Howard Stern Is Offensive on America’s Got Talent

Offensively sappy.

I have never watched America’s Got Talent before, but I tuned in this week just to see the show’s newest judge, shock jock Howard Stern. Here’s the short take: Stern has gone softer than the Pillsbury Doughboy. The show promoted the longtime radio personality as a bad boy, complete with a video montage set to the Rolling Stones hit “Sympathy for the Devil.” But he’s mostly a cheerleader.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey Aim to Amplify Biggest Losers

Why privatizing the lottery is a mistake.

“Where the lottery was concerned, even people who could barely read and write seemed capable of intricate calculations and staggering feats of memory.” — George Orwell, 1984 The latest budget gimmick coming from state lawmakers across the country is the lame idea to privatize the lottery. Of course, this is a mistake that will likely end up costing taxpayers more money in the long run. But don’t tell that to the elected officials who seem hell-bent on trying to gamble their way out of budget problems.

Getting a Casino License Would Be Very, Very Hard for Bart Blatstein

The developer has power in Philly, but gambling is Harrisburg’s game.

Bart Blatstein stirred up lots of buzz last week with his proposal to turn the iconic white tower that houses the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News into a casino and hotel complex. But right now the odds of a casino on North Broad Street are longer than hitting it big on the penny slot machines. The plan may sound exciting at first blush. But a number of problems surround Blatstein’s plan, including the proximity to schools and churches. Roman Catholic High, the prestigious Masterman, and Benjamin Franklin High School are all nearby. Next door is the Philadelphia School District headquarters.

How Will Inquirer, Daily News Cover George Norcross Deals in Six Months?

Censorship isn’t black and white.

Ed Rendell may be gone from the group that bought the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, but the tangled business relationships and political interests of the remaining owners still pose serious problems for anyone who cares about good journalism.

Beyonce Could Live at the Revel, and It Wouldn’t Save Atlantic City

New York and other states will continue to lure gamblers away.

Atlantic City is abuzz with the news that Beyonce plans to perform to help hype the April 2nd opening of the lavish Revel casino. The struggling gambling town hopes the $2.4 billion casino resort provides a much needed shot in the arm. But for the seaside resort, the arrival of the Revel is more likely to be a last gasp. The Revel may help hide some of the underlying problems facing Atlantic City. But the reality is this: Stick a fork in AC. Its best days are over.

What Happened to Michael Nutter’s “Honest Budget Now”?

The Mayor is set to leave behind a tax-hike legacy.

Mayor Nutter and his lackeys have tried to spin his latest budget as containing no new taxes. Let’s be clear: That is a lie. Plain and simple, Nutter wants to raise taxes—again. Nutter’s plan calls for the city to hike property taxes another eight percent. The added revenue is in addition to the “temporary” property tax hikes introduced in the last two years that appear to be permanent.

Bruce Springsteen Shows Stand Between Philly and Total Hopelessness

When corruption, Andy Reid, and the sorry state of the Constitution Center get you down, listen to the Boss.

Sometimes there are so many juicy news topics to pick from that it is hard to figure out where to shoot first. Perhaps the perfect antidote to the increasingly nutty debate taking place among the GOP presidential candidates are the upcoming Bruce Springsteen shows in Philadelphia. Springsteen’s just released CD, Wrecking Ball, gives a voice to those who are struggling while the rich get richer. Springsteen taps into an America that seems to have lost its way. He captures the state of play in the song “Shackled and Drawn.”

Rick Santorum’s World Wrestling Federation Experience Won’t Help Him Win This Fight

There’s a reason Senator Bob Kerrey once quipped, “Santorum? Is that Latin for asshole?”

Rick Santorum’s losses in the Michigan and Arizona primaries should signal the beginning of the end to his Republican presidential bid, as voters nationwide begin to figure out that he is a jackass. Most folks in Pennsylvania already know this, but the rest of the country is just getting a taste of Santorum’s warped worldview. The fact that Santorum’s campaign managed to gain any traction, shows how the GOP has been hijacked by wing nuts.

Ed Rendell: Our Very Own Rupert Murdoch!

Please god, get him on Twitter.

Poor Ed Rendell. He feels like everyone is picking on him for trying to control, er, buy the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. As Rendell sees it, he is just a guy trying to help save a civic institution. But the more Rendell talks, the more clear it becomes that his owning the newspapers is fraught with trouble. I detailed some of the potential conflicts facing Ed Rendell and his ownership group two weeks ago. Others have weighed in as well, including Buzz Bissinger and Dave Davies (no relation). Rendell can’t believe all the fuss. Last week, he told the New...