Republican presidential frontrunner Rudy Giuliani’s trip to
London covered on MSNBC.
** REPUBLICAN MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO BACKS GAY MARRIAGE. In a fascinating development, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a Republican who was the city’s chief of police for most of the ’90s, has just reversed his previous position and come out in favor of gay and lesbian marriage. Acknowledging for the first time that his daughter is a lesbian and saying that she deserves the right to marry as much as anyone who is heterosexual in his or her orientation, Sanders agreed to sign a resolution passed by the San Diego City Council to file a friend of the court brief in favor of expanding marriage rights. The move comes as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a longtime advocate of gay and lesbian rights, again vows to veto a bill that would legalize gay and lesbian marriage in California, citing the defeat of the issue at the California polls at the beginning of this decade. But the times, they may be a-changing.
** CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE FEUD SURFACES. The long-festering feud between legislative leaders Fabian Nunez in the Assembly and Don Perata in the Senate is coming to the fore on water policy. (Though the AP story lacks that perspective.) Perata wants a water bond on the February primary ballot. Nunez says it can wait, maybe, until November 2008.
Here is a thought, gentlemen. At this rate, despite all the terrific accomplishments, you will both be the lamest of ducks in November 2008, while of course NWN remains.
Despite many promises, you failed on redistricting reform. (Of course, the Republicans got cold feet there, too, but they are nowhere near being in charge.) Health care reform is iffy, looking presently like a Rube Goldberg construct. One thing the state actually needs in order to function is a highly reliable supply of water. Get something done. That is, if you want the term limits change initiative to pass next February. From the polls I have, which you may or may not have, California voters are not happy with you.
** JIM WEBB BILL FALLS SHORT IN U.S. SENATE. Virginia Senator Jim Webb’s bill to short-circuit the Iraq military build-up by requiring that US troops spend as much time in the US as they do on deployment in Iraq not surprisingly fell four votes short of the 60 it needs in the Senate to cut off debate on the issue. The vote was 56-44. This is is the most moderate of the bills tried by Democrats to curtail the Iraq War. But it only attracted a handful of Republican votes, with the rest still frozen in place by General David Petraeus’s argument last week for more time.
Webb, the most high-decorated Marine combat officer of the Vietnam War, is a best-selling novelist who served as secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration. His hopes on the bill were dashed when fellow Virginian John Warner, also a former secretary of the Navy, switched from supporting the bill to opposing. Warner, the former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman who has become a reluctant critic of the Iraq War, is retiring at the end of next year.
** CIA GROUNDED IN IRAQ. Meanwhile, PJ Media Washington columnist Richard Miniter reports that CIA officers in Iraq, like State Department officials in Iraq, are pinned down in the Green Zone of Baghdad by the grounding of Blackwater security operatives following the weekend incident we’ve been following. The mighty CIA, now dependent on private security contractors to protect them as they attempt to travel the streets of a major capital city the US military conquered over four years ago.
** BLACKWATER CRISIS. A joint US-Iraqi commission on the Blackwater situation is being formed. Over the weekend, security personnel from the controversial private security firm killed some 10 Iraqi civilians as they escorted a US State Department motorcade through the streets of Baghdad. The Blackwater personnel say they came under attack. Iraqis say no. The Iraqi prime minister labeled Blackwater a menace and the Iraqi interior ministry revoked Blackwater’s license to operate in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Blackwater will continue to guard State Department personnel. The State Department and other US officials in Iraq rely on Blackwater — rather than US military or State Department protective services personnel. But they have been instructed not to travel outside the so-called Green Zone enclave inside Baghdad.
** CLINTON AND SCHWARZENEGGER. Appearing together this in morning in a live webcast from Columbia Middle School in El Monte, east of downtown Los Angeles, former President Bill Clinton and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that they are co-chairing the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to promote healthier lifestyles for children. The two, accompanied by the president of the American Heart Association, appeared about 50 minutes later than scheduled after touring the school and its facilities.
Clinton praised Schwarzenegger for having the best child fitness and nutrition policies in the country. For his part, Schwarzenegger, in an energized and jocular mood, noted that he and the president have much in common, both coming from small towns and being married to “women who look a lot better than we do on television.”
Clinton, ever the master analyst of political performance, had a familiar appraising look on his face while Schwarzenegger spoke, and frequently peered at the governor’s text, the better to compare what was written there with what Schwarzenegger actually said.
The two both talked up the school’s weight room and how active and fit the children looked as they performed their morning exercises. Both spoke of a spreading obesity crisis around the country, with Schwarzenegger in particular imploring the school children before them to live healthy lifestyles, while Clinton, once the overweight boy in the school band, said that he can identify with people grabbing on to food, a still very affordable pleasure compared to others, one all too readily available in a society with increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
The governor said that, over the paast decade, Californians have gained 360 million pounds. (Presumably compared to a similar sample the decade before. One of three children and one of four teens he deemed overweight or at-risk of obesity. “Second only to tobacco,” said Schwarzenegger, “obesity is a leading cause of preventable death among Californians and costs the state $28.5 billion in health care costs, lost productivity and workers’ compensation.”
** CALIFORNIA BLACK CAUCUS MYSTERY. Last week, the California Legislature’s Black Caucus voted to endorse Barack Obama for president. Yesterday, two members who voted to endorse Obama reversed themselves and endorsed Hillary Clinton. They are current caucus chairman Mervyn Dymally of LA, who had a chilly relationship with then Governor Jerry Brown during his one term as lieutenant governor in the 1970s, and Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, once chief of staff to Ron Dellums. I haven’t heard a credible explanation for the shift. But I’ll bet one of you knows what’s at the bottom of this little mystery.
** GIULIANI IN LONDON: NO IRANIAN NUKES. Now in London to give the inaugural Margaret Thatcher Atlantic Bridge lecture and receive a medal from the former prime minister, now baroness, Rudy Giuliani said today that under no circumstances should Iran be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Giuliani had a public meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a private meeting with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, now the special Mideast envoy. Giuliani, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2002 for his leadership of New York during 9/11, is clearly making the rounds in London.
But it is his linkage with Thatcher that may be most valuable. The former prime minister, a great ally of Ronald Reagan, may be the greatest conservative icon remaining. Fred Thompson, who went to London in July and also delivered an address there, also met with Thatcher but appeared to come away empty-handed. Giuliani is picking up some of Thatcher’s foreign policy advisors, along with his award and high-profile lectureship.
** UPDATE: SCHWARZENEGGER AND CLINTON WEBCAST TO START AT 9:45 AM. Let’s see, Schwarzenegger is well-known for being late, Clinton is well-known for being late …
** SCHWARZENEGGER AND CLINTON IN LIVE WEBCAST AT 9:15 AM. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former President Bill Clinton join forces this morning at a middle school in El Monte, several miles east of Los Angeles, in a new partnership to promote healthier living for schoolchildren. The two will announce that they are co-leaders of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
They should be touring the school now and will appear in a live webcast set of addresses at 9:15 AM.
** AL QAEDA’S AMERICAN PRISONERS STILL NOT LOCATED. American troops are now in the midst of a 127th 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, which hit a new record yesterday, are rising again, now in the $82 to $83 per barrel range.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Read 
| Comments (0) |
That’s a neat coup for Giuliani.
That’s a neat coup for Giuliani.
I CAN’T WAIT for the Flush Report to explode over Schwarzeneger with Slicky Willie Clinton. lol
Schwarzeneger is late again! lol
Oh really Bill! Do you think Maggie Thatcher will get Rudy one vote over here? She couldn’t even help the Tories now! Her “Support” is the kiss of death. Ask Michael Howard or the other clowns that Blair dispatched. See David Cameron ignore her – “Margaret who?”
You’re missing the obvious. David Cameron isn’t a primary candidate, he’s out to win a general election.
Tony Blair wasn’t running in Tory or Republican primaries, either.
Still no Schwarzeneger. lol
Still no Schwarzeneger. lol
Giuliani does better in newscasts than ads.
There’s Schwarzeneger. Finally.
There’s Schwarzeneger. Finally.
Ann :
There’s Schwarzeneger. Finally.
and given the helicopers… i assume Clinton as well.
That was pretty interesting. Schwarzenegger seemed energized by Clinton on the same stage.
“I CAN’T WAIT for the Flush Report to explode over Schwarzenegger with Slicky Willie Clinton.”
They’re lucky those two are constitutionally bared from running for president.
Maybe someone will ask Arnold’s Chief of Stafdf – Susan Kennedy – how she feels about the Governator vetoing the Gay marriage bill. Robin Tyler, a lesbian activist is mentioned today in John Aravosis’ AMERICABLOG asking her to resign in protest. Tyler notes that she attended Kennedy’s same sex marriage in Hawaii so why can’t she get married here?
My guess is she’d say whatever she said the last few times she was asked. Whatever that was. There’s nothing new here.
My guess is she’d say whatever she said the last few times she was asked. Whatever that was. There’s nothing new here.
That would be a fun race.
>Brasky :
“I CAN’T WAIT for the Flush Report to explode over Schwarzenegger with Slicky Willie Clinton.”
They’re lucky those two are constitutionally bared from running for president.
Sep 19, 2007 10:39 AM
The competitive juices kick in.
>Capitol Boy :
That was pretty interesting. Schwarzenegger seemed energized by Clinton on the same stage.
Sep 19, 2007 10:35 AM
Patience.
>Ann :
There’s Schwarzeneger. Finally.
Sep 19, 2007 10:14 AM
Susan’s been through this fire drill before, as has Arnold. Not really news.
