** NEW SPY MOVIE CHAMP. The Bourne Ultimatum, a politically-tinged post-9/11 action movie thriller starring Matt Damon as ultra-black amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne reviewed here in early August, became the highest-grossing spy movie of all-time at the domestic box office over the weekend with a new cumulative gross of $216.2 million. It passed Mission Impossible II and the third Austin Powers movie to take the crown, having long since passed the recent James Bond blockbusters Casino Royale (a huge hit last year with $167.4 million) and Die Another Day.
With another $4.2 million over the weekend, the third film in the Bourne series it looks set to continue its run into the fall. Some on the right dislike the film, because its principal villains are American officials abusing their authority. They claimed the film was geared to the European audience. Which would not explain why it is the most successful spy film at the American box office. Or why it is actually more popular among Americans than among Europeans.
** FEDERAL COURT DISMISSES CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT AGAINST AUTOMAKERS. A federal judge this afternoon dismissed a lawsuit against automakers for contributing to climate change filed last year by then California Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Though he made critical comments about it in last fall’s campaign, former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown decided not to drop the suit upon assuming the office in January, opting instead to retain it as leverage.
It didn’t work out that way. The problem with the suit is that, while automakers have undoubtedly contributed to the greenhouse effect, in California and of course elsewhere, they haven’t broken the law.
** WARNER WAY OUT FRONT FOR SENATE IN VIRGINIA. Former Governor Mark Warner, who last week announced his candidacy to replace retiring Republican John Warner in the U.S. Senate, has huge leads over prospective Republican opponents, including former Governor Jim Gilmore, who dropped out of the presidential race earlier this year, and George Allen, who narrowly lost his own Senate seat last November to Democrat Jim Webb.
Warner leads former Governor Gilmore by 28 points and former Senator Allen by 19 points.
** DAILY NEWSPAPER BREAKS EMBARGO, L.A. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BACKS ARNOLD HEALTH CARE REFORM PLAN. Since a large daily newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune, has broken the embargo on the story, I will tell you what you may have already guessed from the item early this morning on the 3:30 PM live webcast by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the governor’s universal health care plan, providing some needed momentum for his special legislative session on health care.
The story was embargoed until 3 PM. But the daily newspapers have apparently gotten tired of being constantly scooped, despite their having large, though decreasing, staffs. So the embargo was broken.
(Embargoed Until 3:00 PM)
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce today endorsed Governor Schwarzenegger’s health care reform proposal …
** HILLARY UNVEILS HEALTH CARE PLAN. Hillary Clinton this morning unveiled her national health care reform plan. Sounding like an amalgam of plans offered in California by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders, the Clinton plan would require all Americans to have health insurance, would impose mandates on employers to provide health insurance for their employees, and would subsidize health care for people needing help to pay for insurance by taxing the wealthy.
Rudy Giuliani, as predicted, continued his attack on Clinton, saying: “If you liked Michael Moore’s ‘Sicko,’ you’re going to love HillaryCare 2.0. Senator Clinton’s latest health scheme includes more government mandates, expensive federal subsidies and more big bureaucracy – in short, a prescription for an increase in wait times, a decrease in patient care and tax hikes to pay for it all.”
** A NON-GREEN CAR. One of the highlights of the Frankfurt Auto Show: The Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang. (Pur sang means pure blood.) This is a special edition of the fastest road car in the world. 1001 horsepower, top speed of 252 miles per hour. Zero to 60 in three seconds. Miles per gallon? Also, er, three.
Only five are being made, at a cost of $2 million a piece. There are no plans for a hybrid version. The ’80s Arnold might have bought this car. (I recall that he had a Ferrari, which did not end all that well. It’s entirely possible that your humble correspondent is a better driver than the fabled Terminator Governor.) The 21st century Arnold, of course, wouldn’t be caught dead in such a beastie.
** GREENSPAN SAYS IRAQ WAR WAS FOR OIL. In his memoirs, published today, Alan Greenspan says the Iraq War was really for oil. “I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: The Iraq war is largely about oil,” writes the longtime architect of US monetary policy as the former head of the Federal Reserve.
** BLACKWATER KICKED OUT OF IRAQ. The controversial private security firm Blackwater International has had its license to operate in Iraq revoked by the Iraqi Interior Ministry after a shootout in Baghdad over the weekend reportedly left eight civilians dead. The Blackwater contractors were protecting a US State Department convoy.
Blackwater, with its fleet of Little Bird helicopter gunships and high-profile protective assignments, has become the symbol of the controversial practice of outsourcing security arrangements in Iraq and elsewhere. The firm, founded by a former Navy Seal who is a fundamentalist Christian, has close ties to the Bush Administration and to right-wing groups.
