The LuLac Edition #3719, February 28th, 2018

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

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This week Mrs. LuLac came across a great piece regarding religion, guns and politics. For years I have been annoyed at people who tell me how much they love God and then go out and do not practice ant of the tenants of their beliefs.
This article by blogger John Pavlovitz is eye opening and puts on notice those who wrap themselves in God when in realty, maybe God's not watching. Here is this great piece and the link to his website.

NO, CHRISTIAN, JESUS DIDN’T SAY YOU CAN HAVE YOUR GUNS

By John Pavolvitz

In the wake of the shameful growing legacy of mass shootings in America, one of the saddest realizations, is that the loudest, most vehement voices championing the cause of weapons of brutality—have come from professed Evangelical Christians.
The cognitive dissonance of supposed followers of Jesus choosing the side of violence and opposing the movement of mercy is staggering, exceeded only by the contention that Jesus says they can pack heat.
It’s nonsense and heresy and it’s a full bastardization of his life and ministry.
There simply aren’t any theological gymnastics wild enough to make it work.
Not with the Jesus who preached that those following in his footsteps would turn the other cheek to violence.
Not with the Jesus who spoke of the blessed nature of the peacemakers.
Not with the Jesus whose benevolence and lack of force were ever-present.
Gun-loving Jesus followers love to point to a passage in the Gospel biography written by Luke, where Jesus speaks about his impending unlawful arrest by Roman soldiers and instructs them to “bring a sword.”
This, they claim is their God-given gun license.
The problem is, they stop reading at this point, close the book—and run to their gun shows and NRA rallies.
They fail to stick with the same story for a couple of paragraphs; when the Romans arrive, and one of Jesus’ students named Peter, takes out one of said swords, and cuts off a soldier’s ear. Jesus verbally tears into Peter, heals the solider’s ear, and tells those with him that this will not be their way.
He then allows himself to be taken into custody, beaten, and ultimately murdered by his captors.
This is the full story, and it is bad news for those wanting to be cowboys.
This narrative isn’t helpful for the gun-toting followers of Jesus.
This narrative doesn’t give them a God who consents to their weapon-lust.
This narrative doesn’t let them have Jesus and NRA membership at the same time.
This narrative actually tells them to drop their weapons and to beat them into plowshares, and to be those who live differently than the fear-bringers.
Christians straining to hold on to their guns, talk about the story of Jesus fashioning a whip to drive money lenders out of the temple, as some half-baked gun blessing—which again is such a perversion of the story that it would be laughable if it weren’t resulting in so many dead school students two thousand years later.
Jesus chases the corrupt people out of the temple because they are profiting from the manipulation of religion. Jesus is driving out the modern-day NRA lobbyists, corrupt politicians, and religious hypocrites. He is running the vipers off and they are the vipers. (And by the way, he doesn’t kill or strike any of them in the process.)
This is why people outside Christianity think that followers of Jesus picking up the cause of tools of mass murder is a blasphemous disconnect—because it is.
They’re seeing it all perfectly clearly.
They can see people trying desperately to make God in their own fearful, insecure, bullying image, and they reject it all.
They know enough about Jesus to know that his finger would never be on a trigger—and there’s simply no way to get around that.
In a last-gasp attempt to hold Jesus at gunpoint, these folks love to quote him talking in Matthew’s Gospel about his mission, “not to bring peace, but a sword.”
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Again, they desperately want those words, but not their context or their intention. Jesus is speaking about the way his teachings will cause turbulence between people; the way interpersonal conflict will arrive when they endeavor to do his work of love, compassion, and justice: that it will drive a wedge, it will cause a rift—it will bring a sword. He isn’t saying he wants us to lay waste to our family members. He isn’t saying he came to bring people to hand-to-hand combat. (Yes, gun advocate Christians actually try to go here, to this ridiculous place.)
Those professing to take such words literally, may also be prepared to gouge their eyes out for looking at a woman lustfully—though I imagine this would leave a vast army of blind faithful folks in churches this coming Sunday.
No Christian, Jesus wants no part of your gun lust. He wants nothing to do with your seething nationalism and your 2nd Amendment shield and your tough guy bravado behind a trigger.
He told you to love your enemies.
He told you to turn your cheek.
He told you not to resist an evil person.
He told you to be foot washers and wound binders and compassion givers.
He told you to care for the least and to feed the poor and to welcome the refugee.
That is what he said clearly.
You can love your guns.
You can open carry in department stores.
You can champion the cause of assault weapons.
You can cover your bumper in tough guy propaganda.
You can oppose any sensible gun regulations.
You can glory in your amassed arsenal.
You can do nothing while thousands of people die every year in America.
Just don’t try and pretend Jesus is okay with it.
He isn’t.
He weeps at it all.
And so do those of us who realize it.
Here's his link: https://johnpavlovitz.com/https://johnpavlovitz.com/

The LuLac Edition #3718, February 27th, 2018

WOLOVICH SET TO GO FOR STATE REP SEAT IN THE 121st

GOP candidate and House Bill 76 advocate Greg Wolowich

Greg Wolovich, a staunch advocate for Property Tax Relief is serious about running against the long time Representative who has decided that a House Bill to reduce or eliminate property taxes in his district just isn't worth his time. You can help save your homes by attending a petition signing for our him in the 121st District! Other petitions will be available for State Committee Members, Governor and Lt. Governor.

