Harassment, A $500 Appearance Fee And Queena Bass: The Tommy The Loan Shark Press Conference

I’m not quite sure I can explain what just happened.

When Milton Street sang while draped over a coffin, it was clearly the zenith of civilization. It was, therefore, rather easy to write about it. (Plus, Jess Fuerst had video.)

The Tommy the Loan Shark press conference originally scheduled for yesterday was rescheduled for 1:00 today. Naturally, I went over, since I always like to keep up with the anthropomorphic mascot news. (Also, this blog needs a little diversity from Barbaro, Milton Street and Kerri-Lee Halkett.) But also there were a number of political reporters for major local media outlets, i.e. actual political reporters. Dave Davies! Bruce Gordon! KYW 1060! WHYY-FM! (To note: Josh Cornfield from Metro had a cover story about Tommy the Loan Shark (aka TLS) in the paper today.)

The political reporters knew what they were doing, though, since the presser ended up being the greatest press conference of all time (non-Milton Street/John Chaney division).

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Knox Doesn’t Forget Queena Bass, Jesus White

As the Knox Media Machine rolls on and on, there seem to be new Tom Knox ads every weekend. This one is unique in that it’s completely baffling. “Hey, here are some good things the other candidates are doing, too!” And I love how it notes these are the five major candidates, not forgetting Queena Bass or Jesus White.

But the best part of the ad is the ending. “Only Tom Knox knows how to fund his plan to put more police officers on the streets. We’d tell you what that plan is, but we ran out of time talking about how good the other candidates are. Free dinners!”

Five Candidates [YouTube]

Queena Bass Campaign In Full Swing

You may have seen perennial Democratic mayoral candidate Queena Bass around the city, getting people to sign her nominating petition so she can run for mayor. (Bass actually was in a pizza shop I was at a few months ago, campaigning.)

But the longshot, who got 1,800 votes for mayor in 1999, has a different message this time around, reports Gar Joseph:

“I am running a campaign of love,” Bass said. “This is the city of brotherly love and we’re lacking that, not only in Philly but in America.

“If we can bring love back into our elected leadership, a lot of problems can be solved.” [...]

Bass, 51, is not only running a campaign of love this year, she’s running a campaign on love, since she has no money.

In fact, she’s battling eviction from her apartment.

“I’m in a difficult situation, but I’m not quitting,” she said.

Yes! Queena Bass is back, baby! And she needs our support, honestly. Could you imagine how much fun this city would be if Bass were mayor? Plus, with all that feel good love going around the city, I could probably get a date for once.

Bass: Where’s the love? [Daily News, 4th item]