With Chuck Pennacchio’s Campaign Over, Bloggers Courted By New Politician

Okay, more on this Fumo staffer indictment shortly, but let’s take a look at the other Vince Fumo story today first.

Recently, everyone’s favorite South Philly state senator decided that, hey, maybe these bloggers have a point after all! Not that he had been rabidly anti-blogger before, but — of course — the city’s Democratic establishment, which includes Fumo, hadn’t been all that supportive of this so-called “grassroots” movement of “regular” people.

Et cetera. You know how this goes.

But Fumo, to his credit, had a private meeting with some local bloggers a few weeks ago. Fumo’s son, Vince Jr., was the one who suggested it. And just what happened at this off-the-record meeting? Eh, just some talk, some wine and cheese (maybe) and some Johnny Doc bashing (unconfirmed, but, oh, come awn).

Attendees included Fumo; his son Vince Jr.; City Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco, and bloggers Albert Yee, Howard Hall and Tulin Ozturk.

But wither the bloggers at Young Philly Politics, A Smoke-Filled Room and other local blogs?

“I don’t mind getting them all along and getting a bigger room, as long as they’re legitimate bloggers and not Johnny Doc’s guys,” he said.

It’s good to see that some things are still politics as usual. Phew.

With Fumo, it’s blogitics [Daily News]

Blogicized: Good news, bad news

• Will Bunch tell us all what we already unfortunately know: If Knight-Ridder is sold, bye bye Daily News. Sigh. [Attytood]

• Phillies outfielder and cop puncher Jason Michaels is reportedly being traded to the Indians for reliever Arthur Rhodes. Uhh, boo? Yay? No idea. [Beerleaguer]

• Photoblogger Brad Maule has a detailed photo essay on the South Street Bridge and its crumbling facade in 2003. [Phillyskyline]

• The Inquirer’s Inga Saffron has more commentary on Trump’s condo tower as well as a recap of Penn’s seminar on the Philly construction boom (that I forgot to go to) last night. [Changing Skyline]

• The Philadelphia Business Journal reported today that 36 cruise lines will leave from Philadelphia in 2006, and the economic impact of the cruises went up $42 million dollars. Wow. Donald Trump should build a cruise ship instead of a condo tower. [America's Hometown]

• Dueling blog posts in the race for the Democratic nom for U.S. Senate: Alan Sandals says he won last night’s debate, while Chuck Pennacchio says that nobody won the debate and chides the Sandals release for spelling his name wrong. Meanwhile, the Flash-laden website of Bob Casey — who didn’t attend, and who might be a mute — crashed my fucking computer and made me re-write this post. You’re in deep water, Mr. Casey. Deep.