Hillary Clinton, spinning and attacking, reels from the revelation
of her repeated, dramatically false statements on Bosnia.
** CALIFORNIA POLL: OBAMA STRONGER THAN HILLARY AGAINST MCCAIN. The new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll, which was embargoed until late night, shows Barack Obama running stronger in California against John McCain than John Hillary Clinton. In California, it’s Obama 49%, McCain 40. And Clinton 46%, McCain 43%, essentially a dead heat. Obama has a much higher favorable rating in California, 61% to McCain’s 49% and Clinton’s 45%. More about this in the AM. The poll also shows Californians souring on state government amidst economic and budgetary woes, and what may be the beginning of an emerging consensus that a combination of spending cuts and revenue increases will be necessary for the latter.
** QUICK HITS. John McCain’s big speech in LA on national security and geopolitics was a success. Carried on all the cable news nets, the speech and subsequent Q&A was 60 minutes of McCain the statesman. Resolute on Islamic jihadism without saber rattling, a closing of Guantanamo, a departure from Bush on climate change, a return to a qualified multilateralism through new overtures to Europe and the League of Democracies I’ve mentioned before, with more focus on Latin America and Asia. Not unlike an updated Scoop Jackson approach mixed with environmentalism. But does he have new solutions on Iraq if the current ones don’t work. Um, no. More on that tomorrow. McCain is raising serious money in California. But he is still heavily dependent on events, unlike the Democrats, especially Barack Obama, who has created a 21st century fundraising machine that is not at all dependent on fat cats. … Meanwhile, back at the bash … Former President Bill Clinton campaigning in West Virginia, shedding his recent pose above the fray, invoked the fray as raison d’etre for his wife’s continued role in the campaign, saying that “If a politician doesn’t wanna get beat up, he shouldn’t run for office.” Oh, does he want to get beat up? Well, if that’s what he wants … Hillary Clinton continued to struggle with the revelations of her repeated and dramatically false statements on her Bosnia role. Meanwhile, 20 of the Clintons’ financial backers sent a nasty letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying she should back off her stance that superdelegates ought to back the winner of the most delegates in primaries and caucuses, pointedly referencing their past roles as money providers for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. But frankly, these folks are not as important as they used to be. Really rich people, conventional bundlers, these folks will always have importance, especially in getting something going. But the Internet has created a new fundraising model, and the model that these folks represent is fading.
** NEW TECH PROBLEMS. My road Internet connection was down for about 90 minutes, when I was going to write up the John McCain geopolitics address. Which I’ll do for tomorrow. I’m going to look into satellite Internet.
** OBAMA REBOUNDS IN GALLUP POLL. In the regular Gallup Poll, conducted over a four-day period but not counting Easter Sunday, Barack Obama is back to a slight 47% to 46% edge over Hillary Clinton. In the immediate aftermath of the Jeremiah Wright firestorm, Obama had dropped from a lead into a a seven-point deficit, 42% to 49%.
This poll was mostly conducted prior to the controversy over Clinton’s repeated false statements about Bosnia.
** AIR FORCE PILOT WHO FLEW HILLARY TO BOSNIA REFUTES AIR PORTION OF HER STORY. Hillary Clinton has repeatedly told the now thoroughly debunked story of her death-defying mission to Bosnia 12 years ago yesterday. The US Air Force pilot who flew her in to the now obviously heavily guarded Tuzla base refutes the remaining element of her tale, the one regarding the “evasive maneuver” that Clinton had him making before making the famous arrival.
Never happened, says the pilot.
** NWN TECH PROBLEMS UPDATE. Some problems caused by the shift in underlying tech undertaken late Monday afternoon are still continuing. They appear to affect the Forum section most of all, although some people have been able to post.
** LATEST PODCAST. My thoughts on The Speech, the race, and the road ahead.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Hillary Clinton is in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Bill Clinton campaigns across West Virginia in Parkersburg, Chesapeake, and Beckley.
