Rated one of Pennsylvania's top blog/sites, the LuLac Political Letter delves into issues of politics on all levels (with special concentration on Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties: thus the name LULAC) and pop culture.
The LuLac Political Letter was also named Best Political Blog of the Year for 2014 by NEPA BLOGCON and most recently David Yonki was named Best Blogger of the year 2015 by the publication Diamond City.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
The LuLac Edition #3238, June 30th, 2016
STATE BUDGET WILL PASS
The Pennsylvania State Budget will pass on time this year. As we write this an accord is just about done. You might be asking why the Governor and the Legislature came to an agreement this year on time when last year it took 9 months. Here's why: 1. This year the sitting Democratic Governor is hosting his party's convention and he doesn't want the state government to give outsiders the wrong impression. 2. The Legislators overfed and overpaid all will be running for re-election. Most people blamed them last year, not the Governor for that 9 month impasse. This year is an election year and there will be great chest thumping going on. But wait, for those in need of budget drama, look to next year when no one is up for re-election.
END OF YEAR FUNDING APPEALS
I laugh when I get these fundraising appeals from Congressmen and Senators raising money for re-election. The e mail is framed to coincide with the quarterly closing reports. Maybe if thee guys would just contact the relatives of the people they've hired that might work out better. I need a new delete button.
WYOMING AREA PARENTS AND MY WHITE COMMUNION SUIT
I was watching the news the other night and saw the big dust up at the Wyoming Area School Board meeting. Apparently the Board wants to set a uniform dress code that would fall in line with other district. They also want to ban cell phones from kids in the school saying that might eliminate kids cheating on tests and preventing them from posting dirty stuff on Facebook and other Social Media platforms. Te reaction was hysterical. There were a handful of students there who said some incoherent things. Then there was one mom who screamed loudly “I just won’t do it, I can’t afford it”. Another mom said that the district is not enforcing the rules it has now so why bother putting new ones in. A few points. First the mom who said she couldn’t afford the new dress code mystified me. A pair of khakis and sports shorts are not expensive uniforms. You don’t need a designer or anything fancy. Plus a uniform dress code equals the playing field socially for the kids. In one of my previous lifetimes I worked with kids and poor kids get shit if they don’t have the latest styles. Or God forbid if they wore the same thing to school the next day. Maybe someone should take Ms. Loudmouth shopping sometime. The other point is about enforcing the rules. People in Public Education are scared to death to do anything because of parents who want to take them to a higher court with any regulation that will hurt the feelings of their little darlings. Is it any wonder why teachers are strapped in their efforts to teach anyone when the parents openly and in some cases ignorantly defy the people running the show? I’ll bet dollars to donuts that the people complaining didn’t even vote. But I digress. When I was in second grade the pastor of the school I went to mandated that he wanted all the boys to wear white suits for Communion. This broke like a fifty year tradition. The parents were not happy. There were meetings but the rule stood. And I wore a white suit that I only used once for Communion. Granted it was a private school but that was the mandate. No one screamed, yelled or defied the decision. There was a thing called respect for the institution. Not now. The school board will hear “I’m against it” and when they say it loud, proud and in most cases without reason.
SUPREME COURT INTERVENES IN ABORTION
The Supreme Court on Monday threw out a Texas abortion access law. That was a victory to supporters of abortion rights who argued it would have shuttered all but a handful of clinics in the state. The 5-3 ruling is the most significant decision from the Supreme Court on abortion in two decades and could serve to deter other states from passing so-called "clinic shutdown" laws. Texas had put onerous regulations on clinics that essentially shut down clinics. What this means during this election cycle is that with Kennedy joining the liberal wing on this issue, it gave a signal that a majority would favor not hampering a woman’s ability to get an abortion no matter who wins the election.
RAPE, RAPE, RAPE
Did you see Donald Trump’s statement on trade the other day? He used the word rape four or five times in explaining how this country got the short end of the trade deals. Why he used that word which denotes a violent act against humanity to describe the economy is an insight into his maturity and lack of class.
WHO’S GOING TO THE CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND?
So it appears that there are not going to be any GOP heavy hitters at the convention in Cleveland. Numerous GOP candidates are sitting this one out. Ted Cruz will be in town, John Kasick as the sitting Governor has to be there but he’s not giving out any information on his plans. Who will the media interview? Trump’s minions, maybe Trump, Lou Barletta and Tom Marino. With all due respect, “Thems are slim pickings”.
MEDIA MATTERS
ECTV
They are all kinds of programs and activities on tap at the Pittston Library this summer. And this week on ECTV Live Noelle Kozak from the library joins David DeCosmo, Rusty Fender and Director Mark Migilore to talk about what the library has to offer.
ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas). It airs three times daily throughout the week!
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with representatives from PENNDOT about Fourth of July holiday safety on the roads and on the water. Brian Hughes speaks with Karla Porter from the ARC of Luzerne County about their TRACE program, to help place people with special needs into the workforce. Frankie speaks with Chris Ostrowski from Candy's Place about their benefit Fashion Show, coming up on Sunday July 10 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort. And Brian speaks with Rebecca Barsch from Northeastern Mutual about why a vast number of Americans are feeling financial anxiety. 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.
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
This week's guest is Bruce Spencer from Equines for Freedom, horse therapy for veterans. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA's Sports Radio-The Game 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. . The show will run Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on WILK, and on KRZ, Froggy and Max 102 early Sunday morning.
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
Britain announces that Soviet space scientist Anatoli Fedoseyev has been granted political asylum…………….Merrill Lynch becomes the second Wall Street firm to go public……The action film Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen, is released…………A paper in Nature by John Vane and Priscilla Piper puts forward evidence that aspirin and similar drugs work by inhibiting the release of prostaglandin…. Concert promoter Bill Graham closes the legendary Fillmore East, which first opened on 2nd Avenue (between 5th and 6th Streets) in New York City on March 8, 1968…..Senator Mike Gravel attempts to read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record. A lack of a quorum prevents the Senate from convening. As chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds, Gravel convenes a meeting of subcommittee and spends an hour reading part of the Pentagon Papers into the record. After a successful mission aboard Salyut 1, the world's first manned space station, the crew of the Soyuz 11 spacecraft are killed when their air supply leaks out through a faulty valve….
in Pennsylvania Governor Shapp promotes state parks as perfect vacation spots for the Fourth of July….in Pittston WPTS Radio conducts a contest called “Disc Jockey for a day.
