Here are our weekly editorials from the past 5 weeks ...
This editorial will air on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday,
November 20
THE THRILL OF VICTORY
& THE AGONY OF DEFEAT. THE PANTHER VALLEY FOOTBALL TEAM EXPERIENCED BOTH
SENSATIONS IN THE SPAN OF A FEW SHORT HOURS ON NOVEMBER 1ST. FIRST, THE THRILL OF
BEING TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE A REMATCH WITH
TAMAQUA IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
PLAYOFFS. A FEW HOURS LATER PANTHER GRIDDERS WERE TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO
REMATCH WITH TAMAQUA & NO POST-SEASON PLAYOFFS THANKS TO MISCOMMUNICATION &
A CLERICAL ERROR. CAN YOU BLAME PANTHER VALLEY FOOTBALL FANS WHO CONTINUE TO
CHANT--WE GOT SCREWED!
PANTHER VALLEY WAS LED
TO BELIEVE THEY'RE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS WITH A WIN IN WEEK 10
AT MINERSVILLE. THE EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 9 SHOWED ALL
TEAMS IN THE NORTHERN DIVISION QUALIFIED FOR DISTRICTS. THAT MEANS 2 TEAMS FROM THE
SOUTHERN DIVISION, TAMAQUA & PANTHER VALLEY, WOULD QUALIFY WITH WEEK 10
WINS.
BUT DISTRICT 2
OFFICIALS APPARENTLY NEVER GOT THE MESSAGE TO THE CONFERENCE THAT ONLY 6 TEAMS
INSTEAD OF 8 WOULD ENTER DISTRICTS. IT'S A LOONEY SETUP. DISTRICT 2 GIVES A BYE
TO THE TOP 2 TEAMS & DEPRIVES CARBONDALE & MID-VALLEY AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN
THE DISTRICTS. IT DEPRIVES TOP SEEDS DUNMORE & WILKES BARRE GAR AN EXTRA
HOME GAME WHERE NON-PROFIT GROUPS CAN GENERATE MONEY AT THE CONCESSION STANDS.
BECAUSE OF THIS LOONEY FORMAT, CARBONDALE BUMPED PANTHER VALLEY IN THE
EASTERN CONFERENCE EVEN THOUGH CARBONDALE HAD A POORER RECORD &
LESS RATINGS POINTS THAN PANTHER VALLEY.
DISTRICT 2'S PLAYOFF
FORMAT WAS POSTED JULY 10TH ON ITS WEBSITE. WHO DROPPED THE BALL & DIDN'T
GET THE MESSAGE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE OFFICIALS? LOOKING AT THE 2A
PLAYOFFS--DISTRICT 2 CAN QUALIFY 8 TEAMS. DISTRICTS 3 & 4 QUALIFY 8 2A
TEAMS EACH. DISTRICT 11
QUALIFIES ONLY 4 TEAMS. TALK ABOUT GETTING SCREWED! IF DISTRICT 2 DIDN'T WANT ALL 8
TEAMS, WHY WASN'T DISTRICT 11 GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO QUALIFY 8 TEAMS? THEN,
TAMAQUA, PANTHER VALLEY, JIM THORPE, & NORTHERN LEHIGH COULD HAVE MADE DISTRICTS.
THE ACTIONS OF DISTRICT 2 OFFICIALS HURT MORE THAN THEIR TEAMS LIKE CARBONDALE,
MID-VALLEY, DUNMORE & GAR. IT HAD A DEVASTATING EFFECT DOWN HERE. THAT CAN'T
BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
THE PIAA MUST MAKE
SURE ALL ALLOTED PLAYOFF BERTHS ARE FILLED WITH NO BYES. NO TEAMS WITH SUB 500
RECORDS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. IF A DISTRICT CAN'T FIELD ENOUGH
TEAMS, LOOK AT NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS & TEAMS WITH WINNING RECORDS.
NOW, WE COME TO THE
EASTERN CONFERENCE...CELEBRATING ITS 87TH YEAR IN 08. IT USED TO BE THE
PREMIER LEAGUE IN THE STATE. THE APPEARANCE OF THE STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
TURNED THE EASTERN CONFERENCE INTO A LOSERS TOURNEY. IF THE EASTERN
CONFERENCE WANTS SOME RESPECTABILITY WITH ITS TORUNEY, IT MUST MAKE SOME
CHANGES.
ELIMINATE ALL
DIVISIONS WITHIN THE 4 CLASSES. THEY ARE A JOKE. TAKE THE 2A SOUTHERN DIVISION WITH
ONLY 9 TEAMS. PV, TAMAQUA, & JIM THORPE ARE ALL IN THAT DIVISION & PLAY
ONLY 3 TEAMS IN THAT DIVISION. IT WOULD BE LIKE PENN STATE PLAYING IN THE BIG 10 &
ONLY PLAYING 3 BIG 10 OPPONENTS. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A LEGITIIMATE EASTERN CONFERENCE
PLAYOFF, TAKE ALL 44 2A TEAMS. AFTER YOU FACTOR OUT ALL TEAMS WHO QUALIFY FOR
DISTRICTS, TAKE THE BEST 4 TEAMS OR BEST 8 TEAMS & DO A 2 OR 3 WEEK TOURNEY.
AGAIN, YOU NEED A 500 RECORD TO QUALIFY.
IF EASTERN CONFERENCE
OFFICIALS CAN'T CLEAN UP THEIR PLAYOFF ACT, HERE'S A BETTER IDEA FOR LOCAL
TEAMS THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR DISTRICTS. WE CAN RUN AN ANTHRACITE BOWL. LET'S
SAY TAMAQUA, PANTHER VALLEY, JIM THORPE, & MARIAN DON'T QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS.
SETUP A WEEK 11 & WEEK 12 BACKYARD SCRAP SCHEDULE. THE 2 WINNERS & 2
LOSERS OF WEEK 11 WOULD SQUARE OFF IN WEEK 12.
IMAGINE...2 MORE
BACKYARD SCRAPS ON THE GRIDIRON. IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THOSE TURKEY DAY GAMES
OF DAYS GONE BYE. THERE'S NO DOUBT A PANTHER VALLEY-TAMAQUA GAME IN WEEK
11 WOULD DRAW MORE FANS THAN A TAMAQUA-KUTZTOWN OR TAMAQUA-LOYALSOCK
EASTERN CONFERENCE GAME. YOU SPLIT THE GATE
& BOTH SCHOOLS MAKE MONEY.
NON-PROFITS MAKE MONEY SELLING CONCESSIONS. THE CONCEPT WE ARE SUGGESTING IS
SIMILAR TO HOLIDAY SEASON CHRISTMAS TOURNEYS BASKETBALL TEAMS RUN. IF IT WORKS
FOR BASKETBALL, WHY WOULDN'T IT WORK FOR FOOTBALL.
THE PIAA STATE
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS DESTROYED MANY GREAT BACKYARD RIVALRIES. HERE'S A CHANCE TO
REVIVE LOCAL RIVALRIES...A CHANCE TO PLAY LOCAL OPPONENTS & NOT TRAVEL 2
HOURS LIKE LOYALSOCK DID THIS PAST FRIDAY WHEN THEY CAME TO TAMAQUA. WE WOULD LOVE
TO SIT DOWN WITH LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS, A.D.S, & COACHES TO DISCUSS
THIS EXCITING POSSIBILITY.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
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This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday,
November 13
LAST WEEK'S ELECTION
WAS HISTORIC. AMERICA ELECTED A BLACK MAN PRESIDENT. LAST WEEK'S NEAR RECORD
ELECTION TURNOUT WAS SUPPOSED TO HERALD CHANGE. BUT, WE'LL STILL SEE THE
SAME FACES IN THE SAME PLACES.
ALL EYES WERE ON PA.
AS THE OBAMA-BIDEN TICKET SWAMPED MCCAIN-PALIN BY 10 POINTS. MCCAIN-PALIN WON 49 OF
PA.'S 67 COUNTIES WHERE FOLKS LIKE THEIR GUNS & RELIGION. SCHUYLKILL WENT FOR
MCCAIN. CARBON WENT FOR OBAMA. THE OBAMA MACHINE RACKED UP OVERWHELMING LEADS
IN PHILLY, PHILLY SUBURBS, LEHIGH VALLEY, SCRANTON-WILKES BARRE, &
PITTSBURGH.
THE OBAMA TSUNAMI
HELPED PAUL KANJORSKI KEEP HIS 11TH CONGRESSIONAL SEAT...BEATING LOU BARLETTA BY 4
POINTS. BARLETTA, WHO LED IN POLLS BY AS MUCH AS 10 POINTS, WON CARBON, LUZERNE,
& COLUMBIA COUNTIES. KANJORSKI PILED ON BIG MARGINS IN MONROE &
LACKAWANNA COUNTIES. BARLETTA LOST LIKE HE DID 6 YEARS AGO BECAUSE HIS CAMPAIGN WAS
ILL-FUNDED & ILL-ADVISED. KANJORSKI USED A LAST MINUTE RADIO BLITZ TO HELP CLOSE THE POLLING
GAP. CONGRESSIONAL INCUMBENTS TIM HOLDEN, CHARLIE DENT, & CHRIS CARNEY HAD
LITTLE TROUBLE FENDING OFF THEIR CHALLENGERS.
THE MOST INTERESTING
STATE RACE WAS THE CORBETT-MORGANELLI ATTORNEY GENERAL MATCHUP WON BY
INCUMBENT TOM CORBETT. CORBETT'S HANDLING OF THE BONUSGATE PROBE MADE THE RACE
CLOSE AT 52-48%. MORGANELLI, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY'S DA & A DEMOCRAT, COULDN'T
EVEN CARRY NEIGHBORING CARBON COUNTY.
ALL LOCAL STATE REPS
SEEKING RE-ELECTION WON. HOUSE WHIPS KEITH MCCALL & DAVE ARGALL WON AGAIN BY
LANDSLIDE MARGINS, WHILE TIM SEIP STAVED OFF ANOTHER RUN FROM FORMER SCHUYLKILL
CONTROLLER GARY HORNBERGER. THE 05 PAY RAISE FIASCO HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN
LAID TO REST WITH HOUSE BOSSES JOHN PERZEL & BILL DEWEESE WINNING RE-ELECTION.
BONUSGATE COULD IMPACT THE 2010 ELECTION.
LOOKS LIKE THE
DEMOCRATS WILL EXPAND THEIR 1 SEAT MAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE.REPUBLICANS COULD
EXPAND THEIR WIDE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE. WITH A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR, DON'T EXPECT
MUCH TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 2 YEARS. THE HOUSE COULD SEE A NEW SPEAKER.
REPUBLICAN DENNY O'BRIEN WAS A COMPROMISE SPEAKER AFTER BILL DEWEESE COULD NOT
GET A MAJORITY VOTE FROM HIS OWN PARTY 2 YEARS AGO.ALTHOUGH NOT CHARGED,
DEWEESE HAS BEEN ASKED TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS MAJORITY LEADER POST
BY SEVERAL FELLOW DEMOCRATS.
A RACE CAPTURING
ATTENTION WAS PA.'S 29TH SENATE RACE. JIM RHOADES, WHO WAS KILLED IN A MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENT JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION, RACKED UP OVER 66,000 VOTES. 2 LIVING
CHALLENGERS PJ SYMONS & DENNIS BAYLOR TOGETHER POLLED AROUND 40,000 VOTES.
THAT FORCES A SPECIAL ELECTION NEXT YEAR THAT COULD COST IN THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SPECULATION IS RUNNING RAMPANT AS TO WHO THE PARTY
STANDARD BEARERS WILL BE.
NAMES LIKE JIM RHOADES
DAUGHTER, ALI, & SON-IN-LAW, CHRIS HOBBS, ARE MENTIONED. DAVE ARGALL COULD NOW
BE CONSIDERED A CONTENDER. THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE REVIEW REPORTED LAST SATURDAY ARGALL WON'T SEEK THE
MINORITY WHIP POST. ARGALL DID NOT MOUNT A
BIG PUSH AGAINST BILL MACKEY LIKE HE DID IN THE PRIMARY AGAINST JOHN
SCHICKRAM. THAT HAS US WONDERING IF DAVE WAS SAVING MONEY FOR A STATE SENATE RUN.
IT'S NOT KNOWN IF
SYMONS WILL BE THE DEMOCRAT'S CHOICE IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION. SYMONS WAS PRETTY MUCH
LEFT OUT TO DRY BY STATE DEMOCRATS LAST WEEK & THAT HAS US ASKING IF PJ
WILL FLIP BACK TO THE GOP. BAYLOR SAYS HE'LL CONSIDER ANOTHER INDEPENDENT RUN. HE
BLASTED THE GOP FOR USING A TRAGIC SITUATION FOR THEIR OWN GAIN.
LAST WEEK'S ELECTION
WASN'T JUST ABOUT PEOPLE & PARTY...SOME HOT BUTTON ISSUES WERE DECIDED. SAME-SEX
MARRIAGES WERE DEFEATED BY VOTERS IN 3 STATES. SPENDING FOR & AGAINST
PROPOSITION 8 IN CALIFORNIA TOPPED $74 MILLION. IT'S SAID TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE SOCIAL
ISSUES CAMPAIGN IN U.S. HISTORY & MOST EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN EXCEPT FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
RACE. COLORADO & SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS REJECTED MEASURES THAT COULD HAVE LED TO
SWEEPING BANS ON ABORTION.
MASSACHUSETTS &
MICHIGAN WILL JOIN 12 OTHER STATES IN ALLOWING THE USE OF MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL
PURPOSES. NEBRASKA VOTERS OKED A BAN ON RACE & GENDER-BASED AFFIIRMATIVE
ACTION LIKE MEASURES PREVIOUSLY OKED IN CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, & MICHIGAN.
IN PA. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT A HOT BUTTON ISSUE, VOTERS BY 2-1 APPROVED A $400
MILLION CLEAN WATER REFERENDUM TO CLEANUP WATERWAYS & TO PROVIDE SAFER, MORE
DEPENDABLE DRINKING WATER & SEWER SERVICES.
THE HISTORIC 2008
ELECTION IS HISTORY. AMERICANS CAN NOW SIT BACK & ENJOY TV WITHOUT BEING BOMBARDED
WITH COUNTLESS POLITICAL ATTACK ADS. WE CAN SIT DOWN TO SUPPER WITHOUT BEING
ANNOYED BY POLITICAL ROBO-CALLS. WE CAN DRIVE ON ROADS & NOT SEE THEM LITTERED
WITH POLITICAL ROAD SIGNS. WE CAN GO TO CHURCH & NOT ENDURE POLITICING FROM
THE PULPIT. THE 2008 ELECTION MAY HAVE BEEN HISTORIC, BUT IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT
ABOUT CHANGE.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, November 5 and Thursday,
November 6
FOR OVER A DECADE WE
HEARD TALK OF A NEW EXIT ON THE PA. TURNPIKE TO ROUTE 903 IN PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP.
TURNPIKE OFFICIALS NOW SAY THAT EXIT COULD OPEN TO TRAFFIC ON MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND, 2012.
THE NEW EXIT WOULD BE
THE 1ST ADDITION ON THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION SINCE A SCRANTON EXIT WAS
BUILT IN THE MID 90S. IT WILL DIVIDE THE LONGEST UNBROKEN STRETCH ON THE TOLL
ROAD. IT WILL BE A PROTOTYPE FOR FUTURE INTERCHANGES BECAUSE IT WILL BE
ALL-ELECTRONIC & THE 1ST NEW EXIT TO ONLY USE THE EZ PASS. THERE WILL BE NO TOLL
WORKERS. TRACTOR TRAILERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THIS NEW INTERCHANGE.
THE 3 YEAR
CONSTRUCTION JOB WILL COST BETWEEN $25 TO $30 MILLION. TURNPIKE OFFICIALS SAY THE COST
OF THE NEW EXIT WILL BE FUNDED SOLELY THROUGH TOLL REVENUES & WILL
NOT REQUIRE ANY TAXPAYER FUNDS. BIDS WILL BE OPENED THIS MONTH. PHASE 1 WORK WILL
BEGIN NEXT JUNE & WOULD SEE A NEW BRIDGE OVER THE TURNPIKE AT 903. THE EXISTING
BRIDGE WOULD STAY OPEN UNTIL THE NEW BRIDGE IS READY IN THE SPRING OF 2010. PHASE
2 COVERS CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAMPS & ANCILLARY ROADS. THAT WILL BEGIN IN THE
FALL, 2010.
AS WITH ANY PROJECT
LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE POSITIVES & NEGATIVES. A NEW EXIT AT 903 WILL SAVE PENN FOREST &
KIDDER TWP COMMUTERS TRAVEL TIME & GAS MONEY. IT WILL TRIM TRAFFIC INTO LEHIGHTON
& DOWN THE MANSION HOUSE HILL INTO JIM THORPE. THAT WILL ALSO TRIM REVENUES FOR
BUSINESSES LOCATED ALONG THAT STRETCH. BUT, IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS ON ROUTE
903 & ON JIM THORPE'S EAST SIDE, YOU WILL SEE MORE TRAFFIC & MORE DOLLARS.
MANY TRAVELERS WHO
PLAN TO USE THAT NEW EXIT WILL BE FORCED TO GET AN EZ PASS. TURNPIKE CHAIRMAN JOE
BRIMMEIER CALLS EZ PASS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. BRIMMEIER SAYS MORE THAN 50% OF
THE TOLLS ON THE TURNPIKE IN THE CARBON COUNTY REGION ARE PAID USING THE EZ
PASS SYSTEM. THAT'S NOT WHAT TOLL BOOTH WORKERS ON THE TURNPIKE WANT TO HEAR.
A NEW TURNPIKE EXIT AT
903 WILL ULTIMATELY BE AN ASSET TO CARBON COUNTY, WHICH HAS GROWN TO BE
HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON TOURIST TRAFFIC. WE'RE NOT HOLDING OUR BREATH ON THAT
MEMORIAL WEEKEND, 2012 OPENING DATE THOUGH. WE ARE IN A DOWN ECONOMY & WE STILL
EXPECT GOVERNOR ED RENDELL TO RESURRECT THE NOW-DEAD TURNPIKE LEASE IDEA
SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. BESIDES, WHEN HAVE WE EVER SEEN A ROAD PROJECT FINISH ON
TIME.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday,
October 30
OUR AREA MOURNS THE
UNTIMELY DEATH OF STATE SENATOR JIM RHOADES OF MAHANOY CITY. JIM WAS BURIED
LAST SATURDAY--1 WEEK AFTER SUCCUMBING FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN A MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE EVENING BEFORE.
FERN RIDGE STATE POLICE HAS NOT ISSUED
A FINAL ACCIDENT REPORT & POLICE ARE SEEKING WITNESSES OF THE ACCIDENT. AS WE
SEND OUT DEEPEST EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY TO THE ENTIRE RHOADES FAMILY, MANY
ASK HOW THE PASSING OF JIM RHOADES WILL IMPACT NEXT WEEK'S SENATORIAL ELECTION.
JIM RHOADES NAME WILL
STILL BE ON THE BALLOT. IT WAS REPORTED JIM RHOADES NAME COULD BE REMOVED BY AN
ORDER OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OR SUPREME COURT. 2 DAYS AFTER JIM
RHOADES DIED, CHAMP HOLMAN, A JIM
RHOADES STAFFER, SAID OUT OF HONOR & RESPECT, WE'D
LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CAMPAIGN. HOLMAN ADDED THE LATE SENATOR WOULD HAVE
DISAPPROVED OF DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS WHO CAST ABSENTEE BALLOTS BY REMOVING
HIS NAME.
RHOADES, A 28 YEAR
SENATE REPUBLICAN VETERAN, IS CHALLENGED BY PETE "PJ" SYMONS, A DEMOCRAT, &
DENNIS BAYLOR, AN INDEPENDENT. SYMONS SWITCHED FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRAT LAST YEAR
& WAS RE-ELECTED FOR A 4TH TERM AS SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PROTHONOTARY. BAYLOR
SECURED OVER 1,300 SIGNATURES TO GET HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT. IF SYMONS OR
BAYLOR GET THE MOST VOTES, THAT WILL UNCOMPLICATE THINGS. BUT, WHAT HAPPENS IF
JIM RHOADES GETS MORE VOTES THAN 2 LIVING CHALLENGERS? THAT CREATES A COSTLY,
CONVOLUTED MESS.
A VOTE CERTIFICATION
COULD TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS. IF JIM RHOADES IS CERTIFIED THE WINNER, LT. GOVERNOR
CATHERINE BAKER KNOLL WOULD HAVE 60 DAYS TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION. THAT
COULD BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE KNOLL IS HOSPITALIZED & UNDERGOING TREATMENT
FOR A RARE FORM OF CANCER.
ONCE A SPECIAL
ELECTION IS OKED, PARTY LEADERS WOULD SELECT A CANDIDATE. BAYLOR MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO GET ON THE SPECIAL BALLOT. A SPECIAL ELECTION WOULD BE A COSTLY
UNDERTAKING TO TAXPAYERS BECAUSE THAT ELECTION COVERS ALL OF SCHUYLKILL & PARTS
OF CARBON, BERKS, NORTHAMPTON, LEHIGH & MONROE COUNTIES. A SPECIAL ELECTION
COULD COST IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WOULD THAT ELECTION BE HELD
DURING THE DEAD OF WINTER OR WAIT TIL SPRING OR SUMMER? DURING THAT TIME, THE
29TH DISTRICT WOULD BE WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
PJ SYMONS IS NOT
GUARANTEED TO BE THE DEMOCRAT'S CHOICE IN A SPECIAL ELECTION. WE HEARD SEVERAL NAMES
FOR THE REPUBLICANS LIKE CHAMP HOLMAN, CHRIS HOBBS, DAVE ARGALL, BOB CARL,
& FRANK STAUDENMEIER TO NAME A FEW. HOLMAN IS NOT ELECTABLE. NEITHER IS
HOBBS, JIM RHOADES SON-IN-LAW & SON OF FORMER STATE SENATOR FRED HOBBS. WOULD DAVE
ARGALL WANT TO BE A FRESHMAN SENATOR & TAKE A BIG PAY CUT WHILE HE'S IN A
LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE HOUSE. WE BELIEVE DAVE HAS A SHOT AT BEING HOUSE SPEAKER
SOMEDAY. CARL IS POLITICALLY DEAD AFTER LAST YEAR'S COMMISSIONERS RACE
& STAUDENMEIER IS NOT WHAT MANY CALL A "PARTY INSIDER".
IN OUR VIEW, THE BEST
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN A SPECIAL ELECTION WOULD BE MARY RHOADES, JIM'S WIFE.
MARY SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF HER HUSBAND. MARY
WOULD CARRY THE RHOADES NAME, WHICH IS LIKE POLITICAL GOLD, INTO THE VOTING BOOTH
& SHE WOULD PROBABLY SWEEP TO VICTORY.
ON THE DAY JIM RHOADES
WAS BEING LAID TO REST & MONDAY, VOTERS RECEIVED A MAILER FROM THE REPUBLICAN
STATE COMMITTEE TELLING THEM THEY MUST CAST THEIR VOTE FOR A DEAD MAN. CONSIDER
THE TIMING OF THAT MAILER. REPUBLICAN STRATEGISTS WERE PRODUCING &
MAILING AN ELECTION FLYER DURING A PERIOD OF MOURNING. RADIO & TV ADS STARTED POPPING
MONDAY. AGAIN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGISTS WERE BUSY WHILE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WERE
BEING MADE FOR THE LATE SENATOR. PJ SYMONS & DENNIS BAYLOR VOLUNTARILY PLACED
CAMPAIGNS ON HOLD TO HONOR & RESPECT THE LATE SENATOR.
WHY WOULD STATE
REPUBLICANS URGE US TO VOTE FOR A DEAD MAN? PERHAPS THEY SAW A REUTERS NEWS REPORT
FROM JUNE WHERE RESIDENTS OF A ROMANIAN VILLAGE VOTED IN A DEAD MAN AS
MAYOR. 1 VILLAGER NOTED: I KNOW I VOTED FOR A DEAD MAN, BUT I DIDN'T WANT CHANGE! IS THE
REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE USING THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF JIM RHOADES TO ADVANCE
THEIR OWN POLITICAL AGENDA TO HOLD ON TO A SENATE SEAT?
WOULDN'T IT BE MORE
APPROPRIATE TO URGE VOTERS TO CONTINUE A LEGACY BY GIVING TO A NEWLY-CREATED
SCHOLARSHIP FUND SETUP IN MEMORY OF JIM RHOADES. WE ALL KNOW OF JIM'S PASSION
FOR EDUCATION. EVEN GOVERNOR ED RENDELL SPOKE OF IT AFTER HEARING OF JIM'S
PASSING. WOULDN'T STATE REPUBLICANS BE BETTER OFF COURTING PJ SYMONS TO GET HIM
TO SWITCH BACK TO REPUBLICAN AFTER THE ELECTION? IT'S A BETTER ROUTE TO TAKE
THAN URGING US TO VOTE FOR A DEAD MAN.
WE THOUGHT STATE
REPUBLICANS LEARNED A LESSON AFTER THEY MESSED UP THE COUNTY ELECTION FOR
SCHUYLKILL REPUBLICANS LAST YEAR. THEIR MAILERS ENRAGED VOTERS & HANDED
DEMOCRATS CONTROL OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE STATE GOP DOES NOT HAVE TO STICK
ITS NOSE IN A RACE THAT WILL HAVE NO BEARING ON THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE STATE
SENATE. MOST PUNDITS AGREE THE GOP WILL STILL CONTROL THE STATE SENATE, EVEN IF
SYMONS OR BAYLOR WIN IN THE 29TH DISTRICT. URGING VOTERS TO ELECT A DEAD MAN--IT'S
NOT A PROPER WAY TO HONOR A GUY LIKE JIM RHOADES...A GREAT LEGISLATOR FOR OUR
AREA FOR ALMOST 3 DECADES.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
DOWNLOAD THIS EDITORIAL HERE in PDF format
This editorial aired on Oldies 1410 WLSH on Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday,
October 23
LAST YEAR, AMERICANS
BOUGHT 8.8 BILLION GALLONS OF BOTTLED WATER...AN AVERAGE OF JUST OVER 29 GALLONS
OF BOTTLED WATER PER PERSON! WE DRINK MORE BOTTLED WATER ANNUALLY THAN ANY
OTHER BEVERAGE, OTHER THAN CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS. BOTTLED WATER CONSUMPTION PER
PERSON HAS GROWN BY AT LEAST 1 GALLON PER YEAR & HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN A
DECADE. JUST HOW PURE IS THAT BOTTLED WATER WE DRINK?
WE OBTAINED A 53 PAGE
REPORT FROM THE WASHINGTON, DC BASED ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP, AN
OUTFIT FOUNDED BY SCIENTISTS ADVOCATING STRICTER REGULATION. THEY DID A 2 YEAR
COMPREHENSIVE TESTING ON 10 MAJOR BRANDS OF BOTTLED WATER & FOUND A SURPRISING
ARRAY OF CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS IN EVERY BRAND ANALYZED.
THINGS EWG DISCOVERED
IN THEIR BOTTLED WATER TESTING INCLUDE WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS LIKE
CHLORINE & FLUORIDE, FERTILIZER POLLUTANTS INCLUDING AMMONIA & NITRATE,
PHARMACEUTICALS LIKE ACETAMINOPHEN & CAFFEINE, SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS USED IN THE CHEMICAL
INDUSTRY & PLASTIC PRODUCTION, BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION, ARSENIC, BORON, &
RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS INCLUDING CANCER-CAUSING ELEMENTS RADIUM 228 &
STRONTIUM 90.
RESEARCHERS TESTED 1
BATCH FOR EACH OF 10 BRANDS. ALL BRANDS MET FEDERAL HEALTH STANDARDS FOR
DRINKING WATER. 8 DIDN'T HAVE CONTAMINANTS HIGH ENOUGH TO WARRANT MORE
TESTING. BUT SAM'S CHOICE BOTTLED WATER SOLD BY WAL-MART & ACADIA WATER OF GIANT
FOOD SUPERMARKETS REVEALED CHLORINE BY-PRODUCTS ABOVE CALIFORNIA'S STANDARDS.
IN AN AP NEWS REPORT, WAL-MART SAYS ITS STUDIES DIDN'T SHOW ILLEGAL LEVELS OF
CONTAMINANTS. GIANT FOOD OFFICIALS SAY ACADIA MEETS REGULATORY STANDARDS.
RESEARCHERS WANT WAL-MART TO LABEL ITS BOTTLED WATER IN CALIFORNIA WITH A
WARNING BECAUSE CHLORINE-BASED CONTAMINANTS HAVE BEEN LINKED WITH CANCER. IT
HAS FILED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE.
