It’s not easy being Republican at Temple, let alone in Philadelphia.
“Our challenges originally were letting people know that we exist,” said Brian McGovern, president of the Temple College Republicans. “That’s still our challenge today, but we’re doing a lot better with it.”
Temple has had a strong Democratic presence on campus since the six weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania Primary in April. Campus visits from Sen. Hillary Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, cast a shadow over Sen. John McCain, who at the time was already the presumptive Republican nominee for president.
So far this semester, Temple has hosted big-name supporters of Sen. Barack Obama, including Private Practice star Kate Walsh and Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The Republican presence isn’t as easy to find.
“This isn’t just any college campus,” said McGovern, a senior political science major. “This is Temple University in one of the most Democratic cities in the United States.”
YOUNG INFLUENCE
Young people are more apt to have Democratic tendencies, especially those in college, said former Philadelphia Mayor John Street.
“Young people are just smart and more likely to be in tune with a more people-oriented message,” Street said. “Young people worry more about the poor [and] working-class issues and are not yet burdened with making a living.”
It’s important, then, for McGovern and the College Republicans to spread the messages of McCain and his running-mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
“We believe that if people knew about the Republican message and not what certain news outlets or what their friends say, they would see that our message does work for them,” McGovern said.
The College Republicans began a few years ago with a handful of students. Recently, the group runs out of vacant seats at its meetings, which average 30 to 50 students, McGovern said.
But it’s not the only political group on campus. The Temple College Democrats were the organizers of the recent Howard Dean visit, which attracted more than 100 students for a midday rally on Sept. 19.
“I think that we are a more liberal campus, so I think that there’s a warm and open reception to us and the things we do,” said Elizabeth Hanson, president of the College Democrats. “On [the Republicans’] side, their message may not feel as welcome all the time.”
McGovern said the relationship between the two groups was “shaky” a few years ago, but they now share a “decent friendship.”
“We want to be controversial, but we don’t want to be too controversial,” McGovern said. “We’re looking to keep the discourse civil on campus, and maintaining our relationships helps to keep it civil.”
Hanson, a junior political science major, agrees with McGovern and added that forming a good relationship now can help in their political futures.
“We know that even though we differ on most things, it’s better to learn to reach across the aisle now because how else would we do it in Washington?” she said.
Broadcast writing style is much different than print. There’s no need for the general public to see a script for a TV reporter as they see the article of a print reporter. Nine times out of 10, that’s the case.
Everyone knows my adoration of CBS3. They put together a quality newscast. And their Web site is my favorite of all the local stations — very easily navigable. But the articles…
It seems here that they copied and pasted Ukee Washington’s script from his package (available in the video bar at the top right of the link) directly to the site. Missing quotes, misplaced periods and lowercased proper nouns (philly) adorn this article. Some sentences might not make sense, either — they do if spoken, as in the package, but not written down for a reader.
If cbs3.com needs a part-time copy editor, look no further!
In doing research for Top Chef 5, I discovered a bunch of things.
Yeah, Padma’s still back, thankfully. And apparently, there’s a spin-off featuring kid chefs aged 12 to 16 (sounds extremely intriguing. Note the sarcasm and lack of enthusiasm).
I was shocked that I only heard at nearly 6 p.m. tonight that Tina Fey reprised her role as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. I like the touch of Katie Couric, as well, portrayed by a very pregnant (and former Hillary Clinton) Amy Poehler. It doesn’t get better than those two together.
Therefore, I bring you this clip.
It’s not as great as the original, but still worth a bunch of chuckles. All hail Tina Fey.
The following is a non-partisan joke I received via e-mail signature from former Philadelphia Mayor John Street. It’s worthy of chris-stover.com.
While walking down the street one day a US Senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”
“No problem, just let me in,” says the man.
“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”
“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.
“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises…
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.
“Now it’s time to visit heaven.”
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. “I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course, clubhouse, we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning……Today you voted.”
Here is the full video of the Sarah Palin skit on Saturday Night Live, which has been yanked on YouTube. However, thanks to the wonder that is hulu.com, I bring it to you once again.
I seriously can’t stop watching this. It never gets old.
Johnny Brenda’s has been a fixture at the southern border of Fishtown for decades. Chris Stover takes a look at what makes customers — new and old — coming back.
I hope when I'm 75, I can come back to Cville to see the time capsule unearthing in 2062. Check out pics -- facebook.com/StoverReporter I tweeted this 5 hours ago
Tell me. I appreciate all criticism. I respond to every name in the book. Pass it on to your friends. Your family. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel so many emotions that you'll have to give someone a hug. Preferably not me.
