WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO TV NEWS? EDITION

HAS THE TV NEWS BIZ GONE DOWN THE CRAPPER?
Or Has The Crapper Risen Up And Taken Over?

NEW JIB-JAB VIDEO JABS TV NEWS
Fish In A Barrel Time

MAC-YAPPER TAKES SHORT WALK DOWN NEWS GEEK MEMORY LANE
It's All About Him, Isn't It?

NEW RADIO SHOW STARTS MONDAY!
Dude, The Clock Is Ticking

The Snarkery Starts Now

NEW RADIO SHOW READY TO ROCK

9AM Monday the local portion of the new WTZN-FM 93.7 "THE ZONE, PITTSBURGH'S MAN STATION" begins with John Steigerwald on sports.
Then syndicated Dennis Miller from 10 to 1.
Then MacYapper from 1 to 4.
Scott Paulsen 4 to 7.

I'm psyched. Be there and be square, dude.

TV NEWS CRUISE DOWN MEMORY LANE

Ah, local news. Reported it on the TV for many years. "That's it from a darkened building where nothing's been happening for several hours, I'm John McIntire, back to you."

All those news nerds throwing ridiculous ideas for stories at you. "How about a piece on Notary Public day?"
Jesus.

I was a consumer reporter for a while. Boss said, "be the hero." So I made a car dealer take back a woman's defective car. Then the big boss said "they're advertisers." So we had to kill the story even though they were unethical douchebags.

Little boss said "how many car stories you get on the air." "About 100," I reply.
"How many have we killed?" he queries. "One," I mumble.
"Sounds like you're ahead of the game," he offers reassuringly.

Ethics, schmethics.

Ah the tawdry newsroom affairs. How I miss those. Uh, you know, watching other people have them and living vicariously through them.

But as Ted Baxter once opined, and I'm paraphrasing, "if you're the Minnesota Vikings you don't want to play the Chicago Bears every week. You want a little variety. Sometimes you might want a little San Diego Chargers. Maybe a little Cleveland Browns."

I understand once you go brown you never go down. Or something like that.
Man, that Baxter stuff really loses something without the audio.

From my humble beginnings as an anchor/reporter in Bismarck, North Dakota, to a journey through Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Orlando, Florida, Providence, Rhode Island, and Tulsa Oklahoma, to my effort to finally break free of the news shackles by doing a talk show in Pittsburgh, it was a fascinating and irritating journey.

And what do we have now? Kelley Frey pole dancing.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Or is there?

By this point you might wonder why I'm waxing nostalgic and taking an annoying haphazard trip down news geek memory lane.
It is in honor of the latest jib-jab funny ass video about what the news has become.
Click below.
Happy Friday MacYippers.

http://www.jibjab.com/what_we_call_the_news

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! THANKS FOR COMING OUT TO THE CLUB CAFE LAST NIGHT.
WE HAD A BLAST.

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

MC ROVE EDITION

KARL ROVE IS FUNNY
Except When He's Helping Bush Start Unnecessary Wars

JOHN MCCAIN- IDIOT OR LIAR?
Enquiring Minds Want To Know

FREE COMEDY TONIGHT!
Why Buy When You Can Get The Comedy Milk For Free?

MAC-YAPPER RADIO SHOW READY TO ROCK
Almost... Kinda... Gettin' There... Really...

The Snarkery Starts Now

Courtesy www.crooksandliars.com

MCCAIN IS OUT OF HIS FREAKIN' MIND

The question is, is John McCain a liar or an idiot? Or both?
A CNN reporter completely destroys his credibility when McCain claims you can walk some neighborhoods in Baghdad safely. I mean this is embarrassing. I mean McCain has lost it. His credibility, his stature, his chances for the presidency.
But he still seems to be squirreling away nuts for the winter in his cheeks.
Not to get all cheeky on your butt.
But you gotta check this out:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Play/15716/1/TSR-McCain-Ware.wmv/

M.C. ROVE GETS HIS GROOVE ON

OK, speaking of disgraced GOP political figures, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this. At the radio/tv correspondents dinner a couple of comics did an "MC Rove" bit, with the evil Karl his own self. And while I find Karl to be disgusting, lying, war mongering pig, as I suspect yinz do, the bit is pretty funny:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hYZre8kEsuw

CLUB CAFE COMEDY TONIGHT!

THE SEX, POLITICS, AND RELIGION COMEDY SHOW tonight starring headliner Buzz Nutley, MacYapper his own self, Gab Bonesso, and Mo.
Mo who's last name I ought to know by now but I keep forgetting. The important thing is he's freakin' funny.

Tonight 10:30. Doors open at 10. IT'S FREAKIN' FREE, DUDE.

RADIO SHOW STARTS MONDAY ONE-FOUR P.M.

The countdown to MacYapper's return to on-air yapping continues.
They're calling it Pittsburgh's Man Station, 93.7 FM, the Zone. How did MacYapper get hired at the Man station? Good question.

You'd think I'm not gay enough. But I'm probably just barely. Gay enough. Not really. Not there's anything gay with that. Uh, wrong.

Although as many women in broadcasting have said to me in recent days, EVERY radio station is the man station.

I'm psyched. We're developing new comedy bits. We're developing scintillating topics. We're developing a rash just above the groin area. Not good. Has anyone seen the Quell? We'll attempt to quell any uprisings that could prevent the show from being scintillating.

MAC-YIPPER 419 OFFERS CLASSIC ENDLESS RANT
Johnny Mac-

First, condolences to "Suz" for being an "R" in Pittsburgh. I'm one too
and all we can do is sit back, close our eyes, and try to enjoy the
government-sponsored prison sex/rape program of hard working Americans.
Do not resist. If you have a job, they will find you.

Peduto needs to hang in there and run, presuming he is legally able to
do so. I mean, why not? I voted for Krusty the Klown in the last
election and before that, wrote in Burt Reynolds. The so-called
Caliguri rule, which only serves to protect the bullshit one-party
system in this town, needs to change ASAP. Don't know how achievable
that is given the, um, political makeup of the Council, but for
Heaven's sake --when will people in this God-damned, backwater shitpot
bureaucratic welfare state wake the fuck up? Their government is
robbing them blind with incredibly high taxes, shitty services, some of
the worst schools in the nation, gold plated pensions for anyone with a
heart beat and a city paycheck and all 'Burghers can do is say "hows
come yinz want to raise my bus fare dahntahn?"

Whatever. I'm on to bigger and better things: Mayor Poopy Pants and his
tax abatement proposal. He has said on atleast two occassions that what
the City needs to do is offer property tax abatements for people
willing to purchase new condos in Pittsburgh. I have a little problem
with that. For years and years, my neighbors and I have toiled away in
"transitional" neighborhoods like the North Side--renovating,
investing, and taking our lives into our hands-- without such tax
breaks. To the contrary, the properties have been re-assessed more than
most in Allegheny County because of the "substantial modification"
clause in the tax code. Ergo, as pioneers and hangers on in the
re-birth of blighted neighborhoods, we'd like to know where our hand
out is? We'd like to know why people who can afford $300,000+ condos
should get a 10-year free ride on the backs of the people who have
ALWAYS thought it was a good idea to invest in this City. I know Opie
hasn't really thought about this and I'm certain like most things, he
doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, it's just something he
overheard Peduto say at the big boy table over lunch and now he's
parroting it. It's just that I don't see why taxpayer money needs to
pad the wallets of developers (they are, of course, another vested
interest in an abatement as they will sell their units faster,
presumably) and people who can afford pricey dahntahn condos. Hate to
be a narrow-minded yinzer on this, but the developer of 151 First Side
already had $1.5 million of taxpayer money handed over to him by Mayor
O'Connor prior to construction (at a time when said developer was
already a half a million in arrears on property taxes for OTHER city
property he owned) of that project and now they want to offer the
purchasers a free ride? Get real. Here's a hypothetical (or not)
question: If reducing taxes will provide the inducement needed to bring
buyers to the market in Pittsburgh, would it then stand to reason that
property taxes could be lowered across the board to provide an even
greater inducement to an even larger buying public? Little wonder that
Pittsburgh sat out the biggest residential real estate boom in the
history of the United States.

Regards,

MacYipper 419

MacYapper - Yes, we're all doomed.
Has anyone seen the razor blades?

SEE YINZ TONIGHT AT THE CLUB CAFE 10:30 FREE COMEDY SHOW

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!
email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

RUN BILLIE RUN? EDITION

MAC-YIPPERS WEIGH IN ON MR. PEDUTO-HEAD'S CHANCES
Throwing Hat Back In Ring Or Jumping Off Cliff?

IS IT EVEN LEGAL FOR MR. PEDUTO-HEAD TO RUN?
MacYipper Raises Questions

MAC-YIPPER WEIGHS IN ON JOHN EDWARDS
Brilliant? Pathetic? Or Both?

SEX, POLITICS, AND RELIGION COMEDY TOUR REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD
And There's Nothing Worse Than Ugly Head

The Snarkery Starts Now

MacYapper - Yo, yo, yo MacYippers. Yesterday I axed yinz to write in about whether Mr. Peduto-head should run as an independent in the fall.

Here's a sampling of your responses.

MacYipper Jay:

John,

I don't live in the city or Allegheny Co, but let's be honest - it's not like there's alot of political intrigue to satisfy a political junkie in Butler County, unless you're into debating who's got the coolest mullet(oxymoron?) or how great Skynrd is. So...

Thinking about Peduto's possible independent run...I just don't see how you can beat an independent Democrat in Pittsburgh, mainly because whoever it is, will have the entire Democratic machine working for him/her. And, boy, do they have a friend in Ravenstahl. He's a complete tool of the Democratic machine.

In my humble opinion, if you want to beat Ravenstahl, you have to also take on the fat, cigar smoking bastards in the backroom pulling his strings. It reminds me alot of the battle between progressive Democrats and the DLC that's been waging for the last 6 or 7 years. How do you do that? Well, first, you have to show people that the party is broken, that it doesn't serve the people of Pittsburgh anymore but its own interests. Second, you take on the party hierarchy. You fight like hell to get new officials elected as leaders of the Party. You're not shooting for anything big. Just one or two new faces or whatever and build on that. You do the same thing with local and city government.

The problems with the city of Pittsburgh and the Democratic Party there won't be fixed in one election or the ascendency of some uber-candidate to save us all. You have to take on the system. That's were Peduto needs to start - fight for the party elections, fight for local/city elections, become the guy who's against the status quo. It's a hard slog, but you have to start somewhere.

Anticipating your resurrection on the radio dial(Just in time for Easter...kind of eerie...the 2nd coming of Johnny Mac),

Jay

MacYapper - Jesus, quite a response.
Good points one and all, Jay. Yes it would be quite risky for Mr. Peduto-head. He couild destroy any chance of future candidacies for higher office. He could destroy what remains of his reputation in the Democratic party. But what the hell, you only live once.

MacYipper Dodo:

JOHN,
you should know that as several attorney's have pointed out to me, the very fact that Bill submitted nominating petitions for the race as a Democratic means that he is automatically disqualified, under the so-called "Caliguiri Rule", from running as an independent in the General Election. Everyone seems to know about the first part of the Caliguiri rule, which requires you to switch parties 30 days before the primary, but the second part of the Caliguiri rule also says that you cannot run under a different party banner if you have submitted nominating papers in the previous primary election.

I'm not a lawyer, but I know several who have looked at this and said Bill is disqualified, and would easily be removed from the ballot should he try to run....

DODO

MacYapper - I'm not sure DODO had the definitive answer on this, but I know it's a legit legal concern for Mr. Peduto-head and he's checking it out.

MacYipper T.R.:

John:
Always read the blog...looking forward to hearing you on the radio - good luck. Just some opinions from a lifelong 'burg boomer:
1. Did I miss the bigger picture with mayor Luke regarding his trip to NYC? Let me get this straight - he is a MARRIED man who hops on a jet at 12:00 AM - SAYS he doesn't know where he spent the night - misses an important meeting in the Hill and "Yaronner" covers for him. You are so right John - Pittsburgh: wake up - this kid is too young to lead our city and may need to attend boot camp for leadership skills training. Oh, and did I mention that he shows poor judgement and lacks basic life experience?
2. Don't be too hard on John and Elizabeth Edwards. Every family handles situations such as this differently. I believe (political puffery aside) that they want to do just as they said: move forward and live life.
3. Under an agreement Cathy McNeilly will get $85,000...the fees for her attorneys could wind up costing taxpayers "hundreds of thousands of dollars" according to the PG. I think that we should all apply to law school.
As the comedian Yacov Smirnoff says "what a country"!
T.R.

MacYapper - Oddly enough T.R., Pittsburgh comedian Buzz Nutley, who has written for Yacov, is headling with Gab Bonesso and myself this Thursday night at 10:30 at the Club Cafe on the South Side.

So be there, damnit.

I'm still making up my mind about Edwards. It's like "hey ya'll, remember that cancer my wife had? It's even worse. Vote for me. " Tragic. But also odd.

MAC-YIPPER SUSAN:

Well, since you axed......

Peduto has got to run as an independent this fall. I actually think
that he made a very smart decision by withdrawing from the primary.
There's too much at stake for the future of this city than to trust it
to Opie. He's caused far too much damage already. I don't think that
Peduto is any particular savior or anything, but he's the only logical
choice at this time.
I am a rarity, a city resident registered "R" and I was going to change
my registration just to be able to vote for Peduto in the primary (and
then change it back). Now I don't have to........but I will write him
in on the "R" side in the primary. How's that??
And.......I am still not sure that I really am an "R" but I am just too
embarrassed to be a Democrat in this city, county, and state.
Suz in Beechview

MacYapper - Susan you are properly embarrassed about being an R.
But hey, it takes all kinds. Not really sure? Sounds like you might be bi-political. Or bi-polar.
But really, you should probably really be embarrassed about calling yourself Suz.
It's too damn cute.
However you are still a valued, respected, and much beloved MacYipper.
So there's that.

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY TRAIN ROLLS ON

Buzz Nutley headlines the SEX, POLITICS, AND RELIGION TOUR at the Club Cafe this Thursday night at 10:30 pm. Gab Bonesso, MacYapper, and a comedian to be named later will also perform.

www.clubcafelive.com

NYC Comedians Josh Grosvent, Baron Vaughn and Victor Varnado killed at the conclusion of Gab Bonesso's Monkeys and Robots tour which concluded at the Earthstone coffee shop last night. Ms. Bonesso and MacYapper also caused laughter.
Thanks to everyone for coming out. I had to come out sooner or later. It was inevitable.

And of course the new radio show on 93.7 FM THE ZONE, PITTSBURGH'S MAN STATION starts Monday... air time one to four pm.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

EMAIL me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

RUN MR. PEDUTO-HEAD RUN? EDITION

MR. PEDUTO-HEAD DROPPED OUT - OR DID HE?
Decisions, Decisions

NYC FUNNY BOYS INVADE THE 'BURGH
Next Thing Ya Know They'll Want To Git Married

DOES THE CHARTER REQUIRE OPIE TO STEP DOWN?
MacYipper Matt Raises Questions

IS JOHN EDWARDS A GROOVY GUY OR A SICK BASTARD?
Or Perhaps A Little Of Both?

The Snarkery Starts Now

GROOVIN' WITH MR. PEDUTO-HEAD IN THE EAST END

I was at the Shadow Lounge doing comedy with Gab Bonesso, Josh Grosvent, and Victor Varnado, the latter two being Gab's friends from NYC and kick-ass comics. Josh does musical stand-up among other hilarious stuff. Victor is a black albino. What else do you need to know? And we'll be joined by NYC comic Baron Vaughn tonight as well.

Monkeys VS Robots One Year Anniversary Tour~~Earth Stone Coffee House
7332 Penn Avenue
Pgh. , PA 15222
Cost: $5
8PM

Anyway, this guy walks up to me after the show and starts talking about Mr. Peduto-head dropping out of the race. I says to him "I just saw Peduto at the Whole Foods right before the show." He says "how stereotypical of you." Which I thought was pretty damn funny, considering the groovy nature of the groovier than groovy (at least for a Pikksburgh politician) Mr. Peduto-head.

But this morning I recall the sum and substance of my brief chat with Mr. Peduto-head. As you know, he's considering running as an independent in November.

I told him to go for it. But that's just because I'm a political junkie, whore, drama queen (king?) who wants to see a good political fight. Mr. Peduto-head has to decide SOON because of the necessary steps he must take to run as an indy, should he choose to.

So, should he? Should he wait and consider '09? Or should he jump right back into the fire having cooled his heels at the side of the frying pan for now?

I'm axin' you MacYippers.

E mail me at johnmcintire@comcast.net, won't yinz?

You can read an interview with Mr. Peduto-head at www.2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com.

MAC-YIPPER BRYCE WEIGHS IN ON WHETHER MR. PEDUTO-HEAD SHOULD RUN NOW

John,

Maybe I'm just a bitter, cynical, old underemployed pointy headed libertine but I think if the boy mayor survives in office until next year he'll be the incumbent and a freaking democratic incumbent at that. The only democratic incumbent, locally, that I can remember being voted out of office (not retiring, not under indictment) was Mr. Cusick, a politician so bizarre and out of control that even the medical professionals (from N'Orleans) I routinely dealt with via phone at my job at Pitt were appalled by him. What does that tell you? And he was defeated by a guy who resembled the current mayor with a weight problem, Mikey Diven. If Opie is the incumbent he'll be mayor for ever, or at least until he dies, or retires, or follows Murphy's law and rises to his own considerable level of incompetence. Unless you can get irrefutable evidence of him, to use my favorite political quote, in bed with a live boy or a dead girl it will be mayor "dumb as a shovel" Opie forever.

I'm over being depressed. I just want to hit the lottery and move to Iceland.

Bryce

MAC-YIPPER MATT RAISES CHARTER QUESTIONS ABOUT OPIE
John,
Greetings from the other end of the radio dial. Just a quick trivia question for
you. The PG in their coverage of the Ravenstahl flight to NYC cited the city
charter a couple of time in the article, Section 706 to be precise. My question
is this, if Section 706 does apply, and given they cited it in the article, one
would think they believe it does, why was no mention made of the last sentence of
the same section? The section they referred to reads as follows;

706 Prohibitions In General

No elected official, officer or employee shall in any manner receive benefit
from the profits or emoluments of any contract, job work or service for the
City, or accept any service or thing or value directly or indirectly upon more
favorable terms than those granted to the public generally, from any person,
firm or corporation having dealings with the City. No elected official, officer
or employee shall solicit or receive any compensation gratuity or other thing
for any act done in the course of public work. This section should be broadly construed and strictly enforced. Any violation
of this section shall cause the offending official, officer or employee to
forfeit office or employment.

If this is applicable, Luke's tenure would be at end according to the last
sentence.
MATT

ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

MacYapper, of course, is considering his own run for mayor. Well announce our decision on the first week of the new radio show at 93.7 FM "THE ZONE" one to four pm, beginning this Monday, April 2nd.

But there is another candidate rearing his ugly head. The ever civic minded Pittsburgh City Paper, for which MacYapper is a columnist (read Vox Pop on the Mr. Peduto-head fiasco this Wednesday on the street, this Thursday on line (www.pghcitypaper.com), has news of the new candidate.

I have been sworn to secrecy in the short term. And I always keep secrets. You know, as long as you make it clear that I'm supposed to keep my mouth shut. So don't forget to do that when you spill the beans. Because I find that humans often line up to spill the beans to me. I've got like ten tons of beans laying around my living room from random humans spilling them.

So, who is this new and exciting candidate who will announce his candidacy in the City Paper Wednesday? Can he possibly overtake the Mayor Opie juggernaut?
Can he remove the rose colored glasses from your average Pikksburgher who inexplicably still believes that Opie the Liar-head is the key to the future?

Check out the City Paper this Wednesday, hanging out at a Brueggers or Starbucks or random groovy location near yinz.

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THIS EDWARDS GUY?

John,
I want to like Edwards. I want to believe him when he says alL this
stuff about public service. But I was a bit taken aback by his
obfuscation over the "how can you be Prez while you wife is dying"
query. And while I'm no fan of Katie's, I thought she did a good job
of essentially asking straightforward, tough questions....not a load
of feel-good palaver.
FRED

MacYapper - Dude, he was totally my man until this. And I feel like an idjit for letting this make me wonder about him. But it is freaking weird. Saw him again on CBS this morning looking all comfortable about it, as if it's the most normal thing in the world to run for president while your wife's cancer gets worse.

I don't know. Need to ruminate. Need to cogitate. Need to masturbate.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! E MAIL ME ABOUT WHETHER MR. PEDUTO-HEAD SHOULD RUN THIS YEAR!

johnmcintire@comcast.net

THESE KIDS TODAY EDITION

20-SOMETHINGS IN COMPROMISING POSITONS?
It's On The TV! Well, The Internet

JOHN EDWARDS WHORES OUT HIS WIFE
Not Like She Has Cancer Or Anything - Oh Wait, She Does

DICK CHENEY BLOWS OFF SOME STEAM
Ordinarily, He Just Blows

MIKE TOMLIN LIVES IN A FANTASY WORLD
But Hey, He's The New Kid

The Snarkery Starts Now

Happy freakin' Monday MacYippers! With that oxymoronical greeting I remind you that this is a town by, of, and for old people. And yet these young whipper snappers, snapping their whippers, manage to make a splash every now and again.

POST-GAZETTE.COM:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06330/740610-42.stm
Thanks in part to the explosive growth of Internet broadcasting, a sitcom about 20-something Pittsburghers is on the Web for anyone on the planet with high-speed Internet to see, instead of languishing in some network TV programmer's outbox.

"Something To Be Desired," or "STBD" for short, is a hybrid of sitcom and soap opera. Its characters live in Pittsburgh and mostly work at a fictional radio station --WANT-FM -- which is going quickly down the tubes. Their lives, relationships, career struggles, roommate issues and other comic situations are the story arcs of the weekly Web-only series.

MacYapper - Don't we all work at WANT-FM when we're in our 20s? For that matter, our 40s? Jesus, I'm so old.

JOHNNY AND THE CANCER GIRL
Katie Couric gets all journalistic n' nat with John Edwards, who is still my man for President, but totally is exploiting his poor wife's cancer to get some attention because all anyone cares about is Hillary or Obama, and who has the biggest penis.
And you know it's my girl Hillary.

IFILM.COM
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2836152Viral Videos - Katie Couric on 60 MINUTES aggressively questions John and Elizabeth Edwards after announcement that Mrs. Edwards has cancer and that he will stay in the race:

"Some people wonder if you are in denial."

"Some have suggested that you're capitalizing on this."

"You're putting your work first, and your family second."

"The president can not be distracted by caring about his wife's situation."

MacYapper - The dude's not in denial. He's just a politician. Aren't they all. Hey, everybody's gotta be somethin.'

ARE THESE GUYS SERIOUS?

It is time to stop taking these monkeys seriously.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070325/D8O34U880.html
MANALAPAN, Fla. (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney on Saturday accused the Democrat-led House of not supporting troops in Iraq and of sending a message to terrorists that America will retreat in the face danger.

"They're not supporting the troops. They're undermining them," Cheney told a gathering of the Republican Jewish Coalition at the oceanside Ritz-Carlton hotel in Manalapan, Fla., about 60 miles north of Miami.

MacYapper - Not supporting the troops is sending them into harms way with an ill defined war plan and no exit strategy. Like New Bootie Newtie ginning up the Clinton impeachment machinery while bonking a congressional staffer, these guys have totally forfeited their right to any credibility. Especially Swingin' Dick Cheney. People say he talks out of both sides of his mouth. But if you watch closely, it's really pretty much only one side.

STEELERS COACH NOT LIVING IN REAL WORLD

Mike Tomlin wants to eliminate distractions?

POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07085/772589-66.stm
It's a small example of what he expects from his team under his watch. He wants his players and coaches to abolish distractions, something he figures they probably did not do very well as reigning Super Bowl champions last season.

"I want to eliminate the variables that don't matter," said Tomlin, attending his first league-wide meeting. "That's what the great teams do more than anything else -- they show up, and they play the game. That's a culture. It's not something that happens week in and week out. It's a culture that defines that kind of atmosphere.

MacYapper - Dude, you're out of your freakin' mind. Do you know how small this town is? Obviously not. Yet.

The Steelers are an obsession. You can't eliminate distractions from an obsession.
Just don't screw up the defense and hope that Large Benjamin gets his shit back together.

GET YOUR ROCKS OFF

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE REVIEW:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_499611.html
The latest series of rock attacks against Parkway West motorists could have come from passing vehicles or from an overpass, state police said Sunday.
Investigators are searching for clues in the three attacks, which came less than three days after a suspect in more than 100 similar highway assaults was jailed.

According to troopers at the Moon barracks and Green Tree authorities, rocks were hurled at vehicles in three incidents Saturday evening and early Sunday between the Green Tree and Carnegie exits. At 8:25 p.m. Saturday, about a half-mile from the Green Tree exit, rocks struck a taxi cab driven by a Carnegie woman and a sedan carrying a Coraopolis man and his wife.

MacYapper - Don't mean to get all vigilante on your butt, but let's get the pitchforks, find this dude, and hang him upside down over the parkway west, until the blood rushes to his head, he starts to pass out, and then we let him go to be crushed like a grape by a humongous semi.

Is that too harsh?

Me thinks not.

MONDAY NIGHT COMEDY

Victor Varnado is a black albino. Josh Grosvent is not. They are both really funny NYC comics in town for Gab Bonesso's Monkeys and Robots Tour.

They're at the Shadow Lounge tonight with Gab and MacYapper. Be there and be square.

Monday at 7 p.m. at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty ($5; 412-363-8277).

MAC-YAPPER RADIO SHOW STARTS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY

One to Four PM. 93.7 FM. "The Zone"
Join the madcap hilarity when Johnny Mac babbles incessantly every freakin' day of the week about all sorts of crap. That's when the fun begins.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!
Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

SUNDAY COMEDY EDITION

DON'T SIT HOME WATCHING CABLE
Get Your Ass To The Brillo Box

NYC COMICS POLISH THEIR BIG APPLES
Tonight At The Brillo Box

MAC-YAPPER HOSTS BIG-ASS COMEDY NIGHT
Bring Your Big Ass To The Brillo Box

TIRED OF STARING AT YOUR GENITALS?
Or Maybe That's Just Me - Still, Brillo Box Great Alternative

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers. A rare, brief Sunday blog for yinz and yours.
What a freaking beautiful day. Got the top down on the Mustang. Got enough Grande Non-fat Lattes in me to choke a small herd of elephants. Now, if I only had me a small herd of elephants.

There's a funny show at the Brillo Box tonight. Last night I went to a private house party in the east end and watched these guys perform. They killed. They actually made everybody laugh hysterically, then slit some of their throats, and had the good manners to bury them out back.

They are Josh Grosvent and Victor Varnado. Here's Josh's web site.
http://thisisjoshua.com/

He combines music, standup, and improv is even nice to hecklers. At least he was last night, and I wanted to rip their freaking throats out. Very funny top quality comic.

Then there's Victor. He's been on Conan. He's a black albino. No, really. Is there anything else you need to know?
http://www.bestalbino.com/home.htm

Of course the chick who put all this together is the Queen of Underground comedy in the 'Burgh Gab Bonesso.
www.gabbonesso.com

She'll do a kick ass set as usual.

MacYapper is hosting. He's written some new stuff about homeless people, John Edwards, and 9/11. And he can't wait to offend you.

If you're reading this Monday because I haven't posted a new blog yet, there is also a Monday show at the Shadow Lounge.

And Tuesday, yet another, when NYC Comic Baron Vaughn will join us. He, too, one funny m'f'er.
http://www.baronvaughn.com/

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE:
The Pittsburgh Underground Comedy Railroad and Gab Bonesso present Monkeys VS Robots: One Year Anniversary Tour, featuring Bonesso along with New York City comedians Victor Varnado, Barron Vaughn and Joshua Grosvent. Don't forget MacYapper. They perform at the Brillobox in Bloomfield at 7 p.m. Sunday ($5; 412-621-4900) and then on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty ($5; 412-363-8277).

So see you MacYippers there tonight!

There's also more madcap MacYapper (who the f says "madcap") comedy later this week and this month.

Details at www.myspace.com/MacYapperemail me at

johnmcintire@comcast.net

THIS WEEK SUCKS OUT LOUD EDITION

MAC-YAPPER TEAMS GET CREAMED
It's Been A Lousy F'n Week

TONY NORMAN SAYS STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK HIS BONES
But Ya'll Can Just Freakin' Bite Him

VIDEO LONG VERSION OF LYING OPIE
Must See Lie TV

BIG TIME NYC COMICS INVADE THE 'BURGH
MacYapper Will Be There Too

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo MacYippers.
Pitt lost. MacYapper's alma mater Southern Illinois lost. Had they both one they would have played each other, which would have been a helluva game. But they lost. And it's raining. And Mr. Peduto-head dropped out. So there will be no debates. We have a lying infant mayor.

Life sucks. This blows. Color me pessimistic. Just don't draw outside the lines.

STORMIN' NORMAN BITCHES UP A STORM

The P-G's Tony Norman feels unfairly attacked for PG coverage on Opie, which some have claimed had been too glowing.
POST-GAZTTE.COM:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07082/771855-153.stm
Given the ire yesterday's editorials on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's troubles and City Councilman William Peduto's withdrawal from the May primary generated on talk radio and local blogs, it's not really in my interest to remind folks that I'm a member of this paper's much-maligned editorial board.

But here I stand, shoulder-to-shoulder with my colleagues as every calumny is called down upon our heads. It doesn't matter how many times we're called Marxist dilettantes or pro-establishment stooges, we do the best we can within the parameters of our admittedly finite knowledge.

MacYapper - I'm a fan of the P.G. I think the staff does an excellent job. But I also think the media in this town is too soft in general, and has been way too soft on Opie.

I recall when the Heinz Field incident first broke, shortly thereafter there was a tut-tut PG editorial which basically said "is this all we have to worry about? We've got bigger fish to fry."

Well it turned out it was symptomatic of a pattern of lies and immaturity, which is what I've claimed from the beginning.

And everybody has given this boy way too much fawning coverage. Period.
The boy mayor... la de freaking dah.

Now we're stuck with him. Mired in mediocrity. Don't come crying to me when he F's up again. I've been warning yinz from the beginning.

I was looking forward to the debates. The obvious occurred to me this morning. There will be no debates. No freaking debates. How can this be? How can this community allow Opie to saunter into this office untested? What is wrong with yinz?

Ah, screw it. No use crying over spilled Opie.

TONY NORMAN POST-GAZETTE.COM:
In the original Ravenstahl editorial, I wrote that we were "disappointed" and "appalled." Appalled was dropped in the finished copy. Of course, that became evidence of our mendacity because another editorial about Mr. Peduto used tougher language. Am I my fellow editorial writer's keeper? Yeah, I suppose I am.

MacYapper - See, that's the thing. Everybody's pulling punches around here. Disappointed says he did a minor no-no. Appalled says he screwed up big time. Punch pulled.

Meantime at the Trib, they've given up on Opie's character flaws and moved to satire.
TRIBUNE REVIEW ERIC HEYL:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/heyl/s_499137.html

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 7, 2007 -- Thrilling races for Western Pennsylvania's most powerful elected offices were decided yesterday when both incumbents eked out narrow victories over their write-in opponents.
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato defeated the vapor trail from a US Airways jet, while Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl triumphed over a Macy's department store mannequin.

MacYapper - Actually quite ironic, when you consider that Opie is a mannequin. A monotone mannequin. A mediocre monotone mannequin. A mirthful mediocre monotone mannequin. A moronic mirthful mediocre monotone mannequin. A madcap moronic mirthful mediocre monotone mannequin. Jesus, am I bored.

MAC-YIPPER OLEO DECLARES:
To wit,
"We stayed at a friend of Kevin's house."
I cringe every time I have to listen to one of his long-winded, badly worded, answers.
Also I noted that a recent Tribune Review article says that Bill P. is the only college graduate on the City Council. That explains a lot of what goes on.
Here's hoping Bill runs as an Independent in the general election.
Oleo

MacYapper - Opie has to step on his dick a lot for Bill to seriously consider that option. Although nobody does the dick dance like Opie.

MAC-YIPPER PETE SAYS:
My answer to all the bullshit problems with Allegheny County/Pittsburgh has been standard for the past 10 years. Move to Westmoreland, Butler, Washington, etc..... I did, I live right on the border from all the idiots (albeit with a new set fo idiots, but at least I don't get my property reassessed every year). F it all. Look forward to you on 93.7, hope this channel succeeds, anything to not have to listen to fat ass Madden in the afternoons.

MacYapper - I enjoy Madden my own self. But thanks.
I can't move to the sticks. Don't like crickets. And banjo playing butt pirates.
But that's just me.

OPIE BUTT BOY MATT OPINES:
John,
why do people expect Mayor Luke to tell about where he stayed and who he was
with in NYC? Does it really matter? And if it does then why does it matter?
Matt Hogue

MacYapper - They think he's lying about where he stayed. So do I. He did something there he doesn't want us to know about. Because it's embarrassing. It matters when public officials consistently lie to you.
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?


http://www.lielikeluke.blogspot.com/

MacYapper - Now if you really want to see some quality lying, check out the long version of the now infamous PITTSBURGH MEDIA FINDS IT'S BALLS MOMENT courtesty of WTAE-TV:
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/11317354/index.html

MAC-YIPPER JAY HAS THE SILVER LINING:
Hey,
If there is one thing to smile about when we think of Bill dropping
out of the race is that if the rumors were true that Opie was going
to rehire Uncle Denny he will now have to wait. Wait and see if Bill
makes the decision to run as an Independent. Opie can not have the
political liability of Denny on board if he and Pedutohead are going
to face off in an election where Greens, Libertarians and
Independents (who I imagine will not be voting for Opie in the first
place) will be voting.
Jay

MacYapper - Yeah, yeah, yeah. It still sucks.

MAC-YIPPER BERNIE BLOWS MORE SUNSHINE UP OUR BUTTS:
Hey John:
Don't get me wrong, I like Peduto-head and think he has great, progressive ideas that this place needs. BUT one can't help wonder a few things after this latest drama...
1. What is Peduto-head trying to hide that he doesn't want the campaign to go negative? Will a tit for tat negative ad campaign find something he is hiding?
2. Is Peduto-head's decision to drop out of the race only the latest in his long history of dropping-out? His collegiate record, as we all know, gives many people the perception that he's lazy or a quitter or both
3. Most importantly. Isn't this great news for MacYapper, the blog, and the new radio show? Now, you've got solid material through 2009!
Wouldn't be as nearly as fun without Opie around.
Looking forward to the show -- but me thinks you should take on a side gig as Peduto's independent ticket campaign manager.

Bernie

MacYipper - I don't think Billy boy has anything to hide. He did finally finish college. Yes, it'll be fun to have Opie to kick around. But it still sucks. Anyone got a razor blade? I would suck as a campaign manager. But I do make a helluva press secretary.

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY CAVALCADE - WHO THE F SAYS CAVALACADE?

GAB BONESSO'S MONKEYS & ROBOTS TOUR
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE:
The Pittsburgh Underground Comedy Railroad and Gab Bonesso present Monkeys VS Robots: One Year Anniversary Tour, featuring Bonesso along with New York City comedians Victor Varnado, Barron Vaughn and Joshua Grosvent. MacYapper will also drag his ass out there to do some comedy.
They perform at the Brillobox in Bloomfield at 7 p.m. Sunday ($5; 412-621-4900) and then on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty ($5; 412-363-8277).

BRILLOBOX SUNDAY
SHADOW LOUNGE MONDAY
EARTH STONE COFFEE SHOP TUESDAY

THEN THURSDAY AT THE CLUB CAFE, "SEX, POLITICS, AND RELIGION COMEDY TOUR WITH
Buzz Nutley
Gab Bonesso
MacYapper

More info at www.myspace.com/MacYapper

ONE WEEK FROM MONDAY MAC-YAPPER BACK ON THE RADIO

Dude, have you heard? 93.7 FM becomes "Pittsburgh's Man Station." So why did they hire moi? Still trying to figure that out. But the freaking show, from one to four in the afternoon, after Dennis Miller and before Scott Paulsen, is going to rock.
I've got Gab Bonesso the comedian chick as my producer. We're lining up awesome guests and topics. You bastards are expected to call in and yap. Chicks welcome. But we're sucking up to dudes. So to speak. Not that...

So, it starts Monday April 2nd.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! LIFE SUCKS AND THEN...
SO ENJOY YOURSELF. IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK.

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

MR. PEDUTO-HEAD HAS STRUCK OUT EDITION

THERE IS NO JOY IN 'BURGHVILLE
Mr. Peduto-head Has Struck Out

WHY DID HE DO IT?
Why Not?

OPIE IS STILL A LIAR-HEAD
But Then, You Knew That

DON'T SLIT WRISTS, LAUGH AT MAC-YAPPER
Comedy Train Rolls On Dude

The Snarkery Starts Now

Hello MacYippers. The only person having a worse day than me today is Bill Peduto. I just spent an hour and a half offering you scintillating analysis of why Bill Peduto dropped out. Then the F'ing blogger.com screwed me, and it all went away.
So here it is in a nutshell.

