Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• The earthquake that struck the East Coast on Tuesday has closed the Washington Monument indefinitely. The quake caused minor cracks in the pyramid at the top of the monument which is 555 feet tall.  Engineers will be checking out the monument and it may not be opened again until the cracks are fixed.  (Guardian)

• Rebels in Libya have taken control of most of the capitol city of Tripoli. Fighting continues however as rebels are still fighting pockets of the Gaddafi regime in the capitol. The rebels took over the Libyan leader, Gaddafi’s compound, but Gaddafi’s current whereabouts remain unknown. He released a statement Thursday telling his followers to fight back and not “surrender Tripoli.” Even though the rebels have taken over the capitol, the war may be far from over. The country has been engaged in fighting for more than six months now, so it must be put back together and eventually form some sort of government, since currently, there is not a functioning government. Money should not be a problem for the country as it establishes a new government, as it only has 6.4 million people and huge oil reserves. (Time)

• Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the IMF and the man who was once considered to be the popular choice as the next President of France, had his rape charges dropped against him this week in New York. The case had been falling apart due to the credibility of the accuser, and on Tuesday, the judge dropped the charged at the prosecution’s request. Prosecutors said that the accuser had “not been truthful on matters great and small” and has an ability to “present fiction as fact with complete conviction.” (MSNBC)

• Families of victims of the 9/11 attacks met with Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday about the investigation into whether their relatives’ phone messages might have been hacked by employees of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The FBI investigation comes after revelations of hacking done by News Corp. employees in the UK.  (CNN)

• Finally, to all of our East Coast readers, stay safe this weekend as a potentially serious Hurricane Irene could wreak havoc along the Eastern Seaboard. States of emergency have already been declared for Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina. Mandatory evacuations are also in effect in some of these area’s coastlines. If Irene stays on its current track, the flooding could be significant. Stay safe East Coast! (CNN Weather)

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in Virginia and was felt throughout the eastern United States on Tuesday could be used by President Obama to create jobs. The president has said that he will present his new jobs bill in a speech shortly after Labor Day and if he wants a successful bill, he could use the earthquake as the reason for creating much-needed infrastructure jobs across America.

Luckily, there have currently been no reported deaths from the earthquake and the damage scale for the most part seems to be minimal, but the earthquake should be a wake-up call for the American people that we need to fix our country’s crumbling infrastructure. One of the biggest concerns during the earthquake was not only how the old buildings on the East Coast were standing up, but also the state of the North Anna nuclear power plant in Virgina, which had to be shut down. Fixing our old nuclear power plants is just one way this country can create new jobs.

President Obama’s re-election campaign is reportedly going to be a billion dollar campaign. That is a lot of money of course, but that billion dollar number is also important when it comes to jobs. The U.S. Department of Transportation has estimated that every $1 billion in infrastructure spending creates 25,000 jobs!  There are many different infrastructure projects that need to be done across America, but the earthquake brought attention to a very scary one: nuclear power plants.

Our nuclear power plants are old and instead of risking a possible Japan situation over here, we should fix our old nuclear power plants and make them safer. That would provide thousands of jobs across this country, and really how can you argue against fixing and making these old at-risk nuclear power plants safer? There are a 104 operating nuclear reactors in the United States, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Anyone who lives within the danger zone of an old nuclear power plant, such as myself, should realize how important it is that we make these plants safer and up to date now rather than later.

There are also more infrastructure jobs that need to be done in this country. Besides old buildings, many roads and bridges across this country are also old an in dire need of repair. The American Society of Civil Engineers has said one-third of America’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 36 percent of major urban highways are congested. In addition, more than 26 percent of the nation’s bridges are either “structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.” Even a lot of our schools across the country are falling apart, on the inside and outside. Our old schools are just another example of the projects out there and there is so much of the American infrastructure that needs fixing and I think that we should take on as many projects as possible.

Yes, some of the previous stimulus money went to some projects like these, but not enough. In this case, I feel that we needed more of a stimulus and there should always money available to invest in the future structure of this country, especially when it is in dire need of repair. These things need to be fixed, and while you will hear people argue against more government spending, in this case, we must fix our crumbling infrastructure now. Infrastructure spending is more effective than many forms of tax cuts at boosting jobs growth. These jobs don’t just last a few months, many major infrastructure jobs could provide new jobs for Americans for up to a decade. So what better time than now to get to work on the new American infrastructure since it needs to be done and we need the jobs?

We have work that needs to be done all across this country. We must fix the infrastructure not only to make it safer but to make it up to date. We cannot wait until our roads break down or become way too congested, our brides collapse, our buildings become old and obsolete, or we have a nuclear disaster before we fix these things. Creating an infrastructure plan to create jobs is what this country needs right now. Yes, it will probably take another stimulus/more government spending to get this done, and some, especially fiscal conservatives, will fight this, but this will invest into the future of this country while providing jobs for many Americans for years to come.