Barack Obama, back from his Virgin Islands mini-vacation, has a town hall meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina.
John McCain, fresh from a big fundraiser last night on the West Side of Los Angeles, delivers his first major address on national security and geopolitics following last week’s tour of the Middle East and Europe this morning to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. He has major fundraisers later in the day in Pebble Beach and at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.
** EXCERPTS FROM THIS MORNING’S JOHN MCCAIN ADDRESS ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND GEOPOLITICS.
“When I was five years old, a car pulled up in front of our house in New London, Connecticut, and a Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. My father immediately left for the submarine base where he was stationed. I rarely saw him again for four years.
“My grandfather, who commanded the fast carrier task force under Admiral Halsey, came home from the war exhausted from the burdens he had borne, and died the next day.
“In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home to the country they loved so well. I detest war. It might not be the worst thing to befall human beings, but it is wretched beyond all description.
“When nations seek to resolve their differences by force of arms, a million tragedies ensue. The lives of a nation’s finest patriots are sacrificed. Innocent people suffer and die. Commerce is disrupted; economies are damaged; strategic interests shielded by years of patient statecraft are endangered as the exigencies of war and diplomacy conflict. Not the valor with which it is fought nor the nobility of the cause it serves, can glorify war. Whatever gains are secured, it is loss the veteran remembers most keenly.
“Only a fool or a fraud sentimentalizes the merciless reality of war. However heady the appeal of a call to arms, however just the cause, we should still shed a tear for all that is lost when war claims its wages from us. …
“The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone. …
“If we lead by shouldering our international responsibilities and pointing the way to a better and safer future for humanity, it will strengthen us to confront the transcendent challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. …
“Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed. We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies.”
** BILL CLINTON COMPARES THE CAMPAIGN TO AN EPISODE OF “DALLAS.” In an emotional day of campaigning yesterday in Kentucky, reports the Hotline blog, former President Bill Clinton compared the race to an episode of Dallas, said his wife deserves the chance to run through all the primaries and caucuses, likened himself to a zoo animal as an object of curiosity, and mused about the huge crowds he once drew as president.
President Clinton will be at the California Democratic Party convention this weekend in San Jose. There he will give a speech on Sunday, and meet privately with a group of uncommitted superdelegates. All of whom, as it happens, he has spoken with several times before.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST THIS MORNING. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger renews his push for his version of California budget reform in a meeting with local elected officials and leaders in law enforcement, business, and the community in the Central Coast community of San Luis Obispo. The event will be webcast live at 10 AM.
** 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 is trading in the $102 to $103 per barrel range on news of a freshly weakening dollar.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
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Hillary is looking worse and worse.
Hillary is looking worse and worse.
Hillary should drop out now. She is a lying, horrible fake.
Hillary should drop out now. She is a lying, horrible fake.
She even looks like she’s lying.
Where’s the plan? lol
Where’s the plan? lol
Capitol Boy, please don’t get swept up by the undemocratic Obama cabal that is trying to end the nomination process while he happens to be ahead. Hillary won’t be bullied out of her right to gut slash and undermine Obama until the final vote in Denver. She believes she must stand up against the vast left-wing conspiracy that is scheming against her and keeping women politicians down. Besides, how can you oppose her carrying the torch of the women’s movement right into the Oval Office?
The Republicans for Hillary krewe is counting on her toughness, tenacity and hubris to scorch the Democratic Party, win or lose. It looks like the medicinal Wild Turkey will have to age a bit longer.
KK,
Is it possible that you might have had just a wee nip of the Wild Turkey already this day. Just for medicinal purposes…
KK,
Is it possible that you might have had just a wee nip of the Wild Turkey already this day. Just for medicinal purposes…
The super delegates seem to be politicians or politically connected. Will they have the same reaction to Hillary’s mis-speaking as the rest of the public? I was horrified that Hilary tried to pass such a blatant and easily refutable lie. Any goodwill I had for her is completely gone. I am sick and tired of our current “liar in chief” and I do not care to elect another one.
