BL Blogger is on vacation from Thursday, the 29th of December, 2005, returning on January 3, 2006.

We'll be back with required reading, photos, and your observations, next Tuesday. And of course the BL Show will air every weekday morning, blog or no.

Feedback!

Posted by leboheme at 04:13 PM

Guest host Errol Louis chats with yesterday's guest host, Beth Fertig

Posted by leboheme at 04:10 PM

TWU board approves deal with the MTA (Newsday)

Revelations of NSA spying may endanger terrorism prosecutions (NY Times)

City on track to record lowest murder rate since 1963 (NY Sun)

Minnelli and Walters expected at 2nd Bloomberg inaugural (NY Daily News)

Observers puzzle over move of Myanmar's capital city (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 09:34 AM

Posted by leboheme at 02:40 PM

We're talking now with the Times' Jim Dwyer, who reported last week on NYPD infiltration of protest groups during the 2004 Republican convention. To see a video on police surveillance, courtesy of the New York Times, click here (macromedia flash player required).

Posted by leboheme at 10:17 AM

Corzine will work as Governor for free (The Record)

Good-government group tallies Schumer & Clinton "earmarks" for contributors (NY Sun)

In loose media blackout, TWU members mull possible contract deal (NY Daily News)

City Council speaker race narrows to DeBlasio and Quinn (NY Sun)

WH Press Room to be renovated in 2006 (Washington Post)

New Yorker begins 10th year in Peruvian jail despite efforts of Clinton, Wiesel (CS Monitor)

Posted by leboheme at 08:25 AM

Posted by leboheme at 01:48 PM

Comptroller: strike may have cost city $1 billion (NY Daily News)

Mixed reviews for all players in MTA-TWU standoff (NY Daily News)

Pastrami eased the way to a deal to call off the strike (NY Post)

Midtown resto sues TWU for lost business (NY Post)

Mo Rocca: "I thought it would draw New Yorkers together more than it has. I imagined hopping into a rickshaw with a Latina and an African-American" (NY Daily News)

Daschle: WH sought domestic spy power from Congress but we refused (Washington Post)

Pentagon to withdraw about 7,000 from Iraq (USA Today)

Analysis: with Patriot Act extension, Congress shows new mettle (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 11:10 AM

A sampling from our mailbag from the past several days:

Subject: New York moment
I thought it was hysterical when I went by the Marcy Avenue station
yesterday, which was blocked off with the yellow police tape. The funny
thing was, the police tape read "Crime Scene - Keep Out"... Only in
Brooklyn...
-KAH

Subject: Your show: Voice Of The People
I listen to your show almost everyday -- and enjoy it very much. However, i think your callers are quite extreme. Maybe those are the ones who have the time to call (and remain on hold for up to 30 minutes).

I did not hear anyone criticize the strike for what it is -- illegal and a humungus act of chutzpah! How can anyone think theses issues (and the issues are small) are worth paralyzing an entire city.

The union need not agree to the contract. They can continue to negotiate. But they cannot strike. They all knew that was the law when they started working for the MTA. The issue is as simple as that. To invoke Rosa Parks is an insult to the Civil Rights movement.
-A

Subject: "Thug" is in no way racist! (MTA photo included)
This is becoming a farce. Racism has nithing to do with it, except that if this goes on much longer, Toussaint will be out of a job and a lot of whites in
NYC will begin thinking this is nothing but lazy minorities wanting more for nothing.

+Can't hear the system announcements
+Rats are everywhere
+Booth clerks always on the phone or napping (SEE PHOTO COLLAGE)
+Clerks doing nothing to be on the lookout for
suspicious activity/riders

Subject: Kalikow certainly needs to go ...
He is the equivalent of Brownie (FEMA), and his lack of action and
knowledge and ability are criminal. That he is in charge of the most
important piece of infrastructure in NYC is beyond belief. PLEASE
KEEP INFORMING PEOPLE OF HIS LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS!
-SB

Subject: taylor law!
The Taylor Law includes CUNY faculty. I'm a member of the PSC and haven't received a raise in nearly 3 years. Not surprisingly one of the sticking points in our negotiations is the city's unwillingness to support our welfare fund.-DC

Subject: War of words AND images, war against unionization
The war of words has definitely escalated, but the war of images hasn't been mentioned much yet. The first night of the strike, I tuned into TV news to findToussaint and his multi-ethnic entourage making a press-statement, followed by a cut to Bloomberg beginning the "thug" war, backed by his own white army in suits. The commonality: no women in either shot. I don't think this is coincidental.
-RH

Subject: The Strike
As a white collar professional who has been downsized and learned the need to negotiate for every economic benefit I receive, I am completely sympathetic to the TWU and its leader, Roger Toussaint.