Here's the When and Where

121st Republican Petition Signing Event

Thu 6 PM · Norm's Pizza and Eatery · Wilkes-Barre

Here's Greg's bio. More to come once he gets hi petitions signed. Raised in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre, I currently reside in the Korn Krest section of Hanover Township. I graduated from G.A.R. Memorial High School. I went on to King's College where I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting
A lifelong resident of Luzerne County, I understand the needs of our hardworking citizens. I am currently employed as a laborer in the warehousing industry for Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Living on a paycheck to paycheck budget, I am well connected with the struggles many of us here face every day. My main goal is to put the needs of the working class in Pennsylvania first.
Property taxes, as determined by last years referendum vote, are of prime concern to our people. I pledge to fight for property tax elimination as well as working to find a more suitable way to fund our public school system. I also vow to accept only a 401k based retirement plan as I feel the pension system in Pennsylvania is broken and unfair to the taxpayers. I also believe a smaller government is key to saving taxpayer dollars, slashing unnecessary costs across the board.
In closing, I feel we need more accessible individuals who are working hard for our needs in Harrisburg. Integrity, honesty and communication are lacking in today's political environment. I want not only to work for you, but with you to build a better, stronger Pennsylvania. We can do this together!
Let's face it folks, there's a long time Representative in office who says he is for the working person but how can that be when he opposes Property Tax reform for his voters who are barely getting by. 
If you are a Republican, GO. If you are a Democrat, take a Republican friend. Get that petition signed.

RELAY FOR LIFE SET MARCH 4th-11am-4p AT STANTON LANES-"BOWL FOR A CAUSE"

The Relay For Life team of R. J. Financial Services will be holding a “Bowl For A Cause” Fundraiser at Stanton Lanes, 470 Stanton St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 on Sunday. March 4, 2018 from 11am until 4pm. The event is free to enter and $25 to bowl; 6 people per lane. There will be basket raffles, live music, and a bake sale. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Date & Time
Sunday, March 4, 2018
11am – 4pm
Location
Stanton Lanes
470 Stanton Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Here's the link:  https://www.giveluzerne.org/project/03-04-2018-rjfs-bowl-for-a-cause/

The LuLac Edition #3717, February 25th, 2018

THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AND WHAT IT MEANS

By now you’ve most likely seen the new map carved out by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. To be clear, the Court didn’t have to do it if the GOP Legislature had been fair. But they are so incapable of even the slightest compromise, the High Court elected by the people had to make the decision.
You’ll hear the Republican whiners talking about an even playing field and how it’s “unconstitutional”. Hmmm, I never saw anything in the Constitution I read about gerrymandering but the right wingers carry their little book in their back pockets making sure you know just how much an American they are!
But I digress. Let’s look at the map and how it affects our region.
CARTWRIGHT: His district makes up parts of Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties. With Monroe trending toward more Democratic and Independent voters (it was Monroe that saved Paul Kanjorski’s seat in 2008) that larger population base will even out Wayne and Pike which has been in a GOP District for over half a century. Cartwright has had the support of Democrats in both The Lu and The Lac which should keep him safe.
His opponent John Chrin, has literally been permanently nailed to Sammy Lesante’s guest chair on the Hazleton Public Access Channel. Now Hazleton is gone from the district. Oh well. Cartwright has been warning supporters about Chrin since last summer but now Chrin has to decide if he really wants this seat that bad. Watch the GOP side on this one.
BARLETTA’S 9th, the old 11th: Dan Meuser thought this might be a cake walk. But now the odds are stacked a little better for his opposition. Schuylkill County carried Tim Holden in all those years he was a Congressman. But the other counties always leaned Republican and will most likely remain Republican. The caveat to that though is how the Trump Presidency will look come election time to make this race competitive. If it is continuing on its most recent path, all bets might be off. That said, never underestimate the “passion” of the Trump voter.
MARINO'S district, the 12th formerly the 10th: is chock full of Republican diehards and Trump lovers. Casino Marino drew a straight flush with what the whining Republicans will tell you was “a Democratic gerrymandering court ordered partisan ruling." 
The bottom line here is this. Despite the pissing and moaning of the statewide Republicans, crying like little babies with their itty bitty feelings hurt....despite that....here we most likely will remain with one Democratic Congressman and two Republicans. 

MEANWHILE……….

……when the maps came out, here were statements from candidates.
MATT CARTWRIGHT: "I have represented Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District since 2013. Serving people in each town from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre to Easton and Pottsville is a tremendous honor.
My home is in the newly-drawn 8th District, which includes Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike and portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The change is bittersweet because I will miss working with constituents I’ve come to know. However, I look forward to working hard every day to serve all of my constituents, old and new."
ANDREW LEWIS: Lewis switched gears deciding to run in the 105th District of the State House. "Over the past month, the progressive Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided to redraw the entire Pennsylvania congressional map with less than three months until the primary election. To this day, the map is still not final as there are multiple appeals in federal court from people across the political spectrum. That being said, it appears, based on the court-drawn map, that I will now be represented by one of the best conservatives in Washington, Congressman Scott Perry, and I could not be more excited to support his campaign as he prepares to run in his newly drawn district."
DAN MEUSER : "We anticipate this newly released map is going to be challenged on the basis of constitutionality, specifically as to whether the PA Supreme Court has the authority to draw maps. We will note, the court-drawn 9th Congressional District overlaps many areas in the 11th District where we have been campaigning hard for the past five months. At this time, we are going to continue to campaign in what was the original 11th Congressional District and will comment further once all legal challenges are resolved and district lines become definitive."
ALAN HOWE: Howe left this statement on Ballotpedia and then asked readers to go to the link outlining the court decision. "On February 19, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted a new congressional district map after having ruled in January 2018 that the original map, adopted by the legislature in 2011, constituted an illegal partisan gerrymander. District locations and numbers differ between the two maps. The court also adjusted the primary election filing period for congressional candidates: filing begins on February 27, 2018, and ends on March 20, 2018. Further legal action is possible. Ballotpedia is monitoring these developments and will update our coverage accordingly. For the latest information, including images of the remedial and original maps."
https://ballotpedia.org/Redistricting_in_Pennsylvania#Congressional_redistricting.2C_2010