Two people who were picked was your blog editor as well as a minister’s kid from Scranton Tim Kidwell. Kidwell later went on to become Tm Karlson.
And forty five years ago this week Tim Kidwell, aka Tim Carlson talked up the post at the old 1540 AM on this week’s number one hit from '71 “It’s Too Late” by Carole King.
Here are a few items we did not get to last week due to work and social commitments. Let’s go.
THE SIT IN
The House Democrats "sit in". (Photo: theeconomist)
Many Republicans are saying the Democratic Congress was grandstanding last week when they staged a “sit in” in the well of the United States House. The Dems were not happy that the House would not provide a vote on gun legislation. Specifically the Democrats wanted o to force a vote on a “no fly, no buy” bill, which would bar terror suspects on the “no-fly” list from purchasing guns. The “Sit In” lasted for a day and blew up on Social Media. Many people called the Congressman “jackasses” (well they are Democrats after all) and obstructionists. The latter is rich since this has been the most impotent Congress in recent years. The Dems are now in some hot water because there is talk of some type of sanctions for the strike. But here’s my take on it. The action was a stunt but one that needed to be enacted. The GOP House and the gun lobby have been skating. By denying a vote the GOP has been politically smart. Mainly because if there was a “vote” each member would be called to cast his lot either with 80% of the American people who want a bill like the “no fly, no buy” bill or the NRA that feeds them like babies at 4 o’clock tea time. Guys like Lou Barletta and Tom Marino, safely ensconced in Gerrymandered districts would have to take a public stand. That’s all the Dems wanted. Hell, 26 of the Dems had guns. But the GOP decided to do nothing as they always do. If I were a Democrat running in a GOP controlled district, I’d hammer the gun issue and the continued cowardice of this very sad excuse for a political party. The Republicans, not the jackasses. To them, happiness is a warm...well ya know.......................
Brent Scowcroft who was the National Security Adviser to numerous Republican Presidents has made his choice. He is endorsing Hillary Clinton as a safer, saner alternative to Donald Trump. Scowcroft, as stated previously served as National Security Adviser to Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford, but also worked in the White House of Presidents Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. The former NSA Chief told CNN that said Clinton “brings truly unique experience and perspective to the White House." Meantime the Circus Clown the GOP nominated for President said that Clinton didn’t have the experience, honesty and temperament to handle foreign policy. Obviously a person who has been on the front lines of Foreign Policy, Brent Scowcroft made a terrible mistake in endorsing Clinton. NOT And the show just goes on.
BENGHAZZI, BENGHAZZI, BENGHAZZI
So the House GOP is going to release a 200 page report on Benghazzi. Again. This is timed to try and embarrasses Hillary Clinton who by the way testified for 13 hours and answered every question. But the GOP Chair, Mr. Gowdy has decided that wasn’t enough. Many Republicans say that Clinton should be charged with murder for the killing of the Embassy Staff. It was an international terror event. If they are going to hold Clinton to these standards, then maybe we should investigate and charge Bush, Cheney and Powell for 911. They weren’t sure what the attack was at first, who did it and why. They did not stop those other planes from flying into the buildings. Hey they were in charge. They should’ve done something. You want to blame Clinton for Foreign Policy misstep’s in the Mideast? Look to the gang who started it all and destabilized the entire region by using methods of mass destruction as a ruse to start a war. So anytime you hear the GOP yell “Benghhazzi, Benghazzi, Benghazzi”, remember that the Obama administration was just cleaning up the mess started by the party that so vilifies the Democratic nominee. Psychologists would call that “transference”.
BREXIT WEBSITE SCRUBBED
The “Leave” party officials have scrubbed their campaign website. Nowhere on the site is there a trace of what they promised. The Health Care lie was the biggest one of all. There is no way that the Leaves intended to use any money for health care. And the selfish, entitled British pensioners voted because they used it as a reason to justify their support. Word is that a few oldsters on the island were pissed that they had to wait longer in line because an “immigrant” took their place in line for health care. As if they were in a hurry to get someplace. Brexit had no plan. The people who voted with them had no sense.
