theCLog

21
Directed by Robert Luketic

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Drillbit Taylor
Directed by Steven Brill

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Run Fat Boy Run
Directed by David Schwimmer

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Two quick follow-ups to last week’s Iraq War cover story:
1. The minuscule “gains” made by the Bush/McCain “surge” now appear to be unraveling, which is kind of what you’d expect from a policy that never promised success, but rather a lower level of failure. The biggest surge going on in Iraq lately is a new buildup in levels of violence. The reason? Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army is back in action, taking over neighborhoods in West Baghdad and challenging government troops in Basra. Deadly explosions and rocket attacks have resumed, and 149 people have been killed in Baghdad alone this month (compared to a “mere” 76 deaths in November, which was the low during the surge). As many critics have suspected, the reduced violence in Iraq had less to do with more U.S. troops patrolling the street than with al-Sadr’s ceasefire declaration. As the Shiite cleric’s ceasefire falls apart, so do any illusions that the Bush/McCain surge is going to work. But don’t tell the president, the VP, or McCain — they’re no longer with us poor slobs in the “reality-based community.” As McCain said yesterday, “We’re succeeding, I don’t care what anybody says.”
2. The vice president lived up to his reputation, as well as to his first name, yesterday by his reaction to the news that U.S. military deaths in Iraq have now reached 4,000. He reminded ABC News that those 4,000 people had volunteered for duty (i.e., “what’d they expect?”), and then went on to say that it’s President Bush who “carries the biggest burden.” Yeah, I really feel for Dubya, having to send all those people off to die for his mistakes. Poor guy, I bet it’s really getting to him. I guess that’s why he was tap-dancing for the press the other day. Cheney’s remark only underscores the top-down view and attitude of the Bush crowd: We’re the leaders, and if people die because of our decisions, well, they’re a bunch of nobodies, so too bad — as when he responded to a question last week about recent polls that show two-thirds of Americans say the war in Iraq isn’t worth it. Cheney’s reply: “So?”

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— Cartoon by Jim Hunt

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When you’re a politician who uses public money to pay for your cell phone, don’t send text messages to your mistress and then lie about the affair. What the hell do you think Tracfones are for?
CNN is reporting that: Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and an ex-aide have been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice after prosecutors said sexually explicit text messages between the two contradicted their sworn court testimony.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick reportedly sent romantic texts to his chief of staff, contradicting earlier testimony.

Kilpatrick, who is married, has been snarled in a well-publicized sex scandal since January after The Detroit Free Press reported he exchanged romantic text messages with his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty.

Kilpatrick, who many have called the “Hip-Hop Mayor,” should’ve known better. Seriously, his leadership has been questioned and placed under a microscope since the moment he took office. If you’re going to be a cheating bastard, you could at least cover your tracks better.
I can’t help but wonder what would happen if we took a look at our mayor’s text messages. Would Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory’s text logs bore us to death or would we see that the man really has a soul? But I digress. And in no way am I saying that McCrory and Kilpatrick are in the same boat. I would hope that no one, politician or otherwise, would be as dumb as Kilpatrick.
So, here’s the lesson. When you’re cheating, get a pre-paid cell phone–even if you’re not in office. Just imagine how many people are checking their family shared plans to find out if there is hanky-panky going on through the towers.
If convicted, Kilpatrick could face up to 15 years in prison.
Here’s what CNN says the DA had to say:
Prosecutor Kym Worthy said she charged Kilpatrick and Beatty with multiple counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office in a 12-count indictment. The most serious charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Worthy also said others may be charged in the case. She asked Kilpatrick and Beatty to turn themselves in by Tuesday morning. Video Watch the press conference »

“Even children understand that lying is wrong. Witnesses must give truthful testimony,” she said.

Worthy had strong words for Kilpatrick during a press conference Monday and said city officials tried to hamper her investigation.

“At every bend and turn there have been efforts by the city to block our investigation,” she added. “We had to go to court to get documents we subpoenaed on January 31. We have been told some other documents have been destroyed.”

All of this for some outside booty! Damn!

