60 Minutes and Ed Rendell

By now, FEED readers probably already have their DVRs set to record outgoing Governor Ed Rendell’s angry blowup at Leslie Stahl when she asks him about the downside of gaming for Pennsylvania residents. 60 Minutes even released a teaser of Rendell’s outburst toward the CBS correspondent to promote the show which airs Sunday at 7 p.m.

“You’re simpletons. You’re idiots if you don’t get that,” screeches Rendell at Stahl, to clarify his point that Pennsylvanians addicted to gambling would spend their hard earned cash in Atlantic City or at the track in Delaware, if they couldn’t play the slots in their own backyard.

But this mercurial behavior from Rendell is nothing new to to Philadelphia Inquirer reporters John Timpane and Amy Worden. In their article, they interview those like author Buzz Bissinger and former press secretary Chuck Ardo who knew Rendell and his outbursts best.

In his blog post, Volcanic Ed, Tom Ferrick Jr. calls the soon to be ex-governor’s manner “mild” and “tame” compared to reactions from Rendell in the past.

Despite his eruption, Rendell defended his support for slots this week, emphasizing that revenue from gaming has reduced annual property taxes and that he will be remembered for more than just gambling, reported the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

As for how severe his tapped outburst will really be, we at NewsWorks will be watching on Sunday.

To hear from Rendell after the show airs tune into WHYY’s Radio Times on Monday at 10 a.m. when he joins Marty Moss-Coane live in the studio.