While neither Clinton nor Obama have said they would get private mercenaries and corporate war profiteers out of Iraq, at least we can celebrate Blackwater giving up its plan for a mercenary training camp in southern Cal.
>>
Blackwater abandons plans for California training camp
On March 7, private contractor Blackwater Worldwide announced it was abandoning plans to construct a military and police training facility in Potrero, California, a small town in southeast San Diego County. The decision came after a storm of public protest that culminated in a special recall election that replaced county officials who supported Blackwater’s bid.
The Blackwater mercenary outfit, headquartered in Moyock, North Carolina, is best known for an incident last September 16 in Iraq, when a convoy of its heavily armed security contractors opened fire without provocation at a Baghdad intersection, killing 17 unarmed civilians and wounding 27 others. The incident focused public attention on the operations of Blackwater and other security contractors, who operate with impunity in Iraq at the behest of the Bush administration and the US military, and who have been responsible for numerous instances of violence against Iraqi civilians.
… Due to widespread popular opposition to plans for the installation in Potrero, the mercenary company was not able to implement its California project.
Despite spending more than $1 million on buying the property and seeking county approval, Blackwater announced on March 7, 2008, that it was withdrawing its application for the project. The company insisted that it had nothing to do with the recall election or the community’s strong disapproval, but instead cited its own noise tests. San Diego County noise standards require less than 50 decibels, well below the gunfire noise tests of 80 decibels.
Read More
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/…
While neither Clinton nor Obama have said they would get private mercenaries and corporate war profiteers out of Iraq, at least we can celebrate Blackwater giving up its plan for a mercenary training camp in southern Cal.
>>
Blackwater abandons plans for California training camp
On March 7, private contractor Blackwater Worldwide announced it was abandoning plans to construct a military and police training facility in Potrero, California, a small town in southeast San Diego County. The decision came after a storm of public protest that culminated in a special recall election that replaced county officials who supported Blackwater’s bid.
The Blackwater mercenary outfit, headquartered in Moyock, North Carolina, is best known for an incident last September 16 in Iraq, when a convoy of its heavily armed security contractors opened fire without provocation at a Baghdad intersection, killing 17 unarmed civilians and wounding 27 others. The incident focused public attention on the operations of Blackwater and other security contractors, who operate with impunity in Iraq at the behest of the Bush administration and the US military, and who have been responsible for numerous instances of violence against Iraqi civilians.
… Due to widespread popular opposition to plans for the installation in Potrero, the mercenary company was not able to implement its California project.
Despite spending more than $1 million on buying the property and seeking county approval, Blackwater announced on March 7, 2008, that it was withdrawing its application for the project. The company insisted that it had nothing to do with the recall election or the community’s strong disapproval, but instead cited its own noise tests. San Diego County noise standards require less than 50 decibels, well below the gunfire noise tests of 80 decibels.
Read More
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/…
That is a great speech by McCain, although I think recent contrary statements (we have them on the run) erode some of the impact.
At the end of the speech,
did he mean international little-d democratic allies or domestic big-D Democratic allies?
That is a great speech by McCain, although I think recent contrary statements (we have them on the run) erode some of the impact.
At the end of the speech,
did he mean international little-d democratic allies or domestic big-D Democratic allies?
Here is an adaptation of Hap’s address you can post via for those of us having registration/id acceptance problems…
http://mt.pajamasmedia.com/xpress/billbradley/2008/03/26/nonrandom_notes_with_updates_a_5.php
Thanks, Hap!
I read the prepared text as posted by the New York Times of McCain’s foreigfn policy speech. Frankly on Iraq his stance seems to be stay the course and with our help hopefully in time it will become stable. Not terribly clear as to the path toward dis-engagement. I am disappointed. There are a lot of veriables that could stall progress and I am not persuaded by his logic that continuing to be in Iraq is a preferable place to fight the war on terror. His sentiments seem at war with his desire for “victory”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/us/politics/26text-mccain.html?pagewanted=all
“His sentiments seem at war with his desire for ‘victory’.”
