November 07, 2006

Fox News Declares Rendell Reverse Oreo

Via Philebrity, who's doing some fun liveblogging of his own tonight, Fox News thinks Ed Rendell is.. uh... yeah:

Gov. Edward Rendell — one of only three black candidates running for governor — won the gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania, according to FOX News projections.

Well, he can dance, right?

Liveblog: Election '06 Results and Drinking [Philebrity]
2006 Elections [Fox News]

Posted by D-Mac at 09:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

EXCLUSIVE: Election Results!

Well, it's after 8 p.m., so the polls are now closed. And, duh, I just realized: I'm a journalist! Kind of!

Which means I'm totally allowed to do this:

Philadelphia Will Do declares:

• Bob Casey wins the Senate with whatever percentage of the electorate reporting
• Ed Rendell is re-elected by like 4500 cheesesteaks

And the chain of Philadelphia bloggers making "EXCLUSIVE" jokes continues. Hurrah, hurrah.

Recommended: The Inquirer has one of the cooler automatically-updated charts allowing you to follow the results as they come in. (Neat!) They really did a nice job with this one.

Posted by D-Mac at 08:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

October 26, 2006

Adwatch: Death Of A Governor?!

Ah, yes, we move into the exciting third day of Adwatch. So far we've done ads attacking Lois Murphy (by the Republican National Congressional Committee) and Rick Santorum (by a pro-Little League Bob Casey), and today we'll all take a look at one of Lynn Swann's latest ads.

Despite his pedigree as a football player and a football sideline reporter, it appears Swann isn't going to take the Pennsylvania election this year. Ed Rendell is leading by, uh, lots and lots of points in the polls, and Swann will end up doing TV analysis of Steelers games or something come late November. That hasn't stopped him from continuing to take to the airwaves, however. After the jump, his Rendell attack ad.

Continue reading "Adwatch: Death Of A Governor?!"

Posted by D-Mac at 01:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

October 24, 2006

Lynn Swann Could Kick Your Ass At Beer Pong

Thank Pittsburgh sports blog Mondesi's House for the following photo and anecdote (partially reprinted below), concerning gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann, received from a reader. It happened at the Steelers-Eagles preseason game on Aug. 25:

While tailgating in Philly for the Steelers vs. Eagles preseason game we hear that Lynn Swann will be making his rounds to visit the Steeler fans... He gets to me and shakes my hand and I say, "I was wondering if you could do me a favor" as I hold up the ping pong ball. "Could you take one shot for us before you move on?" [...]

He makes a few arm motions warming up a bit, eyes the red cup at the other end of the table filled slightly with IC Light, takes a breath and let's it fly. The crowd that surrounded the table was at least 30 deep by now with Steeler fans cheering for him like he was back on the field again. Cameras flashing, video camera's rolling, his bodyguards and marketing team thinking about the damage this might do to his campaign and then... SPLASH DOWN....

Can Swann and Rendell have one more debate? Except, instead of a debate, it'd be a game of beer pong? That would be totally awesome.

Future Governor Lynn Swann Plays Beer Pong [Mondesi's House]

Posted by D-Mac at 02:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

October 02, 2006

Leftovers: Sen. NJ Weedman

• According to a Myspace bulletin, NJ Weedman is holding a raffle "for all potheads" to support his Senate campaign. Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying. And, really, could he be any worse than any Republicans or Democrats? [NJWeedman.com]

• The man who attacked an Amish school and killed three young girls and himself has been identified as Charles Carl Roberts IV. Police said an incident 20 years earlier may have led to the shootings. Yeah, 'cuz those Amish are always real assholes. [Inquirer]

• Friday night, Susanna Foo punched a meter maid and was arrested. Ho ho, everyone said, until today, when the Inquirer reported that said officer had a miscarriage. Whoops. [Inky]

• Lynn Swann held a town hall meeting in Buxco yesterday. And who attended? "Billed as a town hall-style meeting, Sunday's event featured a speech to about 100 area residents — most of whom wore 'Swann/Matthews' stickers. He also answered about a half-dozen questions from the audience." Oh, so it's a "town hall-style meeting." Nevermind, then. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• And, of course: Go Eagles! Deadspin weekend editor MJD will be blogging it over at AOL and there's an an enormous screen to watch it on at the Troc. Or you can watch it on your little 13-inch TV set and still cheer on the Birds all night.

• Finally: It's gorgeous out. Go outside. Not. Eff work. [Weather Underground]

Posted by D-Mac at 04:06 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

September 14, 2006

Send In The Clowns To Campaign Against Lynn Swann

It appears that Lynn Swann has made a bit of a tactical error in who he messes with (via Wook):

The Republican gubernatorial candidate was making the rounds at the Allentown Fair last week when he decided to take on a clown sitting above the dunk tank.

