Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican frontrunner for president,
in New Hampshire over the weekend.
** THESE GUYS ARE DEAD WHEN THEY ARE … DEAD. With numerous reports from the right wing of the death and/or impending death of authoritarian leaders such as Fidel Castro and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, all wrong so far, here is a useful NWN rule of thumb for the real world. They are dead when they are dead. Period. “Enjoy” the latest report of a clearly still alive and kicking el presidente.
** GIULIANI KEYNOTE AT CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the California Republican Party Convention on Saturday, February 10th in Sacramento. NWN will, of course, cover this live, with accompanying video later. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will give the Friday night banquet speech.
** A NEW BUZZWORD IN THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE DEBATE. With the proposals-offering and posturing now fully joined, California Senate Republicans having offered a much more limited and market-oriented plan and Assembly Republicans having offered nothing else yet, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered … a new buzzword. (That’s an old Jerry Brown term for words/phrases that go buzz in your head.)
While not agreeing with criticism that new payments by business constitute a tax (requiring a two-thirds legislative vote) rather than a fee (requiring a majority vote), Team Arnold has come up with a new perspective on the matter. You remember the “hidden taxes,” some $14.65 billion per year in unreimbursed cost due to the lack of insurance for millions of Californians? You should, they spent weeks talking about it before introducing the plan earlier this month. Well, the hidden tax will be more than balanced by the new mandates/fees. This will lead to lower costs overall. Or, in the new term, a “net tax reduction.”
** ARIANNA REVELS IN RILING MCCAIN. Back in the day, the day in question being the year 2000, right wing-turned-left wing commentator Arianna Huffington, then in the midst of metamorphosis, was a great fan and friend of John McCain. So much so that she had him deliver the keynote address at the first of the two Shadow Conventions that she and others sponsored to, well, “shadow” the Republican and Democratic national conventions of that year in, respectively, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. I was senior advisor to the Shadow Conventions and suggested — unsuccessfully, as it happens — that climate change be one of the issues highlighted on successive issues days at the conventions. A story in itself. In any event, McCain was a great Huffington fave, whose keynote ended up getting booed in Philadelphia when he worked in an endorsement of George W. Bush for president.
** EARLY CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ON FEBRUARY 5, 2008 LOOKING GOOD. I dropped by a reception for California’s new state legislators last night hosted by the Sacramento Press Club at the state Capitol. There were a few dozen on hand. It’s interesting to see a lot of people I wouldn’t otherwise recognize, with a few exceptions, if they dropped through my skylight. Hey, it’s a term limits world there.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez was in a very upbeat mood after his fairly triumphant visit to Davos. He told me the early California presidential primary is on. As did a couple of ranking Republican legislators, who preferred to talk on background. More to follow as the week goes on.
** RUNNING ROCKY? LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, wiped out in a Democratic primary race for California attorney general by former Governor Jerry Brown, is said by political insiders to be mulling possible runs for Los Angeles county district attorney or Los Angeles city controller. He’s termed out of his current post in 2009. Delgadillo was on hand for Jerry Brown’s inaugural earlier this month in San Francisco, and said there was much he could learn from the two-time Democratic presidential runner-up.
** AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI CALLS FOR “GAS OPEC.” Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei echoed a Russian idea during a meeting with a top Russian official in Tehran when he called for a “gas OPEC.” Kommersant reports that Khamenei made the suggestion during Russian Security Council secretary Igor Ivanov’s visit to Tehran.
Russia and Iran, by some estimates, have the world’s largest reserves of natural gas. (The US, increasingly dependent on natural gas as the cleanest burning fossil fuel for electric power generation, is sixth.) Although Russia is officially against the idea of a “gas OPEC,” it’s an idea that has previously floated around there with some approval. Russia is the principal supplier to the rest of Europe, as a brief cut-off last month during the Russia-Belarus dispute reminded everyone. Other top candidates for a gas OPEC include Algeria and Turkmenistan.
** GIULIANI IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TIED WITH MCCAIN. Rudy Giuliani had a generally successful trip to New Hampshire last weekend, with a few caveats. He was well received in his major speech to a state GOP conference, but not rapturously received. He still sounded less than definite in his commitment to the campaign. Several press reports, local and national, noted a somewhat imperious style about his operation.
