The Hollywood Liberal

News Items:

Bush: U.S. making progress in Iraq
Bush heads to Latin America

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Day of Rage
Behind the scenes of the NYPD crackdown at the GOP convention

Village Voice
Excerpt:
It started benignly enough with a police inspector laying the ground rules through a bullhorn. “This is a march without a permit. You must comply with all the rules or else you will be subject to arrest. You have to walk in either a single file or a double file so that you do not obstruct pedestrian traffic. If you obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, you will be subject to arrest. I ask your cooperation so that everybody has a safe march.”
With that, a chunk of the crowd ambled across Church Street and began slowly shuf fling up Fulton Street. Schiller, already across the street, figured he’d get a quick shot and then head up to the Union Square or Public Library protests, which were rumored to be more happening.
Just over a minute later, the march suddenly stopped. When Schiller looked up from his viewfinder, he noticed a police officer behind him blocking the way.
“What’s going on here? Are we being placed under arrest?” Schiller asked the New York City cop. ….

Searched, handcuffed, and with property seized, the bewildered—Schiller among them—were transported to a makeshift detention center so filthy that 40 cops assigned there would later file medical complaints. It was the start of what would be, for the average protester, a 33-hour incarceration misadventure. No phone calls. No lawyers. Not knowing the charges until the very end.
The arrests were so wobbly that five weeks later Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, with the aid of the footage taken by Schiller and crew, flat out dismissed all 227 cases.

H.L.s Take
Long time readers of this site will know that this story is of personal interest to me becuase I was One of The 227 arrested at the WTC on August 31, 2004. Looks like so far the people who have settled their cases have reached nice settlements. I will be a part of the class action suit that hopefully will cost the city so much money they will be forced to change the way they deal with protesters. Ca-Ching. You can read my arrest story Here

9 U.S. Soldiers killed in Iraq bombing

ABC
Excerpt:
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Nine U.S. soldiers died in two separate incidents north of Baghdad, the military said Tuesday.

Six soldiers were killed when a bomb exploded near their vehicles during a combat operation Monday in Salahuddin province, the military said in a statement.

Three other soldiers were wounded and transported to an American military hospital for treatment, it said.

In another incident the same day, three more soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Diyala province, another statement said. One soldier was wounded.

All nine were assigned to Task Force Lightning. Names were withheld pending family notification.

2 Suicide Bombers Kill 93 in Iraq

SF Chronicle
Excerpt:”
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up Tuesday in a crowd of Shiite pilgrims streaming toward the holy city of Karbala, killing 93 people in one of several attacks targeting the faithful ahead of a weekend holiday.

The attack came a day after U.S. forces suffered their deadliest day in nearly a month — nine American soldiers were killed in explosions north of Baghdad, the military said Tuesday.

The coordinated attack Tuesday happened on a main street in Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad, said Capt. Muthana Khalid. He said 93 people were killed and more than 164 wounded.

Two men wearing explosives belts mingled among pilgrims lining up to be searched at a checkpoint before a bridge, then blew themselves up, said Brig. Gen. Othman al-Ghanemi, the regional police commander.

“This attack has created a chaotic situation and people are very angry. Many innocent people died who only wanted to practice their religious beliefs,” he said.

Libby found guilty in CIA leak trial

AP
Excerpt:WASHINGTON – Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby was convicted Tuesday of obstruction, perjury and lying to the FBI in an investigation into the leak of a CIA operative’s identity.

Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President
Dick Cheney, was accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative
Valerie Plame’s identity to reporters.

He was acquitted of one count of lying to the FBI.

Libby had little reaction to the verdict. He stood expressionless as the jury left the room. His lawyer, Theodore Wells, said they were “very disappointed” with the verdict.

H.L.s Take
OK Pat, now that you have got a conviction for a guy lying about the leak, how about a trial for the actual leak, you know who did it. Cheney and Rove, now go get ’em.

You have to see this.

Here is the latest HL’s Latest NBC News Raw Video Blog, in which we analyze the candidates that have thrown their hats in the ring so far for the 2008 Presidential Election. See the video here.

News Items:
Cheney disagrees with McCain on Rumsfeld
McCain says U.S. lives ‘wasted’ in Iraq
McCain says he regrets Iraq comment

See The Rest of The Comic Here