I truly believe that an economic stimulus where we build things and create jobs needs to happen. If President Obama includes a giant infrastructure plan in his upcoming job speech/proposal, and he does this so that the American people understand the work that needs to be done and potential job growth, I think that they will be able to get behind it and the President once again.

The views in this article reflect only that of the author and not of 99problems.org

Seems as if Haiti is back to being Haiti’s problem just like before. Maybe everyone has forgotten what happened last January 12th. Honestly, with all the turmoil on our own soil, it’s hard for me to remember how hard the ground shook over there. But now that I think back, how can we forget about the massive amounts of lives we committed to saving as well as the ones we couldn’t save. They say time heals all wounds but a year doesn’t seem like a lot of time.

It’s safe to say, social media played a very big role in generating support for the disaster relief efforts. If it wasn’t for Twitter, Facebook, and sms platforms, the most ignorant could’ve easily ignored the events that took place. Instead, it became trendy for young people, their parents, their parent’s parents, white, black, & brown, to subconsciously come together online and off with hopes of God showing mercy on them.

Wyclef Jean was like Barack, fore he was the biggest symbol of hope to a country that had went through what only New Orleans residents could attest that they’d experienced anything close to. While stopping through the free-world of worldstarhiphop, President Wyclef gives his account of what he dealt with and is still dealing with when it comes to his home, Haiti.

Melanie Fiona does her part to make sure that the world helps the people of Haiti.

Ever since Haiti was hit by the earthquake, conspiracy theorists have been postulating that the natural disaster was man made. Well, Hugo Chavez has taken it up a notch and has actually accused the US of creating the quake. Of course, it’s hard to believe that the US is that sinister, but according to Wired, man made earth quakes are pretty normal. “The human production of earthquakes is hardly supervillain-worthy. It’s downright commonplace:…25 percent of Britain’s recorded seismic events were caused by people.

While this conspiracy theory seems far fetched, it is a bit scary to know that earthquakes can be caused by humans. Let’s just hope Lex Luther doesn’t get hold of this technology.

Check the video of Chavez pointing the finger after the jump and let us know if you think Chavez is crazy?

“We need an Exodus.”

Warning: Extremely Graphic

Wyclef Jean, for those who have not been attuned to hip-hop prior to Cash Money or Young Jeezy, is a Grammy-winning, internationally known hip- hop artist who single-handedly put Haiti on the map. Through his artistry and advocacy, he brought to light the history of Haiti for many who were just too young or simply never cared enough to realize Haiti’s rich history. It was the first country that freed itself from slavery and not only overthrew that heinous institution, but defeated the whole lot of French rule.

Wyclef in his music has always paid homage to his homeland, and shared the culture and pain of his countrymen unashamedly. He did this at a time when many Black Americans shunned any relationship to Haiti. At the height of his career as a member of the Fugees, (group first named ‘Refugee Camp’ for the conditions many Haitians find them selves when arriving on American soil) the group went back to Haiti and took several media outlets to document the plight there. Subsequently, that trip garnered Haiti prime shine in various magazine articles. During his solo career, Wyclef went back further still to his roots, releasing a full CD in creole titled, Welcome to Haiti Creole 101. And then in 2007, pledging a more substantive allegiance to his native land, Wyclef became a Haitian ambassador for the government.

Wyclef Jean refused United Nations protection for a trip through Cite Soleil, Haiti’s most notorious, gang-infested slum, relying on his popularity to keep his group safe. “I am putting myself in the front line because I want that change to happen.” Jean said.

This to me, speaks volumes of his love and honor of his country. But greater than that it speaks of the mutual respect and pride the country has for him.

More after the click!

So why is it when a native son of Haiti yells out for relief from the devastation that has demolished his beloved land, why would there be questions of his intentions? What force would rally against his efforts and bring questionable allegations regarding his foundation http://yele.org

Smoking Gun posts IRS returns for the year 2009. Listing the foundation as being in operation for “12 years,” they say accounting has not been so transparent. Maybe it hasn’t. But check the records of many and you’d be hard-pressed to find squeaky clean accounting, even among the most financially prudent. But they continue to try and smear this guy by pointing out he “paid” himself for rent and performances.

Check it… just on some real plain and simple hood logic: if you open a business/not-for-profit, foundation, charity, church, etc. you have to keep the lights on. Most times, that money is coming out of your very own pocket. You do what you must to hold yourself afloat until things start rolling. In the grand scheme of things, if you have an accountant savvy enough, you’l wind up writing a large amount off. Isn’t that what every tax paying American seeks out like a leprechaun searching for a pot of gold, that tax-incentive? I’d like every politician to disclose personal or affiliated returns for the public. Of course I know they have to go through the motions of making them public, but when is the last time your elected official directed you to his/her returns and they were in plain view? Uh, huh.