A new private poll has Giuliani tied with John McCain in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary, with neighboring former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney a distant third. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton has a clear lead, with Barack Obama and John Edwards in a dead heat for second.
I don’t know how Giuliani gets along with Hillary Clinton, whom he began to run against for the U.S. Senate in 2000 before dropping out of the race. McCain gets along well with Clinton, reportedly the result of a 2004 vodka drinking contest between the two, and a few other senators, all male, in Estonia.
** Monitor computer memory prices on a daily basis. Prices are stable.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Crude oil prices are around $54 per barrel, rising slightly on cold weather in the US and in advance of a planned OPEC production cut.
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Hillary Clinton and John McCain in a vodka drinking contest in Estonia. That I would pay to see.
I thought the ayatollah died. lol
I would love to have been a fly on the wall with a video camera during that McCain and Hillary vodka adventure.
“Gas O.P.E.C.” is a good idea. The Western Europe may bloc Russia. United however with other countries it is harder to do.
My money would be placed on HC. McCain would hang tough, but I think she would win in the 11th round!
I agree.
If the vodka match was Russian style, it would have been held alongside a table groaning with all sorts of fabulous dishes to help wash it down–especially bread to eat after drinking each shot neat (per those wonderful Hedrick Smith books on the Russians).
Rocky Delgadillo’s one advantage is due to the recent extension of term limits for city council the incumbent councilmembers can run for re-election at least one more time, so he may not face a serious challenge if he runs for Controller. D.A. may be dicier, as Steve Cooley (the incumbent) is a tough campaigner (who ousted the prior D.A.).
Didn’t Delgadillo think he could beat Jerry Brown? lol
Thanks, Dana, now I’m hungry.
My experience with vodka is it is a very dangerous drink. I now understand why alcoholism is so rampant among Russians.
“Nato advisers have warned the military alliance that it needs to guard against any attempt by Russia to set up an “Opec for gas” that would strengthen Moscow's leverage over Europe” FT article on Gas Opec referenced in NWN
I obviously have not read NATO’s report but I find the above statement from the confusing. I don’t see how Moscow’s role could be any stronger than it is now!?!? I just checked Opec’s mission statement and it reads “to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of Member Countries and ensure the stabilization of oil prices in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital to those investing in the petroleum industry” I wonder what such an entity’s as a Natural Gas Opec’s “reach” would be if it had a similar mission statement as (Petro’s) OPEC?, i.e., would it cover delivery infrastructure???? …There is enough gas in the neighborhood for Europe; but there is a big problem in delivery, especially in delivery to Central and Eastern European states, where access to gas supplies from Northern Europe, Algeria or Central Asia is very limited. The present pipeline network connects those states only to Russian (Gazprom). Russia now has bi-lateral distribution agreements with Italian, German and French companies so if has a significant slice of their distribution markets, so in reality Gazprom dominates natural gas supply and distribution networks in Europe by controlling the transit infrastructure in “transit” countries. ..That limits access to markets for other potential suppliers, and by obtaining the distribution business, it limits the ability of importing countries to conclude long-term gas purchase agreements with other producers. I think it is a brillian business strategic move by the Russians butcould prove a big headache for all of Europe down the line. Energy is a high priority security concern…so it would seem a multiple member entity of some sort depending on how it was structured and governed could be beneficial and also be a bridge builder for some of the central Asian countries which appear to be reaching out to the EU for more of a relationship but are having a difficult time with that…
“McCain gets along well with Clinton, reportedly the result of a 2004 vodka drinking contest between the two, and a few other senators, all male, in Estonia.”
Wasn’t that a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Allen
Sorry for the anonymous posting — you all knew it was me anyway.
Actually, no, the movie scene is set in, uh, Nepal.
I don’t know if Hillary socked McCain in the jaw in Estonia or not.
“I don’t know if Hillary socked McCain in the jaw in Estonia or not.”
Isn’t that how all good drinking contests end?
I thought they ended with a fat guy collapsing under the table.
Hey, I’ve never collapsed under a table in my life!!!!
