The Political Whore

The St. Pete Times is reporting that Gov. Crist has asked girlfriend Carole Rome to marry him … and she said yes!

Was the question popped when Crist was visiting John McCain for his weekend barbecue/VP selection retreat in May? No, not the “Charlie asking Carole to be his wife” question. I mean, the “John asking Charlie when the hell he is going to get married and squash all those “The Gov Is Gay” rumors” question.

Call me jaded, but this news has got to mean that Crist has been hovering right at the top of McCain’s Veepstakes list — if only the Gov could be de-gayed a little.

Yes, I’m speculating, and no, I guess I’m not much of a romantic.

Congrats Governor Crist +1. I wish you both nothing but the best.

Inside the layoffs at the Trib, as reported by intern Jessica DaSilva. Commenters praise her passion (admirable) while criticizing her spelling (lamentable). As for Editor Janet Coats’ quote that the Tampa Tribune is an “add-on” to TBO.com, not vice versa: Is this a bravely candid acknowledgment of the reality of today’s media, or (like Jessica’s spelling) the death knell for journalism as we know it? Or both? Opinions vary, but to newspaper editors everywhere, the debate is familiar.

Enjoy your Fourth of July festivities everyone. I’m off next week, but PoHo will be back on Monday.

• Independence Day: Three Americans held hostage in Columbia have been freed.
  
• McCain shakes it up.
• Temper temper, John.
• Just when you think Fox News can sink no lower …
• Psilocybin research re-enters the mainstream.
• Dumb question of the week, from CNBC: “Which Is Better — Strong or Weak Dollar?”
• The Rays sweep the Sox! The Rays sweep the Sox!
• Salveggi crushes Hancock.
• Hot trial: the Christie Brinkley v. architect guy divorce proceedings.

Here’s your first look at the new, unfortunately-titled Bond movie, Quantum of Solace:

• Starbucks to ax 600 stores in the U.S.
• A blogger outs the Supreme Court for basing their no-death-penalty-for-child-rapists decision on an error.
• Obama to defeat McCain — it’s written in the stars.
• Forget music, today’s college kids are file-sharing their textbooks. You want to guess who’s unhappy about that?
• J.P. Morgan Chase broke into and emptied a house that the bank though was in foreclosure. It wasn’t.
• 10 reasons to not be so glum about surging gas prices.
• A lost 1964 Lennon/McCartney interview turns up in a damp London garage.
• Rays win again.