“Now, with Joe Biden at my side, I am confident that we can take this country in a new direction; that we are ready to overcome the adversity of the last eight years; that we won’t just win this election in November, we’ll restore that fair shot at your dreams that is at the core of who Joe Biden and I are as people, and what America is as a nation. So let me introduce you to the next Vice President of the United States of America… ” — Sen. Barack Obama, Springfield, IL PHAWKER: Strong choice. Look at it […]
THE TEXT: Hello, Is This Thing On?
Can you hear me now? UPDATE: “Barack has chosen Joe Biden to be our VP nominee.” — Text Message From Obama, 3:06 AM CNN: Sen. Barack Obama has picked Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, multiple Democratic sources tell CNN. NEW YORK TIMES: Senator Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware to be his running-mate, turning to a leading authority on foreign policy and a longtime Washington hand to fill out the Democratic ticket, people told of the decision said. MSNBC: Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine have been told […]
GAMBLOR: PA Supreme Court Continues Curiously Unbroken String Of Pro-Casino Rulings
INQUIRER: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the SugarHouse Casino could be built on the city’s waterfront in Fishtown, reversing an attempt by the Nutter administration to stymie the project. The court decided, 4-2 with one abstention, that the city could not revoke the license giving SugarHouse the authority to build over the Delaware River that was issued during the last days of Mayor John F. Street’s administration. “We’re grateful to the Supreme Court for ruling in our favor,” Greg Carlin, chief executive officer of HSP Gaming, the developer of SugarHouse, said in an interview. He did not give […]
BREAKING: War Is Over — In Three Years
WASHINGTON POST: U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from the country by the end of 2011, and Iraqi officials said they are “very close” to resolving the remaining issues blocking a final accord that governs the future American military presence here. Iraqi and U.S. officials said several difficult issues remain, including whether U.S. troops will be subject to Iraqi law if accused of committing crimes. But the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to discuss the agreement publicly, said key elements of a timetable for troop withdrawal […]
DRUG TEST: ‘Massive’ Drug Sweep Nets Paltry Yield
OK, time for another edition of DRUG TEST wherein we vet the media’s reportage on the so-called War On Drugs, separating the seeds and stems of law enforcement press release hyperbole from the sober, reality-based facts. Today we check out this article posted on Philly.com by the Inquirer’s Sam Wood. Let us say up front that we think Sam is a damn good journo, not to mention a damn good Joe, so understand that nothing we are about to say is personal. Anyway, onward and upward — forward, never straight! Heh-heh… In a series of drug raids yesterday, Philadelphia police […]
WORTH REPEATING: John McCain Can’t Remember How Many Homes He Owns, How About You?
[Illustration by ALEX FINE] PHILADELPHIA — This morning, Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change launched a statewide search to find Pennsylvanians who, like John McCain, have so many homes that they just can’t keep track of the number. Our new media team will be at Love Park in Philadelphia beginning at 1:00 PM and volunteers and field staff will be calling voters throughout the day in an attempt to uncover even just one person who doesn’t know how many homes he or she owns. Yesterday, McCain was asked how many homes he owns. Clearly uncertain, he responded, “I think — I’ll […]
FAUX NEWS: Why Whitey Can’t Hope
[236.com: Fox News’ Obama Documentary in a Minute] 23/6: Monday night, Fox News Channel aired the first of two presidential candidate documentaries called “Character and Conduct.” First up: Barack Obama, whose documentary pretends really hard that it’s not full of stereotypes and insinuations! Couldn’t stomach it Monday evening? We’ve got it for you in a minute. MORE PREVIOUSLY: Fox News Is Lying To America!
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
FRESH AIR After he won the presidency, Abraham Lincoln brought three of his rivals for the Republican nomination into his cabinet. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin‘s book, Team of Rivals, recounts the life and work of our 16th president — and the principal characters of his administration. Goodwin won a Pulitzer Prize for her book, No Ordinary Time, about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. She has also written books about Lyndon Johnson and the Kennedys. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: When Lyndon B. Johnson took office as president, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, he began making daily recordings of his private conversations. Historian […]
JUMPIN’ JACK NEWS FLASH: Councilman Kelly’s Chief Of Staff Steps Aside After Corruption Indictment
PHILLY CLOUT: As predicted in today’s Daily News, City Councilman Jack Kelly’s chief of staff, Chris Wright, is leaving his job — maybe for good, maybe not. Wright was indicted two weeks ago, along with Kelly’s campaign treasurer and two brothers who had made substantial campaign contributions to the councilman. Wright is on unpaid leave, as of today. MORE PREVIOUSLY: City Councilman Jack Kelly’s chief, Chris Wright, [pictured making O-Face behind his boss] and three men involved in local land development were indicted this morning on federal corruption charges. Federal investigators say Wright used his post to help real estate […]
EXCLUSIVE: Obama To Tap Colin Powell For Veep Slot
Just kidding. Sorta. NEW YORK MAGAZINE: Are you holding on to your cell phones? After endless rumination and media speculation, Barack Obama’s decision on a running mate is nigh. Nigh! Just how nigh, nobody is quite sure. Could be tomorrow morning, could be later this week — Team Obama is probably relishing the suspense. They’ve promised to announce the pick to their supporters via text message, and based on the veepstakes short list and recent events, many people think the text might look something like, “Wht up, J Biden is my VP. TTYL.” MORE
THE BELL TOLLS: Second Fumo Aide Pleads Guilty
INQUIRER: A former computer technician for state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo pleaded guilty this morning in U.S. District Court to conspiring to obstruct the FBI and IRS investigation, and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors and testify as a government witness in the forthcoming trial of Fumo. Mark C. Eister, 38, of Camp Hill, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and four counts of obstructing justice. U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. scheduled sentencing for Nov. 20. MORE PREVIOUSLY: Senator’s IT Dude Rolls Over For Feds, Fumo Fucked
BEIJING: Shawn John Snags Gold
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BIGFOOT IN GEORGIA: Russkies Taking Sweet Ol’ Time
CBC: A withdrawal of Russian tanks and troops from the conflict zone in Georgia was underway Monday afternoon, according to Russia’s deputy chief of staff, though there were no immediate signs of the pullout. “Today, according to the peace plan, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers and reinforcements has begun,” Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn said in a briefing in Moscow Monday. Russian troops have controlled a wide swath of Georgia for days, after fierce fighting broke out Aug. 7 in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia. Under a European Union-brokered peace plan signed by both Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Georgian […]