It has been said that Thursday’s vote by British citizens out of the European Union is historic. That statement is correct. Many observers feel that this will be the most consequential event for Britain since World War II. For people with short memories the aftermath of World War II was both a triumphant and scary time for Britain. The nation had been involved in two major World Wars in less than twenty two years. A forcibly retired Churchill was even calling for a formation of a European confederation of states similar to the U.S. But Churchill, deposed from power had no takers. As a matter of fact for years Britain had held itself at bay from the other nations. And that was fine with them. Remember that Britain was denied admission to the Union until 1973 and when it did join it kept their own currency. Much has been said about England being our cousins because the U.S. after all founded it’s own nation. It is my belief that we became greater than Britain because our founding fathers had the vision to form a strong federal Government that consisted of states. Many Constitutional experts yammer on about gun rights and the second amendment but I can assure you that there was more on their minds when the nation was founded than that. The formation of a Federal government came from wise men who were not afraid of taking a chance. Europe has always fought a united identity. And who can blame them given the long history of each country. The American experiment worked because we were newborns. Europe had entrenchments. It could not. When this union was formed no one would ever pick Britain to be the first to bail. But they did. This campaign to stay or leave has all the earmarks of an influence of one Mr. Donald Trump. That is true. The campaign on behalf of Leave was full of lies and misrepresentations. One of the big whoppers was to seniors who were told the money saved from leaving the EU would go to health care. The leader of the group admitted on BBC that it wasn’t correct. When the presenter pressed him on why this was part of the campaign, he admitted it was part of the act. Sound familiar? Immigration was also touted as the big bad factor but in fact Britain has the least amount of immigrants. But the point was made that people from other countries were taking the jobs away from Brits. Just like here. When the history of the 21st century is written the way that people who were different, who were immigrants will go down as one of the most shameful episodes in our Republic. The issue in Britain and the U.S. is that people are trying to protect the nation they are comfortable with. The world has changed and there are segments who wonder where their place will be. It is ironic but the whole way of thinking is ass backward. People who voted Leave in Britain and those Trump supporters in the U.S. are actually threatened by those with less than they have. Pretty pathetic for “Christian” nations, heyna? One day the 52% who voted in this election are going to wake up and see what a travesty this vote was. Here’s why: 1. The EU will be glad to see Britain go but they will make an example out of them to dissuade other nations from trying it. The benefits enjoyed by the union will be compromised. 2. Watch for no more free movement of Britain citizens to other part of Europe. The UK Ex Pats are going to be in for the shock of their lives. 3. The Leaves are similar to Trump because they are short on specifics. 4. Every trade deal will have to be re negotiated. Now trade will not drop down to zero….but things will get complicated. This is essentially a divorce. Having avoided one and having friends who have gone through them, I can tell you they get messy. Multiply that by a million when t comes to a country and a continent. This election had a 72% turnout and that’s a good thing. But the level of discourse, like here was not great. When I see the campaigns conducted I think of how people say that they distrust the establishment, ie the people in power. Fair enough but what are their plans? We have become a world of haters of educated people. There’s a name they call them, “the elite”. Elite and educated have become bad words in this political culture. The elite become elite by busting their asses, going to school and rising through the corridors of power in business and industry. The resentment against experts as I heard on the radio today is worn as a badge of honor and has become a campaign slogan here and in Britain. For this country, Britain is the canary in the coal mine. No one thought the Leaves would win, not even some of the Leaves, but they did. No one thinks Donald Trump will win here but he might because he is using Immigration and Nationalism as a battering ram for those angry, disaffected, uneducated, envious voters who latch on to slogans and catch phrases. The British voted Leave because they wanted to take their country back. The U.S. might be doing the same thing. But we have keep asking the question just who are we taking the country back from? And who do we want to give it to? A guy who goes to Scotland and touts his golf course while all the money markets are crashing over this event? A guy who stands in Scotland and tweets that they voted the right way when in fact they didn’t? The Leave campaign succeeded by using fear and deception. Apparently that’s okay in this culture because as someone on CNN said Friday night, we are in the age of the Death of expertise and the Death of fact. The Leave campaign and Donald Trump are the Funeral Directors.
TWIN MINE SHAFTS CEREMONY SATURDAY
This weekend marks the 120th anniversary of the Twin Shaft Disaster. The celebration will take place at 2:30 p.m. near the Coal Miner Statue near the Fort-Jenkins Bridge and there will be at 3:30 p.m. mass Saturday, June 25 at Our Lady of Eucharist Parish, the old St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church. On Sunday, June 28, 1896, 58 men and boys were killed when the roof caved in at the Red Ash Vein of the Newton Coal Company’s Twin Shaft Mine. The victims were buried 434 feet below the ground. In their wake, they left 31 widows and 101 orphans. Because of the cave in, no bodies were ever recovered. The tragedy was is considered one of the largest coal mining disasters in Pennsylvania history, even larger than the Knox Mine Disaster, which occurred in January 1959 near Port Griffith. During the ceremony, there will be a reading of the names of all the victims. (Source: Sunday Dispatch, LuLac)
TRIBUTE TO HARRY WEST THIS SUNDAY JUNE 26th, 3PMAT GROTTO PIZZA, HARVEYS LAKE
Harry West and your blog editor during a past WARM promotion. (Photo:. LuLac)
Join us as we celebrate a Legend - Harry West of the Harry West Show, WARM Radio, the Mighty 590. The event takes place on the Patio at Grotto, Harvey's Lake, unless rain, then we will go inside. The menu includes Pizza with any topping and Soft Drinks for $10.00. No gifts please but we would love to have you bring any memorabilia you may have of Harry or WARM radio during its Hay Day. Please contact Denise DeLuca at 570-239-4896. Our good friend Beverly Johnston is organizing the event.
CALLING JOE PETERS
Joe Peters (Photo: Penn Live.com)
Donald Trump seems to be having a staff problem. He can’t seem to get a cohesive message released. I suggest he hire Joe Peters who has served in administration through the years. Here’s why he’d be a great hire: 1. He is a life long Republican with common sense and charisma. 2. As a former police officer he can accentuate Trump’s message on Law and Order. Or give Trump a better one than he has. 3. Joe Peters has been under fire. With his work in Homeland Security, as a candidate and most importantly as a member of Kathleen’s Kane’s staff. He can navigate all sorts of things……even crazy.
BIG MEN KILLING ANIMALS
The Southern Columbia Football team that won a championship has a black eye. Five of the “big men” from the team were charged with beating wild animals to death. It was illegal to do. Five players Blake Marks, Austin Knepp, Gabe Delbo, Nick Becker and Mark Kitchen were charged with the illegal act. The Football coach called it a bad decision. I say it was animal cruelty. But this is how they were caught. The idiots posed it on Instagram. Again I go back to one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies “The Best Man”. Y'know, it's not that I object to your being a bastard, don't get me wrong there. It's your being such a stupid bastard that I object to.
WILKES BARRE RESIDENTS SHOCKED!