A MacYipper poses the obvious question:
Yo, MacYapper,
WTF?
Are you going to reveal the real reason behind Mr. Peduto-Head's decision to withdraw? I don't get it at all, and quite frankly, I don't think I buy the whole avoiding-a-divisive-campaign justification. How is it better to leave us with a lying, rascal mayor (read: boy-king) than to cause said mayor to confront his decptive tactics, regardless if that effort proves to be divisive?

It's a bleak day in the 'Burgh, methinks.........

MacYipper Kelli

MacYapper - Why did Mr. Peduto-head drop out? Well let's drop in on the MSM, shall we?

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07081/771552-182.stm

City Councilman William Peduto ceded the Democratic mayoral nomination to Luke Ravenstahl because, he said, he could not defeat him without waging a negative, divisive campaign.

MacYapper - Here's what happened. Mr. Peduto-head did enough door knocking to know that kool-aid drinking yinzers loved Opie no matter what. Does it speak to their gullibility and level of intelligence? You betcha. But is it still true that if Opie is caught having sex with a goat and the pictures are all over the internet that these gullible idjits would still vote for Opie? Yes.

Now, if, as one of my colleagues puts it, Opie steps on his dick enough between now and November, Peduto may emerge a an independent candidate. It's also true that Bill has no idea at this point if he's going to do that. If not, he may emerge in '09. Opie's immature, stupid, sloppy pattern of stepping on his dick will continue.
It's what he does.

The strategy is, Bill's not the bad guy if Opie steps on his dick and Bill isn't pointing fingures as a result. It's just Opie, all by himself, imploding, putting his big, dumb, feet on his dick.

THEN BILL'S NOT THE BAD GUY and maybe the kool-aid drinking yinzers can take off their freaking rose colored glasses and take a fresh look at Mr. Peduto-head.

MAC-YIPPER FRED CHASTISES MR. PEDUTO-HEAD
John,

Tell you what. If this is all the gumption Peduto has, then we're better off
without him! What a freakin' pussy! What a maroon! He was afraid to focus
on Luke's missteps? What the hell did he think this was going to be about;
focusing on Luke's positives?

Or...is just hoping that Opie crashes and burns in his first
term...and he'll come
back for more? Possibly, but I think this shows him to be a wimp, not a winner.

FRED

MacYapper - I understand your frustration Fred, but I actually agree with what Mr. Peduto-head is doing. Oddly enough, he preserves his political viability and the possibility of genuine Opie opposition by dropping out.
Strange but true.

MAC-YIPPER RH ON LYING GEN X'ERS
MacYapper,

Mayor Opie is a nothing more than a classical "Generation X-er" who happens to be Mayor of a large city. It is simply easier to lie than to take the time and trouble to tell the truth. This phenomenon has NOTHING to do with politics. Look forward to your debut on 93.7.
RH Warner

SECRET PENS NEGOTIATIONS?
YouTube Video of Opie claiming he was "called away" to NYC in late January for apparently secret Pens negotiations, courtesy of Agent Ska.
http://agentska.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwGalDtkFUg&eurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Eagentska%252Eblogspot%252Ecom%252F
MacYapper - Who knew about these secret Pens negotiations? How did Opie get to NYC? Did Burkle fly him up? If not, is there evidence of an actual commercial flight that we taxpayers can take a gander at? Why weren't we informed of these negotiations? How many times has Opie been to NYC in recent weeks?

After all, he remembers nothing about his most recent trip after he started drinking, which he admits.

WHERE DID OPIE STAY AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07081/771594-53.stm

By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and a fellow traveler refused yesterday to provide details about where they stayed one night last week after traveling to New York with Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle.

The trip Mr. Ravenstahl took with Kevin Kinross, an aide to Gov. Ed Rendell, has generated questions about compliance with city ethics rules and about the mayor's credibility.

"We stayed at a friend of Kevin's house that evening," the mayor said of a sleep-over that started in the early morning hours of March 14, hours after city, state, and Allegheny County officials announced an arena deal with the team.

Asked if he knew the name of the friend, he said, "I don't, and as far as I'm concerned, the story is over, and I'm not really inclined to answer any more questions. I've answered every question that was asked. We stayed at a friend of Kevin's house."

He said he did not remember where in the city the house was, but deferred to Mr. Kinross' statement that it was in Queens.

"That's what Kevin said," the mayor said. "I don't even remember, as we said before, where we went to eat. It was a friend of Kevin's house."

MacYapper - I like Kevin Kinross. The former Onorato aide is a cool dude. It's too bad he has to be complicit in the latest Opie cover-up of questionable behavior. They won't name the friend's house where they stayed because they didn't stay at Kinross' friend's house. And they don't want you to know where they stayed. Because where they stayed and what they did is what they don't want anyone to know, and the real reason Opie the Liar lied about this whole thing in the first place.

DO YOU FREAKING BELIEVE HOW MUCH OPIE "DOESN'T REMEMBER?"

If you want to look at the long version of the media's testy encounter with Opie, click on this Trib link and then click on Multi-media. I'm guessing their partner WTAE-TV provided the video:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/
MAC-YAPPER COMEDY UP THE WAZOO!

SUNDAY NIGHT BRILLO BOX
MONDAY NIGHT SHADOW LOUNGE
TUESDAY NIGHT EARTHSTONE COFFEE SHOP
THURSDAY NIGHT CLUB CAFE
More Details At www.myspace.com/MacYapper

MAC-YAPPER RADIO SHOW IS COMING!

Dude, 93.7 FM is going to have a complete overhaul. No more annoying heavy metal. Lots of scintillating and entertaining talk. Less political, more pop cultural, more fun than a barrell of hoo-ha's.

I'll be on 1 to 4 in the afternoon after Dennis Miller and before Scott Paulsen.
THE JOHN MCINTIRE SHOW PREMIERES MONDAY APRIL SECOND.

Also on the air with me as an on-air producer, Comedian Gab Bonesso, who will also be at the above comedy shows, along with her hotshot very funny comedian friends from NYC. Maybe they know where Opie stayed.

AS FOR SAVING THE CITY, IT'S UP TO YOU MAC-YIPPERS. WE CAN'T DEPEND ON MR. PEDUTO-HEAD OR ANYBODY ELSE. PAY ATTENTION. THE CITY YOU SAVE MAY BE YARONE!
email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

LIE LIKE LUKE EDITION

FANS OF OPIE'S LIES LAUNCH A NEW BLOG
Everybody's Gotta Be Good At Something

WPXI'S RICK EARLE CAN'T TAKE IT NO MO
Puts The Screws To Opie On TV

WHO'S THE MOST TRANSPARENT LIAR IN THE HISTORY OF POLITICS?
Take A Wild Guess

NEW RADIO SHOW - NEW COMEDY SHOWS
It's Gettin' Too Damn Busy Around Here

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo MacYippers! Creative artwork, huh? It's all part of a new blog launched this morning by some anonymous MacYipper. Link below:
http://www.lielikeluke.blogspot.com/

MacYapper - WPXI'S Rick Earle is my man. He actually took Mayor Opie to task. He actually had the temerity to call the dude on his OBVIOUS PACK OF LIES.

Dude, if you haven't seen his story, check it out on the link below.

http://www.wpxi.com/target11/11308907/detail.html

MacYapper - He wishes he had had the "opportunity" to set the record straight? THIS GUY IS THE MOST TRANSPARENT LIAR IN THE HISTORY OF POLITICS. What an absolute joke. If the people of Pittsburgh elect this guy to be the mayor they're just not paying attention. Which, BTW, is very possible.

He did lie to Rick Earle. He lied to Jeremy Boren. He lied to Marty Griffin. The degree of specificity required to get an honest answer out of him, something which he claims exonerates him, is ONE OF THE MOST ABSURD ARGUMENTS EVER.

FROM THIS MORNING'S TRIB:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/

Ravenstahl reached out to black leaders to control the damage from his failure to appear at a meeting with Hill District residents the next morning to discuss how to develop land around the new arena.

"I regret -- I wish I would have just volunteered the information," Ravenstahl said during an American Heart Association event at Heinz Field. "In hindsight, certainly I do wish I had the opportunity to just tell the story right then and there, but it didn't work out that way."

MacYapper - I don't mean to beat a dead horse, although sometimes it's fun to watch the maggots leap out of the carcass like jiffy pop.
Huh?

Anyway, "I do wish I had the opportunity to just tell the story right then and there"????? HOW UTTERLY RIDICULOUS IS THAT QUOTE?

Opie of course DID have the opportunity. He declined to use it. IT'S CALLED LYING. You could look it up.

TRIBUNE REVIEW:
Ravenstahl first told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Monday that he did not travel to New York, but later changed his story.

MacYapper - Changed his story. Said one thing. But a different thing was the truth. IT'S CALLED LYING.

Opie fans, can we at least agree that he's a liar? You may be willing to overlook that flaw, since many politcians are, and give the poor kid a chance, and blahdiddy blahdiddy freakin' blah.

But please. He's a liar. Period. End of story. You know it. I know it. Let's stop pretending otherwise, shall we?

Here's what I want to know. What's he hiding? It's the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. There's really nothing wrong with him getting on the plane and going to NYC. But something happened there that he's ashamed of, or would be embarrassed about, or something. But what? We'll never know. But that's the only plausible explanation for why he would lie about doing something that he really didn't have to lie about.

PEDUTO NEEDS TO GET AGGRESSIVE
“Is it something that anyone else would have been given? No. He was given this because he’s the mayor of the city,” said Peduto, 42, of Point Breeze. “It has nothing to do with the issues that we’re talking about on this campaign.”

MacYapper - Dude, that's it? You've got to jump all over this like Dubya on Condi. My friend Mr. Peduto-head appears to be a great councilman who would be a great mayor but perhaps not the best candidate.

These guys play rough. They play down and dirty. Fight fire with fire and all that. I know it's difficult since so many 'Burghers have been hypnotized and you feel criticizing the kid will backfire. But the namby pamby approach just ain't workin.
Get tough dude.

ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT OPIE
Why did he think he could get away with this lie when there were so many potential witnesses?
The crew, Kinross, Burkle, the Hooters girls, whoever else saw them? Why tempt fate by lying? A lack of intelligence perhaps? Or an inability to alter penchant for lying a lot?

His body language during his rough session with reporters was totally that of a liar. He's a bad liar. And in that sense, he's a bad politician. And he's a big whiny baby because when he's caught in a lie he's not contrite, just whiny.

TRIB REVIEW:
Campaign donor and businessman Ross Aiello, 89, of Dormont, said the mayor should not have gone on the trip and should not have lied about it afterward, but he still supports him. Aiello said he gave Ravenstahl's campaign $7,000 last year.
"Dave Lawrence would have never done that," said Aiello, who owns Commonwealth Warehouse & Storage in Lawrenceville, mentioning Pittsburgh's mayor in the 1940s and '50s. "I'll call him and tell him he shouldn't have done that."

MacYapper - Dave Lawrence is rolling over in his grave and so is Dick Caliguiri. Pittsburgh never would have elected a child mayor in those days. People had more sense. They're so battered and bruised from the city going down the crapper they're thinking youth is some magical solution. It ain't. Especially with Mr. Fib.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE:
They rode Mr. Burkle's jet to New York, ate out, "and basically that was it for the evening," he said. He said he stayed in a Queens apartment rented by a friend of Kevin Kinross, an aide to Mr. Rendell.

The city's code of conduct says an elected official "shall not solicit or accept from an interested party ... anything of value" with exceptions, including "complimentary travel for official purposes," meals and event tickets of limited value.

MacYapper - So he did accept a trip and admits it wasn't for "official purposes." Hence, it is an ethical violation.
But the thing about ethical violations is that rarely if ever are government officials at any level ever called to account. Witness our lovely Congress, where all the ethical violations seem to die in the Ethics Committee no matter who's in charge. Even child molesters don't get reprimanded.

I'll give Opie this... he may not have known he was violating the city's code of conduct. Because he wouldn't have a clue what that was, and nor would he care.

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA:
Upcoming Comedy Events involving MacYapper, Gab Bonesso, and three hot shot big time NYC friend 'o Gab comics:

SUNDAY NIGHT - THE BRILLO BOX
MONDAY NIGHT - THE SHADOW LOUNGE
TUESDAY NIGHT - THE EARTH STONE COFFEE SHOP ON PENN AVENUE

And on March 29th, headliner Buzz Nutley, along with McIntire and Bonesso, at the Club Cafe, 10:30 pm late show, on the south side.

P-G STORY ABOUT NEW MAC-YAPPER RADIO SHOW:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07080/771094-80.stm
The long-rumored format switch at WRKZ-FM (93.7/K-Rock) will finally happen April 2, when the radio station goes from rock music to a talk format called The Zone, with new call letters WTZN-FM.

Targeted at male listeners ages 25 to 49, the lineup is a roster of syndicated and local talent. Scott Paulsen, formerly of WDVE-FM, and John McIntire, heard most recently on KDKA-AM, will host weekday afternoon talk shows. And a syndicated host with local ties -- comedian and Pittsburgh native Dennis Miller -- will be part of the lineup. Miller's new show launches nationally next week and debuts here April 2.

The weekday lineup: "The Opie & Anthony Show," 6 to 9 a.m.; TBA, 9 to 10 a.m.; Miller, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; McIntire, 1 to 4 p.m.; and Paulsen, 4 to 7 p.m.

MacYapper - The Zone is gonna rock, dude.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! THE CITY YOU SAVE MAY BE YARONE

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

OPIE IS A BIG FAT LIAR EDITION

MAYOR OPIE IS A BIG FAT LIAR-HEAD
Not That That's Anything New

DID I MENTION OPIE LIES A LOT?
Truth Is Not His Strong Suit

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE HOOTERS GIRLS ON THE PLANE?
I Wonder If They Spread Their Wings?

WHAT DO YOU CALL SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T TELL THE TRUTH?
I Believe One Refers To Them As A Liar, If I'm Not Mistaken

Definition of liar and international synonyms for liar at bottom of blog.
See "Opie."

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers!

So once again young Mayor Opie lied. He lies a lot. He likes to lie a lot. But it's understandable when you think about it. A child always lies. A child only doesn't lie when he gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar. This is the second big lie in which Opie has been caught. This is the second time he's been caught red handed with cookie remnants on his diapers.

What happened this time? Read all about it in the Trib.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_498601.html

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE REVIEW:
By Jeremy Boren

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hopped a private jet to New York City to have dinner and drinks at a posh Manhattan hotel hours after announcing a $290 million deal to build a new Uptown arena for the Penguins.
After last Tuesday's announcement, Ravenstahl attended the Penguins game against the Buffalo Sabres at Mellon Arena with team co-owner Ron Burkle, who invited him onto his private jet and treated the mayor to a meal at the Gramercy Park Hotel in Manhattan.

Burkle owns a Boeing 757, which his friend -- former President Bill Clinton -- refers to as "Ron Air."

Ravenstahl initially told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Monday morning that he did not travel to New York, but he changed his story in the afternoon after the Trib confronted him with more details about the overnight trip.

MacYapper - Now those of you who worship Opie, those of you inexplicably blinded by your affection for youth, may dismiss this. But he did tell the Trib that HE DID NOT TRAVEL TO NEW YORK. He only admitted it after THEY CONFRONTED HIM WITH EVIDENCE.

This is the exact same pattern which developed when he initially LIED TO REPORTERS ABOUT BEING LED AWAY IN HANDCUFFS AFTER AN ALTERCATION WITH A COP AT HEINZ FIELD.

Here's a tidbit not in the Trib story from a MacYapper source.
THERE WERE THREE HOOTERS GIRLS ABOARD THE PLANE THAT TOOK OFF FROM PITTSBURGH FOR THE OPIE/BURKLE PARTY IN THE BIG APPLE.
Perfectly legal mind you. You're allowed to transport Hooters girls to New York City. Just rather interesting.

TRIBUNE REVIEW:

Ravenstahl initially was asked whether he had traveled to New York "on anything related to the Penguins." He said he denied it because he didn't consider the trip to be Penguins-related business.

Because of the trip, Ravenstahl missed a meeting Wednesday morning with Hill District community leaders in the office of Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato to discuss how to develop homes and businesses around the site of the Penguins new arena.

MacYapper -
My God, the freaking millionaire who co-owns the Penguins and is in on the negotiations to keep them here transports you to NYC right after you announce the Pens are staying here, AND YOU DON'T THINK IT'S PENGUINS RELATED BUSINESS?

The kid is a liar, plain and simple.

My source says the reason Opie didn't make it back on time is that the party time got a little intense, so he missed his scheduled commercial flight back.

Now, when you're 27 it's perfectly normal to party in NYC and maybe miss an appointment the next day. BUT NOT WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MATURE ENOUGH TO BE THE MAYOR OF PITTSBURGH.

TRIBUNE REVIEW:
Ravenstahl said he went to New York because he wanted campaign advice from Burkle, a billionaire supermarket mogul and prominent Democratic fundraiser.

"It was a good opportunity for he and I to build a good relationship," said Ravenstahl, who called Burkle "one of the more well-documented Democratic backers in the country."

"We discussed (campaign) philosophy," Ravenstahl said. "Obviously, he has a close relationship with President Clinton. We talked about presidential politics and we also talked about the mayor's race, candidly, and did talk about some fundraising but (I) never specifically asked for a contribution."

MacYapper - What the hell does he mean one of the more "well documented" Democratic backers? That's Opie trying to engage on grown-up speak.
Yes the guy has given a lot of money to the Clintons and everybody knows it. But Opie is being defensive, as if there was another reason for the trip but he wants you to think it was about the campaign so he assures you the guy is a Dem donor, and he's even "well documented" and everything. Golly gosh, Opie, did he give you any money?

Oh, that's right, you never "specifically" asked for a contribution. Why not? It's legal to ask. Or is it because you would have had to log the trip itself as a contribution of sorts and you don't know your butt from a hole in the ground about how to separate campaign expenditures from city business expenditures because you're in over your head, not ready for prime time, and a "well documented" liar?

TRIBUNE REVIEW:
The men arrived in New York City about midnight. Ravenstahl and Kinross had dinner and drinks with Burkle and some of his friends. Burkle picked up the tab, Ravenstahl said.

When asked about the evening, Ravenstahl said he did not know where he ate.

Ravenstahl and Kinross went to the home of a friend of Kinross to stay for the night.

The mayor said he did not remember what part of town he spent the night.

Kinross, speaking through Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo, said he and Ravenstahl ate and drank at the Gramercy Park Hotel and stayed in Queens.

Ravenstahl and Kinross booked their flight home Wednesday, arriving in Pittsburgh at midday.

MacYapper - Opie knockin' a few back in the Big Apple. Wonder what happened to the Hooters girls?

Opie "did not know" where he ate. Opie "did not remember" in what part of town he spent the night. I guess if you don't remember you can't be tripped up in a lie later. Kid's got a mind like a steel trap.

