On December 7, 1941, Japan executed a successful sneak
attack on the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, drawing America into World War II.
** IRAQ, IRAN, AND PAKISTAN CRISES. Tensions have eased, some, on a few fronts lately. War with Iran is off the table in the wake of the National Intelligence Estimate declaring that Iran doesn’t have an active nuclear weapons program. As a result, the US is preparing another round of formal talks, starting next month, with Iran to to help settle the still very unsettled political situation in Iraq — virtually no progress there, actually, with the Iraqi parliament taking the month off rather than pass needed reconciliation legislation — and stabilize the security situation. Things have improved, due to the effective work of the US military, but the surge has always been time-limited. In fact, the first surge brigade is being withdrawn this month, so the clock is ticking.
In Pakistan, America’s deeply troubled key frontline ally in the Terror War, only Islamic nuclear power, with both top opposition leaders now saying they’ll take part in next month’s elections, the continual uproar has subsided to a mere roar. President Pervez Musharraf, under pressure from President Bush, says he’ll lift martial law on December 16th. We’ll see how that goes. The election is on January 8th. Which even if all the restrictions are lifted and political prisoners released, doesn’t give much time for a real democratic election. So this bad situation could get worse again in the next several weeks. But for now, it’s not a cauldron bubbling over.
** BROWN ANNOUNCES GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION AGREEMENT WITH PORT OF LOS ANGELES. Former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown, joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, today announced an agreement between the the state and the Port of LA in which the port agrees to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The port will do a thoroughgoing inventory of port-related greenhouse gases that tracks emissions from their foreign sources to domestic distribution points throughout the United States. This data will be reported annually to the California Climate Action Registry, a program now underway to gather baseline greenhouse gas emission data.
As part of the agreement, the port will also construct a 10 megawatt photovoltaic solar electric power system to offset approximately 17,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. It will also use electricity, rather than conventional fossil fuels, to power ocean-going vessels when in port. Though much of that electricity, when derived from offsite sources, will come from natural gas-fired plants.
** NO MOVEMENT FOR HUCKABEE OR ROMNEY IN NATIONAL TRACKING POLL. Last night’s Rasmussen national tracking poll shows no deterioration for Mike Huckabee, recently beset by controversy discussed below, or improvement yet for Mitt Romney, who gave a very high-profile speech yesterday on religion in America.
On the Republican side, it’s Huckabee 22%, Rudy Giuliani 18%, Romney 13%, John McCain 12%, and Fred Thompson 9%.
On the Democratic side, it’s Hillary Clinton 34%, Barack Obama 25%, and John Edwards 16%. The other candidates are not being polled.
I have trouble with the robopoll concept, but this poll is intriguing because it is done nightly with the same methodology, and thus has relevance for looking at the direction of public opinion.
** CLINTON CAMPAIGN CITES ENDORSEMENTS OF FORMER AMBASSADORS AS EVIDENCE OF GEOPOLITICAL EXPERTISE. Attempting, at this rather late date, to establish her bona fides as an experienced hand at the highest levels of geopolitics, Hillary Clinton today is touting the endorsements of 32 ambassadors who served in her husband’s administration. Many, if not most, had already endorsed her. Here is the statement from the campaign: The Clinton campaign is releasing a letter today signed by 32 former U.S. ambassadors and diplomats who served while Senator Clinton was First Lady that attests to her unique foreign policy experience.
During her tenure as First Lady, Senator Clinton traveled the world as a representative of the United States, meeting with Presidents and Prime Ministers, refugees and victims of war and genocide. In her diplomatic role, she fought for human rights from China to Uganda to Kosovo, and helped pave the way for improved U.S. relations with countries such as India. Having seen her activities first hand, these former diplomats and ambassadors write that Senator Clinton “is the candidate with the strength and experience to restore America’s standing in the world and to return the United States to a position of global leadership.”
** CALIFORNIA ELECTORAL COLLEGE INITIATIVE BACKERS MAKE THE OBVIOUS OFFICIAL. As NWN reported the other day, the backers of the Republican scheme to change California’s Electoral College vote for president from winner-take-all to an allocation by congressional district — a ploy which might hand the presidency to the Republican nominee, have failed to make the June ballot. As you may have noted reported in today’s newspapers.
As I said the other day, not enough money, not enough signatures, not enough time. Now they say they’ll try for the November ballot. Which, of course, is when the presidential election takes place. The legal challenge would be obvious. In addition, their best chance, to the extent they had one, was in the low turnout June primary.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST ON SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CRISIS THIS MORNING. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will hold a press conference this morning in Oakland to highlight a program that a Bay Area foundation and community-based organizations are launching to help homeowners avoid foreclosures. The event will be webcast live at 10:30 AM.
Mike Huckabee and action movie star Chuck Norris discuss their religious faith. Huckabee sums up: “You do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Huckabee’s surging campaign is beset by questions about his policy preparation and the disastrous parole of a rapist.
** HUCKABEE STRUGGLES. While Mitt Romney struggles in discussing his faith — which is to say, he doesn’t discuss it, while painting a picture of an America in which “religion is freedom” — the surging Mike Huckabee is much more comfortable discussing his own faith. As you see in the video above with fellow Christian Chuck Norris.
What Huckabee is having trouble with is his role in the release of a convicted rapist who went on to rape and murder another woman. Wayne Dumond has been convicted of raping a cheerleader who was a distant cousin of Bill Clinton. In the bitter culture wars of the ’90s, many conservatives claimed the rapist, Wayne Dumond, had been railroaded. The criminal subsequently died in prison. And in assuring voters that he is adequately prepared for the big questions of the presidency. Huckabee didn’t know about the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear weapons program, or lack of same, which is merely the biggest national security story in quite awhile.
He can probably spin out of trouble on the disastrous parole controversy. (Although letters to Huckabee obtained by the liberal Huffington Post from other women who said that Wayne Dumond had raped them present a major complication, at the very least.) But his campaign, which has been the political equivalent of a pick-up basketball game, has to ramp up its game now that he is suddenly a frontrunner.
Mitt Romney delivers his “Faith In America” address at the
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library.
** ROMNEY STRUGGLES. Mitt Romney gave an impressive speech yesterday on religious faith in America. Yet, while he’s getting kudos from a built-in cheering section of conservative commentators who fear the populist Mike Huckabee and eschew the socially liberal Rudy Giuliani, he didn’t address the fundamental question. Is his religion, Mormonism, too far outside the mainstream for not only evangelical Christians, but independents and other mainstream voters he would have to appeal to in order to win a general election?
In the Mormon faith, Jesus is the brother of Lucifer. (Who is also known as Satan.) The American Indians (or Native Americans, if you will, though the tribes themselves increasingly call themselves “Indians”) are descended from the Israelites. The great star Kolob is next to the home of God somewhere in the far distant reaches of the universe yet governs the astronomical turnings of all stars and planets. Many momentous things occurred in ancient cities that no one outside the religion believes existed. Much of this was revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith in the 1840s, in upstate New York, while he examined hieroglyphs associated with a traveling mummy exhibition. Much of it was revealed in even more spectacular fashion.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel.
You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti.
While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Crude oil prices are trading around $88 per barrel.
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Bill,
Knew I could count on you for some mention of Pearl Harbor. Thank you!
I shall be lifting a glass or two this evening in tribute to those who gave so much so that I could have such a great life in this country. Hope that others around this state and country will join me.
Thanks again for the video.
Bill,
Knew I could count on you for some mention of Pearl Harbor. Thank you!
I shall be lifting a glass or two this evening in tribute to those who gave so much so that I could have such a great life in this country. Hope that others around this state and country will join me.
Thanks again for the video.
That is the problem with Romney’s speech. The difference with JFK is striking. Kennedy made the point that his Roman Catholic beliefs were personal and not the guiding points of his political beliefs. Which is why he argued for a strict wall of separation between Church and State. In 1960 that answer satisfied a lot of evangelicals and fundies. Today, they have morphed into theocrats so Mitt tried to mollify them. But, as David Frum wrote yesterday that makes a discussion of his Church’s beliefs “fair Game”.
That is the problem with Romney’s speech. The difference with JFK is striking. Kennedy made the point that his Roman Catholic beliefs were personal and not the guiding points of his political beliefs. Which is why he argued for a strict wall of separation between Church and State. In 1960 that answer satisfied a lot of evangelicals and fundies. Today, they have morphed into theocrats so Mitt tried to mollify them. But, as David Frum wrote yesterday that makes a discussion of his Church’s beliefs “fair Game”.
As for Huckabee. He didn’t help himself either when he expressed ignorance of what a reporter asked him when he was pressed for his reaction to the NIE. Huckabee didn’t know what the guy was talking about!