The MTA is indistinguishable for all large, impersonal corporations who forget it is the people, their employees, who make the business. When I travel through the trains and subways it is the TWU, along with the police and national guard, who provide for my safety and security. Labeling any of these groups as "thugs" is sad.
-R

Subject: strike story
I was rushing home from my appointment with my shrink in the west village, my kids were being wathced by a neighbor because my mother-in-law in the UWS couldnt make it to my home on the east side in the 20s. I decided to try to hail a cab, as I put my arm up a Mercedes pulled up and the woman driving motioned me to get in. I wasnt sure if she was a livery driver or what. It became clear that she was just doing a good deed. She drove me all the way home as we spoke about kids, NYC scools and the guilt all mothers - stay at home or working - feel about raising our children. When I got home, faster and more comfortably that I ever have in the past, I told my neighbor the story and she asked if I was worried about getting into a strangers car, I never was concerned and maybe that is because the moment I stepped into her car I heard the familiar sounds of WNYC on her radio.
-SB

Posted by leboheme at 05:12 PM

The LL Show's Sarah English contributes this cartoon accounting of her hike from central Brooklyn to lower Manhattan:

Posted by leboheme at 04:46 PM

Strike-tastic: WNYC's Bob Hennelly

[Bob Hennelly on the BL Show 12/22/05]

Posted by leboheme at 04:41 PM

Hey folks,

-The Editor

Posted by leboheme at 02:23 PM

The G train used to just be infrequent...

Stuck behind the mayor's entourage this morning at 7:25

Made it past Mike

Empty subways = emptry streets

Journey's end: the Municipal Building bike racks

Got photos or observations to share? Email us!

Posted by leboheme at 02:12 PM

FISA court judge resigns over NSA spy flap (Washington Post)

Local 100 in feud with International TWU (Village Voice)

Schuerman and Smith: strike is about personalities, not just pensions (NY Observer)

Daily News: Throw Roger from the Train!

Some EMS workers considering a strike (NY Daily News)

Weld dares Spitzer to take a stand on the strike (NY Sun)

Posted by leboheme at 12:40 PM

The line snakes around the block as commuters wait for a ferry to Manhattan

Posted by leboheme at 02:43 PM

Actually, it's more like a vehicle for press releases, but either way, some poor soul was up at 3:55 am posting to it. twulocal100.blogspot.com

Posted by leboheme at 11:26 AM

How to get around, what's open (wonkster)

Henry Stern: the city should run the subways (NY Times)

Bush called Times execs to oval office in effort to kill eavesdropping story (Newsweek)

Posted by leboheme at 09:19 AM

This blog has judiciously sidestepped the Christmas-killers debate, but we just had to wade in after we got this from the former House Speaker:

Posted by leboheme at 04:18 PM

Bush appeals to opponents of war in live address Sunday night (NY Times)

AG offers a legal justification for NSA spying on Americans (Washington Post)

TWU declares New Yorkers may face "complete shutdown" of transit system on Tuesday (NY Daily News)

New charges of torture at "secret prison" in Afghanistan (NY Times)

Self-described "nightmare" for the US likely winner in Bolivia poll (LA Times)

The most generous givers to charity are not the wealthiest (NY Times)

Posted by leboheme at 09:22 AM

That's the final word--until it changes. Stay tuned to 93.9 FM and AM 820 for updates!

And here's a minor miracle: no changes to the weekend subway plan!

Posted by leboheme at 03:36 PM

Jeff Jarvis, blogger and media maniac

The poster Jeff brought with him to studio

Phil Kline: a different kind of musician

Posted by leboheme at 12:21 PM

Brisk voting in Sunni city that has been center for insurgency (NY Times)

Chalabi's daughter voted for her dad (Slate)

Analysis: how McCain triumphed on anti-torture amendment (LA Times)

On executive order in 2002, Bush OKd NSA to spy on US citizens (Washington Post)

Bush orders $1.5b more for New Orleans levees (ABC)

Casper, Wyo's gay mayor doesn't think "Brokeback Mountain" will change much in his town (NY Times)

South Korean researcher accused of faking stem cell data (NY Newsday)

Clarence Norman found guilty, again (NY Sun)

Mona Lisa "83 percent happy" say researchers (Star-Ledger)

Posted by leboheme at 09:00 AM

Douglas Rushkoff: thinking inside the box is good for you

["Acting Outside the Box by Thinking Inside the Box" - BL Show - 12/15/05]

Posted by leboheme at 04:30 PM

You think the transit workers are shamelessly exploiting their ability to bring the city to a standstill in order to bargain for higher wages? We think cheapseats.com is shamelessly exploiting the misery we may shortly endure in order to promote their website. In other words, the ruse worked...

Posted by leboheme at 09:30 AM

House backs McCain anti-torture amendment (NY Times)

Senators of both parties line up to oppose renewal of Patriot Act (NY Times)

MTA accused by union of hiding money as it passes budget (NY Newsday)

In case of strike, roads and commuter rail are the way to get around (NY Times - pdf)

Pataki bypasses city to allocate funds for Freedom Tower to Silverstein (NY Sun)

NYC #1 in municipal debt, says comptroller (NY Post)

Early poll shows strong support for Spitzer in governor bid (NY Newsday)

Robert Novak: Bush knows who leaked CIA secret (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 08:45 AM

More lists! Foreign Policy Magazine provides the top 20 best-sellers on foreign policy of 2005 (as measured by Barnes & Noble).

Follow the hyperlinks for BL Show interviews:

1. The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century Thomas L. Friedman (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

2. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Jared Diamond (Viking)

3. China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World Ted C. Fishman (Scribner)

4. The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror Natan Sharansky (PublicAffairs)

5. 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (W.W. Norton & Company; Barnes & Noble Books)

6. The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq
George Packer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

7. Imperial Grunts: The American Military on the Ground
Robert D. Kaplan (Random House)

8. First In: An Insider's Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan Gary C. Schroen (Presidio Press)

9. Secrets of the Kingdom: The Inside Story of the Secret Saudi-U.S. Connection Gerald L. Posner (Random House)

10. The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy T.R. Reid (Penguin Press)

11. Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East Clyde Prestowitz (Basic Books)

12. The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God George Weigel (Basic Books)

13. Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War Anthony Shadid (Henry Holt and Company)

14. The Fate of Africa: From the Hopes of Freedom to the Heart of Despair Martin Meredith (PublicAffairs)

15. Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power David J. Rothkopf (PublicAffairs)

16. America's Secret War: Inside the Hidden Worldwide Struggle Between America and Its Enemies George Friedman (Doubleday)

17. Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating
Thomas P.M. Barnett (Putnam)

18. John Kenneth Galbraith: His Life, His Politics, His Economics Richard Parker (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

19. The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War Andrew Bacevich (Oxford University Press)

20. The Case for Peace: How the Arab-Israeli Conflict Can Be Resolved Alan Dershowitz (John Wiley and Sons)

Posted by leboheme at 04:04 PM

Subject: walmart
One of the more disturbing aspects of the Wal-Mart health care policy is the fact that the Walton Family has a net work of over $70 billion dollars (according to Forbes). What would Wal-Mart’s health care policy look like if the Walton's were willing to give up $1 billion or $2 billion of those $70b and give it back to their workers? What impact could this amount of money make on the lives of their thousands of employees?
-MM

Subject: the health insurance discussion
Two things that need a bit of reflection:
(1) in the comparison of the usa to europe you cannot think only about comparing health care costs. if you add the higher taxes and the lower rate of corporate welfare in europe, it becomes less clear why american corporations are complaining.
(2) we, the citizens of this country are not CONSUMERS of health care. Health care, and education should not be treated as products. We are not consumers when we call the police or the fire department, nor when people are send to fight wars for us. All of these services (and i might add to it appropriate housing) are a part of what a government should provide to its citizens. And if it costs more money, everybody should pay more taxes, and those who do not need to think about it should pay much more. It is hard to believe that those at the top will spend much less (at least in the us) if they have a bit less. Needless to say taxes money isn't money that is out of the market, it gets back there through slightly different channels.
-OG

(no subject)
In your eagerness to expand the discussion to national health care issues, you did not read the memo carefully or address aspects of it that were not already well-worn topics -- beginning with the single payer issue. The cardiologist who talked about "life style" was getting at something, but you didn't pick up. Wal-Mart is not talking about all of us; it is talking about poor people and how they live in this country. Wal-Mart is also trying to invent an American workforce that is as underpaid and disadvantaged as those in SE Asia. Where was any of this in your review of the usual suspects?
-AC

Subject: health care
I have a hard time finding anything wrong with the Walmart Document. Imagine for a moment how the landscape would look if employers had slowed or stopped their practice of offering health care coverage years ago. By now the crushing weight of a single payer system would have created the political will necessary to get us all universal coverage.
The thing I really have a difficult time understanding is why this isn't a republican issue. I'm mystified that making our workforce the healthiest in the world (and therefore costing employers fewer health care dollars and fewer sick days) isn't at least as important as the unemployment figures.
-BR

And the last word goes to our guest on the program, Professor Cindy Watts:

The issues of the kind of delivery system we have and who is in charge are critical to all the points made this morning by your callers (interesting to hear the different average perspective from those who call in to NPR programs in Seattle!). The landscape is clearly different now than it was in the 70's when providers and consumers got pretty much whatever they wanted and the 90's when managed care ruled the market. In my mind, most everything worth thinking about fits into a frame that someone else has already created -- often a musical frame. I have attached my version of health care history to the tune of "Santa Baby."
I hope you enjoy it.

Posted by leboheme at 11:14 AM

One more article on today's agenda : "French Told CIA of Bogus Intelligence" (LA Times) by Tom Hamburger, Peter Wallsten and Bob Drogin in the LA Times from last Sunday. Drogin will be a guest this morning at 10:06.

Posted by leboheme at 09:47 AM

A new opinion poll for Time, ABC News, the BBC, NHK and Der Spiegel suggests Iraqis are not only optimistic about their future, but strongly favor a democratic system of government. We'll talk more about it this morning.

Got some tidbit to share? Email us!

Posted by leboheme at 09:05 AM

Judge orders $25k/day fine for transit workers if they strike (NY Sun)

Federal Marshals to patrol public transportation around the nation (Washington Post)

Penatgon plans more fake news for Iraq (USA Today)

US tied for sixth in ranking of countries that jail journos (NY Times)

Corzine breaks pledge to not consider gas tax hike (Star-Ledger)

Analysis: Bush's new favorite word is "adjust" (CS Monitor)

Bob Dylan to host sattelite radio show (Washington Post)

Mr. Softee's song will still play (NY Times)

The strange tale behind face transplant in France (NY Times)

Chris Wallace says Mike Wallace has 'lost it' (Newsmax)

Posted by leboheme at 08:38 AM

Was the President's slow response to Hurrican Katrina prompted by racism? There was an illuminating exchange today between Scott McClellan and a reporter named April at the White House press briefing today, illustrating how sensitive this issue still is for the WH.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, April.

Q: Scott, the President said something very poignant in the Brian Williams interview, that he doesn't care what people call him, but don't call him a racist. Is he concerned, still three months after the Katrina relief effort, that there are still some African Americans who may feel that -- the same way as Kanye West, and in these next three years, what can the President do to help turn that feeling around?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, what we can continue to do is work with state and local officials and the people in the region to help rebuild New Orleans, and help rebuild the Gulf Coast region and Mississippi and Alabama. There's a large area that was affected by the hurricanes, and the President has talked about this before.

I think what was exposed by the hurricanes was the deep roots of injustice and inequality that have existed. And that's why the President has been acting to address those -- the root causes of that inequality and injustice. And we will continue acting on the policies that we have been pursuing, whether it be the education reforms we have put in place, or reaching out to faith-based and community organizations, or helping lift people out of poverty by moving forward on pro-growth policies. The President has been acting to help people improve their quality of life. And, yes, the question came up yesterday, and I think that there were some that expressed some views that did concern the President. And that's why the President responded the way that he did.

Q But some are saying -- some had been saying that prior to Katrina, and some are saying that Kanye West just exposed the whisperers in the African American community from many years prior to Katrina. What can the President do beyond these steps that you said --

MR. McCLELLAN: As you point out, there's a deep history of this within the region that was exposed by the hurricanes. And that's why we must continue to act to address the root causes of that inequality and injustice. And that's what the President will continue to do. He will also continue working to bring people together from all walks of life to focus on the priorities that we care most about, and that is making sure that the American people have the opportunity to succeed and prosper.

Q But, lastly, and still back on the question I'm trying to get an answer to, is the President still concerned that there is a pocket of African Americans beyond the people who live in Louisiana that feel that -- that still, I guess, feel what Kanye West has said?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm not sure exactly what he said. I don't recall exactly what he said. All I can tell you is what the President is doing --

Q "The President does not care about black people" --

MR. McCLELLAN: Oh, okay, that is just outrageous. And I think the President expressed that yesterday in the interview with Brian Williams. It's outrageous to make such a suggestion like that. And it's based on an ill-informed -- it's ill-informed and misguided comments. The President has acted to help people from all walks of life. And all you have to do is look at his record. The President has acted to make sure everybody has the opportunity to learn and succeed through the No Child Left Behind Act. These are historic education reforms. And that's the best way we can help to address these injustices and inequalities that exist.

Posted by leboheme at 04:08 PM

Suggestions from our listeners, via email and phone.

["Best Books" - BL Show - 12/12/05]

A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz. Translated from Hebrew by Nicholas de Lange
Oz writes a powerful personal memoir of a writer growing up in the war-torn city of Jerusalem, with politics and humor around a clash of cultures.

A Great improvisation: Franklin, France and the Birth of America by Stacy Schiff.
An engaging history of Benjamin Franklin’s time as a statesman in France, A great Improvisation is replete with colorful characters and mysterious intrigues.

The End of the Line by Barry Lynn
The End of the Line takes a deep and in-depth look at the Anatomy of globalization, and the systems of dependence it has created.

Lessons in Taxidermy by Bee Lavender
In a memoir of her body’s failures, Lavender writes about sickness, survival, and the disassociation that comes with living daily with ones own mortality.

Garbage land: the secret trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte
Where does our Garbage go after we set it on the curb? Garbage Land is a brilliant exploration into the soiled heart of the American trashcan.

One Woman’s Army by Janice Karpinski
A first person account of what went on in the now infamous Abu grab prison, Karpinski also talks about the experience of being a woman in the role as military commander.

The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto
A history of the Island of Manhattan, Shorto examines the beginnings of the city and the initial influences of Dutch settlers to its eventual formation.

The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
A coming of age story about a boy without a father who turns to his relationships with his mother and with the family found in his uncles bar to see him through.

The pope’s Daughter by Carolyn Murphy
The story of Felice della Rovere, the illegitimate daughter of Pope Julius II, and her role in the renaissance.

The bomb in my Garden by Dr. Mahdi Obeidi
Dr. Obeidi, the chief weapon’s scientist for Saddam Hussain’s Iraq, tells his own story about WMD’s and Invasion.

The End of Poverty by Jeffery Sachs
Sachs examines Economic solutions to the world’s poverty problems.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Mountains Beyond Mountains is the story of a Doctor who finds his calling in providing modern medicine to those who have the least access to it. It follows Dr. Paul Farmer, the co-founder of Partners in Health.

The top five according to the NY times editors and contributors, straight from the mouth of Sam Tanenhaus
Assassins Gate: America in Iraq by George Packer
This groundbreaking book recounts how the United States set about changing the history of the Middle East and how it became ensnared in a guerilla war in Iraq.

de Kooning: An American Master by Mark Stevens
This exhaustively researched biography is a portrait of the abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning, who arrived in New York as a stowaway from Rotterdam in 1926 and underwent a long struggle to become a painter.

Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
A biography of the Italian artist Caravaggio leads the author Harr on a complex journey to rediscover one of the artist’s long lost paintings.

Post war: a History of Europe since 1945 by Tony Judt
This book is a mammoth history of the trends and changes of a continent after having been ravaged by two wars.

Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Didion writes an intensely personal memoir of sickness and health, marriage, and other details family life.

Posted by leboheme at 03:41 PM

This weekend in the FT we caught our first view of the 2008 Beijing Olympic mascots. Judge for yourself; we think Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini are Cutecute!

The Friendlies: we hold gazillions of your foreign debt and will be eating your lunch by 2008

Posted by leboheme at 03:23 PM

Forget all the best books, best movies, and unforgettable personalities lists of 2005 (haven't you already heard enough about Pope Benedict and Brokeback Mountain?)

Regret the Error brings you Crunks '05: The Year in Media Errors and Corrections. The winning correction (from the Denver Daily News) is so gloriously offensive we feel compelled to share it with you right here:

Got some horrendous error you want to share? Email us!

Posted by leboheme at 03:12 PM

Tough questions for President at third recent address on Iraq (Boston Globe)

Bush estimates Iraq death toll at 30,000 and likens country to revolution-era America (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bush approval inches up to 42% (USA Today)

Supremes will hear DeLay redistricting case (Houston Chronicle)

New party offers Palestinians a third choice (CS Monitor)

State GOP conference favors Weld, iffy on Pirro (NY Times)

Bloomberg decrees four to a car if strike goes ahead (NY Times)

Posted by leboheme at 08:45 AM

Here is an excerpt from President Bush's third address on Iraq, given today at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia , a nonpartisan nonprofit offering

We found the words shown below in bold not only in today's speech, but in all three recent addresses on Iraq and the war on terror.

Remarks by the President on the War on Terror

11:16 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:

As the Iraqi people struggle to build their democracy, adversaries continue their war on a free Iraq. The enemy in Iraq is a combination of rejectionists and Saddamists and terrorists. The rejectionists are ordinary Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, who miss the privileged status they had under the regime of Saddam Hussein. They reject an Iraq in which they're no longer the dominant group. We believe that over time most of this group will be persuaded to support a democratic Iraq led by a federal government that is strong enough to protect minority rights, and we're encouraged that many Sunnis plan to actively participate in this week's election.

The Saddamists are former regime loyalists who harbor dreams of returning to power, and they're trying to foment anti-democratic sentiment amongst the larger Sunni community. Yet they lack popular support, and over time, they can be marginalized and defeated by the people and security forces of a free Iraq.

The terrorists affiliated with or inspired by al Qaeda are the smallest, but most lethal group. Many are foreigners coming to fight freedom's progress in Iraq. They are led by a brutal terrorist named Zarqawi -- al Qaeda's chief of operations in Iraq -- who has stated his allegiance to Osama bin Laden. The terrorists' stated objective is to drive U.S. and coalition forces out of Iraq and gain control of that country, and then use Iraq as a base from which to launch attacks against America, overthrow moderate governments in the Middle East, and establish a totalitarian Islamic empire that reaches from Spain to Indonesia.

The terrorists in Iraq share the ideology of the terrorists who struck the United States on September the 11th. They share the ideology with those who blew up commuters in London and Madrid, murdered tourists in Bali, and killed workers in Riyadh, and slaughtered guests at a wedding in Amman, Jordan. This is an enemy without conscience, and they cannot be appeased. If we were not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be leading quiet lives as good citizens. They would be plotting and killing our citizens, across the world and here at home. By fighting the terrorists in Iraq, we are confronting a direct threat to the American people, and we will accept nothing less than complete victory.

We are pursuing a comprehensive strategy in Iraq. Our goal is victory, and victory will be achieved when the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten Iraq's democracy, when the Iraqi security forces can provide for the safety of their own citizens, and when Iraq is not a safe haven for terrorists to plot new attacks against our nation.

Our strategy in Iraq has three elements: On the economic side, we're helping the Iraqis restore their infrastructure, reform their economy, and build the prosperity that will give all Iraqis a stake in a free and peaceful Iraq. On the security side, coalition and Iraqi forces are on the offense against the enemy. We're working together to clear out areas controlled by the terrorists and Saddam loyalists, and leaving Iraqi forces to hold territory taken from the enemy. And as we help Iraqis fight these enemies, we are working to build capable and effective Iraqi security forces, so they can take the lead in the fight, and eventually take responsibility for the safety and security of their citizens without major foreign assistance.

Posted by leboheme at 03:48 PM

This one was the most interesting so far, principally because the Prez took questions-- unfiltered ones, by the sound of it. And he sounded unusually frank and forthright, or to borrow David Brooks' words on Meet The Press yesterday, "they're finally getting over that communications strategy, which has been so blunt in public, but reasonably intelligent in private"

["President Discusses War on Terror and Upcoming Iraqi Elections" - The White House]

One producer's highlights:

11:44 am - When voting is over, it's possible constitution shld be amended to include Sunnis
11:55 am - Q: How many Iraqis killed? - 30k iraqis died in conflict
11:57 am - we adjusted our strategy
12:04 pm - Q: why keep linking Saddam to 9/11? - pro forma answer
12:10 pm - north korea declared tey have nukes, they counterfeit our money
12:10 pm - my father fought in wwii, I find Japan transformation amazing

Posted by leboheme at 03:20 PM

Good Dei to you too

Posted by leboheme at 12:15 PM

Time's Viveca Novak shares details of her conversation with Rove lawyer (Time)

More than 600 tortured and abused prisoners "discovered" in Iraqi jail (NY Times)

French intelligence warned the CIA about faulty uranium claims more than a year before 2003 State of the Union (LA Times)

Meet the venture capitalist who wants to take K Street public (Washington Post)

Auletta: NYTimes publisher and editor decided to let Miller go while she was in jail (The New Yorker)

Rice: Acheson is my model (Washington Post)

No unity among GOP county bosses on next candidate for Governor (NY Sun)

Posted by leboheme at 11:19 AM

Two suggestions from BL Show listeners:

personalized postage stamps

personalized church sign magnets (see below)

[Open Phones on holiday giving - BL Show - 12/9/05]

Posted by leboheme at 03:53 PM

Subject: Blog
> We couldn't help but notice, listening to the President's speech
> today, that some W's words sounded awfully familiar. So we checked the
> transcripts, and its true!

Yeesh, do yourself a favor and don't even get onto a turnip truck without a helmet!

-J

["Deja Vu All Over Again?" - BL Blog - 12/7/05]

Posted by leboheme at 02:40 PM

Montreal conference results in informal agreement on climate change (BBC News)

NY court strikes down gay marriage (NY Daily News)

Federal-local partnership on illegal immigrants misidentifies many violators (NY Sun)

Patriot Act negotiations in Senate reach a critical phase (CS Monitor)

Probation for policeman in Zongo shooting case (NY Newsday)

Charges likely over mistaken shooting in London tube (The Guardian)

Posted by leboheme at 12:27 PM

The humanities, my friends, are inseparable from the sciences.

Posted by leboheme at 01:35 PM

Menendez is Corzine's pick for Senate (The Record)

Shooting at Miami Airport opens debate on role of air marshals (Washington Post)

Observers wonder whether Rice torture statements signify new policy (NY Times)

Transit worker rep says of MTA offer, "they have declared war" (NY Daily News)

DeFrank: Rumsfeld may step aside next year, Lieberman eyed (NY Daily News)

Casual CIA attitude towards secrets resulted in leak of clandestine flights (NY Sun)

Centuries-old wall unearthed in lower Manhattan (NY Times)

Posted by leboheme at 08:49 AM

We couldn't help but notice, listening to the President's speech today, that some W's words sounded awfully familiar. So we checked the transcripts, and its true! The early section of the president's address today in D.C. closely followed his 11/30/05 speech at the US Naval Academy, in many places using the exact same words. Everything below in bold appeared in today's second speech exactly as it did in the first one.

Two more to go...

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE WAR ON TERROR TO THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Omni Shoreham Hotel

Washington, D.C.

10:44 A.M. EST

Last week at the Naval Academy, I gave the first in a series of speeches outlining our strategy for victory in Iraq. I explained that our strategy begins with a clear understanding of the enemy we face. The enemy in Iraq is a combination of rejectionists and Saddamists and terrorists. The rejectionists are ordinary Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, who miss the privileged status they had under the regime of Saddam Hussein -- they reject an Iraq in which they are no longer the dominant group. We believe that, over time, most of this group will be persuaded to support a democratic Iraq led by a federal government that is strong enough to protect minority rights.

The Saddamists are former regime loyalists who harbor dreams of returning to power -- and they're trying to foment anti-democratic sentiment among the larger Sunni community. Yet they lack popular support -- and over time, they can be marginalized and defeated by security forces of a free Iraq.
The terrorists affiliated with or inspired by al Qaeda are the smallest but most lethal group. Many are foreigners coming to fight freedom's progress in Iraq. They are led by a brutal terrorist named Zarqawi -- al Qaeda's chief of operations in Iraq -- who has pledged his allegiance to Osama bin Laden. The terrorists' stated objective is to drive U.S. and coalition forces out of Iraq and to gain control of the country. They would then use Iraq as a base from which to launch attacks against America, overthrow moderate governments in the Middle East, and try to establish a totalitarian Islamic empire that reaches from Indonesia to Spain.

The terrorists in Iraq share the same ideology as the terrorists who struck the United States on September the 11th, blew up commuters in London and Madrid, and murdered tourists in Bali, killed workers in Riyadh, and slaughtered guests at a wedding in Amman, Jordan. This is an enemy without conscience -- they cannot be appeased. If we're not fighting and destroying the enemy in Iraq, they would not be leading the quiet lives of good citizens. They would be plotting and killing our citizens -- By fighting the terrorists in Iraq,across the world and within our own borders. we are confronting a direct threat to the American people -- and we will accept nothing less than complete victory.

We're pursuing a comprehensive strategy in Iraq. Last week, my administration released a document called the "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq." Our goal is victory -- and victory will be achieved when the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten Iraq's democracy, when the Iraqi security forces can provide for the safety of their own citizens, and when Iraq is not a safe haven for terrorists to plot new attacks against our nation.
Our strategy to achieve that victory has three elements. On the political side, we're helping the Iraqis build inclusive democratic institutions that will protect the interests of all Iraqis. We're working with the Iraqis to help them engage those who can be persuaded to join the new Iraq, and to marginalize those who never will. In two-and-a-half years, the Iraqi people have made amazing progress. They've gone from living under the boot of a brutal tyrant, to liberation, to free elections, to a democratic constitution. A week from tomorrow, they will go to the polls to elect a fully constitutional government that will lead them for the next four years. By helping Iraqis continue to build their democracy, we will gain an ally in the war on terror; by helping them build a democracy, we will inspire reformers from Damascus to Tehran; and by helping them build a democracy, we'll make the American people more secure.

On the security side, coalition and Iraqi security forces are on the offense against the enemy. We're clearing out areas controlled by the terrorists and Saddam loyalists, leaving Iraqi forces to hold territory taken from the enemy, and following up with targeted reconstruction to help Iraqis rebuild their lives. And as we fight the terrorists, we're working to build capable and effective Iraqi security forces, so they can take the lead in the fight -- and eventually take responsibility for the safety and security of their citizens without major foreign assistance. As Iraqi forces become more capable, they're taking responsibility for more and more Iraqi territory; we're transferring bases for their control, to take the fight to the enemy. That means American and coalition forces can concentrate on training Iraqis and hunting down high-value targets like Zarqawi.
On the economic side, we're helping the Iraqis rebuild their infrastructure, and reform their economy, and build the prosperity that will give all Iraqis a stake in a free and peaceful Iraq. In doing this, we have involved the United Nations, other international organizations, our coalition partners, and supportive regional states.

Posted by leboheme at 03:08 PM

Here is the White House fact sheet on Iraq reconstruction, released a few minutes after the President's speech began.

Posted by leboheme at 10:54 AM

2 articles to accompany our interview with Knight-Ridder Washington correspondent Jonathan Landay on pre-Iraq War intelligence. Landay has won praise for not relying on off-the-record WH sources.

"Lack of hard evidence of Iraqi weapons worries top U.S. officials" (7/6/02)

"The decisions, policies and intelligence behind the Iraq War" (10/29/03)

Posted by leboheme at 10:16 AM

Bush will emphasize Iraq reconstructionin speech today (Reuters)

After Berlin visit, Rice and Merkel disagree over what they discussed (NY Times)

Wrongly-held German files lawsuit in American court but is denied US entry (NY Times)

NYT editorial: Sen. Clinton panders on flag-burning bill

Hillary challengers launch campaigns this week (Village Voice)

Fla. professor acquitted on terrorism charges (Washington Post)

Knight Ridder review of Alito cases suggests nominee is a "staunch conservative" (Miami Herald)

Corzine-Forrester contest was NJ's most expensive and drew lowest turnout (The Star-Ledger)

Bronx residents get Venezuelan oil at a 40% markdown (NY Daily News)

Former Amtrak chief lashes out at critics from Canadian retreat (The Observer)

Posted by leboheme at 08:57 AM

That's how one Politicker reader figures it. Go figure!

"Mike Outspent?" on the Politicker

Posted by leboheme at 04:33 PM

Um, this is embarrassing to share, so just have a look but let's not talk about it. Key sentence: "The only rational man in this entire media debate over men's right to control women has been talk show host Brian Lehrer".

"Forced childbirth, forced abortion" on Alternet

Posted by leboheme at 04:31 PM

Subject: changing minds (blog)
Women's absolute authority over their reproductive systems comes with absolute responsibility for their choices. There is however, no right to an easy choice. Compelling an unwilling father into legal parenthood is just as foul as compelling willing mothers into legal abortion. There are no happy endings here as you point out, but if through accident or idiocy a couple is forced into these unhappy choices it is her right to terminate and his right to walk. Just because both of these are arguably moral doesn't mean that the law should be required to make the choice easy; or worse not a choice at all.
-BR

Subject: Baby discussion
It can't be both ways:
If women are equal participants in sex, then pregnancy is a "no-fault" event.

The law should reflect that once having decided to give birth to a child, support is the female's responsibility provided the father has signified immediately upon learning of the pregnancy that he is against it.
-ES

Subject: compelling a woman... OR a man
Is the situation of abortion and childbirth completely unique? Wouldn't we object if one member of a couple could legally compel another to take a particular job, live somewhere they didn't want to, or quit school against their preference?

Even within marriage, the legal right to force a person to act against his or her will is repugnant, even if that choice has profound consequences for the other partner.
-AM

(no subject)
If any man doesn't want a female to be pregnant he needs to wear a condom. That is where his right ends to prevent a child
-SH

Subject: men and pregnancy
for centuries, when it came to unplanned pregnancy, men held all the cards and women held none. That is, men could decide whether they were going to be upstanding and stick around or whether they were going to disappear. But women had no choice but to bear the physical, social and financial burden of being pregnant.

Now, legalized abortion has turned the tables. Men are left hoping that their partners will do what they want them to. And they have to grapple with what to do when the woman disagrees with them about a situation that the women, by virtue of biology, get the final say on. I can't help but wonder if on some level this issue is less about being "fair" to the men or if it's more about men not being able to accept a situation where they aren't ultimately in control and don't get the last word.
Maybe men have to accept that nature and science have conspired to give women the final say in this important matter, and while it might not be "fair" perhaps it's what's most appropriate for a whole host of reasons.
-EG

(PS: I do think though, that given the fact that a woman does have a choice, if she decides to keep the baby against his wishes he shouldn't have any financial obligation to her).

Feedback!

Posted by leboheme at 03:32 PM

Rice to Europeans: detentions thwart terror (CS Monitor)

Rice faces mounting European criticism over CIA flights (Spiegel International)

Italian prosecutors allege they were misled by the CIA (Washington Post)

Plame to leave CIA (LA Times)

Mayor Bloomberg and Rep. King join calls for full accounting of 9/11 spending (NY Daily News)

New York a leading center for DVD pirating (NY Daily News)

Fake green cards easy to obtain and cheap in New York (NY Sun)

Reelection cost Bloomberg more than $103 per vote, a new record (NY Newsday)

New deputy mayor faced down US Secret Service (NY Times)

Weicker may oppose Lieberman as anti-war candidate (Hartford Courant)

Posted by leboheme at 08:38 AM

The 9/11 Public Discourse Project, the successor to the 9/11 Commission, slapped the President and Congress with a scathing report card today, grading agencies on on their compliance with the Commission's recommendations. 5Fs, 12 Ds, and just one A among the 41 areas on which the government's response was graded.

