The LuLac Edition #2037, April 26th, 2012

"State of the World" flyer, click on it to enlarge for more information.

Ray Musto in 1971 when I first started campaigning for him.  

MUSTO’S TRIAL

Before I give you a comment on Ray Musto’s proposed trial, let me preface that comment with a few things. When I was a Junior in high school, even before I could vote, I passed out flyers when Musto tried to gain his late father’s seat in the old 3rd District. He succeeded. When Musto  ran for Congress in 1980, I took photos of him during the campaign and defended his Pitston colloquialisms to other people as Musto debated other candidates for that special election. I voted for Musto in every State Senate election he ran in. All that said, it is time for Ray Musto to face the music. When news came that us to that he was being investigated by the feds, many people I knew were shocked and dismayed. There were echoes of “Say it ain’t so Joe” because Musto had always carried himself well in terms of his honesty and political and personal integrity. His corruption trial has now been postponed due to ill health. An attorney asked for still another postponement. This has to end. Musto and his lawyers have to do one of a few things: 
1. End this by making a plea.
2. Hold the trial. 
3. Have the trial and have the too ill Musto not attend. 
It’s been done. Musto, during one of these postponements was seen at Mohegan Sun having dinner. He defended his right to be there but it didn’t look good for an 81 year old man claiming to be seriously ill being out on the town at shortly after 11pm on a Friday night. (I can’t do it anymore and God bless Ray if he still could!) But the perception is not going to help Ray Musto’s legacy. The time to make a decision for better or worse is right now. Because this is a drastically different time than 1980 when Dan Flood went to trial, Ray Musto has more to lose in terms of his historical legacy. Another postponement is not only going to hurt him when and if he eventually does get to court but is going to make him the object of ridicule by the public he once served. For whatever his sins are, which are yet to be proven, the one thing the former Senator who served his district for nearly forty years does not deserve is ridicule. Pull the band aid off now Ray, get it over with. It’s time. 

SENDING A MESSAGE 

If you are a Democrat, the recent election a few days ago sent a message: BE A DEMOCRAT. Don’t be a version of one, a middle of the roader who will try to compromise with people who refuse to compromise. Rank and file Democrats who turned aside Hillary Clinton as just another politician in favor of Barack Obama really wanted change. We didn’t want a President caving into the likes of Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. And we certainly didn’t want a Congressman who straddled the middle in hopes of getting along to go along. And if we found that even the nicest guy in the world couldn’t manage his money and the smoothest, most handsome, sincere family man couldn’t find his diploma, we, the Democrats got rid of them. The modern day Democrat in both Luzerne and Lackawanna County is kind of like your wife’s college roommate who has been married 6 times. We heard it all before from suitors who took our hearts and then broke them. Finally in LuLac land, and maybe on the national level, there are no second and third chances for Democrats from Democrats. We’re fed up and angry. We want the Democrats we vote for to act and vote like Democrats. If we wanted something else, we’d become Republicans. 

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT 

 

BARLETTA VS. STILP 

U.S. Representative Lou Barletta released the following statement after the Primary Election results were known: “I would first like to thank everyone who voted for me today. The warm welcome I continue to receive in Northeastern, Central, and South Central Pennsylvania has been incredibly encouraging. “The people of the 11th District sent me to Washington to reign in out-of-control spending; cut excessive regulations; create a pro-growth, pro-jobs environment; and repeal Obamacare. They want a domestic energy policy that works and lowers prices at the pump. And, they want to make sure that the U.S. is secure from all threats. That’s why they sent me, that’s what I’ve been fighting for, and that what’s I will continue to fight for. “I would like to congratulate Mr. Stilp on his victory and I look forward to a lively and hard-fought campaign in the General Election. 
  

RICH

 That big cry baby who calls himself the Speaker of the House, but who in reality is the prized eunuch of the Tea Party, John Boehner is something else. Boehner is complaining that the President is traveling around the country speaking about the one year extension for student loans. The GOP is saying the President’s trip is political and he should be ashamed of himself. They also said he is violating election laws. That’s rich. This Republican Congress has done nothing to advance the programs helping middle class Americans and the future of this country, students. They have blocked every single effort by this administration because they don’t like the fact that Barack Obama is a Democrat and they are hysterical over the fact that he is a black man. How ironic that they call him out as being political when every single obstructionist tactic they have tried has gone against Obama. What weasels. 

 LAWTON’S STUDY PLAN 

Luzerrne County manager Bob Lawton says he has to study whether the County Detectives need a new 5 year contract loaded with incentives and a clothing allowance. Study it sir then make the right move. Eliminate the 5 year contract, put them on a as needed per diem. And have Walter Griffith monitor the spending very closely. The Detectives “assist” local police but don’t break cases. Replace the line item in the budget with more money for District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis to get more lawyers on her staff. It’s a no brainer. And you’re the guy that can make the decision. After of course you study it. 

MEDIA MATTERS 

SUNDAY MAGAZINE 

Brian Hughes speaks with Deb Pollick of the March of Dimes about the Northeast 2012 March for Babies, coming up on Saturday May 20th at the Kings College Beltzer Fields in Wilkes Barre Township. Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Dave Jolley, author of the baseball book "A Good Cup of Coffee". And Brian speaks with mommie bloggers Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClellan about their "Mom's Guide to Getting Gorgeous", just in time for Mother's Day. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on Great Country 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, and 6:30am on Magic 93 and WARM 590 AM.  

 

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 

This week Shadoe Steele presents Saturday Night Live at the Oldies from 7pm to midnight on WILK AM & FM with ABC News on the top of the hour. Steele’s guest this week will be Roxy Petrucci of the female rockers Vixen! 

ECTV LIVE 

ECTV Live will welcome Bill Lewis during the week of April 30th to discuss Pennsylvania passengers on the Titanic! 100 years after the infamous sea disaster, Mr. Lewis has published a book on Titanic survivors and victims who were bound for Wilkes-Barre. ECTV Live co-host David DeCosmo actually solved a 60-year-old Titanic mystery when he connected two survivors in 1972. One had saved the other's infant son. Lewis, DeCosmo, and Mae Thomas and Dolores Elias, who had family members on Titanic, recently offered lectures about the ship before the Luzerne County Historical Society and the State Museum in Harrisburg. ECTV Live is hosted by Judge Tom Munley and can be seen on Comcast Ch19 throuhout the week at Noon and Midnight with selected showings at 6pm several days during the week. 

1967 

Montreal, Quebec, Expo 67, a World's Fair to coincide with the Canadian Confederation centennial, officially opens with Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson igniting the Expo Flame in the Place des Nations. n Houston, Texas, boxer Muhammad Ali refuses military service......A few days later after the soft opening the Canadian government officials, Expo 67 opens to the public, with over 310,000 people attending. Al Carter from Chicago is the first visitor as noted by Expo officials.....Fidel Castro announces that all intellectual property belongs to all people and that Cuba intends to translate and publish technical literature without compensation.......In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Average Cost of new house $14,250.00 , Average Income per year $7,300.00, Average Monthly Rent $125.00 Gas per Gallon 33 cents Average Cost of a new car $2,750.00…and in Luzerne County, the races start to heat up for the office of District Attorney. On the Democratic  side, Stephen Teller is running unopposed but on the Republican side, Wilkes Barre Attorney Joseph Kasper is facing off against Blythe Evans Junior. Kasper has the backing of the County GOP but Evans was making serious inroads as the May primary approached….and 45 years ago this week the number 1 song in LuLac land and America was “The Happening" by the Supremes.

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 COMO PHOBIA (BE NOT AFRAID)