** BUSH APPOINTS RELATIVE MODERATE AS U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL. President George W. Bush has just appointed retired federal Judge Michael Mukasey of New York to replace the departed Alberto Gonzales. Mukasey is viewed favorably by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and is a close ally of Republican presidential frontrunner Rudy Giuliani. Mukasey ruled against the Bush Administration in an early stage of the trial of suspected terrorist Jose Padilla. The government had tried to block Padilla from having access to legal counsel.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST THIS AFTERNOON ON HEALTH CARE REFORM. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will hold a Capitol press conference at 3:30 PM this afternoon with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to make an announcement on health care reform. The event will be webcast live.
** AL QAEDA’S AMERICAN PRISONERS STILL NOT LOCATED. American troops are now in the midst of a 125th day of searching for the remaining two US soldiers captured by Al Qaeda in an ambush south of Baghdad. They have had no luck so far. A video put out by Al Qaeda forces in Iraq claims that all three men were executed after being captured. But, with the exception of the Californian found floating in the Euphrates River, that claim can’t be confirmed. The US high command in Baghdad has revealed that ID cards for the other two American prisoners were found in an Al Qaeda safehouse on June 9th.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Crude oil prices are in the $78 to $80 per barrel range.
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Whatever happened to that Blackwater training ground outside San Diego?
Whatever happened to that Blackwater training ground outside San Diego?
Will schwarzeneger be on time today? lol
Time will tell.
Last time I noticed, the proposal for it was slowly working its way through the local planning processes.
>Ann :
Whatever happened to that Blackwater training ground outside San Diego?
Sep 17, 2007 09:14 AM
Greenspan told the Washington Post today
I doubt that going to Iraq was based solely on the oil reserves question, just as going to Afghanistan was not to secure a pipeline for Chevron, or what not. But it is also naive of any of us to believe that these things are not even a factor considered in making military or strategic decisions.
He “clarified” what he said? No, he changed what he said.
I don’t think Iraq is all about oil, either, but clearly it’s a major factor.
What is Schwarzenegger announcing today?
Blackwater sounds like a sinister group.
What do we do now that the Hessian’s can’t fight in Iraq any more? Is Bush going to count this as part of redeployment numbers?
I have a Non Random question for Wilbur?
What is the legal issue that has slowed down the Orange County Supervisors from suing the Deputies pension plan. Can you explain this in simple terms please.
There are other private security contractors. The difference is that Blackwater has had all its personnel properly vetted to provide security for high-value targets.
>Brasky :
What do we do now that the Hessian’s can’t fight in Iraq any more? Is Bush going to count this as part of redeployment numbers?
Sep 17, 2007 10:43 AM
There are other private security contractors. The difference is that Blackwater has had all its personnel properly vetted to provide security for high-value targets.
>Brasky :
What do we do now that the Hessian’s can’t fight in Iraq any more? Is Bush going to count this as part of redeployment numbers?
Sep 17, 2007 10:43 AM
Probably the endorsement of the LA area chamber of commerce for his health care plan.
>Jonas Blane :
What is Schwarzenegger announcing today?
Sep 17, 2007 10:19 AM
Just saw a news item that Chemerinsky and UC have agreed that he will be the first dean of the Don Bren law school at UCI. Of course it won’t be long I am sure before the commentators of the left in turn take up the cause of the former Harvard dean whose address at UC Davis was canceled by the UC
Carole, the OC Supes’ legal theory is, in my judgment, Fleishmanian wishful thinking. They figured they can disavow a contract the County signed 6 years ago, under which Deputies have provided services for all those years, because now some wingnut think tankie types decided the contract is void because it was beyond the County’s legal authority to take on an unfunded pension obligation (which they did, and it was dumb, but they did sign and implement the contract years ago).
As if the County or any employer can take six years’ worth of its own benefits under ANY contract and then decide oops, our bad, we can’t pay what we promised to pay for those services. They could perhaps use a judicial decision saying they’re right about the illegality to refuse to renew any such term in the next contract, but IMNSHO they can’t get their hooks into the vested rights already earned during the period people worked under that contract. Whatever they think California law says about how they can spend state money, federal ERISA law is in the way when it comes to vested rights.
Once you’ve eaten the hamburger, under ERISA you’ve GOT to pay for it even if your state law marching orders said “don’t buy more hamburgers than we can afford…”
They solicited an independent legal opinion, and it apparently came back “what are you guys smoking?” The wingies on the board still want to do it, apparently, but I’m speculating from from the press coverage that a couple of votes have gone soft on them, realizing this could turn out to be a very embarrassing and expensive stunt with nil potential for gain.
today’s LAT story at http://tinyurl.com/3xy6nt
That would be the former president of Harvard University and former secretary of the treasury — in the Clinton Administration — Larry Summers, who has some controversial views on how intellectual capacity develops in men and women.