After watching Swann toss several balls at the target and miss, the clown yelled: "I hope you do better at the polls, buddy," according to an account in the Morning Call of Allentown.

Swann had started to walk away when he suddenly turned back, picked up more balls, and began hurling them at the target.

When he finally hit the bull's-eye and the clown plunged into the water, Swann stuck his fists in the air, triumphant.

Typical neophyte politician. You lose the clowns, you lose the proletariat. Although I guess that's not who Swann was expecting to vote for him, anyway.

Swann puts clown in his place [Inky, 2nd item]
The Tipping Point [Wookified]

Posted by D-Mac at 03:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 21, 2006

The Most Popular Boy In Class Wants Your Vote

Lynn Swann addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition on Wednesday evening, and asked for the votes of those in attendance thusly:

Formerly a football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a sports broadcaster for ABC, Swann isn't discouraged by his lack of political experience. He mentioned other successful politicians, such as Ronald Regan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, with non-political backgrounds who "stepped up to the plate in the time of need."

"I want you to know I do have some [political] experience," Swann joked, "In the eighth grade I was elected president of my junior high school. So you see, I've already been president, and now I just want to be governor."

New Swann tactic! If you're a former football star running for office, compare the election to those that football stars usually win if they enter. Eh, that's not quite so bad of a plan.

Swann Spouts Need For 'Common Sense' In Latest Campaign Stop [The Evening Bulletin]

Posted by D-Mac at 04:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 20, 2006

Conservative Pollsters: Pennsylvanians Favor Casey & Rendell (And Are Terrified Of Bush and, Uh, Terror)

A release came over from Strategic Vision, an Atlanta-based PR firm, touring their three-day poll of 1200 likely voters in Pennsylvania. The CEO of Strategic Vision is David E. Johnson, who touts himself on his website as a "Republican conservative" -- uhh, and he has a "Re-Elect Bush/Cheney" banner on his woefully outdated website -- which means it's a pretty safe bet that Strategic Vision's polls lean slightly to the right. (Especially since all the Johnson quotes in the press release are pro-Republican.)

The new Pennsylvania polls don't really tell us anything all that new: Casey is 10 points ahead (50-40) and Rendell 13 points ahead (59-36). That puts Santorum much closer -- but it's still a comfortable lead -- but, considering the source, yadda yadda yadda. You get how these things work.

But, since it's a de facto Republican polling agency, you would think they'd be able to do a little better for their guy than a 26 percent approval rating. (Last month, a Quinnipac University poll put Bush at 34 percent approval rating.) This is, probably, lower than the percentage of Phillies fans who thought the team handled the Brett situation well. And 70 percent of Pennsylvanians polled expect a terrorist attack by the end of the year.

To summarize: A polling group whose CEO is a big Republican backer released a poll where, in Pennsylvania, Casey and Rendell are way ahead, President Bush only has a 26 percent approval rating and 70 percent expect a terrorist attack in the United States between now and the end of the year.

Well. With those last two results, I think we'll be seeing an exodus to Vanatu any day now.

Pennsylvania Poll - July [Strategic Vision]
Press Release Regarding Poll [.pdf download]
Putting a Number on Happiness [WSJ]

Posted by D-Mac at 03:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 05, 2006

Vote For Lynn Swann, The Pretty Candidate

Let's delve into John Baer's Daily News column about how Lynn Swann is taking it to the streets of every part of Pennsylvania in hopes of winning the governorship.

Baer's column makes sure to point out all the wackiness that always seems to happen when a political candidate steps into any sort of uncontrolled situation. Unfortunately, Baer doesn't report on any wackiness in Bucks County, but there are several choice moments chronicled when Swann steps out around 52nd and Market (we can only assume he picked up a bootleg Phillies hat while he was out there):

A vocal local rants as the bus slides curbside on 52nd on a steamy weekday morning. He snarls, waves his arms. But Swann aides give him a pamphlet, a pin and a T-shirt, and he ends up leading cheers: "I'll sucker-punch you if you don't vote for Lynn Swann!"

Swann's deputy campaign manager, Randy Robinson, beams: "It's a T-shirt conversion! We're going after them one T-shirt at a time."

Folks stop to meet Swann, many happy to do so. He's his dapper self in a loose-fitting, soft-collared sport shirt, well-tailored dress slacks. And he's good at this. A woman outside the West Philly Y says, "At least we'd have a good-looking governor."

