I was poking around the Internet this morning, reading about last night’s Phish show in Mansfield, MA., when something hit me. The author kept referring to the concert’s venue, The Comcast Center, by its pre-sponsorship name of Great Woods. I started thinking about the big-three Bay area sports venues and their old names, and now I’m thinking about ditching the corporate sponsorship names too. I have my reasons, and they are as follows:
Building: That big stadium with red seats on Dale Mabry where they play football Corporate sponsorship name:Raymond James Stadium Old-school handle:Tampa Stadium. OK, technically it’s always been Raymond James Stadium, but it was built next door to, and replaced, Tampa Stadium. Reason to switch back: It’s The Great Recession folks, and you want some investment bankers slapping their logo feces all over the local altar to the biggest sport in America? (On a personal note: I think Raymond James had a hand in the Loaf 401(k) program last year. Fell free to label me bitter in the comments.) Tampa Stadium is an excellent name, a simple-but-solid description of the place the moniker represents. Tampa Stadium sounds tough. Not to many players want to travel to Tampa Stadium, a blistering sand pit where opposing teams get the life suffocated out of them. Raymond James Stadium, on the other hand, is the type of place that sees cash from the hometown squad’s retirement account vanish quarterly for as long as they’re in the league.
In what could be huge news out of Washington, Senator Arlen Specter (R) has announced that he’s switching parties, and will run for re-election to the Senate in 2010 as a Democrat instead of as a Republican. From Sen. Spector’s statement:
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.
When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
Anchor Shepard Smith, Fox News’ lone quasi-sane newsperson melted down on the air last night during a discussion of torture and the government’s role in authorizing it. Shep’s T-shirt worthy quote:
“We are America! I don’t give a rats ass if it helps! We do not fucking torture!”
Can you really blame Shep for losing his cool? He’s surrounded by sycophants and morons of the worst kind. (Hello, Hannity!) I couldn’t take the studio tour at Fox News without losing my cool and getting Tazered by security.
On a side note, the banging on the desk was a nice touch. Video after the break …
The top editors knew on Friday, but the rest of the staff weren’t clued until earlier today. By 3 p.m., however, the newsroom at the St. Petersburg Times was filled with reporters and editors awaiting the formal announcement of the news: the Times had picked up two Pulitzer Prizes.
It is a gigantic coup and shot in the arm for Florida’s largest daily. Although the paper has won the award in the past (most recently for Jeff Good’s editorials in 1995 and Tom French’s feature writing in 1998), winning two in one year was unprecedented for it. The two awards: one for national coverage for its Politifact.com fact-checking website and the other for feature writing for Lane DeGregory’s “The Girl in the Window.”
They are the seventh and eights Pulitzers for the Times. (Here’s a full list of them.)
The newsroom celebrated with champagne and cake. We congratulate the Times on a job well done. After all, one Pulitzer is golden, but two in one day? Incredible!
Here is the Times‘ own Eric Deggans’ coverage. And for the full disclosuristas among us, let’s put on the record that Times‘ CEO, president, top editor etc. Paul Tash is a member of the Pulitzer Board, although no board member is allowed to judge their own newspaper’s work.
For a complete list of this year’s Pulitzer Prize winners, go here.
St. Pete mayoral candidate Scott Wagman raked in the bucks during the first quarter of this year. Per a press release from his office (the complete text is after the jump), the candidate brought in $74,097.25, with 90% of the contributors being local. Not bad for a guy who was virtually unknown just a few months ago.
UPDATE: Fund-raising numbers for all the candidates appeared toay. As Mr. Schorsch points out in the comments, it’s not fair or balanced of me not to include the others in this post. So, after the jump you’ll now find Wagman’s press release and a rundown of all the candidates finances …
Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher — John McCain’s go-to guy during the presidential campaign anytime ol’ Mac needed to stand beside someone nuttier than he was — is making some waves at the annual CPAC gathering. Here’s the video:
I’m confused. Was Joe ever in the military? I find no record of his service, yet he’s such a booster that he feels shooting congresspeople is OK if they dis the troops. (And let’s be honest: Can you name ANY elected official who has been stupid enough to say something derogatory about the military and remained in office? Yeah, me neither.)