Mayor Tony George. (Photo: Citizen's Voice)
The abject stupidity ofsome of my fellow citizens of Wilkes Barre continues to amaze me. City residents are shocked and dismayed that Mayor Tony George who ran on a campaign of “Law and Order” is actually enforcing the laws of the city. I’m afraid that when crime was discussed in last year’s election, maybe some residents just saw Sherman Hills as crime. The Mayor is ticketing people for parking the wrong way on their streets and for various other offenses that were deemed minor. Residents feel that because enforcement didn’t happen recently, then maybe the laws disappeared? Uh no, they’re still on the books. Plus anyone who thought a Mayor Tony George would not enforce them is living in Fantasy land and not Wilkes Barre. It should be remembered that Officer Tony George made his bones by following the letter of the law. Why people thought he’d lessen his stance for the letter of the law, any law and its enforcement is beyond me.
POLITICO RATES PA SENATE RACE
Katie McGinty and Senator Pat Toomey (Photo: Philly.com)
Politico just released their new Senate race rankings — and Pennsylvania is in the TOP FIVE races most likely to switch parties. Politico calls Toomey “a favorite of the Koch network” — and only days ago, the Washington Post reported that the Koch Rrothers have already launched ground operations here in Pennsylvania. This race is getting interesting. Pennsylvania in Presidential Election years has voted the opposite party in terms of the Senate race. 1964 Hugh Scott won while LBJ carried the state, in 1976 John Heinz won while Jimmy Carter prevailed. 1992 saw Arlen Specter in while Bill Clinton carried the state too. So Toomey may still have a chance given history.
THE GREATEST DANG SCHOOL BOARD IN HISTORY IS AT IT AGAIN
The Citizen’s Voice reported the other day that according to a ruling from the state Office of Open Recordst he Wilkes-Barre Area School District has to disclose plans and specifications for its proposed new high school.Kim Borland, an attorney with the group Save Our Schools, requested the information. Save Our Schools has opposed the district’s plan to merge Coughlin and Meyers high schools in a new high school facility built on the Coughlin site in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The district did not demonstrate “that the requested building plans and specifications would be reasonably likely to threaten the personal security of an individual” and “would be reasonably likely to threaten the physical security of a building,” the ruling said. Okay, first off if Attorney Borland had not made the request, the information wouldn’t be released. Plus the reasons about security are just bullshit. These guys have no plan and I think that’s the reason why they won’t release it. This thing is going to cost millions and most likely bankrupt local homeowners. If anyone on the Board had guts, this plan should be put on hold. The District has kicked the can down the road for less pressing reasons than the survival of homeowners who happen to pay the bills. The district has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. (Citizen’s Voice, LuLac)
MEDIA MATTERS
ECTV
ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo, Rusty Fender, and Director Mark Migilore welcome Jean Ruhf from the Endless Mt Vacation Bureau to the program during the week on June 27th to discuss summer events and activities in that popular tourist area of Pennsylvania.
ECTV Live is broadcast on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is see three times daily throughout the week.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Ruth Drew from the Alzheimers Association about Alzheimers Awareness Month. To mark the 44th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes' arrival in Northeast Pa, we take a look back at WARM radio's coverage of Agnes, narrated by WARM News Director Jerry Heller, with interviews conducted by news reporter Dale Cleveland, featured on the CD produced by WARM entitled "River On A Rampage". Special thanks to Tony Skutnik. 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.
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
This week's guests are Plymouth Township Supervisors Gale Conrad and Joe Yudichak. They'll discuss how the community moved out from under state fiscal supervision. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA Sports Radio-The Game 1400/1440 am and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.
SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION
Tommy Woods and Harry West on WILK's/Entercom's "Special Edition" with Sue Henry. (Photo: Sue Henry)
Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. But her big event this week is when she, the incredible Sue Henry interviews both Harry West and Tommy Woods. The show will run Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on WILK, and on KRZ, Froggy and Max 102 early Sunday morning.
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.
President Richard Nixon declares the U.S. War on Drugs…….– Southwest Airlines, a low cost carrier, begins its first flights between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.Britain announces that Soviet space scientist Anatoli Fedoseyev has been granted asylum…..Britain begins new negotiations for EEC membership in Luxembourg………Massachusetts passes its Chapter 766 laws enacting Special Education…in Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp suggests that the Commonwealth take a page out of the Bay State’s book and get more progressive in its approach to Special Ed….in Luzerme County Commissioners Wideman and Crossin deny any rift that will impact the fall election and 45 years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was … "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) by The Raiders featuring Mark Lindsey.
Court Street METHODIST Church (Photo: Times Tribune)
So Donald Trump spoke to a group of religious leaders this week about faith. Not content to try and misquote the Bible again, Trump questioned Hillary Clinton's religion. Said there was no record of it. Now this is before religious leaders who you know have an idea of what church a major political candidate belongs to. So by accident or design, Trump insults the intelligence of those leaders by floating this thing out there. Hillary Clinton is a Methodist. Her father is buried in Scranton and was buried from a church there. Maybe Donald could stop by the cemetery or better yet drop by Cooper's Restaurant to see photos of her visit here in the early 90s when her father passed away. Bless our souls!
REP. BARLETTA IS ONCE AGAIN PLAYING FOR THE REPUBLICAN TEAM AS A LEFT-HANDED PITCHER, OUTFIELDER, AND FIRST BASEMAN
IN THE 2016 CQ ROLL CALL CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME TO BENEFIT THREE CHARITIES.
Lou Barletta ready to swing for the fences (Photo: Barletta office)
Congressman Lou Barletta will once again participate in the annual Congressional Baseball Game, a tradition of pitting the Republican team against the Democratic team that dates back to 1909, on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 7:05 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The game is sponsored by CQ Roll Call, with proceeds to benefit the Washington Literacy Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Barletta is a lifelong baseball player and fan, who once had a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds. During the game, he will be wearing the uniform of the Harrisburg Senators, the Class AA minor league baseball affiliate of the Washington Nationals. He will again wear uniform number 7, in honor of his favorite player, Mickey Mantle, of the New York Yankees. For the Republican team, Barletta may appear as a left-handed pitcher, outfielder, or first baseman.
