And who is this familiar face singing us up at the DC Democratic State Committee holiday party? Why, it’s none other than Mayor-for-Life Marion Barry, gracing us with his Karaoke prowess at The 18th Amendement! Note that as he croons, he grips two microphones with one hand. Yup, Marion is just so awesome that he comes to you in full stereo sound. Reports from the front say that he’s a pretty good singer. Keith Ivey has more photos, including Ward 7 councilmember Yvette Alexander doing what may be the hustle, and Shadow Senator ex-candidate Phil Pannell singing in a Santa hat.

Well, Hizzoner managed to once again escape jail time for violating his probation. It’s really nice to see they’re letting him off without so much as a slap on the wrist for not filing his taxes all those years.

Apparently, half the traffic cameras in DC aren’t working, and as such, the city’s losing a boatload of revenue for the broken gear. Why all the issues? Well, they’re switching management companies for the traffic cameras. The new people to run the lights will be the same people that have fucked up the parking meters so badly. Sweet! Way to go, DC!

Virginia’s releasing a fotonovela about statutory rape called “Gracias Papi” or….wait for it… “Thanks Dad.” Something is definitely lost in translation, I think…

Thirty years ago today, 12 Hanafi Muslims took hostages at B’nai Brith Headquarters, The Islamic Center, and the District Building. From March 10, 1977 edition of The Post:

A tiny group of Hanafi Muslims, perhaps only 10 people altogether, terrorized the nation’s capital yesterday, killing, wounding and threatening a bloody end for dozens of hostages they captured at three busy locations. Late into the night, the Hanafi gunmen, members of a small black group of Muslims here who were armed with guns and machetes, held anywhere from 20 to 30 to 100 hostages at the B’nai B’rith headquarters on Rhode Island Avenue NW near Scott Circle, the Islamic Center on Massachusetts Avenue NW at the edge of Rock Creek Park, and in the D.C. City Council Chambers in the District Building downtown.

After 38 hours, the siege, led by Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, was over with two dead and Councilmember Marion Barry shot.

WUSA TV-9 recalls the day with videos of the original coverage.

More from WTOP

No, not Adrian Fenty, Mayor-for-life Marion Shepilov Barry. Barry inexplicably put forth a bill at the Council meeting that would suspend the gun-control laws for 90 days, which would allow handguns in the District for 90 days. I think the best explanation for all of this is that Barry is out of his fucking mind, evidenced by this quote:

“Let’s not only make our city safer, but people ought to feel safer,” said Barry. “Now I’m opposed to any citizen having a gun in his or her house, but there are some citizens who, they ought to have these guns registered, so we should accommodate that.”

Let’s try and parse this? “Let’s not only make our city safer.” Okay, got that. “But people ought to feel safer.” So, if the city IS safer, I expect people to FEEL safer in the city. They go together, right? Now I’m opposed to any citizen having a gun in his or her house” So, you want to make it legal for 90 days for people to have guns in their homes, but you’re opposed to citizens owning firearms. Wha? “but there are some citizens who, they ought to have these guns registered, so we should accommodate that.” It sounds, Mr. Barry, like what you really want is a gun amnesty. Turn in your gun, no questions asked, and the city will be cool with it. But, instead, you proposed that we suspend the gun laws for 90 days. Are you using again? Really? I mean, I’m all for removing the gun ban in DC, as it’s not preventing a good deal of violence. Homicide-by-firearm is still going on in the District, still powered by illegal guns, I don’t think opening it up again to residents being allowed to responsibly own firearms will make it that much worse, do you?

What was the Mayor-for-Life really saying?

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Marion Shepilov Barry, Wayan would have you know.

Love this gift or hate it, you can put its inclusion in this list all on me. Our illustrious Cap’n Tom suggested replacements on several occasions but I pushed for keeping him in. It’s not out of some great love for MSB, lord knows, but my belief that some gifts pain the giver as much as they enrich the recipient.

