Billionaires for Coal plaster W train

We were surprised to see a W train car at 11:15 this morning pull in to Queensboro Plaza full of JetBlue ads that had been plastered over by a cryptic organization called Billionaires for Coal. There were a few variations on the same theme such as "Clean air; can't sell it, who needs it?" The website in question, that of the Rainforest Action Network, targets corporations including Citibank—whose Long Island City tower was conveniently the backdrop for this W train. Yet the posters appear to be home-printed and -mounted, making one wonder if the symbolism of the W train—as in George W. denies global warming—was semi-intentional.

Speaking of coal-fired power plants, did you hear the one about Indian Point nuclear power plant on the Hudson failing multiple siren tests this week?

Speaking of fired radio jocks, did you hear the one about the billionaire governor of New Jersey breaking multiple bones because he wasn't wearing his seatbelt en route to the Governor's mansion, where shock jock Don Imus was having a meeting.

Speaking of stars and bars, did you hear the one about the former mayor of New York, Rudy ("I'll say anything to get elected") Giuliani, who spoke to the Alabama legislature, declaring it ought to be left up to states to decide whether to fly the Confederate Flag above their Capitols. It was noted that Alabama, where Giuliani spoke, hasn't hoisted a Confederate flag above its Capitol in 15 years.

Speaking of shock and awe, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday's attack on the Iraqi Parliament and the destruction of a beloved bridge over River Tigris should not be interpreted too broadly. "We've known that there is a security problem in Baghdad, which is why the president has structured a new strategy," said Rice, who answered questions after meeting with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who announced cuts in his campaign staff. In other news, one of McCain's Senate colleagues lambasted him for shopping at a Baghdad market backed up by 100 troops, 2 helicopter gunships and other assorted artillery and weaponry too powerful to discuss here. Doubtless you already heard McCain got a good deal on a rug, but his deal was eclipsed by Senator Graham's deal—Lindsey G. got five rugs for five bucks. We know business in Baghdad is off, but were the rugs made in China? There has been much progress in Baghdad, as we heard from security consultants on the NewsHour yesterday evening—now the Green Zone (aka the International Zone, as in force protection by both Blackwater and Nepali Gurkhas) has multiple mini-Green Zones, each with its concentric rings of protection and walled-off houses with guard posts. "I think the message is the Iraqi security forces cannot maintain security over the Green Zone" (Laith Kubba, former Iraqi government spokesman). A whopping hundred legislators bothered to show up today to condemn the attack.

Speaking of Ring of Fire, did you hear that poor departed Johnny Cash's mansion burned to the ground this week?

Speaking of power servers, the White House lost a reported five million emails—which everyone knows exist on servers somewhere. We placed a call to our West Coast operative, who snickered and said, "Those emails aren't lost at all. I've got a high school kid down the street who can recover them all." Senator Leahy gasped on the Senate floor: "Like the famous 18-minute gap in the Nixon White House tapes, it appears likely that key documentation has been erased or misplaced. This sounds like the Administration's version of 'the dog ate my homework.'"

Speaking of worse than Richard Nixon, look for our forthcoming review of the new Broadway play Frost/Nixon, now in previews at the Bernard B Jacobs Theatre.

Speaking of billions of dollars, did you hear the one about Wolfowitz of Arabia's girlfriend, who got a top job at the Department of State? Her initial supervisor at the State Department was Elizabeth Cheney, whose father, Vice President Dick Cheney, had elevated Wolfie to the great position of Mesopotamian war guru. His great success in Iraq snared him that top job at the World Bank. Yesterday, it should be noted, "Mr. Wolfowitz apologized for his role in the raise and transfer of Shaha Ali Riza, his companion, to a few hundred staff members assembled in the bank building atrium, only to be greeted by booing, catcalls and cries for his resignation."

Speaking of billionaires for coal, they really could afford a better-quality printer, couldn't they?

Tags:   billionaires for coal, queensboro plaza, w train

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Posted on 4/13/2007 ( Permanent Link )
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