The NRA wins again, any gun thought..............voted down. (Photo: wikipedia)
The so called deliberative body, the U.S. Senate rejected four partisan gun measures offered in the aftermath of the Orlando massacre. The kicker here is that one of the proposals was designed to keep guns out of the hands of people on terror watch lists. The two GOP proposals would have increased funding for the national background check system. So it is ironic that the fiscally conservative Republicans want to throw money at the problem. These are the same guys who want to make sure there is money in the budget before releasing relief money during floods and natural disasters. Plus they want to gum up the judicial system even more by creating a judicial review to keep a person on a terror watch list from buying a gun. Two Democratic measures would have expanded background checks to private gun sales and allowed the Justice Department to ban gun sales to anyone suspected of terrorism. The Senate voted down the same type of bills in December after the shooting rampage in San Bernardino. It took this group 4 months to try to decide to do something after Sandy Hook. This time it took them a few days to go ahead and do nothing. Here’s my issue, it took them less time to pass the Patriot Act where anyone could be detained for any reason. But here, nothing. If this had passed, at least there would have been hope that things might be moving in any direction. But nope, these people are the captive of their own uncompromising beliefs that make paralysis the watchword, not progress.
FALL GUY
Lewandoski, never insult the son in law. (Photo: CNN)
There might have been a power struggle in the Trump campaign this weekend which prompted the exile of Campaign Manager Corey Lewandoski. But the bottom line is this, Lewandoski is the fall guy so that the Trump campaign can blame him and not their egocentric candidate for the mess it is in.
MONEY WATCH
Last campaign funding report, Hillary Clinton raised 42 million. Donald Trump 1.9 million. There are Congressional campaigns with more cash than that. Rich guy. Yeah.Never mind firing Lewandoski, call Bernie Sanders on the phone and ask that damn Socialist how he got so much money. Oh wait, people like Bernie!
Here is a photo of my father (left) with my Uncle Lenny and Uncle Joe (Pribula) sitting on the back steps at 1297 Wyoming Avenue in Exeter. My uncle Lenny was the long time steward of the Knights of Columbus building on Main Street in Pittston, Assembly number 948 of which I am proud to be a member of. My uncle Joe was my godfather.
FATHER'S DAY 2016
Today is Father’s Day. It is also my father’s birthday. For years we thought he was born on June 29th. As a matter of fact we celebrated it for years until he retired and started collecting Social Security. It turned out there was a discrepancy in the church records. On this day eight years ago my mom was buried at St. John the Baptist Cemetery. All of that sunk in late Saturday night after what was most likely the busiest and most hectic month of my life. The late John Kennedy Junior used to say “You aren’t really an adult until both your parents are gone”. A friend of mine disagreed and she posited that when that happens, you become an orphan. I seem to think it is a little bit of both. I think of my father every day when I get in my car with air or heat if I need it, or when I pop the top and put on my music and drive the 8 minutes it takes me to get to work. As I ride, it crosses my mind that he walked to work every day. Then he went on a train crew and cleaned tracks in the winter and maintained them in the summer. I think of him when I get stopped by a train as it rumbles down the tracks. I think of the hard work he did. I also think of the questions I wish I had asked him. Out of his 66 years on earth, I had 26 of them. I had not had the luxury or the intelligence at the time to ask him questions. Not earth shattering questions but just things I think about today as a grown man. The answers will not change my life. But the fact that I never, ever thought to ask the questions makes it one of the few regrets I have in my life. Now knowing my father there is a huge possibility he just might have shrugged them off. Maybe, maybe not. But for those of you who still have your fathers, make a list and ask what you wonder about. You might not get the answers you expect or any response at all, but you won’t regret asking the questions. So here are mine for my dad. 1. As the oldest child in a family of 7, you had told me you started working after the 8th grade, what exactly did you do? 2. Who was your best friend when you were growing up? 3. How was it being an essential worker during World War II on the railroads and did you have any special duties? 4. Did you have to pay your friend Frank Piontek to conveniently show up with his sedan when you were dating mom and chauffeur both of you to the next stop? 5. What was with the dancing, I never saw you ever dance anywhere. What was up with that? 6. How was it like to break the news to my mother that her second born daughter had died in childbirth, you had to bury her and then break the news to her? 7. Why is it that you never drank any alcohol while your father seemed to enjoy many a beer and a shot and a whiskey and.................? 8. Growing up in the Depression years (yeah I heard about the tin horn you got one year) what was Christmas like? 9. I know why you insisted that you call the divorced women I dated “widows” but why did you refer to all the women I brought home as “petunias?” 10. How did you deal with my sister after the death of the second child when from 1948 to 1953 she kept praying for a little brother? Did that put any pressure on you with, well you know. 11. As you spread out the newspaper on the kitchen table, what was the most interesting part of the newspaper to you? 12. You do realize that in terms of integrity, responsibility and hard work that you are a way better man than I’ll ever be, correct? 13. You do know that I love and miss you every day, right?
I stopped being sad over political figures in 1968. I worked my 14 year old ass off for Hubert Humphrey when he ran for President. I also worked very hard for a Kingston native at the time, Richard Adams when he ran for State Representative against Frank O'Connell. When both lost I thought, there goes two good chances for a better America and Pennsylvania. I guess those two guys were my 1964 Phillies. Following politics for so many years, running a few campaigns locally, seeing many elections and personalities, I never really ever expected much from people. There were a few exceptions in both parties. Two in fact were Republicans, Arlen Specter and John McCain. Specter held on way too long and should have retired before the 2010 election. But the pull of Washington and the pressure from his new found friends in the Democratic party kept him in a race too long. John McCain is in a similar situation. McCain, now closing in on 80 wants another 6 years. He let Donald Trump insult his service as a POW because crowds in Arizona were big for Trump. Today McCain blamed President Obama for the growth of ISIS saying that the administration played into the terror group by withdrawing from Iraq. This is incredible. The deal that was brokered for withdrawal came from the Bush administration. The Obama administration tried to get it changed but the Iraq government held fast. McCain tried to walk it back but his facts were wrong. The Obama administration has been doing clean up duty in the Mideast. To say that the President and the Secretary of States are responsible is an desperate individual and beaten down party trying to re-write history. Ironically I almost voted for John McCain in 2008. But his choice of Sarah Palin, an unqualified, crude loudmouth who reminded me of a woman you'd see in a bar at 3am and consider making a pass at. But then when you saw the demeanor, you quickly thought, "uh.........cold shower" Or for those who indulge, porn.Nope once he picked her, that was that. John McCain has become what all politicos hope to avoid, known as a person who sold his reputation for another few years of power at the end of a long well lived life life.
