Populist

Let Us Now Praise

Karen Heller — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:28:28 GMT

Paul Newman was more than a great movie star. He was a sublime actor, an indelible character and a man of immense charity and purpose.

On the final day: McCain Accepted

Nathan Gorenstein — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:59:30 GMT

Sixty days to the election. Counting now.

America's Next Top Villain: The Media

Karen Heller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:09:59 GMT

It was only a matter of time before the politicians turned on the only group less popular than they are: the media. On Wednesday, the Republicans stoked the embers of anti-press sentiments with a vengeance.

Palin: A television ratings hit

Karen Heller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:25:01 GMT

Is anyone watching the Republican National Convention? It's been up against the second season premiere of Gossip Girl, a new version of 90210, and the latest installment of Project Runway.

Hockey Mom / Vice President

Karen Heller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:18:13 GMT

Life is a matter of expectation management. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin entered the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday night with exceedingly low expectations from an electorate that had only been introduced to her as a September Surprise last Friday.

Romney gives wiftiest convention speech of recent memory

Karen Heller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:38:26 GMT

That would be Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts moderate who now swings hard-right. Could George Bush be a liberal?

Tonight's GOP theme: Reform

Karen Heller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:12:31 GMT

Taking a cue from presumptive nominee John McCain, the Republican convention qualifies for maverick status, only putting out its theme and schedule a few hours before starting.

Quote of the day, so far, Wednesday edition

Karen Heller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:59:26 GMT

There's only eight weeks to go until the election. Former candidate and New York mayor Rudy Giuliani issues a grace period before knocking the Republican's presumptive vice presidential nominee.

"A task that is for God"

Karen Heller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:12:20 GMT

That's what Sarah Palin called the war in Iraq. Snippets of the Alaska governor's speeches are emerging on YouTube.

Prepping Palin

Karen Heller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:00:32 GMT

How is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin preparing for the political speech of her career? By being holed up in a hotel room and getting a crash course by McCain's top advisers.

Service with a smile

Karen Heller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:26:23 GMT

The GOP's Tuesday night theme was service. Also, country first. And, then again, the story of John McCain's courage and original maverick status. Also, keeping the current White House occupant as far away from St. Paul as possible.

These are the days, my friends

Karen Heller — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:33:02 GMT

So, for the Dems, the drinking game centered around "change." This week, hoist a St. Pauli Girl or two whenever the words "my friends are uttered."

Which vice presidential candidate is like none other?

Karen Heller — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:50:45 GMT

Trying to relate to Sarah Palin.

Flying by the seat of their pants

Karen Heller — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:51:15 GMT

Amazing. If you check the website for the Republican National Convention at this very moment, there's no schedule posted.

Quote of the day, so far

Karen Heller — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:51:02 GMT

Hot air or frank talk? Some politicians, like Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, know how to speak the latter.

GOP Day Two: Do over

Karen Heller — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:09:00 GMT

Do you know this guy? This is Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee of the United States.

GOP Day One: Game called due to rain

Karen Heller — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:13:40 GMT

This was to have been a big day, with the president and the vice president scheduled to speak. Instead, the game was cancelled due to rain.

Gustav and McCain

Karen Heller — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:11:36 GMT

What if they gave a convention and nobody came? Or, rather, they held a convention and all of the delegates showed, much of the press, but everyone’s attention was turned elsewhere.

That's rich

Karen Heller — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:47:17 GMT

What, precisely, constitutes being rich? As the two presidential candidates and their campaigns sparred over real estate, what makes someone better off than anyone else?

Real real estate

Karen Heller — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:51:37 GMT

Hmmm, do you need to check with staff to know how many houses you own? Because that's precisely the answer John McCain gave a reporter today.

Populist Political Incompentence Challenge

Karen Heller — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:14:04 GMT

New to the Metro column, I headed out on a hot summer night to the best farce on either bank of the river: one of two limited shows of the Delaware River Port Aurthority rate-increase hearings.

You can read the column I wrote here: Visited Stephen Starr's latest boite, Parc, on Rittenhouse Square Thursday night. The place is extremely lively and incredibly loud.

This is clearly the place to be seen these days. Near us was a table of five blond

Too #*&% Hot

Karen Heller — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:17:05 GMT

No True Dat

Karen Heller — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:19:19 GMT

Unconventional wisdom

Karen Heller — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:32:58 GMT

Protest outside Kimmel Center for Dalai Lama

Karen Heller — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:44:27 GMT

Spectrum: Another box bites the dust

Karen Heller — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:02:58 GMT

So Ed Snider plans to blow up the Spectrum at the end of the 2008-2009 season, soon to join the ghosts of sports venues past. This is getting to be a tradition down there on South Broad.

"This has been one of the hardest decis

The New Yorker: Blasphemous or Brilliant

Karen Heller — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:18:20 GMT

Editor David Remnick defended the cover in an interview with the Huffington Post: "What I think it does is hold up a mirror to the prejudice and dark imaginings about Barack Obama's — both Obamas'

Mayor Mike's Movie Night

Karen Heller — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:06:14 GMT

Mayor Michael Nutter announced "Movies Under Penn" this week to be show every other Friday in the hall courtyard. The program debuts July 11 after sundown (around 8:30 p.m.) beginning with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the

Bill for Barack

Karen Heller — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:16:53 GMT

Bill Clinton wants to help Barack Obama in his run for the presidency, according to an Associated Press article in today's Inquirer.

This from a man who labeled the Illinois senator's opposition to the Iraq War "a fairy tale"

The Eternal Drama: CBS 3

Karen Heller — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:58:09 GMT

Who needs soap operas or reality shows when there's the eternal drama of CBS 3?

Honest, those of us who bemoan there's nothing much on television now that the primaries are over, the Phillies are in a sort-of slump (please end t