During his visit to Pamela’s restaurant in the Strip District, Sen. Barack Obama discovered something Pittsburghers have long known: the pancakes there are really, really good. So good, in fact, that he had to share that knowledge with the news media hounding him for answers on Bill Clinton, voter turnout and so forth: "Before I answer this question, these really were maybe the best pancakes I’ve tasted in a very long time. Get some take out," he directed the reporters. "You don’t even need syrup on them. They’ve got [these] crispy edges. Ya, they are really good."
Mr. Obama has a reputation for being somewhat abstemious when it comes to rich food — which he no doubt discovered during the six-week primary campaign — is plentiful in Pennsylvania. Offered chocolates at Wilbur’s Factory in Lititz, he was reported to have recoiled slightly and muttered something about them being too sweet, and at Pamela’s, he ordered a plain pancake and shared it with his wife. What? He didn’t try the pancake with strawberries and whipped cream? What’s the matter with that guy? At least he ordered the hash browns….
Need further proof that A) Pamela’s breakfasts are better than anywhere else, and B) People are crazy?
Mr. Obama left most of his waffle from a Scranton diner untouched … and now the remains are for sale on eBay.
A final note: At the end of Mr. Obama’s visit to Pamela’s, someone gave him a Terrible Towel, which, with a fierce grin, he waved over his head a few times. "That’s a ‘Terrible Towel,’" I whispered to the Reuters reporter, who perked up immediately. "A what?" she asked? "A Terrible Towel. It was created by the late, legendary sports broadcaster Myron Cope. People here wave it at Steelers games. It’s a Pittsburgh tradition."
"Fascinating!" she said, scribbling frantically, while a second reporter, listening intently, whispered into his Dictaphone, "Terrible Towel."
I just want to say this for the record: any reporter who went to Pittsburgh to cover things who didn’t know what a terrible towel was is a doofus. Jeebus, do some research…
(YouTube of Myron Cope giving the history of the terrible towel.)
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Redd!
Christy!
Great story!
There are several interesting exit polling posts here.
The issues the MSM covers during the horse race never seem to revolve around the real issues… Like the economy, the GWOT, FISA, politicization of DOJ, etc… Will they ever wake up?
Rather than critique “The Media” or use the Repube slur “MSM,” I always try to make this same distinction. There’s some great journalism out there, but very little of it comes from outlets owned by the handful of Conglomerates that make up the “mainstream” media. BigMedia exists to push BigMoney-approved storylines on the electorate.
Now Ruturd and Sam Zell, a newcomer to the Conglomerate Club, were recently added to the AP Board of Directors?!? It’s only going to get worse. All the more reason each of us needs to steer friends and family to the New Media.
Research? Reporters doing research? Now there’s a novel idea.
Pamela’s pancakes really are the best. He really should have gotten the strawberry ones, though. The sour cream and brown sugar add just the right touch!
I mean honestly, who reports on the ground in Pittsburgh, and doesn’t know what in the hell the “terrible towel” is? Of course, I say that as a lifetime Steelers fan. *G*
Dugg
Any extra pancakes?
Hey, even I know what a Terrible Towel is.
Bob in HI
Does anybody else think it’s weird for Chris Matthews, who practically admitted to Stephen Colbert that he’ll seek the Democratic nomination to oppose Arlen Spectre in 2010, to get all this MSNBC face time with Pennsylvania Democrats during the presidential primary? And does his impending campaign for the Senate affect his “”newsgathering?”"*
Might he be going easy on some of these Democratic honchos in hopes of getting them to back his future candidacy? Might Matthews be currying favor with Ed Rendell and other “democrats across the state” he’s been talking to?
*deserving, In Matthews’ case, of two set of scare-quotes.
many thanks!
It’s funny watching reporters react to my home town city like it’s a place on Mars.
Would it be wrong to say that pancakes give me gas pains and the sweeter they are (meaning…tons of maple syrup) the more my intestines beg for mercy?
