The LuLac Edition #3334, October 29th, 2016

OCTOBER STUNNER

Well we have heard about a possible October surprise from the accused rapist Julian Assange regarding Hillary Clinton’s e mails but no one could imagine that the FBI which closed the case now could reopen it 11 days before the election. But it did. It involves the e mails of Clinton but focus on the pervert Anthony Weiner’s actions and the reactions to them via e mail of his estranged wife Huma Abedin. Weiner was being investigated for sexting an underage girl. I mean you cannot make this stuff up.
Here’s what you need to know. There are a lot of questions that are not answered at this point. The FBI Director sent the letter to inform them that there are e mails regarding this sexting case that may be relevant to the investigation that he closed in July.
Here’s what Comey wrote: "In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear pertinent to the investigation," Comey wrote the chairmen. "I am writing to inform you that the investigative team briefed me on this yesterday, and I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to assess their importance to our investigation."
The key words here are “appear” , “whether” and “access”. These are not definitive words. These words don’t warrant phrases like “lock her up” or referring to the e mails “as the biggest political scandal since Watergate” by the GOP’s blowhard in Chief.
Comey did what he technically needed to do in his own mind. But career prosecutors really differed with his actions. When does a prosecutor tip his hand in any investigation to the public? Comey has been compared to a boy scout regarding his honesty. And that’s a good thing in some instances. But Jimmy Carter was a Christian who preached the gospel of love. At times those two personas just don’t mix when navigating the waters of politics. Comey might have had a clear duty and conscience but to do this 11 days before the election, especially if it is an unrelated case, is just mind boggling. Word is that the FBI staff is divided about his actions. 
Facebook has exploded with words like “corruption”, “criminal” and "jail”. But the so called Constitution experts have to know that this is an inquiry and a follow up to an investigation already closed. Comey issued this statement:
"We don't ordinarily tell Congress about ongoing investigations, but here I feel an obligation to do so given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed," Comey said. "I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record."
This is a loose end that Comey felt compelled to vomit out. He may feel good about himself, think he did his duty but has just muddled the race even more.
That said, the people who don’t buy Clinton’s e mail answers aren’t going to vote for her.  The fact that the e mails had nothing to do with her doesn't matter.  They will find a reason to hate, attack, demonize and oh yeah, not vote for her. Period.
The people who want to focus on taking our country in the same direction it has been heading will support her. Those who care about a functioning government that represents all will vote for her.
The unknown factor is if people will understand that until proven otherwise, these are e mails from an unrelated case. The content had nothing to do with Hillary.
Period.

KAUFER-McDONALD DEBATE

Aaron Kaufer and Bob McDonald debate. (Gort 42 Facebook page)

About fifty people showed up for the Aaron Kaufer-Bob McDonald debate Friday night at Wyoming Seminary. That pretty much tells you the interest level of this race on the food chain that is the election year of 2016. Kaufer is running for a second term against Bob McDonald.
Kaufer has some done something impressive for a first term Representative. He got a bill passed that changed the way welfare recipients get their money. Meaning that his bill made it mandatory that they could get it from only one state. He has also been available to residents of his district.
But challenger McDonald has made the point that too many times Kaufer has voted with the GOP majority and has not been as bipartisan as he says he is. Kaufer denied that in one of the contentious moments of the debater.
McDonald took issue with Kaufer’s assertion that there are too many regulations. McDonald said they are especially needed for the environmental safety of this region. The challenger cited the coal mining companies and the fact that certain industries needed to be watched
Both came out for property tax reform. McDonald said he was not confident of it even being brought to the table given the GOP Speaker’s reluctance to bring it forward. Kaufer said it should be put on a referendum.
One eye browsing moment was when McDonald, 59, said Kaufer, 28, was way too young and didn’t have enough life experience. That statement can go either way. Anyone who has met Kaufer knows he is a mature committed person who had his eye on this prize for a long time. I can’t blame McDonald for throwing a Hail Mary in this debate. After all, given the lackluster support (this is my opinion only) that he has received from the County Democratic party (who went all out for Eileen Cipriani last time) he should try every option he has.
Both men are committed, well spoken and earnest in their reasons to want to serve. Both have the best interest of the district at heart but have different ways of getting to that juncture. Election Day will decide that matter for both.
Let’s hope the turnout is better on Election Day. The debate was sponsored by The Wilkes Barre League of Women Voters.

