The Political Whore

By Matt Wiley
CL intern

A cool educational opportunity in our next featured community in the National Civic League’s 2009 All-America City Awards (the conference convenes in Tampa next week), here is Clinton, N.C.:

Clinton, N.C.
Interactive Whiteboards

Clinton City Schools (CCS) has made it a priority to equip schools with engaging technology to prepare students to face the future.  An integral part of this endeavor included the goal of outfitting each classroom with an interactive whiteboard (IW).  An IW links a computer desktop to the board’s surface to allow: teaching with computer software and internet browsers, manipulation of computer data using finger touch or styli, saving of information created on the IW to a computer, capture of student responses using “Audience Response System,” and interactive learning that totally engages students. In 2006, IWs were placed in five classrooms.  One third grade class showed improvement from 61% proficiency on end-of-grade pretests to 90.48% proficiency on end-of-grade tests.  The excitement of this technology spurred the community to collaborate with CCS to ensure every classroom within CCS had an IW. Collaborations between CCS, citizens, businesses and nonprofits resulted in a series of projects that enabled IWs to be placed in each CCS classroom.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-18 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

You’re a grand old flag …

• Israeli newspaper claims Bush will bomb Iran before the end of his term.
• Clinton claims lead in popular vote, but only if you use Hillary Math.
• Obama leads Clinton 55-39 nationally among Dems in yesterday’s Gallup poll.
• Can someone please teach Bill Kristol how to do research before he helps mislead us into a costly and destructive war? Nevermind.
• Sore loser: Geraldine Ferraro.
• Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester goes from being treated for cancer to throwing a no-hitter in two short years.
• Yawn: Napster starts selling MP3s. That only took 8 years.
• Indy to shatter box office records?

OBAMA IN OREGON: Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of 65,000 on Sunday in Portland; another 15,000 couldn’t get in. How well will he pack the St. Pete Times Forum Wednesday?
(photo by Ryan Harvey)

So, among the items in the shrunken section formerly known as ‘Metro’ in the St. Pete Times was this tidbit: “Obamania, or Obamaybe Not?” — in which the writer raises the specter that “snubbed Floridians” might “stay home and sulk” rather than attend the Obama event in Tampa on Wednesday. Really? Biggest political celebrity in years, who attracted 2,000 without hardly trying last time he was in town, and now arrives with nomination in reach? Who are these “snubbed Floridians,” anyway? As far as I can tell, they’re a projection conjured up in the minds of “snubbed” St. Pete Times political reporters who haven’t been paid sufficient homage by the Obama people, and so have been harping endlessly on his failure to campaign here — whereas I suspect most voters (except for the Clinton-or-else crowd) see that both Democratic candidates have been hobbled by an impossible situation aggravated by the FL legislature and the DNC, and will gladly turn up to see either.

A little dose of straight talk.

• McCain to hit up the RNC for campaign cash.
• The “very, very, very old” candidate also hit SNL for one of the worst guest appearances ever.
• Obama draws 75K in Oregon.
• Clinton finds a new scapegoat: the media.
• This just in from Germany: Too much smiling can kill you!
• Olbermann vs. O’Reilly — the feud escalates.
• Time digs Crystal Skull.
• Is Sir Charles headed for skid row?

Couch potatoes unite!

• The mother of the St. Pete courthouse gunman blames shootout on “antigovernment Web sites.”
• Clinton’s five big boo boos …
• … and her three options.
• Bush mucks with the FCC to help out his old buddy/election law-flouter John McCain.
• Toyota feels the sting of the U.S. economic slowdown.
• The high price of intelligence.
• The Olympic torch makes it to the protester-free summit of Mt. Everest.
• No GTA IV in India. Reason: a global shortage.

The great unraveling.

• “Superdelegates Unswayed by Clinton Attacks.”
• Dean tells Supes, “make up your friggin’ minds now.”
• Superdelegate Robert Reich (Bill’s first Labor Secretary) goes all Judas and endorses Obama.
• Supes play down Pennsylvania.
• Supes “worn out” by tone and length of campaign.
• Obama responds to the debate, promises to “get tough” with McCain in the fall.
• Colbert gets Hillary and Barack (same night, different segments, both very funny).
• Bill Ayers speaks! Well, he blogs, anyway.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• A Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.
• Headline of the week: “The Pope Tackles the Sex Abuse Scandal.” Really? Did he roll around on the floor with it too?
• Teenagers rejoice! Scientists think they have a cure for acne.
• Why is a member of the House of Representatives from Alaska slipping in $10 million earmarks for road upgrades to I-75 in Florida after the bill had been voted on?
• Flowers on the moon: Closer to reality.
• Secret blueprints for the new World Trade Center found by a homeless man rooting through a NYC garbage can.
• Batter up: Last night’s Rockies-Padres game went 22 innings, the longest MLB game in 15 years.

(Photo Credit: Franco Folini)

UPDATE: WP has posted a link in the comments section to a story about the Florida Legislature proposing a bill to ban “bumper nuts.” Good lookin’ out, WP!