Well said!
“His sentiments seem at war with his desire for ‘victory’.”
Well said!
It’s a good speech by McCain. But I don ‘t hear his plan for Iraq. Keep doing more of the new stuff, I guess. Is it going to get solved without Iran? Don’t think so. Can he say that?
Bill suggested I share this with the group and see what if anything you’ve heard.
An activist friend here in L.A. tells me the buzz on the street is all about former Mayor Richard Riordan going on the radio and taking swipes at Mayor Villaraigosa. I am guessing this might have been during Riordan’s recent appearance on the hyperpartisan John & Ken radio show? There has been a lot of fussing and fuming in certain quarters about whether County supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky or former Speaker Hertzberg may challenge Villaraigosa when he runs for re-election. But so far I see no real signs of a challenge being mounted.
Here is an example of the foaming at the mouth/hinting going on in certain quarters:
http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2008/03/throw-tony-under-bus-tour.html
Much like in statewide politics, some extreme rightwingers in L.A. seem out-of-touch as to how out of touch they are…
Bill suggested I share this with the group and see what if anything you’ve heard.
An activist friend here in L.A. tells me the buzz on the street is all about former Mayor Richard Riordan going on the radio and taking swipes at Mayor Villaraigosa. I am guessing this might have been during Riordan’s recent appearance on the hyperpartisan John & Ken radio show? There has been a lot of fussing and fuming in certain quarters about whether County supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky or former Speaker Hertzberg may challenge Villaraigosa when he runs for re-election. But so far I see no real signs of a challenge being mounted.
Here is an example of the foaming at the mouth/hinting going on in certain quarters:
http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2008/03/throw-tony-under-bus-tour.html
Much like in statewide politics, some extreme rightwingers in L.A. seem out-of-touch as to how out of touch they are…
Here is the latest on the snowpack:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/bulletin120/b120mar08.pdf
Summary of Water Conditions
March 1, 2008
Statewide, precipitation was less than average during February but the snowpack continued to accumulate at a normal rate. The storm periods which did occur were quite productive in the central and southern Sierra, which helped build the snowpack above the April 1 average. Spring runoff should be enough to bring most reservoirs to near normal storage with a normal March and April.
Forecasts of April through July runoff 95 percent of average statewide with no large
differences between regions. Water year forecasts are a little less at 80 percent of average reflecting the relatively lower seasonal precipitation values compared to the
snowpack. There is still a fairly wide range of possible outcomes dependent on the remainder of the season.
Snowpack water content is about 130 percent of average for the date compared to 70 percent last year. The pack is 110 percent of the April 1 average, the normal date of
maximum accumulation.
Precipitation from October through February was about 100 percent of average compared to 70 percent one year ago. The range is from 115 percent in the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast regions to 95 percent in the San Joaquin River and
Tulare Lake regions. February precipitation was about 80 percent of average.
Runoff has been about 60 percent of average so far compared to last year at 55 percent of average. February runoff was somewhat above seasonal runoff at 70 percent of
average. Estimated runoff of the eight major rivers of the Sacramento and San Joaquin
River region during February was 1.8 million acre-feet, somewhat less than last year’s 2.1
million acre-feet.
Reservoir storage is about 85 percent compared to 105 percent last year. The gain during February was slightly more than average in spite of the below normal February
runoff.
Here is the latest on the snowpack:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/bulletin120/b120mar08.pdf
Summary of Water Conditions
March 1, 2008
Statewide, precipitation was less than average during February but the snowpack continued to accumulate at a normal rate. The storm periods which did occur were quite productive in the central and southern Sierra, which helped build the snowpack above the April 1 average. Spring runoff should be enough to bring most reservoirs to near normal storage with a normal March and April.
