DAILY GRINDER: City Still Wants Swap Money Back—If They Can Get It
We. Are. The 99 Percent! Right, guys? Councilman Jim Kenney wants to be able to file a lawsuit against the big banks that took a ton of the city’s money through the swap deals you’ve been hearing so much about lately. At a press conference yesterday, alongside the Transit Workers Union Local 234 and Fight for Philly, he said, “we’re hoping that the...
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Rendell is Character Witness in ‘Bonusgate’ Prosecution
In the ongoing game of Decade-long Horrible that is the Bonusgate case, it’s now being reported that former Gov. Ed Rendell testified as a character witness for former House Legislator and Department of Revenue Secretary Rep. Steve Stetler. Stetler is being charged with—and pleaded not guilty to—theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest in actions related...
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DC Court Doesn’t Block PA Dems’ Access to Ralph Nader’s Bank Accounts
Two years after hearing the case, a 3-judge panel in Washington, DC has refused to block Pennsylvania Democrats from seizing $56,928 from the bank accounts of consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader. The judgment stems from the 2004 presidential campaign, in which Nader’s petitions were successfully challenged by the Democratic...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: City Council to Take on Movie Ratings?
A new documentary about bullying, called Bully, is set to open in theaters at the end of the month, and is likely getting an “R” rating. Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenney has started a petition that’d remove the rating so schools could show it. “This film, for me, is more about the kids who are not the bullies — the kids who are spectators, so...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Video: Corbett Statement on Voter ID Bill
As you may have read yesterday, the House passed the state’s Voter ID bill and Gov. Corbett dropped everything to sign it at 6 p.m., just a few hours after it was sent to his desk. A legal challenge looms over the bill and even the Obama Administration has jumped in, calling the measure “a costly bill to address a non-existent problem.” Perhaps Mr. Obama...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Treasury Subpoenas Rendell’s Records
Investigators from the U.S. Treasury Department have subpoenaed records related to payments former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has accepted for public speaking engagements on behalf of the People’s Mujhadeen of Iran, a group of Iranian dissidents the State Department has listed as a terrorist group. Rendell and others, including Republicans, have long...
Continue ReadingNader Pissed About Getting Kicked Off 2004 PA Ballot? He’s Not Alone
Earlier this week Ralph Nader, that guy you liked until Bush was installed as president, made public a letter he had previously sent to Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille in 2004. The letter suggests an undermining of democracy based on Nader’s unsuccessful attempt to get on the PA ballot, which include signature challenges, before the Bush and Kerry could get...
Continue ReadingElection Hangover: Young Voters Are Back, GOP Swipes State House
By now, every Democrat in the country has already swallowed the bitter pill of the Republicans running shit again (or causing mass gridlock since Dems still barely control the Senate). So while the Democrats are licking their wounds, why not throw on a little salt? Not only did a Republican take the governor’s mansion as well as Arlen’s old seat,...
Continue ReadingTalkin’ Smack: Abraham, Williams and the Inky
God, please don’t let this feud go away. The Friends of Seth Williams have a little something to say about Lynne Abraham, but they’ll let someone else do the talking—for now. You may have heard about the former DA’s firestorm regarding her successor, his marijuana policy and the Inquirer at a recent U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on crime and...
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