Why do we suffer the traffic in Los Angeles?

It seems to me that we accept the over population and growth in Los Angeles, ignoring the fact that our Freeways are antiquated and small. We are a car culture, and we pay a lot for in taxes, both income and sales, and yet, a 17 mile drive averages and hour plus.

For those of you reading this wondering where it takes an hour+ to drive 17 miles, it is the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. In particular, the stretch between the 105 freeway at LAX to the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley. 5, 6, and at times 7 lanes of parking lot. Are we allowing to many people to move in and live here, is government hoarding our tax revenues for their special interests? Why are our freeways parking lots? This city is being poorly managed and left to sit and wait in congestion and gridlock, while we pay through the nose.

Is there a solution? Do we control growth, limit housing growth, or just raise taxes? What is the solution, is there one? We need better, stronger leadership to tackle this problem and rid LA of it's CalTrans parking lots.

Come on Arnold, and you even live here...

a "different kind of war"

They really are doing anything they want to keep oil revenue flowing.

I love Connie's remarks...Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sidestepped questions on secret prisons Tuesday, saying the United States was in a "different kind of war" and had an obligation to defend itself.

We are liars....our country, our president...

it reads:
"What is the actual and potential damage done to the national security of the United States and our partners in the global war on terror?"

We end up being liars to the world. Out flew the righteous cause.

Rice told reporters, "We, our allies, others who have experienced attacks, have to find a way to protect our people."

Wow, we really have lost our moral compass

The full story...
or here...
USA today.
Frist, Hastert call for probe of CIA prison story leak
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert called Tuesday for a congressional investigation into the disclosure of alleged secret U.S. interrogation centers abroad.

The Washington Post reported Nov. 2 on the existence of secret U.S. prisons in Eastern Europe for terror suspects.....

We Do not Torture!

Every time we say "we do not torture" just remember this image.

I wonder if Abu Ghurayb Prision would of ever of been prosecuted if the photos had not been released? Are we just becoming a nation of butchers for the sake of protection?

Today, Bush declares: 'We do not torture'

PANAMA CITY (AP) — President Bush vigorously defended U.S. interrogation practices in the war on terror Monday and lobbied against a congressional drive to outlaw torture.

"There's an enemy that lurks and plots and plans and wants to hurt America again," Bush said. "So you bet we will aggressively pursue them but we will do so under the law."

He declared, "We do not torture."...

But we did, and have, and will continue to do so, but now Dick Cheny wants to make it legal to do it for America.

Here's some more details how we do not torture.

Jesus Juice...

I so wish I thought of this. I wonder if it tastes any good...or does it turn you into Peter Pan?

Text stolen from the Smoking Gun.
NOVEMBER 7--In a full-bodied blend of blasphemy and ingenuity, a Los Angeles couple is seeking to market a wine called "Jesus Juice" that bears a label showing a Michael Jackson-like figure appearing to be crucified. "Jesus Juice" merlot, the label for which you'll find below, is the brainchild of actress Dawn Westlake and Bruce Rheins, a veteran CBS Evening News producer who headed the network's coverage of the Jackson child molestation case. Westlake and Rheins filed to trademark the "Jesus Juice" name in January 2004, two months after the entertainer was arrested and days after news outlets first reported that Jackson used the term "Jesus Juice" when referring to wine he allegedly gave minors. On October 1, Westlake and Rheins provided USPTO officials--who are still reviewing the trademark application--with a copy of the proposed "Jesus Juice" logo, which features a photo of a barely clad man with a sequined glove, shiny loafers, stringy hair, and a black fedora that obscures his face. While carrying the name "Rheins-Westlake Winery," it appears that the wannabe winemakers's merlot production has, so far, been rather limited. In fact, two Westlake web sites seek a partner (preferably "a vintner with a sense of humor, but a seriously good line of wines") or someone to purchase the "Jesus Juice" trademark rights.
from: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1107051jesusjuice1.html