From CNN.com:

Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday as he revealed he is a gay man who carried on an adulterous affair with a man.

Now, I said if he was a good governor, he should have stayed in office. However, others say it's not as simple as that.

Jersey Governor Admits Gay Affair, Steps Down

] "Until recently, I wasn't able to see any light at the
] end of the tunnel," he said Monday from his hospital bed.
]
] Deuel, who has battled weight problems all his life and
] blames his condition in part on genetics

Really? Genetics huh? Because I blame you.

[ I think you are overstating this a bit. I certainly agree that genetic pre-dispositions do not create a catch-all exoneration for anti-social or self destructive behavior.

But discounting them completely is not acceptible either. It's slightly crass, i think, to assume categorically that emotional or mental diseases are somehow less significant than physical ones.

Certainly, tossing up your hands and saying "Well, I have XYZ condition, so there's nothing I can do about it." is bullshit. The response ought to be "Fuck, I have XYZ condition... what do I have to do to adjust for it." Perhaps that's all you were saying, but it seemed to me like your attitude may have been more broadly targeted.

It's very easy to judge, of course, but not so easy to offer real help.

On a different note, fuck CNN, because the headline of this story is completely off base. They mention once in the article that the man blames genetics "in part" and then lead with a head line which insinuates something else entirely. Pick one dammit, and write the story to back it up. Based on the article content and focus, the headline should've been "Half-ton Man Finally Seeks Treatment" or something. But that wouldn't rile people up so much would it? -k]

Special K: You're way more tolerant than I could ever be. Many aspects of our culture are based on the blame game, everyone blames everyone else for their problems and its never their fault. Sure, I'm a little overweight too (maybe 10 lbs or so) but I blame myself because I'm too lazy to get to the gym. I agree with Acidus--lay off the pizzas.

Half-ton man: It was genetics

If indeed this girl wasn't raped as she claimed to be, Kobe should sue her instead for defamation of character. Not only that, but her "case" compromised parts of Colorado's rape shield laws, which could impact future victim's credibility and their cases in that state. Shame on you.

Case vs. Bryant is tottering

Crippling sex details

BY TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The prosecution of Kobe Bryant appeared on the verge of collapse last night after his accuser threatened to pull out of the criminal case and sue him in civil court instead.

The bombshell dropped two days after a Colorado judge released transcripts of a hearing in which a defense expert claimed the 20-year-old had sex with a mystery man hours after she was allegedly raped.

The woman’s lawyers said lurid details about semen from "Mister X" found on her body and underwear she wore to a rape exam wrecked her chances of getting justice at the trial slated to start Aug. 27.

Kobe Bryant's 'rape' victim

Here's something rich: Saddam's daughter wants to come visit her father. She wants an American attorney, however, Jewish attorneys are not welcome.

By ADAM NICHOLS
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Saddam Hussein's daughter is begging America to help her see him - but refusing to denounce his murderous regime.
In fact, she remains proud of the tyrant and of her sadistic brothers Uday and Qusay, who died battling U.S. troops.

In an interview with journalist Daphne Barak, Raghad Hussein told her, "Tell your friends in America they should help me to see him."

Speaking like a loving daughter, she said, "I was proud of his appearance in court, how he was not scared, the way he talked. He is a brave man."

And she added her brothers "died as heroes. They fought until the last bullet. I am proud of them."

Raghad, Saddam's eldest daughter, spoke with Barak from Jordan, where she is seeking refuge.

"I am a political person," she said. "I am Saddam's daughter. My mother is Saddam's wife. I have obligations. I carry his name. Now he is relying on me, he needs my help."

But she said she needs American assistance.

"We need an American attorney," she said. "I have nothing against the American people, I know most of them did not want this war. It is your President."

Her openness, however, does not extend to American Jews. When a prominent Jewish lawyer was mentioned, she said: "You have got to understand, my father would never allow it. Never. I don't judge people, but I can't deal with Jews."

Raghad said she wanted to see her father, who is awaiting trial in an Iraqi prison, because of health concerns.

She said: "I love my father. I watched his photos when he was brought to court. He didn't look good. I need to visit.

