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Al Gore III pleaded guilty Monday to possessing marijuana and other drugs, but a judge told the former Veep's son he can withdraw that plea and have the charges dropped if he successfully completes a drug diversion program. What a bargain! Cops say the 24-year-old was going 100+ MPH in his Prius on an Orange County freeway when they pulled him over. Multiple drugs were found in his car.

One of the achievements of the 80th Texas Legislature was its passage of a castle doctrine. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, clarifies the instances in which individuals can use deadly force in self-defense. In some circumstances under current law, citizens are required to retreat rather than use force in self-defense. Wentworth's bill, which takes effect Sept. 1, broadens the presumption of reasonableness for self-defense and removes the threat of civil litigation for damages. The Senate passed the new law by a vote of 30-0. The House followed with a 133-13 approval. One of the 13 opponents...

Peach-coloured toilet roll to match her complexion, and rose petals in the toilet bowl. One hundred-and-twenty designer bathroom towels also in peach. Ten highly specified designer floor lamps. And that's before we get to the insistence that the security team wear 'neat dark sweaters' and use metal detectors. Directing a night shoot in New York for one of her movies, her perfectionism resulted in the production running a few hours behind schedule. Just before one take, she noticed more light than usual. "Where the **** is that light coming from," she screamed. "It's 5.30am," a hesitant crew member responded. "I...

Metallica singer James Hetfield was investigated by UK airport officials who believed he was a terrorist this week, it has been claimed. The star was barred entry to Luton airport on Thursday and questioned by staff who were concerned about his appearance. Fears that Hetfield might be involved in terrorism were apparently founded on his "Taliban-like beard", according to The Times. He was allowed to leave the airport after a brief interrogation, when he persuaded officials that he was a rock star. Metallica play Live Earth at Wembley Stadium in London tomorrow, before headlining the venue for their own show...

As a member of rock 'n' roll royalty, Sir Elton John does not take kindly to being outranked. Not even by Princes William and Harry. So when his chauffeur-driven people carrier was stopped because of royal security around the Concert for Diana, the veteran singer flew into one of the rages for which he is renowned. "Get out of my ****ing way," he screamed at a policeman. "Don't you know who I am? I've been working all ****ing day and I need to get to my ****ing dressing room."

Everyone knows about New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's decision to speed down a state highway sans seatbelt and the price he paid for flouting the laws he was charged with enforcing. Corzine was at least repentant, acknowledging the error of his ways. Sen. Carole MigdenNow meet California state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. Last month, after she was chewed out for colliding with another motorist between her district and Sacramento, she declared: "You can't talk to me like that. I'm a senator." When the news first leaked out, Migden explained she'd been momentarily distracted while reaching for a cell phone....

An airline employee led former Vice President Al Gore and two associates around airport security lines before police spotted the breach and required them to be screened, an airport spokeswoman said Thursday. The American Airlines employee led the three down to the lower baggage level Wednesday and swiped each of them through a secure turnstile with her security badge, Nashville International Airport spokeswoman Lynne Lowrance said. She declined to identify the employee. "Everyone goes through security," she said of the employee's action. "It showed bad judgment. They were trying to be helpful, maybe too helpful." The employee will be required...

Swift Boater No. 1 November 5, 2006 12:50 am John Kerry's painful self-expiation SEN. JOHN KERRY'S little joke about smarts and soldiering in Iraq turned out to be, pardon the expression, not much of a swiftie. If the Kerry Correlation is true, the senator's performance at a California city college last week qualified him to be dropped off alone in middle of the Sunni Triangle with a rifle, pack, and desert uniform with a stitched-on name patch: Doofus. If that scenario sounds suicidal, Mr. Kerry's remark about the lazy and ill-educated "get[ting] stuck in Iraq"--he claimed later he was talking...

CNN reports Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) will hold a press conference today at 3 p.m. in Washington, D.C. to discuss his recent traffic incident on Capitol Hill.

There is a really funny scene in the movie, High Anxiety. Mel Brooks, as the character of Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke, has to go through an airport security checkpoint without having his bag inspected. He explains his plan to his partner, Victoria Brisbane, played by Madeline Kahn: "Victoria, if we do it just the way we rehearsed it, it will work. Remember, we're not sneaking by. We have to be loud and annoying. If you're loud and annoying,psychologically, people don't notice you. Come on. We can do it.Loud and annoying." At the security check in point, Dr. Thorndyke makes...

Angry words exchanged as he insists -- nay, demands! -- that the time-expired lights be removed from the debate lecterns. GABLES, Fla. (AP) - Democratic candidate John Kerry's campaign demanded Thursday that the lights signaling when a speaker's time has expired during debates with President Bush be removed from the lecterns because they are distracting, but the commission hosting the debates refused.An angry exchange between representatives of the Kerry campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates took place just hours before the candidates were to meet at the University of Miami for the first of three debates, The Associated...

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Former Vice President Al Gore was cited for speeding as he drove a rented car to visit family on the coast, authorities said. Gore, who was alone, was issued a $141 ticket for driving 75 miles per hour on Highway 26 in the northwest corner of the state, police said. The speed limit is 55. Gore was issued the ticket on Aug. 3 at 12:37 p.m., said Lt. Dale Rutledge, spokesman for the Oregon State Police. The trooper who stopped Gore did not recognize him until he furnished his license, Sgt. Andrew Merila told KATU-TV. The...

Sean, I recently heard you talking about Bruce Springsteen on your radio show. After 9/11, my military unit dealt extensively with Mr. Springsteen, and I can’t say I have a very favorable impression of him. Here’s why… Bravo Co. 1/181st infantry was deployed to Fort Monmouth, NJ from our home state of Massachusetts as part of operation Noble Eagle – homeland defense. It wasn’t a very glamorous deployment – all we really did was check Ids and search cars for an entire year. I think most of us would have rather been overseas in Afghanistan or even Iraq, although we...

Edwards Campaign Worker Arrested An Edwards Campaign worker has been charged by Baton Rouge Police. BRPD charged 33-year- old Tanya Leigh Flores of Alexandria, Va with resisting a police officer, disobeying a police officer, and issued her several parking violations. Police say Flores drove her van into an area reserved for police and news media to unload campaign materials. They say they attempted to get Ms. Flores to move to a different area to unload and she refused numerous times. Then they tell us a Secret Service agent was summoned who, again, asked Ms Flores to move her van, and...

NY DAILY NEWS....LLOYD GROVE Just because Teresa Heinz Kerry is a billionaire doesn't mean that she doesn't pinch pennies. I hear that folks at George's Salon in Washington's Four Season Hotel - where Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry's wife gets her nails done - are complaining that the Heinz Ketchup heiress wants the manicurist to service her at home, a few blocks from the luxury hotel in Georgetown, but is balking at the $90 charge. Last week, a Lowdown spy overheard a George's manicurist say that Heinz Kerry has been haggling over the fee for her home manicures - three...

According to the Tennessean, (which we can't link to) former Energy Sec. Hazel O'Leary of the the Clinton Administration was questioned by the FBI last night after being escorted off a commercial airplane. She was named president of Fisk University nine days ago. The crew said was ''getting loud and abusive'' and had to be physically restrained at one point.

In Memory ofRonald Wilson Reagan Because of the love and deep respect President Reagan held for the people of California, it was his wish that a special time be set aside to give his friends and supporters on the west coast an opportunity to pay their respects and say goodbye. President Reagan will lie in repose at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a period of 32 hours. He will then be taken to our nation's Capital for the State Funeral events. There he will lie in state at the United States Capitol, and a funeral ceremony will follow at...

MSNBC is about to show Kerry.....Kerry gets his photo op.