The New York Daily News explores Rudy Giuliani's use of his pals' private aircraft, including that of casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

The days of candidates reimbursing their pals with the cost of a commercial first-class ticket instead of the much higher cost of renting the aircraft and pilot ended in September.

Hillary and Obama never did it.

Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama accept no corporate aircraft, choosing instead to rent planes at full market cost to avoid the appearance of a conflict.

Here's the list of the owners of the planes Rudy's used:

More...

It's a jail day for me -- all day -- I'll be back for the debate tonight.

This particular jail is built underground and there's no working wireless connection. It has the feel of being in star trek, between the identical uniforms of the jail guards and the high tech stations. There are underground tunnels with colored arrows on the concrete floors directing you to the next set of gated doors.The jail staff is very polite. The place is so efficient that processing takes about 3 minutes, then we're on our way into the bowels of the building. By the time we follow the yellow brick road to the right area, our clients are already seated, happy to see us.(Anything to get out of those cells for a few hours.).

For the rest of you, there's lots to talk about, from tonight's debate to Bernie and Rudy and Judy, from drivers' licenses to FISA and whatever else might be on your mind.

Enjoy. I'll look forward to reading the thread when I get home.

I'll be in court and then at the DNC Media Walk-Through at the Pepsi Center. Here's an open thread -- all topics are welcome.

I'm at the gate at the Las Vegas airport getting ready to board.

Things I'm not a fan of:

• Southwest Airlines
• The airport security procedures when leaving
• AT&T's Edge Network and Treos.

On the other side:

• The Paris Las Vegas hotel was way better than I expected.
• The monorail in Las Vegas
• Blogworld ran smoother than I expected and I enjoyed it, especially seeing Markos, Jerome of My DD, Henry and others from Blogads, Joe of AmericaBlog, Natasha of Pacific Views and Gabe of Memeorandum. On the right, I enjoyed talking to Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters, Roger Simon (Pajamas Media), Hugh Hewitt and Dean of Weekly Standard

Links later, gotta board. I'm not finding the Kerik indictment on Pacer, if anyone has a copy and can email it to me, or email me a link, it would be much appreciated.

Update: Links are in and I found the Indictment.

Update: A big thanks to Big Tent Democrat for his posts today and yesterday while I was gone. TalkLeft hit 20 million visitors this week...thanks to all of you for reading.

One thing about the Beltway is that no matter what the topic, its thinking is always at least 2 years behind the curve. As TechPresident reports, Karl Rove and Max Cleland are no different than the rest of the Beltway:

For most of us in the audience, the presentation was an elaborately-delivered (think Tom Cruise as Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia) compilation of overused Pew research points and carefully-selected stock photos. Clearly, we are not the intended audience. Those who would find this presentation helpful are those who still think internet users are 12-year-old kids in their mother's basement posting visceral blog comments in virtual echo chambers. In other words, Karl Rove and Max Cleland.

Heh and more.

I'm off to Las Vegas today for the BlogWorld expo where I'll be speaking on a couple of panels. I doubt I'll be back at the computer until late Thursday night, and I won't be back home until Friday night.

In the meantime, here's a place to discuss what's in the news, and anything else you feel like talking about.

Watch for news about Bernie Kerik's indictment. ABC News is reporting it may come down today, with Bernie scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

The BlogWorld Expo runs Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas. When I first heard about the event, I wasn't inclined to participate, but not because of the organizers or participants or because I didn't think it would be a success. It was because it seemed like the principal purpose would be for companies to sell products to bloggers and I wasn't (and am not) interested in going somewhere to go shopping.

But, it turns out there's lots of good seminars and panels and they've added a political blogging program.

So, I'll be there Thursday - Friday and participating in two panels. If you're going to be there, I hope you'll drop in on them.

More....

Writing in The Hill, Kos brings a welcome antidote to the Netroots Identity Crisis:

D.C. is a funny place. No one seems to have gotten that resounding message, certainly not Bush and the new Republican minority. More surprisingly, Democrats also failed to get the message. On issue after issue, the Democratic norm has been to capitulate to the slightest pressure from the GOP. And while the public has meted record-low approval ratings for this Congress in response, the lesson apparently remains unlearned. Whether it’s Iraq funding or the Michael Mukasey confirmation, Democrats continue to give away the store without receiving any concessions in return. It’s a one-way street in a town that has ceded Article I of the Constitution for a unitary, non-compromising executive. The public is sick of this administration’s betrayals. Why aren’t Democrats?

Hear! Hear!

At Daily Kos, Welshman provides strong evidence that he misunderstands the only effective role the Netroots can play to promote progressivism. He bemoans the mean attacks on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arguing, more or less, that she is doing the best she can.

MORE on why Welshman is wrong on the other side.

I'm not quite ready to drive down the mountain yet. Until I get home tonight, here's an open thread for you. And a picture of the peacock who lives in the house I'm staying at.

I see there's a new attack on the Eagles' new album for promoting fear about global warming and not attacking islamo-fascism.

There's a Wal-Mart in Glenwood Springs I have to pass on the way to I-70. I think I'll stop in and buy it for the ride home and see for myself.

I've decided to spend my extra hour driving to the mountains. If I don't turn my clocks back till I get there, I'll make it to Aspen in 2 1/2 hours instead of 3 1/2. Pretty cool.

What are you doing with your extra hour?

Here's an open thread to discuss what's in the news, on the blogs or on your mind.

Question: How can bloggers support the writers' strike? If federal mediation attempts fail today, it starts tomorrow. 300 strike captains are ready to go. Why? It's the money.

Guild members are being asked to sign up for a shift beginning at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. and will be given signs, chants and red T-shirts emblazoned with "United We Stand" when they arrive on site, captains said. Each member is expected to picket four hours every day. Of the guild's 12,000 members, about 8,000 are in WGA West, with the remainder in WGA East, which plans to picket in New York.

Many of the members will picket outside the studios in which the shows they were working on are made, while others will be assigned to locations based on where they live.

The Writers Guild of America (West) site is here.

Okay, that's my Sully recognizing name for Kevin Drum's Worst Blog Post of All Time Contest:

All-Time Wingnuttiest Blog Post Contest (Choose up to 5)

Ann Althouse: "Let's take a closer look at those breasts."

. . . MORE