Famed anti-establishment comedian and provocateur George Carlin died yesterday in LA at 71 of a heart attack. His role was pushing the boundaries. If you’re easily offended, don’t watch him discuss religion.
** SCHWARZENEGGER TO BE FIRST GUEST ON THE POST-RUSSERT MEET THE PRESS. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the first guest of new Meet The Press host Tom Brokaw for this coming Sunday’s show. He will be recording the interview shortly. California First Lady Maria Shriver, a former NBC correspondent and anchor, was a close friend of the late Tim Russert, and as reported appeared on the memorial edition of Meet The Press the Sunday before last and spoke at his Russert’s Kennedy Center memorial service last Wednesday. Schwarzenegger first appeared on the show in 2004. But he nearly appeared before that, a story for another time.
** SCHWARZENEGGER AND THE LEGISLATURE. In another sign that things are simply not as copacetic as they once were between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature, the former action superstar criticized state Senate Democrats when he spoke this morning at the Catholic health care conference in San Diego. After it passed the state Assembly, they killed his omnibus package late last year, he said, because they favored single-payer health care. Which, as he noted, actually costs more. Schwarzenegger and termed-out Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata have found ample ground for disagreement over the past half-year or so, much of it around water. Perata has been loathe to find compromise between environmentalists, who eschew dams, and conservatives, who eschew conservation. … Also, no progress on the chronic state budget crisis. Naturally.
** JOHN MCCAIN, NATURALLY, HAS DISAVOWED CHARLIE BLACK’S QUOTE ABOUT A TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICAN SOIL BENEFITING HIM POLITICALLY. Perhaps he knows that it would not.
** ANOTHER CURIOUS QUOTE FROM THE BELTWAY. Speaking this morning to Republican insiders at breakfast the Capitol Hill Club, former Bush consigliere Karl Rove, who allowed as how he was going to stroll over to the White House after breakfast to chat with the president, let loose with this little jewel of resentment. “Even if you never met him,” said Rove of Barack Obama, “you know this guy. He’s the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by.”
Hmm. Well, I don’t know much about country club life, or what a fellow like Obama would be doing there (unlike, say, John Kerry), but I know a lot about political consultants. And this one sounds to me like a guy who is frustrated and is hoping to re-run his greatest hits from 2004.
** ACTUALLY, I DOUBT IT. From Fortune’s new profile of John McCain, entitled “The Evolution of John McCain”: We saw how that might play out early in the campaign, when one good scare, one timely reminder of the chaos lurking in the world, probably saved McCain in New Hampshire, a state he had to win to save his candidacy – this according to McCain’s chief strategist, Charlie Black. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December was an “unfortunate event,” says Black. “But his knowledge and ability to talk about it reemphasized that this is the guy who’s ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us.” As would, Black concedes with startling candor after we raise the issue, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. “Certainly it would be a big advantage to him,” says Black.
Why would another terrorist attack on US soil be bad for the Republicans? Because it would mean they had failed in the one area in which they still have great credibility. I think that’s rather obvious.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST THIS MORNING ON FIRES. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will give a briefing on California’s burgeoning fire situation just before noon at the Wild Fire Base Camp outside the Northern California town of Fairfield, which is between Sacramento and San Francisco. He has National Guard helicopters and aircraft involved in the firefighting effort. The event will be webcast live at 11:40 AM at www.gov.ca.gov.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Albuquerque, New Mexico to tour a business and meet with working women.
John McCain is in Fresno, California, for a speech on energy promising huge federal incentives to inventors and car companies, and a fundraiser. He also has a fundraiser tonight in Santa Barbara. Prior to tomorrow’s environmental event, at the site of the one of the most famous oil spills in history.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST THIS MORNING ON HEALTH CARE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gives the keynote address at the 2008 Catholic Health Care Assembly in San Diego. Schwarzenegger is slowly resurrecting elements of his omnibus health care plan from last year, largely through executive action. (No, not that kind of executive action.) The speech is at 9:30 AM and can be seen on www.gov.ca.gov.
Barack Obama speaking to the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Saturday in Miami.
** MY LATEST PODCAST. The road ahead.
** OBAMA V. MCCAIN: THE AD WARS ARE ON. What Obama and McCain are doing in their first rounds of general election TV advertising. Along with the where and the why. From my other blog.
** 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. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. 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 hit a record of nearly $140 per barrel last Monday before dropping. Crude oil is trading up today, in the $136 to $137 per barrel range, in the wake of the unprecedented oil producers and consumers summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on June 22nd.
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That’s a good statement by Barack.
I see McCain has some new gimmicks. He’s real free with government money and tax breaks.
