Sunday, July 14, 2013

The LuLac Edition #2472, July 14th, 2013

Our “In Focus” logo. (Photo: Gort 42) 

CARTWRIGHT’S EVENT 

Congressman Matt Cartwright had his Second Annual Summer Picnic at the Mercatilli and Segila Park yesterday. From 11am to 3pm more than 125 to 150 people stopped by, passed through and greeted the first term 17th District Congressman. There were the political types there, all staunch supporters of Cartwright. From a delegation from Monroe County to some people from Pottsville, it is safe to say there was a good cross section of constituents. The base of the crowd came from the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area. Cars lined both sides of the small access road to the park as music played, kids played in a bounce house and Cartwright supporters stood in line for an ice cream cone. (We stayed for part of the event due to other commitments in the day) Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer was slinging the hash but this wasn’t just hash. Hot Dogs, Fetch’s Sausage, Fresh Fruit and soft drinks were available for people to enjoy. One of the things I noticed about the crowd was the number of working, middle class families there. The conversations I heard at the various tables had to do not primarily with politics but with policy. People talked about Health Care, cuts in social services and how Cartwright’s GOP Congressional colleagues seemed ready to block anything this twice duly elected Democratic President had to offer. It seems like the more resistance that comes from Washington on basic issues like compromising on a Farm Bill are getting people, at least the people I talked to angry. No working person I encountered was worried that if an Immigration Reform Act passed was concerned they would lose their jobs. There was a crowd but unlike past political rallies, no one seemed to be looking for something. They were looking to help Cartwright and his Democratic minority help save what is left of the middle class. 
As for Cartwright, I believe that he has the potential to be one of the best Congressman this area has ever seen. Not to diminish Cartwright’s convictions and how he stands for them, but the bar on “Best Congressman” from our area is pretty low. I mean we have small government booster Lou Barletta wanting to make an immigration overstay a felony (who does he think will police that, you can’t farm that to private industry) and Tom Marino doing an audit on every poor person who has an Access card to see what they are eating! Cartwright can be a Dan Flood/Frank Harrison without their respective baggage. Paul Kanjorski was a technocrat and big dreamer in a time when those ideas weren’t being funded as much as he might have liked. But Cartwright in his short time has inspired people to get the middle class back to the middle and off its precarious cliff. 
Personally I’m getting increasingly annoyed when I hear people refer to Cartwright as “The Millionaire Congressman”. What a person has in his bank doesn’t mean as much as what he has in his heart. Rich men like Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and George H.W. Bush proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. If you look at every action this Congressman has taken, it is geared toward working people who just need a break. It takes a special person to recognize that. Cartwright does and I knew it when we’d have conversations on the set of the old WYOU TV Interactive News. That’s why LuLac endorsed him over Tim Holden because we didn’t give a rat’s ass about what his assets were but rather how he’d work like hell for those people who are just getting by. There are more people in the latter category and Matt Cartwright knows that. Too bad other members of Congress can’t…..or won’t realize the same thing. 
Congressman Matt Cartwright, this blog editor and Attorney Marion Munley Cartwright. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac).
State House Representatives made the scene representing the Lu and the Lac. From left, Sid Michaels Kavulich, (114th District) this blog editor, Michael Carroll (118th District) and new comer Marty Flynn ( 113th District) (Photo: Mrs. LuLac).
I had the opportunity to meet up with a loyal reader of LuLac as well as a Face Book friend. Here I am with Joelle Barnes who is a tireless and enthusiastic volunteer for various Democratic candidates in the area. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac)
Former Scranton Mayor and Ed Rendell Governor’s Office Coordinator Jimmy Connors and I joked that if Home Rule stalls in both counties, we’d be more than happy to be the benevolent leaders (we changed that from dictators because we’re too old to be dragged through the streets) of both Luzerne and Lackawanna County. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac)
A shot of some of the early crowd arriving around 11:15AM.(Photo:Mrs. LuLac).
And the band (duo) played on. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac)

15 Comments:

At 10:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love your rose colored glasses. They match the communist red streak of the sue happy lawyer who brought us higher insurance rates.

 
At 10:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"What a person has in his bank doesn’t mean as much as what he has in his heart."

Agreed but wishful thinking Dave.

Too many find it easier to "blame the rich" when the "man in the mirror" reflects the totality of the choices made and the unwillingness to change.

Looks like you're returning to your "fighting weight" Yonk. Good sign.

 
At 2:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey 10:00 am.....
Remember that next time you need legal representation. Lawyers present the cases, juries award the damages. You blame a lawyer for the outcome. I hope you never get jammed up because then your opinion will change.

 
At 3:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Could not agree with your sentiments more about Cartwright. The guy is down to earth and he's a keeper.

 
At 3:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Look out Lawton and Chuckie Volpe!!! You'd be going against Irish and Slovak blarney! Glad to see the former Mayor looking so well.

 
At 5:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is there such a thing as Slovak blarney? I think not.

 
At 6:20 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

5:46....let's not nitpick. Okay, the Irish have the blarney but whatever the Slovak version is Yonk has it. His uncle Timmy Pribula and legendary County Controller Joe Tirpak had that line of........well you get the picture.

 
At 8:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This may seem picky but couldn't the band hire a drummer? -unless there is now a secret dance tax.

 
At 8:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is there such a thing as Slovak blarney?

Heyna yeah!, blarnski.

 
At 11:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zimmerman can legally get his gun back now. I'll bet you he uses it again. In self defense of course. I doubt he will be welcome on the neighborhood watch, but then you never know and he does live in Florida! Guns don't kill people, people like Geo Zimmerman do.
And so it goes...

Pete

 
At 11:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice coverage. After listening to Steve Corbett rail against this rally, I thought it was going to be a meeting of the ultra elite.
I didn't vote, nor will I ever vote for Cartwright, but I respect him, and I respect his need to raise money.

 
At 5:28 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

IN RESPONSE
This may seem picky but couldn't the band hire a drummer? -unless there is now a secret dance tax.
CONNORS WANTED TO SING AND I WANTED TO GET A FEW GARBAGE CANS AND KEEP THE BEAT BUT WE WERE POLITELY DECLINED.

 
At 6:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave, really nice job covering our new Congressman and dare say even promoting him. I'm glad he ran because face it, we were getting Holden shoved down our throats by "the cronies". He's a good guy and good Congressman. I'm going next year.

 
At 6:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Connors always wants to sing! How about newby state rep Flynn? This guy appears to be a smart aleck who sues a constituent who has a crack in his sidewalk while a whole section of sidewalk in front of his rental property is missing.
I don't like all of what I hear and read. He sounds like a typical politician albeit not a very smart one and I hope for the benefit of West Scranton he is going to be a one termer! The Dems have more than one good candidate to challenge in the next primary. Either way Flynn has already cooked his goose with me! Bad choice in the first place replacing another bad choice. Politics in NEPA, the Beat Goes On...

West Side Guy

 
At 7:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave, Cartwright is the sanest member of the Pa. delegation. I mean the others are just plain crazy. At least I hope they are because I can't believe they are so stupid. Why is Mike Kelly on national TV Sunday shows? He is not very smart and dances around the issues.

 

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