I can see why Obama chose to eat them plain. That said….I love, love, love the taste of pancakes, but unfortunately, my body rejects them.
Okay, want to know anything else about me? LOL
I wish — those sound really yummy. I’m thinking we’ll be checking that place out next time we’re in Pittsburgh for breakfast… :P
That would be a scary proposition… Tweety as a Senator…! Say it ain’t so…. 8-(
ack timmeh is on my teevee
btw great post…i needed the laugh
well at least i can say my native garden plant choices have been finalized. think i’ll be doing that as the primary rages on.
btw has anyone vetted obama on his choice of syrup? Is he a pure maple person, a syrup with maple like flavorings person or is he a fruit syrup elitist?
Those of us in the “fly-to” states, as Jon Stewart calls them, yearn for a return to the elitism of the past.
I had a Terrible Towel when I was little kid in California. I seem to remember them for sale at the local 5&Dime.
Oh Kay, so sorry — celiac? If so — have I got a pancake recipe for you…
Christy at 9:
I should have said corporate reporters who are too busy trying to become the next Tim Russert.
Our Prez W was on mine, and I swear he has a new hair color. Maybe warm tones for New Orleans and telling us how good the economy is. I guess there were no locals there; they may have thrown things.
When I lived in south Philly I had a reporter call me from the Wall Street Journal looking to dig dirt up on Frank Quattrone, that guilty investment banker. My last name is Quattrone and she just assumed we were cousins. We’re not.
I asked her why she would say that, she replied “Well you’re both from Philadelphia, he’s from the south side, and there aren’t many Quattrone listed.”
I laughed at that, and when she asked me what was so funny, I explained to her that there is no south side of Philadelphia, and that it was known as south Philly. I’ve never seen any reference to a south side of Philly in anything I’ve ever read.
In other words, too busy trying to quit being reporters and start being “media personalities”?
I saw Matthews make that little disclosure about his love of the Senate. Didn’t see him claim he’d run as a Democrat. Just sayin’.
Rendell settin’ up for a squeaker on MSNBC?
Hiya Christy! Now I know where to get pancakes in Pittsburgh, but why do voters care if he likes blueberries on his pancakes or not?
Who would he be running against, or would it be an open seat?
he’s an ass and that is an understatement. Much like McCain’s civil rights tour where in a town that is 70% balck only 100 or so whites showed up….
sum it up in one word: failure
blueberries sound suspiciously elitist to me.
but that’s ok, I’m just bitter.
I like chocolate chips on my pancakes. What does that make me?
Oh, btw. Hi, Cassie!
Because if candidates don’t eat the weird local food folks eat exactly the way they eat it, or if the candidates order orange juice instead of coffee, they are elitist
I haven’t been diagnosed, but let’s put it this way, just thinking of eating a pancake makes my intestines react. Thanks for recipe, though! I’d love to be able to eat them because they’re so darn yummy Christy.
Good thing I like you.
Signed,
A Bitter Raiders Fan.
*G*
You know, I have no idea. Sometimes I like blueberries, sometimes plain, but I never like to get the fruit and cream topping, even on waffles. Too much sugar at one time for me.
Although I can be up for some chocolate chip pancakes on a special occasion for breakfast (like on Mr. ReddHedd’s birthday or something). My fave ones? Chopped apple and pecan, with real maple syrup. Nummy!
But would someone vote for or against me based on that? Lord, I hope not.
but, I really like my pancakes better sweet than bitter.
coffee’s where the bitter should be ;) black and bitter as I saw someone’s handle on another blog …
one of the other pundit heads on MSNBC said Rendell referred to them as the ‘Obama’ Network. how old are these people again? I feel like I’m the kindergarten teacher patroling the playground
a person with good taste?
They are great with chocolate chips, too. My 5yo son loves them that way. One pancake probably has 1,000 calories, though. It must be hard to keep the weight down on the campaign trail :-)
Yeah, in fact I thought he said during that show that he was a Republican. He had to be very careful in the interview because it was the day Specter announced the return of his Hodgkin’s Disease. I got the impression it would have been a full-blown announcement of running for the office if not for Specter’s timing.
