President Mike?

So there's talk of a hometown mayor running for president. A mayor who is a republican but not really so much. A mayor with unimaginable name recognition. That's right - Mike Bloomberg. You thought I was going to say Rudy? Ok, they talk about him too, but that's old news. No, we're here to talk about the prospects of Mayor Mike (as he honestly wants to be known as).
For those of you from out-of-town, here's the 411 on Bloomberg:
- He's rich. OMFG he's rich. Billions. Talk that he could crop, I dunno, $500 million on a presidential run. No matter how crazy, you cannot rule out anyone with that kind of brie.
- He's not really a republican. Sure, he ran as one, and he remains one. But he switched over from being a democrat right before the election because there were about 10 people looking for the Dem nomination and -8 for the GOP.
- He gives money to republicans. You can see a list of contributions here. That's $$ to Bush and the RNC. Boo, Mayor Mike! Also, he brought those assholes here for the convention in 2004 so they could (allegedly) spend their nasty money in our city. Wha they really did was pimp out ground zero to sell their sick, soulless agenda, but anyway...
- But you'll note that he's given a lot more to Dems too. Including Maurice Hinchey from upstate NY, and Hinchey is super-left. Also NARAL. I think the only conclusion you can reach is that he's rich, and can give a lot of money to anyone.
- He will never, ever win a single republican primary. He supports (strongly!) gay marriage. He just gave a speech about scientific and medical breakthroughs and how important they are. He believes in technology and innovation. He raises taxes if that's what he thinks is needed. He is on a pretty serious crusade against guns and gun manufacturers and seller. So if he runs, it'll be as an Independant.
- We don't hate him. We don't like him, per se, but we don't hate him. He's just so...inoffensive. Maybe because he's really short? Whatever it is, you can't get excited about him one way or the other. Honestly, he is the man that charisma forgot.
- He's done some kind of hinky things with the schools, there's a serious affordable housing situation going on and he clearly likes big business, but on the other hand the 311 system (the non-emergency all city services hotline) is the best thing ever, the smoking ban turned out great, he's closing more of the parks to cars, and he may yet institute a congestion charge for Manhattan like they have in London.

In sum, I don't know what to think of him. He sort of occupies the political space between between McCain and Gore. But with billions. Stay tuned.

Till Shiloh Come

So the Brangeletus, the Infangelina, has been born.  Happy Birthday, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt.  The world's most famous baby.
I jut want to take a time out and say that I love love love the name Shiloh.  It was a fascinating and terrible battle and apparently in addition to the more well known meaning of a place of sanctuary or peace it can also mean the messiah.  So - all you joking about how the Infangelina is the Chosen One - who knows? 

Shhhh...

And for your illegal delictation - the full text of the behind the veil of TimesSelect Paul Krugman from today:

A Test of Our Character

In his new movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore suggests that there are three reasons it's hard to get action on global warming. The first is boiled-frog syndrome: because the effects of greenhouse gases build up gradually, at any given moment it's easier to do nothing. The second is the perception, nurtured by a careful disinformation campaign, that there's still a lot of uncertainty about whether man-made global warming is a serious problem. The third is the belief, again fostered by disinformation, that trying to curb global warming would have devastating economic effects.

I'd add a fourth reason, which I'll talk about in a minute. But first, let's notice that Mr. Gore couldn't have asked for a better illustration of disinformation campaigns than the reaction of energy-industry lobbyists and right-wing media organizations to his film.

The cover story in the current issue of National Review is titled "Scare of the Century." As evidence that global warming isn't really happening, it offers the fact that some Antarctic ice sheets are getting thicker — a point also emphasized in a TV ad by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which is partly financed by large oil companies, whose interests it reliably represents.

Curt Davis, a scientist whose work is cited both by the institute and by National Review, has already protested. "These television ads," he declared in a press release, "are a deliberate effort to confuse and mislead the public about the global warming debate." He points out that an initial increase in the thickness of Antarctica's interior ice sheets is a predicted consequence of a warming planet, so that his results actually support global warming rather than refuting it.

Even as the usual suspects describe well-founded concerns about global warming as hysteria, they issue hysterical warnings about the economic consequences of environmentalism. "Al Gore's global warming movie: could it destroy the economy?" Fox News asked.

Well, no, it couldn't. There's some dispute among economists over how forcefully we should act to curb greenhouse gases, but there's broad consensus that even a very strong program to reduce emissions would have only modest effects on economic growth. At worst, G.D.P. growth might be, say, one-tenth or two-tenths of a percentage point lower over the next 20 years. And while some industries would lose jobs, others would gain.

Actually, the right's panicky response to Mr. Gore's film is probably a good thing, because it reveals for all to see the dishonesty and fear-mongering on which the opposition to doing something about climate change rests.

But "An Inconvenient Truth" isn't just about global warming, of course. It's also about Mr. Gore. And it is, implicitly, a cautionary tale about what's been wrong with our politics.

