The LuLac Edition #3315, October 06, 2016

SHAPIRO ON THE GO

Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro in Hazleton (Photo: Hazleton Standard Speaker)

The last time I was speaking of Democratic Attorney General candidate Josh Shapiro on WBRE TV, Dr. David Sosar and I pretty much agreed that Shapiro was a long shot against State Senator John Rafferty. Given the fact that there has only been one Attorney General in the state from the Democratic side of the aisle since 1980 (and we all know how that went) we both agreed Shapiro had an upward battle. But long shots in politics, especially in this volatile election year can happen. A few key points I learned since the broadcast.
Josh Shapiro has a 2-to-1 advantage in campaign funds on hand as the campaign enters its final month. $1.4 million cash on hand for Shapiro, $700k on hand for Rafferty. An important strategic edge for Josh. Our paid media campaign will be very robust -- and twice as large as our opponent's. We're very confident in our plan.
Josh is attracting broad, bipartisan support, from Republican law enforcement officials like DA Jim Martin in Lehigh County and NEPA's own Joe Peters, a former drug prosecutor who ran of course as a Republican for Attorney General in the primary. Josh has also been endorsed by the FOP Lodge 5 in Phila, the largest police union in the state.
Josh is attracting bipartisan support because he has -- far and away - the more substantive plans to do the job of Attorney General in this race. From his plans to protect consumers, seniors and veterans from scammers, to his integrity agenda to bring a much stronger sense of ethics back to the AG's Office and state government, to his pledge to protect our constitutional rights to clean air and water and a thorough and efficient public education, Josh is running to do the job of Attorney General. Our opponent seems to mostly want to be Attorney General. A real difference between the candidates.
A strong, large Democratic majority vote is expected in Phila and the surrounding suburbs, to more than counteract the effect of the conservative T In the center and northern parts of the state.
There are about 900,000 more Democratic voters then Republican voters in Pennsylvania. In a presidential election year, turnout is always higher. The Democratic candidate in a statewide race like Attorney General -- Josh Shapiro -- will benefit from the Democratic registration edge and turnout in a presidential year.
In the latest statewide polling, by Franklin and Marshall College, Hillary Clinton is leading Donald Trump by 9 percentage points -- another key factor favoring Democratic candidates down the ballot such as Josh.
So with the Democratic edge as well as a decent showing by Hillary Clinton, it is not a far fetched idea that the energetic Shapiro who beat out two other contenders in the Democratic primary just might have this.

TRUMP’S LATE PAYMENT

So it appears that Donald Trump’s campaign just paid the bill for the police service he got in Wilkes Barre Township when he made his last Arena visit in April. Much has been made of this and I guess you can say if this guy was such a great businessman maybe he should have paid the bill in a timely manner. But my experience with businessmen is that they wait until the very last minute to pay any bill. That said,  I did work for a company that had as its policy was to pay their vendors first. But guys like Trump get and stay rich by not doing that. Some will pay, others will stiff workers like Trump did.
But campaigns are a different animal. In my experience with them, campaigns are chaotic and after the stop is over staffers are concentrating on the next leg. So while 5 months is not admirable it is understandable to me with the Trump effort (which is run nationally by a small staff) relies on local volunteers sometimes left to their own devices. So I’ll give him a pass on this one. However the next story illustrates how local campaigns sometime cope with a big event.

WHEN JOHN JOHN MET CHICKIE LAHR

The famous Kennedy banner on Public Square in Wilkes Barre. (Photo: LuLac archives)

When Ted Kennedy’s campaign came to Wilkes Barre in 1980, the advance staff needed a huge banner to place on the band shell on the Square. For years, the United Way always had a huge banner placed strategically in the center of the big shell. The Kennedy camp wanted no less for their rally. Local printer Chick Lahr was dispatched to do the banner. The late Lahr was a man generous with his time as a volunteer for his church as well as a big booster of Walt Disney World. But he was a hardcore businessman who knew the value of a buck. When the banner was finished, the Kennedy staffers stopped by and picked it up. They asked Chick to bill them. Violating all political principles where you get your money up front from politicos, Chick let them have the banner. The banner stayed up but then the Kennedy people told Chick they weren’t going to pay him since it started to show the ravages of weather. No less a Kennedy than John F. Kennedy Junior, “John John” himself came to complain. Chick asked for his money, “John John” refused. Chick threatened a collection agency call. “John John” says to Chick, “Don’t you know who I am?” Chick reportedly said, “Yes, but apparently you have no idea who I am!”. The bill was paid, “John John” hit the Hazle Street pavement and judging from the photo in the index, the thing looked okay to me and was worth the money.

KEANE/PENCE DEBATE

Tim Keane and Mike Pence (Photo: Fox News)

Okay here’s my take on the Keane/Pence debate. We watched it like all of America and we were tweeting. As a matter of fact I was trying to antagonize The Donald but to no avail. Then the Jays and Orioles got my attention. But here’s what I think went down.
Pence was unflappable and had the better stage presence. But he was doing more denying then
St. Peter was on Holy Thursday. That will help him with his base but make for some pretty interesting ads before election day.
Keane came out too hot and kind of channeled Trump by his interruptions. I think he could have made his points by waiting. He missed a few opportunities to remind voters that Pence is to the way right of most Republicans. But he did reinforce the fact that Trump is not qualified.
As a matter of fact by jabbing at Pence, and by Pence’s cool reaction, that contrast was made not only by the peripatetic Virginia Senator but the calm politico from Indiana.

MEDIA MATTERS

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 NEPA Sports Radio 1400/1440 am and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

ECTV LIVE

ECTV Live will welcome Movie writer/producer Chris Fetchko to the program during the week of October 10th. Fetchko, a West Hazleton native who now lives in Mountaintop, is preparing for the regional premier of his movie "All In Time" at the Kirby in Wilkes-Barre on October 16th. 

Much of the film was shot in the greater Wilkes-Barre area. ECTV Live host David DeCosmo appears in the movie and will join his co-host Rusty Fender in talking with Fetchko about producing a motion picture in our area. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some locations) and is aired three times daily throughout the week. The area premier will also include a concert by the band "The Badlees" and signer Laura Shay whose music is featured in the movie.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine

Brian Hughes speaks with Karla Porter about the 5th annual Blog Con, coming up on Saturday Oct 15th at the Penn State Worthington Scranton Campus in Dunmore.

Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Joan Gower from Catholic Social Services about their "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" event coming up on Friday Oct 14th at Genetti's in downtown Wilkes Barre.

Brian speaks with Terri Stocki from Consumer Credit Counseling Services about Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage, and what you need to know, beginning on Nov. 1st.

And Frankie speaks with Alex & Jason, who discuss the Belin Film Festival, coming up Oct 14th thru the 16th at the Waverly Community House, the Dietrich Theatre in Tunkhannock, and Lackawanna

College in Scranton.

Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, WARM & 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. . 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

Greenpeace is founded in Vancouver, Canada– In New York City, the Knapp Commission begins public hearings on police corruption…….U.S. President Richard Nixon nominates Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr. and William H. Rehnquist to the U.S. Supreme Court. Both will be nominated and confirmed and Rehnquist will go on to become Chief Justice…..in Pennsylvania Governor Shapp continues to push for his reform of social services….in Luzerne County full page ads in local papers herald the respective candidacies of Judge Albert Ashton and Bernard Podcasy as the November election nears and 45 years ago this week the number one song in LuLac and America was “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart.