Mantua Hall Implosion

The Necessity for Ruins shot this video of the implosions of Mantua Hall yesterday. Neat!

Joe Sestak Has A Freudian Slip

Local congressman Joe Sestak (Out Of Nowhere!) was on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell, when she asked if Hillary Clinton’s continued pursuit of the Democratic nomination was bad for the party in the general election.

After miming for a moment, Sestak said: “As Sen. Clinton said, she recognizes this is not about the party, Andrea. This is about the nation. If Sen. Obama is truly the man he says he is, I believe [he is], and if he is not the presidential candidate at the convention, he’ll turn to his followers and say, ‘Support her.’ And I have no question that Sen. Clinton will turn to her followers and say, ‘Support me…. er, him.’” Video after the jump.

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Hillary Responds To Oilmonger Barack

A press release from Hillary’s camp:

But, wait, there’s more:

Ahh, yes, those Pittsburgh politicians will have Hillary in the White House in a week or so.

Barack Obama’s New Ad

Whoa! Now Barack Obama is speaking directly to us like he’s Vince Fumo or Tom Knox or something. But it makes fun of Exxon! And, oh no, $3.50 for gas! And for some reason they’re going to pay a penalty for profits — and this is going to make them want to make less profit which is good for us, the consumer.

Obama would get us off foreign oil, though, as he is insistent all new cars made after 2009 run on hope.

Casey’s Endorsement: Payback!

Hey, Larry Kane has done an “analysis” for KYW 1060 on Bob Casey’s endorsement of Barack Obama! Apparently they’re good friends in the Senate (plus, uh, Obama is going to win and Casey can maybe land a sweet gig later).

And then there’s this!

But there’s an inside story of what happened here, and it goes back to 1982.

The late Robert Patrick Casey, governor of Pennsylvania at the time, asked for a few moments from the Clinton forces to speak at the Democratic National Convention in New York City about his pro-life views. He wanted to show that there were other views on abortion in the Democratic Party.

He was denied that access despite pleas from James Carville and Sen. Harris Wofford. Casey — father of the current senator — was bitter and angry, and he carried that bitterness to his death as he forged ahead with his pro-life views across the country.

That was never forgotten by the Casey family, and you could say that this endorsement is somewhat of a payback politically — but also a sincere endorsement on the part of the younger Bob Casey.

Hey, Zombie Robert Casey forced his son to endorse Barack Obama! It’s nice they’re at least listening to a dead man besides Jesus for once. Glad to see the elder Casey was bitter until his death, too.

Analysis: Casey’s Endorsement of Obama Has Deep Roots [KYW 1060]

Bob Casey Backs Barack Obama

Hey, remember Bob Casey? He’s the one everybody voted for last November because he was running against Rick Santorum. Well, apparently, he’s also a big Obama backer, as he endorsed the Big Changemonger today.

The Associated Press says this could be a big deal because now Catholics — also known as “Followers of Bob Casey” — are now allowed to vote for Obama. It also pits Casey up against Ed Rendell again, just like in that hilarious, fantastic 2002 primary nobody remembers. Ha ha, remember that dude who bumbled away the election and lost to a dude from Philly in the general election for governor? I don’t!

After the jump, part of Barack Obama on the view. Barbara Walters’ intro is, well, a bit much.

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Ravers Fight Back Against NBC 10

Just two days after NBC 10 exposed — honest to God — a rave where people were drinking, smoking marijuana and taking “the designer drug ecstasy” (gasp!), there has now been an apparent change of heart.

Last night, Lu Ann Cahn allowed ravers to “defend their way of life” to the NBC 10 Investigators, and it was somehow about 500 times funnier than the first one. The first report went undercover at the Tru Skool Rave in a basement rented out by a church in West Philadelphia. The building’s a charter school during the week; administrators say they have to clean up condoms every Monday morning. And a mother who has her face blacked out says raves are bad!

In tonight’s report, party promoter Mickey Fronick waxes about how ravers are marginalized:

“We’re forced to go into venues like this because the mainstream doesn’t accept it, and it sucks,” Fronick said.

NBC 10 also reported that the ravers said it’s about the music and the love, and not the drugs — which means this is one boring rave scene.

Both videos embedded after the jump.

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Man On Bridge Had Called Inquirer

Yesterday, a man (armed with a toy gun he said was real) shut down the Walt Whitman bridge for three hours during rush hour. While he and his girlfriend with a litany of crimes, everything was handled without any violent incident, fortunately.

Today both 35-year-old John Reed and 31-year-old Monica Hayman are under medical observation. And, what do you know, earlier this week Reed was looking for help at the Inquirer:

Reed called the Inquirer’s South Jersey bureau on Tuesday complaining that his family was being threatened. He claimed he had contacted several law enforcement agencies but none would assist him.

“He seemed like a nice guy actually,” said an editor who took the call. Though he didn’t clearly articulate what the threats were, he said his phone and email had been “compromised.”

So, can we call the Inquirer for our emergency calls? Are they this “311″ I’ve been hearing so much about?

Mumia People Angry, As Usual

Yesterday, in the wake of a court ruling upholding a new penalty phrase for Mumia Abu-Jamal, guess how supporters of ol’ Mumia reacted? Of course: They’re all irate!

Anything short of a ruling declaring Mumia president of America would make Mumia supporters irate, of course. The story was the lead on the French national news for some reason, and Pam Africa shouted “motherfucker” at someone a few hundred times, no doubt. And, guess what? Africa is holding a Mumia rally in Center City on April 26! And won’t that rally be exciting!

Oh, Michael Smerconish really wants blood, because he’s too lame to do his own killings and needs the state to carry the deed out for him.

Abu-Jamal’s defenders irate; detractors see mixed bag [Inquirer]

Mayor Chats With MC Hammer

The Daily News‘ Catherine Lucey noted yesterday that the mayor met with MC Hammer — and the pair discussed rapping!

Nutter tells PhillyClout that during the former rap star’s visit to the Mayor’s office, he played him the YouTube clip of his inauguration party performance of “Rapper’s Delight.”

And Hammer was impressed. “He thought it was good,” Nutter said.

Now that he’s locked up Hammer, the endorsement of Vanilla Ice can’t be far behind.

The MC and the Mayor [Clout]