Rated one of Pennsylvania's top blog/sites, the LuLac Political Letter delves into issues of politics on all levels (with special concentration on Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties: thus the name LULAC) and pop culture.
The LuLac Political Letter was also named Best Political Blog of the Year for 2014 by NEPA BLOGCON and most recently David Yonki was named Best Blogger of the year 2015 by the publication Diamond City.
Tuesday, February 07, 2023
The LuLac Edition #4, 908, February 7th, 2023
DUMB ASS REPUBLICANS AND THE CHINESE
BALLLOON
I spent this morning at the Jewish Community Centers Men’s
Club. I spoke about Black History Month and touched on the work the
Wilkes-Barre Health Department did with minority populations. I made the
statement that truth had more nuances than lies. The initial reaction to the
balloon over Montana was telling in its partisan bent. Republicans yelled,
“you’re WEAK! Shoot it down!”The
Democratic administration took it time knowing that if you shot it down, you
weren’t being weak but smart. People could get killed by debris. But the GOP
persisted saying the administration was found wanting.
A senior US defense official said Saturday there were three
instances during the Trump administration when China briefly flew a
surveillance balloon over the continental United States.
The “PRC (People's Republic of China) government
surveillance balloons transited the continental United States briefly at least
three times during the prior administration and once that we know of at the
beginning of this administration, but never for this duration of time,” the
defense official said.
Mark Esper, the former Secretary of Defense under President
Donald Trump, told 'CNN This Morning’ on Friday that he was “surprised” by the
Pentagon’s statement that similar incidents had happened during the Trump
administration.
When US President Joe Biden learned a suspected Chinese spy
balloon was drifting through the stratosphere 60,000 feet above Montana, his
first inclination was to take it down.
By then, however, it was both too early and too late. After
flying over swaths of sparsely populated land, it was now projected to keep
drifting over American cities and towns. The debris from the balloon could
endanger lives on the ground, his top military
brass told him.
The massive white orb, carrying aloft a payload the size of
three coach buses, had already been floating in and out of American airspace
for three days by the time Biden was briefed by his top general, according to
two US officials.
Its arrival had gone unnoticed by the public as it floated
eastward over Alaska – where it was first detected by North American Aerospace
Defense Command on January 28 – toward Canada. NORAD continued to track and
assess the balloon’s path and activities, but military officials assigned
little importance to the intrusion into American airspace, having often
witnessed Chinese spy balloons slip into the skies above the United States. At
the time, the balloon was not assessed to be an intelligence risk or physical
threat, officials say.
This time, however, the balloon kept going: high over
Alaska, into Canada and back toward the US, attracting little attention from
anyone looking up from the ground.
“We’ve seen them and monitored them, briefed Congress on the
capabilities they can bring to the table,” another US official told CNN. “But
we’ve never seen something as brazen as this.”
It would take seven days from when the balloon first entered
US airspace before an F-22 fighter jet fired a heat-seeking missile into the
balloon on the opposite end of the country, sending its equipment and machinery
tumbling into the Atlantic Ocean.
The bottom line here is that some people of America gladly
showed their ignorance and their lack of trust in military matters. (LuLac,
CNN)
WHY IS LUZERNE COUNTY COUNCIL JUST GETTING AROUND TO DISPERSING FEDERAL MONEY?
I am wondering why it took Luzerne County Council SO LONG to distribute federal money to County residents. Could it be that the impotent Republican majority can't govern? Why did it take so long when other more competent and compassion laden people got the money out months go?
Maybe they're all as dumb as some of them look.
WHINING TRUMP’S DEPOSITION
Newly released video obtained by CBS News provides the first
look at former President Donald Trump's deposition last summer in the New York
attorney general's civil fraud investigation.
"This is the greatest witch hunt in the history of our
country."He called James "a
renegade and out of control prosecutor" and accused her of having
political motives for her office's investigation into his financial practices.
"This whole thing is very unfair," Trump says in
the deposition video.
"Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment
would be a fool, an absolute fool," Trump said, adding that on the advice
of counsel, "I respectfully decline to answer the questions under the
rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States
Constitution. Here is the video from CBS News.