NEW POLL NOT GOOD FOR TRUMP
A recent Bloomberg poll came out earlier this week and it was not good news for Donald Trump. The poll shows Hillary Clinton at 49% and Trump at 37%. Libertarian Gary Johnson came in at 9%. This comes after a few very bad weeks for Trump. The GOP is now nervous and there are people now distancing themselves from the GOP presumptive nominee. What should happen and hopefully will is that GOP leaders who lined up behind Trump now are secretly figuring out a way to stay away. The two fears are of course the '16 election but some are wondering about their place and legacy by supporting this candidate. This candidate and his campaign are wildly off course.
OBAMA CHARGED BY TRUMP WITH TREASON
Political campaigns are sometimes vile and dirty. You can go back to the Andrew Jackson/John Quincy Adams race to see that. Lincoln was called ugly, Grover Cleveland's opponents keyed in on his physical activities using the phrase,"Ma, ma where's my pa, going to the White House ha ha ha". Teddy Roosevelt was called a madman, FDR an elitist. Nixon was called dishonest, Reagan dangerous. But no one ever tried to make the connection that a President consorted with the enemy. Donald Trump did that the other day. He suggested that the President was sympathetic to ISIS and the terrorists. He said the President's reluctance to use the word "radical Islam" was reason enough for Obama to resign. Candidates have disagreed on Foreign Policy but none ever said they were consorting with the enemy. Here's a few facts. The Obama administration as well as the military have taken out more terrorists on foreign ground than anyone else. There have been the use of drones and intelligence to do it. Plus they got Bin Laden. The charges reveal a dangerous side of Trump. He has no facts and as the President rightly refereed to Donald's remarks as "yapping".
IS THERE A WAY OUT FOR THE GOP?
If you are a moderate or even a Tea Party Republican you have to wonder how the Grand Old Party can get out of this Donald Trump mess. The GOP has always stood for at least a reasonable preservation of opposing views. There have been contentious debates but never this level of incivility and dare I say bigotry. This puts Senate candidates like Rob Portman and our own Pat Toomey in a precarious position. At this point many wonder how Trump will affect their careers. Some may wonder if there is a solution. Well it appears Trump May have given the beleaguered party an answer. The other day Trump intimated or said in public proclaiming that the GOP should just hush and let him handle things. That's it. That's the answer. The GOP should just fire Trump. Tell him to go to the convention, take the nomination, and have all those supporters in those arenas and stadiums underwrite your campaign. If a socialist like Bernie can raise millions surely a capitalist like Trump can beat that. If Trump wants to go it alone, give him his wish. The GOP should drop the social issues worrying about who's gay, trying to describe what values are good for America, and realize that the Ward Cleaver image they have of the world are long gone. They should remake the party, get behind Gary Johnson and FIRE Donald Trump. It will work.
HEY, OUR CONGRESSMEN ARE TALKING COAL AGAIN!!!!
Rep. Cartwright Introduces Legislation to Prevent Coal Companies from Pushing Their Cleanup Responsibilities to Taxpayers
Congressman Matt Cartewright (Photo: LuLac archives).
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced the bicameral Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act, legislation that would prohibit the practice of self-bonding nationwide. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. “The practice of self-bonding must end. Many states currently ban the practice of self-bonding; the rest of the country must follow suit,” Rep. Cartwright said. “Coal companies which once seemed financially secure and made frequent use of self-bonding are now declaring bankruptcy. This leaves the taxpayers on the hook for clean-up costs totaling billions of dollars.” Just yesterday, Arch Coal Inc. announced a plan to emerge from bankruptcy after a majority of senior creditors signed off on the deal. The company had about $485.5 million in environmental reclamation costs that it had promised to pay through self-bonding. However, Arch granted the state of Wyoming a $75 million claim against the company's cleanup obligations. The Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) is tasked with ensuring that mining companies fulfill their legal obligation to clean up and reclaim the land after they are through mining. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act allows OSMRE and states with programs approved by OSMRE to let financially healthy companies back up their reclamation obligations with a promise instead of sureties or collateral. These financial promises are called “self-bonds.” At a recent hearing before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said that “there’s a very significant problem and risk to the taxpayer with the high-profile bankruptcies that have taken place recently with coal companies.” Earlier this week Cartwright, along with U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) – ranking members of the House Natural Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and the full committee, respectively – led eight colleagues in sending a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell urging immediate action to prevent major coal companies from further offloading billions of dollars of self-bonded reclamation obligations onto taxpayers. Additionally, the bill would require the conversion of current self-bonds to surety or collateral bonds, and improve the bonding program by shoring up surety capitalization and collateral requirements. “Since our founding, our organization has advocated for strong reclamation standards and bond requirements at coal mines. Unfortunately, Wyoming mines are some of the largest users of self-bonds, which have become nothing more than unfulfilled promises with company bankruptcies. With over $2 billion in outstanding reclamation liability in Wyoming, this is important legislation to close the self-bonding loophole and minimize financial risks to taxpayers,” said Bob LeResche, Clearmont, Wyo., Powder River Basin Resource Council Chair and Western Organization of Resource Councils Board Member Original Cosponsors (25): Beyer, Blumenauer, Capps, Connolly, Dingell, Edwards, Ellison, Farr, Grijalva, Honda, Huffman, Langevin, Barbara Lee, Lieu, Lowenthal, McCollum, Holmes Norton, Napolitano, Pocan, Polis, Slaughter, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen, Watson Coleman Supporting Organizations: Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), Powder River Basin Resource Council, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Environmental Law & Policy Center, Clean Water Alliance, 350 Colorado, Sierra Club, Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters, Clean Energy Action, Greenpeace USA, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, Northern Plains Resource Council, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, The Lands Council, WildEarth Guardians, The Wilderness Society, Sightline Institute
Barletta Defense Amendment Rejects Russian Energy, Promotes PA Coal
Prevents Vladimir Putin from Exerting Influence, Protects Pennsylvania Jobs
