'Tis the season for Republicans to crap on America's favorite Obama—yes, we're talking about Bo Obama, the First Dog. Yes, half-term Governor Sarah Palin thought it was "odd" that the Obamas' family holiday card featured the adorable pup (and his "signature") and Senator John McCain said Obama should be leading, not taking Bo shopping (video) for Christmas presents. But liberal MSNBC host Ed Schultz took aim at the criticisms by pointing out some classic GOP hypocrisy. more ›

4,500 Americans perished in almost nine years of war, on top of the $800 billion in taxpayer money spent. But the number of Iraqis that were killed is more than 100,000, which is a conservative estimate. “We are glad to see the last U.S. soldier leaving the country today," Said Hassan, a 25-year-old Baghdad shop owner said. "But the most important thing now is the future of Iraq. The Americans have left behind them a country that is falling apart and an Iraqi army and security forces that have a long way ahead to be able to defend the nation and the people.” more ›

Last year, ground was broken on the George W. Bush Presidential Library, located at the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Now, it's revealed that a piece of steel from the World Trade Center will be featured prominently. more ›

Besides slowing down Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the formation of telecom monopolies, if there's one thing the Justice Department can't resist, it's $16 muffins or $7 Beef Wellington bites. A report [pdf] released by the DOJ's inspector general found that in conferences it hosted from 2007 through 2009, the department paid way too much for coffee, candybars, and a bunch of other overpriced food that the lawyers need to feel special. more ›

Does the man who once sat on Cloud 7 believe there's something to Building 7? On Howard Stern's radio show last night, Tony Bennett questioned who was really to blame for the September 11th attacks that killed 2,996 Americans. "They flew the plane in, but we caused it," Bennett said. "But who are the terrorists? Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists?" Bennett was alluding to the imposing presence of the United States in the Middle East prior to the attacks, but the damage had already been done. Look for his new single, "Who Can I Turn To (When People Find My Views On 9/11 In Poor Taste)," this fall. more ›

One of the men reportedly zapped by 59-year-old Larry McKelvey's stun gun at last Sunday's Jets game claims that McKelvey "jabbered" during the moment of silence for 9/11 victims, and badmouthed George W. Bush, in addition to sitting during the national anthem. "It was the most disrespectful thing I have ever seen," 46-year-old Ian Cummings told the Daily News. McKelvey allegedly used his stun gun (not to ever be confused with the trademarked name of a completely DIFFERENT type of weapon that pumps electrical current into human bodies) to shock Cummings, a former Marine and a third man, before being subdued by the crowd. more ›

Where was George W. Bush when he found out about the death of Osama bin Laden? At the Sizzler on Canyon Ranch Road in Texas, announcing to the world that after a covert operation, he successfully captured and killed Ardilla, the gopher that's been terrorizing his backyard. He explains, "None of us will ever forget the day when that sucker first reared its gopher head..." but after a two-year investigation, a "reliable source" (his gardener Alberto) delivered some helpful intel. Soon, the gopher met his end after a battle that "involved hissing, a garden hose and a rake." Ah, so that's what it means to be out of the spotlight. more ›

Sure, President George W. Bush declined President Barack Obama's invite to go to Ground Zero today, because Bush wants to stay "out of the spotlight." But one "highly-placed" source tells the Daily News that W. feels annoyed and he "[views] this as an Obama victory lap." Like Bush has never done that? more ›

President George W. Bush has reportedly declined an offer made by his successor to join him in visiting Ground Zero on Thursday to commemorate the death of Osama Bin Laden with family members of those who were slain there on 9/11. NBC reports that while Bush plans on traveling to Ground Zero for the 10th anniversary of the attacks in September, the former president will not attend Thursday and his camp offered no comment as to why. more ›

Breaking an agonizing twelve hour silence, Rudy Giuliani has at last commented on the killing of Osama bin Laden. Speaking to Politico this morning, the mayor of 9/11 Town praised President Obama for ordering the mission. He also stressed that Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, deserves some of the credit for the mission. But in an admirable display of modesty, Giuliani didn't explicitly identify himself as the one killed bin Laden—he says he was sitting at home reading with Fox News on for company when news of bin Laden's death broke. more ›