And another question for Joe: If you’re so gung-ho for America’s armed forces, why not join up and do some good? I hear we’re going to send another 17,000 husbands/wives/sons/daughters to Afghanistan in the coming months. Perhaps you’d like to enlist and join our fighting men and women on the front lines? It’s put up or shut up time, Joe. Enlist. Or, if you choose not to, please seek counseling. There’s clearly some violence in you that needs to be addressed.
We end the week with the gift that keeps on giving: The George W. Bush victory tour. In this clip from a few days ago, Bush tries to get in line with some soldiers and gets awkwardly shut out. Have a good weekend, everyone.
I don’t normally post sports clips, but for this one I’ll make an exception. From the Pittsburgh-New England game from last weekend, here is Steelers safety Ryan Clark absolutely demolishing Patties wide receiver Wes Welker. (Expect a fine to be handed down by the NFL any second now.) Give Wes some props; he managed to walk off under his own power.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out Talking Points Memo’s “The Day in 100 Seconds.” It’s amazing how many video clips can be crammed into a minute-forty.
Ah, the holidays: A time to reflect. A time to show one’s love and affection for your fellow humans. A time to — Whoa! Are those discounted X-box 360s? Unhand that box or I will kill you!!!!
Easily the most disturbing moment of yesterday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the live Rickrolling of the audience. And is that a blue penis in the opening part? I thought this was a family show!
I was originally going to go with the hilarious “nobody wants to shake Bush’s hand” video from a few days ago, but then I saw Sarah Palin soon to be infamous Turkey Interview. Warning! This gets kind of gross.
This blatant rip-off of Leno’s “Jaywalking” segment is making some waves this week. Remember, the Republicans think that if you voted for Obama you’re stupid but if you voted for Bush twice you’re a great American, so maybe take their opinion with a grain of salt. (Oh, and the related Zogby poll is pure hogwash.)
Turns out that President-Elect Barack Obama can still pack ‘em in post-election. His appearance Sunday on 60 Minutes netted the news show its highest ratings in nine years.
Can Bill’s dealings derail Hillary’s appointment as Secretary of State?
Who’s driving that supertanker? Somali pirates, of course.
John Lennon was not a very nice man; he consoled himself on Richard Nixon’s 1972 election night by banging a woman he picked up at Jerry Rubin’s apartment while his friends and wife listened from an adjacent room.
The President-Elect put a modern-day spin on the old radio address to the nation by becoming the first President (or soon-to-be President) to post their radio address straight to YouTube.
The new James Bond flick Quantum of Solace hits theaters today and it’s said to be action-packed. Check out the CL review here, and get your game face on with the video for the theme song, performed by Alicia Keys and Jack White.
Here’s an interesting clip of Thomas Friedman talking about the green revolution. (Oh, and hardcore pushing his new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded.) Interesting how he castigates the right for the language they used to demonize “green,” but then segues into thoughts on how to better talk to those same folks. I’m wondering, if someone thinks that not living in their own shit is sissy and “European,” why bother talking to that moron at all?
Bill Maher is worried that an Obama administration isn’t going to very funny. After seeing this video of Obama roasting his now Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel back in 2005, I think we might see a few laughs ahead.
Thank God NBC finally got around to posting “Giraffes!”, the hilarious skit/mini-movie that ran on last weekend’s Saturday Night Live. That was the same night as the “John McCain on QVC” skit. That was very funny. This is so bizarre it’s transcendent.
CNN went all Star Wars on viewers election night with Princess Leia stand-in Jessica Yellin reporting via hologram. (Where was Admiral Ackbar??) Help us Barack Obama, you’re our only hope!
The 2008 election lived up to the hype, and proved to be the most historic and exciting election in a generation (if not more). It was a hectic night, but we at CL kept you up to speed with constant dispatches from around the Bay area. If you missed it, or just want to relive the excitement one more time, here are our greatest hits from last night:
Election Central: Your one-stop-shop for CL’s election coverage.
Last night, Sen. Barack Obama defeated Sen. John McCain and was elected the 44th President of the United States. He then delivered the following speech to the incredible crowd in Chicago’s Grant Park. Here’s looking forward to the next four years …
This is the launchpad for all CL election coverage. The Loaf staff has fanned out across the Bay area to keep eyes and ears locked on voting sites, candidate rallies, election parties and spontaneous outpourings of joy/grief in the streets. Keep it locked here all day and night. And if you haven’t already, get out there and vote! Download and print our ballot guides here.
1:47 A.M.: Brian Blair well behind challenger Kevin Beckner as vote tabulating stalls in Hillsborough County, in a battle for better conservation and dignity for LGBT residents.
1:01 A.M.: One last thing. Just got this text message: “We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion to this campaign. All of this happened because of you. Thanks, Barack.” I’m not worthy …
1:00 A.M.: I’ve just been taking it all in for the last hour. History. Amazing. Now, I’m going to fall asleep watching the replay of Comedy Central’s Indecision ‘08, which I missed the first time around. Good night all.
12:05 P.M.: Obama speaking now.
11:46 P.M.: Wayne reporting in from the Beckner party: “Phyllis Busansky was just here and she said it’s a slow process counting the Hillsborough votes. Officials are having to bring the machines in from precincts to do the job.” Garcia characterized Beckner as “real unhappy with the situation.”
11:44 P.M.: Obama set to speak around midnight EST.
11:30 P.M.: David Warner reports the streets of Ybor resounding with cheers of “OBAMA! OBAMA!”
11:28 P.M.: McCain closes a classy concession speech. I think McCain did his best work this campaign in the last five days.
David Warner reports in from Kevin Beckner’s party at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City:
“The mood is jubilance with an undercurrent of jitters. Both cmpaign manager Mitch Kates and Beckner’s most active volunteer Mark Nash, are wondering out loud why so many precincts have still not been counted. But it hasn’t stopped lots of people from hugging Beckner, congratulating him, and saying this is an historic night and this changes everything.”
The PoHo reports in on local races from the Obama victory party in Tampa:
By 9:30 p.m., the crowd at the official Barack Obama Florida party at the Tampa Marriott Waterside in downtown had swelled to about 300-400 revelers, most jubilant, a few still anxious. Each state that goes for Obama on the giant screen TV of CNN brings a wave of cheers and chants of “Yes We Can. Yes We Can.”
Florida’s leading Democrat, CFO Alex Sink, has been here from the start, giving media interviews and brushing aside my question about whether she will run for Governor in 2010. “It depends on what our current governor does,” she said.
Other leading Tampa Democrats in the house included: former Plant City Mayor John Dicks; former state Sen. Les Miller and his wife, Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Miller; and Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder.
More of David Warner’s interviews from the Marriott:
Assembled at 7:30 p.m., small get together at Noelleís house in Hyde Park. Lots of alcohol and food.
Steven: British citizen, college professor, 46, non-voting but quite left leaning. Obama is actually too right wing for him.
Laura: Democrat since college, transit consultant, 33
John: Republican, IT architect, 49, Brazilian expatriate who has voted Republican since he became a citizen
Noelle: Democrat, dental account manager, 36, life long
Taylor: Independent, wine columnist, 39, used to be registered Republican, changed ìpartiesî last year. Voted Obama.
Andy: Registered Republican whole voting life, benefits broker, 43, voted Democrat and considers himself a staunch independent
8:10 p.m. Obama is sweeping the northeast and is ahead in Florida. Hillsborough leans McCain. Collective groan. John screams “Mac is Back!” and we all groan again.
We’re bored… we’re talking about the freaky neighbor (in every sense of the word) who just got laid, I mean married after dating the guy 4 months…. holy shit… Pennsylvania just went Obama! John is crossing his arms and looks pissed.
