The LuLac Edition #2747, October 9th, 2014

OBAMA’S REVERSE COATTAILS

                President Obama in the Press Room. (Photo: USA Today).
Can it be possible that President Barack Obama’s sagging popularity can actually help some Democrats? Maybe. Usually in off year elections an unpopular President can drag down his own party. But it appears that in certain states, the President’s unpopularity is translating into a vote for challengers who want to unseat established Republican Governors.
So what does the leadership of the President have to do with Republican Governors? It’s all about perception. Even though the President passed a health care act that has covered 8 million people who otherwise would be going without insurance, credit card reform, and Executive orders that have improved the lives of the middle class, he has been defined by the opposition party as inept and power hungry. The President has made the point that his opposition has stopped him from passing meaningful legislation that most reasonable Americans want. Gridlock.
This perception has extended into states where Republican Governors who were elected in 2010 now are on the ropes. In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker who was touted as a possible Presidential candidate in 2016 is in danger of losing a once solid race to a Democratic challenger. Down in Florida Republican Rick Scott who initially refused Medicaid money is being strongly challenged by former Governor Charles Christ because the Governor has gained a reputation as being intractable in his policies. Here in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett has been playing catch up since his first year in office. Even though Corbett has not deviated from his main promises from the 2010, his in artful communication has given challenger Tom Wolf a great opportunity to win the race for Governor in a walk.
Obama and Corbett perhaps have the most striking parallels. Obama campaigned on Health Care, ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Immigration Reform. Corbett on not taxing Marcellus Shale developers, privatization of liquor stores as well as lottery reform. It’s not that these two didn’t give up on what they were going to do. But the inability to sell the efforts solidly has led people to challenger their governing chops. Sometimes telling people what you are going to do is not enough, you have to tell them how it benefits them.
So in a very strange way, the President’s poor showings actually help Democratic challengers who aren’t being tarred with his record or political brush. Rather it is those incumbents who have failed to articulate what they were trying to accomplish and allowed their challengers to define them. The Republican incumbents remind the voters of the President's failing. The irony here is that three Republican incumbents may be the recipients of a reverse Obama coattail.

ROUND THREE DEBATE RECAP

Governor Tom Corbett and challenger Tom Wolf face off. (Photo: WTAE TV).

The last final debate between Governor Tom Corbett and his challenger Tom Wolf followed a predictable course. Both men spoke directly to their bases but also undecided Pennsylvanians who have yet to state a preference for whether Tom Corbett gets rehired or if Democrat Tom Wolf gets the opportunity to become the next Governor of the Commonwealth.
The twist in this debate (all three have been pretty interesting nontraditional takes on the regular run of the mill one on ones from the past) was that viewers could submit questions via social media for the candidates to answer.
Governor Corbett asked Wolf where he was going to get the money to fund the programs he wanted and said his foe would raise taxes. Corbett opined that Wolf wanted to be all things to all people.
Wolf who defended his plan to overhaul the tax structure in the state. Wolf wanted to give taxpayers earning $70,000 to $90,000 a year no tax increase and those under that income would get a tax break shifting the burden to wealthier Pennsylvanians. In response to charges that he is not being specific enough in his proposals, Wolf retorted that he would have to look at the total financial picture and health of the state before he can make a specific determination.
Corbett said he wanted re-election because he wanted to finish the work he started. Wolf said he could do better and offered a new start for Pennsylvania.
The debate was on WTAE in Pittsburgh and will be broadcast on PCN this Monday night at 6PM.
As I mentioned to WBRE TV’s reporter and WYOU TV's co-anchor Brittany Sweeney when I was being interviewed last night, my personal feeling is the debate might have come too early. Most voters may not have been geared up (and these are the casual voters) until a week before election.
The election is Nov. 4.

MEDIA MATTERS

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

ECTV

Former WDAU/WYOU Forecaster Barry Finn rejoins David DeCosmo to co-host ECTV Live during the week of October 13th. They'll welcome Margie Young from the Dietrich Theater to the program to discuss upcoming Fall events offered by the Wyoming Cultural Society. ECTV Live is carried on Comcast Ch19 (61 in some areas) several times each day throughout the week,

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week on Community Forum Mike Remish meets with Robert Hughes and Ren Dugan to discuss ongoing mine reclamation projects. You'll hear the program Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker, 6:30 on The Game Sports radio 1340/1400/1440 am and 100.7 and 106.7 fm, and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

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.

CORBETT’S SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME

Every Wednesday at 5PM, Steve Corbett shines the light on a Public official with his “Somebody’s Watching Me” segment. Corbett picks an alleged public servant to eye ball and observe. Batten down the lawn furniture in the driveway and that e mail machine. There is nowhere to hide when “somebody’s Watching”. Wednesdays at 5 on WILK’s Corbett program.

Our 1974 logo.

1974

John Lennon releases "Walls & Bridges" album…...........

German Democratic Republic amends constitution .......Franklin National Bank collapses due to fraud and mismanagement; at the time it was the largest bank failure in the history of the United States…..Frank Robinson became 1st Black baseball manager of the Cleveland Indians…

Race riot in Boston due to "bussing"…….Washington Capitals 1st NHL game, losing 6-3 to NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden Wash Caps begin a 37 game road losing streak….A's Mike Andrews files $25 million lawsuit against Charlie Finley……Labour Party wins British parliamentary election
A's Catfish Hunter charge owner Charlie Finley with breach of contract……at the Country Music Association Awards, the Silver Fox Charlie Rich triumphs.....

As' Ken Holtzman, who hasn't batted all season, belts 3rd inning home run in Game 4 & gets the win, 5-2……in Pennsylvania the race for Governor heats up with the GOP team of Drew Lewis and Ken lee ramping up their effort to unseat Governor Milton Shapp. Shapp is the first Governor who could run for re-election since the State constitution was changed in 1968……

Drew Lewis handbill from 1974. (LuLac archives).

in Luzerne County Commissioners Frank Crossin and Ed Wideman are mum on their plans for re-election in 1975. Both men ran as a team twice but have not governed as such for years…..and forty years ago the number one song in Lulac land and America was "I Honestly Love You " by Olivia Newton-John.