“Straight Talk.”
Arnold’s still pushing on health care? I give him this. He’s stubborn.
John McCain is trying again. What is this, his third gimmick on gas?
Good speech by Obama.
It’s pretty good.
Take 1: Gas tax holiday.
Take 2: Offshore oil drilling.
Take 3: Inventor incentives and auto company subsidies.
>Jack Aubrey:
John McCain is trying again. What is this, his third gimmick on gas?
Jun 23, 2008 – 9:04 am
That’s part of how he got to be Arnold.
>Len:
Arnold’s still pushing on health care? I give him this. He’s stubborn.
Jun 23, 2008 – 9:00 am
We’ll see how it plays. I suspect it will be very mixed.
>Capitol Boy:
That’s a good statement by Barack.
I see McCain has some new gimmicks. He’s real free with government money and tax breaks.
“Straight Talk.”
Jun 23, 2008 – 8:55 am
Where’s Schwarzeneger?
“John McCain is in Fresno, California, for a speech on energy promising huge federal incentives to inventors and car companies, and a fundraiser.”
Again, if we had been phasing-in higher CAFE standards over the past few years, this would be a non-issue…
Aren’t car companies multi-billion-dollar global corporations? Don’t they live by the rules of capitalism?
Why doesn’t he just call this a “Five Year Plan?”
McCain opposed most CAFE raising bills.
WHERE is Schwrazeneger?
He is a half an hour late for his webcast.
Aren’t car companies multi-billion-dollar global corporations? Don’t they live by the rules of capitalism? — totally right, but those rules also apply to oil companies, so normal market risk taking, speculation, price fluctuations, and profit taking should also be encouraged.
I don’t see how giving incentives to automakers works for any voter segment McCain is trying to attract. Whatever. He started out ok with the talk of increased domestic oil production and refining, but if anything, that should be partnered with a clamp down on CAFE standards, not a relaxation.
There is no free market in energy. The dominant conventional sources are heavily dependent on governmental favor.
I don’t know where he is.
>Ann:
WHERE is Schwrazeneger?
He is a half an hour late for his webcast.
Jun 23, 2008 – 9:57 am
Apparently, though I don’t have the specifics.
>marcus waldron:
McCain opposed most CAFE raising bills.
Jun 23, 2008 – 9:55 am
Five-Year Plan?
>Brasky:
“John McCain is in Fresno, California, for a speech on energy promising huge federal incentives to inventors and car companies, and a fundraiser.”
Again, if we had been phasing-in higher CAFE standards over the past few years, this would be a non-issue…
Aren’t car companies multi-billion-dollar global corporations? Don’t they live by the rules of capitalism?
Why doesn’t he just call this a “Five Year Plan?”
Jun 23, 2008 – 9:36 am
“Five-Year Plan?”
Stalin and Mao both had several infamous “Five Year Plans” with very lofty goals thru a completely government-controlled economy. Several ended in famine or other disasters.
“but those rules also apply to oil companies, so normal market risk taking, speculation, price fluctuations, and profit taking should also be encouraged. ”
If it truly costs $4.50 a gallon for gas, I’ll pay it and have no beef with the oil companies. I’m a little skeptical of windfall taxes.
HOWEVER, having lived thru the Enron crisis, I’m pretty sure some portion of recent historic price increases are due to market manipulation.
And its completely insane to offer oil companies any government subsides when I’m struggling to pay $4.50 a gallon.
lol
Sort of.
“You know who I pray to? Joe Pesci.”
Carlin was a funny man.
“If you’re easily offended, don’t watch him discuss religion.”
…or anything else. I’ll miss Carlin and Pryor – these guys took comedy to a whole new level.
Schwarzeneger’s late for ANOTHER webcast the same morning! Who does he think he is , a movie star? lol
Carlin was of course the subject of a Supreme Court case (which he lost): http://tinyurl.com/6p5qfv (WIKI)
Isn’t this Charlie Black the lobbyist for dictators?
Over at Flush Report, they have a *warning* to their viewers that the Carlin clip contains profanity. No warning here. I clicked on it, and got profanity. How could I have known?
I’d be offended, but I was laughing too much.
There is no free market in energy. The dominant conventional sources are heavily dependent on governmental favor. – Correct in that there has been way too much involvement of government in the oil market.
one area in which they still have great credibility – very true. This is why I think Bush will ultimately be treated fairly in a historical context. He hasn’t done much else correctly, but he has made protection from attack a successful priority.
I have always marveled at the ability of FBI and their counterparts elsewhere to stop attacks from happening routinely around the world.
For my friends and me, Carlin was a very big part of our lives in the 70s. Sad to see that he has passed.
