The LuLac Edition #1981, March 13th, 2012

"13 Questions" logo.

13 QUESTIONS

1. What do you think will be New County Manager Robert Lawton’s greatest challenge?

I think it will be trying to stay focused on each pile of manure that is descending on his head at any given minute. The entire Courthouse is in shambles and there are a myriad of problems that need to be addressed. I think he has to look at his job as this big mountain. He has to take one step in front of the other and have balance while he steps. Then he has to watch out for the unexpected problem that is sure to pop up. In short: put blinders on and forge ahead. And remember that whatever he does, he can’t do any worse than what went down here the last 60 years.

2. How long will it take for Luzerne County to rid itself of the reputation that it is a corrupt area to do business in?

Like the old stigma that we are a coal mining area, this bad image will take generations to fix. The saving grace is that most people only have a passing interest in politics so we might have a chance there. But this thing is so inbred, it’s going to take a lot of time. The one thing we can’t do is backslide. Right now there are people rooting for the County Council to fail and their main motivation is to continue the old “who ya know” mentality that has filled most of the county jobs with some people less than qualified.

3. What is your reaction to the recent fire in Scranton where the fire victims said there wasn’t enough firemen on hand to save their structure and the Mayor said everything was fine?

What would you expect him to say. Look, there were cuts made and that’s all about public safety. The Mayor could talk all he wants about how this fire was fought at full staff. Wait until someone dies. Then let’s see how he spins that.

4. Why don’t people like Mitt Romney?

I think he tries too hard. I think he wants to win at any cost that he has lost a sense of exactly who he is. The key to politics is authenticity. He may be but no one is seeing that on the campaign trail.

5. Will there be a brokered convention?

I don’t know about brokered but certainly it’ll be interesting. Newt Gingrich will not drop out because he thinks his skills as a vote counter as Speaker will aid him. Plus the rumor that he wants to team up with Rick Perry as his Veep might have some impact. Romney has been slow and steady but no one is excited about him. And he has not helped himself either by some of his Asperger like comments. Santorum is in it until the bitter end. He has money coming in, has spent it judiciously and wants to make a stand. Plus second place in the GOP is not what it is in the Democratic field. If Santorum is denied the nomination and finishes a strong second, he will be a major force to be reckoned with (even be a potential front runner for the 2016 nomination) in the Republican party.

6. What are your thoughts on the rowdiness directed at the people from WILK during the Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade?

It was an unfortunate incident and I hope the parade committee reprimands the people. Media people will always be targets but that’s no excuse. It p;roves that there is nothing more dangerously potent than a mix of testosterone and alcohol. When I was involved with that parade (in my time at Rock 107) things were a lot calmer. I think the fact that people think they can say anything to anybody without limit also has a lot to do with the problems that occur.

7. Likely GOP tickets?

Romney/Santorum (despite Rick protestations). Romney/Bush. (What better way to pave the path for ’16 for Jeb Bush. ) Romney/Christie. Santorum/Romney. Santorum/Ryan. Santorum/Brewer. Santorum/Perry. Gingrich/Perry. Gingrich/Norquest.

8. Did you see “Game Change” and was it fair to Sarah Palin?

Yes. My in laws, Kenny and Alexis Edwards invited us up to see it and I thought the portrays of Palin and John McCain by Julianne Moore and Ed Harris were dead on. I thought it was a fair portrayal of Palin but a terrible indictment of how we pick Vice Presidents. Having lived through Tom Eagleton and Dan Qualye, nothing surprised me in the Palin revelations about how she got the nod and the things that happened afterwards. We are told that Palin thought it was a hatchet job on her and I can understand that. Having your psyche shown on national TV, your inadequacies paraded about is not a very pleasant thing to see. The end of the movie shows very strong sentiment for the beleaguered Palin. It is unfortunate tat in the intervening years she has chosen not to prepare and study for an opportunity to reclaim that fame with a tad more preparation than she had in ’08. Good movie though.

9. Anthony Lupus, surprised or not?

Nothing surprises me about anyone in Luzerne or Lackawanna County anymore. Lupas played to the greed of people who thought they were investing with a friend. You never put your money in with someone who is a friend and you never give any money to people who tell you “don’t ask questions”. As long as there are gullible people out there willing to gamble what they have to make it more under less than clear circumstances, there will be guys like that who will take advantage of them. It’s really more about “Insert name here” than it is about Tony Lupas.

10. Did the new County Manager find out his favorite pizza joint yet?

Not sure. But if he is a stress eater, I’m sure he’s testing them all out.

11. The Empire State Yankees, have we been had or not?

I think the announcement of the new name was a warning from the Yankees to our local county government to get things moving. There has been virtually no construction done on that building yet and this was an excellent winter to do it. I predict there won’t be a Yankee team back here in 2013 and possibly 2014. I’d recommend getting a new tenant in quickly. I think the Pirates with their heritage would be a good fit. The Penguins have done well in Wilkes Barre, I don’t see why the Pirates can’t especially if the prices are reasonable and the promotions are plentiful and timely. In NEPA, we like two things, beer and free. If you have to pay for the beer, better give them something free.

12. Do you eat a lot of red meat?

Not really. I try to balance things out but I love hot dogs and deli and the experts say that processed meats are a “no no. So I’m being very selective when I do have it.

13. There’s a rumor going around that you are developing a mad crush on Elizabeth Santorum. Truth or fact?

No comment. But I did contact the campaign to be the luggage carrier for her trip to the Hawaii caucuses which are tonight. No response.