MARSHALL TO BE SHOWN AT WILKES TOMORROW NIGHT

On Monday, Feb. 26, as part of the Black History Month Series, the local chapter of the NAACP will be showing the movie “Marshall”. It starts at 6pm at Wilkes University in the Henry Student Center, Grand ball room 2nd floor.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin and written by Michael and Jacob Koskoff. It stars Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, and focuses on one of the first cases of his career. It also stars Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Sterling K. Brown, and James Cromwell.

The LuLac Edition #3716, February 22nd, 2018

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

You had to be heartless if you weren’t impressed with the passion of the young people who took on cowardly politicians who have been bullied by the NRA. For too long, politicians have taken money from The NRA because they are afraid to take a stand.
Having grown up in The Vietnam War era where I saw college students protest a war in Southeast Asia, I see parallels between that era of protest and this one. I have never been prouder of a generation than I have this past weekend when the kids gave it to the man. I use the word loosely when I refer to the REPUBLICAN establishment as "The Man". This time though, "The Man" as the establishment was referred to back in the day is a puny, cowardly man with no guts, no principles but…..a lot of money from The NRA. Plus the right wing Talk Show hosts are now saying the kids are being coached. Callers to shows are whining "Where are there parents?" Maybe if these blowhards used critical thinking they'd figure out that what parents said after Sandy Hook didn't work!

THE REPUBLICAN WEENIE COWARDS

A few things happened that will not surprise you at all concerning gun control and Republicans. A few items of note. Granted it came from the Neanderthals in Florida but here goes.
1. A staff member from Representative Shawn Walker's office stated that the children/students on TV were not really classmates of those killed. But were in fact “actors” who were sent to cause trouble. Again, typical Republican LIES.
2. Marco Rubio took over 3 million dollars from The NRA. Can you imagine him giving in to their pressure? Nope.
3. The Florida state House on Tuesday rejected a ban on many semiautomatic guns and large capacity magazines as dozens of survivors of last week's school shooting headed to the state Capitol to turn their grief into political action. Lawmakers voted down a motion to consider the ban during a session that opened with a prayer for the 17 people killed by a former student last Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The vote in the Republican-dominated body was 36-71.
Stoneman Douglas students in the gallery of the Capitol during the vote appeared stunned,
They should not. This is the reality kids. This is your Republican party telling you your friend’s death don’t matter and neither do you.
Act accordingly.

TRUMP BUDGET AND ENTITLEMENTS

ATTENTION SENIORS, TRUMP’S BUDGET IS COMING FOR YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS

All those baby boomers who took up the cross of Donald Trump, might find themselves crucified by their great leader. If they aren't on disability or SS yet, they will be in for a big surprise when and if The Trump budget takes effect. Trump released his 2019 budget last week, and it included $266 billion in cuts to Medicare, which provides health insurance to 58 million Americans 65 and older and people with certain disabilities.
Howard Gleckman, a contributor for Forbes, breaks down the proposed changes:

What Trump’s Budget Would Mean For Seniors

— Medicare drug benefit would be restructured to reduce costs for some beneficiaries but raise them for others.
“Trump has proposed eliminating cost-sharing for seniors with very high prescription drug costs, but at the same time he’d increase out-of-pocket expenses for many others, especially those who have significant costs but have not quite reached the threshold where medicine would be free ($8,418 this year).”
— A freeze on most funding under the Older Americans Act, which provides money for social and nutrition services for seniors including Meals on Wheels. While the proposal has a small increase for food programs, it would cut funding for disability programs by about 30 percent,
Gets rid of federal block grants that states use to fund programs for seniors.
— A new six-week family leave program would be created. But it would exclude people caring for frail parents or other relatives with disabilities.
“Each time this proposal surfaces, it focuses only on parents of newborns (and sometimes adoptees) but ignores the needs of families caring for aging parents and other relatives with disabilities,” Gleckman writes. “Families are not just parents and babies. There are millions of adult children—usually daughters–who put their paid jobs at risk by taking time off to help frail parents or disabled siblings.”
— The elimination of the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which provides job training to low-income job seekers ages 55 and older.
It’s more of the same from his first budget introduced last year: In his first budget, Trump to struggling seniors: You’ll be on your own
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, wrote this in response to Trump’s FY19 budget proposal: “Despite Donald Trump’s numerous promises during his presidential campaign to not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, he proposes to cut all three in his just-released budget. And not just by a little. He proposes cuts of over $1.8 trillion to the three programs. On top of that, he proposes to slash Meals on Wheels, home heating assistance, and other programs on which seniors rely. It is noteworthy that Republicans just passed, for almost the same price tag, a huge tax giveaway to their donors. So that’s the Republican plan: save money by gutting programs for the elderly and transfer the savings to the billionaire class.”
Who gets hurt?
Who gets hurt? Our neighbors, friends, and family.
•Working families who get help from SNAP to put food on the table.
•Elders dependent on Medicare for health care.
•Veterans and displaced workers seeking job training.
•Families applying to HUD for housing assistance.
•Every single person who's paid into Social Security.
•People relying on support for low-income home heating.
(CNN, Forbess, LuLac)