John celebrates Georgia’s McCain-ness… he’s moving to a red state.
8:45 p.m.: Republican John announces he’ll pay for everyone to eat at Boizao if McCain wins. We all just changed parties…
Photo: the map guy on CNN who looks like he’s had a stroke.
This in from Alex Pickett @ 5:50 p.m. (All photos by Alex):
It’s the final hour, folks. And the polls are starting to fill up again in St. Pete as people stop by after work. Those Obama supporters are now lining the main roads to polling places, most notably Fourth Street North. And the honking … just .. won’t … stop.
The whole afternoon was fairly quiet — except at St. Pete’s Obama HQ.
For the last few weeks, a handful of impassioned McCain supporters have been waving signs at Fourth Street and 38th Avenue in St. Petersburg. It began with just two older people on the northwest corner and as Election Day grew closer, expanded to the other corners.
Today, about a dozen McCain supporters are waving signs at the intersection. I talked with with two sign wavers, Jeni Longino and Larry Sharer. They’ve held down the corner since 10 a.m. Their arms hurt, but they were smiling and giddy.
UPDATE @ 3 p.m.: “The day is growing darker and the lines, well, the lines at most polling places I’ve been to in St. Pete are non-existent. Poll workers say that’s normal for other elections, but this is supposed to be an extraordinary election. Are all the voters working day jobs and plan to slam the polls after 5 p.m.? Or were the pundits wrong about the highest election turnout in 40 years?”
This in at 12:45 p.m. from Staff Writer Alex Pickett:
“It’s an overcast, chilly day in St. Pete — perfect for standing outside your voting place. There are only half-hour to an hour waits at most St. Pete poll places I’ve been to. After the morning rush, which saw hour to two hour wait times, many of the sign wavers have taken a lunch break, too. Interesting fact for would-be voters this afternoon: Voters are telling me if your address on your I.D. does not match, that’s OK if you are at the polling place of your registered address (make sense?). A few poll workers didn’t understand this and some people had some trouble where I voted, but everything was eventually worked out.
On the streets, there’s a lot of traffic and a lot of McCain sign wavers. Where are the Obama people?”
CL Soundboard guru Franki Weddington is reporting four-hour wait times to vote at the USF Marshall Center.
“They said that part of the problem is that people are taking a really long time because they don’t know anything about the amendments they are voting on. Poll workers are going around and handing out descriptions of all the amendments. Most people brought friends and newspapers. Fortunately I brought a crossword. I’ve been in line for 45 minutes and I’ve moved 10 feet. People are squatting, sitting down, hanging out. It seems like everyone is pretty resigned and happy. I’m surprised at how little bitching I’ve heard. People just expected this I guess.”
UPDATE: Franki called in just before 2:15 p.m. to report she had finally finished voting, and it ended up taking only (!) about two and a half hours. The lines are still long, but the officials at the Marshall Center were brining in more privacy booths to augment the paltry 15 they had at the beginning of the day.
“Either way, they’re gonna burn things. Either in celebration or anger. Look at Philadelphia.” Middle-aged white guy at Tiny Tap Tavern in SoHo watching Fox News coverage of the election, as reported by Wade Tatangelo.
“You know, Alex, our country is in really bad shape and I really think the black guy can fix it. I can’t vote, but in my heart, I’m voting for Obama.” — my 84-year-old grandmother (voting registration confusion caused her to miss the registering deadline)
“I certainly don’t think he speaks for the residents of Hillsborough County. I think he speaks for the demons in his head.” —Mitch Kates on David Caton, notorious gay-baiter whose robo-calls to Hillsborough voters attempt to raise fears about county commission candidate Kevin Beckner. Kates is Beckner’s campaign manager.
“Record voter turnout!” — Barista at downtown St. Pete Starbucks, when asked what the response had been to the chain’s Election Day free-coffee promotion. Several members of St. Pete’s homeless population were taking advantage of the offer this morning, though it was not clear whether they’d voted.