Click here for the report card (pdf) and here for the complete report.

The White House was ready, issuing this rosy assessment
of its own compliance with the Commission's recommendations just hours after receiving the report card.

Posted by leboheme at 05:02 PM

We had a huge response from our listeners during today’s call in segment on how to recycle just about anything in the Five Boroughs. Thanks to everyone who called or emailed in the following tips and suggestions!

New York City has an official page to help with recycling. The site includes city recycling rules and regulations as well as locations in the five boroughs for difficult waste like Auto-Fluid and Batteries.

There is also a site that helps locate recycling options by Zip Code, and can help deal with all sorts of difficult to dispose of products.

Want to find a place for all your organic compost? Go to the New York City Compost Project and look for a center near you for composting, horticulture advice, or just to give something back to the worms.

On the phones, there is a Manhattan based Packing Peanut Hotline, call to check your local drop off spots at 1 800 828-2214

We also had callers who told us they were able to take drained batteries to both Radio Shack and Whole Foods.

Last, but certainly not least, a caller advised us that old furniture and appliances that the Salvation Army might not accept can be taken to a local homeless shelter. When people in the shelters find a permanent place to live, the shelter can start them off with something for the home.

and a final note to think about from a listener in Brazil:

Dear Bryan,
Here in Rio de Janeiro, the sanitation department has attached special containers to light poles on busy pedestrian sidewalks to collect used batteries. These special green colored containers have a very small opening to prevent pedestrians from discarding other trash in them.
People seem to use them.
-LP

Posted by leboheme at 04:19 PM

ElBaradei: Iran "months" away from the bomb (Jerusalem Post)

9/11 Commission to give US govt poor marks today on improving security (CNN)

Analysis: Democrats divided over the next step in Iraq (Washington Post)

Details emerge on Al Qaeda escape from Bagram (NY Times)

Dicker: Al Pirro secretly trying to get wife out of Senate race (NY Post)

Sen. Clinton pushes anti-flag-burning law (NY Post)

Posted by leboheme at 09:08 AM

Tom DeLay got a lot of attention for the beaming face he showed to the Harris County (Texas) sheriff's office when he appeared for a photo op a few weeks ago...

(courtesy of The Smoking Gun)

but while leafing through a copy of Time Magazine today, we came across a photo of DeLay disciple Michael Scanlon after his indictment, and we now believe the apprentice has outdone the master:

Michael Scanlon: pled guilty, but still keeps his teeth clean

Posted by leboheme at 04:10 PM

Lobbyist Michael Scanlon flashes a freakishly happy grin after his guilty plea. How does bilking Indian tribes out of $80 million make anyone this happy?

Posted by leboheme at 01:54 PM

Public radio producers are troublemakers, and nothing gives us more joy than to bring you page 3 of am New York when the free daily sells pages 1 and 2 to advertisers.

Page 3 news: fans will be barred from tossing trash at sports events

Page one ads:

Posted by leboheme at 11:00 AM

Study: NYC schools outperform other cities', racial gap narrows, white scores slip (NY Times)

Kelly orders cops to clear Penn. Sta. of vagrants (NY Daily News)

New NYC law reins in unruly spectators (NY Newsday)

Dispute over Pirro takes candidate to Gov's office (NY Daily News)

Analysis: Menendez would be a tricky prick for Senate (NY Times)

Inquirer: choose Rob Andrews (Phila. Inquirer)

Oprah and Letterman mend fences (NY Times)

Memo: Texas officials opposed DeLay's redistricting plans (Washington Post)

President Bush called for jury duty in Texas (CNN)

Technology dispute could shut down all BlackBerrys (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 08:43 AM

You know Citgo, your friendly neighborhood gas station that just happens to be...a state subsidiary of Venezuela, and a geopolitical plaything of America's #2 Latin American bete noire, Hugo Chávez?

Chávez has already announced a deal with Bay Staters to provide the poor with low-cost fuel (read about it here), and now he's taken out full page ads in local papers promoting a plan to do the same for New York.

Posted by leboheme at 04:24 PM

Some ace cell phone photog caught the Gold Star mom riding the East Side local and sent it in to Gawker.

I wonder if Mike Bloomberg is on this train? I wanna have a word with him!

Posted by leboheme at 03:50 PM

Just call me Professor Doorman, Ma'am

Posted by leboheme at 03:42 PM

Bush assessment of Iraq drew closer to generals' views (LA Times)

The President left out plenty in his speech (WSJ)

Iraqi Kurds make oil deal without Baghdad's approval (LA Times)

In 1980s document, Alito pushed to overturn Roe (NY Times)

Patricia Harris will be next deputy Mayor (NY Post)

NYC education councils founder as parents quit (NY Sun)

Number of children growing up in Manhattan up sharply (NY Times)

Ashcroft gets jeers at Columbia (NY Sun)

Posted by leboheme at 08:54 AM