TRUMP BUDGET NIXES PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY EXTENSION THE ARTS

Trump's newly 2019 budget again proposes the elimination of funding for the three major entities that award federal funding for public broadcasting and the arts: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The $4.4 trillion budget proposal is not much of a surprise to public TV and arts advocates, as Trump's 2018 budget also called for zeroing out such funding. Instead, funding survived, which is a testament to just how much of a wish-list the White House budget really is, as opposed to something that will actually gain traction on Capitol Hill.
The rationale that the White House makes for eliminating the federal funding is that the outlay can be made up for by private donations and grants at the state level.
Private donations? By who? Deadbeats like Trump?
"CPB funding comprises about 15% of the total amount spent on public broadcasting, with the remainder coming from non-federal sources, with many large stations raising an even greater share," the budget states. "This private fundraising has proven durable, negating the need for continued federal subsidies.
"Services such as PBS and NPR, which receive funding from CPB, could make up the shortfall by increasing revenues from corporate sponsors, foundations, and members. In addition, alternatives to PBS and NPR programming have grown substantially since CPB was first established in 1967, greatly reducing the need for publicly-funded programming options," the budget reads.
Yeah I worked in Public TV and radio and membership and funding is very tough to come by. But members do support local community entities both on an individual and corporate basis. The fact that this REPUBLICAN administration thinks that these things can make up the shortfall is ignorant and disgusting. Just like the man whose name this budget bears. (LuLac, CNN) 

BEHREN'S SIGNING PARTY A SUCCESS 

In the 119th Justin Behren's is making another run at State Representative. He had a wildly successful signing party the otter night (last week) and is poised to take on the Democratic incumbent Gerald Mullery again. From what I hear Mullery had a signing party too but since his campaign never sent any information before or after, oh well. 

Here's Justin along with his wife Lisa with GOP candidate for Governor Scott Wagner. 

MEDIA MATTERS

WAGNER-BARTOS BLITZ PENNSYLVANIA’S SUNDAY SHOW CIRCUIT

2018 gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner and his running mate Jeff Bartos (Wagner’s first and only choice for the position) hit Pennsylvania's Sunday political talk show circuit for their first television interviews since each of them received the Republican Party of Pennsylvania’s endorsement. Wagner and Bartos appeared together on “Pennsylvania Newsmakers” and “Face the State,” where they discussed their decision to form a ticket, their agenda to change the status quo in Pennsylvania, and how the campaign has come together thus far. Wagner also appeared on “This Week in Pennsylvania,” where he talked about earning the Republican party’s endorsement and the case against Tom Wolf.

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400-The Game, NEPA's Fox .Sports Radio and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

ECTV LIVE

ECTV Live hosts Rusty Fender, David DeCosmo, and Director Mark Migilore welcome Jamie Hailstone to the program during the week of February 26th to unveil plans for this year's Saint Patrick's Parade in Scranton.
ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired during the Noon, 6pm and Midnight hours each day of the week. Following Monday's Live program the show will become available on Electric City Television's YouTube channel which can be viewed on your computer.

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!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1960

Our 1960 logo

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy was introduced by Frank Sinatra to Judith Campbell Exner. JFK and Exner had their first sexual encounter on March 7 at Room 1651 of the Plaza Hotel in New York……Laurence Slattery and Lesley Wasley, both volunteers, permitted a team of Australian doctors at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney to administer curare to stop their breathing, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of various forms of artificial respiration. Among the findings were that a drowning victim's head should be placed upright, rather than to the side, to aid breathing……Queen Elizabeth II announced that her future descendants would bear her husband's name as well as her own, creating the surname Mountbatten-Windsor….Sunday became a regular work day in all of Sudan, after the Muslim government in Khartoum decreed that Friday was the uniform day of rest for the entire nation. Previously, provinces in southern Sudan (which had a large Christian minority and a stronger British influence under the rule of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) had Sunday as the day off, while northern Sudan had switched to Friday upon independence in 1956.
André Previn made the first of 51 appearances at Carnegie Hall, playing George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F.

In Pennsylvania four people were killed and five others injured by a pipeline worker turned sniper. Dan Raymond, who lived near Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, shot two county workers who were spreading cinders, then fired from his home at other vehicles until police killed him nine hours later….in Wilkes Barre plans for new parking facilities are discussed and fifty eight years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Theme From A Summer Place” by Percy Faith.

The LuLac Edition #3715, Feruary 21st, 2018

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

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THE SENATE RACE

Senator Casey and Congressman Barletta (Photo: LuLac archives)

It is still early but speculation on the big LuLac showdown between Congressman Lou Barletta and Senator Bob Casey is beginning to take shape. Our friends at Franklin and Marshall, Terry Madonna and Michael Young have weighed in on the probabilities of this race. Take a look and see the link below for more information on their writings. .

