Shining The Light On Albany...Hallelujah!

New York's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo scored a big success yesterday as he got Project Sunlight off the ground and into the practices and policies of the Legislature. I'll let the Empire Zone take it from here:

Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo has struck a deal with the leaders of the Legislature to require most recipients of member items to disclose any connections they have to the lawmakers who give them.

Mr. Cuomo was able to require that disclosure after the fact for recipients of last year’s items, thanks to a provision in the budget agreement between the Legislature and then-Gov. George E. Pataki. The new agreement allows him to require it for future recipients, as well.

Sen. Joseph L. Bruno, the Republican majority leader in the Senate, also said he would include in the Senate budget funding for Mr. Cuomo’s Project Sunlight, which will link various public disclosure databases together into a single source of information for citizens.

When It Rains On Gonzales, It Pours

Keith Olbermann puts the spotlight on an already embattled Attorney General. How many scandals does this guy have under his belt and will there be even more? Only time will tell.

Barbara Boxer Knows Her Stuff....And Lets Inhofe Get A Lesson

With Al Gore giving his testimony in Congress yesterday, he has plenty of supporters and a few detractors. The Democratic Senate gave him the opportunity to talk today and share his passion about combating climate change. Senator James Inhofe had other ideas and wasn't interested in hearing what Al had to say. Thankfully there was someone there to correct him. Barbara Boxer of California stepped up to the plate with this gem:

Boxer: "You're not making the rules. You used to when you did this, you don't do this anymore. Elections have consequences"

Amen to that!

Highlights From Gore's Testimony

Al Gore is on a mission and it isn't to be President (he was already elected to the office in 2000 btw). For the last thirty years Al has fought vociferously to fight climate change and save our planet from ourselves. Here he is on Capitol Hill this week testifying in front of Congress (c/0 PoliticsTV):

Bob Barr Blasts Bush Again

The man who once wrought the most virulent malevolence towards Democrats in the 1990s has ditched his partisan garb to go after the Bush Adminstration in recent times. Now he is attacking them over the U.S. Attorney scandal and it isn't pretty if you are a Bush sycophant. He claims that the Justice Department is being used as a political football by the Adminstration and he is dead on here. Perhaps it is because he was a U.S. Attorney in the 1980s.

From Crooks and Liars:

BOB BARR: Well, it's probably some of both. But what's really unfortunate here, both from the White House standpoint, as well as from the more important standpoint of what's best for the country, is the integrity of the Department of Justice is being used as a political football by the administration to prove who's the toughest hombre in all this. It's very unfortunate. And I'm not really sure that the administration has chosen the best line in the sand to draw here, so to speak.

Congress clearly has a right to inquire into the running of the Department of Justice, to inquire into the integrity of the process of hiring and firing U.S. attorneys, notwithstanding the fact that that that is technically a prerogative of the president. And rather than fight this, the administration really ought to be going out of its way to do what prior administrations have done, such as the Bush I administration and Reagan administrations, and that is take whatever steps are necessary to assure the American people that the integrity of our justice system has not been compromised.

While the Bush Adminstration's priority is to have the biggest puffed-up chest we actually care about the dignity of our government. Loyalty to the Adminstration is #1 for George Bush's underlings. Yet out here beyond the gates of the White House we long for higher standards when it comes to our national leaders and those that mete out justice in the United States of America.

Pictures Of A Lazy Beach Town

Okay here is my last post on Eilat. Just want to post some shots I took while staying down south earlier this week. I hope you enjoy!


Eilat Harbor


At the harbor with Jordan in the distance


The world's largest underwater restaurant, the Red Sea Star


Truer words can not be said


The beautiful sea!

For Those With Special Permits In NYC, Watch Where You Park It

Have you ever searched in vain for parking around the city, only to find none while a seemingly brave few take spots in front of hydrants and bus stops? If you glance at the cars they have a special permit allowing them to park their cars in areas where the normal New Yorker can not.

These special permit holders include police, government officials, a certain few who are 'connected' and others simply make counterfeit copies. The big problem with the permits is that many of those who have them abuse the privilege they afford. Intended to be used in front of courthouses and police stations, plenty of permit holders park in front of fire hydrants, bus stops and in handicap spaces. What is even worse is that few offenders are ever prosecuted. So there is a new cop in town that is taking up the charge of holding these people accountable.

From The New York Times:

The site, nyc.uncivilservants.org, is run by Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group that argues that municipal employees, especially the police, abuse their city-issued parking permits.