ATHENA SMITH FORD OBIT

Athena Smith Ford (Facebook)

We just had to share this obituary with you from the family of Athena Smith Ford who died last Sunday. It is a fitting tribute to a young lady gone too soon.
Athena Smith Ford, 33, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, Oct. 23, 2016, at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. Athena died in the arms of her brother, Austin, of Mountain Top, with her mother, Diane Smith, of Kingston, father, Tom Ford, and stepmother, Maureen Cosgrove, of Mount Pocono, at her bedside. Athena died of complications from an automobile collision on Oct. 7, 2015, when she was a seat-belted passenger and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Athena never regained consciousness.
Over the past year, her family and friends visited Athena virtually daily, and worked together to supplement her therapies, entertain her, complete all her paper work, advocate for her with facilities, research possible therapies and so much more. Athena received emotional and financial support from hundreds of friends and strangers touched by her life story, which helped give Athena the best chance at recovery and survival.
Athena was not a perfect woman; she could be stubborn; she made mistakes; she didn't clean her room as often as her parents would have preferred. But her entire life was marked by a sincere empathy, care and concern for others, in fact, for all living beings.
In the third grade, she wrote a letter to the mayor, protesting what she believed was the inhumane treatment of animals by the city. She became a vegetarian at 11 or 12. In her 13th, year she started a chapter of Amnesty International at her school. She became a local expert on child slavery and prisoners of conscience, educating first fellow-students and then the community at large in talks to local organizations. Eventually, she served on the Regional Planning Board for the Mid-Atlantic Region of Amnesty International. In high school, she also started a Yellow Ribbon Club, which was an effort to stop teen suicide.
For her 16th birthday, Athena refused gifts and required her party guests to bring food for a local pantry. She collected over 500 pounds of non-perishables, and insisted that the donation be anonymous (oops, we just let it slip; sorry, Athena). In Aug. 2001, working with a local state representative, she organized a public demonstration bringing to light abuses by the Taliban in Afghanistan, over a month before 9/11.
After college, she was a community organizer in Philadelphia for Working America, helping working-class families have voices heard. For most of the last eight years, she tirelessly worked in the field of health insurance reform, first for the support and passage of ACA with the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, then as the statewide advocacy director for the Pennsylvania Health Action Network. Athena then became statewide advocacy director for Florida's CHAIN, taking on the same struggle there.
Wherever she went, whatever she did, she touched people and did what she could to make their lives better. In working on her assistance applications, her family discovered that, even in her most spare economic situations, she gave at least a little every month, through modest recurring donations, to organizations for which she cared deeply.
Athena was born March 30, 1983, in Cleveland, Ohio, was a 2001 graduate of MMI Preparatory School in Freeland, and a 2007 graduate of her beloved Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio.
Additional survivors include her devoted grandparents, Donald and Nancy Smith; her loving stepfather, Robert "Jake" Jastremski; her beloved sister-in-law, Katie Ford; and her niece, Leona Ford. She was fortunate to have her devoted aunt, Nancy Smith Bayley (Kevin), who provided her a remarkable amount of professional assistance and love throughout her recovery, and her aunt, Mary Hrubowchak (David), who was a constant medical adviser to her family. Athena is also survived by her nutty and loved uncle, Don Smith (Susie); aunts, Karen Ford and Sharon Green (Dean); uncle, Alan Ford, as well as by her much-loved hiking companion, her dog, Dillon.
Athena will be cremated and her ashes scattered privately by her family in the woods, preserves, and hiking spots she most loved.
All are invited to a celebration of Athena's life at 1 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Nescopeck Social Hall, 510 Zenith Road, Nescopeck. The family will receive well-wishers 1 to 3 p.m., after which, they will join whomever wishes to remain, as long as they wish to remain, in joyfully remembering Athena and celebrating her life. Light food and refreshments will be served.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Athena's life by helping a stranger when they need a hand, by loving your neighbors, and by caring for the planet.