A Pennsylvania Senator Tries to Have it Both Ways
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Party Foul
Pennsylvania Republican-turned-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter once again appears to be having a bit of a political identity crisis. With a tough primary only one week away, Specter spoke Tuesday to a group of Democrats in Pittsburgh and said this: "I thank the Allegheny Republican Committee for endorsing me for the Democratic nomination… Great pleasure to be endorsed by the Allegheny County Republicans and together we'll win for victory."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Specter said he simply misspoke. It was just one month ago when he made a similar flub in front of the Penn State College Democrats, calling them college Republicans.
Potty Politics
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill think the restroom situation in federal buildings for women stinks. A House Oversight Committee held hearings today on the Potty Parity Act — no joke — it's a bill that would require any federal building constructed for public use to have an equal number of toilets in women's and men's restrooms.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Drive a Hard Bargain
A 2000 Jeep Cherokee with 133,000 miles on it has sold at auction for almost $23,000 over its estimated value.
The reason? The previous owner happened to be a Mr. Barack Obama. The Wall Street Journal reports Liz Murphy bought the Jeep from a used car dealer back in 2004. When she was given the paperwork for it, the seller pointed to the name on the title — both recognized Obama as a popular Chicago politician — and then he suggested the buyer make a copy of it because, "You never know — he might be president some day."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}well now that he is president, Murphy thought it was time to make a deal. She says the president left his mark on the Jeep — a wear mark on the steering wheel, a small tear on one of the leather seats, and the lingering smell of cigarette smoke.
Swing and a Miss
And finally Boston Democratic Mayor Thomas Menino used up two strikes this week when talking about the city's sports history. Menino said: "We have an amazing set of remarkable athletes whose actions in the moment have become ionic in sports." He probably meant iconic.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He went on to confuse Red Sox catcher Jason Veritek with Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, saying Veritek kicked it "right through the uprights." Menino admitted he goofed, joking he was having a bad hair day.
— Fox News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.