You said: “Our Prez W was on mine, and I swear he has a new hair color. Maybe warm tones for New Orleans and telling us how good the economy is.”
Maybe they put up the temporary kleig lighting again to give him that “we’re here to feel your pain and help you” glow before he abruptly turns them off and leaves you to fend for yourself?
Vote for me! I like pancakes!
MSNBC just said Dem turnout in PA expected to be 52%
I’m surprised Obama didn’t get nailed last week for repeatably calling Joe Paterno, “Jay Paterno” in State College — right after leading the “WE ARE” clap-clap “Penn State” cheer.
definite elitist but one with good taste *g*
I prefer my pancakes lightly coated with real butter and real maple syrup.
And accompanied by orange juice AND coffee.
Am I electable?
I have a good friend who has celiac issues. If you can find oats that are gluten-free (as in not prepared somewhere that wheat products are also prepared — usually you can find these at health food stores and such), then you can eat those pancakes with abandon. And they are seriously yummy.
I had the same issue with pancakes, pasta etc. before I went raw vegan. I have had the gluten free pancakes and pastas and no intestinal issues.
I don’t eat pancakes so that pretty much bans me from ever running for public office.
uh oh! what about waffles? or breakfast tacos?
I would put the pancakes at Carmens in south Philly up against any around. Every week they were different. Goat cheese and herbs were one of my favs. One Sunday after Valentine’s day, she used left over Valentine’s chocolate. The real maple syrup is keep in a warm water bath too.
neurophius@26:
It just occurred to me that “media personalities” is a sort of an oxymoron. Nothing there that makes you want to sing a few lines from the old Lloyd Price tune:
Walk, personality
Talk, personality
Smile, personality
Charm, personality…..
I was just going to say I like mine with no butter, but with maple syrup and cinnamon. I’m unelectable too.
Heyya Snarky,
Haven’t seen you here for a while! Welcome back, if you’ve been gone, but please excuse me if I just failed to notice your marvelous presence!
P.S. How’s your new digs?
Bob in HI
You’ll easily get 29%-34% of the vote that way!
…Based on careful calculations from the W.A.G* Group.
*Wild Ass Guess
Thanks Christy & Wobblybits for the info. It wouldn’t surprise me if I have celiac disease. I’ve read about it online and my symptoms point to it, though, I haven’t been officially diagnosed. I’ve switched from wheat bread to white and will look to find other foods that are gluten-free. Believe me, I eat pancakes, but suffer till the cow’s come home.
Christy, I read the recipe and it does look yummy! I love yummy. I live for yummy. I even have a Muffin Top over my pants to prove it. LOL
goat cheese and herbs definitely sounds elitist to me
did you drink latte with that?
Hiya Bob! New digs are good, but really noisy. I like living on base but a lot of blogs and websites are blocked, so I have had a hard time keeping up with stuff. Or I can read but not post, so I don’t bother too much. I’ve also been really busy with stuff at the teen center and at school.
Our last TAKS tests are next week, and I will be super glad when that’s over!
I am here sometimes on the weekend when I bring the laptop somewhere, or if I am at a friend’s house.
HA! No just Le Columbe coffe, another local Philly fav. And I didn’t drive up in a Volvo. I walked.
no and nope and to further compound my un-electability, I don’t eat or like popcorn or watermelon
MSNBC just said Dem turnout in PA expected to be 52%
That’s high. Here is what our Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said earlier:
I’d vote for you.
I used to own a Volvo but I sold it. Now can I run for office?
How can anyone not like popcorn?
walking is elitist
CNN is reporting that of today’s PA. voters: 80% white; 58% women; 40% over 60; 10% under 30; 45% had college degrees, 25% had household incomes in excess of $100,000; 49% liberal, 40% moderate and 11% conservative.
