Barack Obama says “Hasta la vista, baby” to the not so good Rev. Wright.
** SCHWARZENEGGER DISCUSSES CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE WITH MICHAEL MILKEN IN LIVE WEBCAST THIS AFTERNOON. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s discusses California’s infrastructure and future with financier Michael Milken in this live webcast at 1 PM. This is part of the Milken Institute’s annual conference on California in LA. Milken, of course, is the famed ’80s junk bond pioneer and corporate raider. Convicted of various irregularities, after being pursued by, among others, then-prosecutor Rudy Giuliani, Milken — who I profiled on the occasion of his 50th birthday in 1996 — has reinvented himself as a philanthropist and futurist. And lest you think he lost his “ill-gotten gains” from the ’80s. He still ended up, best as I could tell over a decade ago, with over a billion dollars.
** POLLS. OBAMA LEADS NATIONALLY, LEADS BIG IN NORTH CAROLINA. In the new Rasmussen tracking polls, Barack Obama holds the lead over Hillary Clinton nationally, 47% to 43%. He has a significant lead in North Carolina, 51% to 37%.
NEW WEST NOTES is still being sorted, as the saying goes, following the tech transition to a new software platform (ironically, the original software platform when NWN was hosted on the LA Weekly server in 2006) late in the day on Monday. So things will be slower here until the site is sorted.
Incidentally, I have been on the road, developing a new video show to be webcast on PJ Media. It features insiders in the presidential campaigns, those of John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.
** ISNT IT INTERESTING? How the biggest problems for Barack Obama are proving not to be on the right, which has huge problems with regard to public disdain for them, but the left?Consider. Without Bittergate, prompted by an activist blogger financial supporter of Obama writing on the pro-Obama Huffington Post, Obama was moving up in Pennsylvania. Consider. Without his pastor, who supposedly has devoted his life to promoting black people, Obama is moving up in Indiana and North Carolina, enough to squeeze the remaining life out of the Hillary Clinton candidacy. For fans of irony, this campaign has it all.What Wright, who was clearly something of a crank, even at his best — and it ain’t like I don’t know a lot of folks like that, on both ends of the spectrum — is trying to do is quite obvious. Extend his 15 minutes of fame and make himself the new Al Sharpton. And he has a new book to sell. Color me shocked.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY. Barack Obama is in Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana. Hillary Clinton is in South Bend, Portage, Lafayette, and Kokomo, Indiana. Bill Clinton is in Apex, Sanford, Lillington, Dunn, Hope Mills, Lumberton, and Whiteville, North Carolina. John McCain is in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
** 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, which I know as a former DemRussia advisor, 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 between $116 and $117 per barrel.
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Man, what happened? This site looked great before.
Jonas,
We being sorted…things will work out and we be back to looking spiffy again soon. Right, Mr. Bradley????
It will be fixed. As I have been repeatedly assured.
Feedback: Need a link at top of page, or embedded in the “New West Notes” banner at the top as it was before, to jump back to YOUR home page. When I returned to yesterday’s page I could find no direct route to home to find today’s page, had to re-enter newwestnotes.com to navigate here.
In due course the comments font does need to be kicked up a point or two.
Thanks, Wilbur.
Another problem to be solved.
… Actually, another two problems to be solved.
Wilbur/Bill/NWN Family…
As we work our way through this, let’s all remember we can kick the font size up ourselves. I’m using my “Page Zoom” feature now…have it at 150% and it’s fine both for comments and reading Mr. B’s words. I’m sure if IE has it, all browers have it.
Now, back to the world of print as I return to the New York Times.
Toodles! And, speaking of toodles, where is she???
I hope this gets “sorted” soon because this looks a lot worse than it did.
So much for Bill’s “eye.”
Thanks. I mean that.
True.
>Capitol Boy:
I hope this gets “sorted” soon because this looks a lot worse than it did.
Apr 30, 2008 – 8:52 am
It’s obviously not acceptable to force people to use a “zoom” function to read what they could read less than two days ago. This site is not merely for the under-30 Obama core voter.