Let's see. Has there ever been another time when his recollection failed him until he was confronted with facts and was forced to tell the truth? Well, his butchered version of the truth? Oh yeah... there was that one time...

TRIBUNE REVIEW:
This wasn't the first Ravenstahl denial to turn into an admission during his 6 1/2 months in office.

On Jan. 18, after denying it for months, he acknowledged that police handcuffed and detained him before a 2005 Steelers game at Heinz Field. He never was charged.

Ravenstahl said he would report last week's free plane ride and dinner on his campaign finance forms and is considering whether to reimburse Burkle for the cost of the flight.

Burkle could not be reached for comment.

"Quite honestly, it's not common for me to speak with the media about my campaign activity because it is something that, you know, is strategic and it's not something that I necessarily wanted to share," Ravenstahl said.

MacYapper - "After denying it for months..." I believe they call that LYING.

He's always saying "to be quite honest" or "to be honest" or "quite honestly." He's constantly using that qualifier because so much of what he says may not be true.

Why doesn't anyone care that the Mayor is a liar? I don't care that he partied with rich folks in NYC, more power to him. But what is he hiding? Why does he need to lie about it? And WHY IS HE ONCE AGAIN STUPID ENOUGH TO LIE ABOUT SOMETHING HE'S BOUND TO BE FORCED TO 'FESS UP ABOUT EVENTUALLY?
Because he's not the brightest bulb on the tree. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He's immature. He's a kid. He's not ready for prime time. He's not mature enough to take on the responsibilities as Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

Does anyone care that he was COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT IN THE PENS NEGOTIATIONS? Was he even in the room in Philly when they were hammering out the deal? Someone should ask him.

Why did he lie initially about NYC? Someone should ask him.

And what about that lamo bullshit about "strategic" campaign activity that he has to hide from the media. Asking a rich guy for a contribution and/or advice is not some super secret squirrel stuff.

He obviously hid this whole thing because he partied the night away, like a normal, irresponsible 27 year old, and didn't want to get caught. Caught that is, in a lie. But he did get caught. Again. Again it involved partying and being a little bit irresponsible. He missed his plane. He missed his meeting with Hill district leaders. Then he lied about being there. THEN HE GOT CAUGHT IN A LIE... AGAIN!

It is time for the Mainstream Media in this town to take the gloves off. Jeremy Boren did an excellent job with this story, but the tone is still quite distant and respectful of Opie, because for some strange reason, even when this kid is caught in a lie, he's treated with kid gloves... no pun intended.

The issue of his immaturity, bad judgment and tendency to lie should be raised more often.

Why did he lie initially? What is he hiding? Why doesn't he know where he eats or where he stays? What really happened on that trip that he's embarrassed about?

Why does he make ridiculous stuff up about campaign strategery? What does it say about his maturity that he keeps lying? What does it say about his character?

WHEN WILL THE PEOPLE OF PITTSBURGH WAKE THE HELL UP AND REALIZE THAT THIS KID IS NOT READY FOR THIS JOB AND THAT HIS TENDENCY TO LIE UNTIL HE'S CAUGHT IN A LIE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THAT?

People of Pittsburgh, I implore you. Take off your rose colored glasses. Before it's too late. He may be a nice kid. But he's not qualified. And he's not mature. And he's apparently not that smart. And he's most certainly not ready for this job.

OPIE'S LIES AND SCREW UPS: (partial list)

*Lied to KDKA's Marty Griffin about Heinz Field incident

*Lied to WPXI's Rick Earle about Heinz Field incident

*Tried to Promote supremely unqualified Dennie Regan to boss of cops. Regan resigned after it was discovered he was trying to protect his friend cops from discipline including his girlfriend's brother.

*Demoted police commander until federal judge told him he couldn't do that because she was a whistleblower, forcing the city to eventually pay many thousands in settlement money.

*Got caught lying again to Trib Review about party trip to NYC.

OTHER BLOGS YAPPING ABOUT OPIE THE LIAR:

http://burghreport.blogspot.com/

http://www.theburghblog.com/

DICTIONARY.REFERENCE.COM
LIAR
noun
a person who has lied or who lies repeatedly [ant: square shooter]
WordNet® 2.1, © 2005 Princeton University
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source
liar [ˈlaiə] noun
a person who tells lies, especially as a habit

Example: You can't trust what he says — he's such a liar.

Arabic: كَذّاب
Chinese (Simplified): 说谎的人
Chinese (Traditional): 愛說謊的人
Czech: lhář, -ka
Danish: løgner; løgnhals
Dutch: leugenaar
Estonian: valetaja
Finnish: valehtelija
French: menteur, *-euse
German: der Lügner
Greek: ψεύτης
Hungarian: hazug
Icelandic: lygari
Indonesian: pembohong
Italian: bugiardo
Japanese: 嘘つき
Korean: 거짓말쟁이
Latvian: melis
Lithuanian: melagis
Norwegian: løgner
Polish: kłamca
Portuguese (Brazil): mentiroso
Portuguese (Portugal): mentiroso
Romanian: mincinos
Russian: врун
Slovak: klamár, -ka
Slovenian: lažnivec
Spanish: mentiroso
Swedish: lögnare
Turkish: yalancı
See also: lie

See also: Opie

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! THE CITY YOU SAVE MAY BE YARONE!

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

MAC-YAPPER BACK YAPPIN' ON THE RADIO EDITION

HOKY SMOKE BULLWINKLE!
MacYapper's Salukis Smoke Hokies

MAC-YAPPER BACK ON THE AIR SOON!
93.7 "THE ZONE" Offers Kick Ass Talk Lineup

IS OPIE A LIAR?
Does The Pope Shit In The Woods?

CAROL BURNETT SAYS IT AIN'T FUNNY
It Is, But Carol's Reaction Is Not

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers! What up?

Two weeks from today THE JOHN MCINTIRE SHOW will premiere on the all new FM talker in the 'Burgh 93.7 FM "THE ZONE." It will be from one to four in the afternoon.

CBS Radio will announce as much in a scintillating news release out today.

The line-up... controversial syndicated talkers Opie and Anthony in the morning.
Native 'Burgher Dennis Miller syndicated show 10 to 1 PM (we hope to persuade Dennis to come to the 'Burgh and do some sort of show for yinz).

MacYapper One to Four. Kick ass veteran radio dude Scott Paulsen from 4 to 7 PM.

We are NOT trying to be the lefty alternative to right wing crazy station 104.7.

We ARE going to be entertaining, and obsess on, well, whatever is interesting. Pop culture, news, politics, B.S., crap, critically important stuff, stupefyingly unimportant nonsense, hoo-ha's, yips, yaps, mongoloids, vomit, the meaning of life, marriage, divorce, relationships, sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, and a healthy dose of sports.

Mr. Paulsen will be working with Nick DelGreco, former outstanding producer of the 'DVE Morning Show, who you will hear on the air from time to time.

MacYapper's producer is comedian Gab Bonesso, who you will also hear on the air.
She worked with the lovely and talented Alan Cox on the X, and was MacYapper's pop culture correspondent on the FLIP SIDE on KDKA.

If this show isn't ridiculously entertaining, I'll shoot myself. So as I see it, it's a win either way for the 'Burgh.

By now you're wondering, "when does the fun begin?" April 2nd.
That's when the fun begins.

Potential topics/guests? Email me at the address below.

I'm psyched. There's a groovy energy about the team we've assembled.
Or maybe it's just the brownies.
Or maybe they've force-fed me the koolaid.
Whatever, it's working.

Be there or be square.

MAC-YAPPER'S ALMA MATER STILL KICKING SOME TOURNAMENT BUTT
IHT.COM
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/19/sports/web-0319salukis.php
COLUMBUS, Ohio: While other teams may count points as a sign of value, Southern Illinois counts stitches. Three Salukis players had stitches taken out before the start of the NCAA tournament, a sign of how nasty they practice against each other and what other teams are up against.

Fourth-seeded Southern Illinois turned its menacing defense on fifth-seeded Virginia Tech (22-12) on Sunday at Nationwide Arena and held the Hokies to 41 percent shooting as the Salukis advanced to the Round of 16 with a 63-48 victory.

MacYapper - That's right, they are as outstanding on defense as they often suck offensively, but my dogs are barnstorming through barnburners at the NCAA tournament.

We smoked the Hokies. And apparently Saluki practices are freakin' brutal.

IHT.COM
In the Salukis' locker room after the game, most of the players recounted stories about how physical practices were and how it prepared them. "No out of bounds at practice, no fouls," Tatum said, describing how rough practice can be.

"People have run into bleachers, people have run into walls. When you get close to cement and metal and wood, they kind of tell you to calm down."

MacYapper -
Thems my boys. Now SIU has always been known as a top party school, having made Playboy's list of top party schools twice. Back in the late 70's it certainly lived up to that rep. I was an FM DJ/News Geek trying to balance partying and getting some edgumucation. Seemed to work out. Did take an extra semester to graduate. But believe it or not, that's because I was working too many hours at the damn radio station (shout out to WCIL alum). SIU also has some groovy alumni.

CHICAGO SUN TIMES:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/303148,CST-SPT-jay19.article
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For all its contributions to human life -- Dennis Franz, Walt (Clyde) Frazier, all-time party schooldom, the founder of Dippin' Dots and, to a lesser degree, Jim Belushi and former nursing student Jenny McCarthy -- Saluki U. just performed its greatest deed. Southern Illinois has purged the most stale, irritating and god-awful term from the American sports lexicon.

MacYapper - Yes, Clyde the Glide, and Andy Sipowicz went there, as did the busty and talented Jenny McCarthy, who riffed with me on NightTalk about our beloved Alma Mater. Jenny remembered what a rock n' roll goat-f__k Halloween was in Carbondale. Saw Dylan in '79 there before descending into the scary chaos. Thems were the days. BTW, how come ya can't find quaaludes any more?

I used to DJ a Wednesday night drunk-fest called "Hump Night," at Merlin's. Before we started doing it, my Hump mate Tom LaPorte (who these days is the spokesman for the groovy Burning Man festival) conferenced with SIU alum and LaPorte buddy Jim Belushi who warned us of the dangers of playing for drunks. Those were the days.

I remember asking bar employee Colleen the bikini girl if I could take her home. She said I had to ask the boss first. I found this curious. I asked Bill the boss who said "not tonight John." I later learned she was apparently performing for some clients. I had a lot to learn.

Anyhoo, GO SALUKIS!

CHICAGO SUN TIMES:
Before an NCAA tournament that is blurring lines between what is major, what isn't major and what is simply intense, lockdown, blood-and-perspiration hoops, a lot of us were flinging around ''mid-major'' like it was still pertinent and cool. Sunday, Chris Lowery and his Egyptian hunting dogs officially buried the cheap phrase forever. Not only has Southern moved on from the Middie Itty Bitty frat, this team just might drop into the Final Four if Kansas, Pittsburgh and UCLA aren't careful. May ESPN forever leave ''mid-major'' on the cutting-room floor.

OPIE A LIAR? SAY IT ISN'T SO!

MacYipper Boo-boo says he has caught Mayor Opie in yet another lie:


John,
any chance you saw ravenstahl talking to dennis regan at the endorsement? he said on that kdka/pg morning show Sunday that he hasn't spoken to denny in months and i know for a fact this is a lie.
Boo-boo

MacYapper - I know Dennie was at the endorsement fest at the IBEW hall. I know Opie was there. Is Boo-boo the only one who saw them together? Email me below.

This of course would add to Opie's list of lies. As when he told Marty Griffin and Rick Earle he was never involved in an incident involving the police or handcuffs. That would be a lie. He lied. Did I mention he lied? He once called MacYapper a liar on the radio. Pot calling the kettle, dude.

Although it doesn't seem to matter. Starry eyed 'Burghers want to anoint the Boy King.

Mr. Peduto-head has to pull a rabbit out of his hat.

CAROL BURNETT LOSES SENSE OF HUMOR

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2007-03-17T010507Z_01_N16246040_RTRUKOC_0_US-BURNETT.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Carol Burnett has filed a copyright infringement suit against the makers of Fox TV's cartoon sitcom "Family Guy" over an episode poking fun at the performer and her variety show from the 1960s and '70s.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, claims "Family Guy" violated Burnett's exclusive rights to her name and likeness by depicting her signature cleaning-woman character in a segment last April without her consent.

The suit, which seeks at least $2 million in damages, also says the cartoon episode used a "slightly altered version" of the copyrighted musical theme to "The Carol Burnett Show" without permission from the 73-year-old entertainer.

A spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television, which produces "Family Guy," said on Friday the suit was without merit and that references to Burnett and her show in an 18-second sequence of the cartoon amounted to parody.

MacYapper - What the F is up with Cranky Carol? She's the original Queen of Comedy (back off Lucy fans... Lucy was an actress... Carol was a comic and an actress) but frankly at this point she ought to be honored to be mentioned in, well, anything.

And even if she's pissed, two million freaking dolleros? She's out of her mind.
Let's get Harvey, Tim, and Vicky and head over to Carol's for an intervention.
And maybe we can get Tim to do his Dorf character. God let's' hope not.

REUTERS:
The episode in question refers to Burnett by name as working as a part-time janitor, and depicts her "charwoman" character -- complete with trademark blue bonnet and mop bucket -- cleaning the floor of a pornography shop, the suit says.

Another character then makes a vulgar reference to the signature ear tug used by Burnett at the close of her variety show each week, according to the lawsuit.

MacYapper - Sorry Carol, vulgarity is in now. You did parodies. They get to do parodies too. It's sad really.


ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! GO SALUKIS!
email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

SALUKIS ROCK NCAA TOURNAMENT EDITION

HOLY CROSS BATMAN!
MAC-YAPPER ALMA MATER KICKS SOME BOOTIE
Salukis Discover Columbus, Baby, And Like What They See!

KHALID SHEIKH YOUR BOOTY
Mountain Of Notoriety Comes To Mohammed

HILLARY LOVES HER SOME HOMOS
After She's Had A Chance To Think About It

LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Screw The Poor - We Got Middle Class To Save!

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers.

How about them Southern Illinois Salukis?

By Reid Hanley, Chicago Tribune

Mar. 17--COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Southern Illinois held up its end of the bargain Friday night when it posted a 61-51 victory over Holy Cross in the first round of the NCAA tournament West regional at Nationwide Arena.

MacYapper - Hokie smoke Bullwinkle? How many extremely dated pop culture references can MacYapper cram into one blog?

So the Salukis move on, but the dream MacYapper matchup was apparently not meant to be.

CHICAGOTRIBUNE:
But there will be no intrastate grudge match on Sunday.

SIU's dream match with Illinois was trashed in the first game of the evening session when Virginia Tech stormed back for a 54-52 victory. The Salukis (28-6) will have to settle for a rematch with the Hokies.

MacYapper - The University of Illinois Fighting Illini lost so there will be no Land of Lincoln grudge match... which is a bummer because MacYapper was looking forward to gloating over his older brother when the Illini got its butt kicked. But alas, the butt kicking came early. Bummer-roo, dude.

Next Saluki victory Sunday, baby, yeah!

SHEIKH YOUR BOOTY
Who do you trust? Who do you believe? Who are you? Oo oo. Oo oo.

YAHOO.COM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070315/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terrorist_plots_4
WASHINGTON - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's claims that he was responsible for dozens of successful, foiled and imagined attacks in the past 15 years relies on a loose definition of the word "responsible." Officials say the 9/11 mastermind was key to some plots but a bit player in others.

MacYapper - I have no idea what the hell's happening here. Are the Bushies trying to claim they've captured the ultimate evil doer? Did he confess because of coersion and torture? Is he protecting those truly responsible by taking blame he doesn't deserve for some of this stuff?

And why was he going to kill Jimmy Carter? How many Americans did he think would care about that?

ON THE HOMO BEAT
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/03/hrc_homosexuali.html"
STATEMENT FROM HILLARY:
I've heard from a number of my friends and I've certainly clarified with them any misunderstanding that anyone had, because I disagree with General Pace completely. I do not think homosexuality is immoral.

MacYapper - Thanks so much Hillary for dodging the question initially and then realizing you sounded like a weasely politician and then telling us later that homosexuality is not immoral after running it by Bill and your advisors.
You're such a forthright, straight shooting, mealy mouth weasel. Robot. Did I mention robot? Yes I'll vote for the robot if nominated, but sheesh.

BARACK AND JOHNNY IN AFOREMENTIONED TREE

THEHILL.COM
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/2008-and-counting-using-praise-as-a-weapon-on-the-trail-2007-03-14.html
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) slipped in a compliment — of sorts — about a fellow 2008 hopeful during his appearances on the Iowa stump last weekend.

“I want to wait and hear what John Edwards has to say, he’s kind of good-looking,” Obama envisioned Iowa caucus-goers from the small town of Clinton telling themselves. During an appearance in West Burlington, Iowa, the phrase appeared again, this time with Edwards as “kind of cute.”

MacYapper - Now there's a guy who embraces his inner homo!
I wonder if they have that on videotape?

LET'S GET READY TO GAMBLE
POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07075/769948-336.stm
HARRISBURG -- Two weeks ago, four casino applicants who failed in their license bids filed lawsuits against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, challenging its decisions.

Yesterday, the gaming board struck back, asking the state Supreme Court to order the four losers to post bonds totaling $364 million to compensate the state for gambling revenues that will be lost as the court cases drag on.

MacYapper - Yes, if we're going to screw the poor people and make them poorer to help the middle class people pay lower property taxes, could we freaking get on with it?

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! SALUKIS PLAY SUNDAY!
DEE-fense, DEE-fense

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

SALUKIS ROCK THE NCAA EDITION

HOLY CROSS BATMAN!
MAC-YAPPER ALMA MATER KICKS SOME BOOTIE
Salukis Discover Columbus, Baby, And Like What They See!

KHALID SHEIKH YOUR BOOTY
Mountain Of Notoriety Comes To Mohammed

HILLARY LOVES HER SOME HOMOS
After She's Had A Chance To Think About It

LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Screw The Poor - We Got Middle Class To Save!

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers.

How about them Southern Illinois Salukis?

By Reid Hanley, Chicago Tribune

Mar. 17--COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Southern Illinois held up its end of the bargain Friday night when it posted a 61-51 victory over Holy Cross in the first round of the NCAA tournament West regional at Nationwide Arena.

MacYapper - Hokie smoke Bullwinkle? How many extremely dated pop culture references can MacYapper cram into one blog?

So the Salukis move on, but the dream MacYapper matchup was apparently not meant to be.

CHICAGOTRIBUNE:
But there will be no intrastate grudge match on Sunday.

SIU's dream match with Illinois was trashed in the first game of the evening session when Virginia Tech stormed back for a 54-52 victory. The Salukis (28-6) will have to settle for a rematch with the Hokies.

