The LuLac Edition #3163, March 10th, 2016

TRUMP: ONE OF US???

Recently exit polls among Donald Trump supporters tell us that the reason why people are so committed to Mr. Trump is because said voters have the perception that “Trump is one of us” Trump, the billionaire with the three glamorous wives, big ass airplane and spacious homes and private golf clubs (no Muni for this guy!) and countless properties is someone that has people believing that he is one of “us”.
Whew. I used to say that there are certain people in this country that shouldn’t vote because frankly some of them, not all, are too stupid and naive. It is apparent to me that the people I referred to now have gravitated toward Mr. Trump. Ain’t that America?
Trump has proven that you could run a campaign as good or worse as a segment of the population in this country. Crass, uninformed, bullying and not concerned about the facts.
Now there is a news story that a 78 year old Trump fan decked a black man at Trump rally. The assailant said that the man he assaulted might be part of ISIS. Stupid is as stupid does or as my good Conservative buddy from Wyoming, (not Dick Cheney), says, “you can’t fix stupid!”
Dave Kuharchik on WBRE TV asked me if Trump could be elected President. I hedged because anything is possible. I also couldn’t understand how that could happen when he alienated two large voting groups, Hispanics and women. I should have answered “Yes but he better have a good Vice President because if he governs like he runs, he’ll be impeached in less than two years." Here’s that show from yesterday.

WHY/HOW REAGAN CHOSE BUSH

These were actually on the floor at the convention in 1980. (oldpoliticals.com)  

 Then there was the realty.  (Photo: New York Times)

With the death of Former First Lady Nancy Reagan as well as Jeb Bush leaving the Presidential main stage (he is still working behind the scenes I’m told) there has been speculation about Ronald Reagan’s choice of George Herbert Walker Bush for his choice as Vice President in 1980. There are those who will say that Reagan betrayed the Conservative cause by setting up a Bush Presidency when he picked the former Ambassador as Veep. But there was a lot more to it than that.
During the 1980 convention, there was talk that Reagan and former President Gerald Ford were toying with the idea of a “Dream Ticket”. Reagan as President, Ford as Vice President. There was real concern that with the Iran Hostage situation, Jimmy Carter would be regarded as a wartime President. Carter’s strong stand against Russia by boycotting the Summer Olympics also worried the GOP that Reagan would be found wanting in Foreign Policy chops. Plus it was felt that with Ford on the ticket a little bit of gravitas could be added to the Reagan cause.
There were negotiations and in them Ford wanted a Co-Presidency with Reagan. In exchange for running with Reagan, Ford wanted to have Henry Kissinger back as secretary of state and Alan Greenspan at treasury. If the team won, The President , Reagan, would nominate the Secretaries of State and Treasury, with the veto of the Vice President. The Vice President would name the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the National Security Adviser with the veto of the President. There was going to be a mutual veto power.
Talks were going along just fine. The Reagan team wanted the Vice Presidential selection wrapped up and had not vetted any people. George H.W. Bush wasn’t even on the radar. Congressman Jack Kemp, Senator Richard Luger and Senator Howard Baker were the people most frequently mentioned. But Reagan was the one who decided to stop it after he saw Ford on TV with Walter Cronkite essentially confirming a deal like that saying that he and Reagan would be sharing a co-Presidency. Reagan watching on TV said, “What kind of presidential candidate would I be in the eyes of the world if I were to give in to such demands?” (Quote: New York Times).
Still the negotiations continued and after Montana put Reagan over the top for the nomination at 11:15pm, the deal was over. Now there was a search. Again no one was vetted and the Ford deal was put to death for certain when former Treasury Secretary Bill Simon, who served under Ford told Reagan that he should not compromise. Any doubts Reagan might have had were now gone.
When there was time to pick a Veep, Reagan asked for suggestions. Richard Allen who would become an official in Reagan’s White House said, “Call George Bush”. At 11:38pm, Reagan called, Bush said yes and shortly after midnight both addressed the convention.
The next morning, Reagan waved off Bush’s primary campaign attacks on Reagan’s so called “voodoo economics” and Reagan staffers said there was never really a deal in place. That’s how it happened.

SESTAK LEADS IN HARPER POLL

Admiral Joe Sestak (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak according to a poll released on March 9th leads both Katie McGinty and John Fetterman. Sestak has 33%, McGinty 17% and Fetterman 15%. The Fetterman number is pretty surprising.
There are still one third of the Senate electorate undecided. The primary campaign has now begun to shift in higher gear and the next 6 weeks will tell the tale,

McGINTY ON THE AIR

Senate candidate Katie McGinty (Photo: Philly.com)

Senate candidate Katie McGinty finally went on the air. The Senate campaign for the former Tom Wolf and Ed Rendell Cabinet member put up a few ad buys in Philadelphia. McGinty is set to do more TV. Insiders are saying that unlike her 2014 run for Governor, this campaign seems less passionate and organized.
With the expected juice from both the Wolf and Rendell camps, it came as a surprise to me at least that McGinty did not get the Senate endorsement from the State Committee. McGinty came close but no cigar. Admiral Joe Sestak and Braddock Mayor John Fetterman were runners up.
The lack of endorsement is not a death knell. As a matter of fact political operatives say they don’t mean much anymore. We shall see on primary election day.
McGinty has been endorsed by the United Steelworkers Union, Gov. Tom Wolf and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. Sestak has the backing of 17th District Congressman Matt Cartwright. McGinty’s strategy is to concentrate on the population bases in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Sestak has been criss crossing the state for the last year in hopes of blunting the McGinty effort.