“Toodles” is off on an international jaunt, as best I can make out.
>Sacramento Solon:
Wilbur/Bill/NWN Family…
As we work our way through this, let’s all remember we can kick the font size up ourselves. I’m using my “Page Zoom” feature now…have it at 150% and it’s fine both for comments and reading Mr. B’s words. I’m sure if IE has it, all browers have it.
Now, back to the world of print as I return to the New York Times.
Toodles! And, speaking of toodles, where is she???
Apr 30, 2008 – 8:32 am
We call it tech transition.
Back to the future, baby.
>Jonas Blane:
Man, what happened? This site looked great before.
Apr 30, 2008 – 7:43 am
Bill,
That’s fully understood…I’m just trying to offer up a fix until the page is fixed. Hope I didn’t offend anybody by doing so.
Absolutely not.
That was merely a message to our tech guy.
Cool…hate of offend folks. Well, most folks!
I mean by folks were always offended when I returned home. But that’s after they had moved three times without letting me know. And I was only in the third grade. Go figure.
Think this might track the number of comments that have been posted. Noticed that my last posting showed over 61,000…let you know if the number changes after this one.
Kelefa Sanneh, who recently wrote on Obama’s church for the New Yorker, last night on Charlie Rose noted Wright and Obama always had a tension in their divergent emphasis–Obama of promise vs. Wright of anger. And I have to imagine Obama is disheartened to have someone he was so close to selfishly trading on it for media attention. Isn’t one subtext the vacuum of leadership in the African American community–the closest things to national leaders heretofore, Sharpton and Jessie Jackson, have some drawbacks.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/04/07/080407fa_fact_sanneh
The old black leaders — Jesse, etc. — were often in victimization, anger, reparations, etc.
Do not underestimate the generation gap in our politics now occasioned by Obama.
Incidentally, one mystery solved here.
The default Apple browser does not work properly for publishing purposes on the new(old) software platform.
It’s good to learn this, this morning.
Makes sense. We have a race for an open seat on the County Board of Supervisors here in L.A. County playing that out between the two frontrunners.
>Bill Bradley:
Do not underestimate the generation gap in our politics now occasioned by Obama.
And those folks would be, for the benefit of those who don’t give a frak about the LA County Board of Supervisors?
Sorry – State Senator Mark Ridley Thomas and L.A. City Council member Bernard Parks.
Parks was endorsed by retiring Supervisor Yvonne Burke, although he is much more conservative than she but he is in her generation versus the rising star Ridley Thomas…
>Bill Bradley:
And those folks would be, for the benefit of those who don’t give a frak about the LA County Board of Supervisors?
I am anxiously awaiting your interview with Hillary’s campaign.
So are they.
Bernie Parks, the ex-police chief of LA, is more mainstream than Ridley-Thomas.
And he’s not as old as you suggest …
>Dana:
Sorry – State Senator Mark Ridley Thomas and L.A. City Council member Bernard Parks.
Parks was endorsed by retiring Supervisor Yvonne Burke, although he is much more conservative than she but he is in her generation versus the rising star Ridley Thomas…
>Bill Bradley:
And those folks would be, for the benefit of those who don’t give a frak about the LA County Board of Supervisors?
Apr 30, 2008 – 10:20 am
Good to see everyone back. Hopefully the growing pains will be worked out.
Saw another episode of “Carrier” last night. Again, I highly recommmend it. I have to commend the Navy for allowing a pretty uncensored look into their world.
Well I think it as much that Ridley Thomas is one of the young turks who are in a tug of war with the older generation who seem loathe to let go of their grip on power.
And mainstream is a relative term. Parks is solidly anti-rent control and even has an upcoming fund raiser by the apartment owner’s lobby.
http://www.aagla.org/fundraiserParks.php
>Bill Bradley:
Bernie Parks, the ex-police chief of LA, is more mainstream than Ridley-Thomas.