MacYapper - The University of Illinois Fighting Illini lost so there will be no Land of Lincoln grudge match... which is a bummer because MacYapper was looking forward to gloating over his older brother when the Illini got its butt kicked. But alas, the butt kicking came early. Bummer-roo, dude.

Next Saluki victory Sunday, baby, yeah!

SHEIKH YOUR BOOTY
Who do you trust? Who do you believe? Who are you? Oo oo. Oo oo.

YAHOO.COM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070315/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terrorist_plots_4
WASHINGTON - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's claims that he was responsible for dozens of successful, foiled and imagined attacks in the past 15 years relies on a loose definition of the word "responsible." Officials say the 9/11 mastermind was key to some plots but a bit player in others.

MacYapper - I have no idea what the hell's happening here. Are the Bushies trying to claim they've captured the ultimate evil doer? Did he confess because of coersion and torture? Is he protecting those truly responsible by taking blame he doesn't deserve for some of this stuff?

And why was he going to kill Jimmy Carter? How many Americans did he think would care about that?

ON THE HOMO BEAT
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/03/hrc_homosexuali.html"
STATEMENT FROM HILLARY:
I've heard from a number of my friends and I've certainly clarified with them any misunderstanding that anyone had, because I disagree with General Pace completely. I do not think homosexuality is immoral.

MacYapper - Thanks so much Hillary for dodging the question initially and then realizing you sounded like a weasely politician and then telling us later that homosexuality is not immoral after running it by Bill and your advisors.
You're such a forthright, straight shooting, mealy mouth weasel. Robot. Did I mention robot? Yes I'll vote for the robot if nominated, but sheesh.

BARACK AND JOHNNY IN AFOREMENTIONED TREE

THEHILL.COM
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/2008-and-counting-using-praise-as-a-weapon-on-the-trail-2007-03-14.html
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) slipped in a compliment — of sorts — about a fellow 2008 hopeful during his appearances on the Iowa stump last weekend.

“I want to wait and hear what John Edwards has to say, he’s kind of good-looking,” Obama envisioned Iowa caucus-goers from the small town of Clinton telling themselves. During an appearance in West Burlington, Iowa, the phrase appeared again, this time with Edwards as “kind of cute.”

MacYapper - Now there's a guy who embraces his inner homo!
I wonder if they have that on videotape?

LET'S GET READY TO GAMBLE
POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07075/769948-336.stm
HARRISBURG -- Two weeks ago, four casino applicants who failed in their license bids filed lawsuits against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, challenging its decisions.

Yesterday, the gaming board struck back, asking the state Supreme Court to order the four losers to post bonds totaling $364 million to compensate the state for gambling revenues that will be lost as the court cases drag on.

MacYapper - Yes, if we're going to screw the poor people and make them poorer to help the middle class people pay lower property taxes, could we freaking get on with it?

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! SALUKIS PLAY SUNDAY! DEE-fense, DEE-fense

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

WHY THE F IS THIS COP STILL WORKING? EDITION

OPIE STRIPPED OF VENEER IN SCANDALOUS PHOTO FLAP
No, He's Not Naked... Just Unethical

WHY CAN'T THEY JUST FIRE THE ABUSIVE COP?
Because It's Pittsburgh

CRAZY 'BERTO TAKING A LICKING
And So Far He Keeps On Ticking

MAC-YAPPER ALMA MATER READY FOR ACTION
Old Rivalry Involves Family Faction

The Snarkery Starts Now
Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers.

I felt compelled to revise the blog mid-morning because THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THAT'S ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT.
The City of Pittsburgh just paid $200K because an off duty cop beat the crap out of a guy.

TRIBUNE REVIEW:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_497785.html
Deven Werling says his hankering for greasy fries and a hot dog landed him in jail -- battered and confused -- after an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer beat him for talking back.
"I felt like a rag doll," said Werling, 40, of Largo, Fla. "All I remember is flying through the air a couple of times and hitting tables. I can remember the noise of that baton getting pulled out."
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday authorized a $200,000 settlement for Werling, 2 1/2 years after he says police Sgt. Mark Eggleton pummeled him at the Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland.
The eatery is paying a separate settlement of $125,000 to cover medical bills.

MacYapper - So, what happened to the cop? He was fired. Makes sense, right? But Dennie Regan, former hatchetman for Opie, reinstated him. Then the City determined Regan didn't have the power to do that. So, if he didn't have the power to reinstate him, he's fired right? NO. THE CITY SOLICITOR, WHO'S TRACK RECORD IS DUBIOUS AT BEST, SAYS FOR SOME REASON THEY CAN'T FIRE THE GUY WHO WAS FIRED BUT REHIRED BY THE GUY WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER TO REHIRE HIM. HUH??????????????????????????????????????????????

TRIBREVIEW:
A city investigation found Eggleton acted inappropriately, and then-police Chief Dominic J. Costa fired him last year. Eggleton, however, returned to work after then-Operations Director Dennis Regan reversed Costa's decision and changed Eggleton's punishment to a five-day suspension.

Acting city Solicitor George Specter said Jan. 15 that Regan did not have the authority to change Costa's punishment, but added that it's unlikely Eggleton would be fired again for the same reason.

MacYapper - I'm sorry but WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? What do you mean a guy who couldn't hire him back got him hired back?
If Dennie didn't have the authority to rehire a fired guy, then the guy's fired.
WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF?
Only in Pittsburgh can you get away with this shit. Because everybody in the MSM shakes their heads and goes "well, that's Pittsburgh for ya. Ha ha."
Dude, I don't have the power to hire the guy back either. So if I hired him back, he'd still be fired right?
WHY WON'T OPIE OR THE NEW CHIEF FIRE THE GUY WHO WAS LEGITIMATELY FIRED AND ILLEGITMATELY RE-HIRED?

This is such an Alice Through The Looking Glass 'Burgh special it makes me f'ing puke. Which rhymes with Luke. Who would never have the intestinal fortitude, much less the balls, to fire anyone. He didn't even fire Dennie. All he did was demote Cathy, and a judge told him he couldn't do that. Jesus this town stinks.

Now onto more mundane matters

SIMON THE A-HOLE PROFILED ON 60 MINUTES

American Idol. American phenomenon. Simon Cowell. Fascinating character. Not.
Luckiest S.O.B. ever. Clever junior high quipster? Absolutely. Do you usually get rich off of that? No.

We are suckers for English accents. And as I and anyone else with a firm grasp of the obvious have noted before, we live to watch others ridiculed so that we feel superior.

60 minutes will profile Cowell this Sunday. Now they'll cut the little S.O.B. to ribbons! Ha!

Wait... it's Anderson Cooper doing the story. Does that even officially count as 60 minutes?

I like Anderson. Although the dude talks too fast on CNN. But it's doubtful he'll lay the wood to Simon. Although from what I've heard, he'd like to. Not that there's anything...
CBSNEWS.COM
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/14/60minutes/main2568516.shtml
(CBS) Simon Cowell, star of television blockbuster "American Idol," will be profiled by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes this Sunday, March 18, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Cowell discusses the criticism he’s received from the music industry, his wealth and value to Sony/BMG, the recording company he works for, and the appeal of "American Idol."

As the star judge of singing talent on the program, he has been accused of being cruel with his caustic critiques of hapless contestants. In the 60 Minutes segment, he actually has the tables turned on him when a group of judges critique him doing something he is passionate about.

MacYapper - OK so maybe this group of judges will take him to task, rip him a new one, teach that bastard a lesson. But I doubt it.
I sure hope they do. Because I want to feel superior.

NYTIMES.COM
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/washington/15justice.html?ei=5090&en=2bd3f0727513c5e5&ex=1331611200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
WASHINGTON, March 14 — As he pressed his case to be confirmed as attorney general, Alberto R. Gonzales made a promise to the Senate Judiciary Committee — and to the nation at large.
“I will no longer represent only the White House,” he testified in 2005 as he prepared to leave his job as White House counsel. “I will represent the United States of America and its people. I understand the differences between the two roles.”
Yet in one of his first acts in his new job, Mr. Gonzales brought over two top White House aides and elevated a third, D. Kyle Sampson, a Justice Department staff member who had worked in the White House. Within days, Mr. Sampson began identifying federal prosecutors to oust, an effort initiated by Harriet E. Miers, the fellow Texan who succeeded Mr. Gonzales at the White House.

MacYapper - Wow. Who new Harriet was such a hard line bitch? I thought she was thrown under the bus during her short lived SupCo nomination because she wasn't the bad ass bitch conservatives were looking for. Yet she's apparently quite the serial killer. Or at least prosecutor persecutor.

Now I predicted yesterday that Crazy 'Berto would never resign.
MacYipper Rick disagrees:
You're wrong about Alberto. He is doomed. Resigning
might help him avoid prison time and he's become a
liability to Rove. I expect his resignation by the end
of the month.
Rick

MacYapper - You know Rick, though MacYapper has an incredible track record of almost always being right (and disposing of any evidence to the contrary), he sometimes hopes he is wrong. This is one of those times.

NYT.COM
“It’s O.K. for the president to hear and repeat a politically motivated complaint,” said Harry E. Cummins III, the ousted United States attorney in Arkansas. “It is O.K. for Karl Rove to act on it.

“But it is not O.K. for the gatekeeper of the Department of Justice to let it impact what happens inside the department.”

MacYapper - Of course the colosal arrogance of the Bushies (is that redundant?) is that it NEVER occurs to them to even to hide the APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY. Because they think Gawd put them on the earth to do whatever.
And considering that they've gotten away with about 90% of what they wanted to do, you can see how they would develop the Gawd complex.

OH MY GAWD!

DAILYMAIL
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=442015&in_page_id=1811
Anna Clifford's brush with the law proved a hair-raising experience for all concerned. Particularly the police photographer.
He had to take several steps back to incorporate the full extent of her 18in-high Mohican.
Miss Clifford was stopped for erratic driving in the early hours after a night out to celebrate her birthday with friends in Memphis, Tennessee.
She had the car's sunroof open to accommodate her crowning glory.
Her performance in the standard test of sobriety – walking in a straight line – was distinctly average, but police said they were not sure if it was drink or her peacock-like hairstyle that was causing her problem.
A breath test confirmed that she was over the limit and she was taken off to the cells to sober up.
Police spokesman Sergeant Vince Higgins said: "We have to take the mugshot picture as the person looks at the time of the arrest, so we needed to make sure we got all her hair in.
"When we pulled her over she had been driving with her sunroof open to allow room for her hair. I don’t know what she'd do if it rained."

MacYapper - What's the lesson here MacYippers? Go ahead and get trashed on your birthday. BUT FOR CHRISSAKES GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO DRIVE YOU IDIOT.

SALUKIS READY TO ROCK ON NCAA TOURNEY

MacYapper - A saluki is an ancient Egyptian hunting dog... kinda like a greyhound, with a big old snout. It is the mascot of Southern Illinois University, my alma mater.
Every year in recent years the Salukis squeak by to get into the tournament. Almost every year they get blown out early. This year they're going to do some damage, or my name isn't John Muckinmyer.

ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Southern Illinois has gained national prominence for its consistency within the Missouri Valley Conference. Facing higher expectations that come with their highest seed in school history, the Salukis play a dangerous first-round NCAA tournament opponent in Holy Cross on Friday in a West Regional matchup.

The fourth-seeded Salukis (27-6) are making their sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, but have won just three games the previous five years. Two of those victories came in 2002, when Southern Illinois made the regional semifinals as a No. 11 seed, while the other came in 2005 as a No. 7 seed.

MacYapper - As previously noted, if the Salukis... WHEN the Salukis make it past the first round, their second round opponent would be the dreaded Illini of the University of Illinois, where MacYappers parents and oldest brother Bob went to school.

The oldest brother lives to chuckle at Salukis. Hence, the evil Illini must be destroyed. Game is Friday night at 9:40.

ASSOCIATED PRESS:
This is the first meeting between these schools. The winner of this game will play fifth-seeded Virginia Tech or No. 12 seed Illinois, which is led by former Salukis coach Bruce Weber, in the second round on Sunday.

MacYapper - Are you following this soap opera? The evil Illini stole the Saluki's coach. Must be destroyed. Must. Gotta.

OPIE IS AN UNETHICAL LOUT
TRIBUNE REVIEW:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_497777.html
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's campaign on Wednesday removed at least five photos from its Web site because they look a lot like pictures taken by city employees that appear on the city's official Internet site.
"We're trying to be scrupulous in following the letter of the law," said Damon Andrews, Ravenstahl's campaign manager.

MacYapper - What a bunch lying, thieving, unethical whores. These hacks wouldn't know the letter of the law if they saw it in Opie's alphabet soup.

When is the MSM going to raise questions about city workers doing Opie campaign stuff on taxpayer time?

TRIBREVIEW:
Several Pittsburgh-based blogs, or Web logs, criticized the administration for using photos that first appeared on the city's Web site and might have been taken by city employees.
"There is no cooperation or communication between this office and the campaign office," said Ravenstahl spokesman Dick Skrinjar, a city employee who sometimes takes photographs of the mayor at public events.

MacYapper -
C'mon Skrinj. Did you say that with a straight face? Dude, we know you're a good liar, it's part of your job, but Jesus. Although you are a funny guy. So maybe you're just going for the comedy.

Congrats to the 'Burgh bloggers, including my girl Maria at 2politicaljunkies, Agent Ska, and others. for kicking serious Opie ass on this issue.
Link to them all through Bob Mayo's excellent blog:

http://thebusmansholiday.blogspot.com/
ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

COULD THESE HARDASSES JUST GET LOST? EDITION

HEY, HEY, HO, HO!
Crazy 'Berto's Gotta Go!

HEY, HEY, HO'S, HO'S
General Pace Can't Take No Mo's

MARIO GETS HIS SHINY NEW ARENA
So Could We Freakin' Move On Already?

CONGRESSWOMAN, WHY THE LONG FACE?
Missy Hart On The Boob Tube

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo MacYippers! Who's the biggest S.O.B. in D.C.? It's Alberto!

ABCNEWS.GO.COM
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2948538&page=1
March 13, 2007 — In an exclusive interview to air Wednesday morning, March 14, on "Good Morning America," Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, for the first time called for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

MacYapper - Hillary, Schmillary. Oh, she's right, but whatever. This doesn't exactly take guts what with everybody and their grandmother calling for Alberto to get lost.

But Alberto is a first class a-hole. What's wrong with Alberto? He's a hard-ass hardliner. That's what's wrong with most Bushies. That's what's wrong with Dubya his own self and V.P. Beelzebub.

ABCNNEWS.GO.COM:
Clinton said the evidence so far pointed to "direct interference with the way U.S. attorneys are supposed to operate — to be impartial. There's evidence of political interference and political pressure being put on them to engage in partisan political activities." Clinton added there were "so many examples of an abuse of power, of going in and removing people not on the basis of performance but, in fact, because they were performing well, they were fulfilling their responsibilities as a U.S. attorney, and that wasn't within the political agenda of the administration."

When Clinton's husband took office in 1993, one of the first actions his attorney general took was to remove every U.S. attorney. Clinton was asked how this was different from the termination of eight U.S. attorneys last December.

"There is a great difference," Clinton said. "When a new president comes in, a new president gets to clean house. It's not done on a case-by-case basis where you didn't do what some senator or member of Congress told you to do in terms of investigations into your opponents. It is 'Let's start afresh' and every president has done that."

MacYapper - It may seem like a difference without a distinction. But Hillaroo is right. At the beginning, everybody cleans house. This deep into things, getting rid of people because someone's not doing exactly what you think they ought to do in partisan political terms, as opposed to executing your legal duties as you see fit? That's complete and total bullshit.

Of course, there's no freaking way he'll resign. Rummy's resignation came after an extraordinary amount of pressure for months and months, both from the critics, allies and insiders.

Dubya's done admitting any mistakes, assuming you think Rummy's resignation was an actual admission.

SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM TURNS OUT TO BE AN IDIOT

All I've read about for weeks is what a smart guy General Peter Pace is. Oh, the brilliant tactician. Oh, the scholarly student of military strategy. YessirreeBob, he'll know what to do!

Turns out he's just another homophobic jughead.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
The top U.S. military officer, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, tried on Tuesday to calm anger that erupted after he described homosexual acts as immoral, saying he was expressing only his personal views.

"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Pace said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune published on Tuesday.

"I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is okay to be immoral in any way."

MacYapper - I'm not even going to start going down the laundry list of classic examples of U.S. immoral foreign policy. Can you say installing the Shah of Iran? How about supporting Nicaraguan death squads?

But this pinhead apparently is more worried about consensual sex between adults than sending kids to die in a war that never should have been fought in the first place.

Why are these people obsessed with homos? And according to the Super Christian view of things, isn't ALL sex that's not designed to make babies immoral?

So don't be thinkin' of gettin' frisky with Laura tonight Georgy boy, unless you're thinking of popping out another set of Barbie twins.

PAGING MARIO THE WHINING MILLIONAIRE:
PLEASE, NOW, PUT A PUCK IN IT

POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://post-gazette.com/pg/07073/769280-61.stm
Mr. Rendell said the fanatical support gave state and local leaders some leverage in the negotiations, even as Kansas City tantalized the Penguins with a sweetheart deal that included no rent or construction costs and 75 percent of the revenues at the new $276 million Sprint Center.

"In the last analysis, Kansas City and other cities might have given the Penguins better financial deals, but no one could guarantee the Penguins the strength, the loyalty and support Pittsburgh fans have offered them over the years," he said.

MacYapper - Exactly. No one's going to the middle of Whocaresville to play hockey. You can't recreate the fanatical fan base in Shitkickerville.
I hate to beat a dead horse, or maybe I don't, but they were never going to leave.

POST-GAZETTE.COM:
http://post-gazette.com/pg/07073/769269-61.stm
While Mario Lemieux and state and local leaders who negotiated the deal on the new arena took center stage yesterday, one of the biggest players in the talks, Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle, stayed in the shadows.

Mr. Burkle, a California billionaire who gave Mr. Lemieux the last $20 million he needed to buy the team in 1999, remained out of the limelight, as is his custom.

With those talks complete, Mr. Burkle said he has no intention of assuming a higher profile.

"I'm in jeans. I'm going to fade away right now," he joked with reporters as he walked away.

MacYapper - Apparently he didn't make his money in comedy.
So is everybody happy now? Can we stop smooching Mario's lipstick laden buttocks?

Did you hear about Opie saying he remembers the first time Mario saved the Pens when Opie was "12 years old," only to have Mario then refer back to Opie later in the news conference as "the 12 year old?"

Gee, I'm sure Opie's role in getting this deal done was pivotal. Mario must have been quaking in his boots with the steely eyed infant staring at him from across the table. Assuming he was even allowed to sit at the grownups table.

MAC-YIPPER E-MAIL

John,
Last on your list of assholes: Rod Wilt, R-Mercer - I can't believe you didn't make a Viagra joke. Also, I was stunned to see old Missy "Why the long face?" Hart hosting your old Night Talk program. I guess they're having a hard time finding a replacement for the Cryptkeeper. Best of luck on the new yakkfest.
Bob

MacYapper - Yes, I, too, was surprised to see Missy in my old seat.
As an interviewer, she's a helluva Congresswoman. But, she was poised and had a pleasant enough demeanor. Although demeanor she gets, de more troops she sends to Iraq.

OK, I haven't had any caffeine yet.

I think she could be a passable host over time with a little work. She was not a sourpuss, long face or no, and that's a good thing.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

EMAIL me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

"WELL BLOW ME DOWN" EDITION

AMERICAN IDOL BLOWS OUT CONTESTANT
Contestant Blows Out Boyfriend

SOME OF THE WORST A-HOLES EVER
Lame-Ass Lame Ducks

PENGUINS FINALLY STOP POSING
They Were Never Going Anywhere

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY IDOL DEAD
Cheap, Shameless Excuse To Plug Tonight's Comedy Show

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers.

American Idol is back on the air tonight. MacYapper has paid scant attention to this who-gives-a-shit fest, this Ted Mack's amateur hour updated in a revoltingly cheesy way (dating myself, because no one else will), this excuse to ridicule others so we can all feel superior in our living rooms.

But alas, my new duties as an FM talk radio host starting April 2nd (more details to come when my bosses announce the whole kit and caboodle) will require me to pay attention to this crap. Because as you know, this crap is the shit.

Fortunately, there's a good reason for me to begin to pay attention. Recent Idol contestant Antonella Barbella has pretty eyes. Click the links below and you'll see how pretty.
Oh, and she also likes oral sex. And stuff. Don't click them if you're at work.

http://antonellabarba.tv/

OK, now as I understand it, the Idol people didn't throw her off because of her tendency to go diving for (insert favorite oral sex metaphor here).

Her voice just didn't make the cut. Or at least that's what they claim.

MacYapper hopes this is true because there is a simple truism we must all face as Americans, and oral sex aficianados.

And that is that EVERYBODY TAKES PICTURES OF THEIR GIRLFRIENDS NEKKED!
Yes, it's true. Perhaps the women are dumb to allow it. It may be sexist. Although the female body is usually more attractive, let's face it. Or is that just me?

Anyway, we've got to stop being scandalized when nude photos and/or oral sex photos surface involving anybody.

I can't wait to see Condi Rice's. I'm thinking she'll be going down on Ann Coulter. Who I'm guessing has a bigger unit than the guy Antonella is workin' on.

TRANSWORLDNEWS.COM
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?storyid=13989&ret=Default.aspx

Barba went on to say “I keep getting told that no publicity is bad publicity, but, you know, I'm not known for this thing that I want to be known for, which is singing.” That publicity has led to reported offers from Girls Gone Wild and Playboy but Barba has insisted she would not be involved with anything of that nature.

Antonella insisted, “I don't want to be known for that,” continuing “I'd rather promote myself in a classy way.”

MacYapper - As you can see from the photos, she's one classy dame.

I TOLD YOU THE FREAKING PENGUINS WERE STAYING

POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07072/769032-85.stm
The puck stays here.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached an agreement with state and local officials for construction of a new arena that will keep the team here under a 30-year lease.

The basics of the agreement were reached in a make-or-break meeting last week in Philadelphia, where both sides reported that significant progress was made. Most remaining details were worked out over the weekend, according to sources close to the negotiations.

A formal announcement will be made later today, prior to the Penguins 7:30 p.m. home game against the Buffalo Sabres. Gov. Ed Rendell is expected to be on hand for the announcement.

MacYapper - Told ya Mario the whining millionaire was just posturing. They're all such macho big talkin' bluffers these jocks and their associates.

The Kansas City Penguins, indeed. How freaking stupid does that sound on its face?

Now, could we all get back to focusing on what a lame-ass mayor Opie is?

SOME OF THE WORST A-HOLES ANYWHERE

POST-GAZETTE.COM
HARRISBURG -- Nine members of the state House of Representatives who were defeated or retired last year took taxpayer-paid trips in the months before they left office, a newspaper reported.

It cost nearly $14,000 to send the departing lawmakers to legislative conferences and at least one educational seminar, The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reported today.

MacYapper - For generations lawmakers have justified junkets as part of their continuing education. These absolute assholes are spending thousands of our dollars even though they'll be out on their butts in a matter of weeks, lawmakers no more.

LIST OF CONTEMPTIBLE ASSHOLES:
POST-GAZETTE.COM:

You get quite a bit from those conferences," said former Rep. Mark McNaughton, R-Dauphin, whose two trips cost $3,200. "Inventive ideas don't always come from Pennsylvania."

The paper reported that the other representatives who took the trips were James Shaner, D-Fayette County, $1,700; Sue Cornell, R-Montgomery, $2,000; Tom Corrigan, D-Bucks, $1,200; Gib Armstrong, R-Lancaster, $300; Ken Ruffing, D-Allegheny, $1,300; Bob Flick, R-Chester, $2,400; Linda Bebko-Jones, D-Erie, $700; and Rod Wilt, R-Mercer, $1,000.

MacYapper - So often when government dweebs waste your money, there's at least some tiny little justification nail to hang their lying, thieving, cheating hats on.

This time, they're just assholes, plain and simple.

COMEDY GOD DIES - POSSIBLE SUICIDE
http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/6581
Popular stand-up comedian and actor Richard Jeni died Saturday, March 10, from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Best known for his television comedy specials including Crazy from the Heat, A Good Catholic Boy and A Big Steaming Pile of Me, the 45-year-old funny man also lent his voice to episodes of the toon shows Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist and Batman: The Animated Series.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jeni was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show, both with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. and was named one of the top 100 comedians of all time in a special aired by cable outlet Comedy Central. His most notable big-screen venture was a supporting role in the Jim Carey hit The Mask. More recently, he appeared in The Aristocrats, a documentary about one of the dirtiest jokes ever.

Police responded to an emergency call made by Jeni’s girlfriend from a West Hollywood home. Jeni later died at a Cedars Sinai Medical Center. His death is still under investigation and has not yet been declared a suicide.

MacYapper - As a person who has recently entered the world of standup comedy, I always appreciated the immense skill and wit of Richard Jeni. His girlfriend called the cops and claimed he had just shot himself in the face.
They still haven't declared it, officially, to be a suicide, and no note has yet been discovered.

Click below to enjoy some Jeni comedy magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-O4mJKEEqQ

MacYapper - OK, so if Jeni were still alive he'd probably crucify me for using a hackneyed, cheesy phrase like "comedy magic."

But I know if he was still here he would want me to, at this point in the blog, give a cheap and shameless plug for tonight's comedy show at the Brillo Box in the East End.

4104 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224

9pm with Gab Bonesso and some up and coming funny-ass local comics.
We'll dedicate this show to Richard Jeni. Well, we will if it'll get any of you MacYippers to freaking show up.

I know that's how Richard would want it.

Unless of course, he couldn't care less. Which, I suppose, is possible.

We'll never really know will we.

'CAUSE HE FREAKING SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FACE! (allegedly)

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

NOBODY'S JFK BUT JFK EDITION

DAN QUAYLE IS NO J.F.K.
But Neither Is Hillary

MY MAN EDWARDS STICKS IT TO THE MAN
Has The Cure For What Ailes Ya

CBS SUNDAY MORNING ON OPIE
Why Does The Media Love The Kid?

MAC-YAPPER YAPS AT POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Comedy Tonight! Hangover Tomorrow

The Snarkery Starts Now

MacYapper - Thanks to Lloyd Bentsen we all know Dan Quayle is no Jack Kennedy. And with all due respect to Bill's main squeeze (likely a vise-like grip I'm thinkin'), she's no JFK either. Yet, she invokes the strained comparison. I don't know if I've ever seen a presidential candidate with less charisma. I mean as a public speaker, this is Lamey McLamestein.

NYPOST.COM
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03112007/news/nationalnews/hill__im_the_jfk_of_2008_nationalnews_maggie_haberman_post_correspondent.htm
March 11, 2007 -- NASHUA, N.H. - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton invoked the campaign of the nation's lone Catholic president, John Kennedy, last night as she talked about her challenge in becoming the first female commander-in-chief.

"He was smart, he was dynamic, he was inspiring and he was Catholic. A lot of people back then [1960] said, 'America will never elect a Catholic as president,' " the White House hopeful told the New Hampshire Democrats' 100 Club fund-raiser here.

"But those who gathered here almost a half century ago knew better," she said. "They believed America was bigger than that and Americans would give Sen. John F. Kennedy a fair shake, and the rest, as they say, is history."

MacYapper - I just don't think she can win. Stickin' with my boy Johnny Edwards for now. Everybody invokes JFK every cycle. And I suppose the "first catholic-first woman" analogy has some validity. But still, these two in the same sentence? Please.

And how about my boy Johnny E. calling a spade a spade and being the first to dump out of the Fox news debate. A presidential candidate honest enough to state the obvious. Roger Ailes is gettin' all "free speech" on Edwards' butt. What a freaking joke. How does Ailes pretend to be "fair and balanced" and look at himself in the mirror each morning? Because he just freaking doesn't care. Here's a little Johnny E. campaign propaganda:
BLOG.JOHNEDWARDS.COMhttp://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/3/9/20352/75748
You may have heard by now that John Edwards was the first candidate to officially say no to the Fox News debate in Nevada -- and because of the hard work of so many grassroots and netroots Democrats, news is breaking tonight that Fox is out.

Fox has already started striking backat John for saying no. (There's a surprise - Fox attacking a Democrat.) Last night, Roger Ailes - the life-long Republican operative who is now Chairman of Fox News Channel - said that any candidate "who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake" and "is impeding freedom of speech and free press."

MacYapper - Let's all stop pretending Fox is a legitimate news organization. Well, for the delusional among you still pretending.

CBS SUNDAY MORNING ON OPIE
Below is a link to a print version of the Joie Chen Sunday Morning piece that ran on CBS yesterday. Some excerpts:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/11/sunday/main2556676.shtml?source=search_story

CBSNEWS.COM:
Ravenstahl was catapulted from relative obscurity as city council president into the national spotlight, but he never doubted that he could do the job.

"I never did — honestly, I never did," he told Sunday Morning correspondent Joie Chen. "We knew as a family it would be difficult because of the frenzy and the circumstances under which I would become mayor. But I never had any doubt that I was able to do the job."

MacYapper - Well what the hell's he gonna say? I am a fan of the Sunday Morning show. I enjoyed hanging with Chen and her crew John and Mike. Mary Lou the producer was the ultimate professional.

But I must express some disappointment in the piece. Although if I was a correspondent for Sunday Morning, I likely would have produced a similar result. It's a feel good show. They had a piece on an artist. You couldn't help but love him at the end of it. They had a piece on longtime comedian/director David Steinberg. I already loved him, but it was another big, wet, sloppy kiss.

So I should have expected nothing less for Opie, and that's what we got. No mention of mistakes like promoting Regan or demoting McNeilly and how that will cost the city money. The Heinz field incident? Nothing.

Now let's face it MacYippers, I'm biased. I know, stop the presses. Alert the media. Who'd a thunk it?

But I talked with CBS about all of that, and so did Joe Mistick, and nada, zero, zilcho, zippo. Mr. Peduto-head was humorously self-deprecating.

CBSNEWS.COM
Even Peduto admits that he's not exciting. He's often compared to former Vice President, Al Gore, but he said "Al Gore has more charisma."

MacYapper - The two soundbites they did use of MacYapper were well chosen:

CBSNEWS.COM
"Nobody, anywhere in the country is sitting in a big office going, I was gonna move the factory to Cleveland, but I saw that Opie boy, he's the Mayor of Pittsburgh, so we're going to Pittsburgh," stand-up comic and radio talk show host John McIntire said.

McIntire calls him Mayor Opie.

"I flirted with Doogie, and then I actually had people calling into my radio show and vote on Doogie or Opie, and Opie won," he said.

MacYapper - And I suppose you could argue that by quoting my own self and Mr. Peduto-head there was some balance.

But overall, Dick Skrinjar must be dancing a jig today.
I've still got that Skrinj all over my unit. Somebody get me the Dick Skrinjar.

Still, it was nice to see the cool shots of the 'Burgh and all.
Sigh.

WHAT CAN MR. PEDUTO-HEAD DO?

This Wedneseday the Vox Pop column in the City Paper will suggest that Mr. Peduto-head ought to go negative. Why? Because nobody freaking cares about this race at this point and somebody's gotta do somethin' to get someone to freaking pay attention.

Is it risky? Yes. Would it definitely work? Highly uncertain. Is it possible that Mr. Peduto-head has very little choice in the matter? In my mind, yes.

The inexplicable love affair with Opie has something to do with the "Pa died but young Luke is still going to plow the back 40" syndrome.

Opie either has to trip up again. Or some of those rumors have to have more substantiation. Or Mr. Peduto-head has to wake this town up with some hot rhetoric.

Or somethin.'

MAC-YAPPER'S SALUKIS READY TO ROCK IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

Long ago and far away there was a college called Southern Illinois University. It was Illinois' premier party school, once a top tenner according to Playboy.
I attended this wonderful institution in the late 70's man. Hey man, it was groovy.

Now they're in the tournament, man.
http://sponsors.aolsportsblog.com/2007/03/09/ncaa-previews-recognize-the-southern-illinois-salukis/
Conference: Missouri Valley
Record: 27-6 (15-3)
RPI: 6. Yes, 6.
How They Got In: An at-large bid after losing in the conference tournament finals to Creighton.
Mascot. The Saluki, which would be one of the oddest and most unique in the land, if the Salukis weren't so ubiquitous in the tournament. It is, of course, an Egyptian hunting dog with an exceptionally long snout. If I had a snout like that, you wouldn't believe the coke problem I'd have.

MacYapper - Yes, that was a common refrain back in the day, man. The thing is dude, if SIU wins the first round and so does the University of Illinois, they would face off against one another.

This is big becauase MacYapper's parents and older brother went to the U of I, which has always looked down upon the less prestigious but groovier SIU.
Revenge is mine! Hopefully.

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY TONIGHT!
If I had some "comedy stylings" I would display them tonight at 7pm at Point Park University's JVH auditorium in Thayer Hall.

As it is, I'll just do whatever it is I already do. And then headliner Gab Bonesso will magically appear and do some more. So there. Be there and be square.

The JVH Auditorium is on the 2nd floor of Thayer Hall.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

NEW BOOTY NEWTIE REARS HIS HYPOCRITICAL HEAD EDITION

HYPOCRISY PERSONIFIED
Hello New Booty Newtie

SPEAKER? I DON'T EVEN KNOW 'ER
The A-Hole Who Started The Unnecessary Zippergate

HOW DOES HE SAY THINGS WITH A STRAIGHT FACE?
Because He's A Lying Hypocritical A-Hole?

SUNDAY MORNING NEWS - MONDAY-TUESDAY COMEDY
MacYapper Media Whore Tour Begins

The Snarkery Starts Now

Well it's obvious. He's running. The most heinous hypocrite in the history of politics, and that my MacYippers is saying something, is trying to wash away the sins of the past by confessing them.

But he cannot. Because while Bill Clinton was caught lying in his attempt to cover up an extra-marital affair, this disgraceful, despicable, excuse for a human being, began the process of impeachment. And the Clinton impeachment, MacYippers, was the biggest waste of time and money in search of absolutely nothing valuable or meaningful in the history of the United States of America.

And that, too, MacYippers, is saying something. And this Bozo, this overrated pompous, pedantic, pugilistically professorial poop-head, ginned up the impeachment machinery that resulted in this national obsession and congressional idiocy.

And he did it, as political junkies have known for years, while he was playing hide the salami with a congressional staffer. And that makes him the ultimate hypocrite.
And yet this douchebag, this scumwad, this a-hole who left his first wife on her cancer deathbed, has the stones to try to tell us he should not be judged as a hypocrite? Unfreakingbelievable.

(AP)WASHINGTON (March 9) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich acknowledged he was having an extramarital affair even as he led the charge against President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair, he acknowledged in an interview with a conservative Christian group.

MacYapper - This is the second wife... the one he hooked up with after informing the first one he was divorcing her while she was in the hospital with cancer. Nice.

Gingrich divorced Marianne in 2000 after his attorneys acknowledged his relationship with his current wife, Callista Bisek, a former congressional aide.

MacYapper - Dude, I don't care if he has a thousand wives. His personal life is none of my business. Although it's totally fair game since he started the unnecessary scrutiny of the Clintons.

But the hypocrisy here is obvious and hopelessly outrageous. And yet this douchebag wants you to forget about it.

(AP) "The honest answer is yes," Gingrich, a potential 2008 Republican presidential candidate, said in an interview with Focus on the Family founder James Dobson to be aired Friday, according to a transcript provided to The Associated Press. "There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards. There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards."

Gingrich argued in the interview, however, that he should not be viewed as a hypocrite for pursuing Clinton's infidelity.

MacYapper - By what alternate universe logic is Professor Penis deducing that we should not take a hot branding iron and permanently emblazon F'ING HYPOCRITE on his drive-in-movie forehead?

And fallen short of "God's standards"? As if because he says "God" we're supposed to go, "oh, he's religious and he respects God, so it's OK if he wastes many MILLIONS OF DOLLARS investigating something completely irrelevant to whether Bill Clinton was a good president or not. Which, BTW, he was. And everybody understands that now because we currently have the worst in history. Not to be critical.

(AP)"The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge," the former Georgia congressman said of Clinton's 1998 House impeachment on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. "I drew a line in my mind that said, 'Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level I am not rendering judgment on another human being, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law, I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept ... perjury in your highest officials."

MacYapper - Mr. Clinton had his law license suspended for his unfortunate remarks. That is all that ever should have happened. And when Professor Asshole started the impeachment proceedings, no such determination had been made.
This guy is a complete liar. If he was a Batman character he'd be "The Rationalizer."

And of course he wasn't rendering judgment, they're all scumbags. But he was playing pure politics with the impeachment process, a much bigger sin than using the human humidor for a little ceegar secret sauce. OK that's gross, but it's not a freaking crime for two consenting adults... why am I rearguing the Clinton impeachment fiasco? New Booty Newtie is a lying hypocritical asshole and it's time we dismiss him from the public consciousness as a credible figure.

And he's only saying this because he's running.

And of course, GOP hypocrisy is in full bloom, now that they're all calling for Dubya to pardon Scooter. His perjury is OK. And they're using the Clinton reasoning of "no underlying crime." Because their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

I'd like to wipe the smug smile off of Senator Lindsey Graham, who was a persecutor during the impeachment, but is now asking us to take it easy on Scooter.

