Video- AG Holder Press Conference On Times Square Terrorist

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Video- President Obama On Times Square Suspect "We will not be terrorized"

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Man held in NYC car bomb attack to appear in court

Another night I try and stay away from the news...

NEW YORK – A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen accused of driving a bomb-laden SUV into Times Square and parking it on a street lined with restaurants and Broadway theaters was to appear in court Tuesday to face charges that he tried to set off a massive fireball and kill Americans, federal authorities said.

The suspect, Faisal Shahzad, was taken into custody late Monday by FBI agents and New York Police Department detectives at Kennedy Airport while trying to board a flight to Dubai, according to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and other officials. He was identified by customs agents and stopped before boarding, Holder said early Tuesday in Washington.

U.S. authorities "will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice," Holder said, suggesting additional suspects are being sought.

Shahzad, 30, is a naturalized U.S. citizen and had recently returned from a five-month trip to Pakistan, where he had a wife, according to law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation into the failed car bombing.

Video- Kilmeade: Police may be "just placating the public" by saying suspect is white; "That doesn't look like a white guy necessarily"

Dude's a HUGE fan of rounding up the brown people.

Liveblog: NYPD holds Press Conference on Times Square car bomb

By GottaLaff


Liveblogging the press conference about the Times Square car bomb.

ViaMSNBC:

The bomb squad has "breached the gun locker found in the car."

There is no evidence that Pakistani Taliban is responsible, despite their claims.

The other source claiming responsibility came via a call, and a lot of calls do come in; the caller said he did it.

The relationship the NYPD has with the FBI is seamless.

Some munitions were detonated inside the car.

The most serious since 9/11.

NYPD will release surveillance video of the suspect. Asking public for information, too.

An explosion would "have caused a significant fireball" but they still need to examine what was in gun box. The case is all metal, weighs about 75 pounds, so would have had a lot of shrapnel. There would have been casualties, the car would have been cut in half.

More mid-town Manhattan police will be on patrol.

The license plate belonged to a vehicle that was being repaired in Connecticut.

Raymond Kelly, NY police commissioner, is the one who is answering questions.

It wasn't an accident, someone sent a message to terrorize people in the area. Terrorism can be caused by an individual, not limited to just an organization.

We have no intention of screening cars at this time. We examine licenses, etc., traffic checks, routinely.

The license plate was not stolen, but can't assume it was given to the individual.

Two clocks, wired together, were involved, but don't yet know the intended time of detonation. A 16 oz. can was positioned between 2 five gallon cans of gasoline. 3 propane tanks, 15-17 pounds. There was a gun box inside a cardboard box. Wires from explosives in can wired in to box.

Car bomb scares, empties Times Square

See what happens when I try to stay away from the news for a night?

NEW YORK - Police found an "amateurish" but potentially powerful bomb that apparently began to detonate but did not explode in a smoking sport utility vehicle in Times Square, authorities said Sunday. Thousands of tourists were cleared from the streets for 10 hours while the bomb was dismantled.

"We avoided what we could have been a very deadly event," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "It certainly could have exploded and had a pretty big fire and a decent amount of explosive impact."

Investigators removed three propane tanks, fireworks, two filled 5-gallon gasoline containers, and two clocks with batteries, electrical wire and other components from the back of the Nissan Pathfinder, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. A black metal box resembling a gun locker was also recovered and will be detonated off site, he said.

Bloomberg called the explosive device "amateurish" and Kelly said the explosives were consumer-grade fireworks but could have caused huge damage on a block of Broadway theaters and restaurants teeming with tourists.
(snip)

Firefighters who arrived shortly after first call heard a popping sound, said Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano, who described the sound as not quite an explosion.

The bomb appeared to be starting to detonate but malfunctioned, top police spokesman Paul Browne told The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Rush Limbaugh's $13.95 Million 5th Ave Penthouse

I really, truly didn't think anyone these days had this bad of taste in decorating. So much for the "everyman" mantra. Click thru on the real estate company link to see more lovely pics.

When Governor Patterson proposed a tax raise on NY residents with more than a $500,000 annual income, Rush Limbaugh swore he would sell his 5th Avenue penthouse

, according to Gawker.

It took almost a year, but now the talk radio host's Manhattan pad is up for sale.

The 20th floor penthouse is at 1049 Fifth Avenue and can be yours for a cool $13.95 million, according to Corcoran Real Estate. (Though it may take a few extra dollars to redecorate the place.)

Official: Terror case may happen outside Manhattan

I actually understand and think this is good idea, at least on the financial basis.

WASHINGTON – Facing growing opposition to its plans to hold the Sept. 11 terrorist trial in New York City, the Obama administration is considering moving the proceedings elsewhere.

Two administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Friday the Justice department is drawing up plans for possible alternate locations to try professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged accomplices in case Congress or local officials prevent the trial from being held in Manhattan.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deliberation.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced last year that the trial would be held in Manhattan federal court, generating stiff opposition in Congress and in New York.

Word that the administration is considering a backup plan for its most high-profile terrorism trial comes after President Barack Obama and Holder have spent weeks on the defensive about their handling of terrorism threats.

(snip)

The officials did not say where else the trial might be held, but others have suggested an unpopulated island near Manhattan, or nearby military installations.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who originally supported the plan, reversed his position this week and called Holder to lobby for moving the trial outside lower Manhattan. The city has claimed it will cost them hundreds of millions of dollars to provide security for a court case that is expected to last at least a year.

Duh Award Headline of the Day

NYC tops the list of America’s costliest cities

Video- Hannity's Studio Audience Wants Obama Tried For Treason

What Ellen said-

There didn’t seem to be a single person with a different point of view, even in the studio audience where, by the way, I could not find a single person of color. The audience was supposedly made up of 9/11 victims. As a former New Yorker, I know for sure that many people of color were among that group. Funny how unrepentant bigot Hannity couldn’t seem to find any worth including. If there had been any attempt at balance, the show would also have included some members of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows which supports the civilian trials. But during the last segment of the show, Hannity dropped all pretense of discussing the trial as he brought on anti-immigration extremist Peter Gadiel who suggested President Obama should be arrested for treason. So how did “Great American” Hannity react to that bit of extremism? By encouraging his audience to agree.

Video- "Obama's New York" Walking Tour

Throw some bar hopping in and it could be fun.

Michael Bloomberg win$

By GottaLaff

MSNBC reports that Michael Bloomberg just bought himself a Mayorship in NYC.

Mike Bloomberg Sets Spending Record

At what point does it become plain old buying of the office?

Michael Bloomberg, "the Wall Street mogul whose fortune catapulted him into New York's City Hall, has set another staggering financial record: He has now spent more of his own money than any other individual in United States history in the pursuit of public office," the New York Times reports.

"Newly released campaign records show the mayor, as of Friday, had spent $85 million on his latest re-election campaign, and is on pace to spend between $110 million and $140 million before the election on Nov. 3."

"That means Mr. Bloomberg, in his three bids for mayor, will have easily burned through more than $250 million -- the equivalent of what Warner Brothers spent on the latest Harry Potter movie."

Video- Sights and Sounds From 9/11/01

Up to 1,000 rally in NYC for health care bill

"TeddyCare". I like it. But of course, the wingers are already claiming we abused children and politicized Teddy's funeral today. Oh lord, they are just that stupid.

NEW YORK— About a thousand people rallied in Manhattan on Saturday in support of federal health care reform legislation.

The event near Times Square began shortly after the funeral for U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, and took-on the feel of a tribute to the liberal leader.

One person carried a sign that said, "TeddyCare for all."

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney told the crowd the bill will lower health care costs for almost everyone. The New York Democrat also invoked Kennedy, saying the senator understood the need for change.

Video- The "Fire Dave Letterman" brigade

Can you believe this was organized by our dear friend John Zeigler? I know!! My favorite part is the tourist snapping pics like these loons are the Naked Cowboy or something. Via Oliver.

Video- Mr and Mrs Obama's Night Out

Note the "thousands cheer".

First Couple to Hit Broadway This Weekend

Think they'll have good seats?

For all of the people sprawled out on those lawn chairs along shuttered Broadway in Times Square, take note: A certain famous family plans to be awfully close by on Saturday evening.

President Obama and his wife, Michelle, plan to visit New York City on Saturday and take in a Broadway show, the August Wilson play “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” at the Belasco Theater on West 44th Street, according to three theater executives who have been informed of the First Family’s plans.

The theater executives spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the president’s itinerary, and cautioned that the trip was subject to change.

First Lady dazzles at NYC museum event

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Purple is her color.

Air Force One Backup Rattles N.Y. Nerves

Wow, who the hell thought this up and then thought, "Hey, let's not explain it to people either!" Much more at the link.

| An Air Force One lookalike, the backup plane for the one regularly used by the president, flew low over parts of New York and New Jersey on Monday morning, accompanied by two F-16 fighters, so Air Force photographers could take pictures high above the New York harbor.

But the exercise — conducted without any notification to the public — caused momentary panic in some quarters and led to the evacuation of several buildings in Lower Manhattan and Jersey City. By the afternoon, the situation had turned into a political fuse box, with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg saying that he was “furious” that he had not been told in advance about the flyover and the White House facing questions about it. In unusually harsh language, the mayor criticized the Defense Department for conducting the exercise and the Federal Aviation Administration for being secretive about it.