Republicans love to skewer President Obama about his need for a teleprompter—after all, why would a politician ever want things to go as scripted? It was in this spirit that Dudley Do-Right chinned star of American Dad Brooklyn/Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm cast aside pre-approved questions for the real thing at a town hall meeting for constituents yesterday. Shockingly, as the Wall Street Journal reports, it devolved into a wall of "cheers and boos," with Grimm threatening two women with being "escorted out." more ›

Former President George W. Bush told the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan yesterday, "Yeah, we waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. I'd do it again to save lives." The Al Qaeda operative may be tried in New York City on terror charges... or the Obama Administration might choose a military tribunal. more ›

Hooo boy. Former President's Bill Clinton and George W. Bush made their first joint visit to Haiti this week to help with the relief effort in Port-Au-Prince. But while the two of them shook hands with a local crowd, Bush looks at his hand, wipes it on Clinton's shirt and then turns away from the crowd (money shot at around 0:13). Clinton doesn't seem to notice, and continues shaking hands and taking pictures with the crowd while Bush presumably runs back to his convoy to administer a cootie shot. [Via Mediaite] more ›

President Barack Obama has tapped his two predecessors to lead major fundraising efforts for Haiti. "Presidents Bush and Clinton will help the American people to do their part, because responding to disaster is the work of all of us," Obama said in a speech. "In these difficult hours, America stands united." Meanwhile former-presidential daughter Chelsea Clinton has “spun” up her own creative way to help the victims of the earthquake. more ›

Dimwitted former cheerleader and frat-boy boozer George W. Bush has agreed to face loquacious skirt-chaser and crafty triangulater Bill Clinton in a debate. With words! In our dreams, it goes something like this: more ›

Former President George W. Bush spoke at the GET MOTIVATED seminar in Fort Worth, TX, telling the crowd, "I don't see how you can be president without relying on the Almighty... I can tell you that one of the most amazing surprises of the presidency was the fact that people's prayers affected me. I can't prove it to you. But I can tell you some days were great, some days not so great. But every day was joyous." There was love in the air; one man told the Star-Telegram, "I was ready to put him back in office." The Rachel Maddow Show's Kent Jones was there and heard, "George Bush was the best speaker so far." more ›

The Iraqi journalist who threw both of his shoes at President George W. Bush last December was sentenced to three years in prison. Mutandhar al-Zeidi's lawyer said the decision came after a short trial today. Al-Zeidi said last month that he spontaneously decided to throw his shoes after being enraged by Bush's jovial demeanor during a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, "A whole people are saddened because of his policy, and he was talking with a smile on his face …and he was joking with the prime minister and saying he was going to have dinner with him after the press conference... I was blind to anything else. I felt the blood of the innocent people bleeding from beneath his feet and he was smiling in that way... So I reacted to this feeling by throwing my shoes." more ›

Former president Bill Clinton spoke with ABC News and supported President Obama's economic efforts so far, but not the Republicans! "Look, the American people, I think, know the president has tried to reach out to Republicans. And it takes two to tango. I think there are some of them who really believe that just-say-no politics is good politics." Clinton also placed blame on former president George W. Bush for the economic mess, "I personally believe, based on my experience with the economy, that if we moved aggressively on this home problem a year and a half ago, even a year ago, as much as 90% of the current crisis could have been avoided." Earlier this week, Clinton rejected criticism that he was also responsible for the economic mess, since he signed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act and loosened housing rules. more ›

