THE INDEPENDENT: A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November. The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq’s position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country. But the accord […]
SURRENDER: Things 2 Do In Denver When You’re Dead
HUFFINGTON POST: The Clinton campaign issued a statement at around 9pm saying they will be hosting an event to announce her support for Sen. Obama on Saturday, as opposed to Friday: Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington, DC to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity. This event will be held on Saturday to accommodate more of Senator Clinton’s supporters who want to attend. Multiple news organizations reported early Wednesday evening that Hillary Clinton is expected to officially suspend her campaign and drop out of the Democratic race on Friday. THE […]
NPR 4 THE DEF: Giving Public Radio Edge Since 2006
My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it. — Ted Kennedy, June 8th, 1968 A BRIEF HISTORY OF AMAZING LETDOWNS: U.S. Counsel (1953-1960) Robert Kennedy joins the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations in 1953 under the tutelage of Sen. Joseph McCarthy. He eventually resigns from the committee over disagreements with Senator McCarthy’s anti-communist campaign against federal officials. Once McCarthy is deposed […]
HELL HATH NO FURY: You’re Damn Right I’m Bitter
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following views do not represent the views of the Editor.] BY AMY Z. QUINN Yes, it smarts. Yes, I’m angry and disappointed today. And yes, I’ll still vote for Barack Obama in November. But you should understand why I’m not feeling great about it this morning. Now that it’s over, now that everybody’s been able to run their ecstatic headlines, can we all just admit that the MSM and the Yes! We! Can!-crazed online world had a deep desire to see Obama win, if only so everyone can soak in the aura of the New Kennedy or […]
ART BRUT: The Sudden Death and Heroic Life Of Ann d’Harnoncourt, Director Of Philadelphia Museum Of Art
NEW YORK TIMES: By any measure, Anne d’Harnoncourt’s tenure as director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, cut short by her sudden death on Sunday at 64, was distinguished. It shone forth in major acquisitions, successful fund drives, vast gallery renovations, a marvelous rehang of the collection and, above all, her refusal to let the museum become a three-ring circus. Having seen the Philadelphia museum — or at least its steps — become a destination after the 1976 film “Rocky,” she did not succumb to showy architecture; the new wing being planned at the time of her death has been […]
INSTA-REVIEW: The Dude Stripped Bare
REMINDER: Still playing on Phawker Radio! Why? Because The Dude Abides. BY ED KING, ROCK EXPERT Hey, I remember reading about this band! This was Tom Petty‘s Gainesville, FL band before he was signed as a solo artist, putting Mudcrutch bandmates Mike Campbell (guitar) and Benmont Tench (keyboards) on the payroll. Last month saw the release of an honest-to-goodness Mudcrutch album, with guitarist Tom Leadon and drummer Randall Marsh easing back into what must have been a 32-year interrupted dream. Meanwhile, the three who carried over to the Heartbreakers get a chance to cultivate their beards, get their garage band improv […]
THE NOMINEE: He Is The One
NEW YORK TIMES: Senator Barack Obama secured the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday evening, prevailing through an epic battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in a primary campaign that inspired millions of voters from every corner of America to demand change in Washington. YES. WE. CAN. Congratulations, Mr. President. -Lyrics- It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom. Yes we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers […]
LIVE & DIRECT: IMing Hillary’s Non-Concession Speech
9:32 PM Amy: HEY I’m twittering hillary’s speech if you want to take it 9:33 PM me: SURE link me Amy: ok she’s starting to speak now twitter.com/amyzquinn 9:34 PM me: mention this http://www.phawker.com/2008/06/03/how-hillary-becomes-chief-justice-of-scotus/ I figured out how to do it 9:35 PM Amy: shh listening me: dick Amy: <3 9:36 PM me: sho shtupid don’t brag about WVA and Kentucky Lord Amy: no you! right because even when she wins it doesn’t count me: blame Harold Ickes 9:37 PM he’s on the rules committee Amy: oh i know me: he’s a dick shtupid primary schedule but Obama’s peeps outhunk […]
PARTY’S OVER: Super Delegates Stampede To Obama
ASSOCIATED PRESS: ATLANTA — Former President Carter said Tuesday he will endorse Democrat Barack Obama after the last two states vote. “The fact is the Obama people already know they have my vote when the polls close tonight,” Carter told The Associated Press after speaking at the Georgia World Congress Center Tuesday afternoon. His comments came as Obama clinched the nomination, according to a tally of convention delegates by The Associated Press. Carter, a superdelegate, has remained officially neutral in the race but has offered strong hints that he would end up in Obama’s corner. He has noted that his […]
SCARFACE: Amy Winehouse Remains The Most Persuasive Anti-Drug Ad We Have Ever Seen
DAILY MAIL: Amy Winehouse today spent more than an hour in court supporting her husband who faces charges of assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The troubled star sat in the front row of the public gallery as Snaresbrook Crown Court, east London, and smiled lovingly at Blake Fielder-Civil, who smiled back at her from the dock. Winehouse wore a short blue spotted dress in a clear effort to look smart for her husband’s trial, but the classy clothes failed to hide her alarmingly bad skin. The singer’s ragged appearance shocked onlookers as she arrived at court. […]
JUST ANNOUNCED: The Roots Picnic Appetizer
THE ROOTS PRESENT HORS D’OEUVRES Pre-Picnic Jam Session Featuring SANTOGOLD THE RANDY WATSON EXPERIENCE (?UESTLOVE, BILAL, ROBERT GLASPAR, & JAMES POYSER) JANELLE MONAE THE ROOTS Friday, June 6 at 11pm TLA 334 South St Tickets go on sale Wednesday June 4 at noon
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW: Amber & Cambria
[Photos by JUSTIN ROMAN] BY JEFF DEENEY The intersection of Cambria and Amber streets is a good six blocks away from the endemic drug violence of the Badlands — sometimes that seems like six miles, and sometimes like six inches. It sits east of Frankford Avenue and a full five blocks from the El, far enough away that you can’t even see the hulking steel skeleton that straddles Kensington Avenue from here. Crime and violence has seeped north and east from West Kensington over the years, slowly and steadily creeping further and further into the surrounding neighborhoods of the Lower […]
DIPLO & M.I.A.: Making ‘Paper Planes’
PREVIOUSLY: Third World Party People HEAR YE: M.I.A.’s Kala INSTA-REVIEW: M.I.A.’s Kala PREVIOUSLY: 10 Things You Should Know About M.I.A. At The Electric Factory