No butter!!! well maybe that’s not so….what? cinnamon…cinnamon but no butter?!?!?! yeah you had just better sit on the side line too.
srsly, we’d be much better off if we voted for you :)
easy, it smells like feet. trust me when I say, I was almost kicked out of the family but my other endearing qualities saved me
Actually I ran for office and won, and then bought the Volvo. Was that cheating?
I always find the voter mix stats fascinating. I’m such a geek. *g*
when it’s a tassel to prepare?
He has an “opinion” show…he doesn’t do news…but certainly he is in a position to skew anything any way he wants to…
Savvy political type, you1
You are surely right; I think, however, that those Jazzy Orleanians have his number!! You know…fool me once, but he can’t recall the rest. Thanks
I own a Saturn with 147,000 miles on it. No one would vote for me. Guaranteed. ;-)
huh?
Not with my background, not illegal mind you. Somehow I don’t think the values voters would go for me.
snarkk at 32–”I like chocolate chips on my pancakes. What does that make me?”
someone with a ’sweet tooth’!
I don’t own a car, but I can use one on the weekend if my brother is working.
Barack Obama is leaving a voice mail for me right at this moment. There’s only 30 minutes left of voting!
hmm that depends, were you running in Sweden?
I saw the Colbert interview, too, and I thought he basically declared! He said he had always wanted to be a Senator since he was a kid. But I’ve seen him interviewed on another show since then (can’t remember for the life of me where) and he denied that he was planning a run. As far as face time with PA voters or other PA politicians, he is a native son in Pennsylvania, so I don’t begrudge him. He would play favorites and curry favor with the pols because it is his home state anyway. What I want to know is how how Arlen Specter views his possible run. It would be interesting to see if Arlen comes on Hardball, especially since he is an author! Arlen, incidentally, did a really pretty amusing interview on Daily Show recently!
Christy, what do you think those stats tell us about Obama vs. Clinton
(tonight’s outcome)?
Chris Matthews just reported the polls are closed with 30 minutes left on the clock. Is there something seriously wrong with that man? Is he living in a parallel universe or something? Or does he just make shit up to amuse himself?
gets stuck in my teeth, too much salt and I don’t like the chunky bits.
That said, please say more (if you can) or generalize about what sites are blocked. If you chose to, could you get access from an unblocked provider?
Well, I like your values just fine, thank you very much. :)
dick gregory’s head and mouth reminds me of a game i had as a kid. It was called, mr. mouth.
Excellent. You can be my running mate! LOL We’ll go down together. Not one stinking vote for us. LOL
Well, I did go jogging in Stockholm during a surgical conference, does that count?
but it’s an amurikan car
LOL I bet you guys are going to be so happy this primary is over! the onslaught heads our way shortly — WV’s primary is mid-May. Our poor phone will get a work-out, I’m sure…
Amen Amen.
kirk at 75–
*groan* now that’s an ’ear’full……..another ’kernel’ of truth…….
Would that be David? I actually prefer Dick Gregory.
as long as it’s not counted twice
Supposedly it is and it currently runs like it is too (a play on the US automobile industry going down the drain). LOL
As an Obama supporter, I don’t like those stats. I’m hoping Obama keeps it within 10 points. I’ll be happy with that.
my parents are immigrants… there was a time when that would have helped but nowadays, I dunno (and they’re from one of them latin countries)
I think they look fairly evenly matched. Slight edge for Clinton with the age issue, which puts her slightly ahead overall, I would think given how things were trending — but not enough to give her the significant margin she needs to pull ahead on delegates if folks stay true to how the voting groups were trending as a whole. But people have been lying to pollsters all year, so it’s really tough to tell whether the numbers will ultimately hold up. Could be a squeaker — or a blow-out — guess we’ll see. *g*
Christy and Elliot thank you. :)
teeheee I meanr David of course. I love dick gregory. Now HE is unelectable
Buchanan just referred to Obama as acting like a wimp….A wimp? A black man running for president…a wimp?
didn’t dick gregory run for president, oh, 30 or 40 years ago?
