Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton debate Iraq earlier this year in LA. The two are campaigning together today in Unity, New Hampshire.
** NEW RECORD OIL PRICE. Crude oil closed over $140 per barrel today for the first time in history, at a whopping $140.90. It also hit a new intraday trading high of $142.99 per barrel. Gold is around a record high, the dollar is around a record low, and the stock market is on the cusp of beardom, with financial stocks especially nosediving.
** OBAMA’S CALIFORNIA. It began as Clinton Country. For awhile, it seemed John McCain might stake his claim on the Golden State. But now, it is clearly Barack Obama’s California. From my other blog.
** UNITY, NH. Sounds like the title of a TV show. Played as a good TV show, too. Hillary Clinton is a much more compelling and polished speaker than when she began her presidential campaign. She and Barack Obama played off each other quite well. He with his slightly loosened French, er, royal blue tie, she with matching (trademark) pantsuit. (Actually, it may be more of a robin’s egg blue.) She either actually wants him to be elected president, or has become a very accomplished actress. 6000 people showing up in a field outside a town so small it doesn’t have an elected mayor. Where neither candidate actually campaigned in the New Hampshire primary, but where each received 107 votes.
** OBAMA: EMERGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM? One of the principal purveyors of conventional wisdom out of the Beltway, politico.com, has a feature pushing a theme. That Barack Obama is really just another conventional politician. This happens to be the theme pushed by our friend, McCain senior advisor Steve Schmidt, the former Arnold Schwarzenegger campaign manager. But he may be pushing it because it’s a natural for many journalistic minds, and the alternatives are not good. The piece argues that Obama has made a mistake in the last two weeks. By not making “bold choices.” Or by, looking at it from another perspective, not playing into Republican hands. Decides not to give up massive fundraising advantage over McCain? Supposed mistake. Decides not to debate in McCain’s preferred and by far best format? Supposed mistake. Decides to continue his stance of favoring the right of the individual to bear arms? Supposed mistake. Decides to support death penalty for the rapists of children? Supposed mistake. Decides not to punish telecom firms caught up in the post-9/11 fervor that cooperated with national security officials? Supposed mistake.
Of course, had Obama gone the other way on these issues, he would be derided as an idiot. Naturally. But it sure would have played into another favored Republican theme, that Obama is the most radical Democratic presidential nominee in history.
** MAC’S FAVORITE RECENT MOVIE. “Indiana Jones. I loved it because the old guy wins.” McCain has a new TV ad, on the “energy security” theme, naturally. This one for broadcast. And a new slogan. The third in the last month. I’ll break it all down for early next week.
UPDATE: The Obama/Clinton event in Unity, New Hampshire is now slated to start around 10 AM Pacific.
** WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Unity, New Hampshire and Washington, DC. Following what sounds like a very successful meeting with Hillary Clinton and 300 of her top fundraisers last night in Washington, he appears with his former rival this morning at an elementary school in New Hampshire. The much ballyhooed event is expected to go off around 8 AM Pacific, roadblocked on all news shows.
John McCain is in Warren, Ohio for a town hall meeting at the General Motors plant there.
** SCHWARZENEGGER LIVE WEBCAST ON FIRE SITUATION THIS MORNING. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, accompanied by US Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, tours the Whiskeytown fires near Mount Shasta and discusses the fires there and in other parts of California. The event will be webcast live at 11:20 AM on www.gov.ca.gov.
** 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 is trading in the $139 to $140 per barrel range.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
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| Comments (83) |
I look forward to viewing the Obama-Clinton rally.
I know Russian TV is covering “Obamamania.” I suppose they will show this in Moscow.
The link to PJM Political is to last week’s episode…
This week’s Road Ahead on PJM Political will be there, it is just now too early in the AM. Don’t neglect to go there on account of my earlier post. Sorry…
Hap,
You write a lot like Bill!
That was a good debate on Iraq.
I can do without Bill fronting a dumb conservative show.
There’s too much hype about the Clintons. The polls show the voters don;t care much about it, they’re coming together behind Barack naturally in the party. This is the media going nuts, again.
lol
Capitol Boy:
I can do without Bill fronting a dumb conservative show.
Jun 27, 2008 – 7:35 am
Obama and Clinton will be good. And it will be done.
Yeah, I’ll be glad to have this obvious rapprochement out of the media flow.
WAAAY back on … January 31st.
>Jonas Blane:
That was a good debate on Iraq.
Jun 27, 2008 – 7:27 am
Clearly. I so enjoy debating with myself.
>Sacramento Solon:
Hap,
You write a lot like Bill!
Jun 27, 2008 – 7:08 am
Perhaps.
>Capitol Boy:
There’s too much hype about the Clintons. The polls show the voters don;t care much about it, they’re coming together behind Barack naturally in the party. This is the media going nuts, again.
Jun 27, 2008 – 7:36 am
Yes, it is.
>Hap Hazard:
The link to PJM Political is to last week’s episode…
Jun 27, 2008 – 6:47 am
Actually, no.
There is no new show for this week. Because the producer went to Philly on short notice, and the luggage containing his gear did not arrive with him.
Whoops!
So no new podcast this week, either.
>Hap Hazard:
This week’s Road Ahead on PJM Political will be there, it is just now too early in the AM. Don’t neglect to go there on account of my earlier post. Sorry…
Jun 27, 2008 – 6:56 am
“Bold” = Stupid.
I don’t trust anything on Politico. That’s a Drudge conveyer belt.
Hack journalists like this wear their hats on their asses. If Obama went opposite on these issues, “bold” haha, this fool would call him the left of the left.
** OBAMA: EMERGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM? One of the principal purveyors of conventional wisdom out of the Beltway, politico.com, has a feature pushing a theme. That Barack Obama is really just another conventional politician. This happens to be the theme pushed by our friend, McCain senior advisor Steve Schmidt, the former Arnold Schwarzenegger campaign manager. But he may be pushing it because it’s a natural for many journalistic minds, and the alternatives are not good. The piece argues that Obama has made a mistake in the last two weeks. By not making “bold choices.” Or by, looking at it from another perspective, not playing into Republican hands. Decides not to give up massive fundraising advantage of McCain? Supposed mistake. Decides not to debate in McCain’s preferred format? Supposed mistake. Decides to continue his stance of favoring the right of the individual to bear arms? Supposed mistake. Decides to support death penalty for the rapists of children? Supposed mistake. Decides not to punish telecom firms caught up in the post-9/11 fervor that cooperated with national security officials? Supposed mistake.
Of course, had Obama gone the other way on these issues, he would be derided as an idiot. Naturally. But it sure would have played into another favored Republican theme, that Obama is the most radical Democratic presidential nominee in history.
Okay, so when did we go back to the small type??? Is this a test???
What small type?
The first sentence goes a bit far. The second sentence is accurate.
>Jack Aubrey:
Hack journalists like this wear their hats on their asses. If Obama went opposite on these issues, “bold” haha, this fool would call him the left of the left.
Bold equals Stupid. I like that.
>Len:
“Bold” = Stupid.
I don’t trust anything on Politico. That’s a Drudge conveyer belt.
Jun 27, 2008 – 9:03 am
Bill,
The font size on your site has been reduced to about half of what was just a while ago. Makes it very hard to read.
Someone else what to chime in if they’re are seeing the same??? Or is it just my machine?
Yes, we need to listen to Washington Insiders on how NOT to be a Washington Insider. Brilliant strategy.
Let me see:
Obama makes two tactical (no brainer) decisions that NO ONE outside politics cares about
+
Obama takes positions consistent with the majority of Americans on several issues
=
THE END IS NIGH
Maybe these guys should start covering the epic battle of two BOLD candidates – Ralph Nader and Bob Barr
“Decides to continue his stance of favoring the right of the individual to bear arms?”
Especially those small town individuals who cling to their guns.Right? Bill,do you really think Obama was opposed to the DC law or the one in Chicago?
I don’t see any change in the type size here.
I don’t know what you’re talking about, dude JTF. Obama always said he was for the right to bear arms.
Call it an inconvenient truth.
Jack,
Thanks.
Must be my computer. However, too hard for me to read. Check back with you folks later…perhaps the font size will have changed.
Sacto – mine’s smaller too. I’m using Mozilla.
If you have a scrolling mouse, hold the control key and roll the wheel “UP” – that almost universally increases the size of anything you’re working on. In Mac, I believe you hold the “PROPELLER” key instead.
That’s exactly what I mean, JTF, because that’s what he’s been saying right along.
Incidentally, I’m a gun owner, and a vet, and I have known some guys who “cling” to their guns. No question.
>JTF:
“Decides to continue his stance of favoring the right of the individual to bear arms?”
Especially those small town individuals who cling to their guns.Right? Bill,do you really think Obama was opposed to the DC law or the one in Chicago?
Jun 27, 2008 – 9:54 am
I see no change, on any of the browsers on my Mac.
>Sacramento Solon:
Bill,
The font size on your site has been reduced to about half of what was just a while ago. Makes it very hard to read.
Someone else what to chime in if they’re are seeing the same??? Or is it just my machine?
Jun 27, 2008 – 9:47 am
Indeed.
>Brasky:
Yes, we need to listen to Washington Insiders on how NOT to be a Washington Insider. Brilliant strategy.
Let me see:
Obama makes two tactical (no brainer) decisions that NO ONE outside politics cares about
+
Obama takes positions consistent with the majority of Americans on several issues
=
THE END IS NIGH
Maybe these guys should start covering the epic battle of two BOLD candidates – Ralph Nader and Bob Barr
Jun 27, 2008 – 9:50 am
Bill/Brasky…
Thanks. Understand how to increase font size. Was just inquiring as to what was going on.
Be back when I have something of interest to add to the tread. As for now, think I shall pick up my New York Times….
I don’t think anything’s going on, not on my Dell.
I am using Mozilla and the type is smaller.
I’m on Firefox and the type is big.
Firefox is the best browser, incidentally.
Meanwhile, Obama and Clinton are speaking NOW!!!!
As far as I can tell, nothing is going on.
Now back to the Unity event, happening NOW.
>Sacramento Solon:
Bill/Brasky…
Thanks. Understand how to increase font size. Was just inquiring as to what was going on.
Be back when I have something of interest to add to the tread. As for now, think I shall pick up my New York Times….
Jun 27, 2008 – 10:14 am
Great speech by Hillary!
carole w: I’m on XP and Firefox. I was having a problem with Quicktime, but that seems unrelated to the small font size.
I updated Firefox, Flash and Quicktime – still got little fonts (text appears to be about 10pt and everyone’s names and post times are about 16pt.
Oh well – maybe something to do with Bill Gates stepping down today.
“…a new slogan. The third in the last month.”
The ad campaign won’t help unless you have a product people want. It’s like spending more money advertising the Edsel or New Coke.
And continually changing the message only hurts what little brand ID McCain had built-up over the years. Like when Ford decided to change the Taurus to the 500, spending millions on advertising, only to change the name back to Taurus.
Whatever – these guys are lost and heading deeper into the forest. They keep chasing the base, which you would think would come back to them if they mount a successful smear campaign on Obama, instead of going after the larger block of moderate voters that are up for grabs.
When they DO track back to the middle (assuming they still intend on trying to win), McCain is going to look even MORE like a flip-flopper.
And all this time I wanted to battle Meat Romney, who had taken every possible position of every side of every issue. Little did I know that McCain would out-Romney Romney.
I look forward to your piece.
I agree that Barack Obama is essentially a conventional politician, except that he’s better at playing the game than the supposed masters, the Clintons–and the Republicans as well. His policies are not too different than those of the DLC and are barely distinguishable from HRC’s. He’s just a better, smarter and more eloquent messenger. Because of his lineage he’s able to take a slightly different stance at times, like being for the second amendment while at the same time calling for personal responsibility and family values.
This is one reason I see this race as a conventional presidential campaign. I disagree with Brasky’s statement from a couple days ago that this is a “different” candidate or a “different” campaign. The rules remain the same: take enough states to win enough electors. One way to do that would be to pick a running mate who could deliver a state. Yes, he should run everywhere, particularly in places where McCain is weak in the Republican backyard. That’s why the Clintons are essential, I think, in order for him to be able to fully implement this strategy. WJC plays very well in the rural zip codes, and Hillary obviously has a massive following across the country. She’d really help him in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and, as we saw today, New Hampshire. I seriously doubt she’ll be the VEEP, nor should she be.
I think you gotta look long and hard at the Pennsylvania politicos for a running mate. Bayh’s a good idea, in many ways. Mark Warner and of course Webb might also deliver their states. Warner’s a particularly strong vote-getter, though I still think they’d possibly be throwing away a winning senate seat.
I know that it’s a popular strategy and may have its merits, but I just believe in running for Vice President of Pennsylvania (or wherever).
Tenn voted against Gore in 2000. Other examples to be sure.
If you still want to go with this strategy, then you should move resources from “new battleground” states to traditional swing states. I don’t think you can pick a hybrid system – either spread the field with realistic threats or run the old smashmouth strategy.
I’m a little hesitant about running smashmouth again, since it has shown a very small (two states over eight years) margin for error.
Sorry, meant “just DON’T believe in running for Vice President of Pennsylvania”. I think home-grown VPs and Ps win their home states, because they share the values of their home states, not because they’re from there. Get the person with the right values, and the demographics will take care of themselves…
Brasky,
I am using your Ctrl/mouse trick and it is working. Size matters.
Meanwhile, oil peaked at $143 today, dropping back to $140 at the close. $150 is within striking range, a six-fold increase since Bush took office.
Which reminds me to order a locking gas cap for my car. BTW, I hear some can be “re-keyed” to accept your ignition key.
I think McCain would serve himself well if he chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his VP candidate. I tend to agree with Pat that this is most likely going to be a rather typical presidential campaign. I can’t really think of a good Obama running mate, but it seems to me that the one criticism I hear out there among non-political junkies is that Obama seems cool, but is he experienced enough? Therefore, I would think that he needs to put someone in his VP slot that is well-known and has lots of experience, at something. Biden? Bayh? There is a list that could be put together, and it probably needs to be expanded beyond the Congress. Why not Richardson?
Again, I think Obama has to pick someone that a great number of Americans would be comfortable seeing as president. I think that fears of a racially-motivated assassination will give fuel to the “one heartbeat from the presidency” argument — even if it is never explicit.
Although one of the most experienced presidential candidates, I don’t think Richardson seems very presidential.
Of course, McCain probably should adhere to the same strategy. My oldest grandparent (of four) lived to 77, which would be about the age of McCain at second inauguration.
A friend of mine is about to see Richardson.
Well, that might stop Obama from winning Alaska.
I don’t see much typical about this election.
>Hap Hazard:
I think McCain would serve himself well if he chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his VP candidate. I tend to agree with Pat that this is most likely going to be a rather typical presidential campaign.
It’ll definitely hit $150 a barrel. It might even go to $170.
>Brasky:
Meanwhile, oil peaked at $143 today, dropping back to $140 at the close. $150 is within striking range, a six-fold increase since Bush took office.
Which reminds me to order a locking gas cap for my car. BTW, I hear some can be “re-keyed” to accept your ignition key.
Jun 27, 2008 – 1:46 pm