Highlights From Gore's Speech Yesterday

Al Gore has been touring the country to promote his new book, "An Assault on Reason." He was in New York before the holiday and in Washington, D.C. last night. The speech lasted for over half an hour, but PoliticsTV has been kind enough to put the highlights together in under eight minutes. It is well worth your time.

Loitering Is Free Speech

A Supreme Court decision in 1992 deemed loitering and begging a right provided for in the first amendment of the bill of rights. Despite that ruling, hundreds of the less fortunate among us have been arrested for their (in)activity. Eric Hoffstead is now fighting his arrest and his lawyer, Carl D. Birman and now Matthew D. Brinckerhoff are trying to turn the case into a class-action suit. Nearly 800 summons have been issued from June of 2005 to February of 2007, using considerable city resources in order to do so.

From The New York Times:

The United States Supreme Court has struck down several loitering statutes, but it has never considered the particular issue of loitering for the purpose of begging, and whether prohibiting it constitutes a violation of the First Amendment, said Michael C. Dorf, professor of constitutional law at the Columbia University School of Law.

In upholding the 1992 New York City case, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said begging constituted “protected communicative conduct, and city streets and parks were classified as a traditional public forum.”

“A lawyer is certainly entitled to make the argument that the lower federal courts have ruled the law unconstitutional and tell the state it should be persuaded by this ruling,” Professor Dorf said. “The state, however, is free to issue a decision based on its own interpretation of the Constitution.”

So even with the U.S. Supreme Court decision, the matter is up in the air here in New York. The state contends that these misdemeanors are often accompanied by other crimes, such as Mr. Hoffstead having possessed a crack cocaine pipe at the time.

Instead of using this as an excuse to put the homeless in jail, the situation is evidence that the problem of loitering and begging needs to be dealt with in a more productive manner. It has often been shown that treating and rehabilitating the thousands of people on the streets is more cost efficient from a budgetary perspective. More importantly, it is better from a humanitarian perspective.

The Terrorists In Your Living Room

We usually think of terrorists as those that want to create terror through their actions. Although the word is usually applied to rogue groups such as Al-Qaeda, the I.R.A. and Hezbollah, nation-states can also be terrorizing when they shock and awe cities with their warplanes and missiles. In Alabama, if you have a cause you are fighting for you might be a terrorist. From abortion opponents to gay rights activists, these groups are being tracked by the Alabama Department of Homeland Security.

From The Washington Post:

The site included the groups under a description of what it called "single-issue" terrorists. That group includes people who feel they are trying to create a better world, the Web site said. It said that in some communities, law enforcement officers consider certain single issue groups to be a threat.

"Single-issue extremists often focus on issues that are important to all of us. However, they have no problem crossing the line between legal protest and ... illegal acts, to include even murder, to succeed in their goals," it read.

Walker said the site had been up since spring 2004, and had gotten a relatively small number of hits until it recently became the subject of blogs, he said.

Birmingham attorney Eric Johnston, president of the Alabama Pro Life Coalition, said he was concerned about any list that described people doing social justice work as terrorists.

The website that displayed this information is now down, but who knows if it still exists on their intra-website. Like the NYPD who tracked GOP Convention protesters, this is another example of state security that borders on the obscene.

What will the government do with information on people that want a clean environment or equality the GLBT community? Will the Bush Administration set up a group of Brownshirts and SS guards next to combat these people that like to practice the First Amendment? Toss them in jail and throw away the key to prevent them from speaking truth?

More Fox News Spin

This time they try to play down surging gasoline prices, saying that it really is no big deal. What planet do these people come from?

Wingnuts Misinformation Campaign Continues

The right-wing apparatus relies on lies to keep itself afloat. Spreading fear (even if untrue) is what they do best and it has helped them report on news that really isn't based on fact. Their latest gaffe came from an anonymous right-wing blogger named "Ace of Spades." He/she claimed that ex-CIA Larry Johnson's report on the food supply for our troops was wrong because the document he relied on was a fake.

Ace relied on document 'expert' Charles Johnson to prove his assertion. A pdf examination proved to them that the document was false. So once Ace and Johnson got rolling, so did their counterparts throughout right-wing blog land.