CASEY VS BARLETTA: THE PROBABILITIES

If politics is a science, it is a science of probabilities, not certainties. “President” Hillary Clinton could probably elaborate on that as could the late “President” Tom Dewey.
This is not to say there are no certainties in politics. One is the calendar. Pennsylvania on November 6th will hold a U.S. Senate election (along with 33 other states) - one that almost certainly will help determine which national party controls Congress during the last two years of President Trump’s current term.
Another near certainty is that the opposing major party nominees will be Democrat incumbent Bob Casey and retiring Republican Congressman Lou Barletta. Casey’s a two-term incumbent who has no serious opposition within the Democratic Party while Barletta overwhelming won the endorsement of his Republican Party.
Finally, we can be sure the Pennsylvania senate race will be perceived as a proxy war between the supporters of President Trump and his opponents. No fiercer critic of Trump serves in the senate than Democrat Bob Casey, while there has been no more loyal or enthusiastic supporter of Trump than Barletta. Casey routinely criticizes Trump for many of his policies. While Barletta, who co-chaired Trump’s race in Pennsylvania, was the early face of immigration policies Trump later adopted.
Who might win this looming contest between two candidates who could not be more different? Answering that takes us squarely into the realm of political probabilities, where numerous historical and political antecedents prefigure the race.
Collectively, these suggest that Congressman Barletta, indeed, has “a high hill to climb” to defeat Casey – although it would be foolish to predict either an easy or certain victory for the two- term incumbent. Barletta, who hails from Hazelton, is no “Rocky Balboa” like political pugilist, and he has no bronze statue sitting off the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
But “Rocky” could well be Barletta’s campaign avatar as he begins an epic struggle to unseat Casey - who has run statewide five times for three separate offices in the past 15 years, winning all of them in a landslide. In fact, his 2018 candidacy going back to his father, the near legendary governor of the same name, will be the 15th time the Casey name has appeared on a state ballot over some six decades.
Hard statistical probabilities lead the list of challenges confronting Barletta. For more than a century, the reelection rate for incumbent senators of the party not in the White House is 91 percent. Statistically speaking, that makes Barletta’s chances of beating Casey about nine percent.
Most of this is explained by Casey’s incumbency amped up by the well established “midterm effect,” whereby the party holding the White House struggles to win congressional races.
Barletta also faces other challenges. One of these is Trump. The congressman has embraced him so fiercely that the race will inevitably be seen as a personal referendum on Trump and his policies. Trump’s current anemic approval rating means Barletta may have trouble expanding his base beyond core Trump supporters. Even worse, Barletta is most known for his hard line position on immigration, a position greatly at odds with swing and independent state voters.
Organizational challenges also confront the Barletta campaign. Barletta has never had a tough race nor has he ever run statewide in a state of 8.5 million registered voters living in six major media markets. In making the race he is moving from the minors to the majors, becoming a “rookie” in a state that has been tough on rookies seeking the senate.
Money also looks problematic for Barletta. Casey already has about ten times more cash on hand ($5.5 million). Nor is this more than early money in 2018. The Toomey race in 2016 topped $175 million, setting a national record.
Barletta has little experience in raising these large sums. To do better he has to attract Republican national campaign funders to his cause – and to do that he must demonstrate the ability to raise more funds. That will not be easy. Competitive races abound across the country and Barletta must look like a winner to attract his share of campaign contributions.
All of this paints a dreary picture for the Barletta candidacy. He is likely to lose. But likely to lose is not certainty that he will.
Trump’s approval ratings are showing a modest upward tick nationally which could continue into the November election. Certainly, he will campaign for Barletta and it is not yet clear whether Trump helps or hurts on the campaign trail.
Moreover, the now elusive money will flow into Barletta’s coffers if he gains momentum and rookie or no; he might turn out to be a great campaigner.
If any or all of these things happen, this race could end up an old fashioned Pennsylvania nail biter.
The probabilities are that it won’t. The certainty is that it could.
 https://mailchi.mp/fandm/21918?e=6ff4365d27

The LuLac Edition #3714, February 20th, 2018

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Our "Maybe I'm Amazed" logo.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that President Trump has claimed that the reason why the Florida shooter’s behavior fell through the cracks was because the FBI was concentrating too much on proving Russian collusion. This disgraceful tweet are examples of three things we should ask about him. 
a. Why he doesn’t know about the FBI and how it works?
b. What he doesn’t know about his own god damn appointments?  It was Trump who appointed Robert Mueller as Special Prosecutor. Does he really think that ALL of the FBI agents are working for Mueller?
c. Trump is not very smart in the traditional sense. I still think he paid someone to take his tests at Wharton. But he is cagey and wily putting any street thug in New York to shame with his instinct for survival.
But this Tweet clearly indicates that he smells fear.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…that an ant’s sense of smell is stronger than a dog’s.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that the new GOP term for those people decrying gun violence and the availability of firearms now have a new buzz word. Instrumentality. Really? They haven’t done anything because they have had the power to do so since 2010 when they took over the House. Thoughts and prayers, people kill, not guns, 2nd Amendment and now instrumentality.A new word in the GOP do nothing playbook.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that poor Jim Bakker, that scam Evangelist preacher from the 80s was scorned by his fellow bible thumpers when it was uncovered that he was paying money to one of his staffers, Jessica Hahn. 