I don’t see what is supposed to be so great about Arianna Huffington.
I really can’t see Giuliani winning any of the southern primaries, which, if I understand right, generate many more delegates than places like NH, since delegate counts are partially weighted by how a state voted in the previous Presidential race. Even if Rudy wins NH, I don’t think that’ll sway a significant number of (for example) South Carolinians. So that leaves him maybe having a good showing in IA, maybe winning NH, losing badly in SC, and then comes a big mass on Feb 5:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia
5-6 are southern (depending on whether you count WV, where the GOP voting population definitely resembles their general southern base), and two are AZ and neighboring NM (which I’d expect to go for McCain).
Barring a miracle, I’d expect Rudy to withdraw by the end of the second week of February.
Who knows what is going to happen in this Presidential race…I just wish Chuck Hagel would announce he is running or at least do one of those “exploratory” things that they all make such a big deal about…”Chuck” I have never known anyone called “Chuck” …I know it is short for Charles but I think its cool …Chuck ! I really like the name! I like him too!
Well, there was Chuck Poochigian. You remember, the Republican who ran against Jerry Brown for California attorney general.
And look how THAT turned out.
Pooch = Loser. lol
Ann’s right …he was Pooch not chuck! I like Chuck! and I really like Chuck Hagel…Cheney had the nerve to attack him!…I was really mad!
Barbara – if you went over to Slate and read Mickey Kaus one the ‘courage’ of Hagel you may also get mad at Kaus.
Is it true what I heard, that this weekend on CNN Cheney was again claiming we’ve turned the corner in Iraq, lots of success stories are happening there, etc.?
Well, yeah …
I don’t read kaus…I only read Mr. Bradley… anyway ,he lets people call him “Mickey”…a grown man running around called Mickey!…
let’s face it ..it’s not a name like “Chuck” …now that’s a name for a MAN! I like Hagel…..even all my Dem girlfriends like Hagel…
Mickey’s a good guy.
If you want to read a great piece about Hagel read Peggy Noonan piece last Saturday in the WSJ…It was pure poetry…I made copies of it and passed it out at big brunch I was at on Sunday…a man like Mickey Kaus or some of these very left bloggers that see all REEPS with horns could never understand the appeal of a MAN like Hagel…let them trash him who the heck cares…I just hope he gets in soon…I am restless!
You know if you Dems nominate John Edwards and you Reeps nominate Chuck Hagel…well then I could be happy no matter who wins!!!!
As frequently happens, I missed the missive of former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan. What did she say?
It’s a wonderful Piece ..here’s my favorite part
“But Mr. Hagel said the most serious thing that has been said in Congress in a long time. This is what we’re here for. This is why we’re here, to decide, to think it through and take a stand, and if we can’t do that, why don’t we just leave and give someone else a chance?
Mr. Hagel has shown courage for a long time. He voted for the war resolution in 2002 but soon after began to question how it was being waged. This was before everyone did. He also stood against the war when that was a lonely place to be. Senate Democrats sat back and watched: If the war worked, they’d change the subject; and if it didn’t, they’d hang it on President Bush. Republicans did their version of inaction; they supported the president until he was unpopular, and then peeled off. This is almost not to be criticized. It’s what politicians do. But it’s not what Mr. Hagel did. He had guts.”
So There ! Mickey Kaus!
I really did passed it out to over 100 people on Sunday and I made more copies on pink paper yesterday and I am going to send it out in all my Valentine cards! and I also sent it out in e-mails to all my friends even my friends living abroad…
I am quite certain I would not be especially happy to get something about a senator from Nebraska or, well, anywhere, in a Valentine card.
Noonan ended the piece praising that speech Kerry gave last week also…I posted here how moved I was when I heard it and urged everyone to hear it on c-span..then I was watching those pundits mock him on …sometimes they are just disgusting …dissing mocking …what the heck to they contribute to understanding the issues or these men by doing that?…
“A note too on John Kerry, who, on the floor of the Senate, also talked about Iraq this week, and said he would not run for president. Clearly he saw the lipstick writing on the wall: This is the year of the woman. He also might have been acting on the sense that this is a time of ongoing and incipient political flux. The major parties seem as played out as they are ruthless, and the arc of political fame is truncated: nobodies become somebodies become has-beens before half the country knows their name. The Democrats have no idea what they stand for, the Republicans only remember what they stood for.
But there was Mr. Kerry, liberated by the death of a dream and for once quite human as he tried to tell it the way he actually saw it. Took the mock right out of me. Good for him, and for Mr. Hagel. I wonder if we are seeing the start of a new seriousness.”
Barbara – You are right to be impressed with the fact that Hagel questioned the conduct of the war before anyone in either party, but I think he would have escaped all criticism if he would have demonstrated his convictions by voting against confirmation of General Petraus — if combined with others, one could argue that it could have had a real effect on what we are doing over there, at least more than a weather vane vote on a resolution.
Mr. Bradley:I am quite certain I would not be especially happy to get something about a senator from Nebraska or, well, anywhere, in a Valentine card.
It’s a Pooh Bear and his honey pot Valentine!
it’s very cute
I love to send cards and get cards!…there are so many wonderful cards! You know everyone should start sending Valentines again!…Little things like that make life sweet…I like “sweet”!!!
I am very big on “sweet”!!! and Hagel ..I big on Hagel!
“Mr. Hagel has shown courage for a long time. He voted for the war resolution in 2002 but soon after began to question how it was being waged. This was before everyone did.”
Uh, you mean, before the people who actually _opposed_ the Iraq war? And, really, a Republican voting for the war resolution was “brave”? By voting the party line?
I think Kaus nailed that one.
Hagel’s a darn sight better than many of his colleagues, and overall does credit to his Senate seat, but he’s not nearly as principled as he wants us to think he is. (See also: the massive overrating of McCain as a “straight talker”.) For bipartisanship’s sake, I’ll note that I think Obama has been overplayed too. Though like Hagel, and unlike McCain, I do think Obama is, overall, “good for the country”.
BTW, the notion that Kaus is a hardcore partisan Dem is mistaken. IIRC, he voted for Bush over Gore, and he’s in general very sympathetic to conservative policy ideas.
Hap Hazard :voting against confirmation of General Petraus
He would never do that…that would not be honorable!!!!…we have troops in Iraq!!!…he would never do anything to hurt our fighting men and women!!!!
Mickey Kaus is an old friend of mine who is not quite a professional anti-Democrat.
Incidentally, I am going to try to recruit to NWN someone who was a rock star Democratic consultant who later became something of a professional anti-Democrat.
Yet can be a great analyst. In my theory.
Oh, and let’s not forget that all these politicians are politicians.
harman “BTW, the notion that Kaus is a hardcore partisan Dem is mistaken. IIRC, he voted for Bush over Gore, and he’s in general very sympathetic to conservative policy ideas.”
Then I stand corrected …and if Mr. Bradley says he is a good guy then he is a good guy …I can’t relate to this complaint of his or yours…HAGEL is a wonderful and so is EDWARDS
They meet my needs which are very simple…I want someone who can KICK START this country again!… we are in the woods…deep in the woods,on domestic policy and foreign policy …I want a candidate who can lead us out of the woods…
JFK said it best: “the way out of the woods is to stop enjoying “the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
There it is in a nutshell! these two guys won’t enjoy the comfort of opinion without THOUGHT!!!
Go Edwards and Come on Hagel!
Mr. Bradley, cant you call someone and find out exactly what is going on about Hagel?…I just sent around humming that Carly Simon Song…”Anticipation”!!!!
….don’t forget Webb on your valentine’s list:]
woops that sit around humming
Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin’ me late
Is keepin’ me waitin’
Toodles !…I got to get my dogs to the dog park!
Running for president is a very personal decision. I don’t know Chuck Hagel.
Carole,
You are so right …isn’t fun! MEN are back in TOWN!!!!!!!!
I am so happy!
Well call him up and suggest you go out and have a beer..I am sure he know swho you are Mr. Bradley!!!
Im guessing the star political consultant turned anti-democrat was…Pat Caddell? I dont think it was Dick Morris.
Mitch, you guessed it.
Caddell! He is CRAZY! Crazy smart. lol