For me, I just can’t see what the deal is. For one, yes he may have performed at a charity event, yes yes I know his foundation gave it. But who said the band played for free? Did the production company who handled stage, lighting, hotel, travel, catering, security, attorney fees, and on and on the list could go. Did those entities get tossed in for free. Come on. In America? I doubt it. He probably had to pay them folks..

I am signing off. And if you’re looking for me, I’ll be tweeting away, reminding you to text yele to 501501.

BTW, peep the video Wyclef did speaking about the work of his foundation long before the earthquake rocked Haiti.

The strange trio of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and President Obama linked up yesterday to talk about America’s role in Haiti. As usual, Bush had the best quote when he stated, “I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water; just send your cash.” No sugar coating with that guy.

It’s sad that this level of bipartisanship can only take place after a natural disaster. But whatever, it’s pretty cool that these folks linked up.

via MTV

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — There are dead bodies lying on Haiti’s street and they cannot be ignored. After Tuesday’s devastating 7.0 earthquake, thousands of people died in buildings and on the walkways — their faces exposed, their eyes sometimes slightly open. The next day many were covered with sheets, shielded from the sun and from sight. Now, from under the flimsy coverings, the stench from their decaying bodies rises up and attacks the air with a pungent odor that causes the locals to cover their faces and noses with whatever they can find.

“I wear this mask because it’s starting to smell badly with all the dead bodies,” Jean McKenzie, a 16-year-old resident of Port-au-Prince’s Carrefour Feuilles district, said on Thursday. He had a red bandana tied around his face to block out the smell, but there is little that can block out the stench. “It started smelling really, really bad at noon today,” he said.

Check the video after the jump.

Even while the Haitian Police have begun to collect bodies for identification at the morgue, McKenzie said, they have much more work to do.

McKenzie is one of many Haitians who are trying to live with the dead in ways they didn’t expect just days ago. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake left many bodies trapped under rubble and displaced many residents. The bodies that were pulled out of the wreckage rested on the sidewalks and roadways. There were too many wounded for authorities to contend with the dead. So they lie there while people walk the street wearing bandanas, surgical masks or even napkins.

Roberto Bonsues, 18, has tied a tank top around his neck in order to keep out the smell. I talked with him in the same downtown area where I met McKenzie. Fortunately, no one in his family was killed when his building collapsed. But that does not mean he is unaffected. “Too many people died,” he said. “And you can smell it in the air.”

The day after the earthquake, I was walking through Port-au-Prince’s downtown area. The bodies of two women lay motionless on the street; flies darted around their bodies. Across the street, there was a United Nations fort. No soldiers or police officers where visible in the area, except from the watch post behind a wall, across the street. I walked over and asked the soldier if he could do anything about the dead at their front doors. He ducked away and an English-speaking woman came to speak to me through the gate.

“There are many dead bodies,” she said. “Walk around the other side. You will see them. There are dead bodies everywhere. We have sick people here. We cannot take any more in here.”

Disaster is nothing new in today’s Haiti, which is plagued with economic, social and natural strife. The country has a longstanding history of immense poverty (about 70 percent lives on less than $2 per day), the Republic’s thorny political history is rife with coups d’etat and rampant corruption, and natural disasters, particularly hurricanes, run rampant. But Tuesday’s devastating quake has brought death counts that range from 50,000 (according to Red Cross) to 100,000 (according to Haitian government estimates) and possibly more — but no one knows the true count.

“This is worse than [the mid-1990s genocide in] Kigali, Rwanda,” said Ken Walton, a former U.N. Rwanda Emergency Officer agent, now helping to evacuate people from Haiti for International SOS. He said he dropped into Kigali after a bloody massacre that left about 1 million dead. “And the smell is worse.”

In Port-au-Prince, bodies continue to decay in the sun, waiting to be claimed or taken away — not because they may cause illness (many experts argue they won’t), but because the living now sleep near the dead at night, walk among them during the day — and they must be reminded of their tragedy with each breath. It’s no good to demand that an overwhelmed U.N. acknowledge the dead bodies in their midst — but there’s much good in world citizens reaching out to help the living. (Head here to find out what you can do to help.)

“Only the dead person’s family comes to take the body,” McKenzie said, his voice slightly muffled by his red mask. “They just take it to the cemetery and drop it there.”

And yet, you can still smell it in the air.

Check out this emotional tribute to the Haitian earthquake victims by Chi-Town’s Twista.