Now here's something par for the course: President Bush blames congress for the high price of gas. On the business side of things, Mark Lacter notes that "Royal Dutch Shell and BP both reported record first-quarter numbers, beating analysts’ expectations. Shell’s net income rose 25 percent to $9.08 billion. Exxon Mobil and Chevron are set to report later this week." (Emphasis added) In Los Angeles, the ">average price of a gallon of regular gas is......

Say you're going to kill the President and the feds will see you in court a week later. That's what happened to a 50-year-old Pacoima man last week before getting arrested, according to the Daily News. Charles Madrid told the Secret Service what he would do if Bush were present right at that moment: "I'd deck his ass." And Vice President Dick Cheney? He also "needs an ass kicking." Some thought Madrid was mentally ill,......

While the remaining Republican candidates converged on Simi Valley yesterday to debate who was most like Ronald Reagan and the two Democratic candidates still standing in the race meet in Los Angeles later today to hash out who is most unlike Reagan, other political news sent shock waves through Washington D.C. that did not portend well for the Grand Ol' Party. Congressman Tom Davis, a Republican who represents the suburban 11th District of Virginia, said......

Photo by decadentyou via Flickr The Daily News has an interesting and thorough report on an alleged Iraqi spy living in Canoga Park, a neighborhood in the Northwest Valley. William Shaoul Benjamin, 65, an Iraqi-born naturalized U.S. citizen, goes on trial today on federal charges that he failed to "register, as required by law, as an agent for executed Iraq leader Saddam Hussein's feared intelligence service, whose leaders are believed by U.S. officials to......

President Bush's final State of the Union address by Just Say K.B. via Flickr President George Bush delivered his final State of the Union address this evening. As we mercifully begin the transition out of the Bush era, let us examine the President's speech in typical Washington fashion: taking out a few lines here and there for the most opportune response. We have faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world......

Today, our great state filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over the Bush administration's opinion that states cannot set emission standards. The EPA denied California a waiver that it needs under the federal Clean Air Act to move forward with regulating greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and light trucks. At least 16 other states had been expected to follow California's lead and adopt the state's tougher emission limits. [CBS2/AP]And to that, fifteen......

The cold weather - and holiday festivities - descended upon Gothamist. The Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit, Broadway stagehand finally ended their strike, and NASCAR decided to run their victory lap through Times Square. There were disturbing photographs revealing the working conditions in which many city manholes are produced and ninjas were also a hot topic, either robbing homes or entering into alibis. But the city was really rocked by how Rudy Giuliani's visits......

It's too hot for C-SPAN: Bush rocks out -- slightly -- to a band playing “Guantanamera” at a Hispanic heritage month event. "It's time to end the tradition of holocaust denial that has only deepened the pain of those whose parents and grandparents suffered the unspeakable horror of ethnic cleansing," Mayor Villaraigosa said about City Council's calling the 1.5 million Armenians killed a genocide. "When we don't speak up, when we are silent, what......

George Bush issued the fourth veto of his presidency today, nixing a bill that would have provided insurance to poor children. Bush said the program was too costly, apparently cool with the fact that the Iraq war now costs over $455-billion. That's B for billion. And B for Bitch. Curbed LA takes a gander at a new development planned for West LA. In as much as the structure looks like a monument to cubism,......

Bush has "charms of the scruffy kind." On last Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher, guest Robert Draper talked up his his new George W. Bush biography, "Dead Certain." Here's the video on Bush's loneliness, douchebagness, stubbornness, dismissiveness and food chewing skills.......

Two high ranking former CIA officers are speaking out about the run up to war in Iraq. Namely the fact that the President was briefed about Saddam's lack of weapons of mass destruction, and didn't care, he was set to take the nation into war. Sidney Blumenthal writes in Salon today: On Sept. 18, [CIA Director George] Tenet briefed Bush on [Naji Sabri, Saddam's foreign minister]. "Tenet told me he briefed the president personally," said......

- The heatwave that has graciously broken could have lead to 25 deaths here - Republican congressman Paul Gilmour of Ohio found dead in his apartment in DC - Shaq is filing for divorce from his wife of five years. Together the couple had four children: Shareef, 7, Amirah, 5, Shaqir, 4, and Me'Arah, 1 - 400 court interpreters are on strike from San Luis to Santa Barbara to LA counties, any chance they're......

Guess what happens this week. Mexican trucks will be allowed to drive across the border and throughout LA's highways, bypassing local trucking companies entirely. Since 1982, Mexican truckers stopped near our border and transferred all cargo to American trucks, who would then deliver the goods throughout LA. Not anymore…Thanks to the ongoing, infinite wisdom of Mr. Bush, the border gates have swung open even wider. Why? Well, it could possibly lower prices on a......

Today the worst president ever got to share his thoughts on the worst AG ever, and the lies seethed out like snakes from Medusa's slithery scalp. This morning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced that he will leave the Department of Justice after two and a half years of service to the department. Al Gonzales is a man of integrity, decency and principle, and I have reluctantly accepted his resignation with great appreciation for the......

Not letting the bedbugs bite is getting harder than ever these days. Deeming it "troubling" and "unacceptable," Mayor Tony is urging federal officials to take steps to prevent a repeat of this weekend's Customs and Border Protection computer glitch that stranded some 20,000 travelers. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning - signifying a higher risk of wildfires - for the L.A. County mountains that will remain in effect until Wednesday......