>Hap Hazard :
Just saw a news item that Chemerinsky and UC have agreed that he will be the first dean of the Don Bren law school at UCI. Of course it won’t be long I am sure before the commentators of the left in turn take up the cause of the former Harvard dean whose address at UC Davis was canceled by the UC
Sep 17, 2007 11:09 AM
And God forbid we have any controversial views aired on a University campus! But it was the politically correct left themselves who surely are responsible for Summers’ shunning.
I learned a long time ago, the hard way, that expecting women to think the way I do is a recipe for disaster.
Which, nonetheless, does not always prevent disaster.
BTW, Cal and USC both won over the weekend, so I’m quite happy.
The Bugatti sounds right up your alley, Bill. lol
Seems like some of the unions might not be crazy about Hillary’s health care plan…among others.
Sounds like a plan designed for the General election, rather than the Primary. Interesting.
Well, Obama is constructing policy for the general as well. Only the more desperate candidates plan for the primaries and then hope for the general.
Well, Obama is constructing policy for the general as well. Only the more desperate candidates plan for the primaries and then hope for the general.
And, Ann, awesome as the Bugatti is, it’s not exactly a practical vehicle …
Wilbur,
Thank You
Bill,
Women are always right and men are always wrong…you will go far with this motto.
Wilbur,
Thank You
Bill,
Women are always right and men are always wrong…you will go far with this motto.
Yes, a popular theory with some women. Also leads to disaster as often as not. Like most men, most women can’t handle power.
What, no discussion of entrees?
The dailies are embarassing.
Their blogs have disappeared.
Fine “scoop” the Tribune picked-up. Great investigative work that…
Perata and Nunez aren’t getting more endorsers for their plan – Arnold says he he’ll veto it. Schwarzenegger can’t get the votes for his plan and the LA Chamber isn’t going to add floor votes.
How do you say “Kabuki” in German?
Funny about Rudy equating Hillary’s plan with Moore’s SiCKO. Moore wants single-payer; Hillary is far, far from that position. On the bright side, she does appear to be including the level-playing-field gov’t-administered competitor to help drive overhead down towards the sub-2% level achieved by Medicare.
When appealing to the right wing, all government action is socialism.
Remarkable.
>Brasky :
Fine “scoop” the Tribune picked-up. Great investigative work that…
Perata and Nunez aren’t getting more endorsers for their plan – Arnold says he he’ll veto it. Schwarzenegger can’t get the votes for his plan and the LA Chamber isn’t going to add floor votes.
How do you say “Kabuki” in German?
Sep 17, 2007 03:11 PM
Which do you like better, Bourne or the new Bond?
They’re very different. But mostly the latter.
“Some on the right dislike the film, because its principal villains are American officials abusing their authority.”
Is the Bourne series our “Three Days of the Condor;” a spy-thriller tapping into the zeitgeist of a public that no longer trusts their government?
“Some on the right dislike the film, because its principal villains are American officials abusing their authority.”
Is the Bourne series our “Three Days of the Condor;” a spy-thriller tapping into the zeitgeist of a public that no longer trusts their government?
Could be. But the Bourne films are actually more popular.
Actually the rescinding of the Summers Speech, the disinvitation of Jimmy Carter at Brandeis, and the UCI fiasco are all examples of political correctness. Both sides do it while chiding the other. Free speech for me but not for thee. . .
I don’t understand the Union Tribune’s “scoop.” The Chamber announced their support almost three weeks ago. http://www.lachamber.org/pdf/08.28.07_Gov_Healthcare_Principles_Statement_FINAL.pdf
The release I linked too says the Chamber supports Arnold’s “principles,” so what exactly did they say they support today?
It’s the car chases.
If a movie can deliver enough of an adrenaline rush, most moviegoers don’t care if it’s left-wing or right-wing.
A good effort.
Nice catch, Gospodin Bierko.
How’d you like the season premier of Prison Break?
>Vladimir Bierko :
I don’t understand the Union Tribune’s “scoop.” The Chamber announced their support almost three weeks ago. http://www.lachamber.org/pdf/08.28.07_Gov_Healthcare_Prin ciples_Statement_FINAL.pdf
The release I linked too says the Chamber supports Arnold’s “principles,” so what exactly did they say they support today?
Sep 17, 2007 10:09 PM
Yep.
>richard locicero :
Actually the rescinding of the Summers Speech, the disinvitation of Jimmy Carter at Brandeis, and the UCI fiasco are all examples of political correctness. Both sides do it while chiding the other. Free speech for me but not for thee. . .
Sep 17, 2007 07:36 PM