chris Mohr, who will tell us how we can speed up our metabolism. And Brian speaks with Dr Steve Stamos about low back pain.
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.
GOP DEBATES
Two big debates this weekend, a Sunday Night debate on ABC News at 9PM from New Hampshire and then the Meet The Press debate on Sunday morning at 10AM on NBC.
PCN
The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will chase away the post-holiday blues with its popular annual week-long coverage of the Pennsylvania Farm Show starting Saturday, January 7 at 12:00 p.m.
This year, PCN will air LIVE coverage of the butter sculpture unveiling. The first-hand look at this year’s creation will air at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 5.
Throughout the week, PCN will provide round-the-clock coverage. New to the show are exhibits like the barn display with Penn Ag Industries and the Butterfly House. Both will be featured by PCN as they make their debut at the show this year. These highlights and many more farm show favorites make up the network’s extensive coverage of the event which encompasses over 100 hours of network programming in just one week.
This is the 19th year that PCN will move its operations from the Camp Hill studios to the Farm Show. During the week, PCN devotes its programming schedule to this agricultural showcase which puts a spotlight on Pennsylvania’s largest industry.
This year’s coverage is being underwritten, in part, by the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council, Penn Ag Industries, Pennsylvania Egg Farmers, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania Treasury 529 College Savings Program.
PCN will air taped highlights of various events and displays throughout the week. A schedule of LIVE events, including some of our taped coverage, is as follows. Please note this schedule is tentative and subject to change.
NEW FEATURE YEAR
1967
Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the British North America Act, 1867, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair…..The Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game 34-27. The game was referred to as The Ice Bowl”….. Kansas City Chiefs beat Buffalo Bills 31-7 in AFL championship game FCC requires AM-FM sister stations to be at least 50% different……Tonight Show" is shortened from 105 to 90 minutes…."Milton Berle Show" last airs on ABC-TV,,,,,,, NFL New Orleans' franchise takes name "Saints"…..in Pennsylvania the Scranton administration begins to clear out of Harrisburg making way for the Raymond Shaffer tenure……..in Wilkes Barre City Mayor Frank Slattery announces that he will not seek another term but rather run for Luzerne County Common Pleas Judge……Frank O’Connell Junior takes the oath of office as State Representative serving the 5th Legislative District which encompasses the West Side and 45 years ago the number 1 song in LuLac land was the Neil Diamond penned tune, “I’m A Believer” by the Monkees.
posted by David Yonki @ 10:47 AM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Students,
I do not dwell too often on nostalgia. HOwever, Mr. Yonki's mention of the year 1967 is not only a relevant one, but a very teachable moment---even to all of you slackers.
1967 was the year that America lost its spirit, drive and moral compass. I recall it well.
I was a young Professor at a different university. And whether you want to believe it or not the metamorphosis that occured concerning students' dress, hygiene and behavior had changed almost overnight. In other words, the classrooms of 1965 were far different from what I was being exposed to.
Respectable crew cuts and Letter shirts were replaced by greasy long hair and shirts portraying such monsters as Chairman Mao, Fidel Castro and John Lennon.
As for the ladies, well let us just say that young college girls of 1965 morphed into young college tramps who also were in need of some personal hygiene.
I make these points to emphasize that a nation's morality and stature depend on its culture---and heavily.
The free love style of 1967 gave way to welfare babies of today.
The free liberal education courtesy of the US govt. student loan programas gave way to slackers such as yourselves who use a higher educational institution as a way station to living in your parent's homes for infinity.
And may I remind you, in 1967 we had massive Democrat control of both houses of congress and the most god awful Liberal President, Lyndon Baines JOhnson.
LBJ contributed very little to American history that was worthwhile. He muddled it. Had he the courage to go more forward into Vietnam and win that war perhaps he would not go down as an asterisk in history.
Yes, 1967 was a pivotol year---sadly, for all the wrong reasons.
One year I certainly wish I could forget but I cannot as the children and grandchildren of those original ingrates are permeating the halls of this University. SOme of them are even professors.
Something to think about this morning.
Class Dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vinsko seems like a nice enough guy. Don't politicians usually lose touch after they get elected though? I mean the guy doesn't live in the 11th, he doesn't work in the district and he has no business interests in the district. He reminds me of the SNL parody that was falsely attributed to Sarah Palin. He can see the 11th from his front porch, unfortunately he actually said something similar to the statement actually made by Tina Fay.
I don't want a representative who does not live in my district. It seems he is not concerned with serving, but grabbing power.
Not residing in a district hurt Dan Mueser and it will hurt Vinsko. If you want to serve your district run in the one in which you reside.
As far as Dr. Leonardi on Storm politics, we haven't heard much of his conservative bloviating in a long time. I thought he was done in politics.
IN RESPONSE
As far as Dr. Leonardi on Storm politics, we haven't heard much of his conservative bloviating in a long time. I thought he was done in politics.
DOCTOR LEONARDI TALKED ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY WITH TIFFANY CLOUD. IT WAS A VERY GOOD SHOW.
IN RESPONSE
LBJ contributed very little to American history that was worthwhile.
UH, CIVIL RIGHTS VOTING ACT, CIVIL RIGHTS HOUSING ACT. MEDICARE. JUST TO NAME A FEW.
Sad to see Bachman gone. She always looked to me like a woman who wasn’t having her needs fulfilled and that look in her eyes was at least a little scary. She was hotter than Palin! No real husband on the scene.
Good pick for a good year. The music is going to be kicking.
The Courthouse people have to understand that layoffs and cuts have been happening in private business since 2000. I can just hear it when they might be asked to work a little bit more for less. The ride is over folks. Welcome to the real world.
im sorry but i cannot and will not vote for a congressman like Vinsko who does not even live in my district
I remember having to cover Wilkes-Barre Mayor Frank Slattery for the first time. He wasn't fond of another WILK reporter and let me know right off the bat with his ever so "Strong Mayor delievry!"
I listened, then told him.....
"Please remember your honor, I'm not ____________and I intend to be
around for a very long time." He gave me a lot of respect after that and....little did I know how long that "long time" would be!
Growing up and graduating high school in 1967 I must attest to the accuracy of the Professor's observations and conclusions. He is spot on with his conclusions.
What a great start to the year.
There were too many times I thought I was losing my mind!
Thank you sir. Thanks to you too Yonk - you take a lot of needless cr@p from readers about the Professor.
"But in Luzerne County, I was struck by a union representative being interviewed on the news saying that the potential layoffs would be a disaster and cut down on services. Here’s my question: how do you know that? The County government has been over staffed for years. The Courthouse is not a 24/7 operation like a hospital, fire station or police headquarters."
Yonk, you're wrong but does it matter? How do you know services won't be hurt? How do you know the county is over staffed? Have you done a survey? You appear to be part of the problem that is being pushed so hard by the TEA Party. County jobs, that will make things better. Our taxes are too high. Have you check what taxes are in other areas or other states? Believe it or not, ours are not out of line and not even close to some areas. People are not being taxes out of their homes, they are spending too much on their social lives. When I was a kid, eating out was a real treat and it only happened on a birthday. Today, people eat lunch and dinner out regularly and it is not out of the norm to eat out several times a week. Does knowing someone get you a job or help you get a job? Of course it does. If you were an elected official and somebody worked hard to help you get elected and you were in a position to hire and that person needed the job, who would you hire? The one thing we don't lack in this area are hypocrites. You rant about county jobs but you don't bitch about Pribula being the temp manager and he his resume only shows him as being a bean counter. What has he ever managed? The Charter requires government management and he only served as a budget direct and that's not government management. You bitch as much about people who are fortunate enough to have jobs just like you do about the demolition of your old church. Get over it!
Anon 3:34: '67 certainly was a great year for music.
THe Beatles released Sgt. Pepper and the Stones released one of their most underrated (and my personal fav)albums, Between the Buttons. Not to forget that the Doors debut album came out that year!
Even the bubblegum music of the period was pretty good.
All in all, probably my favorite year for music.
IN RESPONSE
How do you know services won't be hurt? How do you know the county is over staffed? Have you done a survey? You appear to be part of the problem that is being pushed so hard by the TEA Party.
I HAVE NOT DONE A SURVEY. I DO KNOW THAT CUTTING STAFF IN NON ESSENTIAL AREAS LIKE SOLICITORS WHO WORK PART TIME AND GET FULL TIME BENEFITS, LIKE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS WHO GET MORE SALARY THAN A ROW OFFICER, LIKE VACATION DAYS THAT ARE NOT LOST AT THE END OF THE YEAR BUT ACCUMULATED AS A BONUS. NO ONE WAS EVER KILLED BY A SICK DAY OR A HEALTH CARE PREMIUM. AND AS FAR AS BEAN COUNTERS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW. THERE IS TOO MUCH JAR AND NOT ENOUGH BEANS. IT DOESN'T TAKE A SURVEY TO UNDERSTAND THAT!!!
Yonk, you're a Tea Party guy according to these people who read you. Who da thunk it? Maybe you can tell your friends Tiffany Cloud, Louis Tarone and Susie Q HEnry about your new credentials.
As Mickey Dolenz sang....."I'm A Believer" but not about Yonk being part of the Tea Party. His affinity for Snapple and tall Englishwomen notwithstanding.
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