Six audience members have gotten up and walked out of the recently opened one-man show starring Will Ferrell, "You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush." The moment in which some Broadway theater goers have been heading for the exits is when the backdrop of the stage is covered by a giant projection of a photo of the former president's penis. Ferrell's longtime creative cohort and director of the show, Adam McKay, told the Times, “It’s not the president’s penis, as far as I know...It’s an anonymous but age-appropriate public domain Internet penis. We went on the Web and got a penis." McKay says that it is "the one moment that is followed by people walking out.” He and Ferrell had some concerns that they could run into legal trouble with the president or the owner of the unit for using the image, but felt that it was important enough to keep in the show because to stay consistent with Bush's image because he says, “He is a frat boy, a big party guy, and you could imagine him doing this." more ›

Five years ago today, President George W. Bush gave a televised address on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln to declare, "The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September 11, 2001, and still goes on." The speech, which took place after Bush made a splashy entrance by arriving on the aircraft carrier in a fighter jet, announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq, but the whole spectacle ended up being a target for criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the war. more ›

Ralph Nader will be making another third-party bid for the Presidency in the 2008 election. The consumer advocate - and bane of many Democrats - made the announcement this morning on Meet the Press.

We hope all of you, whether you have stayed in the city or have traveled to spend the holiday with loved ones, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. While, for many people, Thanksgiving is about the bounty of food, football games, or the start of the holiday shopping season, it's also a good opportunity to appreciate your life. The History Channel has an extensive website about the history of Thanksgiving (with video). Scholastic's school-children-targeted... more ›

Two divorcees, one more high-profile than the other, are macking it up in Amagansett. Paul McCartney, who's still divorcing wife #2 - Heather Mills - and Nancy Shevell a 47-year-old MTA board member who is legally separated from Bruce Blakeman (a commissioner for the Port Authority), have been spotted all over the Hamptons lately. Even The Times is talking up the two-some, and according to amNewYork the former-Beatle has been seen doing the following with... more ›

What is the lawsuit about, Kenneth? more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Is there a bank robber hitting up multiple banks on the Upper West Side? There were robberies at 2438 Broadway and 59 West 86th St; there were also two separate police vehicle MVAs in The Bronx and Brooklyn; and a fatality under a train in Jackson Heights (it says A, but we'll assume it's the E).
• If any Wall Street types you know were depressed yesterday after the Dow lost 280 points, they'll be happier today: The Dow gained almost 250 points in a rally and Nasdaq had its biggest rally in a year (thanks to speculation that Apple will introduce new iPods before Christmas).
• Just in time for the start of school, a federal judge upheld the city's ban on metal bats during high school games. The law hits the books Saturday and groups opposing the ban have yet to decide if they're going to appeal.
• Also in time for school: Almost half of NYC teens have had sex: More than two-thirds use condoms, while only 8% use birth control pills.
• Quinnipiac pollster Mickey Carroll talks to The Politicker about Spitzer's scandal ("It's crazy!").
• Stop dreaming about your home fix it's and make them happen: Brownstoner is having a Salvage Fest on September 8.
• The 12-year-old girl hit by a stray bullet in Crown Heights was back playing with her friends yesterday.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects will be designing the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
• Finally, a note to all aspiring gangsta rap parody artists. Don't film the video at the grocery store you work in like a pair of brothers in New Jersey did. That will get you fired.

Karl Rove, the political mastermind who maneuvered George W. Bush to the White house twice, will be stepping down from his role as President Bush's political adviser at the end of the month. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Rove explained, "I just think it's time. There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family." Rove will be returning to Texas and stay out of politics -for now. more ›

The head of a firemens' union is pledging to end any hope of Giuliani's campaign for President. Rudolph Giuliani has emphasized his leadership in crisis as the centerpiece of his campaign for the Presidency. His primary set piece in this narrative are FDNY firefighters, who accumulated an enormous reservoir of goodwill during and after the 9/11 attacks, during which 343 firemen and parademics were killed. Perhaps it's a good strategy heading into a Republican nomination race, which usually favors people who are considered strong on national defense, but Giuliani's tack so far appears to have left him sitting on a one-legged stool. If he loses 9/11 as an issue to rely on, he's pretty much finished. more ›

A look at some noteworthy television this week: more ›