And here is a video song out going out to Baby Diaper Donald
Trump.
TRUMP STRUGGLES TO RAISE MONEY SINCE LAUNCHING HIS 2024
PRESIDENTIAL BID
Former President Donald Trump is strapped for campaign cash
following the mid-November launch of his 2024 presidential campaign, according
to end-of-year figures obtained exclusively by NBC News.
Trump, who has been the GOP’s most prolific fundraiser in
recent years, pulled in about $9.5 million over the final six weeks of last
year through his campaign and a joint fundraising committee, according to a
person familiar with his haul.
The numbers were shared with NBC News in advance of Trump's
filing of the first campaign finance totals of his third bid for the presidency
Tuesday.
Trump's decision to launch in the shadow of a tough midterm
election for the GOP, donor fatigue and his soon-to-end absence from the social
media giant Facebook all contributed to the cash crunch, Republican operatives
said.
In a sign that Trump understands he’ll need to raise more
money faster for what promises to be a competitive GOP primary campaign, his
campaign recently expanded its digital fundraising team by hiring the firm
Campaign Inbox to solicit the small-dollar donor set. Campaign officials have
long said he would use the early part of this year to build up his apparatus
and begin expanding his footprint in early primary states.
There are other reasons to think that Trump can bolster his
cash machine.
He has yet to launch a traditional mail-fundraising
apparatus, which is a time-tested means of gathering small contributions in
large numbers. And his early fundraising has been limited by his ban from
Facebook, a top fundraising platform for him in 2016 and 2020, which kicked him
off for inciting the mob that sacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the
company has said the ban will be lifted.
Trump also hurt himself by announcing his campaign right
after the midterm elections, a fundraising doldrums for candidates across the
partisan and ideological spectrum. (NBC News)
FETTERMAN STATEMENT ON NEW UNION MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS
Senator John Fetterman with blog editor (Photo: LuLac archives)
Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman on Thursday
released the following statement after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
indicated that the percentage of American workers who belong to a union dropped
to its lowest rate ever:
“Every worker deserves a union. Unions built the middle
class and they built America. It’s time to pass the PRO Act and drastically
expand union membership across this country.”
CASEY, DINGELL INTRODUCE BILL TO PROVIDE HISTORIC, PERMANENT
INVESTMENT IN HOME CARE FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
THE BETTER CARE BETTER JOBS ACT WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO
LONG-TERM CARE, ENABLING OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO RECEIVE QUALITY
CARE AND REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)
U.S. Senator Bob Casey Chairman of the U.S. Senate
Special Committee on Aging, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) are
introducing legislation to expand access to home and community-based services
for older adults, people with disabilities, and injured workers, while
increasing pay and improving benefits for the caregivers who provide this
life-sustaining care. The Better Care Better Jobs Act would enhance Medicaid
funding for home care, helping many of the over 650,000 people on waiting lists
nationally finally receive care in the setting of their choice, allowing them
to stay active in their communities, and live independently. This legislation
would also strengthen the caregiving workforce, improve quality of life for
families, and boost the economy by creating good-paying jobs to make it
possible for families and workers alike to thrive economically.
“The United States is in the midst of a caregiving crisis.
Across this Nation, seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to find
and afford care, forcing families to make difficult decisions like leaving the
workforce in order to care for a loved one. For too long, many families thought
this was a personal issue that they had to deal with on their own but now,
countless families across the Nation know that they are not alone in this fight
and that there is a solution. The Better Care Better Jobs Act is a generational
investment in home care—it’s about both caring for our loved ones and making
the smart economic choice for families and communities across all levels of the
government to strengthen this workforce. This is not a Democrat or Republican
issue. It’s an American issue,” said Chairman Casey.
