The LuLac Edition #3409, January 19th, 2017

OBAMA IN REVIEW

President Obama then

President Obama now.

Today is essentially the last day of the Barack Obama Presidency. The Obama record and legacy will be debated intensely in this partisan atmosphere. But I believe in the long run of history Obama will be known as a consequential President who overcame a great deal from a recalcitrant Congress.
On the plus side, The President passed Health Care Reform which is still being debated. His dare that he would support anything better has the possibility to flummox the GOP. 
His stimulus program is pretty much forgotten but it spured economic growth amid greatest recession since the Great Depression. Weeks after stimulus went into effect, unemployment claims began to subside. Twelve months later, the private sector began producing more jobs than it was losing,  Then there was Wall Street Reform: Signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010) to re-regulate the financial sector after its practices caused the Great Recession.
He created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (now headed by Richard Cordray) to crack down on abusive lending products and companies.
Ended the War in Iraq: and began Draw down of War in Afghanistan: Eliminated Osama bin laden. 
Turned Around U.S. Auto Industry,
Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: Ended 1990s-era restriction and formalized new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military for the first time. Improved America’s Image Abroad: With new policies, diplomacy, and rhetoric, reversed a sharp decline in world opinion toward the U.S. (and the corresponding loss of “soft power”) during the Bush years. From 2008 to 2011, favorable opinion toward the United States rose in ten of fifteen countries surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, with an average increase of 26 percent.
This administration kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program, and expanded Pell Grant Spending. 
There were new fuel efficiency standards in 2011 that will nearly double the fuel economy for cars and trucks by 2025.
Increased Support for Veterans: With so many soldiers coming home from Iraq and Iran with serious physical and mental health problems, yet facing long waits for services, increased 2010 Department of Veterans Affairs budget by 16 percent and 2011 budget by 10 percent. Also signed new GI bill offering $78 billion in tuition assistance over a decade, and provided multiple tax credits to encourage businesses to hire veterans.
Created Conditions to Begin Closing Dirtiest Power Plants: New EPA restrictions on mercury and toxic pollution, issued in December 2011, likely to lead to the closing of between sixty-eight and 231 of the nation’s oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants. Estimated cost to utilities: at least $11 billion by 2016. Estimated health benefits: $59 billion to $140 billion.
Passed Credit Card Reforms: Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (2009), which prohibits credit card companies from raising rates without advance notification, mandates a grace period on interest rate increases, and strictly limits overdraft and other fees.
Improved Food Safety System: In 2011, signed FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which boosts the Food and Drug Administration’s budget by $1.4 billion and expands its regulatory responsibilities to include increasing number of food inspections, issuing direct food recalls, and reviewing the current food safety practices of countries importing products into America.
Expanded Wilderness and Watershed Protection: Signed Omnibus Public Lands Management Act (2009), which designated more than 2 million acres as wilderness, created thousands of miles of recreational and historic trails, and protected more than 1,000 miles of rivers.
Cracked Down on Bad For-Profit Colleges: In effort to fight predatory practices of some for-profit colleges, Department of Education issued “gainful employment” regulations in 2011 cutting off commercially focused schools from federal student aid funding if more than 35 percent of former students aren’t paying off their loans and/or if the average former student spends more than 12 percent of his or her total earnings servicing student loans.
Improved School Nutrition: In coordination with Michelle Obama, signed Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010 mandating $4.5 billion spending boost and higher nutritional and health standards for school lunches. New rules based on the law, released in January, double the amount of fruits and vegetables and require only whole grains in food served to students.
Expanded Hate Crimes Protections: Signed Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009), which expands existing hate crime protections to include crimes based on a victim’s sexual orientation, gender, or disability, in addition to race, color, religion, or national origin.

(Wall Street Journal, Politico, Time, LuLac archives) 

That’s a lot. But the three big issues, guns, immigration and the economy were the ones that resonated with people in this country. If you look at the Obama checklist, on the surface it made sense and in the long run helped all Americans.
But 2016 was a year in which the three biggest issues he could not get accomplished were ones that were beaten into the ground by a frustrated, uninformed, and fearful America.
Guns, despite what the GOP attack machine told you never were never threatened under this President.
Immigration which in the past was championed by Ronald Reagan was sold as fear by both the perverted and child killing GOP Congress.
The economy which was saved by this President was successful despite the whining of people who felt left behind in this administration. Not to sound like a Republican, you’re behind, step it up and get ahead.
Or break even but for Christ sake shut up about poor you!
The score card on Obama for me is a B. It would been an A but in the first two years of his administration he decided to play patty cakes with the national GOP who was out to screw him from the beginning.
His failure is he should have squashed them like a bug when he had the chance in his first two years in office. 

TRUMP GETS TO WORK ON DAY ONE…MONDAY

So the new President Elect told a British newspaper that he is going to get to work on making America great again. But not on January 21st but on January 23rd. That’s a Monday and Trump needs the weekend.
Monday, Monday.

TRUMP’S POLL RATINGS

So now the Trump apologists are calling the polls saying that 44% of the American polled approve of Trump are FAKE polls. The big baby Huey said so himself. And his gullible followers are in lock step calling talk shows and saying the same thing.
You know what?
I think those polls are fake too.
Judging by most people I speak to, it’s way lower than 44%.

MEDIA MATTERS

KAREL Z GOES TO WASHINGTON

Karel Zubris (Photo: LinkedIn)

Our friend Karel Zubris is going to be at the Inauguration. Karel who was convinced that Hillary Clinton would win the office got her tickets through some connections. She has forged bi partisan relationships with politicos and media people and is staying with friends outside of DC.
We look forward to her reports on her travels.

LULAC ON PA LIVE

We'll be on Pa Live Friday afternoon with Dave Kuharchik and Brittany Sweeney talking about the big Inauguration Day.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Brian Fanelli from the advocacy group Action Together NEPA,
about their opposition to repealing the Affordable Care Act.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Cordi Brown from the Blue Chip Farms Animal
Refuge about their "Adopt A Kennel" fundraiser.
Frankie speaks with Rosie and Rudi from Rev Theatre about their children's production of
"Macbeth", coming to United Neighborhood Centers.
And an encore of Brian's December interview with Dr. Joshua Newman, who discusses
wearable medical devices.
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.

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts Rusty Fender and David DeCosmo and Director Mark Migilore welcome Erica Rogler from the Wyoming County Cultural Center to the program during the week of January 23rd to talk about upcoming events for area residents. 

ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is broadcast during the Noon, 6pm, and Midnight hours throughout the week.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests are Angel and Eric Kropiewicki from the ARKcares Foundation.
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

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 he
heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

Bobby's show returns live this Sunday @6PM on The River.

1977

Our 1977 logo

Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious Legionnaires' disease…..U.S. President Gerald Ford, on his final full day in office, pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (aka "Tokyo Rose")..........Snow falls in Miami (despite its ordinarily tropical climate) for the only time in its history. Snowfall has occurred farther south in the United States only on the high mountains of the state of Hawaii.............Jimmy Carter is sworn in as President of the United States.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter pardons Vietnam War draft evaders….in Pennsylvania the news about the Vietnam War pardons is met with mixed emotions by peace activists and veterans….in Wilkes Barre more work continues on the redevelopment of Public Square and forty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Car Wash” - Rose Royce from the movie of the same name.