A brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division, seen in this Army promotional video,
has moved into Iraq.
** “SURGING.” A brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division has moved into Iraq as part of the new surge strategy. Actually, it was already scheduled to go into Iraq, just later in the year.
Meanwhile, Virginia Senator John Warner, the longtime chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee who lost the chairmanship when the Senate went Democratic — actually, when former U.S. Navy Secretary James Webb defeated Warner’s Virginia colleague, George Allen — is coming out against President George W. Bush‘s policy. He doesn’t want troops involved with sectarian fighting, which is the whole point of the latest Bush strategy.
** HILLARY CHAT BEGINS. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton just finished the first of her live interactive Internet video chats on her web site. It ran from 4 PM to 4:30 PM Pacific time. She’s doing another one tomorrow and Wednesday at the same time. You can go there now and register. They begin accepting questions at 2 PM Pacific time.
For those who have convinced themselves that Hillary is a charmless bore — and you know who you are — well, think again. She’s pretty good at this.
** CALIFORNIA’S DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW STRUCK DOWN. The U.S. Supreme Court this morning struck down California’s determinate sentencing law, which allows judges to add on additional years to sentences. Many believe this has contributed to the overcrowding crisis in the state’s deeply troubled prison system. This increases the urgency of a new sentencing commission which has been called for, in various forms, by Democratic legislative leaders and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. New Attorney General Jerry Brown is studying the decision now.
** RICHARDSON ET AL. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced yesterday that he is seriously exploring a race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Richardson has a very impressive background, having served as congressman, as U.S. secretary of energy, and as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. If elected, he would be the first Latino president of the United States (not counting Matthew Santos on The West Wing, of course). I believe he will be the first major Latino presidential candidate.
His candidacy has been expected for quite awhile. Hillary Clinton also announced her exploratory candidacy over the weekend, via a very chatty and warm video on her web site. Obviously her candidacy is even more expected, as she is the Democratic presidential frontrunner.
This raises an interesting question, since these politicians are going to formally announce candidacies, as well. What is the news here? I think the news is if someone is not running. I hate when politicians make 17 different versions of the same announcement of something I already know they are doing in the first place.
** SCHWARZENEGGER HEALTH CARE WEBCAST AT 2 PM. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger continues his campaign for his comprehensive health care plan today with a roundtable at Seagate Technology in Fremont. He meets privately for an hour with business leaders, then opens it up to the press and public in a live webcast at 2 PM. The theme? That there are $14.65 billion in “hidden taxes,” cost shifts for subsidizing the uninsured.
** MCCAIN’S MEDIA TEAM. As Senator John McCain‘s frontrunning presidential campaign further gears up, a couple of people with strong California ties have come on board. Stuart Stevens and Russ Schriefer of the Stevens & Schriefer Group and Fred Davis of Strategic Perception have joined Mark McKinnon and the firm of Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm as McCain media consultants. Davis will serve as McCain’s chief creative consultant and Schriefer will oversee the day-to-day media operations.
Fred Davis works out of Southern California and was the lead media consultant in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s re-election campaign. Remember the foot? Stevens has worked extensively in Hollywood as a writer and producer on the TV series Commander-in-Chief, Mister Sterling, K Street, and Northern Exposure.
** Monitor computer memory prices on a daily basis. Prices are mostly stable.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Crude oil prices have risen to $52 to $53 per barrel on colder weather in the Northeastern US.
Read 
| Comments (0) |
Bush has lost Warner. That’s a big deal.
Great, the troops were already going. lol
Now Florida legislature will consider a plan to move the Florida primary from the first week of March to Jan 29…
I hope McCain’s team gets him away from the clutches of AEI, and so he can reclaim his independent voice…I hate these MOVE ON .Org commercials …all they do is try to demonize …keep it up guys just keep turning on more independent voters…that you need down the line …
Florida can’t really do that.
What Florida can do is move to the same day as California.
Sorry not to post this earlier.
On the primary and DTS – any political party can “invite” DTS voters to participate in California’s “modified open primary.” Reeps and Dems do so, but minor parties don’t. Will the parties change their thinking with the early “Super Fantastic California Tuesday?” Don’t know, but McCain might be unelectable in a low-turnout straight Republican primary in California.
The more important question is, will the additional election include ballot measures? I would think not, since the agenda of the Dem legislature really wouldn’t be well served by the extremely low turnout of a February election. But again, consultants have been getting very fond of that extra election every cycle and those boat payments are a bitch…
Lastly, please start an intervention for legislators who think they can modify term limits. Are they to restrictive—yes. Will voters allow you to modify them—no. And the idea of making a term limit ballot measure MORE appealing by linking it to redistricting is insane. That’s like making strychnine more appealing by mixing it with arsenic. Aren’t term limit expansion/redistricting measures a combined 0 for 10 at the ballot?
I don’t think McCain is unelectable in a straight Republican primary in California at all. Not running against Giuliani, assuming he runs, and Romney. Giuliani is even more socially liberal than McCain and Romney is less formidable and until fairly recently was a social liberal himself.
> On the primary and DTS – any political party can “invite” DTS voters to participate in California’s “modified open primary.” Reeps and Dems do so, but minor parties don’t. Will the parties change their thinking with the early “Super Fantastic California Tuesday?” Don’t know, but McCain might be unelectable in a low-turnout straight Republican primary in California.
I think the early California presidential primary will include ballot measures. The boys and girls of The Building want to alter the term limits law so some of them can run again in June.
> The more important question is, will the additional election include ballot measures? I would think not, since the agenda of the Dem legislature really wouldn’t be well served by the extremely low turnout of a February election. But again, consultants have been getting very fond of that extra election every cycle and those boat payments are a bitch…
I don’t understand enough about the “parties-election rules” etc to understand your response…pity, they can’t do it …it seems to me its diverse population and mod Reep Guv would help a moderate REEP RG and McCain) as it could balance out S. Carolina evangelical conservatives.. I want to see a mod REEP nominated if the Dems are nominating Clinton…I want options
Florida can’t do it, and I think the newspaper article you read mentions that.
Bradley: I think the early California presidential primary will include ballot measures.
Consultants, start your engines!
The early presidential primary is a bonanza.
Of course I read something on the web about it ..what are you inferring that I trying to pass off I am in the “political Know”…you have me confused with others around here…actually I read more than one article as there are more than one article about this out there …the ones I read did not say this was impossible…but I take your word for it if you say it is
Actually, no, I’m simply referring to what the article linked to frequently says about a possible early Florida primary.
Davis makes good commercials, I like the humor in them.
Non-randomly random: The US Supreme Court invalidated California’s entire felony sentencing system this morning (because judges, rather than juries, make the factual findings that determine sentences). This throws our whole sentencing scheme into chaos and creates an urgent need for structural reforms, which opens the door to the sentencing commission concept without said concept having to be the moving force in overcoming inertia.
Bill Richardson is well qualified to be President, he was considered by Kerry for the Veep spot, and he is the first Hispanic to seek a major party presidential nomination. (I think Peter Camejo was the first to run in 1976 as the Socialist Workers nominee). For Presidential politics, (with both parties wide open and a wounded incumbent facing a hostile Congress) the next 2 years will reshape America.
I know, I just got off the phone with the AG about that.
>Wilbur :
Non-randomly random: The US Supreme Court invalidated California’s entire felony sentencing system this morning (because judges, rather than juries, make the factual findings that determine sentences). This throws our whole sentencing scheme into chaos and creates an urgent need for structural reforms, which opens the door to the sentencing commission concept without said concept having to be the moving force in overcoming inertia.
Jan 22, 2007 11:28 AM
I read the opinion. While it underscores the need to reform sentencing, it doesn’t throw the “whole sentencing scheme into chaos”, only those sentences that were increased because of “facts” found by a judge instead of jury. So 3 strikes isn’t affected because the first two strikes depend on a guilty verdict or a plea. It will affect thousands of prisoners and parolees, and keep defense lawyers busy reopening sentences.