How do these guys look at themselves in the freaking mirror?


(AP) Gingrich, who frequently campaigned on family values issues, divorced his second wife, Marianne, in 2000 after his attorneys acknowledged Gingrich's relationship with his current wife, Callista Bisek, a former congressional aide more than 20 years younger than he is.

His first marriage, to his former high school geometry teacher, Jackie Battley, ended in divorce in 1981. Although Gingrich has said he doesn't remember it, Battley has said Gingrich discussed divorce terms with her while she was recuperating in the hospital from cancer surgery.

Gingrich married Marianne months after the divorce.

MacYapper - Divorce is a painful thing. Cancer is a painful thing. Put the two together, you're not going to FORGET that you discussed your divorce while your wife was recuperating from cancer surgery. He is a liar's liar.

(AP) "There were times when I was praying and when I felt I was doing things that were wrong. But I was still doing them," he said in the interview. "I look back on those as periods of weakness and periods that I'm ... not proud of."

MacYapper - Ah, he was telling God about what he was doing wrong but he was still doing it. Fascinating. I guess if you just say God every few words it makes everything OK.

He's not proud of it? Is he supposed to get a freaking gold star because he wasn't proud of it?

Again, not judging. Don't care about where he hides the salami. Do care about the country. Care that the President focuses on stuff that matters. And the Congress. And yet for months, nothing got done because BIG GIANT DISGRACEFUL HYPOCRITES like New Booty Newtie dragged us through an unnecessary, fabricated, moronically irrelevant manufactured crisis.

I can forgive anyone for personal indiscretions. But when you recklessly hijack the government for your own pious political purposes, you really are an evil f'in jackass.

He's thinking that because Tricky Dick came back in '68 and reinvented himself, he can do the same. And we all saw how well that turned out.

Take a long walk off a short pier Newtie. Go blather with Sean Hannity. But stay the hell away from the corridors of power. You are a disgrace to humanity, and a disgrace to the United States of America.

Not to put too fine a point on it.

(AP) Gingrich's congressional career ended in 1998 when he abruptly resigned from Congress after poor showings from Republicans in elections and after being reprimanded by the House ethics panel over charges that he used tax-exempt funding to advance his political goals.

MacYapper - Oh yeah, he resigned in disgrace. Something he couldn't get Bill to do.
Cigar Boy 1 New Booty Newtie 0

BIG CBS SUNDAY MORNING SHOW A COMIN'

Part of Mac-Yapper Media Whore Tour

CBS Sunday Morning Reporter Joie Chen and her most excellent crew are busy viewing, writing and editing what is bound to be an interesting piece slated for air this Sunday morning between 9 and 10:30 on the outstanding CBS SUNDAY MORNING news magazine show. Remember we "Spring Forward," so don't screw it up when you set your alarm or the Tivo.

It's all about Mayor Opie, and it includes interviews with Opie, Mr. Peduto-head, most excellent political analyst Duquesne Law Professor Joe Mistick, and your very own MacYapper, and it may include footage of MacYapper standup comedy poking fun at our beloved Opie.

More on that in a moment, but first, MacYipper Carol observes this about Opie:

John, I have been trying to understand why Ravenstahl
isn't held up to any scrutiny by much of the public...
as in your point that if Murphy had deferred 100% to
Roddey on sports deals the media and public would've
been all over it.

Luke is: the Teflon Teenager! Or, the Teflon
Toddler. Take yer pick.

Hey, maybe I just like alliteration.
Carol

MacYapper - Coocoo for Cocoa Crap Carol!
I kinda like the latter.

LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF THEN PUT IT BACK ON

MacYapper standup comedy with Gab Bonesso
Point Park University Monday
The Brillo Box Tuesday
Details at www.myspace.com/MacYapper

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

I STILL SAY THEY'RE BLUFFIN' EDITION

MARIO IS STILL WHINING HIS MILLIONNAIRE ASS OFF
When Will He Put A Puck In It?

STURM AND DRANG AROUND THE ROSIE
When Will She Shut Her Pie Hole?

JOEY PORTER WHINES HIS BULLET-RIDDEN ASS OFF
When Will He Shut The F Up?

WHO'S DOIN' WHO IN D.C.?
When Will They Learn To Keep It In Their Pants?

The Snarkery Starts Now

MacYapper - Yo, yo, yo MacYippers! Who's the only other media type in town dorky enough to use the word "skedaddle"? It's fantastic PG columnist Brian O'Neill, who puts the Pens threat to leave in perspective today:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07067/767787-155.stm

BRIAN O'NEILL:
The letter from team owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle follows the tried-and-true form of the genre. It drips with that "as much as this pains us'' tone that is familiar to anyone who has read the sports pages for the past half-century.

In this, Messrs. Lemieux and Burkle are merely playing the game as it was designed. Rare is the sporting palace built without brinksmanship and threats to skedaddle. This particular threat is different only in that the out-of-town offer is so tangible.

MacYapper - Brian also points out we're talking about hundreds of millions of "other people's dollars," something I think is forgotten all too often in discussions about Mario the whining millionaire and his constant empty threats to take his puck and go home.

Said it before and I'll say it again. No freaking way Mario splits for Kansas City or Vegas or Peoria or Poughkeepsie or the Pocanos or Poontang City. Well, maybe he'll visit the latter, but he ain't a goin' nowhere. They're just doin' the dance, trying to hold up the taxpayers for the best deal possible.

PORTER STILL FLAPPING HIS GUMS

POST-GAZETTE.COM:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07067/767807-66.stm
Joey Porter believes he might have remained with the Steelers had Bill Cowher not quit as their coach in January.

"I would like to say that he would have made an effort to get something done over there. I just feel that way," said Porter at a news conference yesterday in Miami after he signed a five-year, $32 million contract with the Dolphins.

MacYapper - Dude, you're gone. History. In the archives. Outta here. Don't let the door shoot you in the ass on the way out. Now Shut The F Up and move on with your life and your mouth. Get over it. Shit happens.

POST-GAZETTE.COM:
"The reality of last year, our whole season last year, the team didn't get it done. We didn't play well enough to be successful. I think as a whole team we never had that many third downs; we never were ahead of a team to get after the quarterback like we normally would.

"As far as my play, my play will be there. I am not worried about it. If they look at it as a down year -- we had a whole down year as a team so we all failed in getting the job done that we wanted to get done, but I feel like I can still play this game at a Pro Bowl level, and that's the type of player I am."

MacYapper - The reality of last year is that you sucked. YOU didn't get it done. That's why they sent your ass packin.' Wake up and smell the mediocrity. I hope you find your mojo. Now shut the F up.

THESMOKINGGUN.COM:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0307071palfrey1.html
MARCH 7--Federal prosecutors want to gag an indicted former Washington, D.C. madam who has recently threatened to go public with details about her former customers. In a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court, investigators are seeking a protective order covering discovery material to be provided to Deborah Palfrey and her lawyers. Palfrey, 50, was indicted last week on racketeering and money laundering charges stemming from her operation of the Pamela Martin & Associates escort service, which closed last summer after 13 years in business. In their motion, a copy of which you'll find below, government lawyers claim that some discovery documents contain "personal information" about Palfrey's former johns and prostitutes that is "sensitive."

MacYapper - Who's steppin' out with high priced poontang? The Tedmeister? Swingin' Dick Cheney? Is that why John McCain often has that dopey half grin on his puss? Is that why they call him Jumpin' Jack Murtha?
I think it's sweet that even in this era of partisan sniping and mean spirited bickering, we older white guys can still try to hush up the peccadillos of other older white guys. You know when you think about it, we're all we've got.

CAN THEY UNDO WHAT KATIE DID?
HOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3id40d4889dd07389c34a46bd6424191a8
NEW YORK -- Rick Kaplan, the legendary producer and former president of CNN and MSNBC, will be named executive producer of the "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric."
Sources said late Wednesday that Rome Hartman, who had been named producer of the broadcast in late 2005, would be replaced by Kaplan as early as today. Hartman, a former "60 Minutes" producer and a favorite of CBS News president Sean McManus, will be reassigned to another high post at CBS News.

MacYapper - Good luck with all that Ricky. Kaplan's good, but that broadcast needs a freaking miracle. Have you seen my girl Katie lately? She put the hag in haggard. I mean, what happened to perky pants? I don't expect her to yuk it up and start punching Bob Sheiffer in the shoulder, but she is Grimly McGrimstein for chrissakes.
I was an early supporter and I still love the Katiemeister, but I'm thinkin' this might have been what's known in broadcasting as a bad idea. But I hope I'm wrong.

WRONG AROUND THE ROSIE

MacYapper - Rosie girl has her nipple in a wringer again. Now Fox won't give The View clips because Rosie has harsh words for the producers of American Idol:

WCBSTV.COM
http://wcbstv.com/entertainment/local_story_066194330.html
"It started with the two special-ed boys and then my concern about Paula (Abdul's) possible non-attentiveness and then saying that I thought it was sexist or racist and weight-ist that they put Frenchie (Davis) off and not Antonella (Barba)," O'Donnell said.

Fox responded to O'Donnell's charges Wednesday afternoon.

"Without wishing to add to the obvious self-promotion of Ms. O'Donnell, I feel as though I must refute her absurd and ridiculous claims that 'American Idol' is racist and/or weight-ist," the reality show's executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe, said in a statement given to CBSNews.com's The Showbuzz. "Ms. O'Donnell has, once again, spoken without thought or knowledge. Viewers need only look at the show tonight to realize that 'American Idol' constantly confirms to America that talent has nothing to do with weight or color."

MacYapper - - OK, you know Fox is definitely on the lookout for Ricky Retardo, or Lucy Retardo, or anyone easily ridiculed. But I'll give them this, they're an equal opportunity bunch of bastards. They have simply perfected the classic American pastime of ridiculing others to make one feel superior. Or maybe that's the classic human pastime.

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA

Come to Point Park University Monday or The Brillo Box Tuesday for some yuks with MacYapper and Comedian Gab Bonesso.

More details at www.myspace.com/MacYapper

Rock On MacYippers!
Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

OPIE TAKES HIS LUMPS ON YOU TUBE EDITION

ANTI-OPIE ATTACK AD HITS YOU-TUBE
Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes

MR. PEDUTO-HEAD LAUNCHES EXPERIENCE GRENADE
Who Should Take The Lead In Pens Negotiations?

JON DELANO ANALYZES MR. PEDUTO-HEAD'S CHARGES
Why Wasn't He Named In TV Anchor Threesome Contest?

SCOOTER? I DON'T EVEN KNOW 'ER
MacYapper Predicts Libby's Ultimate Fate

MAC-YAPPER COMEDY GIGS UPCOMING!
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY THIS MONDAY!
THE BRILLO BOX THIS TUESDAY!
Details at www.MySpace.com/MacYapper

The Snarkery Starts Now
Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers! A video oriented MacYipper sent me this YouTube anti-Opie ad. It's not bad. Except they misspelled judgment. But hey, it's fixable
Check it ott:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u9aU9cwdZo

Now Mr. Peduto-head is saying Opie should take the lead in negotiations with the Pens. Opie is saying Fast Eddie has the cash, and that's why he has to lay back.
What bothers me is, there's no way anyone would take Opie seriously even if he TRIED to take the lead role. And his uncle Danny wouldn't let him anyway, because he's the "boss."

Meantime, KDKA's Jon Delano takes a crack at analyzing Mr. Peduto-heads charges:
(KDKA) PITTSBURGH
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s only opponent in this year’s mayoral election came out swinging today following the Penguins declaration of impasse on Monday.
KDKA's Jon Delano talked with City Councilman Bill Peduto today about the recent developments in the talks with the Penguins team officials.
http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_065184241.html

Can you imagine Tom Murphy allowing anyone else to take the lead role in negotiations that so directly affect the heart of the city?

To say the current situation is a joke is a HUGE understatement.

It'll be interesting to see whether CBS SUNDAY MORNING plays up the Pens controversy in its upcoming report scheduled for air this Sunday on Opie.

They're in town for one more day, today, before skedaddling back to view, write and edit.

SCOOTER GUILTY BUT SO FREAKING WHAT?
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070307/D8NNB2PO0.html
WASHINGTON (AP)
But the case offered little new information about whether President Bush was involved or whether he authorized any leaks. Defense attorneys never delivered Cheney or Libby to the witness stand as promised to discuss the White House effort to undermine the credibility of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, a campaign that resulted in the disclosure of his wife Valerie Plame's job at the CIA.

MacYapper - I shouldn't have been, but I was flabbergasted... they actually gasted my flabber... when on HANNITY @ Colmes last night, the talking point spewers were STILL actually questioning whether there was anything wrong with outing Valerie Plame. Unfreakingbelieveable.

PARDON ME? PARDON YOU
(AP)
Libby's fate remains unclear. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced June 5, but his federal sentencing guidelines are much lower. His lawyers promised to ask for a new trial and said they'll ask that Libby remain free while any appeals are fought.

And then there's the lingering question of whether Bush will pardon Libby, as the president's father did in 1992 for former Reagan administration officials caught up in the scandal that grew out of arms sales to Iran and the diversion of proceeds to the Nicaraguan rebels.

MacYapper - Bet the house, bet the farm, bet the wife, bet the mistress, bet your bottom dollar, bet the ranch, betcha can't eat just one, bet midler... wager EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT... if the conviction stands, and it will, Dubya WILL follow in the old man's footsteps and pardon Scooter.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS! If you're going to be a criminal, befriend a decider. Couldn't hurt.

email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

CBS PUTS THE EYE ON OPIE EDITION

WHINING MILLIONAIRE BITCHING PUBLICLY AGAIN
Puck Me? Puck Yinz!

SUNDAY MORNING ON CBS INVADES THE 'BURGH
MacYapper Interviewed For Piece On Opie

DICK CHENEY TO THE RESCUE
Shameless Veep To Deal With Shame At Walter Reed

MAC-YAPPER NEW TALK SHOW IS A COMIN'
Round The Mountain When It Comes

The Snarkery Starts Now
Yo, yo, yo MacYippers! Mario the whining millionaire is threatening us again.
Wooooooo. He's so tough. After all he did for the 'Burgh we should kiss his Canadian ass 24 hours a day.

Wait, we made him rich by purchasing kajillions of tickets for kajillions of dollars. So I think we're even. So quit threatening to take your puck and go home.
Go puck yourself.

I still say it's all posturing and he ain't goin' nowhere.

POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07064/767020-100.stm
The team owners also said in the letter that Friday's appeals on the Pittsburgh slots license "cause us great concern." Don Barden, the winning casino bidder, has pledged $7.5 million a year from slots proceeds toward an arena. But with appeals filed against the award, construction of the casino could be delayed and it is not clear when arena payments could begin.

"A project of this scope, with so many complex issues, can ill afford further delays that add more risk and more uncertainty," the letter continues. "The risk has been magnified by what we perceive as a lack of collaboration from the public sector in the negotiations."

MacYapper - First of all, who's the advertising genius who thought up this "appeals" program? We ought to force them to eat small packages of airline peanuts for life.

I mean, we freakin' picked one. Why is there an appeals program? It's not like we sentenced someone to death for cryin' out loud.

From what I hear Fast Eddie Rendell ain't the problem. It's a rather stubborn Danny Onorato. It sure as hell ain't Opie, who continues to be irrelevant. But then, you knew that.

Just what we need Mr. and Mrs. Pikksburgh. The Pens are threatening to leave the city, and the mayor of the city isn't even a real player in the talks to keep them.
But hey, he's got a nice face.

SUNDAY MORNING ON CBS COMES TO THE 'BURGH

CBS News reporter Joie Chen and her wonderful crew of John and Mike are in the city doing a story on Opie. Yes, more national publicity for the city. No, it won't matter. Stop thinking just because Opie brings national publicity it will somehow stop the city's decline.

He brings publicity because he's a novelty. If we made a chimp mayor, he, too, would get on Letterman and they would write about it in the New York Times.

Chen and crew showed up at the Earth Stone Coffee Shop on Penn Avenue for Gab Bonesso's Open Mic night, a laid back workshop where comics work out their new stuff. They taped MacYapper doing a little Opie humor, and then did a straight interview.

Chen's husband is from here and she knows the whole deal... the history, Pittsburgh-ese, the politics, the corruption. So it's not just somebody parachuting in, taking a few educated guesses, slapping some crap together, and blowing town.

Today and tomorrow, Opie, Mr. Peduto-head, and perhaps others will be interviewed.

A shout out to Duquesne Law Professor Joe Mistick and WQED's Jocelyn Hough for recommending me to the CBS folk.

The interview focused on what kind of a mayor we need for the city's immediate future, and the obvious topics of experience, or lack thereof.

Another shout out to Kareem of Earth Stone Coffee for letting us invade and take over his facility. He puts the Kareem in the coffee. Bet he's never heard that one before.

The piece is scheduled to air this Sunday morning between 9 and 10:30 a.m. on KDKA TV2.

Don't let that whole early daylight savings time thing screw you up... you'll want to see this report.

Spring forward. Always forward, never straight, man.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME

WASHINGTON (AP) - Flayed by lawmakers' criticism, Army leaders said Monday they accept responsibility for substandard conditions at the service's flagship Walter Reed Army Medical Center but also said they hadn't known about most of the problems.

Democrats and Republicans alike suggested the failings go far beyond the one hospital for wounded soldiers in Washington, and they demanded action. Military leaders - and Vice President Dick Cheney - promised they'd get it.

MacYapper - Cheney? Cheney is promising this? Isn't this the worst kept secret (no longer) in D.C.? Now he's suddenly coming in on the White House white horse?

I know it's obvious to point out the revolting hypocrisy of their "support the troops" rhetoric compared with the reality of shitty health care, but we're all so used to these guys screwing up big time, we forget to be outraged by their utter and shameless incompetence.

(AP) A big question for lawmakers - left largely unanswered Monday - was what Army officials knew about the problems before a series of articles last month by The Washington Post shined a spotlight on them, and whether they chose to ignore them.

MacYapper - I've got the answer. They knew and they didn't care. You may know Walter Reed has been on the base closing list, and many believe apathy ensued from the moment it was put on the list. Why throw good money after bad?
This whole thing is f'ing disgraceful.

MAC-YAPPER THREATENS TO MOVE TO KANSAS CITY IF HE CAN'T REACH A DEAL

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Mac-Yapper has reached an agreement with the muckety mucks at CBS for a new FM talk show. Details to be announced whenever they decide to do so. But I'll be back on the air soon MacYippers, so keep yer pants on. Or not.
ROCK ON MACYIPPERS!

Email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

FIGHT TO THE FINISH EDITION

SCORE ONE FOR OPIE
The Sheep Fall In Line

DON'T MESS WITH BEN WOODS
Or You Won't See The Forest For The Trees

YARONE ZOBER IS AN ASS
Is That Redundant?

