JOHNSON AND "SELMA"
1. Lyndon Johnson was not against the march but urged Dr. King to put it all out there to get Americans behind him. Johnson had already won a landslide election and wanted to get the Voting Rights Act signed not for him but for black Americans. He encouraged it and didn’t fight it as intimated in the movie. There are hundreds of tapes of Johnson reiterating his support.
2. LBJ never tapped Marin Luther King’s phones. Bobby Kennedy did two years earlier as Attorney General under JFK.
These are two huge critical historical points that cannot be ignored. It is no wonder the Academy Awards people kind of looked at this movie with a jaundiced eye and bypassed it for nominations.
A friend of mine went to Mississippi a few years back and reenacted some of the steps of the Civil Rights worker both black and white fighting for freedom. He visited a house that prominently had photos of John Kennedy and Martin Luther King. He asked the home owners about whether Johnson’s importance was the same as JFK and MLK’s. He really couldn’t get a straight answer.
The bottom line is Lyndon Johnson in terms of Civil Rights and all he did for that cause is the most unappreciated American President in this great fight. When Oliver Stone made JFK, people in my generation had to debunk some of the tall tales he told for “dramatic effect”. Johnson was behind the assassination, a cabal of gay men in Louisiana were involved in it and elements of JFK’s government were behind it. I don’t want a new generation of young people to see a total misrepresentation of the way it was back then. History is hard enough to comprehend in its most complex form without muddying it up with “theatre”. To diminish Johnson’s courage, political acumen and true role with lies is both editorially ignorant and shameful.
"Selma"…………………off my list. .
TAXPAYERS BURNT BY BBQ
So now it comes to light that the recently closed eatery in Wilkes Barre, Maer’s BBQ was given a Luzerne County business development loan to the tune of $42,000. Oh man. This is what really kills me. We are told, hey small business is the fiber of America, pull yourselves up by your bootstraps, you welfare slugs in public housing, why not start a business. Take a chance, be an entrepreneur. That sound great but not without money from a county that needs every penny. Now I know this loan was given or pissed away, anyway you want to slice it in 2011. But taxpayers should pay for services, roads and yes even employees. But not for working capital for a restaurant. Did Abe’s need a small business loan when it started years ago? You think China Queen got a loan to open up? When the place closed they chalked it up to a dangerous downtown. No one wants to go there anymore. Sorry not buying it. You can’t get parking anywhere some nights, that’s how vibrant the downtown is. The police presence there is good. County taxpayers bitch about $5.00 vehicle fee but then we see this happen? I hope this stops and doesn’t happen again. Maybe the County Council should take a page out of the GOP playbook when they told unemployed workers that they couldn’t afford no more extensions for unemployment. We can’t afford to get burnt anymore by BBQ. You want to start your own business……do it on your own.
OBAMA TO SNUB NETANYAHU
Word came out of the White House this week that President Obama will not meet with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Prime Minister is arriving in March just two weeks before an election in Israel. The White House said the President’s decision was to keep in standing with his policy not to meet with heads of state when that meeting is in close proximity to their election. Meanwhile both Mitch McConnell and John Boehner have invited Netanyahu.to address joint session of Congress. The White House says that negotiations with Iran are at a delicate stage in terms of that county owning atomic weaponry. I get that negotiations are important but just who is our ally here? Is it Israel who has stood for freedom since 1968 or Iran who held American s t by for 444 days? The snub to Israel to me is really out of line. It empowers nations that want to eliminate Israel and gives them the impression that the U.S. is not behind Israel. Politically it harms the President because loud mouth nuts jobs like Michael Savage will keep screaming that Mr. Obama is a Muslim (which he is not) and wants to destroy Israel. Not a good move all around.
CARTWRIGHT, CASEY, TOOMEY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO MAKE PEPPER SPRAY PILOT PROGRAM LAW
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced the introduction of legislation to make permanent the ability of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Correctional Officers and any correctional worker who could respond to conflicts – including all Correctional Officers, unit staff, and cafeteria or administrative workers in housing units – to carry pepper spray. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey, and Pat Toomey.
During his visit to USP Canaan in April 2014, officers from the Council of Prison Locals, a part of the American Federal Government Employees Union that represents federal prison employees approached Cartwright about legislation to make permanent the current pepper spray pilot program.
“Since the tragic death of Office Eric Williams, I have been committed to finding ways to provide a safer work place environment for these men and women, “said Cartwright. “Correctional Officers and prison employees put their lives on the line every day to meet inmates’ needs and keep our communities safe. This legislation is a great first step, but more needs to be done to address severe underfunding and a lack of adequate staffing to safeguard prison workers.”