Isn’t it inspiring when local luminaries attract national attention to Central Florida?

• From “It’s gonna be a blowout!” to “It’s a miracle we’re still in the lead,” The Clinton campaign begins manipulating expectations ahead of the Pennsylvania primary.
• Obama snubs the gay press first in Texas and now in Pennsylvania. Shocking! There are gay people in Texas.
• Long lines? At Tampa International?!!? Thank you American Airlines!
• Packing heat at the office? A-OK with the Florida Legislature.
• The sordid tale of Joe Lieberman’s crashing website.
• Scrambled eggs can kill!
• Gizmodo’s take on the future of high-speed internet: “We’re Totally Screwed.”
• Can anyone beat Tiger at Augusta?

Get comfy. We’re going to be here a while.

• A “minor explosion” rocked a military recruiting station in Times Square this morning.
• The Clinton campaign plots their next move and take time out to fight like cats and dogs amongst themselves.
• What’s wrong with this New York Times headline: “Clinton Success Alters Delegate Race’s Dynamic”?
• Obama’s next move? Attack? Chase the super delegates? Cry a bit?
• Will Florida try and call “do over?”
• Ron Paul wins it!
• If you’ve ever wondered what Helen Keller looked like, so did she.
• Don’t let grandpa drive the fire truck.
• Big Cable vs. NFL Network.

(Photo Credit: Westendraider)

                                                                                Please God, let it end today.

• Texas and Ohio finally vote! Who will win? What does “win” even mean? If we can’t figure out how to define “win,” can it ever end? 
•  Canada defends Obama. 
• Got a few days? Everything you ever wanted to know about John McCain’s economic plan.
• The truthiness behind the “Colbert bump.” (Oh, it’s real.)
• Dear Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales: “I only have one thing to say to you: You are the sleazebag I always suspected you were, and I should have listened more carefully to my gut instincts …“
• The new Girl gang-banger memoir Love and Consequences is a fake. The fun part: No one figured it out till the author’s sister saw her picture in the NY Times. 
• Elisabeth Hasselbeck gives her View: Gloria Steinem = evil.
• Amy Winehouse and her expanding face.

(Photo Credit: Jeremy Ryan)                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                               Who’s hungry?

• Obama goes for a “knockout blow.” Clinton lays the groundwork for fighting on after Tuesday. The polls remain inconclusive.
• Gov. Charlie says he’d “support” a democratic primary re-vote, and by “support” he means “pick up the tab for.”
• Dynasties among us: NY Times sports mag Play gets all Greek-tragic about the Steinbrenners of Tampa and visits the would-be Venus and Serena Williams of golf in Bradenton.
• Going to war: Venezuela and Columbia.
• Hillsborough County Fire Chief Bill Nesmith gets hot under the collar, ends up booked for aggravated assault after threatening to kill his wife then himself. (Brian Blair always thought he seemed perfectly nice at church, though.)
• Mick Jagger = assassination worthy.
• Damn it, Rover! Drop that chew toy.
• Gasparilla filmfest gets something new: audiences.

(Photo Credit: qthrul)

USF Hires a new assistant football coach, while an ex-UF linebacker has a bad day.

• The final weekend? Obama leads in Texas and is even in Ohio.
• Fund raising juggernauts: Clinton nabs $35 million in February. Obama may have crested $50 mil.
• Las Vegas Police are investigating a package sent to a hotel that may contain poisonous Ricin. The real head-scratcher: The hotel targeted was the Extended Stay America.
• If you can read this, you probably need a nap.
• His propaganda mission complete, Prince Harry is headed home from Afghanistan.
• Getting an upgrade: Prime Outlets Ellenton.
• Will Farrell in Semi-Pro: He’s funny, he’s not funny, he’s only funny if you like this kind of thing.
• Batman merges with Bilbo.

(Photo Credit: Sylvar)

Tonight on MSNBC: Clinton. Obama. The rumble in the rust belt.

• Somali Costume-gate: Clinton pleads ignorance, Obama calls her out, what do the robes signify, and how is this affecting the polls?
• McCain suddenly realizes the Iraq war ain’t that popular and starts backtracking fast.
• Welcome back: Inflation.
• If you’re reading this instead of the printed word, consider yourself part of the solution.
• The New York Philharmonic rocks Pyongyang.
• I’m a little depressed at the new study saying anti-depressants don’t work in people who aren’t severely depressed. What can I take to fix the situation?
• Can you be too hot to fly? Two Oldsmar hotties say yes (with picture).
• Scientists report the end is near! (”Near” = 7.6 billion years.)

