[Illustration by ALEX FINE] ABC: For the first time this campaign season, Barack Obama has surpassed Hillary Clinton’s support among superdelegates, according to the ABC News delegate estimate. Sen. Obama, D-Ill., picked up two superdelegates this morning giving him a new metric to tout in addition to his current commanding leads in pledged delegates, popular votes, states won, and money raised. Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., switched his endorsement from Clinton to Obama and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., endorsed Obama. DeFazio was previously uncommitted. With these endorsements, Obama has the support of 267 superdelegates and Clinton has 265 superdelegates. Every news […]
LIVE & DIRECT: From The Cathedral Basilica
[Photos by TIFFANY YOON/CLICK TO ENLARGE] BY NICK POWELL METRO CORRESPONDENT The steady martial drumbeat of rain provided a suitably dreary backdrop as Philadelphia finest — most dressed in matching yellow rain coats and broken into double-file parade formations — poured into The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul this morning for the viewing of the body of slain Philadelphia police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Hundreds of policemen from the city, state, and surrounding townships were present for the viewing, as well as some New Jersey State Police, all in full-dress finery for the occasion. Outside the cathedral, a video […]
HELTER SKELTER: Cops Dig Up Death Valley Ranch For More Bodies; Lohan Axed From Manson Flick
[“It’s Too Late To Fall In Love With Sharon Tate” By ALEX FINE] ASSOCIATED PRESS: INDEPENDENCE, Calif. — National Park Service officials say the Death Valley ranch where Charles Manson was arrested will be closed for a second time this year to search for possible human remains. A press release Thursday said that Barker Ranch will be closed for up to four days later this month. A team of forensic researchers found possible unmarked graves at the site in February that they believe could be the bodies of additional Manson victims. The park was briefly closed in April, but digging […]
CINEMA: It’s Mamet, Dammit
Redbelt (2008, directed by David Mamet, 99 min., U.S.) BY DAN BUSKIRK FILM CRITICThe first thing that people usually mention about playwright/filmmaker David Mamet is the potty mouth, the rapid-fire profane dialogue that gives his scripts a steadily salty taste, like an open sore in your mouth. Obscured by all that musical cursing is the fact that Mamet is one of our premiere mystery writers, and Redbelt is the foul-mouthed Agatha Christie’s tenth feature as a director. Like any writer at this stage in his career, Mamet’s work is part inspiration and part compulsive habit. The director continues to find […]
NEWS CLUES: Like A Human Skull Bong Of Truth
THE BEATDOWN: Seven More Cops Removed From Active Duty Seven more Philadelphia police officers were removed from active duty yesterday in the probe of the news video that shows police beating and kicking three shooting suspects after a car chase Monday night. A review of an enhanced copy of the 11-minute Fox29 video enabled police investigators to identify the seven, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman. They bring to 13 — one sergeant and 12 officers — the number of police taken off street duty pending the probe’s outcome. Mayor Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey appeared on […]
CHIX WE DIG: Eva Mendes
A very ballsy La Dolce Vida-esque spread for, fittingly enough, Vogue Italia.
MEOW MIX: Babs, Cindy & A Bag Of Dicks
If we’re taking sides in the Barbara Walters vs. Star Jones bitchfight, I’m with Starr, people.The backstory: In her tiresome new book, Barbara dishes on Starr’s weight-loss surgery, among other things. Inevitably asked for her comment, Jones put the smack down: “It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book,” Jones told Us. “It speaks to her true character.”SNAP! Called […]
NPR 4 THE DEF: Giving Public Radio Edge Since 2006
FRESH AIR W/ Guest Host DAVE DAVIES The United States is home to less than five percent of the world’s population — and almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners. Adam Liptak, national legal correspondent for The New York Times, says that’s one of the ways America’s legal system differs from those of other countries. Liptak’s recent series for The Times, “American Exception,” looks at the ways the American justice system is unique — including high incarceration rates, the awarding of punitive damages, felony murder liability for accomplices and commercial bail bondsmen. “Americans are locked up for crimes — from […]
MAGIC NEGRO: Obama Brings Peace To Nigeria?
REUTERS: LAGOS — Rebels who have stepped up attacks on Nigeria’s oil industry in the last month said on Sunday they were considering a ceasefire appeal by U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has launched five attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta since it resumed a campaign of violence in April, forcing Royal Dutch Shell to shut more than 164,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). “The MEND command is seriously considering a temporary ceasefire appeal by Senator Barack Obama. Obama is someone we respect and hold in high […]
NEWS CLUES: Like A Swinging Nightstick Of Truth
Feds Clarify Status Of Johnny Doc Investigation; Deny Immunity From Prosecution Federal prosecutors said in a court filing yesterday that they are “pursuing an ongoing investigation” of electricians-union honcho John Dougherty, who they said is a “subject” of a criminal investigation. As a result, they said, a federal judge should not grant him immunity to testify in the upcoming trial of electrical contractor Donald “Gus” Dougherty Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Gray said yesterday that granting John Dougherty immunity to testify in the case could jeopardize any future investigation and prosecution of the union leader. The feds claim that Gus […]