She was on the cover of Playboy and Penthouse and the holy rollers banished her to the fires of hell. But Trump? They like him. 
Equally amazing to me is that when it was uncovered that the President was paying off a porn star before the election, the sainted oh so God loving and fearing Christian Evangelicals are willing to give Trump a mulligan. Hypocritical you say? Well to quote Winston Churchill who once said to a woman seated next to him at a dinner party: 
“Churchill: "Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?" 
Socialite: "My goodness, Mr. Churchill... Well, I suppose... we would have to discuss terms, of course... "
Churchill: "Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"
Socialite: "Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!" 
Churchill: "Madam, we've already established that. Now we are haggling about the price”. 

The price of the modern day Evangelical  whores is Trump’s policies against gays, women and people of color.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………that the big brawl on a Carnival Cruise ship started over someone stepping on a shoe. A sandal if you will. A large bunch of slobs who have the money to piss away on a Cruise (my God pick a more classier line will ya) retaliated against people on the ship. It got to the point where the ships Captain called the police and had the 25 stupid bastards off the ship. At first I figured it was transplant New York A holes from the Carolinas but it turned out to be a large family of Italians who decided to be ocean fighting idiots.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..at shows that Mrs. LuLac watches on TV. One is “Say Yes To the Dress”. I hear it while I work on my writing and if some of these people on the show are indicative of America, we are screwed.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that in just under 5 weeks major league baseball begins. A big disappointment for me will be the complete sell off of the Pittsburgh Pirates team. But the good news is  the Rail Riders staff is being aggressive. I only attended two games last year but already I am getting calls from the staff at the Stadium to buy for 2018. And I will.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that flying under the radar last week given the wife beater-security clearance was this jewel. George David Banks resigned after learning that his past marijuana use would keep him from receiving a security clearance, according to a Politico report.
Banks, who advised the White House on energy and environment was a member of the National Economic Council. 

Look at this photo, there is no way he was interested in weed, right? 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..never to underestimate the power of the yard sign. Many political analysts say that the multitude of signs for Doug Jones vs Roy Moore had a huge impact in that Alabama special election. No wonder why so many local candidates, especially in the Scranton area pepper those front lawns with those signs.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that after so many well wishers bestowing great thoughts on my recent birthday, the next question they ask is “Will you retire at 65?” With God’s good grace, I just want to get to Medicare. In terms of employment, I just might work part time because there is nothing on daytime TV. My God, they gave Robert Irvine a show and the last time I saw him on TV he was fixing up restaurants. Slim pickings.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that two major Supermarket chains in the U.S. are in jeopardy. Bi-Lo, which is the company behind the Winn-Dixie chain, is preparing for a filing as soon as March, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isn’t public. The owner of Tops Friendly Markets, meanwhile, could potentially seek court protection from creditors as soon as this month, people familiar with that situation said. There is a Tops store up in Wysox and Towanda.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………that the Fox/Trump News network has taken on LeBron James for speaking his mind regarding the integrity and decorum of the President. James made the very good point that youngsters growing up always looked to the President as someone who if not inspiring, was at least a leader. Well the Fox sucks ups, especially Laura Ingram essentially attacked James for his grammar and his opinion. They told him to shut up.
This is what they do when they have no argument. Fox News has alienated women, people of color and immigrants, both legal and those on work permits. The only audience they have are white males and their female counterparts who can’t get over the fact that our country has changed. Big time. No one of celebrity comes on Fox except has been actors. Since they cannot even understand pop culture, they tell it to shut up.
And their base laps it up. But that my friends won’t last forever.

The LuLac Edition #3713, February 19th, 2018

PRESIDENT'S DAY 2018 

SOME OF THE BEST SATIRE FROM PAST EDITIONS 

WHAT #45  CAN LEARN FROM PAST OCCUPANTS 

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE 

FIRING GENERALS 

THE GUY BEFORE 

THE HEALTH CARE BILL TRUMP FIRST WANTED AND THE GUYS WHO SAID YES 

THE RUSSIANS AND THE "HOAX" 

THE FAMILY 

THE PAST PRESIDENTS 

THE GREAT NEGOTIATOR WITH THE BIG BRAIN

The LuLac Edition #3712, February 18th, 2018

NAACP FEATURES "13" TOMORROW NIGHT AT WILKES-6PM 

THE WALL IN THE DIKE WIDENS-

RUSSIA NO LONGER "A HOAX" 

 

 Robert Mueller and Donald Trump (Photos: Time Magazine)

This news came from nowhere on Friday. Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians and three companies with interfering in our democracy. The indictment unveiled a sophisticated network designed to subvert the 2016 election and to support the Trump campaign. It spanned from St. Petersburg, Russia, into the social feeds of Americans and ultimately reached the streets of election battleground states.
The White House tried to spin it saying there was no collusion because the interference started in 2014. They also laughingly stated that the partisan divide needed to end and Americans needed to unite. This from the most mean spirited, divisive lying bunch that was ever put in office by citizens, 26,000 of them here in Luzerne County, who got played.
Anyway, here’s the indictment in all it’s entirety.
The entire document should finally put Trump’s statements about “a Russian Hoax” to the merciful death it truly deserves.

https://www.justice.gov/file/1035477/download

OLD FART MORONS AND GUNS IN WEGMANS

I’m in Wegman’s on Saturday and hear two “experts” yapping their dentures on the recent tragedy in Florida. One guy said “If one of the teachers had a gun in their desk, this thing would’ve have been ended right away!” Then one of Wyoming Valley’s finest grandmas started saying that “I’ll start shooting and then start asking questions later”.
Hey, here’s a thought. Did this jerk really think one gun would stop an Assault Rifle? Did grandma really think she had the agility to take on a gang invading her house?
There is a reason why industry has never, ever come here because we have dumb ass seniors as well as others who spout off ignorant opinions with no basis of fact. That’s why they voted for a 71 year old racist, no nothing because they thought, “He’s like me!”
These two would piss their Depends if anyone came near them on their little “safe” streets protected by the only people who know how to use them in terms of attack: the police.