BARLETTA HONORED WITH NATIONAL PTA AWARD

SAVED FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE SHINE, WROTE SCHOOL CAFETERIA MODERNIZATION BILL

Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Lou Barletta, was honored as the lone member of the House of Representatives to receive the 2016 Congressional Voice for Children Award from the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Barletta was singled out for his leadership in saving federal funding for after-school programs, such as SHINE (Schools and Homes in Education), a successful and growing program in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties he has championed with state Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon). Also honored was Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).
“Through the leadership of Congressman Barletta, legislation has advanced that prioritizes family engagement in education and will make a difference for children, families and schools,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “We applaud them for being champions of change that will improve education and the lives and futures of our nation’s youth. We are thrilled to honor them with our 2016 Congressional Voice for Children Award.”
“As the father of four daughters, two of whom are teachers, this award means a lot to me. And as the grandfather of three, you’d better believe that quality public schools still mean a lot to me personally,” Barletta said. “The PTA has always been an important organization for me, because it brings together two of the most vital groups in the education of children – parents and teachers.”
Barletta fought long and hard to protect funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), which supports programs like SHINE, but had been targeted for elimination. Beginning in February 2015, he began painstakingly working to restore the 21st CCLC program. The original House version of the bill zeroed out the program; however, Barletta negotiated 14 changes to the base text of the bill in support of afterschool programs, and specifically the SHINE model, in the House Education and the Workforce Committee. He also engaged in a colloquy with committee Chairman John Kline (MN-2) to establish a record of support for such programs. On the floor of the House, Barletta spoke in support of his own successful amendment that requires school districts to report to state agencies on the use of Title I money for afterschool activities to further demonstrate the importance of such programs. Finally, when the legislation reached the conference committee, Barletta sent a letter to lead House and Senate negotiators imploring them to preserve the 21st CCLC program. As a result, the conference report passed and approved by the president authorized $1 billion in funding for the 21st CCLC program.
“SHINE is an after school program that has been successful in giving kids alternatives to getting in trouble, or joining gangs, and teaching them that through education they can lead successful lives,” Barletta said. “We’ve spread SHINE into more places in Pennsylvania now, and more kids are seeing brighter futures in front of them. And SHINE depends on the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program for about half of its funding, and I just could not stand by and let it die on the vine.”
In addition to saving the SHINE funding, Barletta was recognized by the National PTA for authoring the School Food Modernization Act (H.R. 3316), which will help local schools replace outdated kitchen equipment and improve infrastructure in an effort to provide healthy and nutritious meals to students. A national survey indicates that 88 percent of school districts need at least one piece of new kitchen equipment, and 55 percent require infrastructure changes.
“We need a permanent solution to ensure that our schools have the tools they need to serve our kids healthier meals,” Rep. Barletta said. “Too many of our nation’s schools have deep fryers when they really need walk-in refrigerators and freezers to keep fresh fruits and vegetables longer. They have microwaves meant to reheat pre-packaged foods when they really need something as simple as a knife and cutting board. By giving schools better access to modern kitchen equipment and infrastructure, while also strengthening workforce training, we do just that. It will result in improved focus in the classroom, and ultimately, a lifetime of healthier eating habits.”

MEDIA MATTERS

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest is Jeremy Ruby, General Manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. You'll hear the conversation 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.

ECTV

Jeanie Sluck from the Taylor Library will join ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender during the week of March 14th to discuss upcoming Library programs including the “March Madness Reading Challenge.” ECTV live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired several times daily throughout the week. Showings are generally scheduled at Noon, 6PM, and Midnight.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine

Brian Hughes speaks with Democratic Pennsylvania Senate candidate Joe Sestak about national security and jobs.

Brian speaks with Alyssa Maria from Home Instead Senior Care about their Alzheimers Caregiver Workshop coming up on Tuesday at their Luzerne location.

And Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Alan K. Stout from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northeast Pa. about their "Bowl For Kids Sake" fundraiser, coming up next Saturday at Stanton Lanes in Wilkes Barre.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am. on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am. on 97BHT, 6am. on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, WARM, and 6:25am. on Magic 93.


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 Allman Brothers Band plays their legendary concert at the Fillmore East...Trygve Bratteli forms a government in Norway……A landslide at Chungar, Peru crashes into Yanawayin Lake, killing 200…….in Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp makes no comment on the Philadelphia Mayor’s race that pits Frank Rizzo and incumbent James Tate….and in 1971 at mid term, Mayor Gene Peters is being lauded as a successful Chief Executive of Scranton. Plus 45 years ago the number one song in LuLacland and America was “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot.