Young Dems getting the band back together

I have always been a supporter of our local chapters of the Young Democrats and Young Republicans in Luzerne County . Both outfits have very generous to me over the years.

 Just looking at their Facebook pages they both have been dormant since 2013 so it's good to see one of the organizations getting back in gear.

  2016 is a very important Presidential Election and no matter who you are supporting it is important to come out to get the ball rolling. In addition 2015 can be a great opportunity to get a new crop of Democrats elected on the Municipal level and get geared up for the 2016 Primary and General Election.
We will also discuss officer elections and possibly be joined by 2015 candidates!

Thanks
YDs President Thomas Shubilla

 Membership is open to anyone under 36 who is a registered Democrat. Please come participate. We will elect board members and discuss future plans.

 Monday September 14 at 7PM

Leggio's Restaurant.

Note that this is the Plains Township location at 1092 Rt 315
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702.


I hope to see the Young Republicans  become active again.  Under Bob Zaruta they put on a great event Youth in Politics. Frank Mazza is now the President but he is busy working for Pat Toomey and is a Temple fan

Blogger stuff

Adding Inside the Gulch to the blogroll but I'm not adding it to NEPA Blogs. because it's an aggregation of links to like minded thinking but has no original content from local people. Hopefully that will change in the near future as recent past Prez of the Luzerne County Young Republicans  Bob Zaruta is a founder of the site. Right now it looks like a Drudge wannabe with a touch of Glenn Beck gold hawking.

In more important news  

Today Is the 10th Anniversary of Friday Cat Blogging

which led to 

 Thursday Night Basset Blogging

 

Please RSVP for Blogfest on April 19th 

 

Young Republicans have a new leader

Congrats to Frank Mazza who has been elected to succeed Bob Zaruta as Chairman of the Luzerne County Young Republicans. Bob has led the group in a conservative direction declining to endorse some Republican candidates. Bob tells me he is looking at starting an internet venture.

 

 

A Major Award

Tiffany Cloud is the hostess of Storm Politics on WYLN in Hazelton which has become one of my favorite public affairs programs on TV. She also wrote the great book Sleeping with Dog Tags . The thing about Tiffany is that she welcomes all comers and has a great discussion with people she disagrees with that doesn't turn into a talking head shouting match like you see on the cable news channels.

In the latest episode she handed out the Lightening Bolt Awards. Cloud, Storm, Lightening the weather metaphors are endless. May I suggest the Snow Job Awards for next year.

The winner is  Yasue Bengali, a Japanese immigrant to the US who recently became a citizen and explains how great this county is as only an immigrant could.

The honorable mentions of other people who have appeared on her show is a mix of Democratic and Republican office holders plus those that will be elected in the future or never at all.

Some Bolts went out to Aaron Kaufer, Matt Cartwright, Tarah Toohil, Stefanie Salavantis and Lou Barletta.Young Republicans Bob Zaruta and Jen Rinehamer and Young Dem Thom Shibula along with the happiest man I know, Casey Evans.

In December of last year I was her guest on Storm Politics and David Yonki has also been on the program and we came in 9th. I think she gives us too much credit for the election results but I'll take it. To answer her question of why anyone would push the liberal agenda in these economic times is simple. Austerity doesn't work. You don't cut spending when the economy is down and if anything the government's goal should be to get the unemployment rate down to 4%. The US government is borrowing money right now at a negative interest rate when you factor in inflation. Borrow more and put people to work! She said the conservatives are being outsmarted by these 2 lovers of the left. Hah!

The highlight of this clip is at the 2 minute mark.

Youth in Politics dinner

A big congratulations to Bob Zaruta and Jen Rinehimer along with the rest of the Young Republicans of Luzerne County for putting together such a successful event. Getting such a big crowd for a YR gathering  in a historically Democratic County is a credit to their hard work.

Many moons ago I was an officer in the Young Democrats of Luzerne County and I'm a big supporter of both the YR's and YD's. They are our future leaders. Everybody involved in political campaigns think they are the grand strategist like David Axlerod or Karl Rove but first you have to understand the nuts and bolts of a campaign like making the phone calls and knocking on doors. Young Dems and Reps are the training ground.

Now for commentary on the event with a minimum of snark.


Bob Zaruta took on the "myth" that young people are all Obama liberals. The old joke is there is no such thing as a young Republican because they are all born middle aged.

Luz County YR Prez Bob Zaruta

The best part of the night was th PJ Stebbins award. PJ was a regular commenter on Gort42 and many other places even announcing his run for State Rep on this site. PJ was the hard working foot soldier for many campaigns that all political types can learn from. Aaron Kaufer  received the plaque from Suzie Stebbins.

Aaron Kaufer and Suzie Stebbins

The Young Republican of the year baton was passed from Tarah Toohil to Stefanie Salavantis. I asked Toohil some questions and it was interesting what she didn't say or deny. Read between the lines. More on that later. A reporter asked me a few days ago for the name of her campaign manager and didn't know. She told me tonight she doesn't have one. Bad move.

Feel free to add this pic to your binder of women.

Tarah Toolhill and Stefanie Salaventis

I can't make the LWV forum with Aaron Kaufer and Phyllis Mundy at Wyoming Sem on Tuesday because Mrs G. would rather to see the Aussie Pink Floyd Show at the Kirby that night. I recruited John Lombardo to be the Special Gort42 correspondent that night. He has been a regular contributor to PittstonPolitics.com and has made his English teachers proud. He is a an articulate young man.

John Lombardo and Sara Czernaikowski

More pics on my Facebook page

Joe Peters said something about being on TV.

Gort42 and Joe Peters

Upcoming events

Today 120th HD Republican candidate Aaron Kaufer is having a meet and greet or cookout depending if you read his PR or Facebook page at the Shavertown Shopping Center parking lot

148 N. Memorial Highway, Shavertown, Pa. 18708 2-4PM

 Free hot dogs and soda will be provided. Republican and Democrat elected officials in support of Aaron will be in attendance to show support for him. All are invited to attend.

I can't wait to see what Democratic elected officials will risk the wrath of Phyllis by showing up for this. 

A big chunk of what passes as the Republican 'establishment' around here will be elsewhere at the same time. Bad move by the Kaufer camp on scheduling. 

It competes with this gathering.

Conservative Voter Rally  

Saturday, October 20, 2012  11:30am until 3:30pm

 

 

Genetti Ballrooms Inn & Suites

1341 N Church St, Hazleton, Pennsylvania

 

Special guest speakers include: Lou Barletta (U.S. Congressman), Sam Rohrer (Pres., PA Pastors Network), Tarah Toohil (PA House of Representatives), David Madeira (The David Madeira Show), Bob Zaruta (Pres., Luzerne Co. Young Republicans), and Laureen Cummings (Candidate for U.S. Congress).

Sunday is

Youth in Politics  at 

The Appletree Terrace

4 Newberry Estate, Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612

 

5-8PM

This year we will present the Young Republican of the Year Award to District Attorney, Stefanie Salavantis. The award will be presented by last year's winner, State Rep. Tarah Toohil.

We will also be presenting the first annual P.J. Stebbins Award. ... This year's award will be given to fellow Young Republican, Aaron Kaufer. 

 

With all the controversy swirling around Tarah Toohil right now we will see if she shows up for these events or catches a cold. I was invited by YR Prez Bob Zaruta  to the dinner and plan to ask her some questions.  

 

On Monday there is the PA Attorney General Date on PCN 

Legislative Correspondents’ Association Candidate Debate for the Attorney General with Democratic candidate Kathleen Kane and Republican candidate David Freed 7-8PM

And a feedbag for Senator Bob Casey

Monday, October 22, 2012
5:30-7:30 PM

Colarusso’s La Palazzo
4500 Birney Avenue
Moosic, PA 18507

 

On Facebook

 

Tuesday there are 2 events I would like to go to but we will be at the Kirby Center for the Australian Pink Floyd show. Mrs. G said that politics is music to my ears but that is not true. 

In the 120th HD the League of Women's voters will host a forum with incumbent Phyllis Mundy (D) and her challenger Aaron Kaufer (R) at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Wyoming Seminary's Buckingham Performing Arts Center.

 

 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY:


Tuesday Oct. 23rd 7pm - 9pm


*111th HD  Representative Sandra Major and her opponent Mr. Jeffrey Dahlander.