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US toll in Iraq hits 4,000: Les than a year after the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, the American death toll reach 4,000 Sunday night. Four U.S. soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing Sunday night that brought the grim milestone to its present standing. “No casualty is more or less significant than another; each soldier, Marine, airman and sailor is equally precious and their loss equally tragic,” said Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, the U.S. military’s chief spokesman in Iraq. Also Sunday, at least 35 Iraqis died as the result of suicide bombings, mortar fire and the work of gunmen in cars who opened fire on a crowded outdoor market. Nearly 100 were wounded in the violence. Estimates of the Iraqi death toll since the war began range from about 80,000 to the hundreds of thousands. Another 2 million Iraqis have been forced to leave the country, and 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes within Iraq, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Full Story: CNN.com

Richardson says he still feels loyal to Clintons: Bill Richardson claims loyalty to Clintons after announcing his decision to support Barack Obama for president. “I am very loyal to the Clintons. I served under President Clinton. But I served well. And I served the country well. And he gave me that opportunity,” Richardson told Fox News Sunday. Richardson made his announcement on Friday and has faced harsh words from some of his fellow democrats. Richardson was asked Sunday about James Carville’s comment that Richardson’s Obama endorsement “came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver.”
Full Story: CNN.com

Study shows western N.C. teens more likely to abuse prescription drugs: A health study shows high school students in western North Carolina are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than students in other parts of the state. The 2007 Risk Behavior Survey shows about 25 percent of western North Carolina high school students said they have used prescription medicine such as Oxycontin and Percocet for recreational use. The Asheville Citizens-Times reports that compares with 17 percent of students from the central and eastern part of North Carolina. An Erwin High School student, 17-year-old Matthew Chapman, died earlier this month after placing two fentanyl painkiller patches on each arm and drinking alcohol.
Full Story: WSOCTV.com

Hamas and Fatah agree to hold talks: The rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah yesterday signed up to a Yemeni-brokered deal to negotiate a reconciliation, but hours after the signing, an apparent dispute broke out over just what was included in the agreement. Hostilities between the two groups boiled over last June when Hamas seized control of Gaza, routing forces loyal to the Palestinian President and Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, in a week of deadly street battles. “We, the representatives of Fatah and Hamas, agree to the Yemeni initiative as a framework to resume dialogue between the two movements to return the Palestinians’ situation to what it was before the Gaza incidents,” their joint declaration said.
Full Story: Independent.co.uk

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Planned Parenthood on Albemarle Road is offering Plan B for only 10 bucks tomorrow. They normally offer it for $25, but the emergency contraceptive costs more than $50 at your average pharmacy.

Tuesday is national Back Up Your Birth Control Day.

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An amazing band called Tortured Soul is hitting town tomorrow night — they’ll be playing the Visulite.

Now, I’ve seen the Brooklyn-based trio perform twice and the shows were AMAZING. Seriously. The tickets are only $18, so if you’re not doing anything TAKE YOUR ASS TO THIS SHOW.

Here’s a short clip of Tortured Soul in action:

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Can somebody tell me why this is even a holiday? Seriously.

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So, former President Bill Clinton was in town today. He stopped off at one of our favorite watering holes for lunch, Thomas Street Tavern. Don’t believe me? Check out the video. It’s a little dark — look for some white hair floating around in there. Toward the end, he can be seen more clearly.

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State Department: Someone snooped in Obama’s passport file: On three occasions since January, Sen. Barack Obama’s passport file was looked at by three different contract workers, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. “Two of the contractors were fired, and one was disciplined by the contractors company”. McCormack said. The State Department hires contract workers to monitor their systems and help employees. The breach seems like “imprudent curiosity” among the contract workers, said McCormack. This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight years,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton in a statement.
Full Story: CNN.com

Teenager dies after police in Charlotte use Taser: 17 year-old Darryl Turner died Thursday afternoon after Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police used a Taser on him. His mother, Tammi Fontenot, told Eyewitness News, “I want answers. I want to know why. I just want to know why.” Charlotte homicide detectives will be launching an investigation as to why the Taser was used on Turner.
Full Story: WSOCTV.com

U.S. contractor under fire for Katrina jobs: Florida-based construction firm Call Henry is being hit with a criminal investigation from the Mississippi State Attorney General’s office, and a $10,000 fine from the Mississippi state board of Contractors. Mississippi State Board of Contractors found that Call Henry exhibited “gross negligence or misconduct” in its contracting business.
Full Story: Msnbc.com

Peace talks on Cyprus to restart: The deal was struck at a meeting between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat in Nicosia the Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot leader have agreed to resume talks on reunifying the island. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey deployed troops after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece. “This is a new era we are starting for the solution of the Cyprus problem,” Mr. Talat said. “We shall try our utmost in order to come to an agreed solution for the interest of the Cypriot people, both communities, as soon as possible,” President Christofias said.
Full Story: news.bbc.co.uk

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