In February 2013, Cartwright wrote to the BOP to immediately expedite the pepper spray pilot program to include all USPs after USP Canaan Correctional Officer, Eric Williams, was murdered in the line of duty by an inmate.
Subsequently, in March 2013, the current pepper spray pilot program was extended to all 20 high-security prisons in the U.S., including USP Canaan. And, in April 2014, the BOP expanded the pepper spray pilot program from Correctional Officers in certain posts to unit staff as well, including case managers and counselors who work directly with inmates.
During the 113th Congress, Cartwright convened Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, as well as Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), to continue working on proposed legislation to make the pepper spray pilot program law. As a result, the four lawmakers introduced The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2014.
In November of last year U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels announced the expansion of the Pepper Spray Pilot Program to include staff who work in recreation, food service, and receiving and discharge. Additionally, the Bureau is providing pepper spray to staff in all of the designated positions at six medium security institutions.
“I welcome the expansion, but there is still more work to be done. This legislation would make the pepper spray program permanent, as well as expand pepper spray availability to medium and higher security facilities,” said Cartwright.
The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015 would also permanently extend availability to all correctional workers, not just certain correctional officers and unit staff, and require workers to complete a BOP-directed training before carrying pepper spray.
PASHINSKI: WATCH FOR THOSE UTILITY IMPOSTERS
State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski. (Photo: Articlewn.com).
State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski sent a notice to area citizens who might be approached by rip off artists impersonating utility workers. Utility companies are reminding you that criminals sometimes pose as their workers to gain entry and rob your home. These fake workers will say they are investigating a dirty water complaint by a neighbor or checking water pressure due to a nearby main break. Once they get inside, they will divert your attention by sending you to the basement or kitchen to run a faucet while they, or an accomplice, rob another area of your house.
You should know that utility workers will never show up at your home without an appointment. However, if a workers does come to your home and you weren’t expecting them, DO NOT let them inside without proper identification. Also, a worker on scene will never ask for nor accept payment at a customer’s home or business.
Don’t be afraid to ask for photo ID, and take the time to examine the ID badge whenever someone from a utility company arrives at your home. If you are still unsure and have any suspicions about the individual’s identity, call 9-1-1 immediately.
STORM POLITICS
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David Yonki and Tiffany Cloud on Election Night 2012. (Photo: WYLN TV 35)
One week from tonight--perspective shifts--A NEW episode of The Storm.
Guest host: Liberal David Yonki, LuLac Political Letter
In the hot seat, guest: Yours truly!
Yep, switching it up...I'll be answering the questions...and will not hold back.
WYLNTV35 8pm Wednesday Jan 28th
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Stephanie Wissman from API Pennsylvania about gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region and the impact of lower energy prices.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Will Beekman from the Kirby Center about their 2015 schedule.
Brian speaks with Ron Davis about "Bowl For A Cause" coming up on march 15th at Chacko Lanes in Wilkes Barre.
And This Week In Harrisburg features highlights from the inaugurations of Governor Tom Wolf & Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack and Senator John Blake of Lackawanna County weighs in on non profit groups in Pennsylvania.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday mornings at 5am on NASH--FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X & Sports Radio 590 & 6:25am on Magic 93.
ECTV
BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM
SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION
Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.
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!”
KAREL ON THE STREET
Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.
CORBETT’S SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME
Every Wednesday at 5PM, Steve Corbett shines the light on a Public official with his “Somebody’s Watching Me” segment. Corbett picks an alleged public servant to eye ball and observe. Batten down the lawn furniture in the driveway and that e mail machine. There is nowhere to hide when “somebody’s Watching”. Wednesdays at 5 on WILK’s Corbett program.
Our 1965 logo.
1965
Anti-Hindi agitations break out in India, because of which Hindi does not get "National Language" status and remains one of the 23 official languages of India……….Generalissimo Francisco Franco meets with Jewish representatives to discuss legitimizing Jewish communities in Spain…..Iranian premier Hassan Ali Mansur assassinated by 17-year-old Mohammad Bokharaei, a member of the Fadayan-e Islam………US launches TIROS 9 weather satellite…..The Beatles appear on Shindig (ABC-TV) this week, it was a rerun of their 1964 appearance
and also on the same network, King Family Show" (musical variety) premieres…
in Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton states that a new Constitutional Convention should be a goal that both the Executive and Legislative branches can work toward……in Wilkes Barre Council Robert Brader takes charge of the Office of Public Works as Council doles our responsibilities to each member and fifty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “The Name Game” by Shirley Ellis.