“Wrap them in shrink wrap and put them in asphalt somewhere is about the best thing that we can describe at this point. And as expensive as they are, that is probably not a good use of the taxpayers’ money.”
Marine General James Conway on the future effectiveness of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Local contractor Force Protection was awarded a contract for more than 800 MRAP’s from the Marine Corps last week. Source: Time, Charleston Regional Business Journal
Colbert ’08: Polling, Endorsement, Campaign Stop
When Stephen Colbert announced earlier this month that he would run for president in the South Carolina primaries, reasonable people were laughing at the joke. Now, they’re laughing at the spectacle.
In a news hole where Hillary Clinton seems like the inevitable Democratic candidate and more than 40 percent of Americans can’t name one potential GOP opponent, it really shouldn’t come as any surprise that Colbert would end up on Meet the Press with Tim Russert, with the host quizzing Colbert on his funny last name while holding a stuffed Bert (of “& Ernie” fame).
“I think a lot of people are asking whether—they say is this, is this real, you know?” Colbert told Russert. “And to which I would say to everybody, ‘This is not a dream. You’re not going to wake up from this.'”
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported early national polling after the announcement that suggested Colbert would pull 2.3 percent support among Democrats, beating out Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel. Republicans apparently had yet to catch on to the joke —he barely registered among GOP voters.
Columbia Mayor Bob Coble gave Colbert a key to the city over the weekend, and, after discussing his own looming election, Mayor Joe Riley Jr. told us that he’d spoken to Colbert hours before the funny man announced his presidential run. “He didn’t really ask, but I know certainly he would like to have it,” Riley said of an endorsement. “And it would certainly be wrong for me not to support a native son.”
A sheet hanging on a fence at the College of Charleston read “Paul/Colbert ’08” referring to the long shot conservative candidate Ron Paul, who is legitimately running for president — we think. Facebook reported Friday that the group “One Million Strong for Stephen Colbert” signed up its one millionth member, making it the fastest-growing group in the social networking site’s history.
But before you Colberticans start jockeying for cabinet positions, Colbert told Russert that he’s not interested in being on the receiving end during the next press corps roast.
“I don’t want to be president,” Colbert said. “I want to run for president. There’s a difference.” —Greg Hambrick
$2,000
That’s how much Mitt Romney’s conservative PAC donated to the A-Team’s failed effort to take over the Charleston County School Board in last November’s election. Considering Arthur ended up endorsing Rudy Giuliani, we’d say that was money down the drain. Source: Harpers
The City of Charleston may have announced a clamp-down earlier this year on local graffiti, but cops in Vancouver are getting with the program, putting their own Banksy-inspired tags on walls in an effort to advertise their “bait car” program to the criminal element. Source: Wooster Collective
“It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn’t comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind.”
Shirley MacLaine in her new book, Sage-ing While Age-ing, telling about Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s close encounter with aliens. The presidential candidate did not respond to requests for comment. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No newspaper subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations from downtown to North Charleston to Johns Island to Summerville to Mount Pleasant.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.