(snip)

The Web site allows anyone to anonymously post photographs of cars that seem to be parked illegally and include as much information as possible to identify the offender. In just a few days, the site also has become a popular forum for impassioned exchanges in the city’s survival-of-the-swiftest struggles over one of its scarce resources.

(snip)

The illegal parking is hazardous, critics add, because it blocks hydrants and bus stops, and forces drivers without permits to double-park and slow or stop other traffic.

Transportation Alternatives plans to use information from the Web site to file state Freedom of Information requests to see how government agencies regulate parking permits, especially how expired permits are returned; how agencies educate permit holders on what they may and may not do; and other matters.

Police officials accuse the group of going to far. Posting cops license plates and other information is dangerous because it lets criminals know about certain government officials and policemen they say. The NYPD also said that they towed 12 cars with permits last week for parking abuses. It is amusing to me that the NYPD can tout that statistic while the website was up and running, I'd like to see what was done before the site started earlier this month. For 'Uncivil Servants' to get 10,000 page views a day already, the public is well aware of the problems concerning this issue.

Jon Stewart Versus John Bolton

The newly released John Bolton dares to go on the Daily Show and Stewart pulls no punches:

Can NYC Traffic Be Cut?

Anyone and everyone in New York City knows how horrendous traffic congestion can be. Thankfully I don't drive in the city but for the people I know that do, my deepest sympathies go out to them for braving the mess everyday. The situation seems hopeless, but there is a faint glimmer of hope if only Gotham could grasp it.

From Streetsblog:

As cars and trucks clogged the arteries of lower Manhattan on their way out of the central business district yesterday evening (right), Murray-Clark held forth to a capacity crowd at 7 World Trade Center. Sponsored by the New York Academy of Sciences, the lecture also featured Stephen A. Hammer of Columbia University and CUNY’s Dr. Robert "Buzz" Paaswell, director of the University Transportation Research Center and former executive director of the Chicago Transit Authority.

From the start, Murray-Clark said, London Mayor Ken Livingstone pulled no punches regarding his intention to reduce auto traffic. In fact, Livingstone ran on a platform that included congestion pricing. And upon taking office in 2000, he got to work. Today, London is one of two major world cities experiencing a reduction in car trips (Paris is the other).

“It was a bold policy to embark upon,” Murray-Clark said, and one that proceeded through a combination of thoughtful planning and shrewd political maneuvering. Rather than wait years for upgrades to London’s already overcrowded subway system, for example, TfL leveraged congestion pricing revenue to invest heavily in new buses. In order to ease opposition in the early stages, Livingstone offered a 90 percent discount for residents of the congestion zone, and courted the trucking industry by offering it the same rate per vehicle as passenger cars.

Murray-Clark implemented a successful plan that is alleviating the traffic problems in London. The question is would it work in Manhattan? If only New York had a centralized agency that handled traffic concerns then all it would take to implement the plan is a simple action. However in New York, countless 'Authorities' govern various cogs of the New York traffic apparatus. To me, this all seems like a pipe dream in New York and a nice thing to see and visit while in London.

The Drive To Vegas Doesn't Look Like This

In an earlier post I talked about the similarities between Eilat, Israel and Las Vegas, Nevada. The only thing that is similar when driving to Vegas or Eilat is that you have to go through a desert to get there. However, the Negev Desert is nothing like the Mojave Desert. I took some shots on my way down there from Jerusalem. As you can tell, nothing looks alike:


Which way is Eilat?


All the truck drivers are crazy here


McDonald's reach into the world is ridiculous


Finally found the way!


And finally a beautiful sunset over Egypt.

Stephen Colbert Day

He already has his own Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor, now Canada has afforded him his own holiday....sorta.

Rachel Maddow Reminds Us Where We Live

Thank goodness for the few reasonable people that get to be on the airwaves today. With all the crazy punditry, the stars that shine through are rare. One such star is Rachel Maddow. Along with her Air America Radio program and occasional cable news appearances, she speaks truth to power with a large dose of common sense.

Yesterday there was such a moment on CNN's 'Paula Zahn Now.' Rachel reminded us that we live in America, and that trumps anything including Al-Qaeda. If we resort to their level and beyond, what exactly would we be saving then? Torturing Khalid Sheik Mohammed did extract a confession, but how credible is the information?

From the show:

"You can't say it doesn't matter what we're doing cause we're trying to get Al Qaeda. It matters what we do. We're America. That's more important than Al-Qaeda."

Here's the video from Crooks and Liars.

The Cast Of Characters

Imagine NBC makes a made-for-TV movie about the drama surrounding the U.S. Attorney scandal and politics in general. Who would play who? So many actors to choose from. Well Conan O'Brien takes a stab at it last night and the cast certainly stacks up against real-life:

When Backed Into A Corner....

They say that is when the dog is most vicious. With its teeth bared and the growl growing in ferocity ever so slightly, the Bush Adminstration is getting pinned from the U.S. Attorney scandal. It isn't pretty to watch, this dog is threatening our constitution after having thrown dignity and accountability out the window long, long ago.

From the Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON — A defiant President Bush warned Democrats Tuesday to accept his offer to have top aides testify about the firings of federal prosecutors only privately and not under oath or risk a constitutional showdown from which he would not back down.

Democrats' response to his proposal was swift and firm: They said they would start authorizing subpoenas as soon as Wednesday for the White House aides.

"Testimony should be on the record and under oath. That's the formula for true accountability," said Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Bush is offering less than nothing. If you won't submit your statements under oath, there is no way to be held accountable in a court of law. If you are afraid of the law, there must be a lie buried in the actions of Karl Rove and other White House operatives. The Democratic Senate must stand firm and issue those subpoenas and let justice prevail. Bush will go kicking and screaming, but he must not win against a nation founded on laws.

So far the Senate is handling itself well in this matter. Stripping Alberto Gonzales of the ability to appoint U.S. Attorneys without Senate confirmation is a good start. It seems that Senators Leahy and Schumer are staying steadfast in their commitment to see this through. It is already a new day over here in Tel Aviv, I hope to see a new one over in Washington as well.

A Moment Of Silence

Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of this terrible war.

From Nancy Pelosi's VLog:

Rep. Patrick Murphy offers a Moment of Silence on the four year anniversary of the war in Iraq to honor of the memories of the fallen and to continue to do right by our troops still fighting.

Karl Rove Et. Al. Served Subpoenas

It is about time someone makes Bush's Brain talk under oath. He may give a lot of poisonous speeches to his blind and dimwitted followers but he is no match for John Conyers and Company. There are so many things to investigate Karl Rove over but Conyers picked just one. Rove has been fingered as a major facilitator in the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys for political purposes. So far Alberto Gonzales has lied under oath, I wonder if Karl Rove will as well.

From RawStory:

According to a release, "The Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL) will meet TOMORROW, March 21st at 10:15 am in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building to consider subpoenas for Kyle Sampson, Karl Rove, Harriet Miers, William Kelley, and Scott Jennings, as well as White House and Justice Department documents, which have not been provided to date."

WHO: House Judiciary CAL Subcommittee

WHAT: Authorizing Subpoenas for White House, Justice Officials and Documents

WHEN: TOMORROW, March 21st, 10:15 am

WHERE: 2141 Rayburn HOB

Thank goodness for Nancy Pelosi's vlog, I can't wait to watch that hearing, even if I am 5500 miles away.

From Eilat To Tel Aviv

I must say that Eilat (or Elat) is one of the most interesting beach towns I have ever been to. If only it had gambling you could call it 'Jew Vegas' by the sea. I drove in two days ago from Jerusalem, passing the ever-shrinking Dead Sea. After 400 kilometers a group of giant hotels springs forth on the landscape and then you can see the biblically famous Red Sea.

As we neared the hotel, there were tons of signs for shopping, the IMAX theater shaped like a giant pyramid and more signs pointing the way to Egypt and Jordan. All of the hotels were in a giant row along the sea and it was difficult to get to ours. Staying at the Dan Eilat hotel was an experience to say the least. The design of the hotel was funky yet on Vegas-sized proportions. Multiple pools, waterslides and bars graced the landscape outside with the sea beyond. Inside there were several restaurants and lounges while an IT industry convention had booths set up all around the hotel.

Besides the look of the place, Eilat is a very laid back place and definitely not like Las Vegas in it's attitude. In Eilat, everything is bet-sedar (translation: it's okay). Hotel loses your car keys, it's bet-sedar. Something doesn't work quite right in your room? It's bet-sedar. And if you don't mind relaxing for a few days, then that is bet-sedar. The funniest thing is that you have this very 'chill' atmosphere where you can literally look left and see Aqaba, Jordan on the left and Egypt on the right. Those two countries were dedicated to war against Israel for so long and now have peace with the tiny Jewish state that has a few kilometers of beachfront on the Red Sea.

Now I am in Tel Aviv, 300 kilometers and another world from Eilat. Tel Aviv moves at a much higher pace with hundreds of thousands of cars that zip through many twisting and narrow streets. Sitting here looking down at the Mediterranean Sea to my left and the coastline to my right, I find it amazing that there is an incredible amount of different attitudes, looks and energies in this country that is about the size of New Jersey.

