The LuLac Edition #2142, July 30th, 2012

The Luzerne County Courthouse. 

TOUCHING A NERVE

It took six months but it appears Luzerne County manager Robert Lawton is striking some nerves. Word I got is that nervous people under the dome are spreading two rumors about the man. They are: 
1. That the County Council will soon call for a “vote of confidence” on Lawton. The rumor is that there are certain members who feel Lawton is not being as responsive to the members as he should be. That’s FALSE because while a few individuals might have a disagreement with him about one issue or another, the entire Council backed him 9-0. (I’m not counting the Urbans). A majority of Council members feel that he was put in the job to run the County. And they’re going to let him. 
2. The second rumor is a doozy. This one has Lawton going to New York state because he is already tired of the political atmosphere here in the County. That’s FALSE too because Lawton, according to the local newspapers is going to give his 6 month report. And it won’t be pretty. It’ll be tough. Any guy who is quoted in the newspaper as saying, “we’re got to play hurt” is setting the stage for a very formidable task. There are people in the Courthouse who are just throwing this out to derail Lawton’s credibility. According to my sources on the County Council, it “Ain’t happening”.

Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney.  

ROMNEY AS REAGAN??

 In the summer of 1980 Ronald Reagan was being characterized as a b movie actor that could not assume the Presidency. The conventional wisdom was that since he nearly defeated Gerald Ford for the nomination in 1976 and he did well enough in the primaries, it was “his turn”. The GOP was content to give him his try and perhaps rebuild in 1984. His gaffes during the summer included the time Reagan announced the discovery of "new evidence" disputing the Darwinian theory of evolution and supporting the fundamental biblical view of creation. When challenged, he was unable to produce this new evidence. While visiting Pittsburgh, he declared that smog had been cleared up in California and that government control of industrial air pollution had gone too far. At that very moment Reagan's hometown of Los Angeles was suffering its worst smog attack in several years. Then there was the comment about the trees. Reagan said they caused more pollution than industry and said Alaska had more oil than Saudi Arabia. He was called on all of them. Now, 32 years later, there is a GOP nominee who’s turn at bat is here. Romney has made a few noticeable gaffes such as in Iowa when he said, “"Corporations are people, my friend… of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings, my friend." When he was talking about consumer choice in health care plans, Romney said, "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me." Then there was the line to Texas Governor Rick Perry when he asked Perry if he wanted to make a $10,000 wager? A $10,000 wager? Let’s not forget the NASCAR blunder where he responded to a question by a reporter saying that he did indeed like NASCAR and was friends with many of the owners. It of course continued in London this week when he said, It’s hard to know just how well [the 2012 London Olympics] will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting. The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging." Then there was the gaffe about his wife owns a few Cadillacs! This comparison is not meant to denigrate Reagan or hit Romney hard. But it is a comparison nonetheless. By election day, will they matter? Obviously in the 1980 election, Reagan debate performance gave voter’s the opportunity to shift to Reagan. With a sputtering economy and the bloom off of the Obama rose, both men are running dead even. The Romney gaffes have not banished him from contention. The President’s policies and record are becoming the issue. Each candidate has a base and both are about even. (A huge achievement for Romney given the rancor of the primary campaign). There is a small percentage of people who will decide this election. Will Romney be able to overcome the gaffes as Reagan did in 1980 by presenting himself as an alternative to President Obama? Or will voters acknowledge that President Obama (who has a stellar record in foreign affairs) be a safer choice than Romney for the country? This election may very well point to one small or big event not yet revealed. Or it could be a referendum on who we as Americans can relate to better. In 2004 more Americans liked George Bush better than John Kerry. Eight years later, will more Americans relate to the son of a single mother or the son of an industry titan? Only time will tell. And when that time passes, the gaffes we write about today might not even be a consideration.

The late Leo Valovich behind the microphone. 

LEO VALOVICH 

For our Hazleton Area Folks, you knew the great depth of Leo Valovich’s broadcast career. I had been aware of the Make Believe Rainbow Room (Ballroom) for a long time. But I was very pleased when WYLN TV 35 started to carry it on their TV station a few years ago. For those of you not familiar with the show, Leo had slides up of old time photos and played the finest big band standards. I never met him until late 2011 when I was at WYLN to do Topic A with L.A. Tarone. I was stunned when the first thing he said to me was, “I’m a big fan of yours!”. “Hold it”, I replied, “You stole my thunder. I was going to say that to you”. We both talked radio, music and what old radio guys talk about when they get together. I was saddened to hear of his passing. Leo did more than 4800 Make Believe Ballroom broadcasts. That show, his great voice and knowledge will be missed. Somewhere out there, Leo is still talking to “all the ships at sea” and dedicating a special song “to the lady in red”. Rest in peace Leo.