Congressman Lou Barletta successfully amended the Defense Appropriations bill to prevent U.S. military installations, regardless of their locations, from purchasing energy from Russia, thereby aiding Pennsylvania coal producers and employees. Barletta led debate on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, arguing that Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin has a history of using his energy reserves to gain political influence over other nations, and that the U.S. armed forces should not be subjected to similar pressure. The amendment passed the House by voice vote. The entire Defense Appropriations bill passed the House by a vote of 282-to-138. “Time and again, we have seen Vladimir Putin use Russian energy to assert his political will over the rest of the world,” Barletta said. “In fact, just a few months ago, the European Union announced that they were seeking alternatives to Russian natural gas imports in order to avoid a repeat of 2006 and 2009, when Russian suppliers cut off the gas shipped through Ukraine, leaving much of Western Europe to succumb to winter’s freezing temperatures.” Barletta’s amendment benefits coal workers in Pennsylvania, since some U.S. military bases, such as one in Kaiserslautern, Germany, use anthracite coal for fuel. “I think we can all agree that we don’t want our American servicemen and women to be left out in the cold,” Barletta said. “By ensuring our military does not rely on the Russian Federation to supply the heating and energy needs of our military bases, we can provide certainty and security for the brave individuals protecting our freedom.” Barletta has consistently fought for the interests of Pennsylvania anthracite coal. On Wednesday of this week, Barletta vigorously opposed another amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that removed language that required the U.S. military base in Kaiserslautern to use at least one American energy source for heat and power. That amendment unfortunately succeeded, which prompted Barletta to pursue his own amendment barring the purchase of energy from Russia.
MEDIA MATTERS
ECTV
My Co-host Rusty Fender joins me and Director Mark Migilore during the week of June 20th as we welcome Erica Rogler from the Dietrich Theater to the program to talk about upcoming events and activities sponsored by the Wyoming Cultural Society.
ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired three times daily throughout the week. Program times may vary slightly but the program is generally aired at Noon, 6pm, and midnight.
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine
An encore of Brian Hughes' interview with attorney Timothy Duggan about property owners rights with regards to the proposed PennEast Pipeline, which would run from Luzerne County to New Jersey.
Brian speaks with Pastor Shawn Heuer from the Trinity Assembly of God Church in Nicholson about their "3 on 3" Basketball Tournament next Saturday in Nicholson.
And Brian speaks with workplace psychologist Dr. Woody, who discusses stress on the job and family vacations.
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.
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
This week's guest is Lackawanna County Recycling Coordinator Barbara Giovagnoli. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Game Sports Network 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 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 and 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.
Vietnam War: The New York Times begins to publish the Pentagon Papers......Norway begins oil production in the North Sea........The first Hard Rock Cafe opens in London, England......US Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska) receives a copy of the Pentagon Papers from Ben Bagdikian, an editor at The Washington Post. Tupac Shakur American rapper, poet, and actor, is born in East Harlem, New York City....Representatives of Japan and the United States sign the Okinawa Reversion Agreement, whereby the U.S. will return control of Okinawa. A drunken Jim Morrison makes a recording in a Paris studio with two equally inebriated American street musicians he had befriended shortly before.....in Pennsylvania Senator Richard Schweiker says that the release of the Pentagon Papers will have a huge impact on how the Vietnam War is viewed.....in Lackawanna County the team of Robert Pettinato and Charles Luger start hitting the streets in earnest for their bid to become Commissioners in the fall election and 45 years ago this week the number one song in America and LuLac land was "It Don't Come Easy" by Ringo Starr.
1. We have a God awful Election year. I hate Hillary Clinton and am scared to death of Trump, where do I go? If you have to ask that question, you are the victim of information over load. Look, is Hillary Clinton the perfect candidate? No. But no one ever is. I’m for Clinton because I think she would do way better as both a leader and politician in getting things done than Mr. Trump. I think she’d have done better with a House and Senate Majority than Mr. Obama has done too. I’m voting for Clinton or Biden or Sanders or Martin O’Malley if it comes to that because they know government. Donald Trump has not shown any probity or leadership skills. He has shown the ability to get a rise out of people but so too did George Wallace, Strom Thurmond and Ross Perot. All talk, no substance. That’s why they lost. But to answer your question, vote for your own interest. 2. Tom Wolf’s record so far? I think he has realized that government and the GOP House is not like running a cabinet business. By working with the GOP House on the Liquor Bill, I feel he has shown the Legislators he’s willing to work with them. It’s all about common ground. 3. There seems to be an element of hostility toward Hillary Clinton from Bernie Sanders supporters. Why? Look, everybody hates Hillary. Some hate her first, then find the reason why they do. But the Sanders people have to decide if they are grownups or spoiled kids who didn’t get everything they wanted. Did Bernie exceed expectations? Absolutely. But Hillary beat him in every way imaginable. The system was not rigged because he agreed to it before. And if these “new” voters had any sense, they’d have known this before they signed up for him. If the Sanders voters stay at home, shame on them. They’ll get a reversal of all major Supreme Court decisions and all their generation who have taken the gains made by minorities for granted will be shocked when they are knocked down. All it will take will be one lawsuit against a decision to be heard before a new court majority and it’s done. I’d rather Sanders people come around but I’m not their daddy. 4. I saw you on WBRE saying the Sanders candidacy was a “vanity” candidacy for young people. What did you mean? I meant that like the Obama effort in ’08, they all came out in droves and never showed up again. Except when it was cool to be for Bernie. Now I hear whiners and crybabies say “I’m not voting for Hillary” and it is astounding to me. Clinton never ever eviscerated Sanders in any of the debates. Yet the Sanders crybabies say they’ll vote for Trump, a man who has called women pigs, has said he’ll build a wall to keep Mexicans out and has declared war on Islam citizens in this country. If that isn’t “vanity” and it’s all about poor me, then I have no idea what is. That’s what I meant. 5. Enjoying the warm weather with the top down? Yes finally. 6. Do you ever see a time when there will be universal health care? Yes. And it will come from consumer protection not politicians. Like greedy pigs, the Insurance companies and hospitals have found ways to screw people with higher co pays and get this one, a facility charge. The Citizen’s Voice did a great job yesterday outlining how Medical offices charge patients for the facility as well as the appointment. http://citizensvoice.com/news/hospital-fees-under-scrutiny-1.2054179 President Obama could have achieved universal health care. Failing that plan was his biggest failing. Plus his staff should have handled the Bill not the House. But people can only take so much and if enough people report their billing issues to the Insurance Commission, it just might happen.