“We have a caregiving crisis in this country that has been
worsened by the Coronavirus pandemic. More than 50% of Americans 50 or older
serve as a caregiver, and family caregivers need relief. As many know, this is
deeply personal for me – I was lucky to have my husband John receive care at
home, which showed me the significant fractures in this system, from low wages
for workers to thousands on HCBS waitlists to so many people not knowing how to
get the care they desperately need. Aging Americans and individuals with
disabilities overwhelmingly prefer to receive care in the comfort of their
homes and within their communities. Better Care Better Jobs moves us closer
toward ensuring that no one must wait to get the care they deserve, and no care
worker has to live below the poverty line to provide this care. I thank Senator
Casey for his continued partnership in this fight,” said Congresswoman Dingell.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to ensure
that all Americans have the option to receive quality, long-term care in the
setting that meets their needs and preferences, and the vast majority of
Americans prefer to receive such care and support at home. While all states
provide coverage for some home care services, there are significant variations
and gaps in coverage due to varying eligibility and benefits standards. The
home care workforce—a majority of whom are women and people of color—earn a
median wage of $13 per hour with few or no benefits while providing
life-sustaining care. Roughly 18 percent of these workers live in poverty. This
results in exceptionally high annual turnover rates, estimated to be above 60
percent.
The Better Care Better Jobs Act would increase payment rates
to promote recruitment and retention of direct care workers, increase wages,
and develop and update training opportunities. The legislation would provide
support to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to conduct
oversight and encourage innovation to benefit direct care workers and care
recipients.
The Senate cosponsors of the Better Care Better Jobs Act are
U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty
Murray (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maggie Hassan
(D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR),
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI),
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim
Kaine (D-VA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed
Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA),
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Cory Booker
(D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie
Hirono (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT),
Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Catherine
Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Gary Peters (D-MI).
GOVERNOR SHAPIRO SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPROVE
COMMONWEALTH LICENSING, PERMITTING, AND CERTIFICATION PROCESSES BY ESTABLISHING
STANDARD RESPONSE TIMES AND MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Governor Josh Shapiro (LuLac archives)
Governor Josh Shapiro signed an Executive Order to improve
the Commonwealth’s licensing, permitting, and certification processes,
beginning a comprehensive review of how long it takes agencies to process
applications and how workers and businesses apply online. This Executive Order
will help to establish a date-certain for each license, permit, or certificate
by which applicants will hear back – if applicants don’t receive a response by
that date, the agency responsible will refund their application fee.
The Shapiro Administration is committed to transforming
Pennsylvania government to more effectively and efficiently serve
Pennsylvanians. Last week, Governor Shapiro launched a new initiative to grow
Pennsylvania’s economy and provide faster, more efficient customer service to
Pennsylvanians when he created the Office of Transformation and Opportunity – a
one-stop-shop for businesses that want to grow in Pennsylvania. Today’s
Executive Order builds on Governor Shapiro’s commitment to improving how
government works and creating economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.
Pennsylvania workers often have to wait months and are
forced to navigate inefficient digital systems to receive their professional
license, permit, or certification – and Governor Shapiro knows this is
unacceptable. The Governor is directing all state agencies, boards, and
commissions to compile a catalog of the licenses, certificates, and permits
they issue – including the statutory authority governing the length of time
they must process applications and the application fee charged by each agency.
Commonwealth agencies will have 90 days to send this information to the
Governor’s Office, which will then review, analyze, and establish efficient
application processing times for all occupational permits or licenses based on
agency recommendations. Once those recommendations are put in place, if an
agency does not respond to an applicant before the date-certain, the agency
will be required to refund the application fee.
Under this Executive Order, the Governor’s Office will also
conduct a review of the existing digital services that Pennsylvanians use to
apply for licenses, certificates, and permits and work to modernize those
application platforms and services to better serve Pennsylvanians.
“State government’s top priority should be serving the
people of our Commonwealth, but for far too long, Pennsylvanians have had to
endure long wait times, outdated systems, and bureaucratic delays. They deserve
a government that works efficiently and effectively to get them answers,” said
Governor Josh Shapiro. “Under my Administration, Pennsylvanians will have
certainty – they will know how long it will take for agencies to respond, and
if an agency doesn’t live up to that promise, they deserve their money back.
Pennsylvanians work hard to keep our economy moving, and the Commonwealth
should work just as hard to process their applications.”