LAMB ENDS UP WINNING
Controller? I Don't Even Know Her

The Snarkery Stars Now

Yo, yo, yo, MacYippers!
The ridiculously tight contest for City Controller got a bit tighter Sunday, when acting Controller Tony Pokora beat Michael "What The Hell's A Prothonotary" Lamb by one lousy vote in the race for the Dem endorsement, 337-336. But then he didn't.

There were five "provisional" ballots, whatever the hell that means. So this outcome is apparently unclear. And Mikey Dawida will be running in this puppy too, though he did not seek the endorsement.

UPDATE FROM MY MAN HOAGIE:

John,

Mike Lamb was declared the winner after they found that 2 out of the 5
provisional ballots were legit and they went in Lamb's favor.

We also found that one of those provisional ballots belonged to Scratch My Back
With a Hacksaw herself Sophie Masloff.

OPIE SHOWS MR. PEDUTO-HEAD THE POWER OF THE MACHINE
When I asked Mr. Peduto-head what he thought of his chances of winning the Democratic Committee endorsement, he kept saying "don't know, can't tell who's lying to me." Well apparently many people were, because Opie's margin of victory was strong 602-163, surprising some, including City Committee Chair Barbara Ernsberger, who thought it would be much closer.

Fortunately for Mr. Peduto-head, this really doesn't matter. It would have mattered had he pulled off a miracle. He did not. The incumbent should win. And he did.
It seems Danny O and County Chair Jim Burn put the pressure on and it worked like a charm. They want to create an aura of inevitablity.

Now it's up to the actual city voters.

POST-GAZETTE.COM:
Mr. Peduto said he'd fight on.

"It's not the numbers I was hoping for, but 800 people voted today, and 60,000 will vote on May 15," said the councilman, who sent aprons to committee members in recent days in an effort to cook up support. "It doesn't slow our campaign down. If anything, it fires us up."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07064/766950-182.stm

MacYapper - That's the spirit Mr. Peduto-head! Rage against the machine, baby! It's you against the world.

Bluto: "Over? Did you say, 'over?' Nothing is over until WE decide it is!
Was over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

Boone: "Germans?"

Otter: "Forget it. He's rolling."

MacYapper - Time to get serious, dude. Rock on!

DENNIE REGAN WORKS THE HALLWAY FOR OPIE

My old buddy Dennie was at the IBEW hall workin' for Opie, although I suspect his work was probably finished by the time today rolled around. I heard from Committee Boy Matt Hogue that Dennie was looking for me. We tried to find him, but he had already vamoosed. Catch ya at one of these events, dude.

Now one guy told me that Dennie is claiming his old job, Operations Director, is still open and that one day he, Dennie, would reclaim it. Say, after the election in May.
That would be somethin.'

WOODS READY TO MIX IT UP, BABY, YEAH!

I saw Mr. Peduto-head supporter Ben Woods jawboning intensly with an unidentified Opie backer and committeeman. It seems Ben knows that this guy and his wife, also a committee-person, don't live in the district they represent... hence they're ineligible to vote.

Woods filed a protest with the county committee, which of course, is in the tank with Opie, though technically they're not supposed to be.

Anyway, the guy does an eyeball to eyeball intense argument with Woods, no shrinking violet. They avoided coming to blows, BUT BARELY.

But it seems that there are 25 people the Peduto campaign claims ARE NOT ELIGIBLE because they either aren't registered to vote or don't live where they say they do, or are registered in some other district.

However, due to the margin of victory of course, it doesn't really matter.

Meantime, MacYapper got thrown out of the area where they were voting by some weasely kid who kinda has muttonchops and a beard but kinda doesn't. He refused to give MacYapper his name other than being a "volunteer" for the Democratic Committee.

These weasely kids today.
No harm, no foul.

MAC-YAPPER AND THE OPIE CLAN

Otherwise, MacYapper sported an "I like Luke" button for a joke. Opie chuckled ever so briefly. But then I met Erin Ravenstahl, the blond wife. She was quite gracious, considering. I also met other members of the Ravenstahl family who asked me not to blog about them in specific terms.

But one asked about my button and whether I was just jaggin' Opie. I said I was. They replied "you are an ass." Which, arguably, is true. But considering all the crap I've hurled at Opie, the Ravenstahlers were quite nice.

STONE COLD ZOBER

The same could not be said for Yarone Zober, power crazy egomaniacal chief of staff, who MacYapper was prepared to be gracious toward, but he just kept walking by and saying "yeah, yeah, nice ta meet ya," and he condescendingly and dismissively waddled away. But apparently that is Yarone's, shall we say, style.

Whatever. Although I did once blog about Mr. Peduto-head stealing Yarone's girl, who Yarone originally stole from Mr. Peduto-head, so, whatya gonna do?

STEVE ZAPALLA'S HOT WIFE MARY

Hung out with the Steveinator's main squeeze. Always a hoot. Zapalla has no competition so he was just kissing hands and shaking babies. Somebody call Cyril.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!
email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

RARE SATURDAY ELECTION EVE EDITION

FACE OFF - OPIE VS. MR. PEDUTO-HEAD
Do Or Die, Rubber Meets Road, All That Shit

DENNIE'S HAVIN' HIM SOME MEETIN'S
Ward Chairs Hear Regan's Plea

OPIE GETS READY TO PARTY ON SOUTH SIDE
MacYipper Wonders WTF?

The Snarkery Starts Now

Well, it's nut crunching time. Mr. Peduto-head and Opie are out doing furious last minute campaigning.

Here's something else that's been happening. Our old pal Dennie Regan has been meeting with ward chairs. Now mind you, there's nothing ostensibly wrong with that.
Opie can hire whoever he wants to help with his campaign.

And Dennie can be an asset. Mostly because many people are afraid of him, hence, he has some magical powers of persuasion.

But since he left the administration under questionable circumstances, it still seems to me the MSM could step up to the plate and ask IF he's helping the campaign (he is) and IF he's being paid (don't know) and whether that's inappropriate in view of his rather hasty exit from Opiedome.

MAC-YIPPER E MAIL BAG

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl plans to join the South Side bar crowd.
The mayor said last night at a community meeting that he will head
out to East Carson Street late on March 9 to see first-hand what
neighbors have been complaining about.

JAY SAYS:
How can this kid who was arrested for being rowdy while drinking at
Heinz Field not understand thoroughly understand the plight of the
South Side? It is kids like him that are our problem. Yes, I am
qualified to make this statement. I'm 25 and I don't act like the
frat boys who destroy the neighborhood... or the ones who lead unruly
mobs into Heinz Field.
JAY

MacYapper - Some folks want the destructive frat boy. I complain of old school antics here often, but plenty of folks like the old school.

Barbara Ernsberger, city committee chair, says she's neutral. But a MacYipper begs to differ:

SMITTY SAYS
MacYapper
Babs Ernsberger is with Bill..she has been a stealth agent...take it to the bank.
Smitty

MacYapper - Well Smitty, I hope you're right. Don't know how much of a difference it'll make.

OPIE E-MAIL WORKING?

luke.ravenstahl@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

A MacYipper told me Opie's e-mail wasn't working. But I emailed him and it seemed to go through. So, apparently it is a false report. See how desperate I am for tidbits?
That is the tiddiest tidbit ever. It might be only a tid and not a bit.

CBS SUNDAY MORNING COMING TO TOWN TO DO OPIE STORY

Seems once again Opie's youth and inexperience is news. This week a crew from CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, an excellent show and one of the few truly classy news magazines left on television, is coming to town to tape some interviews for a piece on their program.

And you never know who they might be interviewing.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!
See yinz at the IBEW Hall where the voting takes place on Sunday.

Will Mr. Peduto-head pull off a miracle? Stay tuned.

email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

E-DAY APPROACHING EDITION

ARE DEMS PLAYING DIRTY POOL WITH ENDORSEMENT?
A MacYipper Claims They're Stacking The Deck

IS OPIE UNFAIRLY SLIMED IN 'BURGHOPSHERE?
MacYapper Always Fair And Imbalanced

MR. PEDUTO-HEAD HAS RECIPE FOR POTENTIAL VICTORY
Will Opie Dine On Baked Crow?

THROW ANOTHER BLOG ON THE FIRE
'Burgh Blogger Claims "Rejuvenation"

The Snarkery Starts Now

Yo, yo, yo MacYippers! Welp, by this time Monday we'll know who won the Democratic Committee endorsement. As you may have seen on yesterday's MacYapper, it could be close.

A win or even a narrow loss is a win for Peduto. A significant defeat of Peduto is an obvious win for Opie, but doesn't mean as much since the incumbent SHOULD win.

Although a win for Opie would be big in the sense that he dodged a bullet that could seriously wound him.

IS THE FIX IN?

The Democratic Party is not supposed to put the fix in for Opie. But that's what they're trying to do. They being the establishment, party chief Jim Burn, etc.

Barbara Ernsberger, the head of the city Dem committee, says in my City Paper column that it could be close.
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A23521
But a MacYipper offers this food for thought:

MAC-YIPPER E-MAIL BAG:
Barbara can't pretend to be impartial. She knows they are packing the unfilled
committee spots in the city with people who will vote for Luke.
GrantStreet

MacYapper - If true, that Babs does a helluva job affecting the independent veneer.

But yes, of course, the powers that be are trying to put the fix in for Opie.
Welcome to politics. Welcome to Pittsburgh.

ANOTHER MAC-YIPPER WEIGHS IN:

I read your blog almost every day. Opie has to hate you. He is a whipping boy for the corruption of the city and county.
POLITICALBOY

MacYapper - POLITICALBOY makes a good point. Opie does probably get more than his fair share of grief for walking into a system that was established long ago, and milking it the old fashioned way.

But if you can't stand the heat...
When you play with fire...
If you lie down with dogs...

You can lead a horse to water, but she still lost the election.
Why the long face?

OPIE ACCUSED OF BEING FULL OF IT

Get this... Opie is full of crap when he says you shouldn't charge a few extra bucks to businesses who want to hire city cops for events 'n'at.

What, you say? Opie full of crap? Giving an answer that's disingenuous?

Read all about it at the Burgh report:

http://burghreport.blogspot.com/2007/03/killing-off-duty-cost-recovery-program.html

MacYapper - Rich Lord writes about all the candidates legally bribing with freebies:

POST-GAZETTE.COM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07061/766236-182.stm
Councilman William Peduto, running for mayor, is sending committee members packets of local recipes, so they can cook up culinary treats from 16 neighborhoods.

"Because our campaign is cooking," he explained. "The final recipe, though, is on Sunday, and that's up to them."

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is countering with blankets. They're "not necessarily symbolic," he said. "Nothing to the blankets, just, 'Keep warm."

MacYapper - And what do you do with blankets?
Why you COVER-UP!
As in the desire to kill the Cathy McNeilly lawsuit to avoid answering embarrassing questions about Opiegate, the handcuffs incident at Heinz Field... all the while costing the taxpayers many thousands of dollars.

Which brings to mind a new Opie campaign slogan:
Why opt for progressive Peduto when you can SETTLE for the status quo? Opie - a blast from the past

Just what we need. Something else moving us backwards.

ONE MORE MAC-YIPPER E-MAIL:
Blog friends, you have wooed us to the dark side. Or something like that. The geek is flying in our office today and it is manifesting itself in out of control starwars references.... all of which is to say that we have reinvigorated our blog. Check us out. I doubt we will have the Herculean time management skills to post daily, but we will try to get regular posts going. Check us out at http://www.pittsburgh.indyvoter.org/blog/ . Know that we love you all and read you daily. In fact that is probably what we will be doing instead of blogging.
Jennifer England
Director of Communications
Pittsburgh League of Young Voters

MacYapper - I'll be trolling for tidbits, so if yinz here of any hot political potatoes, email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE OPIE! SPECIAL EDITION

IT'S CRAP OR GET OFF THE POT TIME AT THE O-K CORRAL
Either That, Or It's Mayoral Endorsement Time

MR. PEDUTO-HEAD IS NO J.F.K.
Unless Of Course, You're Comparing Him To Opie

MAC-YAPPER PLEA TO COMMITTEE-PERSONS
Do You Know What You're Doing?

OPIE ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
Upon Further Review, This Blows

The Snarkery Starts Now

Today, I issue a desperate plea to all of yinz out there in MacYipper land.
The future of our city is at stake.

Bill Peduto is not Abe Lincoln. He's not even Mary Todd Lincoln. Although he probably looks just as good in a dress. But then, have you ever notice how tough it is to find decent photos of Mary Todd Lincoln?

But, I digress.
Here's the deal Mr. and Mrs. Pikksburgh and all the ships at sea. It's one thing to turn the keys over to the kid and let him drive the car around the block a few times. It's quite another to conclude that because he didn't completely total the car, we should give him the freaking automobile and let him drive it around for years. Especially when he's been driving so recklessly at times.

Could we review a little of the sordid history of the Opie administration?

When did things really start to go south. Hmmm... let's see... if I could just recall.
Oh, yeah...
ON DAY FREAKING ONE OF THE OPIE ADMINISTRATION IT WENT SOUTH!

And what happened that leaves a putrid taste in your MacYapper's mouth?

The dude tried to cheat the system from MOMENT ONE and get years in office, finishing out Bobby O's term, when he didn't have it coming to him.
That's when some wise guy, presumably Yarone Zober, told the City Law Department to insert into the letter than made Opie the mayor, that Opie's term would end in '09.

This, of course, was preposterous. Why wouldn't we want a special election to determine whether this child should be mayor?

Opie acts like a hapless stooge. And perhaps he is that. But he did become mayor and he COULD have insisted that that provision be removed from the letter that declared him mayor.

Mind you, there was no reason that language should have been inserted. Everyone knows there's a board of elections that would determine such matters.

BUT OPIE AND HIS CREW TRIED TO CHEAT THE SYSTEM FROM MOMENT ONE.

Item Number Two: Opie knew Dennie Regan was trying to help his friends the cops.
He knew that Dennie had reinstated a fired cop who beat up a guy at a bar while free-lancing. He knew Dennie was trying to protect his girlfriend's brother the cop from being disciplined.

He knew because Commander Cathy McNeilly contacted him with the evidence.
What did he do? NOTHING. HE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
He ignored Commander McNeilly because he's a good old boy who wants to protect his friends, and allow them to protect their friends, because that's the way old school hack politics works.

Then the feces hit the fan. McNeilly notified City Council. Just in time, too.

BECAUSE OPIE HAD NOMINATED A GUY WITH ZERO PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERIENCE, UNPRECEDENTED IN ANY SIMILAR SIZED CITY, TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR - BOSS OF THE COPS.

Incredible. Dumbfounding. Despicable. Amateurish. Outlandish. Regoddamndiculous.

SO, OPIE GETS CAUGHT WITH HIS HAND IN THE DOPIE JAR...

As in nominating someone with no credentials for a criticially important job. How does he react? Cathy McNeilly, whether she went about it the right way or not, was trying to say "hey, this guy is not only unqualified, he's dangerous."

So what does Opie do? He demotes her. Why does he demote someone who's motive was to save the city from a really bad Public Safety Director nominee?

BECAUSE SHE MESSED WITH ONE OF HIS BUDDIES, AND SHE HAD TO BE SLAPPED DOWN.
Because that's the way old school party hack politics works.

There's just one thing. You can't slap down a whistleblower that easily these days. They have laws and stuff. These laws protect whistleblowers. Opie said she wasn't a whistleblower. But of course, as in most cases, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Because he's in way over his head.

A judge, who does know what she's talking about, says McNeilly IS a whistleblower.
And now Opie's rash, impetuous, poorly thought out, rookie-mistake move will cost the city thousands of dollars.

AND WHY WILL OPIE SEND THOUSANDS OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT FROM A WHISTLEBLOWER WHO HE SAYS ISN'T A WHISTLEBLOWER?

Because attorneys would depose him about the Heinz Field incident. You know, Opiegate? Where he got pissed off because he couldn't get in and, after a few drinks, decided to loudly and obnoxiously confront a police officer? The time he was led away in handcuffs until his dad called Bobby O' who called Dennie who put the fix in and sprung him?

Mind you, anybody who's anybody often gets special treatment in this town, or any other. So it doesn't really kill me that Opie got off.

But his poor judgment and immaturity came through loud and clear.

AND NOW, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE DEPOSED ABOUT THAT INCIDENT, AND BECAUSE HE MADE A DUMB MISTAKE DEMOTING MCNEILLY, WE, THE TAXPAYERS, ARE OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

And what of Dennie Regan? He's still helping the Opie campaign. He was spotted at the campaign office the other day. What is the significance of that? It's that Opie is still being controlled by the good ol' boy network, and he doesn't repudiate it. He embraces it. He just hides it.

WHEN WILL THE MSM ASK OPIE IF REGAN IS STILL A PART OF THE CAMPAIGN?
Or will they at all?

WHAT ABOUT PEDUTO, THE GUY WHO'S NOT ABE LINCOLN OR EVEN MARY TODD?

Bill's not perfect. He's too wonky for some. He's not yinzer enough for others.

But he's smart. He knows the issues. He knows the city.

And to lift a slogan from a previous Pittsburgh mayor, he's nobody's boy.

By contrast, Opie is everybody's boy. Literally. He's Danny O's boy. He's the corporate world's boy. He's the man many in power want in because they think they can control him.

I WANT A MAYOR WHO CALLS HIS OWN SHOTS INSTEAD OF BEING DANNY O'S WATER BOY.
Here's the YouTube link to the infamous Dem committee meeting at which Opie refers to his Daddy pol as "the boss."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDqxAvVwck

I want a mayor who makes decisions because he understands the issues and has an opinion because he's been studying them at all levels for many years.

I do not want a mayor who accidentally became council president because the grownups couldn't decide on a grownup.

I want a mayor who doesn't elevate unqualified pols to critical positions.

I want a mayor who doesn't cost us money in lawsuits because of poor judgement.

I want a mayor who's already gone through puberty.
Puberty, it's right there next to East Liberty.

This race is close and you can read all about it on line at the link below:

PGHCITYPAPER.COM - VOX POP:
The shit is hitting the fan in Pittsburgh's mayoral race, with both Democrats campaigning hard for the party's endorsement. Predictably, the campaigns of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (a.k.a. Mayor Opie) and City Councilor Bill Peduto (a.k.a. Mr. Peduto-head) absolutely despise one another.

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A23521

It's your city Mr. and Mrs. Pikksburgh. Don't give it away to the powerful who are un-elected but want to control those who are.

Give it to somebody who's going to call his own shots.
Give it to somebody who's his own man.
Turn the keys to the car over to the experienced driver.

Once again, the city you save may be Yarone.

ROCK ON MAC-YIPPERS!email me at johnmcintire@comcast.net