From Glenn Greenwald:

The sea of right-wing blog followers then washed ashore, with one proclamation after the next like these:

** "Hi-larious Ratheresque hijinx on the part of Larry Johnson, ex-CIA moron, discussed by Ace."

** "The Has-Been Media is also incredibly stupid and easily fooled, so long as they can advance their political agenda . . . Check out the link to the memo. It's laughable.

** This is hilarious. Seems Super Duper Spook Larry (Plame Flame) Johnson got duped by a faked intel memo.

Needless to say, the memo is authentic. And some of the accusers are slowly starting to admit it (with no apologies to Johnson or The Washington Post for impugning their integrity, from what I have seen).

Leave it to the wingnut o'sphere to screw up another story. Not that this is any big surprise, there have been plenty of other ridiculously false stories debunked by those of us that reside in reality. It is unfortunate that the Washington Post actually picks up their garbage even with the lack of credibility that is out there, from Little Green Footballs to Michelle Malkin. When will they wake up and see how the right will use any means to try and combat the detractors of the war to protect George Bush.

Dealing With Corruption, Chinese Style

China is a constant human rights violator, at a rate that the Bush Administration is probably envious of, China kills and tortures its dissidents and lawbreakers at will. The latest man to be sentenced to death was a corrupt government official who approved dangerous drugs to be sold commercially. Imagine that happening in the U.S.? Here people get rewarded with cushy jobs for approving dangerous drugs, not executed.

From the AP:

BEIJING (AP) -- China's former top drug regulator was sentenced to death Tuesday in an unusually harsh punishment for taking bribes to approve substandard medicines, including an antibiotic blamed for at least 10 deaths.

Seeking to address broadening concerns over food, the government also announced plans for its first recall system for unsafe products.

The developments are among the most dramatic steps Beijing has taken to address domestic and international alarm over shoddy and unsafe Chinese goods - from pet food ingredients and toothpaste mixed with induso trial chemicals to tainted antibiotics.

Beijing's No. 1 Intermediate People's Court convicted Zheng Xiaoyu of taking bribes in cash and gifts worth more than $832,000 while he was director of the State Food and Drug Administration, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Those bribes allowed eight companies to get around drug approval standards, it said.

His crimes are serious, that is not in doubt. However I think the death penalty is just a wee bit harsh. Perhaps China and the United States can find a middle ground between what the Communist nation does and how America lets our corrupt officials off with a handshake for a job well done.

Michael Moore On Hillary Health Care

After Michael Moore's SICKO debut at Cannes Film Festival, Harvey Weinstein and Moore sat down to talk about Hillary Clinton. Moore admired her back in the 1990s but now she seems to him to be another part of the problem.

Mayor Wolfowitz

Now that Paulie is being kicked out of the World Bank at the end of June, he is going to need to have something to do. Although he doesn't need anymore money than the neo-conservative establishment has thrown his way, that hasn't stopped antiwar Republican Walter Jones from offering him some advice. Since Paul helped craft the policy that led us into Iraq, why shouldn't he go and try to manage it himself?

From The Blotter:

Paul Wolfowitz may have been ousted from his post at the World Bank, but a free-speaking GOP lawmaker has an idea to keep the so-called "architect" of the Iraq War from standing in the unemployment line.

"I would like to suggest...that maybe we give Paul Wolfowitz a new job and send him over [to Iraq] as mayor," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., "since the neocons got us in over there."

As deputy secretary of defense from 2000 to 2005, Wolfowitz helped develop the strategy and public rationale for the invasion and occupation of Iraq. He publicly stated that coalition troops would be greeted as liberators, and the nation of Iraq would be largely capable of financing its own rebuilding through oil revenues.

We are known as occupiers, not liberators; and the relatively cost-free war has cost us nearly half a trillion dollars. Perhaps Wolfowitz can go in and tackle all of the pressing business of Baghdad. His dreams of a post war Iraq are as likely as finding an oasis in the Sahara, let alone the deserts of Iraq. So the quest of victory should be his to take on and seek out. Let the troops go home to their families and let the neo-con kook handle it himself. Not a bad idea Congressman Jones.