“I don’t think he really voted for it. I think he said that he voted for it but in the privacy of the booth, he voted against it- Its called the ‘Elton John Effect’” — Commenter Tim on St. Pete Times report about Gov. Crist announcing he voted Yes on Amendment 2.
“Everyone coming out of their polling place smiles and sighs before walking to their car. I mean, everyone.” —Staff Writer Alex Pickett reporting on polling locations in St. Pete.
“Can you believe it? I’m giddy with relief!” —Scott Walterman, morning anchor on XM Radio’s POTUS08, breathlessly commenting on the fact that Election Day 08 had finally arrived. POTUS is XM’s all-presidential-race, all-the-time channel. (As reported by Editor David Warner.)
I cast my ballot last week. So did Wayne Garcia. Now it’s your turn. Did you vote today? How did it go? Where did you vote? Did they have enough personel and voting machines? Was there a long line? Let us know in the comment section.
This just in from food critic Brian Ries, manning CL’s Sarasota office today:
“Nope, it’s not photoshopped. Republican Laura Benson is running for state house in Sarasota’s district 69 against incumbent Keith Fitzgerald (D). Her campaign has been marked by numerous attack ads (Keith is responsible for your high gas prices!) and a little scandal involving a few Tampa Republicans with ties to Benson’s campaign manager backing a pretend Green Party spoiler candidate (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081103/BREAKING/811030226?Title=Testy_race_winding_down).
But this … this is just art for arts sake. Someone took the time to measure her big, roadside campaign signs and produce a full-color cut-out head of Robert Guillaume to tack onto Laura Benson’s hateful melon. Benson. Get it?”
Tonight’s the night! After two frickin’ years of Barack and McCain, Hillary and Huckabee, “bitter” and “you betcha!,” it’s finally election day. Get out there an vote! Your country needs you. In the meantime, here’s NBC’s great Chuck Todd on what to look for after the polls close.
You’ve got to hand it to John McCain: The Senator’s appearance on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live was by far the funniest appearance by any candidate this election season. (Note to Hulu: Post “Giraffes” now!)
Fuck Deborah Clark. The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections has proven herself incompetent this election cycle. Unless two hour wait times to vote are your idea of a job well done. In that case, you must be a Republican with voter suppression on his mind, because under no other objective evaluation could what is currently going on at at the three (THREE!) sites for early voting in Pinellas County be called a success.
Ron Howard wants Barack Obama to win so badly that he was willing to complete sacrifice his dignity and make the following video. Way to go, Opie. Happy Halloween everyone!
Barack Obama aired his half-hour “Obama Infomercial” as the candidate called it on last night’s Daily Show. (Time called it a “mini-convention six days before the election.”) The production leaned heavily on tug-at-the-heartstrings profiles of “real Americans” and some very specific policy proposals. In case you missed it:
Palm Beach, Fl. Fifth-grader and aspiring reporter Damon Weaver interviews Joe Biden, asking the veep candidate what it is that a VP actually does. He likes Biden’s answer enough to declare them officially “homeboys.”
Meet Vlad and his pal Boris. These gentlemen are from Russia (perhaps) and they have prepared a musical ode to Sarah Palin. Quote the musicians: “Hello Sarah Palin we wrote this song for you because we see you from Russia! Plz respond to our emails!! We like to hear from you!!”
Crist ties with Tom Ridge for fifth most important politician not running for president; Palin comes in third; page 1 Monday editor for USA Today comes in second.
Both my parents are lifelong Republicans who plan to vote for John McCain. Being raised by lifelong Reps, I took their beliefs as my own until I was into my 20s. (This was not a big positive for my social life in college.) I voted for Dole in 1996. (Yes, I can’t believe it either.) I voted for Bush in 2000 — a decision that has inspired nothing but shame since. In the early 2000s, my eyes opened to the world outside of the Conservative bubble and I didn’t like what I saw.
Building: That big stadium with red seats on Dale Mabry where they play football