EWG SAYS TAP WATER
CONSUMERS ARE PROVIDED WITH TEST RESULTS ANNUALLY. THE BOTTLED WATER INDUSTRY
DOESN'T DISCLOSE RESULTS OF CONTAMINANT TESTING & HIDES BEHIND CLAIMS
BOTTLED WATER IS HELD TO THE SAME SAFETY STANDARDS AS TAP WATER. WITH
PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS SATURATED WITH IMAGES OF MOUNTAIN SPRINGS & PRICES 1,900
TIMES THE PRICE OF TAP WATER, WE ARE CLEARLY LED TO BELIEVE WE'RE BUYING A PRODUCT PURIFIED
TO A LEVEL BEYOND THE WATER THAT COMES OUT OF A GARDEN HOSE.
THE INTERNATIONAL
BOTTLED WATER ASSOCIATION RESPONDED TO THE REPORT SAYING IT CONTAINS FALSE CLAIMS
& EXAGGERATIONS ABOUT BOTTLED WATER PRODUCTS. IBWA SAYS EWG FREQUENTLY
MISCHARACTERIZES SUBSTANCES FOUND IN TESTED WATER & DISCUSSES THEM OUT OF CONTEXT
WITH ACCEPTED SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS. IBWA LEADER JOE DOSS BRANDED THE REPORT
FINDINGS AS "ALARMIST" & SAYS THE STUDY IS BASED ON THE FAULTY PREMISE THAT A
CONTAMINANT IS A HEALTH CONCERN EVEN IF IT DOESN'T EXCEED THE ESTABLISHED REGULATORY
LIMIT OR NO STANDARD HAS BEEN SET.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL
WORKING GROUP SEEKS TO BRING BOTTLED WATER UP TO TAP WATER STANDARDS WITH FULL
DISCLOSURE OF TEST RESULTS, ALL TREATMENT TECHNIQUES USED TO PURIFY THE BOTTLED
WATER, & CLEAR & SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES OF THE NAME & PLACE OF SOURCE WATER USED
IN BOTTLED WATER.
EWG RECOMMENDS WE
DRINK FILTERED TAP WATER INSTEAD OF BOTTLED WATER. WE PAY AN AVERAGE OF .2 CENTS
PER GALLON TO DRINK TAP WATER. A CARBON FILTER AT THE TAP COSTS 31 CENTS A
GALLON & REMOVES MANY CONTAMINANTS FOUND IN PUBLIC TAP WATER SUPPLIES. THAT'S 12
TIMES LOWER THAN THE TYPICAL COST OF BOTTLED WATER. A WHOLE-HOUSE CARBON FILTER
STRIPS OUT CHEMICALS FROM DRINKING WATER & WATER USED IN THE SHOWER, CLOTHES
& DISH WASHER. FOR AN AVERAGE 4 PERSON HOUSE-HOLD, THE COST FOR THIS SYSTEM
IS ABOUT 25 CENTS PER PERSON PER DAY. A GALLON OF BOTTLED WATER COSTS 15 TIMES
THAT AMOUNT.
WE BUY BOTTLED WATER
BECAUSE WE EXPECT PURITY. WE EXPECT & PAY FOR QUALITY WAY BEYOND ORDINARY TAP
WATER. TO HEAR BOTTLED WATER IS NO LESS POLLUTED THAN TAP WATER & 1,900
TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE IS DISTURBING. WE DON'T DESERVE A BEVERAGE THAT'S JUST A TAD
CLEANER THAN TAP WATER BEING SOLD AT PREMIUM PRICES.
IN 97, WE CONSUMED AN
AVERAGE OF 13.5 GALLONS OF BOTTLED WATER A YEAR. IN 07, THAT FIGURE STANDS AT 29.3
GALLONS PER PERSON. IT'S TIME FOR OUR STATE LAWMAKERS TO ENSURE THAT IF WE ARE
PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR PURITY, WE SHOULD GET IT. BOTTLED WATER IS NOW A
MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL BUSINESS THAT MUST BE REGULATED. 'TIL THAT HAPPENS, IT'S A
GOOD IDEA TO INSTALL SOME KIND OF WATER PURIFICATION IN OUR HOMES &
BUSINESSES. AND IT WILL SAVE US ALL MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
I'M MARK MAREK WITH
THIS WEEK'S AM 1410 WLSH EDITORIAL.