My Dad’s second wife is a Mormon, and Dad converted to the faith. He is even some sort of elder who advises young couples just married, and I couldn’t think of a better person who could fill that role. Most of the Mormons I’ve met seem like good, decent people.
Bill has pretty well outlined the mumbo-jumbo from founder Joespeh Smith which there is strong evidence even church elders realize is mumbo-jumbo. The Mormon Murders by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith describes how the church bought in the mid-1980s forged documents that it feared would provide proof of the mumbo jumbo being mumbo jumbo, and that could only happen if they themselves are doubtful about the mumbo-jumbo. This includes current President of the church Gordon B. Hinckley.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Hofmann
Great video of Pearl Harbor.
Are Chuck Norris and Huckabee going to campaign together for the whole campaign? That’d be something.
The great star Kolob next to the home of God? lol
The great star Kolob next to the home of God? lol
Jesus and the Devil are BROTHERS?! lol
No wonder Romney loves that Scientology novel.
Regarding Senator HRC, she can ride only so far on the fact that her husband was POTUS. It is laughable when she criticizes Obama for his lack of executive experience. It is an obvious case of “…the pot calling the kettle black”.
Also I gladly join Solon to toast those who won “The War”.
Why don’t those electoral college scammers drop it?
Money.
Money.
It’s not a confident move.
>James- The Historian :
Regarding Senator HRC, she can ride only so far on the fact that her husband was POTUS. It is laughable when she criticizes Obama for his lack of executive experience. It is an obvious case of “…the pot calling the kettle black”.
Remember when the head of the Scientology publishing house came on here to say how great Battlefield Earth was — without identifying himself as the head of the Scientology publishing house?
>Ann :
No wonder Romney loves that Scientology novel.
Dec 7, 2007 09:53 AM
There are seemingly outlandish things in a number of religions.
>Ann :
The great star Kolob next to the home of God? lol
Dec 7, 2007 09:52 AM
Ann :
Jesus and the Devil are BROTHERS?! lol
Dec 7, 2007 09:52 AM
Probably.
>Jonas Blane :
Great video of Pearl Harbor.
Are Chuck Norris and Huckabee going to campaign together for the whole campaign? That’d be something.
Dec 7, 2007 09:44 AM
Probably.
>Jonas Blane :
Great video of Pearl Harbor.
Are Chuck Norris and Huckabee going to campaign together for the whole campaign? That’d be something.
Dec 7, 2007 09:44 AM
That’s true. Quite conservative. I have some Mormon cousins.
If one does not actually believe in one’s religion, that raises some pretty fundamental questions.
>Dana :Most of the Mormons I’ve met seem like good, decent people.
Bill has pretty well outlined the mumbo-jumbo from founder Joespeh Smith which there is strong evidence even church elders realize is mumbo-jumbo.
That may be even worse.
>richard locicero :
As for Huckabee. He didn’t help himself either when he expressed ignorance of what a reporter asked him when he was pressed for his reaction to the NIE. Huckabee didn’t know what the guy was talking about!
Dec 7, 2007 09:32 AM
Good points.
>richard locicero :
That is the problem with Romney’s speech. The difference with JFK is striking. Kennedy made the point that his Roman Catholic beliefs were personal and not the guiding points of his political beliefs. Which is why he argued for a strict wall of separation between Church and State. In 1960 that answer satisfied a lot of evangelicals and fundies. Today, they have morphed into theocrats so Mitt tried to mollify them. But, as David Frum wrote yesterday that makes a discussion of his Church’s beliefs “fair Game”.
Dec 7, 2007 09:31 AM
How could I forget?
>Sacramento Solon :
Bill,
Knew I could count on you for some mention of Pearl Harbor. Thank you!
I shall be lifting a glass or two this evening in tribute to those who gave so much so that I could have such a great life in this country. Hope that others around this state and country will join me.
Thanks again for the video.
Dec 7, 2007 09:27 AM
re: “Huckabee didn’t know about the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear weapons program…”
Is that a stretch for a guy who doesn’t know anything about evolution?
re: “Huckabee didn’t know about the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear weapons program…”
Is that a stretch for a guy who doesn’t know anything about evolution?
Re: Mortgage bailout
I remember having dinner with a friend’s father about twenty years ago. I was spouting off in a manner consistent with my Tom Hayden and Jesse Jackson-influenced poltical beliefs. He responded with a prediction that I’d grow up to be a Republican.
That hasn’t happened, although I did cast my first-ever vote for a Reep in ’06.
