There’s a backlog of at least 10 produced NWN video clips of
Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many hours more unproduced footage,
but heading into a holiday weekend his discussion of an upcoming
film seems most appropriate.
** AL QAEDA’S AMERICAN PRISONERS STILL NOT LOCATED. A 14th day of searching by thousands of US troops south of Baghdad for the two remaining American soldiers captured in an ambush by Al Qaeda has ended. The prisoners have still not been located.
** COURT DISMISSES BID TO CHANGE CALI TERM LIMITS INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION. The attempt by Washington-based US Term Limits to overturn California Attorney General Jerry Brown’s ballot description of an initiative to change the state’s term limits law was thrown out today in court.
“We applaud the court for rejecting this transparent campaign stunt,” said campaign strategist Gale Kaufman. “The Attorney General did his job and wrote an accurate and fair Title and Summary of this initiative. The U.S. Term Limits lawsuit was a cynical campaign tactic to garner free media attention while clogging our overworked court system with a meritless case.”
The initiative, if passed at next year’s February primary election, would reduce the total number of years that can be served in the state Legislature from 14 to 12, but allow a member to serve up to 12 years in one house. Currently, members are limited to six years in the Assembly and eight years in the Senate. The initiative would also have the effect of allowing current leadership to remain in place.
** POLITICAL FIREFIGHT ON IRAQ.
“This country is united in our support for our troops, but we also owe them a plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else’s civil war. Governor Romney and Senator McCain clearly believe the course we are on in Iraq is working, but I do not.
“And if there ever was a reflection of that it’s the fact that Senator McCain required a flack jacket, ten armored Humvees, two Apache attack helicopters, and 100 soldiers with rifles by his side to stroll through a market in Baghdad just a few weeks ago.
“Governor Romney and Senator McCain are still supporting a war that has cost us thousands of lives, made us less safe in the world, and resulted in a resurgence of al-Qaeda. It is time to end this war so that we can redeploy our forces to focus on the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 and all those who plan to do us harm.”
U.S. Senator Barack Obama
“While Senator Obama’s two years in the U.S. Senate certainly entitle him to vote against funding our troops, my service and experience combined with conversations with military leaders on the ground in Iraq lead me to believe that we must give this new strategy a chance to succeed because the consequences of failure would be catastrophic to our nation’s security.
“By the way, Senator Obama, it’s a ‘flak’ jacket, not a ‘flack’ jacket.”
U.S. Senator John McCain
** STAR WARS ANNIVERSARY. Today is the 30th anniversary of the release of a little film called Star Wars. But it’s being celebrated tomorrow, so no spaceships making the jump to hyperspace or corny witticisms today. It is also the sixth anniversary of the release of Pearl Harbor. Which, were it the fifth anniversary of the film’s release, i.e., post-9/11, would be a much bigger deal.
** ON THE ONE HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND.
“Senators Obama, Clinton and Dodd stood up and did the right thing — voting down the president’s war policy. They’re showing real leadership toward ending the war, and MoveOn’s members are grateful. This bold stand won’t soon be forgotten.”
MoveOn.org Director Eli Pariser
“I was very disappointed to see Senator Obama and Senator Clinton embrace the policy of surrender by voting against funds to support our brave men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. This vote may win favor with MoveOn and liberal primary voters, but it’s the equivalent of waving a white flag to al Qaeda.”
U.S. Senator John McCain
** NEW NATIONAL POLL: AMERICANS SOUND MORE, AH, POST-PARTISAN. In the new Zogby national poll, more than 80% think the top characteristics of the next president should be competence and the ability to bring Americans together. Only 42% value a president who stands closely with his or her party.
** AMERICAN CAPTIVES OF AL QAEDA STILL NOT FOUND. Thousands of US troops are in their 14th day south of Baghdad searching for the two surviving American soldiers captured by Al Qaeda on May 12th. Their captive compatriot, a 21-year old from the LA area, turned up dead in the Euphrates River on Wednesday.
** SCHWARZENEGGER AT MACARTHUR MAZE WEBCAST. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will celebrate the rapid reopening of the I-580 connector melted down in a fiery crash less than a month ago. The connector opened to traffic this morning. He’ll be at the MacArthur Maze just east of the Bay Bridge linking San Francisco with Oakland. The webcast begins at 10:45 AM.
** AN $80 MILLION WARHOL. Now this is a bargain. Just a week after the artist’s “Green Car Crash” set an auction record of nearly $72 million, another work by Andy Warhol, “Turquoise Marilyn,” has just been sold in a private deal for $80 million. It’s one of the artist’s pieces from the ’60s, this one a portrait of Marilyn Monroe.
** THE LOST / CALIFORNIA POLITICS LINKAGE.The woman who played the head of the secret underwater jamming facility on the season finale of Lost, Tracy Middendorf, is, as Schwarzenegger finance spokesman H.D. Palmer tells us, married to former senior Pete Wilson aide Franz Wisner. She quite convincingly tortured hero Charlie, played by Dominic Monaghan, one of the heroic hobbits in the Lord of the Rings movies, when he showed up to turn off the jamming device so the losties could be rescued. But when she herself was shot, fatally, by another henchman of the chief bad guy, she gave Charlie the code he needed. A Beach Boys song. The California connections abound.
** PARIS AND ARNOLD. Forgot about this one. On The Tonight Show Wednesday, Schwarzenegger, asked about the Paris Hilton controversy — an issue he has no patience for — and whether he would pardon her (that would be a no), quipped: “I’ve seen all her films. Obviously, we both do action movies.”