Cafferty Rips Gonzales A New One

Another brilliant segment from CNN's Jack Cafferty. The more I hear this guy the more I love his unadulterated condemnation of the Bush Adminstration. Today...or should I say yesterday's edition focused on the weasel that is Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:

Maryscott O'Connor Sends A Message To Democrats

It is time to end this misbegotten war and Maryscott O'Connor of My Left Wing knows how to throw a fit of pure, blissful rage at our Congress' inaction on the war so far. Her words are beautifully put together, even Bill Maher could learn from her for his 'New Rules'. The masterpiece will take you a while to read, but here is a little taste:

It seems to me that the old cliché, "Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it" applies much more to ordinary citizens than to politicians.

In fact, politicians COUNT on that truism. How many people actually know how Vietnam started? How many people further know how our involvement in Vietnam accelerated? How about when the draft was implemented?

And how many know the details of the Weimar Republic, the Reichstag, the supposed "election" of Adolf Hitler, the purported attack by Poland on a German radio station that was, in fact, a falsehood from beginning to end?

The fact that we are, collectively, so very uneducated about humanity's own recent history, is what the right wing counts on when they send out the attack dogs to decry any comparison between Iraq and Vietnam -- and possibly what the Democrats now dragging their feet on the Iraq Quagmire count on as they tell us every day, "Wait, wait, give us more time..."

Paging Doctor Murtha

Our country is in dire need of a doctor to solve our woes and unrelenting bleeding of money, morale and the lives of our soldiers. Iraq is a lost cause, it is time to leave and we need to do that as soon as humanly possible. Jack Murtha was on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer this weekend and clearly explained what the DC elite can not get through their thick heads.

So let me explain. If you go to a doctor, and he says you are perfectly fine, then you have a heart attack. Would you still trust his judgment? Yes??? Well okay, humans are imperfect. So a few months down the road he tells you to have brain surgery and it has to be done right away. You relent, even without a second opinion and have the operation. After waking up out of a botched surgery and a two month coma while your left side is paralyzed, you still decide to go to him for medical advice. Would that be insane? Of course it is, and that is why listening to people like Dick Cheney is pure insanity.

Jack Murtha lays it out on the show:

MURTHA: Why would I believe that? I mean, all the things that they have predicted have — everything I predicted turned out to be true. Nothing they predicted turned out to be true. Why would I believe there's going to be chaos in the Middle East just because they say it? The Iraqis don't believe that. The countries on the periphery don't believe that and the public doesn't believe it. The public wants us out. They spoke in the last election.

Right, there is no reason to believe them. Just as you would run away from that doctor and file a massive lawsuit, there is ample reason to throw out Cheney for his lies and falsehoods and impeach him. There is absolutely no reason to keep them around....unless you like your doctor to keep slowly killing you.

Jon Stewart Reviews '300'

Zsa Zsa's Hubby Sues O'Reilly For 'Fraud' Statement

O'Reilly' style is somehow stomached and even adored by many of Fox News' audience. His ridiculous statements make him sound 'out of the box' and even resembling a journalist if you count someone that only attacks people that are on the left and disagree with him. Well one of those disagreements may land Bill O in some serious trouble, to the tune of $10 million dollars.

From the Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Prince Frederic von Anhalt has sued Fox and Bill O'Reilly after the talk-show host called him a fraud for claiming he could be the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby.

Von Anhalt, who is married to Zsa Zsa Gabor, filed the defamation lawsuit seeking at least $10 million in damages Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The claim stems from comments the talk-show host made during a Feb. 22 segment of "The O'Reilly Factor."

"Look, this guy's a fraud," O'Reilly said, according to a transcript of the show posted on the network's Web site. "We know he's a fraud. But let's - what I want to talk about is - he's done. His credibility is - is finished."

Now Zsa Zsa's husband is claiming that he is being harassed in public because of O'Reilly's accusation. He says people give him dirty looks and send 'bad-mouthing' emails. The staff at the O'Falafel Factor won't comment citing that they don't have a copy of the lawsuit yet.

Whether or not he is the father, this fact remains that this soap opera will just not die. For O'Reilly to stick his big ugly nose in the matter entitles him to being sued in my opinion. Calling someone a fraud is over the line, especially since von Anhalt is more of a private than public citizen for all intensive purposes. I don't think he needs the money but this is America, and people sue others for everything under the sun. This case certainly has some daylight to it.

Are You Smarter Than Alberto Gonzales?

Still not sure? Check out his latest movie: