The LuLac Edition #3148, February 18th, 2016

SOUTH CAROLINA HERE WE COME!!!!!

So when the Super Bowl ended, I was wondering just what in the hell was going to replace that contact sport. Seems like it is the 2016 Presidential race. There are Saturday night debates replacing the old time fights on TV. Saturday night there will be an honest to God election. The Republicans will square off in their primary.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!!!!!

A week later there will be another election. Yep the Democrats square off. South Carolina is a pivotal state for both parties. This will truly test the strength of Mr. Trump, will indicate if John Kasich can stay alive and is of the utmost importance for Jeb Bush to win, place or show.
On the Democratic side it will be the test of Hillary Clinton’s firewall against Bernie Sanders. This primary saved George W. Bush’s campaign in 2000 and gave Barack Obama a win against Hillary and Bill.
Of all the primaries so far, this will be worth watching. So DVR “Doc Martin” and watch it Sunday.

THE DONALD AND THE POPE

So today Donald Trump said the Pope as a religious leader should not question his (the candidate’s) faith. The Pope made his remarks on the way home from his recent trip. The Pontiff said that Mr. Trump’s views on building a wall and immigration were not necessarily Christian. Trump pounced and don’t think for a minute that was not aimed at the Evangelicals in South Carolina.

WHO IS JOE PETERS?

Attorney General candidate Joe Peters (right) with his son Max and Dad Gene. (Photo: Peters website).

To answer the question,  he is the latest candidate to step into the fray to succeed Kathleen Kane as Attorney General. I’ve known Joe for about 15 years but for those of you who don’t know him, here’s a little background from his campaign.
Joe Peters rose from street cop to serving Presidents Clinton and Bush 43 as a leader in the efforts to combat drug trafficking and battle international terrorism. Joe oversaw the country’s 26 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) programs and their budget of $250 million, and he represented the White House with police, prosecutors, governors, mayors and non-governmental organizations.
As a Federal Prosecutor, Joe’s accomplishments include the convictions of Philadelphia Mob Boss “Little Nicky” Scarfo, his underboss, and 16 mob soldiers. This trial, conducted by Joe and four other Federal Prosecutors, resulted in one of the most significant Mafia family convictions in U.S. history. As a result, he received the United States Department of Justice’s John Marshall Award. The Associated Press called Joe and his fellow prosecutors the “Modern Day Untouchables.”
Joe has presented to law enforcement officials from around the world, and has trained military and civilian personnel in Panama and consulted with law enforcement in Italy, the UK, Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar.
A native of Lackawanna County, Joe has devoted his career to public service, and served for more than 15 years in the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, rising from an intern to become the state’s top drug prosecutor. In the White House he served as Assistant Deputy Director for State & Local Affairs in the Drug Czar’s office.
Currently Peters works with national and international law enforcement organizations on terrorism and related intelligence and prosecution issues. Joe’s expertise on these issues have been recognized by Fox News, CNN and television networks as far away as London and Italy which have asked for his expert on-air commentary. Additionally, for many years, Joe hosted his own radio show, “Tough Talk with Joe Peters.”
Joe graduated from King’s College and later the Dickinson School of Law. He is a member of the E. B. Jermyn Lodge #2 Fraternal Order of Police and has been honored by the PA Chiefs of Police Association by being named a Life Member. He is an associate member of the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, where he sits on its Terrorism Committee.
Joe is the oldest of five children of Gene and Peg Peters and is the proud father of his son Max; his father served two-terms as a GOP Mayor of Scranton. In 2004 Joe was the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania Auditor General.

BARLETTA’S THOUGHTS ON JUDGE SCALIA 

Congressman Lou Barletta (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Lou Barletta made this comment on the death of Justice Scalia this week. “I am saddened by the loss of Antonin Scalia, one of the great conservative legal minds this nation has ever produced. As the first Italian-American member of the high court, and also a Catholic, he was a strong role model for countless others like me in this country. He was a strong family man, married to his wife Maureen since 1960, and the father of nine children. Showing his trademark wit, he often joked that he was comfortable on the court because he was experienced in working with groups of nine. His voice and legal acumen will long be missed. May he rest in peace.”