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Most crude oil prices are around $64 per barrel. The feared shutdown of Nigerian oil facilities on Wednesday did not occur. But several oil field workers there have just been abducted.
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“We both do action movies.” Good one.
Bill, I know you don’t believe the employer mandate provisions in all of the major health care plans being considered in the legislature violates ERISA, but here is an SD Union editorial on point with a quote from a federal official http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/editorial1/20070525-9999-lz1ed25top.html.
I just want to add it to your extensive archive so we can refer back as events develop.
And frankly, Paris showed little action, skill or enthusiasm in her movie.
KK, I’m afraid you got that link from the Flash Report —
— where it also did not work.
The link, incidentally, is to something by a very conservative editorial writer, quoting a conservative in the Bush Administration, who cites a judgment by a very conservative federal court on the other side of the country concerning a different set of facts.
Gee, on employer mandates I’ve this piece from the REVOLUTIONARY WORKER that says Employer mandates are written in the Bill of Rights!
As far as “action” movies, Paris Hilton should stick to shopping.
I’m not surprised by those polling results. After the last six-plus years I’d expect competence to be a highly desired trait but the “bipartisan” spin is a “motherhood” question. No one wants to say “I’m a partisan Extremist” and all of the major media sources argue against that.
More to the point is the survey that asks which party do you think would do a better job on a variet of issues. That tells you where the public is at and right now it is spelling bad news for Republicans.
Arnold seems to get it. At least he understands that he has to address those concerns. That is why an unnamed Democratic Legislator told Markos over at KOS that he wasn’t unhappy since Swaztenegger was a “Democratic” Governor. But the rest of the GOP is too busy being “pure.”
No I actually have not read today’s Flashreport. I just cut and pasted the link from the Union’s own website during my regular morning stroll through the day’s editorial pages. Yet you are right, for some reason the link does not work…
You may want to Google Standard Oil v. Agsalud, a Ninth Circuit decision that invalidated Hawaii’s attempt to impose an employer mandate back in 1980, one that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1981.
I know I am leading a horse to water here, but check out this link to the American Bar Association Health Law section on this matter, one not written by a conservative journalist http://www.abanet.org/health/esource/Volume3/07/bernstein-seybert.html
Why don’t you link to a decision throwing out California’s employer mandate law of 2002?
As I recall, the voters got to SB 2 before it became law and had a chance to be challenged in court.
One of the central campaign themes of Bush 2 was “I’m a uniter, not a divider.” Everyone understands you can’t win by saying you only listen to a few people with monolithic views.
It’s a silly question. Really, who are the people that say they want an incompetent leader who can’t bring people together.
Actually, KK, the opponents couldn’t make a court case stick against SB 2.
And the voters only turned it down narrowly after Schwarzenegger campaigned against it.
It’s hardly a stupid question, General Cortina.
As you know, this Zogby national poll tracks closely with the California polls.
California voters love the bipartisanship here.
The PPIC polls are extremely clear on the popularity of post-partisanship.
Interesting that McCain and Moveon both mention Obama first on the war funding vote.
Look guys, “Post-Partisanship” is just Arnold’s way of telling the voters “I’m not like those crazy GOP MoFos in the Legislature!”
Wait, I’m confused. Did the Flash Report link to the Paris Hilton video?
Are they desperate for web traffic?
And, 24 fans, rejoice! There are plans in the works for a series of mobisodes featuring Jack and directed by Jon Cassar.
Also, check this out. http://www.dayzero.com/men/dayzero/?&siteid=d0
You have to wade through some Degree ads, but it’s worth it.
Paul Krugman rips the “guest worker program” concept:
Those are some fun quotes, McCain and Obama getting in each other’s grilles.
That is a snappy exchange.
Gospodin Bierko, that is exactly what we need. More 24.
re: California voters love the bipartisanship here.
I agree. People like bipartisanship.
My point is you will never find a poll that says otherwise.
It’s like asking people if they want murders and rapist off the streets. The answer will always be an overwhelming yes.
“By the way, Senator Obama, it’s a ‘flak’ jacket, not a ‘flack’ jacket.”
Oops.
Why didn’t Obama mention Rudy? Aren’t the top three Reeps all together on the Iraq issue?
Oh, killer line by Arnold – he understands how far he can push the envelope.
Is it a ‘flack’ jacket when one of your press people is writing your quotes?
Over at Politico, they have more of the McCain/Obama dust up…
McCain:
It’s reported as an aide to McCain, not the senator.
I’m sure most people in Washington (including our president) would be able to identify a bong…
Ah! Indeed you’re right, Brasky.
Bush Party Video
Meanwhile, I hope you all saw the piece over at Huffington Post where one of the entries in Reagan’s Diaries has the gipper saying that Rudy is nuts! I think the exact quote is something like “He’s Crazy!”
Just what Guiliani needs.
So why didn’t Obama take a shot at Rudy?
And has “Meat” Romney said anything yet? He’s going to have to step-up to say something more stupid than the “bong” thing.
Rudy hadn’t really gotten into the attack game earlier, so Obama’s comments centered on McCain and, to a lesser extent, ZRomney.
Tommy Boy, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCain came up with that. It sounds like him.
It sounds like him. Churlish and old. lol
Perhaps I should note the history of the hardest partying Navy officer of the 1960s …