PUNY PAT ON THE FLORIDA GUN VIOLENCE

 Senator Pat Toomey (Philly.com)

Puny Pat Toomey send me an e mail newsletter about what he does or doesn't do in Washington. This week's edition was a dilly.  
Florida
My heart breaks for the students and loved ones of those affected by the terrible school shooting in Florida. I thank the first responders for their swift response and I ask that you all join me in praying for the victims and their families.
I am committed to improving our federal background check system, which is why my staff and I will continue to reach out to Senators on both sides of the aisle to see where progress can be made.
What crap! Most people are tired of the Republican line of "hearts and prayers going out to the families!" Toomey has never walked outside of the lines earmarked for him by Senate leadership and The NRA. A few years back, Toomey voted with his party when he voted against Senator Feinstein’s more inclusive and wide ranging bill and in favor of John Cornyn’s.
Cornyn’s bill poked some holes in the current national background checks system by encouraging states, through the promise of federal funding, to send more information on mental-health records to the national database.
The Republican NRA backed bill called for people who may be mentally ill to be ordered into treatment by a judge without being involuntarily committed.
Under Cornyn’s legislation, the person getting treatment wouldn’t be officially determined to be mentally ill and could, in theory, still purchase firearms. Under current law, a person would have to be adjudicated as mentally ill in order to be barred from purchasing a gun.
PUNY Pat supported this version firmly returning to his  Legislative default position, the back pocket of the NRA.
I believe gun safety legislation should focus on keeping guns away from those who shouldn't have them--criminals, the dangerously mentally ill, and terrorists.
Bullshit Pat. You backed away when the NRA and your boss McConnell scared you away last time. nBut keep your silly newsletters coming and I'll keep poking holes in your lies.

The LuLac Edition #3711, February 15th, 2018

THE GUN TRAGEDY IN FLORIDA 

Another loser shot and killed 17 people on Wednesday in Florida. These were kids going to high school. Predictably the REPUBLICANS offered this: 

“Yesterday, America was shown the face of evil at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Today, millions of American join together with broken hearts. We will continue to pray for the victims, their families and the community impacted. As we learn more about why and how this attack was carried out, we must review and address the protocols that allowed for this murderer, who made his intentions clear, to slip through the cracks.” 

That was From Lou Barletta. The President issued something similar. Hey guys, the time for prayers is over. The default position that we need more Mental Health care is BULLSHIT! Here are the facts. 

Michael Stone, a psychiatrist at Columbia University who maintains a database of mass shooters, wrote in a 2015 analysis that only 52 out of the 235 killers in the database, or about 22 percent, were mentally ill. “The mentally ill should not bear the burden of being regarded as the ‘chief’ perpetrators of mass murder,” Stone concluded. Other research has backed this up.

The real problem, instead, is guns — and, specifically, America’s extraordinary stockpile of firearms. The US has by far the highest number of guns in the world: According to a 2007 estimate, the number of civilian-owned firearms in the US was 88.8 guns per 100 people, meaning there was almost one privately owned gun per American and more than one per American adult. The world’s second-ranked country was Yemen, a quasi-failed state torn by civil war, where there were 54.8 guns per 100 people.

As a result, America has nearly six times the gun homicide rate of Canada, more than seven times that of Sweden, and nearly 16 times that of Germany, according to United Nations data compiled by the Guardian. (These gun deaths are a big reason America has a much higher overall homicide rate than other developed nations.)

The Republican party that has had the majority in Congress since 2014 has blocked every attempt to get even the barest of gun control. 

The deaths of these kids are ON THEIR HEADS! 

In the meantime, here's where we stand in terms of the most guns in a country. (LuLac, Vox) 

THE TARNISHED JEWEL THAT IS WYOMING BOROUGH

(Photo: Borough Facebook page)

