I know it’s been a long time since I typed anything, but you can blame the Red Sox, because I sure do.
In 2003, 2004 and now in2007, the Sox have effectively destroyed my sleep pattern for an entire month. They have also ruined my digestion and made Tylenol’s stock shoot through the roof. I saw a commercial for Tylenol during the news tonight and they said they make their product because they care. If they could see me staring through the other side of the TV, they would know I’m glad.
In the seventh inning of last night’s ALCS versus the Indians, I was convinced my arms were numb because I was having a stroke. I then realized it was from reading Red Sox blogs simultaneously. However, all was well by the eighth.
Is it baseball, the lousy season of the Eagles, the fact that John Mellencamp is coming to the Wachovia Arena or this endless delightful fall that has made the fastly-approaching election dull for most of you? I am getting a sense you are not fully engaged in this bad boy, set for Nov. 6. Heck, I even temporarily forgot there were two, not one more weeks until we get there.
So, I was joyful today when I finally got a press release from the Washo/O’Brien camp up Lackawanna County way. I was wondering when these two would finally realize that someone had her nose pressed up against the electronic mailbox, waiting for something. That something was a poll taken by the Washington, D.C. based Momentum Analysis regarding the strength of their campaign. Guess what? The pollster determined Mike Washo and Corey O’Brien are more popular than Bob Cordaro and A.J. Munchak. Yep, it’s a popularity contest and Mike and Corey are like Paul and John, while Bob and A.J. are playing the roles of George and Ringo! So, please tell me if that’s the way you’re going to pick your commishes based on popularity, because I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised by your method.
Meanwhile, Luzerne County also will elect some commissioners. Let me get you up to speed on this. Commissioner Greg Skrepenak, who was elected because he was a popular football player, recently called Commissioner Steve Urban a “terrorist.” He did it to a newspaper reporter and never felt the need to apologize. Of course, a lack of pressure brought to bear on him for his insensitivity was strangely absent. If this were a larger county, I have a feeling there would have been an apology and a dozen roses for Steve.
Here in the Democratic Bastille? Nothing.
That’s not all. Luzerne County has no announced budget. Steve Urban told our audience the other day that the budget director of the county hasn’t turned in a quarterly budget report yet this year. Did I mention it’s October?
Also, the majority commissioner and place holder commissioner Rose Tucker are feeling no sense of urgency to release a preliminary audit of the storied $58 million juvenile dentention center in the county. Many of us feel we need to know if this project deserves our scorn or praise, but without any hard numbers, many thinking people are leaning toward scorn with a five percent chance of praise.
I am also told that there is a study of the 911 center that should make for some good reading due about now. That would give the voters two weeks to do some light reading before Nov. 6.
So, to review: No budget, no juvie center audit, no 911 center study. If this were a real football game, Skrep and Co. should be at about fourth and a billion. But, because this is Luzerne County, chances are he’s going to waltz over the goal line carrying running mate Maryanne Petrilla on his shoulders.
Can we please get some answers here? One of our emailers coined a new word the other day of how we should feel: Skreptical. Why don’t we?
Rush Limbaugh
