Ed Rendell: "I'm for Michele Bachmann for Vice President"

By Jack Brummet, ATIT Presidential Historian

Ex-Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell--one of my favorite yellow dog Democrats--weighed in with a big smile on Mitt Romney's Veepstakes on CBS's "Face The Nation,"  and even drew a chuckle from the show's host Bob Schieffer. 

“I just want to go on record," Rendell said. "I’m for Michele Bachmann for Vice President.  I want everyone to be clear about that."  Here's Rendell in a brief video clip:

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Golden Garden, Seattle - Bikini Days

By Jack Brummet

[analog-digital hybrid]

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Drawing: Torso

By Jack Brummet

[analog drawing, digitized and messed with in Photoshop]

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Painting: Rise

By Jack Brummet

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Digital art: Slabs

By Jack Brummet

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Ex-Senator Larry Craig back in the news: that bathroom incident was part of my Senate duties

By Jack Brummet, G.O.P. Sex Scandals Editor

Ex-Senator Larry Craig

Ex-Republican U.S. Sen. Larry Craig is attempting to derail a federal election lawsuit against him by laughably arguing that his notorious July 11, 2007, Minneapolis airport bathroom bust in a sex-sting operation was actually part of The Senate's business.  The  Federal Election Commission argues that he owes $217,000 in campaign funds he used to pay for his criminal defense. 

The FEC sued Craig, charging that he converted the campaign money to personal use by spending it on his legal defense after he was accused of soliciting sex in a Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport bathroom. 

"Not only was the trip itself constitutionally required, but Senate rules sanction reimbursement for any cost relating to a senator's use of a bathroom while on official travel,"  Craig's lawyer wrote in documents Thursday.

At the time of his initial arrest, an undercover officer said Craig tapped his feet and signaled under a stall divider that he wanted sex.  Some other ATIT coverage of The Senator around the time of "the incident."

Another Republican cork soaker takes a fall: Senator Larry Craig busted in the men's room scouting for man on man action

Go Larry Craig, go! Idaho Republican Senator decides to stand tall

Idaho Statesman unearths more dirt on Senator Larry Craig (with bonus audio clips)

Sen. Larry Craig to be inducted into Idaho Hall of Fame

Dear Senator Larry Craig: Send me an autographed photo, and stay the course!

Senator Larry Craig (yes, he's still a Senator) to skip GOP Convention in St. Paul

Senator "Wide Stance" Larry Craig defends his men's room actions and swears "I am not gay" - Bonus content: Link to a latrine debacle reenactment

G.O.P. rethinks policies on gays in light of recent events

West Dakota Senator Hoolihan endorses Obama, urges split ticket with Larry Craig

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POTUS and golf carts!

By Mona Goldwater, Society Editor

Our Presidents golf a lot.  And as you can see from these photos, they also like to ride around in golf carts.  Enjoy this small selection of Presidents riding around in gold carts with their friends, familes, and other Presidents.

W

George, Sr. with Tiger Woods

George, Sr. with Sen. John McCain

President Jimmy Carter with President Anwar Sadat

HST with Winston Churchill

Presidents Clinton and Obama

Ike

President and Laura Bush with Premier Karzai

JFK and kids

President and Laura Bush in Golf Cart 1

President Bush with S. Korea President Lee

RMN with pal Jackie Gleason

BHO

The President and First Lady

RWR

RWR with Prime Minister Thatcher

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Nils Lofgren and Grin perform "Rusty Gun"

By Jack Brummet, Music Editor

I heart Nils Lofgren. He started the band Grin not long after he worked on Neil Young's first album with Crazy Horse.  Grin never got any traction and although every one of their releases was critically acclaimed, their records stiffed, but me and my friendos latched on and loved them.  After Grin fell apart, Nils did some solo work, and then joined forces with that mighty juggernaut Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, where he has played every since.  He joined Young's band when he was 17, and played piano and guitar on After The Gold Rush and on the album I consider Young's masterpiece, Tonight's The Night.  I love this guy.  I think I need to post a clip of some of his E Street stage antics (e.g., performing a somersault on stage whilst playing a solo).  The Boss and the E Street band are back on the road this summer, and will probably be lining up some fall dates stateside. . .

On this song, it must be Nils playing the accordion.  I know he learned to play one when he was five years old., and studied it for ten years.  He's been a member of The E Street Band, with their ups and downs, since 1984 (he replaced Steven Van Zandt [a/k/a The Sopranos Silvio Dante], although Little Steven returned and now he AND Nils are permanent member of the band).  TMI?

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Freedom In Peril, a dated (and chilling-for either side!) but well-made piece of NRA propaganda

By Jack Brummet, Bill of Rights Editor

"Freedom In Peril - Guarding the second amendment in the 21st century"  is a pamphlet put out by the National Rifle Association.  The propaganda first appeared in 2006.  It is beautifully designed and illustrated.  It gives you a pretty clear picture of just where the NRA stands (as if you didn't know already).  Without going into particulars on the merits of the second amendment debate, I will say events in the last few years (say, since about 1968) and the arms debate makes me remember Kris Kristofferson's lyric:

"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose"

You can read the pamphlet here.

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Illustration from the NRA propaganda pamphlet "Freedom In Peril"

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An assortment of strange photos of modern U.S. Presidents

by Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor


Oddly enough, seven of these photographs in our archives star President George W. Bush. . .

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Photo: President Clinton (a/k/a Hand Gestures No. 76)

by Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor

I am not sure of the provenance of this photograph.  I just hope it wasn't taken at one of his Monica Lewinsky press conferences. . .

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