Chinese Millionaires Coming After All?

Hey, it turns out the Chinese Millionaires might be investing here after all! To recap: The U.S. government apparently has some program that allows millionaires to give U.S. businesses low-rate loans in exchange for green cards. Immigration is pretty good, usually, and immigration by millionaires is even better. Soon the streets will be lined with millionaire money!

Well, the Convention Center had a chance to get some Chinese millionaires to invest, but: “We considered it. We looked at it. But it was kind of a bridge too far… too complex for us to consider.” Building a bridge from China to Philadelphia is kind of complex! But now Ed Rendell wants them to invest after all!

“At a time when investment capital is very difficult to obtain due to the financial crisis, the Welcome Fund can provide some of the private capital that is critical to the success of economic development initiatives throughout the commonwealth,” Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said in an e-mail yesterday.

“We strongly support such job-creating investment in our economy, both with respect to the Pennsylvania Convention Center as well as many other transactions around the state.”

Wow. First Chinese Democracy, now Chinese millionaires? What will they think of next?

Rendell pushing to use Chinese loans for Convention Center [Inquirer]

Everything Is Finally Happening!

What’s this, the Phillies win and suddenly everything happens? Our long national nightmare, the 2008 presidential election, is almost over. Yes, both the Internet and the real world are going to be unbearable tomorrow, but look at it on the bright side: At least there’s a good chance a cute guy or girl will tell you to vote for Obama.

But that’s not all. The Fumo trial is in full swing. A judge will rule on the Fox Chase Cancer Center expansion within 30 days. (If you’re from the Northeast, you know this is one of the two things people complain about, the other being how horrible the Northeast has gotten.)

City Council even moved along the Gallery casino project in Chinatown, though don’t think that’s coming anytime soon. Never doubt the ability of Philadelphians to delay something, even if they can’t stop it.

These are exciting times, people. Not because these actual days are exciting (they’re not), but because all these stories that have been around forever, forever ever, forever ever are winding down and oh thank God this is almost as exciting as the Phillies winning the World Series.

Million March 4 God Softens Rhetoric

Okay, so last night I noticed this post about the ACLU on the Million March 4 God website. It called them commies, or something? I sent it to a friend, but the only thing she said near it other than laughter was, “I think we should campaign to ruin the Pro Bowl by organizing a campaign for John Beck.” They even changed the wacky health care plan. Aww.

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