To explain my reasoning for wanting MSB to be in our 7 gifts, let me tell you a story from about a decade ago when I was still living in Miami and my father had taken a job in New Orleans. Every time I spoke to him he’d ask me what fun was going on with the Miami political scene. I finally asked him, “Why do you keep asking about the Miami politics? New Orleans practically invented government corruption. I’d think you’d have better material there.” My father strongly disagreed, and said something on the order of “Watching New Orleans corruption is no fun compared to Miami. Here they’re actually good at it.”

That’s Barry’s primary appeal to me. His scandals aren’t dull stories of influence peddling or shunning firms that don’t have the right makeup of political party allegiances; they’re hotel rooms, drugs and “bitch set me up.” I’ve been here in the DC area just under five years but if you’d come to me on the day I got here and asked me to say the first phrase than came to mind when you said “Marion Barry” that would have been exactly what I’d said: “Bitch set me up.”

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

On its own that might not make the list but the fact that the hits keep on coming raises it to Art. Barry brings us the thrill of the train wreck where the sound of screeching metal never seems to fade. He’s the energizer bunny of political tomfoolery, and that longevity has made him a national figure rather than just a local one. Do you expect to see Mark Foley back in Congress in two years? No, and nobody’s even made a move to put him in jail at this point as far as I know. Barry went up the river and within 2 years, BAM, he’s back running for city council. And winning. Two years later, mayor again. That’s the gift that keeps on giving, folks. Leno and Letterman ought to send him royalty checks.
(more…)

I was in the right mood for a show because I had just seen The Plague Dogs, the animated film based on the book by Richard Adams (writer of Watership Down). It was the most upsetting movie I’ve ever seen. Some films leave you feeling down about what happened in them, this one leaves you down about life. I recommend it!

I did my pre-concert ritual: I made sure the ticket was in the car. I took off my good watch and put on my cheap one and, because I’ve had a fear of pickpockets since I was 18 and saw a kid darting through a crowd in Amsterdam surreptitiously sticking his little hand into tourist pockets, I moved my bacon wallet from my back pocket to my jacket’s inside pocket.

I hate parking at The Black Cat. Looking for a space makes me resent how nice the neighborhood has become. Ten years ago when half the buildings around there were boarded up you could find a space right away, the only drawback being you might get mugged when you did.
(more…)

Remember that little traffic stop councilman Marion Shepilov Barry (Ward 8) was involved in two months ago? Yesterday, he had his first day in court, pleading not guilty to four charges (The Post), including DUI. Barry’s attorney is working with the prosecution on a plea deal that avoid a trial.

Politicians. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t send them to jail forever. Well, most of the time. Maxim has highlighted their Top Ten Elected Douchebags, and our Mayor for Life is #4. Is anyone surprised? I mean, smoked crack in office, and then blamed it on the woman who got him arrested. Of course, who’s the real jerk, the elected official, or those who put him back into office after he served his time?

In a masterful move on the part of Mayor for Life Councilman Marion Shepilov Barry, the new baseball stadium may yet be enveloped in a wonderful, pedestrian-friendly, pro-city mixed use development instead of isolated on a barren asphalt parking lot.

According to the WashPost:

Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) was leading the effort and had distributed a bill that seeks to alter the $611 million stadium cost cap approved by the council in March. The legislation would allow the city to spend money from the sale of development rights on stadium land to pay for the parking garages.

While Metroblogging DC would like to encourage his resurrection of the beautiful Herb Miller plan, Barry was unavailable for comment.

Last night, when re-telling the tale of the Metroblogging DC vs. DCist trivia fight, I asked the usual crowd-stumper: What is Mayor for Life, Marion S. Barry Jr.’s middle name?

As usual, no one knew it was “Shepilov “. Challenged by fools doubting me, I Googled “marion barry dc” and got this interesting result:

Phonebook results for marion barry dc
Marion Barry (202) 678-3682 2654 Douglas Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020 Map

Of couse the first thing I did was dial his number. Who better than Barry himself to check the anti-Shepilov crowd? Well, when he gets his phone turned back on.

“We’re sorry. The number you tried to dial is no longer in service. Please check your number and try again.”

.