Dubyaville

BBC reports on a tent-city that has sprung up near Los Angeles, made up of citizens who have lost their homes in the current banking crisis. It’s name is Dubyaville, in honor of our President W. (via)



As Bob Cesca points out, when will American news media cover this story?

Spitzer vs Vitter

Ten reasons why Spitzer’s case is different than Vitter’s.

10. Larry Flynt wasn't tipped off first.

9. IOKIYAR

8. Spitzer lost his job, while Vitter has moved on with (risky) business as usual.

7. The Republican leadership was outraged by Spitzer's behavior. Vitter? Not so much. In fact, they appear to be relieved that Vitter's prostitue was at least over the age of consent. A nice change for their party.

6. The bust was different? Oooooh......Vitter thought we said "busts."

5. Vitter asked for and received forgiveness from God. His slate is as clean as can be.

4. Vitter only went to prostitutes because his wife was not down with the idea of seeing her husband in a big diaper, begging to have his bottom powdered. It was really more of a marital aide. Totally different.

3. Vitter drew a firm moral line and immediately dumped his hooker after discovering her name was the same as his wife's.

2. His hookers were way, way cheaper than Spitzer's, only running around $300 per hour, compared with Spitzer's $5500 calls.

And, the #1 reason that Vitter's case is different than Spitzer's?

Because he says so.

Congress Stands Up To Liars

Blogwhoring, I give you Tom Engelhardt:

Recently, an ARG poll put George W. Bush’s job approval rating at an almost inconceivable low of 19%, giving “lame” a new meaning in the last lame-duck year of his presidency. Finally, recognizing a genuine opening, the Democratic Congress has been moving; in fact, the whole government seems to be lurching into action. Congressional hearings were held that split harshly along party lines. They focused on a big Republican pitch-man who, like so many before him in these last years, made outrageous claims and denials, while swearing that others had “misremembered” the facts. This time, however, the Democrats hung together and delivered a no-nonsense message to the White House via the Justice Department: We’re coming after your man. The FBI promptly began forming an investigation team. A prosecution now seems to be in the cards.

What makes this so remarkable is that Congress is no longer taking on lesser subjects like Iraq, torture policy, or the political staffing of the Justice Department. It’s attending to something of paramount significance to the nation, something that matters whether you live in Boston, New York, or Houston. But let Tomdispatch Jock Culture Correspondent Robert Lipsyte tell you the rest; the story of a man who actually does, in his own way, catch something essential about our last lamentable seven-plus years in Bush hell.