(Photo Credit: Mike Licht, notionsCapital.com)

“I know you don’t love me now, but what if I gave you this giant check?“

• You can’t fight city hall, but if you’re batshit crazy you can shoot it up, killing 5 people before being shot dead by police.
• JFK’s speech writer puts the Camelot touch on Obama’s oratory.
• Colossal Balls: “‘Everything I have said has been factually accurate, but I think the mistake I made was to think I was a spouse just like any other spouse who could defend his candidate,’ Bill Clinton told Portland television station WCSH.”
• Al Zimmerman, until recently the spokesman for Florida’s Department of Children and Families, listed Gov. Charlie as a reference in 2005. No big deal until you realize Al got busted for distributing kiddie-porn last week.
• I always knew sugar was bad for you, but this is ridiculous.
• Environmental head-smack of the week: Biofuels produce more greenhouse gases than traditional gasoline.
• Yahoo continues to hunt for a way to thwart Microsoft’s buyout.
• Can the FBI really be teaming with private businesses to prep for martial law? The Progressive says yes.

(Photo Credit: Whitehouse.gov.)

The count goes on …

• NBC News has Obama taking the lead.
• Raw Story has Hill up by 80 delegates, and McCain running away with it.
• ABC has Huckabee surging as Romney fades.
• AP has the democratic race as a split decision.
• MSNBC’s first thoughts: This is going to get nasty.
• Slate is desperately trying to figure out who won.
• Time Magazine has five lessons from Super Tuesday.
  
• Need a copy of the key to ALL Diebold voting machines? Good news: They posted a picture of it on their website.

In other news:

• Tornadoes killed at least 48 people across the south last night.
• The writers strike will continue — at least through this weekend.
• Heath Ledger’s autopsy is in. Cause of death: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.
• Is Al-Qaeda about to strike?
• Apple updates the iPhone: Let the bitchin’ commence …

(Photo by Idcross.)

What’s worse than dressing up like a Smurf in a bid to help break a world record? Trying and failing.

• The Clinton/Obama debate goes Hollywood.
• The wisdom of Bill Clinton: “We just have to slow down our economy and cut back our greenhouse gas emissions ’cause we have to save the planet for our grandchildren.”
• Who do the tech-heads favor for president? Turns out Bill Gates and Steve Jobs actually agree on something.
• Fund-raising update: Obama is a juggernaut.
• Scam alert: Beware people using the promise of proposed government rebate checks to trick you into giving up secret bank account information.
• Yes, there’s a Heath Ledger drug tape, and no, you won’t see it on Entertainment Tonight.
• Lost returns tonight. Here’s a little primer from our friends at Newsweek.
• Britney goes to the hospital. Again.

Our turn.

• McCain and Romney battle to the finish.
• Goodnight Rudy.
• How goes the vote?
• Way to go Dems! Love your electoral strategy of screwing Florida’s voters.
• And how long is this whole primary season going to continue, anyway?
• Facing an uprising by its rank-and-file members, California’s teachers union holds off endorsing Hillary.
• Break out the party hats! Bush gave his final State of the Union address last night. Too bad it was so overshadowed by the race to replace him.
• The best political reporting anywhere: The Onion.

Coming soon to a country near you …

• Bill & George H.W.: On the road again?
• “Obama attended a Muslim school … and I mean that in only the nicest way possible!“
• Just for Hussey: Christoper Hitchens on why Huckabee sucks.
• Bush declares state of the economy as “pretty good.” Begin hoarding food!
• Bob Hite gets probation.
• Debbie Lafave back in court. But why did the Times run two photos?
• Jay & Conan back on the air Jan. 2.
• Oh, and the Writer’s Guild says ‘no way’ to its members writing the Oscar and Golden Globe telecasts. Yes, it’s true: People are paid good money to write that horrific award-show patter.

“Just tap the A button for a ‘juice boost.’”

• Clinton “personally apologizes to Obama” for her campaign labeling Barack a drug dealer. (I’m linking Time’s political page in the hopes that they add to their post, but there’s not much their yet.)
• In other political mea culpa news: Huck’s apologizing too. Maybe it’s the holiday spirit?
• Inflation? What inflation?
• Roger Clemens was taking the ‘roids? That’s about as surprising as Jodie Foster coming out of the closet.
• Jodie Foster comes out of the closet.
• Anybody want to buy a bus? It’s $225K and you get all the tacos you can eat.
• The Material Girl heads up this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction class.
• R.I.P.: Ike Turner.

UPDATE: Here’s some more on Hill’s apology.

On a scale from 1-10: Iran’s a 2.

• What’s that giant sucking sound? Oh, it’s Clinton and Giuliani’s national poll numbers.
• Obama’s got a new website, and Hill’s not gonna like it.
• And the Lord said, “Get thy homeless ass off my stoop!”
• Wait, you mean Iran isn’t trying to develop a nuclear weapon? But Bush and Cheney said …
• Amazing hypocrite alert: The MPAA gets caught violating copyright.
• Crist did what? He can’t do that! Can he?
• Congress regulating credit card companies is like Amy Winehouse taking over the DEA.
• Research shows a chemical compound in Marijuana slows the growth of breast cancer. Quick, ban this research!

Rush and the former president bump into each other at Kobe Club Steakhouse. Clinton makes time with Rush’s date. Limbaugh’s account here.