KEYSTONE PROGRESS SUMMIT DEBATES

FIREWORKS EXPECTED AT U.S. SENATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE DEBATES THIS WEEKEND

The Keystone Progress Summit (www.keystoneprogresssummit.org) opens this tomorrow with a U.S. Senate candidate debate featuring John Fetterman, Katie McGinty and Joe Sestak.
On Saturday, February 20, Keystone Progress will also hold an Attorney General candidate debate featuring John Morganelli, Josh Shapiro, and Stephen Zappala.
Ritchie Tabachnick, the chair of the board of debate host Keystone Progress, predicts that “Our debates will be the most insightful and interesting debates of the year. Our questions will not be the questions you have heard at other events.”
Questions will be posed by members of the audience and by representatives of progressive organizations including labor unions, environmental, women’s and civil rights groups.
The debates are part of the annual Keystone Progress Summit (www.keystoneprogresssummit.org), Pennsylvania’s largest gathering of progressive activists. The Summit attracts hundreds of activists for inspirational speakers, educational workshops, trainings, parties and other events.
The debates feature candidates who will be on the ballot in the April primary. Invitations were sent to Republican candidates who either declined or did not respond. Invitations were also sent to incumbent Attorney General Kathleen Kane but her announcement the other day made that moot.

U.S. Senate Candidates Debate

Friday, February 19, 6:00 PM

Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA

Harrisburg Ballroom

Attorney General Candidates Debate

Saturday, February 20, 4:15 PM

Hilton Harrisburg

Pennsylvania Ballroom

MEDIA MATTERS

NEW AD FROM HIGHMARK

When I had the privilege to work for Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, one of the things I was very proud of was the way the company communicated with its members and the public via advertising. Straight forward, friendly and easy to understand. Highmark put a new ad this week called “The Chair”. The voice over says all the right things but the optics of a chair being torn apart is visually off the mark. In a way the guy tearing apart the chair gets your attention but the script is overshadowed by the action. At the end the chair is paired down to the bare essentials which says to me that health care insurance companies do the minimum for you. I know, I know, the guy looks like he’s going out for a run but the ad really misses the mark. This ad has been around but I just caught it the other night. Just my humble opinion as a former media representative.

ECTV

Time to begin wearing the green on ECTV Live! Hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender will welcome Sarah Donahue to the program to outline plans for this year's Saint Patrick's Parade in the city of Pittston. 

This year's Parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 5th. ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired several times daily throughout the week beginning with the Live program on Monday, February 22nd., at Noon.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with registered dietitian and nutrition expert Lisa Katic about 5 easy ways to jump start your healthy New Year's resolutions.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Bill and Carolyn about "Bowl For Kids Sake" to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northeast Pa.
And an encore of Brian's January interview with thought leader, Dr. Tracey Wilen on hiring
trends for 2016.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am. on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am. on 97BHT, 6am. on 97.9X & Sports Radio 590, WARM and 6:25am on Magic 93.?

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

Taxes are the topic this week with Bill Lazor, CPA. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Game Sports Radio 1400/1440 am 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.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

The Doo-Wop Sock Hop can be heard every Sunday night from 6P to 9P on “105 The River (104.9 FM) Host is the incomparable Bobby V. www.105theriver.net www.doowopsockhop.net

1971

Our 1971 logo.

The US, UK, USSR and others sign the Seabed Treaty, outlawing nuclear weapons on the ocean floor..... The United States Emergency Broadcast System is accidentally activated, on WOWO in Fort Wayne, Indiana, causing some Radio and TV stations to interrupt normal broadcasting in anticipation of a national emergency requiring the President to address the population....Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak: Nineteen tornadoes rage in the American state of Mississippi, killing 123 people.....in Pennsylvania Senator Richard Schweiker states that there has to be more progress in ending the Vietnam War......in Scranton petitions circulate for the 1971 off year elections with the Democratic team of Patrick Mellody and Edward Zipay up for re-election.....and 45 years ago this week the number one song in Lulac land and America was “Lonely Days” by The Bee Gees.