The President's right-hand man, Karl Rove, the mastermind behind most of the Republican dirty tricks that got Bush in office twice, as well as the puppetmaster behind so many of the scandals that the GOP is still smarting from, is tapping out early. By the hair of his chinny chin chins he escaped having to testify under oath when his boys got caught outting a CIA agent in the middle of a war because......

Who woulda thunk? In the latest episode of BBC Radio 4's Document, host Mike Thomson investigates a purported coup orchestrated by Prescott Bush and several influential American families that sought (but obviously failed) to overthrow FDR and institute a fascist dictatorship in the U.S. of A a la Hitler and Mussolini: "Document uncovers details of a planned coup in the USA in 1933 by a group of right-wing American businessmen . The coup was......

At least one Southern California city has the courage to step it up and say "no" to Washington D.C. politicians according to the LA Times. "West Hollywood was the 80th city or township in the nation to pass such a declaration, following similar actions in Michigan, Ohio and Vermont as well as six cities in Northern California, including Arcada and Eureka." Peter Thottam, executive director of the Los Angeles National Impeachment Center, brought the idea......

The New Downtown Ralphs: "They went — loft-dwelling yuppies, SRO dwellers, office workers and even some homeless people — for a chance to browse the aisles of the long-awaited, 50,000-square-foot Ralphs on 9th Street." Not Putting in Crosswalks Near Schools: "'Our Department of Transportation is one of the slowest, most bureaucratic departments in the city,' said City Councilman Greig Smith. 'I am constantly banging my head against the wall to get them to do......

Or did he really see the first plane hit the WTC? Or is he truly a complete dipshit? Or is he somehow confused about the most important moment that ever happened to him in his entire life? As time goes on, not only does the President look dumber and dumber, but so do those who voted for him and defend(ed) him.......

Dear Mr. President, Since its your big 61st birthday today, and it seems as though things don't seem to be going so well for you, we thought we'd post a video from the good old days. Back when you were drinking and partying, back before people had to salute you, and before you had to think so hard about stuff. For the remainder of your term, we suggest you should start drinking again- you're......

While you were being yelled at yesterday by the lifeguard not to run by the pool, Maxine Waters was celebrating the opening of the nation's first Impeachment Center (8124 West 3rd Street), a place that has suddenly grown in interest in the wake of President Bush's recent controversial move involving Scooter Libby's conviction. Waters said that this impeachment movement, "is one of the most important efforts this country has ever seen." Indeed, some say......

Keith Olbermann might not be the anchor of the network news... yet... but he is the anchor of the most-You Tubed news show, he's probably the most talked-about news anchor, and his Special Comments have become a staple in the blogosphere. Probably because these days it's easier to watch and listen to someone go off on this, the most corrupt administration the US has ever seen, than it is to read a newspaper column.......

Sometimes people act a fool so they can get attention. Everyone knows this. But what most people forget is our elected officials work for us, not the other way around. In any relationship, honest communication is key. So when our elected officials act up, it's on us to let them know that we disprove. And just like in the blogosphere, it helps when you have the guts to put your name next to it.......

- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the Scooter Libby commutation "a betrayal of trust of the American people" - The Gavel - "Bush is to Libby as Baca is to Paris Hilton", says AnnieH - LA Times - Three Dodgers (Saito, Martin, Penny) make the NL All-Star Team - Daily News - Even the most generous forgiving man must admit that 3.21 inches is seriously lacking - LA Times - Unrelated, even scheduled Rain......

In a move only baffling if you thought that President Bush and his administration had hit rock bottom, today the President gave Scooter Libby a get out of jail free card on his convictions of obstruction of justice and perjury. But it's deeper than all of that. Scooter Libby was convicted on a National Security charge prosecuted by a Republican prosecutor and sentenced by a Republican judge. Libby was helping to cover up the......

Face it, California: we'll never be able to match Florida in sheer dysfunctionality. We try to have a messed up election that the whole nation snickers at , and they come up with something so jaw-droppingly stupid that, well, our jaw drops. (And no, that's not a reminder of the 2000 "Thanks for George Bush" travesty. This is, though.) We never expected their sports figures to top ours, though. Sure, we had the Shaq......

Hi plane that crashed into some houses in Upland! Hi LAist. Ow. Whats up? Not me, I'm crashed into the roof of some guy's garage. Oooo. You sure are. What the heck are you doing up there? Hurtin', bro. Hurtin. Eff! I was minding my own business flying around here in Upland and we were making our approach to Cable Airport and the flight instructor said "ok now watch, this is how you do it."......

Fuck Kobe Bryant and his whining bitchass OC spoiled brat yuppiefuck bullshit. The myopic, unwavering love of Kobe by so many Laker fans is baffling. Eclipsed only by the kool-aid drinking adoration of George Bush by his equally retardulous base. Here's what Kobe has been given while having the honor of being a Laker: - the best coach ever - the best center of his era - the best owner ever - the best......

You know that beautiful corridor between Westwood and Brentwood on Wilshire - all that grass, and lack of skyscrapers, and what's the word: open space? It belongs to the Veterans. It's called the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus. George Bush and the feds want it, they want to be able to build on it, and lease or sell it to Big Business. And when it looked like the $120 billion Iraq War spending bill......