The LuLac Edition #3408, January 18th, 2017
WRITE ON WEDNESDAY
Our "Write On Wednesday" logo.
BIG MEDIA: STOP!!!!
During the 2008 and 2012 campaigns, many people in our area were tiring of the attention that both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden received for their roots in this region. Granted there was coverage. But nothing like the probe of Luzerne County voters who by their majority pretty much made it possible for Donald Trump to carry Pennsylvania in 2016. The national media has swarmed on this area doing probes as to why this county, the Lu and the Lac to a lesser extent voted the way we did.
It has been a treat to see this coverage for my media friends and Republican winners. But the Times Leader might have had it right on Tuesday when the paper said, "Whoa". Here's their editorial and the link to it. http://timesleader.com/opinion/editorials/626127/our-opinion-big-media-overdoes-it-in-luzerne-county
Our Opinion: Big media overdoes it in Luzerne County
Oh, big media, you flatter us so. We appreciate all the attention since the November election, all the celebs, all the national TV exposure. You are simply too, too generous with your time.
But please, stop!
Seriously, stop. Or at least, if you are going to keep swooping in, give Luzerne County a cut of the action, a royalty of some sort from the money your programs or publications make. One of you could open up a little studio here and employ a few locals.
Or maybe we could figure out how to pull a “New Jersey.” You know, let you enter Luzerne County for free, but charge a hefty toll to leave.
The latest case: ABC’s 20/20 aired a segment Friday that included Wilkes-Barre firefighter Chris Smith’s struggle to make ends meet.
Make no mistake, the central point — that too many Americans are having a hard time financially — is real, particularly in an age when so much of the nation’s wealth is going to a small a slice of its population.
But frankly, a city firefighter’s salary is almost always above the county’s average household income of $45,897, and well above the per capita income of $25,224. Smith also has health insurance coverage through work (which he contributes to), has received regular contractual raises, and gets a pension upon retirement.
One wonders how representative Smith’s situation really is.
A few days earlier, NBCnews.com ran a report on Luzerne County’s drug problem, a piece given a healthy dose of coal in this space Saturday. As noted in that editorial, NBC decided to measure Luzerne County’s overdose death rate against New York City’s rate, clearly a comparison chosen with emotional impact in mind, not logic.
A comparison with similar-sized counties that share similar demographics would have been dull, if potentially more informative. The NBC piece also flitted between talking about the county, about Wilkes-Barre proper, and about the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
And it referred to “a brand new Chick-fil-A, which is located on the first floor of a dorm that King’s College built right on the square …” King’s built nothing. They renovated a former hotel, and it is home to the school’s health sciences program, as well as student housing.
Since the county turned red in helping Donald Trump win the presidency, we’ve also had visits by Time magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, LeMonde and Reuters.
Even if it’s true that any publicity is good publicity (it’s not), and even if our county really has become a quintessential microcosm of America writ large (unlikely), so much attention in so short a time starts to feel like heard journalism, as in “I heard Luzerne County is perfect for the kind of story we’re looking to do.”
By all means, come on in, sit a spell, really get to know us and our area. We love the company.
But if you keep dropping in because we’ve become a convenient place to flesh out your pre-conceived notions of life in the “rust belt,” well, consider broadening your horizons.
posted by David Yonki @ 7:45 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Twas the Night Before Inauguration!
Twas the night before Inauguration, and up in the tower,
The Donald reflected on his newfound power.
The conservative masses had come out in force,
And delivered a victory that would chart a new course.
The snowflakes were shell-shocked with tears in their eyes,
The media lied to them . . . What a surprise.
They had been promised a Hillary win,
But the criminal Clinton took one on the chin.
And though from all corners celebrities flew,
They made no impression, for they hadn’t a clue.
They talked about climate, racism, and such,
And they made up good stories . . . But didn’t know much.
The fake news and ignorance came at a cost,
And they can’t understand all the reasons they lost.
They blame it on Comey and Bernie and Vlad,
But fail to acknowledge the one that was bad.
Yes, Hillary Clinton, in many ways flawed,
Was her own biggest hurdle toward getting the nod.
The campaign exposed her corruptness and greed,
And her speeches were punch-less as ten dollar weed.
So out in the streets there arose such a clatter,
It was Soros-paid protestors and Black Lives Matter.
With cities to pillage and windows to smash,
They knew not the issues, but needed the cash.
Eight years of Obama had given them cause,
To expect a replacement of their Santa Claus.
But soon the protestors will feel the pain,
When the wheels fall off of the old gravy train.
And now all the snowflakes are riddled with fear,
Upset and offended by things that they’ll hear.
The cocoa and crayons will help for a while,
But fact-based opinions will soon cramp their style.
I originally supported, and voted, for Cruz,
In the end, I would vote for whoever they choose.
He wasn’t my first choice, but soon I would cede,
The one they call Trump is the one that we need.
I saw him on TV in front of a crowd,
He spoke about veterans, it made me feel proud.
He spoke about energy, safety, and jobs,
Taking this country back from the Washington snobs.
He was dressed in Armani, all tailored and neat,
And the Brunos he wore made the outfit complete.
For a man of his vintage, he seemed rather fit,
And he looked presidential, I have to admit.
His eyes glowed like embers, his smile was the best,
And his hair was the color of my old hunting vest.
His love for this country was on full display,
And his actions spoke louder than his words could say.
He thanked all his voters, and before he was gone,
Saved thousands of jobs while Obama looked on.
The fate of this country left nothing to chance,
So, he filled out his cabinet weeks in advance.
The men he had chosen were of the same mind,
Let’s set the bar high, and not lead from behind.
He picked up his phone as he rose from his seat,
With a flick of his finger, he sent out this tweet;
“Now Mattis!, now Kelly!’ now Sessions! And Pruitt!
On Perry! On Flynn, You’re the ones who can do it.
Start lifting restrictions and building the wall,
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”;
The roar of his audience rose from the stands,
He kissed all their babies and shook all their hands.
He answered their questions and calmed all their fears,
They knew it would be a fantastic four years.
Then he jumped in his limo, and off to his jet,
A fellow that Liberals won’t soon forget.
He sent one more tweet as the evening expired;
“Happy Inauguration to all,
AND OBAMA – YOU’RE FIRED!”
Do like I have done with Corbett, don't listen, watch or read.
Just because the reporting is out there doesn't mean we must pay it any attention.
reporting is out there doesn't mean we must pay it any attention
That may be why all the analysts got it wrong. They ignored what Joe The Plumber et al was saying.
BTW: If Obama had any leadership qualities at all he would "strongly encourage" 65 representatives to be polite and attend the inauguration.
Post a Comment
<< Home