Forecasts of April through July runoff 95 percent of average statewide with no large
differences between regions. Water year forecasts are a little less at 80 percent of average reflecting the relatively lower seasonal precipitation values compared to the
snowpack. There is still a fairly wide range of possible outcomes dependent on the remainder of the season.
Snowpack water content is about 130 percent of average for the date compared to 70 percent last year. The pack is 110 percent of the April 1 average, the normal date of
maximum accumulation.
Precipitation from October through February was about 100 percent of average compared to 70 percent one year ago. The range is from 115 percent in the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast regions to 95 percent in the San Joaquin River and
Tulare Lake regions. February precipitation was about 80 percent of average.
Runoff has been about 60 percent of average so far compared to last year at 55 percent of average. February runoff was somewhat above seasonal runoff at 70 percent of
average. Estimated runoff of the eight major rivers of the Sacramento and San Joaquin
River region during February was 1.8 million acre-feet, somewhat less than last year’s 2.1
million acre-feet.
Reservoir storage is about 85 percent compared to 105 percent last year. The gain during February was slightly more than average in spite of the below normal February
runoff.
Very interesting, thanks! Some good news for a change. Sort of.
It’s virtually impossible to see him beaten for LA mayor. But he needs a strong second term before anything beyond that is real.
>Dana :
Bill suggested I share this with the group and see what if anything you’ve heard.
An activist friend here in L.A. tells me the buzz on the street is all about former Mayor Richard Riordan going on the radio and taking swipes at Mayor Villaraigosa.
It’s virtually impossible to see him beaten for LA mayor. But he needs a strong second term before anything beyond that is real.
>Dana :
Bill suggested I share this with the group and see what if anything you’ve heard.
An activist friend here in L.A. tells me the buzz on the street is all about former Mayor Richard Riordan going on the radio and taking swipes at Mayor Villaraigosa.
I believe the saying would be, stay tuned.
>Jack Aubrey :
It’s a good speech by McCain. But I don ‘t hear his plan for Iraq. Keep doing more of the new stuff, I guess. Is it going to get solved without Iran? Don’t think so. Can he say that?
Mar 26, 2008 11:40 AM
Small d.
I’ll write more about it when I’m not on the run.
>Brasky :
That is a great speech by McCain, although I think recent contrary statements (we have them on the run) erode some of the impact.
At the end of the speech,
did he mean international little-d democratic allies or domestic big-D Democratic allies?
Mar 26, 2008 10:12 AM
Small d.
I’ll write more about it when I’m not on the run.
>Brasky :
That is a great speech by McCain, although I think recent contrary statements (we have them on the run) erode some of the impact.
At the end of the speech,
did he mean international little-d democratic allies or domestic big-D Democratic allies?
Mar 26, 2008 10:12 AM
Of course, his view is that defeat in Iraq is non-preferable.
>Dana :
I read the prepared text as posted by the New York Times of McCain’s foreigfn policy speech. Frankly on Iraq his stance seems to be stay the course and with our help hopefully in time it will become stable. Not terribly clear as to the path toward dis-engagement. I am disappointed. There are a lot of veriables that could stall progress and I am not persuaded by his logic that continuing to be in Iraq is a preferable place to fight the war on terror. His sentiments seem at war with his desire for “victory”.
[www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/us/po...]
Mar 26, 2008 10:29 AM
Thanks. I’m really running around and can’t get distracted by the not yet solved malfunctions.
>Dana :
Here is an adaptation of Hap’s address you can post via for those of us having registration/id acceptance problems…
[mt.pajamasmedia.com/xpress/billb...]
Thanks, Hap!
Mar 26, 2008 10:15 AM
Thanks. I’m really running around and can’t get distracted by the not yet solved malfunctions.
>Dana :
Here is an adaptation of Hap’s address you can post via for those of us having registration/id acceptance problems…
[mt.pajamasmedia.com/xpress/billb...]
Thanks, Hap!