“Today, with this Executive Order, Governor Shapiro has
launched Pennsylvania on a new path. This Administration is making the people
of Pennsylvania and customer service our top priority,” said Acting Secretary
of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt. “People shouldn’t have to suffer through long
wait times to put their skills and knowledge to good use. Together, with the
Governor’s Office, we will work to ensure Pennsylvanians can get to work in a
timely fashion without having red tape hold them back.”
Unpredictability and long wait times for Commonwealth-issued
licenses, certificates, and permits can create unnecessary barriers for Pennsylvania
workers and businesses. For example, an NPR analysis from 2021 found that
Pennsylvania had some of the longest wait times in the country for issuing
nursing licenses. More than half of the nursing applicants who applied in
Pennsylvania that year waited at least three months to hear back.
In addition to nursing licenses, the Commonwealth issues
hundreds of licenses, certificates, and permits, from barber and salon licenses
to teacher certifications to business permits. Under the direction of the Governor,
the Administration will work expeditiously to ensure Pennsylvanians get
responses in a timely manner – and the Shapiro Administration will have real
skin in the game. Governor Shapiro is making clear his Administration will be
customer-service oriented and that state government will work harder to get
them a response, so that they can pursue their dream
MEDIA MATTERS
NEW SHOW ON WILK
Rob McDonald debuted his show Tuesday on WILK's 3 to 6pm slot. A transplanted New York detective McDonald will apparently not lend any balance to the daily line up. He brought up George Santos and then went into a derailed little speech on ONE THING Elizabeth Warren did, and then made a snide remark about Hillary Clinton. (Another guy with a hard on for Hillary!) I was back to NPR after 3 minutes of his "whataboutisms" and hearing about his drinking glass just like Sinatra's.
And the tiresome beat goes on.
WALN TV
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
You'll hear the
program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30
am on 105 The River.
BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP
1954
Our 1954 logo.
After authorizing $385 million over the $400 million already
budgeted for military aid to Vietnam, President of the United States Dwight D.
Eisenhower warns against his country's intervention in Vietnam. Eisenhower’s
Cold War policies were firm but cautious. He sought to contain communist
expansion while easing tensions and avoiding direct confrontation. He was
determined to prevent Vietnam from falling into communist hands, seeing this as
a threat to all of south-east Asia. Eisenhower’s administration funded the
French in their struggle against the Viet Minh, though the president harboured
concerns about returning the French to Vietnam as a neo-colonial power. In
1954, Eisenhower refused to intervene to save the French garrison at Dien Bien
Phu, ignoring the advice of vice president Richard Nixon, Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles and his military chiefs.After the French defeat, Eisenhower’s administration refused to sign the
Geneva Accords or abide by their resolutions. Eisenhower also backed the
formation of South Vietnam as a separate state and the instalment of Ngo Dinh
Diem as its pro-Western leader. Eisenhower supported Diem through the 1950s,
despite strong misgivings about Diem’s anti-democratic and often brutal
methods. Eisenhower retired in January 1961, handing the presidency to John F.
Kennedy. During Eisenhower’s two terms the US had been drawn into Vietnam,
first as a benefactor to the French, then as a supporter of the Diem regime in
Saigon. Eisenhower’s defiance of the Geneva Accords and his involvement in
Vietnam left a difficult legacy for the three presidents who followed him. Eisenhower
lived out his remaining years in Pennsylvania, sometimes speaking publicly in support
of US military involvement in Vietnam. He died in March 1969…and this week in
1954 the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Little Things Mean A
Lot” by Kitty Kallen.
Location: Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States
Political analyst for WBRE TV's Pa. Live program and post election commentator for WBRE TV's Eyewitness News Daybreak show. Author of the book "A Radio Story/We Wish You Well In Your Future Endeavors" and "Leges Vitae" "26 Rules of Life" and the new novel, "Weather Or Knot". The blog editor also writes various news articles and columns as well as upcoming literary projects. The blog editor was a frequent guest on WYOU TV'S INTERACTIVE NEWSCASTS when political issues were discussed on the national, state and local level. Yonki was a weekly panelist on WYLN TV 35's Friday Topic A program. He also appeared on the Hazleton, PA. station on Election Night doing coverage and did special projects and stories for WYLN TV 35's 10PM Newscast "Late Edition".