When I was growing up Wyoming was the crown jewel of Luzerne County. It was historic, where the more well to do lived as well as a place to aspire to. But lately, especially this week, Wyoming Borough has become the epitome of old school, denial politics. Trouble has been brewing in the burgh for a while with investigators looking into finances at the Borough building's Manager's office and as well at the Library.
Since the swearing in of Mayor Joe Dominick, it has been revealed that the Borough manager’s working area was raided. At the last meeting, Council voted 6 to 2 to let the Manager keep her job. Tamara Smith has been serving in that position for a few years now. But she has been under investigation for concerns at the Hose Company #1 and the Library.Many have questioned her prior experience in obtaining such a job.
Councilman Mike Baloga made a motion seconded by Joseph Scaltz. It was voted down by Council members who are not happy Dominick won the last election handily.
The majority reasons were:
1. They had no one to fill the position.
2. No one was charged yet.
But then the majority Council pulled a Sarah Huckabee Sanders when the Library Board President asked for a much needed donation to the Library. The lackey majority said that the reason why they didn’t was because they were concerned about past financial impropriety not revealed at the Library.
Board President Colleen Garrision said, “I cannot speak for the previous board,, Marcella Starr was the president of the (Wyoming Free Library Board of Trustees) and Tamra Smith was the treasurer, you can ask them.”
Garrison’s response was met with a thunderous applause by the audience.
At the end of the meeting, council members voted to donate $500 to the library.
The Council also asked the incumbent Mayor Joe Dominick to leave because the Smith matter was one of personnel. Wow!
The fact that the crowd applauded the Board President when she called out the majority who has refused to work with the new Mayor speaks volumes.
Somewhere former Council member Joe Soricelli and Mayors Joe Chorba and Doc Stroh are spinning in their graves!

TRUMP, A WEEK AFTER PORTER RESIGNED, SAYS HE’S ‘TOTALLY OPPOSED’ TO SPOUSAL ABUSE

The President says "Yep, it's wrong!" (Photo: CNN)

It took one week after Trump’s honcho Rob Porter, his staff secretary, resigned amid spousal abuse allegations, President Trump on Wednesday said he was “totally opposed to domestic violence,” his first condemnation of the alleged conduct behind a scandal that has engulfed the White House.
He couldn’t say that sooner? What’s next, totally opposed to burning an apple pie, crashing in a baby’s head with a cinder block?
His statement, which members of both parties had said was long overdue, came as John F. Kelly, Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, faced new questions about his handling of Mr. Porter’s case, including how Mr. Porter could have held a temporary high-level security clearance for more than a year in light of the allegations.

THE CONGRESSIONAL GERRYMANDERING ISSUE

BOTH SIDES

WOLF OBJECTS TO HOUSE VERSION OF CONGRESSIONAL MAPS

Governor Tom Wolf (Photo: Penn Live)

Here is Governor Tom Wolf's statement on the recent gerrymandering decision: The current map -- drawn by a Republican legislature and a Republican governor -- unfairly divides our communities to benefit Republican political interests. And the map submitted to me just last week by Republican leaders was still gerrymandered.
It’s simple: gerrymandering hurts our democracy. That’s why I made a pledge to support fair maps that will restore our democratic process.
This is not a partisan issue. It’s about unrigging the system and drawing fair maps that are representative of the people, not politics.
I vow to do everything I can to make sure we fix our gerrymandered maps now and ensure that they stay that way in the future.
Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/fair

WAGNER CRITICIZES WOLF FOR USURPING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY ON CONGRESSIONAL MAP

URGES GOVERNOR TO HEED ADVICE OF DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES; WORK WITH LEGISLATURE

GOP candidate Scott Wagner (Photo: Wagner campaign)

2018 gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner condemned Governor Wolf for indicating that he is prepared to act outside the realm of his constitutional authority and submit a new congressional map to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court without the consent of the legislature.
As reported by WESA on Monday, “Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is promising he'll send a politically impartial congressional district map to the state Supreme Court by its Thursday deadline if the Republican-controlled legislature cannot draw one themselves. ‘“What happens next, in any case, is that I take a look at this map and have a panel of objective experts look at it,’ Wolf said Monday.”
“There’s a difference between leadership, and trampling on the Pennsylvania Constitution, and it’s clear Governor Wolf doesn’t get it, said Scott Wagner. “Our House and Senate leadership did a good job with the map based on the short amount of time they were given by the Supreme Court, and if the Governor doesn’t like what was presented to him, he should come to the table and negotiate, rather than politicizing the issue to curry favor with national, liberal interest groups.”
Additionally, Wolf’s decision to act on his own accord is at odds with what Democratic leaders in the legislature have said they wanted out of the process.
In a letter to Governor Wolf on Friday, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody criticized the Republican drawn map, stating, “This map was not the product of bipartisan work, nor is it a piece of legislation that passed through both of our chambers.” (Letter to Governor Wolf, 2/9/18)
Wagner point to the comments made by Democratic Leadership, adding, “Governor Wolf should take the advice of Leaders Costa and Dermody and let the elected representatives of the people of Pennsylvania have a vote on the map before it goes to the Supreme Court.”

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest will be Adam Marco, Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400-The Game, NEPA's Fox .Sports Radio and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

ECTV LIVE

Rusty Fender fills in for David DeCosmo as he and Program Director Mark Migilore welcome Sarah Donahue to the show during the week of February 19th to unveil plans for Pittston's annual Saint Patrick's Parade ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and aired three times daily throughout the week.

ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired during the Noon, 6pm and Midnight hours each day of the week. Following Monday's Live program the show will become available on Electric City Television's YouTube channel which can be viewed on your computer.

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!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1960

Our 1960 logo

Gerboise Bleue: France tests its first atomic bomb in the Sahara Desert of Algeria....The 1960 Winter Olympics begin at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort, in Placer County, California….

in Pennsylvania the two baseball teams in the state, the Pirates and Phillies head to spring training……in Wilkes Barre young college students begin to follow the Kennedy campaign after the candidate starts making inroads in the first primary state New Hampshire and 58 years ago the number one song in Lulac land and America was “You Got What It Takes” from Marv Johnson.