And he’s not as old as you suggest …
Do people agree with Mr. Evanier, who blogs and also writes for TV, movies, comics etc., in re that anti-gay marriage measure some are trying to get on the Nov. ballot, “… that its proponents are less interested in defining wedlock as between a man and a woman than they are in driving right-wing voters to the polls that month.”?
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_04_26.html#015127
Good Lord!
A Democrat supported by developers.
Will wonders never cease?
Let’s be clear about this, as I know Yvonne Burke and her husband and some of their LA developer supporters.
The actual area in question, with regard to rent control affected by the LA County Board of Supervisors, consists of the unincorporated area of West Hollywood.
For out of towners, this is the Sunset Strip with all the billboards.
That’s uncensored? Okay then.
I’ve been on carriers, in uniform and out. It ain’t like the mimes in Union Square.
>Brasky:
Good to see everyone back. Hopefully the growing pains will be worked out.
Saw another episode of “Carrier” last night. Again, I highly recommmend it. I have to commend the Navy for allowing a pretty uncensored look into their world.
Apr 30, 2008 – 10:53 am
lol
Considering they’ve already covered an incident of (likely) sexual assault between sailors and one sailor repeatedly TRYING to get kicked out on racism charges, I think it’s as uncensored as anything the Navy has ever done. Plus, I’d say about 80% of the coverage is pretty unglamorous — a lot of people cleaning stuff and saying they didn’t join the Navy to be a janitor and pilots lamenting the fact that they spent weeks flying over Iraq in 2005 without dropping a single bomb.
I’ve got two family members who were Navy, and it seems pretty on par with their descriptions
Bill, West Hollywood incorporated over 10 years ago. And the lack of rent control and other meddling by the Supervisors is partly why. Similar developer tussels drove the Malibu cityhood drive.
Parks is well known for being rather haughty and hard to deal with. Like his petty behavior toward which color should be used to designate the Expo light rail line. Not that I am saying Ridley Thomas is a tribune of the people. I’ve long heard his much touted empowerment councils are lap dogs filled with his cronies, etc.
For the record I’m no fan of Yvonne Burke and her husband. Partly based on more years than I like to think of sitting at Metro Board meetings watching her in action.
And of course the whole race is now yet another labor vs. business shoving match. Both are making vague promises about reopening King Drew Hospital (a sore point in South L.A.) and similar rhetoric. Not an enlightening exmaple of American democracy.
Just my opinion.
This is getting fixed? lol
I would say Bittergate was “prompted” by the candidate himself. He was already under scrutiny in this area for his wife’s too candid remarks regarding pride, etc.
If we accept your description of Wright as a “crank, even at his best,” what does that say with regards to the candidate’s judgment? He kept close company with the man for many years.
Personally, I don’t think he’s a crank. He’s an activist preacher in a black church. And he’s got a BIG MOUTH…and and even bigger ego.
And now he’s shouting from the national pulpit.
I have no doubt that you, had you been an Obama adviser, would have pressured the Senator to disavow Wright on day one. Instead, he chose death by a thousand cuts. Again, that’s a lapse in judgment, in my opinion.
Look, I voted for the guy, but let’s not pretend that it’s the blogger’s fault or Wright’s fault.
It’s the campaign’s fault, for not sticking to the script and not identifying a potentially lethal association with a loose cannon and then doing something about it.
I don’t blame Clinton for exploiting this weakness. Not even a little bit. And if I had to do it over again, I’d probably change my vote.
To a can’t win candidate?
Whoops!
Did I say that?
S-L-O-W-L-Y.
>Ann:
This is getting fixed? lol
Apr 30, 2008 – 1:41 pm
Right. So where is that an issue?
>Dana:
Bill, West Hollywood incorporated over 10 years ago. And the lack of rent control and other meddling by the Supervisors is partly why. Similar developer tussels drove the Malibu cityhood drive.
OK, I haven’t seen it. What channel is it on?