Usually a Governor’s “reform” goes sour long after he or she has moved on to other things. But the problems with Governor Brown’s Determinate Sentencing Law of 1977 has come around and landed on the desk of Attorney General Brown 30 years later.
Incidentally, I agree that Bill Richardson is very well qualified as a presidential candidate.. He’s got quite a story to tell. I’m not sure where he breaks through, but Nevada could certainly be an opening for him.
In the spirit of the significant impact the Nevada primary will have, should we start laying odds on who the Dem nominee will be?
I say:
Edwards 2 to 1
Clinton 2 to 1
Obama 3 to 1
Richardson 20 to 1
The Supreme Ct. has done Jerry Brown and Schwarzeneger a big favor.
I don’t think we’re going to have NWN polls or NWN odds per se, unless I do it, because Internet polling is so essentially unrepresentative at this point.
Bill Brasky makes a very good point rating Edwards so highly. One thing I find interesting is how well he runs against the Republicans, which is well, indeed.
Which network Presidential drama has the closest shot at becoming reality?
“The West Wing” with President Santos (Bill Richardson), “Commander in Chief” with with President Geena Davis (Hillary Clinton)(too lazy to google it, but it’s not like you were watching the show and could tell me, from memory alone, the name of the character Davis played) and “24″ with Presidents Wayne and David Palmer (Obama)?
I like Hillary, she speaks so well. Barrack can be hot-blooded and Bill can be moody. (Wait, I think I confused the stereotypes. Oh well.)
All in all, I can’t wait to see the debates.
An interesting feature of the decision was how the Court voted. Ginsburg wrote the decision, was joined by 2 other “liberals” Stevens and Souter, and 3 “conservatives”: Scalia, Thomas, and Roberts.—The native Californians on the Court, Kennedy and Breyer, with Alito, dissented. (Kennedy & Breyer has always dissented on this issue & Alito’s vote was the same as that of Sandra Day O’Connor). Perhaps we have a post-partisan court?
Sullihan’s right that certain types of sentences are not impacted because they are fixed in stone by statute or DO turn on jury findings, and thus are not part of the standard DSL “triads” system where a judge has discretion to decide whether to impose upper, lower or middle term.
But those special sentences are a minority of total volume, and also tend to be the political hot-potatos which a commission reform predictably would shy away from impacting anyway. The vast preponderance of our prison overpopulation problem are under DSL sentences, numbers which could be mitigated in the future with a commission structure which would have the flexibility to fine-tune individual sentencing and release earlier the non-dangerous lightweights to free beds for truly bad guys. Which was much the way it worked before DSL, which seemed like a good idea at the time, came along….
Back to the topic at hand, wasn’t it murmured earlier that Richardson (whom I admire) had potentially fatal undefined skeletal issues in his closet?
Richardson should aim for a sizable chunk of the California delegation, winning at least 15% in each congressional district.
CADTS has been somewhat adamant about Richardson having those sorts of problems.
What exactly did Bill Richardson accomplish as UN Ambassador or Energy Secretary in the Clinton years?
UN sanctions against Iraq were responsible for the deaths of half a million civilians due to destroyed infrastructure, polluted water supplies and ruined health care system. What did Richardson do?
He wasn’t exactly outspoken against Bush in 2003 either.
The need for alternative energy development and the crisis of global climate change was apparent in the 1990s. Where was Richardson?
The crowded field of democrat wannabees would make for some interesting ‘debates’ — but the debate commission will predetermine who is really electable and Biden, Richardson, Kucinich, and evryone who’s name isn’t Clinton or Obama will be excluded.
Gospodin Bierko, as I think you know, David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) on 24 was my favorite TV president. Even over Martin Sheen on West Wing.
But Wayne Palmer, the new president on 24, looks more like Obama.
I don’t remember Geena Davis’s character’s name on Commander-in-Chief, either, but I think she won a Golden Globe for it. That was a very interesting situation, in that the show was a big hit right off the bat, then suddenly collapsed. That sure doesn’t happen much.
Actually, Paul, you are wrong about the debates.
There have always been multi-candidate debates in Democratic presidential primaries.