Here's the link if you want to file a complaint. http://www.insurance.pa.gov/Consumers/File%20a%20Complaint/Pages/default.aspx 7. Indians in first place. What dya think? Talk to me on November 3rd. 8. Have you seen “Hamilton”? No but I heard it’s very good. Glad to see Alexander Hamilton finally get his due. The Hip Hop is incredible. Swept the Tony's pretty much last night. 11 out of 16. 9. Corned Beef or Pastrami? Seriously? I like the flavor of corned beef more but I’ve been known to make a sandwich and combine the two. Not often but every couple of months for lunch, 10. Thoughts on the Orlando shootings? Bottom line is that this was an American citizen of Muslim decent who had access to guns. He was on the FBI list but the case was closed. So this piece of shit was going to crack soon anyway. What set him off was two guys kissing. So there was no way to stop him. BUT he could have been slowed down if he was denied access to the weapons that kill people in seconds. Trump in his asinine way yammered about how the President didn’t use a certain term regarding terror. Islamic Terror. Hillary Clinton did. But Trump said Clinton wanted to ban all guns. Again, no clue. The more Liberal of us will call for stronger gun laws. I just think if a guy has a case closed against him by the FBI, he should have to prove his reason and worthiness to buy any weapon. It’s a tragedy but like all the others, in a few weeks or even days we’ll move on. One more point, I hear right wingers saying President Obama will take away your weapons. If that is true, then why have there been 15 shootings under this administration? Yeah he’s coming for your guns all right! The Assault weapons ban expired in 2004. There ya go. 11. You were such a staunch supporter of Joe Sestak, will you go the Bernie Sanders supporters root and support Pat Toomey? I think Joe Sestak was the most qualified person to be Senator. Katie McGinty not so much. But I’m not going to give my vote to Toomey who I think is a weakling on gun commonsense. Plus with a GOP Majority, what exactly has Toomey brought home to the area financially? See I’m an adult and I won’t pout and I’ll go with McGinty. 12. Your friend Gort wrote a Face Book post saying that Donald Trump should pick Lou Barletta for Veep? Thoughts? Well it makes sense except that when Gort wrote that, Trump was not in as much trouble with the GOP hierarchy. Barletta’s charisma, record, stance with illegals right or wrong, educational level all help Trump with White Males. But he is already at 60% with that group. So maybe Lou won’t help in that area. But if Trump wants to double down, and not grow the base and rely on the content of his rally people, Lou would be great. All that said, in my conversations with Mr. Barletta, a Congressional seat is where he always wanted to be. He previously turned down bids for higher state office and I honestly feel he thinks he is making a difference in Washington. 13. Now that the King’s students have gone home is there peace in the North end? It’s quiet. The Police only had to show up three times because of noise and public drunkenness. One day we went out to lunch and came home and the street was lined with cruisers. The kids had a party in one of the back yards and screwed that up at 1 in the afternoon. Some people driving by called the cops because girls were passed out on front porches. Yesterday as I was waiting for Mrs. LuLac to go out on a drive, I spoke to one of the landlords. He has been doing extensive interior remodeling for the last week in an off campus house. He told me that the former tenant, a King’s College Regina either was a bad person or knew bad people. Told me the place was a wreck and was stunned at how bad it was inside. The sad fact here is that a kid and her roomies like this have no regard for their own surroundings and leave things wrecked in their wake. What chance does a neighborhood have? But if mommy and daddy shell out $32,000 a year to have their baby girl leave a wreck for the landlord, defy the police and make an ass out of herself, then they must have money to burn. I’m sure raising a deposit or sending them a bill might do the trick. NOT! Most King’s kids are responsible and polite. But others are slobs and drunks that have no concern for anyone else but their piggish selves. Next month I’ll tell you about the guys. But King’s has a new major. It’s a BA degree. Bachelor of Alcoholism, or Father Ryan’s drunks.
Location: Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States
Political analyst for WBRE TV's Pa. Live program and post election commentator for WBRE TV's Eyewitness News Daybreak show. Author of the book "A Radio Story/We Wish You Well In Your Future Endeavors" and "Leges Vitae" "26 Rules of Life" and the new novel, "Weather Or Knot". The blog editor also writes various news articles and columns as well as upcoming literary projects. The blog editor was a frequent guest on WYOU TV'S INTERACTIVE NEWSCASTS when political issues were discussed on the national, state and local level. Yonki was a weekly panelist on WYLN TV 35's Friday Topic A program. He also appeared on the Hazleton, PA. station on Election Night doing coverage and did special projects and stories for WYLN TV 35's 10PM Newscast "Late Edition".