Actually, America is still quite vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Al Qaeda Prime was allowed to escape. Then allowed to flourish in Pakistan. The ports are not secure. The borders are not secure. And so on.
>Hap Hazard:
one area in which they still have great credibility – very true. This is why I think Bush will ultimately be treated fairly in a historical context. He hasn’t done much else correctly, but he has made protection from attack a successful priority.
I was never a particular fan of George Carlin.
>Hap Hazard:
For my friends and me, Carlin was a very big part of our lives in the 70s. Sad to see that he has passed.
Jun 23, 2008 – 2:13 pm
Right. That’s is his major historical significance. The forbidden words.
>Brasky:
Carlin was of course the subject of a Supreme Court case (which he lost): http://tinyurl.com/6p5qfv (WIKI)
Jun 23, 2008 – 11:53 am
“Actually, America is still quite vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Al Qaeda Prime was allowed to escape. Then allowed to flourish in Pakistan. The ports are not secure. The borders are not secure. And so on.”
There were 8 years between WTC attack 1 and WTC attack 2. I doubt that anyone could say the lack of activity between those two events meant that we were safe.
We are only coming up on the seven anniversary of 9-11.
Only time will tell how safe we are and what the events of the NOW will influence the FUTURE.
For example, the US’s relationship with the Shah of Iran , our funding of the Mujadaheen or our arming of Saddam Hussein all look different thru the perspective of history.
“For my friends and me, Carlin was a very big part of our lives in the 70s. Sad to see that he has passed”
In complete agreement – he was left of my political leanings, but funny as Hell.
“Right. That’s is his major historical significance. The forbidden words.”
Although to a younger generation, he’ll probably always be associated with “Buddy Christ”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Christ
That’s kinda major.
BB: ** SCHWARZENEGGER TO BE FIRST GUEST ON THE POST-RUSSERT MEET THE PRESS. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the first guest of new Meet The Press host Tom Brokaw for this coming Sunday’s show. He will be recording the interview shortly.
dude…deadlifting is for youth! (and i guess maybe Brasky…)
I delegate all my lifting these days. I’ve got a guy on the Brasky Payroll who’s benching 300 lbs for me, so I’m feeling pretty pumped.
in beer?
Beer is different — it’s not the weight, its all about the reps!
Charlie Black is a corrupt embarassment. McCain should fire his sorry rear end.
Actually, America is still quite vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Al Qaeda Prime was allowed to escape. Then allowed to flourish in Pakistan. The ports are not secure. The borders are not secure. And so on. — I am already voting for Obama
Charlie Black is a corrupt embarassment. McCain should fire his sorry rear end. — Very good advice
From CNN:
“Black ‘deeply regrets’ terror comment”
PLUS
“Barack Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton called Black’s comments a ‘disgrace.’”
http://tinyurl.com/5z6zm7 (CNN Political Ticker)
Yeah, I’m sure he regrets it. Now.
Plus, he is quite wrong.
That’s very nice, Hap. I have been saying this for a couple of years, i.e., since the time I considered Obama just a guy who gave a really neat speech.
Bush is not a good wartime president. He is a bad wartime president. He is not stupid. He is intelligent. Nevertheless, he clearly has no idea what he is talking about, as I learned to my chagrin after supporting the invasion of Iraq.
>Hap Hazard:
Actually, America is still quite vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Al Qaeda Prime was allowed to escape. Then allowed to flourish in Pakistan. The ports are not secure. The borders are not secure. And so on. — I am already voting for Obama
Jun 23, 2008 – 5:21 pm
That’s not so much.
>Brasky:
I delegate all my lifting these days. I’ve got a guy on the Brasky Payroll who’s benching 300 lbs for me, so I’m feeling pretty pumped.
Jun 23, 2008 – 4:40 pm
Actually, I deadlifted regularly until a couple of years ago. Which is when my back problems started.
I began deadlifting again a few weeks ago. Which is not why my back went out last week. That’s a complicated situation. But my back actually feels better after yesterday’s workout.
>four waters:
dude…deadlifting is for youth! (and i guess maybe Brasky…)
Jun 23, 2008 – 4:34 pm
It’s like a little dumbbell, right?
>Brasky:
Beer is different — it’s not the weight, its all about the reps!
Jun 23, 2008 – 5:01 pm
Yeah.
>Capitol Boy:
That’s kinda major.
BB: ** SCHWARZENEGGER TO BE FIRST GUEST ON THE POST-RUSSERT MEET THE PRESS. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the first guest of new Meet The Press host Tom Brokaw for this coming Sunday’s show. He will be recording the interview shortly.
Jun 23, 2008 – 4:02 pm