The LuLac Edition #444, March 21rst, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRANK ANDREWS SHIMKUS FROM THE 113TH AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE IN THE 118th, P.J. BEST AND OUR 1968 LOGO.

SHIMKUS FIGHTS ON

Frank Andrews Shimkus has decided to let the court order removing him from the ballot stand. Shimkus will run as a write in candidate on both the Republican and Deocratic ticket. On the GOP side, Republican Jim Williams said Thursday he will wage a write-in campaign for his party’s nomination in the 113th. Williams' reason is the fact he heard both Shimkus and Murphy were going to start a write in on the GOP ballot. Saying he was protecting his party from Democratic interlopers, Williams hopes to garner the nomination. If the Republican party had a real Chairman in the city perhaps they could have fielded a real candidate. But the Chair only comes out from behind the capicola and cling peaches when a national big shot comes to town. Other than those times, he can't be found.

Shimkus is going to have a formidable task. While he has the support of many senior citizens, there is a block of people who abhor the man. Perhaps these were people he worked in broadcasting with (we are a catty bunch!) or those who knew his first family. Either way, Andrews is going to have his hands full answering questions as to why he is not appealing the Judge's decision in the nominating case and just where he was living if not at that address he listed. Another problem Shimkus has is the fact that as an ordained minister, if he was living with a woman without the benefit of marriage (and personally I couldn't care less) the religious crazies in the area will have a field day with that one. Plus, educating people on write ins is a huge problem. As mentioned earlier, with the touch screens gone and paper ballots being used, this will be a huge teaching process for voters. And the primary is just a month away. Even a political genius like former Mayor Jim McNulty had a tough time in the 1977 Mayor's race when he tried to wage a write in effort. McNulty was at a huge disadvantage because of the old voting machines but nearly pulled an upset.

Kevin Murphy's role in the race seems to be solid but even he has a few problems. Murphy lost last time to Shimkus and was defeated for re-election to Scranton City Council because of his support for the Mayor's recovery plan program. There are still a block of voters who think that despite the revival of Scranton, this was not the right vote. But Murphy does have a leg up, is young, charismatic, has a photogenic family and a real grasp of the issues. This will be a race to watch.

P.J. BEST'S NOD

He's a young man running against a Democratic party old Harrisburg hand but is making some noise. When P.J. Best the son of Terry Best, Pittston Area School Director and unsuccessful candidate against incumbent Mike Carroll last time announced, many thought this might be a pipe dream. Plus Carroll's presentation of over 1200 signatures for a nominating petition that only required 200 was taken as a shot across the bow. But this week, the Teamsters endorsed the challenger Best. Here's what they said,

Teamsters Local 229 officially Endorses PJ Best for State Representative in 118th. Word came Wednesday morning regarding the unprecedented primary endorsement of PJ Best from the Teamsters Local 229. While the union typically endorses a candidate, the endorsement does not occur until the general election in November. "I'm honored that the Teamsters Local 229 valued my position against I-80 tolls and turnpike privatization enough to receive a primary endorsement," PJ stated in response to his endorsement. "I promise to work non-stop for the people of the 118th district."

Best still has an uphill battle and Carroll who has been a presence in the district will be tough to beat. But the endorsement brought a little spice into the race.

TIES THAT BIND

Run ins with celebreties are things us normal folks cherish. But when you get to do a favor for a guy running for President, and then he calls you personally to say "thanks", well that sticks with you the rest of your life. It also says a great deal about the candidate who took the time to dial up the benefactor and just show appreciation. Little things sometimes can turn an election. In the 1960 Presidential race, John Kennedy's call (at the behest of R. Sargant Shriver) to Martin Luther King's wife Coretta (while King was jailed for a trumped up traffic charge) swayed black voters away from the GOP once word got out. While this story does not have such serious ramifications, it still gives us an insight into the candidate. From the Scranton Times earlier in the week:

BY BORYS KRAWCZENIUK
It was St. Patrick’s Day, and Joe Loughney thought something about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama just didn’t look right.
They met Monday when Mr. Obama dropped by Whistles Pub & Eatery.As Mr. Obama autographed a campaign sign for Mr. Loughney’s twin 3-month-old grandsons, Emmet and Andrew, Mr. Loughney noticed he wasn’t wearing any green just hours before the senator’s planned address at the Society of Irish Women of Lackawanna County dinner.Mr. Obama said he felt embarrassed about forgetting to wear green but moved on to greet others. Mr. Loughney, 64, of South Abington Township, a stockbroker and co-owner of Old Forge Pizza Express, couldn’t let it go. He pulled off his own green tie, bought only hours earlier, and gave it to a member of Mr. Obama’s staff.Mr. Obama wore the tie to the dinner.Hours later, Mr. Loughney’s cell phone rang. The staff member had also taken Mr. Loughney’s business card.“I answer the phone and the person said, ‘Joe, this is Barack Obama. I want to thank you for the use of the tie. It was a big hit,’ ” Mr. Loughney said. “I stumbled. I said, ‘This is amazing that you would call me.’ ” Mr. Obama said he would autograph the tie.An aide to state Sen. Robert J. Mellow brought it back to Mr. Loughney along with the business card, also autographed.“I thought it was phenomenal. I thought it showed a warm person and a great politician. To be honest with you, I love him,” Mr. Loughney said. And why wouldn't he love him after that!!!!!

1968

Forty years ago this week, The My Lai massacre in Vietnam—this atrocity was not made public for 18 months, but it demonstrated the desperation and brutality of the US military. An emergency meeting of world bankers is held to establish a two-tier system for exchanging dollars for gold. Only national banks, not private traders, will be allowed to do so. In Pennsylvania, the State promised to repair a “dip” in Wyoming Avenue between Forty Fort and Wyoming…..In Luzerne County and in Lackawanna County, ground was broken for an 8 million dollar runway extension at the WB/Scranton airport, one of many……Wilkes Barre’s deputy city Treasuer, Joseph Mangan was appointed Chief County Clerk by the Commissioners under the dome…..in Pittston at St. John the Baptist Grade School a new student teacher arrived on the scene, Sister Simon who was roughly 10 years older than the 8th grade class and not related to anyone in the 1910 Fruitgum Company……and forty years ago this week, a guy named Kenny Rogers had a group called The First Edition and “They Just Dropped In To See What Condition Their Condition Is In”. From You Tube, the number 1 song in LuLac land 40 years ago this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ8k6fVe25k&feature=related. Check out Kenny's hairdo.