BUT if there’s a bailout of these fools/dupes/speculators who bought houses in 2005-7 when it was clear that the housing market had gone insane, then that will be enough to drive me over the edge. Meanwhile, our family has been hording its chips awaiting a return to earth by housing prices (such as that we saw in the 1990s).
I do see that Reeps such as Bush and Arnold who are in deep here, so I obviously won’t flee to the GOP. But a bipartisan bailout would make me more likely to completely lose faith in American politics. Such pandering and weakness is disgusting and not worthy of a nation claiming Great Power status.
Now Paulsen wants states to issue bonds to bailout out the losers! Bonds to pay off state budget deficits, bonds to bail out housing market gamblers…Where will it end?? This fiscal proligacy will spell our end as an economic power.
Is there a bonded bailout or simply a freeze of the rates?
He knows about evolution. He’s against it.
>Juan Cortina :
re: “Huckabee didn’t know about the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear weapons program…”
Is that a stretch for a guy who doesn’t know anything about evolution?
Dec 7, 2007 10:27 AM
To be against evolution is to be against knowledge.
Which one’s religion is whackier, Huckabee or Romney? lol
Which one’s religion is whackier, Huckabee or Romney? lol
“Hillary Clinton today is touting the endorsements of 32 ambassadors who served in her husband’s administration”
Thirty-two people thankful for a past job and looking forward to a new one – this is pathetically transparent.
Courtesy of Reuters, here’s a direct quote from Paulsen:
“The government has a role to play,” Paulson said at a federal housing symposium at which he also called on Congress to offer more generous tax treatment for local government bonds used to refinance mortgages.
“We are proposing to allow state and local governments to temporarily broaden their tax-exempt bond programs to include mortgage refinancing,” he said (emphasis added).
http://tinyurl.com/2zfpaf
Ah.
That may end up being a big question.
>Ann :
Which one’s religion is whackier, Huckabee or Romney? lol
Dec 7, 2007 11:18 AM
That may end up being a big question.
>Ann :
Which one’s religion is whackier, Huckabee or Romney? lol
Dec 7, 2007 11:18 AM
“What Huckabee is having trouble with is his role in the release of a convicted rapist who went on to rape and murder another woman.”
This information has been out there a long time and it hasn’t stuck to him and it won’t. Huckabee is widely seen as a likeable individual. In order to have this story get traction, you have to start undermining his likeability FIRST (stories about a hot temper would be a good start). And since he’s pretty much immunized against this particular story, you’ll have to undermine his likeability AND establishes a wider pattern of questionable conduct before you can use this story again.
You can’t just drop this information out at 50,000 feet and expect it to hit it’s target…
History and science.
>Juan Cortina :
To be against evolution is to be against knowledge.
Dec 7, 2007 11:03 AM
There are new elements. The letters from women who said they, too, had been raped.
There are new elements. The letters from women who said they, too, had been raped.
“There are new elements. The letters from women who said they, too, had been raped. ”
Yes, but I think the underlying story is the same. It’s been out there for at least a month and hasn’t found traction. Any more of this half-in-half out coverage and he’ll be 100% immune to the story.
“Which one’s religion is whackier, Huckabee or Romney?”
After yesterday’s speech, we still don’t know anything about Romney’s religion (or more importantly, his beliefs), so the whackiness potential approaches infinity.
Huckabee is a much more defined matter. In short, I think Americans are more wary of subterfuge than open religiousness.
Huckabee is a tough nut to crack – he’ll need to be considered carefully if he appears to be the Republican nomination. Frontal attacks could backfire…
So just who would Arianna’s crew prefer to see as the Reep nominee? Do they want to see Rudy back on top of the pile? Or “Max Headroom” (yuk yuk)?
And who’s feeding them all this opp research?
I hope the Republican tricksters get the message about messing with the Electoral College. They can’t have that many dumb rich people.
I am confused. Who will your next American President be?
I am confused. Who will your next American President be?
I don’t really know.
That is frightening thought. Ok, so this bozo [Huckabee] joins Rudy on my no way, no how list of people I oppose to becoming Prez. No Bush redux! (maybe I should have a T-shirt printed w/that slogan on it…).
>Bill Bradley :
He knows about evolution. He’s against it
I think they don’t like any Republicans.
>Wilbur :
So just who would Arianna’s crew prefer to see as the Reep nominee? Do they want to see Rudy back on top of the pile? Or “Max Headroom” (yuk yuk)?
And who’s feeding them all this opp research?
Dec 7, 2007 12:05 PM