This sounds about right, and Swann -- like Ed Rendell, in many ways, actually -- is incredibly polished and even when he doesn't give you a straight answer you sometimes feel like he actually answered the question. (This is probably the best quality a politician can have.)

Not everyone in West Philly was happy with Swann's stop on 52nd Street. Some people felt, well, he needed to take that shit back to Pittsburgh:

It's not unanimous. A dour-faced young man mumbles, "Lynn Swann, eh? You need to take that s--- back to Pittsburgh." And Cecilia Elliot, a cashier and mother of three, questions politician visits during election seasons: "What they come here for now? Let me go up to my black brothers and sisters? He's been black!"

Clearly, Ms. Eliot needs a Lynn Swann t-shirt.

John Baer | Swann on offense in Ed's territory [Daily News]

Posted by D-Mac at 01:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 26, 2006

Let's Make This Headline As Scandalous As Possible: Lynn Swann Allegedly Attends Party With Pantyless Cocaine-Overdosed Hooker!

Dan Gross today picks up the original report from longtime gossip columnist Janet Charlton's website -- the Internet is where old-time gossips go to pasture! -- and runs with it. Charlton's original report said a call girl had a cocaine overdose at a fundraiser in California for Lynn Swann.

It was blind, though, and that's where Gross comes in. He reveals the owner of the house where the fundraiser took place was none other than Bradford M. Freeman! Wait, who? Who's this guy other than another rich Republican? Wasn't there a Harry Hairston sighting that could have led off the column instead?

Oh, right, the hooker who overdosed on cocaine with Lynn Swann in attendance. Oh, right, that's it. Anyway, Gross calls up all the right parties and gets the standard (I guess) denials:

On Friday, Freeman told Lucey that his date was not a call girl and that she had a seizure, but it had not been drug-induced.

"That is the most irresponsible thing I've heard in my whole life," he said. "She had a low sodium count and had a seizure."

Charlton wrote that during the party, at Freeman's home in the posh Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, his date had been licking his ear at the table, and later had ended up underneath the table "kicking and screaming incoherently having some sort of convulsive drug induced fit." 911 was called, the Web site said, and by the time paramedics arrived, the troubled woman, who was bruised and foaming at the mouth, had displayed her panty-less ballot box for her dinner companions.

Freeman said he "wasn't searching for them," when Lucey asked if his date had worn underwear.

"We have had some very successful fundraising trips to California, but we don't comment on anything that happens at fund-raisers - in-state or out," Melissa Walters, a spokeswoman for the Swann campaign told the People Paper's Bob Warner on Friday.

Y'know what I find funny? Freeman sounds less angry than Joe Banner.

Dan Gross | GOP'er: No drugged hooker [Daily News]
STRUMPET RUNS AMOK [Janet Charlton's Hollywood]
Earlier today (in fact, just below, if you're on the main page): Eagles Prez To Fans: You'll Pay Whatever The Hell We Want You To Pay, And You'll Enjoy It

Posted by D-Mac at 03:17 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

June 07, 2006

An Endorsement From A Higher Power

There's big news out of the Scranton Tribune today: God has endorsed Gov. Rendell in his re-election bid.

At a voter awareness event -- Hey! You! Vote! -- yesterday, a registered Republican minister from Lycoming decreed that God said Ed Rendell was going to win the gubernatorial election in November. (Apparently, God only makes safe bets.)

Rev. Carl Vining, leader of a nondemoninational Christian church and a chaplain-on-call in the Senate, said the following, according to the Tribune:

As the reverend introduced Mr. Rendell to a packed Rotunda, he told those gathered that “the God of Israel” recently sent word through him on the outcome of this year’s gubernatorial election.

“The God of Israel said, ‘One more term,’” the Rev. Vining told Mr. Rendell.

The announcement sparked applause from some in attendance and chuckles from others. The Rev. Vining later insisted it’s no joke.

“God spoke to me to tell Governor Ed Rendell that he was anointed by the God of Israel for another term,” he told a reporter. “That means he’s going to win the election.”

Did God give a reason?

“God has his own reasoning. It’s the will of our father in Heaven,” the Rev. Vining said. [...]

The Rev. Vining said he has received similar decrees on other matters, usually more personal in nature. He said this marked the first time he has received a message from a higher power regarding a gubernatorial election.

Hey, Rev? Can the the God of Israel let me know who's going to win the World Cup? I could use some spending money.