Matt Drudge Desperately Needs A Mirror

Pseudo-journalist Matt Drudge took it upon himself to lambast Keith Olbermann on his radio show Sunday. What for you ask? The alleged phoniness of Keith's show and the operation over at MSNBC. Drudge dove into the attack after talking about the Venezuelan government shutting down a private radio station. What Hugo Chavez did was wrong, but how that connects to Keith, only the complicated mind of Matt Drudge knows that one.

From ThinkProgress:

DRUDGE: When we start hearing that the National Guard is seizing television stations, alright then I’m on board. Then I’m on board, Olbermann. Until then, it’s all pancake, makeup, and Edward R. Murrow good night and good luck and all… you know. Camp. Camp! That’s the right word to describe what’s being peddled over there at MSNBC. Complete and utter camp.

OLBERMANN (voice over): “Good night and good luck.”

DRUDGE: And some people are taking it seriously because they think it’s on TV so it has to be real. Please. And then they take off the hair, they take off the teeth, and they peel the face off — and then it’s you know, it’s all this phony — phony lights, phony music, and everything there.

I think Drudge is starting to lose it. Since he can't get anymore scoops these days (at least not anything credible) he is lashing out at anyone who calls him on his crap. Fox pulled his own TV show a long time ago and must be jealous that Countdown is doing so well. Hey Matt, maybe that has something to do with Keith telling the truth while you just make most of your sh*t up.

Fictional Museum, A Place For The Deluded

If you believe in the literal interpretation of the bible and the Natural History Museum in your city bothers you with archaeological fact then there is a place for you now. The Creation Museum is opening its doors to the fundamentalists and curiosity seekers that want to see dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden and riding on Noah's Ark. I'm sure Noah felt safe with that Velociraptor on the boat for forty days and nights.

Green Ferries In NYC

With all the news on New York and the environment, things are looking way up for the city. The latest piece of good news comes from the waterways. Since the Industrial Revolution, pollution-causing boats have been in the rivers and New York harbor emitting carbon monoxide into the water. Now that might be a thing of the past. The first solar and wind powered ferry is going to make it's debut with a Circle Line logo next year.

From 1010 WINS:

The electric ferry uses a "solar sail'' covered in solar panels that collect energy from the sun and wind.

Officials said it emits almost no noise, vibration or fumes, reducing water pollution and air emissions.

The green ferry, called Miss Statue of Liberty, will be able to reach a maximum speed of 13 knots and seat up to 600 passengers.

At a cost of under 10 million, this ferry will be a great contribution to the transit system of the tri-state area and a wonderful piece of clean technology that will help improve the water quality of our waterways. I can't wait to ride it when I have to shlep my tourist friends down to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Tensions Explode In Hillary's Camp

Being a Senator of New York but living in Washington has its challenges as does many elected officials who represent areas far from D.C. When you compound a Presidential race on top of that, things can get tricky and often messy. That is exactly what happened with Hillary and her staff. The D.C. crowd can have over-inflated egos I hear, which in turn can anger locals when the Beltway Boys and Girls leave district on their campaign field trips.

From The New York Post:

"Her New York crew is fighting like hell with her D.C. folks, and it's worse than the normal stuff, real serious tensions," said a Democratic Party source. "The New York folks are the ones who got her elected to begin with. They've done it and know what to do. The D.C. folks are the 'geniuses' who do 'national elections' and think everyone here is a rube.

"The Washington types hold meeting after meeting and then send a group of fatheaded 27-year-olds to do events in New York, and they wind up fighting with her staff here," continued the source, who is in day-to-day contact with party activities.

The source said the tensions exploded at Clinton's endorsement event with Gov. Spitzer and other high-ranking Democrats earlier in the month at the Capitol. "The New York locals were incensed that so many of these outsider kids were sent in from Washington and they were trying to run the event and they couldn't even make a contribution to it."

It is true, D.C. staffers tend to think they are better than others who work the political field no matter where they go. I saw it plenty of times working local elections when I used to live in Tucson. Getting on the "Advance" staff is a hard thing to do and is generally reserved for the well-connected. So ego can definitely find its way into the heads of the young people that get these positions.

Locals always know what they are doing on their own turf. That is just common sense. If the regulars in New York helped her get elected to the Senate, you can bet they know their game. So if Hillary wants a smooth operation, she better get her top campaign staff to allow the D.C. people to do D.C. things and let the locals handle theirs. It works that way in any national race, not just Hillary's.