The LuLac Edition #2673, June 12th, 2014

ONCE MORE, NO FROM THE GOP

If you are a young person struggling to pay off your student loans, I have no idea why in the world you would ever vote for a Republican again. The other day the Senate GOP blocked consideration for more than 40 million Americans to refinance their student loans.
Before they start telling you LIES on Facebook, Talk Radio and to your face consider this:
1. This bill would help former students refinance their loans. They would still be paying the loans but at a lower rate. Apparently the party of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” means that paying a bill is not just plain Amurikan”. Their logic is “where do we find the money to pay for it?” The same place you found money for two credit card wars!
2. This break was for people doing the right thing and paying their bills. It was for people in the work force who pay half of their salary on student debt. Not illegal immigrants as the crazies will have you believe. Real American kids who took out loans because they were told you need to get an education.
Like with every issue this party stands for today, the clock is turning back.
Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate sent a clear signal that the only ones they want in college nowadays are white, well do to sons and daughters of American Revolution pedigrees. We don’t want no middle class chumps stinking up our holly and ivy…….and if they dare to apply we’ll squeeze ‘em so they can’t afford homes.
I hope the moms and dads with 40 year old Lester with his BA and MBA living at home in the basement will think twice before voting for a Republican.

CANTOR FORESHADOWING

Soon to be ex Congressman Eric Cantor. (Photo: CNN).

The defeat of Eric Cantor was the canary in the coal mine regarding the national future of the Republican party. Cantor’s defeat by a Tea Party backed conservative is telling because on Immigration, Cantor was to the right of Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio.
Jeb Bush who has made immigration a selling point for the party will now have trouble getting through the Iowa caucuses if he runs. Congressman and Senators who are in fear of a Tea Party challenge will turn into Sergeant Schultz and say nothing, nothing, nothing. The debate on Capitol Hill will be frozen another two years.
The GOP primary process in 2016 will want a Ted Cruz or Rand Paul. The legacy of the Cantor defeat is this: that in 2016, all any Democrat has to do is sound reasonable if they want to be President.

IRAQ AND VIETNAM

The Fall of Saigon 1975 ..or here we go again. (Photo: Time). 

So right now insurgents are taking bits and pieces of Iraq town by town. The ineffectual government can’t govern, the military which was useless to begin with, even after we trained them are not fighting and dying like the troops we sent there. Ironic that we sent troops to Iraq to die for something that they seem to be easily run from.
Iraq has become our 21st century Vietnam. I’m waiting for the right wingers to blame Obama for this. Look your President along with the votes of Democrats put us in a war where we lost 4486 people. For nothing. The next time one of the loudmouths start talking about Benghazi (which has already been investigated 13 times) and the death of four people, ask them just exactly what type of freedom those 4486 soldiers laying stone cold dead in their graves were protecting?
The last war where our “freedom” was threatened was World War II. I have no idea why we fought those others wars and what we as a nation have gained from it. We can love the veteran but hate the war now, but maybe we should have loved the veteran before we sent them off to senseless missions.

WOLF BACKS McGINTY FOR STATE PARTY CHAIR

Tom Wolf and Katie McGinty. (Photo: wpsu.org)

Something unusual is happening to Democrats after a hard fought primary. They are all getting together united for winner Tom Wolf. Mr. Wolf has endorsed his former rival, the enthusiastic Katie McGinty to shepherd the party in Wolf’s General election bid.
Last month, I was lucky enough to get support from Democrats throughout Pennsylvania in the primary election for governor -- now we must work together to win the governor's office.
As you know, there is a long history of Democratic Gubernatorial nominees having their team in place to work in an integrated way with the party structure. It is why the election of the party chair immediately follows the primary election. State committee is incredibly important to me, and to the success of our candidates. The work each of you do in your communities is invaluable and the leadership of state committee members helps to elect Democrats up and down the ticket.
As I look toward the fall, I know that I need a battle-tested team in place to take on Tom Corbett, build the party, and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. And it is my sincerest hope that you will help me build my team that will lead the effort to defeat Tom Corbett.
That is why I am endorsing Katie McGinty to become our next Chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and Rep. Jake Wheatley for Vice Chairman -- and I hope you'll join me in supporting them, too.
Katie spent time meeting with members of the state committee, visiting with county parties, and talking with members about the importance of state committee. She has a deep respect for the work state committee members do in their communities, the connections state committee members make with voters and their devotion to Democratic candidates and values.
Many of you met Katie on the campaign trail and heard her story. She is the ninth of ten kids of a police officer and a hostess. After school, she worked her way up in the Clinton Administration, eventually serving as a trusted advisor to the President and Vice President. Later, she served our state and Gov. Rendell as the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.
She knows how to solve big problems at the highest levels and she knows how to fight for working families. Katie is a trusted ally and a valuable advisor to my campaign and me. She is someone I turn to for tough advice and enthusiastic encouragement.
In Katie, Democrats throughout Pennsylvania will have an energetic and compassionate voice who will fight for middle class families. Katie will bring endless enthusiasm to counties throughout Pennsylvania. She will fight for our values. She will be our voice.

BARLETTA'S LEGISLATION

Congressman Lou Barletta, successfully amended legislation that reauthorizes the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) to require a report on unaccompanied children at the U.S.-Mexico border to include information on the impact on CBP. Barletta’s amendment, which was approved and incorporated into H.R. 3846, expands a required CBP report to include information on Border Patrol resources spent to care for unaccompanied alien children in their custody, including any operational or policy challenges impacting the Border Patrol. Barletta made the change during a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security, of which he is a member.
“As a father and grandfather, I would not wish upon anyone the anguish that must come from sending an unaccompanied alien minor to another country. Sending minors on a path to be dumped on the border exposes them to human traffickers, who must notice this new crop of potential candidates for the sex trade or slavery. Likewise, these minors are prime recruitment candidates for violent gangs,” Barletta said. “U.S. Border Patrol is having a difficult time just keeping their heads above water in this flood of unaccompanied alien children, and this amendment would seek detailed information on the level of effort and amount of resources expended by CBP to manage this crisis.”
In recent days, thousands of unaccompanied children have been amassing at the border between the United States and Mexico, largely from Central American countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Overflowing holding centers have been opened to accommodate the influx, and Border Patrol agents have been pressed into duties outside their normal responsibilities. Some of the refugees report that news broadcasts in their home countries have told them they could enter America with impunity, even though they lack appropriate legal documentation for entering the country.
“In large part, the Administration’s immigration policies are enticing alarming levels of unaccompanied alien children to enter the United States illegally, and this influx has completely overwhelmed Federal resources, turning U.S. Border Patrol offices into day care centers,” Barletta said. “Our agents should not be babysitters. They should be doing the job they are trained to do-- protect our borders. Asking them to do otherwise is an operational flaw.”
Barletta has been warning that the conditions surrounding illegal immigration have been encouraging people from other countries to illegally cross the border. He believes a spike in illegal immigration was foreseeable.
“Three things have been contributing to the crisis we now face with those unaccompanied children at the border,” Barletta said. “First, we haven’t secured and don’t enforce our borders. Second, we have a president who openly refuses to enforce the law and enacts the DREAM Act without Congressional approval. And third, Congress has dangled the possibility of amnesty for illegal immigrants for so long that there might as well be a big welcome mat at the border.”

MEDIA MATTERS

ECTV Live Host and Producer David DeCosmo has a lot in store for viewers during the week ofJune 16th. His guest, Clarks Summit Borough Manager Virginia Kehoe, will outline plans for a freeSummer Concert series which has been arranged by several area communities that have joined forces in the public interest. Additionally, popular WDAU/WYOU Anchor and Weather Forecaster Derry Bird plans to come out of retirement for the week's shows to substitute for co-host Rusty Fender! ECTV Live is presented each day on Comcast Ch 19 and can be seen around Noon and Midnight Monday through Sunday!

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week on Community Forum we'll discuss the plight of the American Farmer with agricultural broadcaster Dave Williams. Mike Remish hosts Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6;30 on NEPA's Sports Radio- The Game; and at 7:30 on 105 The River

 SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Vera & Harry Krewson and Arlene Mudrak about Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month, which is recognized during the month of June, and an upcoming event that will be held at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center on June 25th from 11am to 1pm. .
Brian also speaks with Terri Stocki from Consumer Credit Counseling Services about their upcoming Home Show for anyone considering purchasing their own home, and an online tool on how to sharpen your financial focus.
An encore of Brian's interview with Rob Olher and Chuck Edwards from the Chinchilla United Methodist Church discussing their 2nd Annual Ride for the Homeless coming up next Saturday.
And Brian speaks with Dr. Ellen Marmur about the importance of using sunscreen this Summer, and making sure you use the proper SPF.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93 and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

KAREL ON THE STREET

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

Our 1974 logo.

1974

Vice President Gerald Ford, in the midst of Impeachment hearings against his boss President Nixon said he is sure the Chief Executive will be exonerated once all the evidence is in. But later on in the week, Ford avoids opining on the subject….in Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mayor Pete Flaherty says he can win in the fall against Richard Schweiker. Flaherty says that the Nixon administration is a disgrace……in in Wilkes Barre Carl Lisman makes it known he will run for Mayor in 1975 once the Strong Mayor form of government change gets on the ballot and forty years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.