By Hunter Walker and Colin Campbell 12/20/12 5:53pm

Blast From The Past

L

Christine Quinn, The College Years

On May 1, 1987, City Council Speaker and all-but-officially announced candidate in next year’s mayoral race Christine Quinn found herself in a makeshift boxing ring set up in the backyard of a fraternity at her school, Trinity College. As part of Trinity’s annual spring weekend festivities, Ms. Quinn was to face off against her friend and classmate Sean McHugh in “Bantam Bouts,” a charity boxing exhibition named after the school’s mascot. Ms. Quinn’s matchup against Mr. McHugh, a lineman on the school football team, was billed as the “Battle of the Big Mouths.”

Posters for the fight dubbed the Speaker “Christine ‘Maddog’ Quinn,” a moniker she said also came from her outsized reputation.

“It was just one of those nicknames that went along with being loud and pushy,” Ms. Quinn told Politicker. “Some people are just born loud and I was one of them.”

Though Ms. Quinn and Mr. McHugh described the event as “fake” and a “goof” to raise money for a local daycare, there was no doubt about the winner.

“I lost. She won,” Mr. McHugh remembered. “She knocked me out.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/24/12 1:19pm

Special Offers

Trump to Obama: Let's Make a Deal (Photo: YouTube)

Donald Trump Has a ‘Deal’ For President Obama

Real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump unveiled his announcement of “something very, very big concerning the president of the United States” this afternoon. Mr. Trump’s promised major revelation prompted widespread rumors he might reveal something about President Barack Obama’s marriage or past drug-related activity. In the end, Mr. Trump used Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to present a deal he hopes will yield new information about the president’s college years.

“I have a deal for the president–a deal that I do not believe he can refuse. If Barack Obama agrees (or has the universities and colleges agree) to give all of his college records and applications and if he provides all of his passport records and applications, I will give to a charity of his choice…a check for five million dollars,” Mr. Trump said in a press release that was posted on his Facebook and Twitter pages. Read More

By Hunter Walker 8/11/12 1:03pm

Academia

The Delta Tau Delta logo. (Photo: MiamiUDelts.com)

Paul Ryan’s Frat Brothers Are ‘Excited For His Candidacy’

During his time at Miami University in Ohio, Mitt Romney’s newly-minted running mate, Paul Ryan, was a member of the Gamma Upsilon chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Joseph Gorman, the sergeant at arms of Miami’s Delta Tau Delta chapter, spoke to The Politicker about how the fraternity’s current members are reacting to the news of Mr. Ryan’s selection.

“It’s definitely positive for Greek life on Miami’s campus,” said Mr. Gorman. “It pushes the opportunity to see Greek life as a positive thing.”

Mr. Gorman also said the Delta Tau Delta brothers are expecting Mr. Ryan to visit their frat house, which is known as “The Shelter,” sometime soon. Read More

By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 6/14/12 1:52pm

Invitations

Professor Susan Grogan in a photo that accompanied the press release about her Super PAC.

Meet The Turtle-Collecting Professor Who Formed The ‘We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College Super PAC’

Susan Grogan, who has been a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland for over two decades, formed the amusingly named “We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College Super PAC” two days ago. We reached out to Professor Grogan to ask about her political action committee and she responded with a lengthy press release that referenced her “small turtle collection” and challenged Mr. Colbert to dance while maintaining her PAC would be “more serious” than his.

“I recently formed ‘We Just Want Stephen Colbert To Come To Our College SuperPac’ for several reasons. First and foremost, it is to advocate for the voter, to promote responsible voter behavior, and to enhance student engagement in voting and encouraging others to vote,” Ms. Grogan wrote. “It may seem that the name of my Super PAC has little to do with its purpose. In part, I intended this as a satirical remark on the lack of transparency that is the case with so many Super PACs. More so, it is advised to give your Super PAC a catchy name to improve your chances of success.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/22/12 9:27am

Media Criticism

Fox News President Roger Ailes (Photo: Getty)

Roger Ailes Calls Jon Stewart ‘A Socialist’ And Says New York Times Is ‘A Cesspool of Bias’

Fox News head honcho Roger Ailes gave a commencement speech at Ohio University yesterday in which he accused MSNBC, the AP and The New York Times of left wing bias and described Daily Show host Jon Stewart as a “socialist.” Media blogger Jim Romenesko compiled Tweets describing the content of the speech that were written by media lawyer Media lawyer and Harvard Law & Policy Review blogger Jonathan W. Peters, who witnessed the address and posted quotes from Mr. Ailes’ remarks.

“Jon Stewart is a comedian. He wouldn’t do well without Fox. And he basically has admitted to me, in a bar, that he’s a socialist,” Mr. Ailes said, according to Mr. Peters. “The New York Times is a cesspool of bias.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/15/12 3:51pm

albany

(photo: nysenate.gov)

Senate Republicans Roll Out College Affordability Plan

As the Senate and Assembly Democrats make their push on minimum wage, reproductive health and other legislative items, the Republicans controlling the New York State Senate instead unveiled a new effort to address college affordability.

According to the press release announcing the plan, the Senate GOP is proposing doubling the tuition tax deductions and tax credits, creating a “Stay-in-New-York” tax credit for people who graduate from a college in New York and stay here, and establishing a new loan program, among other things. Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/14/12 5:54pm

Fashion

12 Photos

President Barack Obama at Barnard College. (Photo: Getty)

12 Pictures of Politicians In Graduation Robes

It’s college graduation season, which means we get to enjoy the sight of politicians are donning robes to make speeches at commencement ceremonies across the country. In the past few days, President Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, Mitt Romney and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have all suited up for commencement speeches. Read on to see our Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/14/12 2:02pm

Advice

President Obama at Barnard.

President Obama: ‘You Can Be Stylish and Powerful Too’

In his commencement speech at all-women’s Barnard College today, President Barack Obama mentioned the importance of focusing on “studying” rather than “our pop culture obsession with beauty and fashion.” Afterward, he quickly added his wife, Michelle Obama might have something slightly different to say about coutoure.

“Now, Michelle will say you can care about it a little,” he said. “You can be stylish and powerful too, that’s Michelle’s advice.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 5/12/12 12:14pm

Love & Marriage

Mitt Romney (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney Praises Anti-Gay Activists In Commencement Speech

In a commencement speech at Liberty University  this morning Mitt Romney praised anti-gay pastor Jerry Falwell and the founder of Chick-fil-A, a fast food chain that has donated millions to anti-gay groups. Falwell, who passed away in 2007, was the founder of Liberty University and an outspoken opponent of homosexuality.

“In his 73 years of life, Dr. Falwell left a big mark,” Mr. Romney said today. “The calling Jerry answered was not an easy one.  Today we remember him as a courageous and big-hearted minister of the Gospel who never feared an argument, and never hated an adversary.  Jerry deserves the tribute he would have treasured most, as a cheerful, confident champion for Christ.” Read More