Why, after all, was Mr. Gore's popular-vote margin in the 2000 election narrow enough that he could be denied the White House? Any account that neglects the determination of some journalists to make him a figure of ridicule misses a key part of the story. Why were those journalists so determined to jeer Mr. Gore? Because of the very qualities that allowed him to realize the importance of global warming, many years before any other major political figure: his earnestness, and his genuine interest in facts, numbers and serious analysis.

And so the 2000 campaign ended up being about the candidates' clothing, their mannerisms, anything but the issues, on which Mr. Gore had a clear advantage (and about which his opponent was clearly both ill informed and dishonest).

I won't join the sudden surge of speculation about whether "An Inconvenient Truth" will make Mr. Gore a presidential contender. But the film does make a powerful case that Mr. Gore is the sort of person who ought to be running the country.

Since 2000, we've seen what happens when people who aren't interested in the facts, who believe what they want to believe, sit in the White House. Osama bin Laden is still at large, Iraq is a mess, New Orleans is a wreck. And, of course, we've done nothing about global warming.

But can the sort of person who would act on global warming get elected? Are we — by which I mean both the public and the press — ready for political leaders who don't pander, who are willing to talk about complicated issues and call for responsible policies? That's a test of national character. I wonder whether we'll pass.

Truth, like love, hurts

So we went and saw the Al Gore movie (it has a name - An Inconvenient Truth) and dude! See it. Al Gore is my co-pilot.

As I've told just about everyone I know, I saw Gore speak at a campaign rally in Atlanta lo those many years ago. It was a smaller venue and he was everything you never thought he would be - funny, charming, charismatic and interesting. Also quite tall. I've heard the same things about him in person over and over and it is a great and tragic mystery that this charisma never translates beyond the room he is in.

So the movie actually shows that side, which I think is why there is all this talk of a comeback. Like we would never accept the same boring Gore with his same boring drone, but now that he is all exciting and loose we think he has what it takes. I guess it's good that people are warming up to him (so to speak) but it's sad that it still takes some sort of folksiness to seem like a viable candidate. Intelligence, committment and proven ability to govern would be enough, you would think.

I want to jump right up on the Gore bandwagon and ride.

It's not just the global warming, you know. He has also shown signs of a sort of courage that others lack these days, and that might be why he is becoming a political rock star. He made some amazing anti-war speeches, and has excoriated the administration on a number of issues very publicly. He has spoken his mind seeimngly without regard to political consequences. Because really, what can they do to him that has not already been done? And if he has truly lost fear, great things could happen.

So go see the movie - really - go see it. It's scary but not depressing, if that makes any sense. It won't make you go all catatonic with the enormity of it all. It will make you realize that this is a problem that we need to solve, and more importantly, that we can solve. It is galvanizing. You can find a theatre here. Then get everyone you know to see it. Let's all start talking about this. Let's talk about it like it matters. Let's make solutions to global warming part of the political debate.

For the record, I think he's gonna run. And damned if I won't vote for him. Ooh - Gore/Clark. How does that sound?

And for fun, when you do go, be aware that Gore is on the Apple Computer Board of Directors. Check out his sweet Powerbook and all the loving shots of the Apple logo. Notice that his slideshow is in Keynote, the Apple presentation program, not PowerPoint. (Now if only I could work a Veronica Mars reference in here, we'd have all the bases covered.)

I hate Rudy Giuliani

I hate him I hate him I hate him I hate him. Oh god do I fucking hate him.

Just thought I'd share.

Oh, I see. Duh.

Stupid, stupid me.
One of my big questions about this whole immigration situation (which btw I think is a totally made-up issue, but whatevs, at this point) was this:

If the reason we want to do something about the illegal immigrants is that they are a giant strain on local resources (schools, hospitals, etc.), and our solution is to build a giant, multi-gazillion dollar fence to keep people out (and fences have really proven themselves to be a fantastic idea in the past), why don't we just you know, use that fence building money to improve and assist local communities that are finding their resources squeezed?

I know there's this whole nutbag "national security" argument but puh-leez. Like terrorists can't figure out that the Canadian border is hella easier to cross. I mean what the hell are we going to do? Build giant fences along all 15,000 or so miles of our land borders? Idiots.

But of course I just wasn't thinking. This is why we're building the wall. Because it will make money for defense contractors. You gotta admit, at least these assclowns are consistent.

VERONICA MARS RENEWED

Season three, here we come!

That is all.

On Leopold and Rove

Yes, there are rumors all over the internets that Fitz has/is going to/is in the process of indicting Karl Rove today. This is all coming from Mr. Jason Leopold at Truthout.org (sorry - no time to link it but you can find it, I have faith in you).

Rove's lawyer and The NY Sun (right-wing, Moonie-owned - really) say this is not true, Leopold (fired from Salon.com for sketchiness) said this morning that he stands by his story 100%, and that the announcement should come Wednesday.

Believe what you like. I will believe when I see. Prayer might help.

Bush is a fucked up asshole who ruins lives (so are the rest of them)

The Times has a totally heartbreaking story about the funeral in Queens of Sgt. Jose Gomez; his mother, who has no rose-tinted ideas about what her kid died for, what he should've gotten out of the army, and what Bush gave him instead; and their priest.