If Richardson has skeletons in his closet, they might boost his chances. Sinners are more interesting than saints, and probably better qualified for leadership.
“CADTS has been somewhat adamant about Richardson having those sorts of problems.”
Unfortunately, these rumors are rather widespread. I thought if they were true, he wouldn’t have thrown his hat into the ring.
I’ve met Bill Richardson but I don’t know him.
I do know that he has twice been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a member of the president’s Cabinet, he has had extremely high security clearances, and has twice been elected governor of a swing state.
The “surge” is something of a fraud, like so much of this war. To the extent it is not, it will do little good.
“Bill Bradley: Actually, Paul, you are wrong about the debates. There have always been multi-candidate debates in Democratic presidential primaries.”
OK, I was being hyperbolic and cynical about the debates. My complaint should be directed to the media coverage, or lack thereof, of ‘peace candidate’ Kucinich (who will be speaking Sat. 1/27 in San Francisco for those in the Yay Area…http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/bayarea.php?uid=6807)
Richardson’s inability to speak out against sanctions that killed Iraqi civilians is more damning than any personal skeletons in his closet. But that won’t prevent him from getting votes.
One interesting part of the Presidential campaign will be the use of the internet. Already, several candidates have announced via that medium. Overall, I guess the internet can bring the candidate closer to the average voter. But…I think the temptation for the candidates, is to bypass the media ( both local and National) and go directly to the voter. I do think citizens benefit from the filter that the media can provide.
Of Interest! (FYI Times EST)
C-SPAN Highlights
Tonight:
* Sen. Warner (R-VA) Iraq Resolution Briefing (11pm)
* House GOP Leadership Briefing on Iraq (11:30pm)
*
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN2 Highlights
Tonight:
* * U.S. Climate Group NPC Address on Greenhouse Gas (8:30pm)
* Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Turki Al-Faisal GWU Address (9:30pm)
There’s, of course, another very different version of the Iraq sanctions. There was also a special program to get needed supplies to the Iraqi people which Paul forgets to mention.
Interestingly, today the WSJ has a story on page A7 with the headline: “China Shift on Reserves Isn’t Likely to Hit Dollar.”
However the Financial Times has a story today that its leaders plan on diversifying their portfolio!!!! How could that not impact the dollar?????
I wonder who is correct? …LIKE THIS IS KINDA IMPORTANT!!!! can you imagine China reserves “which have increased by more that six times since 2000 and made China one of the worlds largest holders of U.S. Treasury bonds.” The FT also asserts that “This policy switch opens the way for China, which has been largely passive in managing its money to establish an agency akin to Singapore’s government.”
Now I understand it is clearly not in China’s interest to cause chaos in our markets ….but this does appear to be another example that China is flexing muscle to become a major super-power..
I wouldn’t pretend to know the answer to that particular question, but I do believe this is the year when great powers China and Russia further reassert themselves.
Most analysts have the EU very troubled by Russia’s actions of late …everyone expects Putin to play politics with oil and natural gas but they are doing a great deal of meddling in European politics…
I will tell you this, after our experience with Bush …I want to know who these candidates are using/taking advice from in regard to FP and Natl security issues long before the election…I assume McCain has already told us from his presscon at AEI on the surge…if that is not correct…he should say so real soon…I am not voting for anyone who enables the neocons to continue their stranglehold on U.S. FP and security issues…
So when does Putin get rid of Russian term limits?
Nobody is more discredited than the neocons except for maybe the Stalinists. lol
This Hillary live webcast works pretty well. I’m starting to wonder if she has problems working with men, though. She’s not even taking blog questions from men yet.
I spoke too soon. Timothy from Honolulu saves the day. This started to look like The View. Now the video just dropped out. Seems to work okay when reconnecting to the lowres stream.
Hillary did well.
The promotional video is incomplete. It omitted two very important entities. The return of the wounded and dead.”the circle of life of the brigade.” this omission negates the contributions of our fallen soldiers and the existence of their families.
Actually, the families are very much in the video. Watch again.
You probably don’t know many people from the military — I feel I’m not out on a limb there. They don’t emphasize their own possible deaths.