More Hearings, More Stalling, Say Democrats

WASHINGTON — When Republican House leaders announced a new round of nationwide immigration hearings last week, it triggered a wave of eye-rolling among Democrats and immigrant advocates.

Critics see the hearings, which began almost a month ago, as GOP-produced political theater — a diversion from hunkering down for talks with the Senate on rewriting immigration policy.

The sessions have featured some posturing, snarky exchanges and odd scenes, such as Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) assembling a self-made wooden model of the 13.5-foot-high concrete wall he would like to see built along the U.S.-Mexico border.

But if this is theater, it has a clear plot line. . .

Gibson’s Anti-Semitic Tirade—Alleged Cover Up

TMZ has learned that Mel Gibson went on a rampage when he was arrested Friday on suspicion of drunk driving, hurling religious epithets. TMZ has also learned that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department had the initial report doctored to keep the real story under wraps.

TMZ has four pages of the original report prepared by the arresting officer in the case, L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee. According to the report, Gibson became agitated after he was stopped on Pacific Coast Highway and told he was to be detained for drunk driving Friday morning in Malibu. The actor began swearing uncontrollably. Gibson repeatedly said, “My life is f****d.” Law enforcement sources say the deputy, worried that Gibson might become violent, told the actor that he was supposed to cuff him but would not, as long as Gibson cooperated. As the two stood next to the hood of the patrol car, the deputy asked Gibson to get inside. Deputy Mee then walked over to the passenger door and opened it. The report says Gibson then said, “I’m not going to get in your car,” and bolted to his car. The deputy quickly subdued Gibson, cuffed him and put him inside the patrol car. . .

Police defend handling of Mel Gibson arrest

LOS ANGELES - A sheriff’s spokesman Monday defended the handling of Mel Gibson’s drunken driving arrest in Malibu last week amid allegations the department covered up anti-Semitic remarks reportedly made by the actor-director as he was being taken into custody.

The allegations of anti-Semitism stemmed from a leaked arrest report that quoted Gibson as saying, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” and asking a deputy, James Mee, “Are you a Jew . . .

Hear John & Ken interview Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee, The sheriff’s deputy who arrested Mel Gibson for drunken driving in the Audio Archives.

Immigration challenging governor

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s encounter with angry illegal immigration foes this week in La Mesa touched off a furor on the conservative talk radio circuit and blogosphere, creating renewed dissension on the Republican governor’s right as he runs for re-election.

It was a day in which the governor at various times preached compassion toward illegal immigrants, regretted praising the Minuteman border watch group, admitted he made a mistake by voting for the Proposition 187 anti-illegal immigration ballot measure and expressed alarm about the “intensity of prejudice” he detected in some of the more strident illegal-immigration opponents. . .

Cameron Brown’s mom says accused loved his daughter

The mother of alleged murderer Cameron Brown portrayed her son Friday as a doting, if somewhat irresponsible, father to the 4-year-old daughter he is accused of throwing off a Rancho Palos Verdes cliff.

Lynne Brown testified in Torrance Superior Court that the 44-year-old former South Bay resident was a loving father to his daughter, Lauren Key.

But his parenting skills in supervising what she described as a “high-energy child” were lacking, she said. . .