The LuLac Edition #2093, June 16th, 2012

Ed Rendell taking pen in hand at Barnes & Noble Friday night. (Photo John Dawe).

Blog editor with Ed Rendell. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac). We have another photo from the Citizen's Voice Kristen Mullen coming in future editions. 

RENDELL IN WILKES BARRE 

Okay, I am going to admit it. To some of you it might not be a surprise, but to others who have not read this site, I’ll say it loud and proud: I LOVE ED RENDELL. Not in the Seinfeld “not that there’s anything wrong with that” manner but just in a pure political admiration sense. I personally first became aware of Rendell when he gave a most touching eulogy for the late Richie Ashburn. I wasn’t there in person but I saw it on TV and thought, “man can this guy connect with people”. It wasn’t the fact that Rendell, in that speech referenced baseball fans listening to Ashburn on tiny transistor radios or the history of the Whiz Kids. It was the way he said it, the passion and excitement that wanted you to be part of his memory. Rendell wanted his memories of Ashburn to be yours. Since then, I was a Rendell backer. The former Pennsylvania Governor brought that out sized personality and passion for it seems everything in the world to Barnes & Noble on Friday night. He was signing copies of his book “A Nation of Wusses” in which he calls out various leaders in the nation for not taking a stand. Arriving shortly before 7, Rendell sat at a small table armed with a few pens and a bottle of water and greeted the folks who bought his book. I was expecting to see the hoi poloi of local elected political leaders but then I realized it would mean they’d have to pay for the book. Scratch that. Rendell  did though attend a private gathering at the Woodlands so that current elected officials would not have to get their hands dirty by mingling with the regular people of LuLac land. God forbid Sid Michaels Kavulich, Bill Barrett or Kathy Kane would have to put up with that indignity!!!!!!! No, the people who came to see Ed Rendell were young Democrats inspired by his progressive thoughts on social issues. After the signing, Rendell even made a stop with the younger crowd at The Twist Bar on Route 315. Rendell greeted a mix of young and old who obviously had an interest in what he had to say. As I  waited for my turn,  that took me back to the days of the early 80s when I stood in line at autograph shows to meet the likes of Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. I was fortunate enough to interview those guys too so when they signed my item and gave me the perfunctory nod, I barely noticed. Because it was after all a business transaction, I paid, they signed. When I had the opportunity to sign my books at various venues, my anal sense of order wanted to keep those lines (such as they were) moving. But this event last night was something else. Rendell greeted everyone and then dove into telling the buyer about the book. When a woman asked about Hillary, Rendell with the excitement of a kid that got an A on a Chemistry test grabbed the book and rapidly leafed through the chapters to point out what he wrote about the former Senator and First Lady. When a buyer who was not necessarily familiar with Rendell’s policies got his book signed and mentioned the Philadelphia sports teams, Rendell picked up the book and pointed to the area where he wrote about the man’s referenced comment and said, “Oh you have to read this part. Don’t miss out on this”. A woman taking photos for a friend of hers commenting on how handsome he looked and he just sheepishly rolled his eyes and said “thanks” The interesting thing about the way he interacted with people was this: he already sold the book. There was no percentage in adding more to the purchase, at least for the average author. But Rendell wanted the buyer/reader to really read the parts that were connecting with them. My encounter was very similar to the more than 200 people who turned out. One of the great political strengths of Ed Rendell was the unbridled enthusiasm for any of his undertakings. He was so excited that you just knew you had to be part of it or you were missing out on something special. That’s what happened Friday night when Ed signed his book “A Nation of Wusses”. Mrs. LuLac who was never a fan (especially with the controversial library cuts in his first term) even admitted, he had that ability to draw you in even though you might not like some of the things he did as Governor.  He took stands. He was no wuss. Which I guess is the point of the book. We need more public servants like him.