His death came 31 months after his fiancée, Analaura Esparza-Gutierrez, 21, an Army private from Houston, was also killed by a roadside bombing in Tikrit, Iraq. Three springs ago, Sergeant Gomez had proposed to her. Now both were gone.
...

"We're poor," Mrs. Gomez had said. She works packaging air fresheners in a factory, and her husband, Mr. Jimenez, is a truck driver. "And if you go in the Army to get your degree, well that used to work out."
...

Mrs. Gomez was supported to the side of the coffin.

"Mi Jose! Mi Jose! Mi hijo!" she wailed. "O Dios!"

She sobbed, and added, moaning in Spanish, "Why did it have to be my son?"

At the church, Father Healy said he was concerned about Mrs. Gomez. He stood near the altar, below a statue of the Virgin of Sorrow.

"Twenty-five hundred of these around the country," he said. "Can you imagine?"

Bush: this is what's known as compassion. Nice that the means for people without money to get a degree has become instead the means for people without money to go halfway around the world and be blown the hell up by roadside bombs. WHEN ARE WE IMPEACHING, PEOPLE????

12 years ago today:

Mandela is Named President, Closing the Era of Apartheid

CAPE TOWN, May 9 -- The power that had belonged to whites since they first settled on this cape 342 years ago passed today to a Parliament as diverse as any in the world, a cast of proud survivors who began their work by electing Nelson Mandela to be the first black president of South Africa.

'We place our vision of a new constitutional order for South Africa on the table not as conquerors, prescribing to the conquered. We speak as fellow citizens to heal the wounds of the past with the intent of constructing a new order based on justice for all,' he said.

Mr. Mandela, we salute you!

NY Times hits the nail on the head

The industry is buzzing about how the Tom Cruise wacko factor may have damaged "Mission: Impossible III." Meanwhile Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — the Teflon Brangelina — are engaged in a disarmingly successful public relations strategy of take-us-seriously-and-by-the-way-save-Africa.

Just... totally.

Ten thousand things

OK. A lot on the plate here.

1. What to name the Duke Cunningham scandal? Hookergate is popular. Also Pokergate. ut then there's the tantilizing allure of...Watergategate. Or, as we sometimes call it, WaterWaterGateGate.

Don't know what I'm on about? Well, briefly, Duke Cunningham (R-CA) was a bad man and took money from places he whouldn't have, and in consequence will be in prison for a while. Oops! And one of his little things was taking bribes from defense contractors. Sometimes these defense contractors (especially one named Brent Wilkes) would throw poker parties for Duke. At THE WATERGATE FREAKING HOTEL. And, it is said (by one of the guys that threw the parties), there were hookers. Others have claimed that there were no female prostitutes at these parties. Which means...
Now among the guests at these poker parties was our boy Porter Goss, recently of the CIA. Hmmmm. So weird, seeing as how he just resigned with no warning. Almost like he was scared about something?

2. Anyone who believes that Porter Goss left the CIA because he was being edged out by John Negroponte due to clashing management styles is an idiot.

3. There are pople named a. Dusty Foggo and b. "Nine Fingers" (no I am not making this up) involved in this story.

4. Oh, did I mention that the HOOKERS at the WATERGATE were probably MEN? Oh yeah.

It's pronounced "sha-den-froy-de"

From the new AP-Ipsos poll:

This week’s survey of 1,000 adults, including 865 registered voters, found:

- Just 33 percent of the public approves of Bush’s job performance, the lowest of his presidency. That compares with 36 percent approval in early April. Forty-five percent of self-described conservatives now disapprove of the president.

- Just one-fourth of the public approves of the job Congress is doing, a new low in AP-Ipsos polling and down 5 percentage points since last month. A whopping 65 percent of conservatives disapprove of Congress.

- A majority of Americans say they want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress (51 percent to 34 percent). That’s the largest gap recorded by AP-Ipsos since Bush took office.

-Even 31 percent of conservatives want Republicans out of power.

The souring of the nation’s mood has accelerated in the past three months, with the percentage of people describing the nation on the wrong track rising 12 points to a new high of 73 percent. Six of 10 conservatives say America is headed in the wrong direction.

So get out there and help win back congress! What are you waiting for?

Stephen Colbert is God

Never underestimate the size of his cojones!

In case you missed it, Stephen Colbert, comic genius and ruler of the known universe, hosted the White House Correspondant's dinner last night. He took the opportunity to bring down a rain of fire on George W. Bush. Watch the videos.

Have you ever asked yourself, "What would I do if I was invited to speak in front of and to the man who I think is resposible for the lion's share of the world's evils? If that man happened to be my president? Would I accept the honor with good grace and make a few little jokes or would I tear him eight new assholes and then pour salt into them, and then thrust him naked and bleeding into the glaring spotlight of C-Span for all the world to see?"

Well, if you are Stephen Colbert, you would do the latter. Watch and be astonished as Colbert mercilessly and hilariously lays into the most powerful man in the world. Then go to Thank you Stephen Colbert and leave some fan mail.