Minister: God backs Rendell re-election [Scranton Tribune]
Bulletin! God Endorses Rendell [Ferrick's Poliblog]

Posted by D-Mac at 01:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

May 12, 2006

Leftovers: Really Fast Eddie

&8226; In the latest poll, Gov. Ed Rendell is up, 55-33, over challenger Lynn Swann. Right now, a Swann win looks about as likely as, hmm... as, say, the Immaculate Reception. Fortunately for Eddie, Franco Harris is not running for governor. [AP/Philly.com]

• Tonight is the Debut of Cole Hamels™, perhaps the most heralded Phillies call-up since, erhm, Gavin Floyd. Hey, he won last night, too, y'know. As this is the Internet, there will be some Friday night liveblogging action. Until then, believe the hype. [Balls, Sticks & Stuff]

• Okay, now that I've purchased my tickets, I can tell youse: Phillies-Red Sox tickets are still available! Single game, too. I got the cheap seats for Sunday. [Phillies.com]

• The Canadians trying to buy the Inquirer and Daily News want to slash newsroom jobs in order to win the love of the Teamsters. Pretty shitty, eh? [Attytood]

Posted by D-Mac at 03:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

May 03, 2006

Quickies: We Interrupt This Silence

Sorry, folks, actual newspaper work -- I know, how 20th century -- has interfered this morning with the usual routine of puppies and typos. So let's just jump into it...

• A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were shot outside Olney High this morning. No word on their conditions, a motive, although school remains open for those who wish to stay -- y'know, because there's no way to start a day like seeing two of your classmates shot! [KYW 1060]

• A SEPTA bus crashed into the South Street CVS this morning. (Or, at least, right in front of it.) The pieces of the bus that fell off will no doubt be placed in the Magical Garden across the street in some sort of zany-but-creative way. [6 ABC]

• Sadly, there will be no Ed Rendell on Post Game Live this season, until after the election. That lessens the ratio of "unashamed homers" to "football analysts" on the show to 2 to 1. [Daily News, fourth item]

• Three Daily News guest columnists pull out just about the most bleeding heart story possible: Afghan war widows whose chickens have bird flu. [DN]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 18, 2006

Surprise! Anti-Incumbent Group Acting All Political

Last week, Russ Diamond, the founder of PACleanSweep, the anti-pay raise, anti-incumbent activist group in Pennsylvania, said he was going to run for governor. (As an independent, presumably.)

And, since he was embarking on a political mission, he was going to sever ties to the group he created. Well... not so fast.

This is a little confusing, but try to follow: When he decided to run for governor last month, Diamond asked for the board members' resignations so he could reorganize the group. Four board members resigned, the other five stayed on. They say they're now in control of the group, and are planning to sue for control. In the meantime, they've voted out Diamond as chairman and added a new board member.

If you think this sounds kind of like, oh, I don't know, the machinations usually reserved for incumbent politicians, you're not the only one. But, then again, what fun would an anti-incumbent group that didn't act like politicians be?

Ousted group takes aim at PACleanSweep founder [Bucks County Courier Times]

Posted by D-Mac at 02:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

February 22, 2006

Ed Rendell: The Philadelphia Will Do interview

If Ed Rendell has a 2006 like the Philadelphia Eagles' 2005, he's going to be looking for a new job. A year after his favorite team stumbled to a 6-10 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Coincidentally, that's the year Rendell left office as Philadelphia mayor, only to return to win Pennsylvania's gubernatorial election in 2002. (He also returned doing Eagles postgame commentary on television.)

Rendell's been labeled as a Philly-friendly governor, so expect heavy anti-cheesesteak propaganda from his Republican challenger -- former Hall of Fame football player Lynn Swann -- in the coming months. While the jury's out on whether Fast Eddie is favorable to Philadelphia, it certainly doesn't hurt the city to have him there. Expect a big turn-out-the-vote effort.

As part of PW's 'Next' issue, online and at honor boxes around the city now, Philadelphia Will Do talked with Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell a few weeks ago. In the interest of political fairness, when I talked with Gov. Rendell, we decided to focus on the most important of topics for Philadelphians this year: Will the Eagles suck in 2006?

Continue reading "Ed Rendell: The Philadelphia Will Do interview"

Posted by D-Mac at 09:47 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

February 15, 2006

Blogicized: Alien Iverson

• In case you were wondering, ESPN thinks Allen Iverson is from Mercury. Let's hope Matt Cord starts announcing him as "a six-foot guard... from MERCURY!" in introductions at the Wachovia Center from now on. [The 700 Level]

• Much like he did in Philadelphia, Hugo Chávez has delivered his discounted oil to homes in Delaware. This is part of a new U.S. tactic to eventually have every citizen in America buy gas and oil from Chávez, therefore bankrupting Venezuela into democracy! [Delaware Watch]

• What you should have done for your Valentine's Day date: heart-shaped pizza. Aww. [Asymptomatic]