Mar 26, 2008 10:15 AM
The force structure is such that some level of contractors is inevitable.
The failure of the San Diego county facility was also inevitable. The people there didn’t want it, Blackwater has a poor reputation, etc.
>Paul Burton :
While neither Clinton nor Obama have said they would get private mercenaries and corporate war profiteers out of Iraq, at least we can celebrate Blackwater giving up its plan for a mercenary training camp in southern Cal.
>>
damage The hollow a pair the dead for a while, and dream. chunk Behind wasn’t at Now,
damage The hollow a pair the dead for a while, and dream. chunk Behind wasn’t at Now,
Thank you, Howard.
As we go another day into the race, which is now starting to take shape for the final push to November, with McCain calling on Hillary to apologize to Gen. Petraeus, and Hillary lying badly and perhaps trying to keep Obama’s Wright controversy alive, I am wondering if the Democratic super delegates in the House or Senate particularly might be plotting to drive Clinton from the race by announcing a major block of their vote pledges to Obama…
“AIR FORCE PILOT WHO FLEW HILLARY TO BOSNIA REFUTES AIR PORTION OF HER STORY”
Maybe she was confusing real life with some movie she saw…
Maybe SNL could cast Jon Lovitz as Howard “yeah, that’s the ticket” Wolfson and bring back some of that lost magic.
“AIR FORCE PILOT WHO FLEW HILLARY TO BOSNIA REFUTES AIR PORTION OF HER STORY”
Maybe she was confusing real life with some movie she saw…
Maybe SNL could cast Jon Lovitz as Howard “yeah, that’s the ticket” Wolfson and bring back some of that lost magic.
At long last, the democratic field has finally cleared – Mike Gravel has announced he will be running on the Libertarian ticket.
Whew! Where does Obama pick-up his trophy?
At long last, the democratic field has finally cleared – Mike Gravel has announced he will be running on the Libertarian ticket.
Whew! Where does Obama pick-up his trophy?
Indeed!
Incidentally, the Internet connection went out for a few hours earlier …
I guess I should stop saying I wasn’t Rambo. Compared to Dems like Hillary …
>Brasky :
“AIR FORCE PILOT WHO FLEW HILLARY TO BOSNIA REFUTES AIR PORTION OF HER STORY”
Maybe she was confusing real life with some movie she saw…
Maybe SNL could cast Jon Lovitz as Howard “yeah, that’s the ticket” Wolfson and bring back some of that lost magic.
Mar 26, 2008 01:47 PM
I guess I should stop saying I wasn’t Rambo. Compared to Dems like Hillary …
>Brasky :
“AIR FORCE PILOT WHO FLEW HILLARY TO BOSNIA REFUTES AIR PORTION OF HER STORY”
Maybe she was confusing real life with some movie she saw…
Maybe SNL could cast Jon Lovitz as Howard “yeah, that’s the ticket” Wolfson and bring back some of that lost magic.
Mar 26, 2008 01:47 PM
Don’t forget, well, I haven’t mentioned it yet, Bill Clinton saying today that nobody should be in politics who doesn’t want to be beaten up.
>Hap Hazard :
As we go another day into the race, which is now starting to take shape for the final push to November, with McCain calling on Hillary to apologize to Gen. Petraeus, and Hillary lying badly and perhaps trying to keep Obama’s Wright controversy alive, I am wondering if the Democratic super delegates in the House or Senate particularly might be plotting to drive Clinton from the race by announcing a major block of their vote pledges to Obama…
Mar 26, 2008 12:47 PM
“…Bill Clinton saying today that nobody should be in politics who doesn’t want to be beaten up.”
Indeed.
BTW, who’s going to speak for Obama at convention?
“…Bill Clinton saying today that nobody should be in politics who doesn’t want to be beaten up.”
Indeed.
BTW, who’s going to speak for Obama at convention?
This still isn’t working right. Growl.
I’m getting tired of Bill Clinton.