Abridged ‘Daily News’ Columnists

John Baer: I make a lot of incorrect predictions and get a few facts wrong.

Mumia Inspires Eagles-Like Insanity

An editorial in the Northeast Times a few weeks ago opined about Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death sentence and how it hasn’t been carried out yet even though it was thrown out by a high court.

But ignoring that little piece of evidence wasn’t enough for the Times. No, the paper also decided to ignore the Constitution:

A sizable chunk of Philadelphia’s police force calls Northeast Philly home, and for these men and women in blue — and all law-abiding citizens everywhere — the time for Mumia Abu-Jamal to redeem his one-way ticket to hell cannot come too soon. When that great day comes, let’s hope he suffers a torturous death.

Yep. Forget that ban on “cruel and unusual” punishment. He should suffer! I haven’t seen somebody this excited about murdering since Bush got us into the Iraq war.

Kill him already! [Northeast Times]
Yesterday: Eagles’ Winning Streak Inducing Craziness

The Mummers Will Let You Play With Only Two Fingers, But They’ll Still Curse You Out Pre-Performance

The Daily News‘ Dan Geringer has a Heartwarming Holiday Story™ about Tom Healy, a South Philadelphian who lost three fingers in an accident in 1986. They were reattached, but he wasn’t able to control them.

So, of course, Healy joined the Mummers and learned how to play in pain and it made him so much happier, etc. etc. His mentor was the late John “Pop” Pignotti Sr., who offered him this sound advice during his first year as a mummer:

“They put me right next to Pop, figuring he would help me get through it,” Healy said. “We get to the judges’ stand at City Hall. We are standing with our backs to the judges, ready to turn around and start playing. I said, ‘Pop, I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I really…’ Pop said, ‘Shut the fuck up and just do your job.’ “

Hey, this is more of a Philadelphia story than I originally thought. Way to get your non-moving fingers to play “Daddy’s Little Girl.” Now shut the fuck up about your accident and don’t screw up.

He got a banjo, and a new life [Daily News]

Reason #29 To Love Philadelphia: Frank Rizzo (Either)

After Tuesday’s passing of former president Gerald Ford, the local press jumped up and interviewed anyone who may have had a connection to his short presidency.

One of those who did was City Councilman Frank Rizzo, whose dad was mayor from 1972 - 1980. Rizzo addresses his father’s relationship with both Ford and Richard Nixon:

“My father had a great relationship with the President Nixon and the Vice President Ford and they were very good to Philadelphia.”

Only in Philadelphia could you ask a politician his father’s relationship with someone, and he’d go, “Yeah, yeah, he was good buddies with him. But Nixon! Oh man, he was even closer to Nixon!” I wonder if something like this will happen when Tom Delay dies.

The Region Remembers President Gerald Ford [CBS 3]

PWD People Of The Year: Rick Santorum

For many things. But, mainly, for this.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Archives: Rick Santorum

Keystone Cops: Drug War Addicts

Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, drug and public safety news.

• The Daily News has a big drugs package today. There’s David Gambacorta’s story about how futile the War on Drugs is — okay, it reads like that unintentionally — and Simone Weichselbaum’s story of Mickey the crack dealer, who made tons o’money selling drugs but ended up getting busted. [Daily News]

• Meanwhile, in Cherry Hill, the war on sex offenders bans one man from living in the township altogether, pretty much, and he’s at a low risk of re-offending, etc. It’s one of those laws meant to protect the public, and it screws people who were convicted of a crime even if they’ve served a sentence. C.H.’s response is nice, though: “They should blame themselves and not elected officials who are trying to protect the community.” Thanks, Cherry Hill Councilman Frank Falcone! [Camden Courier-Post]

• The number five story of the year from the Doylestown Intelligencer: Doylestown Borough’s crackdown on teens. “I’m not declaring victory yet, but it’s been pretty good lately,” Police Chief James Donnelly. Another unwinnable war. [Doylestown Intelligencer]

• Murder count climbs at year end: We’re at 403 now. [Daily News]

Eagles’ Winning Streak Inducing Craziness

Oh, yes, I suppose I have not done much on the Eagles yet. So let me begin: Whoo! Eat it, Dallas!

The Eagles are a win away from the division title and a first-round home playoff game thanks to many things, but part of it due to Jeff Garcia’s surprisingly good performance. Of course, some people are taking it a little overboard:

The biggest contest in 2007 here won’t be the Philly mayor’s race: It will be the McNabb-Garcia debate. Jeff Garcia, a 36-year-old castoff from the Detroit Lions, is the newest folk hero in Philadelphia after leading the Eagles to a playoff spot.

No no no! No no no no no. Look, Garcia is playing worlds better than anyone thought he would. But he’s not as good as Donovan McNabb. Next year, you sign Garcia to start at the beginning of the season if McNabb isn’t ready and then he returns to the backup role. (It’s all in this article.)

It’s okay; it gets worse in that NBC 10 blog:

All this has led to a huge debate on local sports radio and in homes and pubs about who should lead the Eagles next year: Garcia or McNabb? So far, from what I’ve heard on the radio, the fans want Garcia. McNabb has his defenders, in particular Howard Eskin.

Don’t ever make me agree with Howard Eskin again, NBC 10.

Eagles Blog: Garcia Or McNabb Debate Takes Off [NBC 10]
All Garcia Does Is Win [Football Outsiders Blog]

Americans Deprived Of Exciting Carter-Ford Debate In Typical Philadelphia Turn Of Events

Now that President Ford has passed away, KYW 1060 reminds us of the famous Gerald Ford-Jimmy Carter debate held at the Walnut Street Theater. In the debate — at least according to Wikipedia — Ford cost himself the presidency by saying Eastern Europe was not under domination of the Soviet Union.

Of course, since the debate took place in Philly, it also featured a bit of a glitch. At the end of the broadcast, moderator Edwin Newman apologized:

Ahh - we much regret the technical failure that caused a twenty-eight-minute delay in the broadcast of the debate.

But, really, who needs full coverage of a debate?

Remembering the Ford-Carter Debate in Philadelphia [KYW 1060]
Earlier: Only The Good Presidents Die Young

Cops Raid Speakeasy; Charleston Hits #1 On Dance Charts

A 49-year-old woman in Princeton was arrested for running a speakeasy.

You see, there is news this week!

A month-long investigation (!) led to the arrest of Dilma Regaldo Rios. She was charged with selling alcoholic beverages without a license, warehousing alcoholic beverages and paraphernalia and storing alcoholic beverages with the intent to sell.

It’s not known why one would sell alcohol illegally when one can sell it legally, but Rios’ court date is Jan. 9, so perhaps we can find out then. Patrons used her house as a speakeasy and as a take-out service. (Secrecy in a speakeasy isn’t as important anymore now that alcohol is legal.) On Thursday, officers executed a search warrant and confiscated $650, 14 cases of beer, one bottle of tequila and 18 limes.

It’s not known if this is the first time a lime has been identified as drug paraphernalia.

1 charged for alleged illegal alcohol operation [Trenton Times]

News You Can’t Use

Eh, trust me. You don’t want to start one of those. It only leads to trouble.

Inform your neighbors with a blog [Camden Courier-Post]