Great to see you here this evening! I didn’t have a car until I was in my 50s, but I lived in places with good public transportation. I still think of it as a box with wheels that gets me to work and the grocery store…
Oh yes, I remember the Proud American feel Americans had with their cars a bazillion years ago. Believe me, there were many times my father would take us ids bombing around in the Chevy Vega with mag wheels & an 8-track player playing Glen Campbell & Paul Anka tunes. LOL My father loved, loved, loved his cars. Today? Not as much. Too expensive to fix and he can’t work on them anymore because of the engines.
And isn’t it sad that you can say that, and we all sit here and read it and know exactly what you mean. Sometimes, I’m not certain we even remember who in the hell we are as a nation or how we honestly got to where we are…and I just sit here and shake my head.
No idea but hehehe if he ran now…ooohhhh boy. The repug heads would explode *giggling just thinking about it*
Try googling some for “gluten intolerance.” Sounds as if you might have a match.
I googled for “cheney intolerance.” Gives me a stomach ache. Got a lot of matches.
It’s Pat code for “effeminate,” but MSNBC won’t let him say that Obama seems too prissy for Buchanon’s taste on the air. SIGH
mine is still going strong, it just hasn’t gone as far as yours.
Olbermann and Matthews don’t seem all wiggly about the exit polls. I wonder if we are in for a long evening.
“How can anyone not like popcorn?”
I don’t like it when someone else cooks popcorn in a microwave and burns it. The smell fills up the whole building. Used to be a regular occurrence in an office where I used to work. You think folks would learn….
Bob in HI
Yes, it is quite sad that what had once been a proud badge of honor is now characterized as some shameful thing.
He and Scarborough get my hackles all in a twist.
And he knows Rachel would kick ‘im in the nuts if he said what he really means — gay
confession: my dad was still driving around blaring the 8 track well into the late 80’s (he was holding onto those 8 tracks from brasil *g*
I have to change the oil every 2 months because of the miles I drive on it. Changing the oil frequently is KEY to the life of a Saturn. It’s not a bad car (a 2002), but it certainly isn’t a man magnet if you know what I mean. It’s always embarrassing to see other Saturn drivers in their 80’s. LOL (no offense to the 80 year olds reading FDL tonight!).
I hate ith wheng teh thshell thingy geths thtuck on teh back of mah tongue…
not just liberal blogs, but a lot of other kinds of blogs. i can see FDL but not comment because it won’t keep my log-in. I can comment at IAMTREX.com and both of my own blogs.
Oh, isn’t that the truth! Years ago we had a doctor in our office who flat-out forbade the microwaving of popcorn! He retired, and now we can nuke away, but every now and then — GAK…
Joe Scar split-screen with Harold Ford — a particularly repellent image.
but it would be a delicious and vicious campaign, he’s so self-unaware
Chuck Todd basically said we are in for a long long evening
Ten years ago I sold my stereo/cassette player/8-track/record player/ in a yard sale! Now that’s bad. Admit it. I have the Go-Go’s on 8-track by the way.
Mr. LS has over 350,000 on his Honda Civic…I guess we’re unelectable…
I swear…they hire them just to p*ss us all off…*g*
So does Greg Palast. The Shock Lords came to ground zero for the Shock Doctrine:
“can’t close the deal” seems to be tonite’s anti-Obama talking point
no one points out that it’s impossible to close the deal. pledged delegates won’t pick our nominee.
on both counts. I don’t trust either of them
Aunt Betsy drives a Saturn.
Christy did you see that Scotus is about to tackle Healthcare?
I don’t think my dad ever got rid of his tapes. I asked him about it years ago and he just changed the subject *g*
I have a feeling Obama is going to pull it off. Anyone else think that or do you think the Democrats in Pennsylvania believe that Hillary is a gun-toting, whiskey swirling, duck hunter?