Why didn’t Clinton and Schwarzenegger take questions? That was weird.
The righty wingnut Flash Report Klown Show is on again. Jonny Flashman attacked Schwarzeneger for bonds for water projects. Schwarzeneger’s a SOCIALIST! Jonny boy, that’s two conservative Republicans carrying the bills. lol
I’m told it was because they were running so far behind schedule.
>Len :
Why didn’t Clinton and Schwarzenegger take questions? That was weird.
Sep 19, 2007 11:54 AM
Flashreport might as well support the bonds – they aren’t going to pass (as proposed anyway). Their record of never accomplishing anything will remain intact.
“I’m told it was because they were running so far behind schedule.”
Yeah, THAT was it. I wouldn’t expect questions at that event – way too many landmines.
I reported it. I don’t necessarily buy it.
As Villines’ comments suggest, they’re part of the bargaining process.
>Brasky :
“I’m told it was because they were running so far behind schedule.”
Yeah, THAT was it. I wouldn’t expect questions at that event – way too many landmines.
Sep 19, 2007 01:02 PM
After reading the bullet-point version of the Hillary health care plan, it seems to me that the use of tax credits to subsidize insurance costs would push more of the middle class into the AMT. Tax policy is not my forte, so I might be wrong.
The banning of Blackwater in Iraq may be most important. It may well be the beginning of the end for the U.S.
The banning of Blackwater in Iraq may be most important. It may well be the beginning of the end for the U.S.
The banning of Blackwater in Iraq may be most important. It may well be the beginning of the end for the U.S.
Staggering how many private security forces are in Iraq – something like 182,000. Now 118,000 of them are Iraqis and only 21,000 are Americans, but still.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32419.pdf
As of January State Senator Mark Ridley Thomas becomes Chair of the Black Caucus. And based on some comments by local South L.A. political columnist Betty Pleasant, my impression is the change in leadership has caused discomfort among the older generation of black politicians.
Demographic changes are eroding the power base of blacks in South L.A., plus the recent debacle of King Harbor Hospital’s shutdown has shaken the reputation of most of the opinions leaders of the black community. Plus L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Burke is retiring soon and there is a scramble over which ambitious black politician (current front runners are Ridley Thomas and L.A. Councilman Bernbard Parks) will get the coveted seat. All these have created tensions I am sure are behind the split in the caucus.
http://wavenewspapers.com/ (click “Soulvine” to read Pleasant’s most recent columns)
Interesting reference to the Black Caucus goings on. I would support any maneuvering that might have effectively make it easier for Rod Wright to return sooner than later to elected office.
Just watched the Clinton/Schwarzenegger event. Poor bastard from the Heart Association had to go third. I thought I could hear tripods being folded in the background…
I actually forgot his name, and unfortunately it’s not on the release.
Those are two people you do NOT want to follow …
Now Rod Wright is an interesting character.
>Hap Hazard :
Interesting reference to the Black Caucus goings on. I would support any maneuvering that might have effectively make it easier for Rod Wright to return sooner than later to elected office.
Sep 19, 2007 03:49 PM
I think that’s true.
Witness Jesse Jackson’s criticism of Obama — he’s already endorsed him — for not being black enough.
>Dana :
As of January State Senator Mark Ridley Thomas becomes Chair of the Black Caucus. And based on some comments by local South L.A. political columnist Betty Pleasant, my impression is the change in leadership has caused discomfort among the older generation of black politicians.
Apparently the CIA station in Baghdad is now pinned down in the Green Zone as well with the grounding of Blackwater.
I think it is absolutely absurd that the CIA has to depend on a private outfit to protect itself in the capital city of Iraq, a country we conquered over four years ago.
>Jonathan Hemlock :
The banning of Blackwater in Iraq may be most important. It may well be the beginning of the end for the U.S.
That’s more than the US military force there, post-surge!
>Brasky :
Staggering how many private security forces are in Iraq – something like 182,000. Now 118,000 of them are Iraqis and only 21,000 are Americans, but still.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32419.pdf
Sep 19, 2007 02:16 PM
We’re kickin’ ass…at outsourcing…
We’re kickin’ ass…at outsourcing…
“it is absolutely absurd that the CIA has to depend on a private outfit to protect itself ”
Well, if they hadn’t pissed-off Jason Bourne…
“it is absolutely absurd that the CIA has to depend on a private outfit to protect itself ”
Well, if they hadn’t pissed-off Jason Bourne…
Good one. Unfortunately.
Good one. Unfortunately.
If I were in the CIA, I would be far too proud to have to rely on hired guns for security.
>Brasky :
We’re kickin’ ass…at outsourcing…
Sep 19, 2007 04:37 PM
How many of those guys are ex-CIA and getting paid more as private security to protect their former co-workers?
“JIM WEBB BILL FALLS SHORT”
Time off for Iraqi leaders, but not grunts.