"I am very proud to be Saddam's daughter. We support him. Many people realize by now how good he was for the country."

Saddam's Daughter Wants American Lawyer--but no Jews, please

Here's a great way to get the message out:

Anti-War Billboard Unveiled Over Times Square

After a legal battle ends in compromise, an anti-war billboard was finally unveiled in Times Square Monday.

Next to a 105-foot dove painted with the stars and stripes, the ad on the Conde Nast building says: “Democracy Is Best Taught By Example, Not War.” The anti-war group had originally wanted to use the image of a bomb, but it was forced to change to a dove after the billboard owner clear channel refused to put up the ad.

New Yorkers seemed to be happy about the change.

“I didn’t think the bomb was appropriate; the dove is fine,” one city resident said. “Everyone has a right to say what they say. They paid for it, so they have a right. It’s not obscene or anything like that, so you have a right to say it.”

“I think a dove stands for peace, and that’s what the U.S. is about, and it’s a great anthem to use,” another passer-by said.

The billboard will stay in place through the Republican Convention, until October. A separate ticker displaying the cost of the war in Iraq will hang on the W Hotel until December.

Anti-War Billboard Unveiled Over Times Square

Newsflash: New York is one of the most expensive states in the nation to live in. Our defecit is huge, the taxes are high, and schools are under-funded. There's no money for a wage hike. Pataki, for once, did the right thing.

Gov KOs $7.15 minimum

Veto called 'punch in gut' to working poor

BY HEIDI EVANS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Gov. Pataki dealt a stunning blow to New York's working poor yesterday, vetoing a bill that would have raised the state's minimum wage to $7.15 an hour by 2007.
After a six-year struggle by advocates, the pay hike finally seemed at hand when the Legislature overwhelmingly passed the $2 increase July 21. The governor had until next Tuesday to sign or veto the measure.

In a two-page veto message sent to reporters late yesterday afternoon, Pataki reiterated that he wanted Congress to increase the national minimum wage, which has been stuck at $5.15 since 1997.

New York Vetos Minimum Wage Raise

Oh look, now we can all have a credit card with Usher's face on it. How lucky.

From the New York Daily News:
Ushering in a new debit card

By PHYLLIS FURMAN

Get ready to swipe Usher. Looking to capitalize on his mega-stardom, the chart-topping pop sensation is launching the first-ever celebrity debit card.
"Usher's got his own debit card, that's great stuff," the superstar told the Daily News yesterday.

Fans can buy the Usher Raymond 4th Debit MasterCard, backed by financial services group Bankfirst, by logging on to ushermc.com.

The Usher plastic - emblazoned with a dead-serious looking Usher wearing a bling bling diamond in one ear and a single word "success" - can be had for $9.95, plus $10 activation fee. It also will be sold at concert venues across the country on the singer's upcoming concert tour, which kicks off on Aug. 5.

Swipe Usher's Face

Now this is an interesting piece of dirty gossip from the DNC.

From the New York Post's Page Six:

WE HEAR....THAT the DNC made Al-Jazeera take down its banner at the Fleet Center even though the Arab TV network is broadcasting 90 minutes of coverage a night to viewers in the Middle East, more than any of the big American networks.

DNC Makes Al-Jazeera remove banner

Here's something really stupid from CNN:

Subway rider arrested for eating candy

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A government scientist finishing a candy bar on her way into a subway station where eating is prohibited was arrested, handcuffed and detained for three hours by transit police.

Stephanie Willett said she was eating a PayDay bar on an escalator descending into a station July 16 when an officer warned her to finish it before entering the station. Both Willett and police agree that she nodded and put the last bit into her mouth before throwing the wrapper into a trash can.

Willett, a 45-year-old Environmental Protection Agency scientist, told radio station WTOP that the officer then followed her into the station, one of several in downtown Washington.

Subway rider arrested for eating candy

This ranks right up there with the genius of renaming "french fries" to "freedom fries."
From Debka.com:

Mecca Cola in identical bottles to Coca Cola goes on sale in Israeli Arab towns, produced by French manufacturer of Tunisian origin “to fight corporate America and Zionism.”

Quench your thirst with a Mecca Cola!