Ha….Ford advise Obama????
Mwahahahha…
And pigs fly.
nevermind that he was 20-something points behind 6 weeks ago.
whatever.
Only the flying pigs!
I’ll bet Pamela’s is great. Last time I was in Pittsburgh conducting some business @ Pitt my daughter & I went to The Zenith on S. 26th St.
Wonderful folks, exceptionally tasty veg. lasagna & bellos in wine sauce over basmati, plus they’ve got antique clothing & other antiques for sale there. My kind of place, so friendly & welcoming:
The Zenith
We also managed to squeeze in a visit to the somewhat uh, creepy Henry Clay Frick Mansion & the neighboring Frick Museums, but that’s another story. Pittsburgh is a wonderful city to visit; I actually prefer it to Philly, because of all the rivers, I guess.
Well I live in PA. Hillary is very popular here and she has the support of the party machinery. I would be shocked if she lost.
LOL
*spew* hahahahhaa
“Chuck Todd basically said we are in for a long long evening”
Well, I suppose that’s good news here in Hawaii, where our evening hours come in your wee hours of the morning. that means by the time I get home to watch the newsy things, it will still be news.
Bob in HI
Hysterical. I bet your Dad has some unbelievable music hiding somewhere in his house. I love old records & 8-tracks. My ex-boyfriend used to have a reel-to-reel. We’d listen to his recorded music for 6 hours straight. Always good for a party. LOL
what’s bad is that somebody bought it
Thanks for that compliment to my city! I’ve often been told that people here are friendly. I hope that’s true.
LMAO LS & Wobblybits! I’m serious. Who the hell believes she is that now? Don’t tell me the people of Pennsylvania! I could see New Hampshire, but Pennsylvania? Oh please.
Good point. And darn it if I wasn’t upset with myself after selling it! That person is some lucky. This stereo/combo was so ugly looking (and huge!), but it worked great. ;-)
I’ve gone there a lot on business. Nice folks for sure :)
Not mine, I’m in Cali *g*
He might but he won’t talk about it. Especially now that he has grandchildren who are quite puzzled when he talks about cassettes
So funny how the kids today react. My son is going to be 14 here soon and he asked me recently, “Mom, how did you get the record player to play records?”, because he was puzzled and couldn’t work it in his head. I said to him, “Well, some record players you had to lift the needle and then skooch way down to line it up and drop it near the song you wanted to hear. Other players had an automatic needle that would drop it at the first song”. He looked at me and blinked. Completely dumbfounded! Hysterical.
My kid was always fascinated by my vinyl collection. Her 1st vinyl purchase was of a pinkish Sub Pop album- Smashing Pumpkins. I mean the record itself was pink- collectors’ edition. We used to buy vinyl @ a place called Green Hell in the SF Valley that’s now closed, although Dave’s Laser Disc down the road had some choice vinyl, too. Great shops, great owners (her 2nd purchase was Never Mind the Bullocks). I know you read here, Dave- thanx for keeping DLD open as long as you did.
Oh, & thanx for that ancient Rach 3 album you managed to snag for me…;->
And if you saw Obama on The Daily Show, you saw Jon directing him to Primanti Bros, another local “culinary” landmark – best experienced really late at night…
And don’t miss the fries at the “O” (Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland) or breakfast at Ritter’s or Wholey’s or DeLuca’s or fathead’s or….Pittsburghers all have their internal list of “must haves.”
Cheers,
OK, Goat cheese and herb pancakes would get you run out of the ‘burgh…
;-)
About Wilbur’s chocolate…I live maybe 10 miles away and won’t eat it. The sad truth is, outside of Philly and Pittsburgh the food here sucks. Oh, the ingredients can be good enough…then the locals cook ‘em into mush. Speaking of which, cornmeal mush is a local “delicacy” I was forced to choke down as a child (”it’s what’s for dinner”)–and NOT because it was all we could afford. Because people here have NO TASTE.