• In the new Quinnipiac Poll, Ed Rendell got six touchdowns, six extra points and two field goals while Lynn Swann only got five touchdowns, four extra points and one two-point conversion. (He went for two late in a comeback attempt.) [America's Hometown]

Posted by D-Mac at 03:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 10, 2006

Quickies: Immaculate reception

• A flight attendant is suing the city, alleging she was slapped by a Philadelphia police officer during a flight last year. And the flight where this happened was the final flight of her career. Oh, Philadelphia. [Inky]

• Daily News "Tattle" columnist Howard Gensler says to Britney, hey girl, you take some parenting lessons! Oh snap! [DN]

• Lynn Swann, who has yet to declare any of his stances on the issues, is now only three percentage points behind Ed Rendell. This is what is officially known in politics as the "post-team-you-played-for-wins-the-Super Bowl bounce." [DN]

• And the city might install cameras to keep crime down. And to totally bust you when you buy that eighth on the corner. [Inky]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:17 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

February 08, 2006

Blogicized: Ivy League grind

• Ha. Will Bunch went to Brown. We so did not know that. And he wrote a column for the school paper. Anybody who can dig up those columns gets a cookie. [Attytood]

• Ha, again. Johnny Doc as mayor. Oh. Wait. [duh]

• Bill "Wilkes-Barre" Scranton has dropped out of the governor's race, which means it's the Lynn Swann and Ed Rendell show, all the way to November! [All Spin Zone]

• Oh, yes. The unofficial chronicler of Philadelphia's sticker art, Albert Yee, has photographed graffiti of Muhammad. [dragonballyee]

Posted by D-Mac at 03:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

February 02, 2006

Rendell neglecting letter-writing duties

A few weeks ago, the Northeast Times ran an editorial endorsing Ed Rendell for Mayor of Philadelphia, their reasoning being that he's a bad governor. And, today, a Times reader seconds the motion:

In response to your Jan. 19 editorial Rendell for Mayor, I couldn't agree more.

Mr. Rendell would be an excellent choice to succeed Mayor John Street. I recently sent the governor a letter complaining about the high cost of heating my home with gas purchased from PGW.

I guess it's too much to ask of our civil servant governor to provide an answer as to what he is doing to lower the cost of home heating in Pennsylvania.

Yeah, I mean, what the eff? I sent Gov. Rendell a letter complaining about the high price of Yuengling Lager -- I'm really cheap -- and he hasn't gotten back to me, either. Ugh. He so should run for mayor.

You were right on about the Rendell record [Northeast Times]
Jan. 19: Here comes a new mayoral challenger!

Posted by D-Mac at 01:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 31, 2006

Quickies: Best and worst

• Hey, the little gay movie that could Brokeback Mountain got eight Oscar nominations. Although Crash -- which was just okay -- got six nominations, so who know what these things are worth nowadays. [AP via Philly.com]

• In a list of award nominations that are totally accurate, Son of the Mask got a whopping eight Razzie noms. Upper Darby's own Jamie Kennedy cries a single tear. [AP via CNN.com]

• With Lynn Swann proving to be a tougher-than-expected challenger for Gov. Ed Rendell, the downside for Pennsylvania Republicans is a larger turnout in Southeastern Pennsylvania, which means more Democrats at the polls. And those are just the live ones! (Rimshot.) [Washington Post]

• Okay, somebody fess up: Needles in food products in a Lehigh Valley supermarket? What the hell? Who even has time to mess around with pranks like that when there's so much to do.... in Beth..lehem... okay, maybe it makes sense. [AP via Philly.com]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:03 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

January 26, 2006

Political Tidbits: Rich White Republicans

• The Republican gubernatorial nomination bid is heating up! Bill Scranton -- who at this point seems like he has about as much of a chance of winning the nom as I do -- has fired his campaign manager, James Self, after he called opponent Lynn Swann (left) "the rich white guy in this campaign." Dear boss, this is why you need to get me a video capture card so I can rebroadcast stuff like this online. [Inky]

• Meanwhile, an actual rich white guy, Rick Santorm, claims he's being targeted because of his ethnicity and the slurs of comparing him to organized crime must stop now. ....... Hold on, I'm not done holding my sides. [Inky]

• Speaking of Philly's mafia boss senator, get ready for the hot new website: Philadelphians Against Santorum! I'm not quite sure why you have to "pledge" your vote against him, but, hey, whatever gets you excited. [Philly Against Santorum]

• Will Bunch basically writes that Gov. Ed Rendell is living in a pre-9/11 world. [Attytood]

Posted by D-Mac at 12:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)