>Brasky:
Considering they’ve already covered an incident of (likely) sexual assault between sailors and one sailor repeatedly TRYING to get kicked out on racism charges, I think it’s as uncensored as anything the Navy has ever done. Plus, I’d say about 80% of the coverage is pretty unglamorous — a lot of people cleaning stuff and saying they didn’t join the Navy to be a janitor and pilots lamenting the fact that they spent weeks flying over Iraq in 2005 without dropping a single bomb.
I’ve got two family members who were Navy, and it seems pretty on par with their descriptions
Apr 30, 2008 – 12:04 pm
I don’t know. Do they?
>Dana:
Do people agree with Mr. Evanier, who blogs and also writes for TV, movies, comics etc., in re that anti-gay marriage measure some are trying to get on the Nov. ballot, “… that its proponents are less interested in defining wedlock as between a man and a woman than they are in driving right-wing voters to the polls that month.”?
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_04_26.html#015127
Apr 30, 2008 – 11:17 am
I mentioned it as an example of where he is on the political spectrum. I guess it wasn’t clear.
>Bill Bradley:
Right. So where is that an issue?
I was curious whether there was some sort of ulterior inside motive. Although I am a bit hazy why Republuicans would worry about turnout given the current way districts are drawn.
But then (to his credit) the Governor rather firmly has come out against the anti-gay marriage measure, so maybe it will now wilt on the vine?
>Bill Bradley:
I don’t know. Do they?
ON:Milken Institute Global Conference
Thanks to the link to Arnold ‘s presentation Mr. Bradley. It was not working when I just tried it but I assume it will be soon.
I was at the conference yesterday and heard a distinquished panel discussing private equity. They agreed that the end is here for the $10nb plus leveraged buyout era, as due to the subprime crisis, private equity funds can no longer easily obtain enormous debt commitments (COLs collateralised debt obligation) from banks… the good news is you can still do business at 1bn and less, which means mid-cap companies will be targeted. Milken should be commended as this is an important conference precisely because it takes a global perspective and has an audience of notable global attendees. Moreover, I was told by more than one VIP, that the conference was more relevant this year than in years past.
Bill, the only can’t-win candidate in this fight is old enough to be your daddy. He’s got more BU(ll)SH(it) stuck to his shoes than any candidate since Gerald Ford.
John McCain has to be ranked as the favorite, at least today, due to the machinations of Bill and Hill and the errancies of the friends of Obama.
Bill the “Carrier” series is running on PBS.
Of course it’s not as seamy as real life on a carrier was back in the day and probably still is, but IMO as Brasky sez it’s also not quite as sanitized and gung-ho as most documentaries which recieve such expansive DOD cooperation. They actually do let some sailors gripe, it’s not all “Be All You Can Be.”
Haven’t seen any gambling, drinking, doping or houseofillreputing yet. Perhaps that’s in a later episode.
The link works. Something that actually does work around here right now …
>Lisa-Helene Lawson:
ON:Milken Institute Global Conference
Thanks to the link to Arnold ’s presentation Mr. Bradley. It was not working when I just tried it but I assume it will be soon.
Right. Well, when they’re not engaged in “Top Gun”-like heroics, an aircraft carrier is kind of like a gigantic bus.
>Wilbur:
Bill the “Carrier” series is running on PBS.
Of course it’s not as seamy as real life on a carrier was back in the day and probably still is, but IMO as Brasky sez it’s also not quite as sanitized and gung-ho as most documentaries which recieve such expansive DOD cooperation. They actually do let some sailors gripe, it’s not all “Be All You Can Be.”
Haven’t seen any gambling, drinking, doping or houseofillreputing yet. Perhaps that’s in a later episode.
Apr 30, 2008 – 3:40 pm
Well, a gigantic floating bus full of JP-5, explosives and youngsters. Other than for those engaged in flight ops, pretty boring… until it catches fire. Fires were always a great diversion from the boredom. Come to think of it though, most seemed to start in the engine room. Guess the nukes don’t catch fire as often?
New West Notes is STILL fucked up. What’s up?