PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY, L.A. TARONE AND FORMER PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR TOM RIDGE.
RIDGE FOR VEEP?
Now that’s an intriguing prospect. With the Democrats furiously trying to unite, what better way for Senator John McCain to make a splash than to pick our own former Governor Tom Ridge. Ridge has a lot going for him.
1. Credentials as the first director of Homeland Security. Every time the GOP plays the “fear” or “terror” card, Ridge will be a symbol of the team that tried to pick up the pieces.
2.Coming from a huge state, Ridge can put Pennsylvania in play. He still has great political capital here and can galvanize a Republican party demoralized.
3. He is a veteran of Vietnam who has seen action. McCain was in a prison camp and believe it or not there are critics who say the Arizona Senator doesn’t know much about war policy because of his capture. Ridge, the vet will put that notion to rest.
4. He’s good on TV, has a good solid family life and came from modest beginnings that will sell well to the average voter.
Two things against him, the first is his comments when he quit the Homeland Security job saying he needed to make “real money” to put his kids through school. Second, pro choice in a pro life party. But McCain seems to take devilish pleasure in sticking it to the right of his party. This is not out of the realm of possibility.
Disclaimer: Mrs. LuLac worked on various state library committees with Ridge’s wife Michelle who held the same position in the Erie Library system as Mrs. LuLac holds in the Luzerne County system.
PETRILLA ON THE AIR
County Commission Chair Maryann Petrilla is doing the radio commercials for the Electronic Recycling project held at area events. The popular project takes old computers, TVs and other gadgetry and gets rid of them for those willing to lug them to the site. One more sign that Petrilla enjoys her new role as Commission Chair. Upcoming events are slated for June 7th - Butler Township Butler Township Hall, 14 W. Butler Drive, Drums and June 21st - Hanover Area Hanover Area Jr./Sr. High School, 1600 Sans Souci Parkway, Hanover.
L.A. TARONE’S NEW GIG
After the close of business Friday June 6, L.A. Tarone will no longer be affiliated with the Standard-Speaker. Tarone has been here 12 years, so you know leaving was not an easy decision.As of Monday June 9, he becomes the news director of local TV station WYLN-TV, Channel 35. WLYN is one of this region’s broadcast treasures. Tarone will only intensify what is already good local news coverage for the Hazleton area as well as Luzerne County. WLYN TV can be seen on Service Electric 19 for it’s 5pm news and 530pm programming. Tarone was host of a wildly popular show on WLYN TV. If you want to contact him to wish him well his new e-mail address at Channel 35 is latarone@ptd.net
BOBBY KENNEDY
On this day, 40 years ago Robert Kennedy lay dying in an L.A. hospital He died on June 6th. Here is a you tube tribute. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aREXNKXj5aM&feature=related.
From the Lac
ReplyDeleteA US District Judge has decided to allow Chuckie Costanzo to remain free on bail after prosecutors requested he be jailed for a parole violation. The alledged offense fits Chuckies bullying M.O. to a tee. Whats up here? Next will Costanzo receive the "Good Citizenship Award"?. This guy is no small time criminal, just a small time thinker. The "corrupt" Cordaro legacy lingers on. Thanks Bob and special thanks to Judge
Kostik! I hope the next person Chuckie extorts or threatens or worse is a member of your family!
L.A. Tarone rules!!!!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck. Too bad Service Electric doesn't run more of YLN. Your local network, no my local network!!!!
To the Hillary 2012ers. Every dead and maimed American Soildier is on you and your candidate if you prolong a war that is guarranteed to continue and expand during a McBush presidency. Im not saying a Dem can end this mess, but chances of a faster ending rely on it.
ReplyDeleteHillary's act was sour grapes and obviously those who "support" her never had the good of the country at heart! Besides she will be too old and much too bitter to run in 2012. This is absolute nonsense at the hands of selfish idiots. Who wil you all blame in 2012?
We can be in a situation where our current Governor and forer Governor might wind up as the Vice Presidents. Fast Eddie's remark the other day that Senator Clinton should not "beg" or "demand" the Vice Presidency was no accident.
ReplyDeleteHey 1:20PM, you might be dead on about Governor Ed. He is on CNN's website on the short list of candidates for Obama's vice president. And he'd really enjoy the cermonial part of the job too, attending funerals, cutting ribbons, throwing out the first ball, cheesesteak eating contests. Go Ed!!!!
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteYour articles on Bobby Kennedy are touching. But facing hard cold political facts, could he have won the nomination in '68?
The answer to the practical question, could RFK have won the nomination is "Yes!" And the election. I dont have to read about it, I was there, politically active and I remember. McCarthy was in a downslide, Bobby took away the young, and HHH could have been moved aside (but kept a part of the adminstration and treated with the respect he deserved). Remember Hubert was stuck with Vietnam and LBJ,an impossible position in '68.
ReplyDeleteIt was comin' together from the ground up and Robert Kennedy, in a couple of magnificent speeches was on point and just warming up. His remarks the day of the King assasination were unforgettable. He confronted the War and he "discovered the poor" and thought something could be done about both. He was flawed like any man, but History took a dark turn that night at the Ambassador Hotel. We got six more years of War and Nixon! And I'm worried that history is about to repeat itself forty years later...
IN RESPONSE
ReplyDeleteThe answer to the practical question, could RFK have won the nomination is "Yes!" And the election. I dont have to read about it, I was there, politically active and I remember.
I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. YOU ARE RIGHT THAT HE HAD SOME GREAT MOMENTUM BUT LIKE HILLARY THIS YEAR, HE WAS COMING UP SHORT ON THE MATH. BY THE TIME HE WON THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, HUMPHREY WAS ALREADY AT 1,067 DELEGATES FROM NON PRIMARY STATES. NEEDED TO NOMINATE THAT YEAR WAS A TOTAL OF 1312. THERE WERE NO CAUCUS STATES THEN, HUMPHREY SINCE ANNOUNCING APRIL 30TH (ON THE DAY HE COULDN'T FILE FOR A PRIMARY ANYMORE) GOT DELEGATES PLEDGED TO LBJ AND CALLED IN A LOT OF CHIPS ACCUMLATED OVER A 30 YEAR CAREER. EVEN RFK CONCEDED THAT ITMIGHT BE TOUGH TO DISLODGE HHH, BUT HE WAS GOING TO TRY THREE THINGS, GET McCARTHY TO JOIN HIM ON A FUSION EFFORT WHERE HE'D BE THE TOP DOG TO CHALLENGE HUMPHREY AT THE CONVENTION, TRY TO BROKER A DEAL WITH MAYOR DALEY TO GET PARTY LEADERS TO SHAKE LOOSE SOME OF THOSE COMMITTED DELEGATES FROM HUMPHREY OR PROPOSE A UNITY TICKET (SOUND FAMILIAR??) TO RUN WITH HHH AS VEEP AS LONG AS HUMPHREY CHANGED HIS STANCE ON THE WAR. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN IMPOSSIBILITY SO I'M THINKING THE DALEY SCENARIO HAD TO BE THE MOST LIKELY. BUT I THINK HHH WOULD'VE PREVAILED. JUST MY OPINION.
Ridge got his start in Erie, PA as DA. He was so well liked there that he won 2 to 1 in a city that is registered almost totally Democrat.
ReplyDelete