ZOGBY POLL: Slim Majority Of Americans Say ‘Bomb Iran’
Despite President Bush’s perpetually abysmal approval ratings, it appears his increasingly hostile rhetoric against Iran has drummed up enough fear of a “nuclear holocaust” or a World War III that a majority of Americans are in favor of a US strike against the country aimed a curtailing its apparent nuclear ambitions, a new poll shows. The Zogby International survey shows 52 percent of Americans would support a strike on Iran, while 53 percent expect President Bush to launch such an attack before the end of his second term. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is voters’ No. 1 choice to deal with Iran, with 21 percent saying they would like to see her take on Tehran from the White House. Republican Rudy Giuliani was voters’ second choice, with 15 percent. [via RAW STORY]
*
DREXEL HILL INFANTICIDE: Dead Baby Mama Pleads ‘Not Guilty’
Mia Sardella pleaded not guilty today to third-degree murder, aggravated assault and abuse of a corpse this morning at her arraignment in Delaware County Court. The Drexel Hill teenager is accused of killing her newborn child and putting the corpse in the trunk of her car. Her appearance came after prosecutors last week dropped the more serious charge of first degree murder. The teen’s mother found the corpse Jan. 22, about three weeks following birth, stuffed inside a duffel bag left in the trunk of Sardella’s Volkswagen Beetle. Sardella, 19, remains free on bail. Judge Patricia Jenkins continued the case to December. The case has generated considerable publicity in part because Sardella is the granddaughter of Albert E. Piscopo, chief executive of the Glenmede Trust Co., an investment firm that manages the assets of the Pew Charitable Trusts. [via the INQUIRER]
*
QUESTION THE PARKING AUTHORITY: Rendell Calls For Audit Of Bigwig Salaries
The microscope on the Philadelphia Parking Authority may quickly intensify. Governor Rendell (file photo above) now wants the state agency audited, so workers have to prove they’re worth their hefty salaries. Governor Rendell has already publicly told the Parking Authority to trim its fat, but now he wants more (see related story). He’s asking for what’s called a desk audit of the Authority: “And by desk audit, I mean auditors come in and say, ‘Alright Mr. Jones, you get paid $120,000, show us what you do.’ There obviously hasn’t been a down-and-dirty audit, figuring out who works where and what. And that’s what I’d like to see.” Six years after the state took over the Authority, its staff size has doubled and 20 earn more than $100,000. [via KYW]