The Batman pictures do very well when America is in a dark mood. Here’s the trailer for the 2005 franchise reboot, Batman Begins. Its sequel, The Dark Knight, opening in three weeks, shows universal recognition in audience surveys, and will be one of the year’s biggest movies.
** SUNDAY SHOWS, AND MORE. As first reported here, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was Tom Brokaw’s first guest on the post-Tim Russert Meet The Press, the interview fiilmed several days ago at the Reagan Library in the distant Los Angeles suburb of Simi Valley. Brokaw asked Schwarzenegger some tough questions about California’s chronic budget crisis, recurring with the economic downturn, which the former action superstar handled with relative aplomb, though he might have mentioned his various attempts to reform the budget process. Schwarzenegger, while making it clear he disapproves of John McCain’s oil policy, stuck by his endorsement of the Vietnam War hero, which had enabled McCain to effectively win the Republican nomination by knocking Mitt Romney out of the race with a big win in the California primary. The show also featured other Western governors, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, playing up the newfound importance of the West in this year’s presidential race. To his credit, Schwarzenegger did not try to insist that McCain has much chance in California against Barack Obama.
On other shows, General Wes Clark, one of Hillary Clinton’s biggest backers, took a big smack at McCain with regard to his national security credentials. Clark, a former Ranger and highly decorated infantry company commander in the Vietnam War who went on to become supreme commander of NATO, scoffed on Face The Nation at the idea of McCain as national security guru, saying he never commanded anything in wartime, has no executive experience in national security matters, and went so far as to say that getting shot down isn’t much of a credential. Whoa! Who let the dogs out? Clark’s move came a day after McCain said, at a Kentucky fundraiser, that Obama is not “trustworthy.”
In other action, two Californians from opposite ends of the spectrum were on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Arianna Huffington, head of the now massively trafficked liberal Huffington Post, jousted with radio host Hugh Hewitt of the conservative TownHall.com.
Meanwhile, another type of show, this one a feature film, hit the $300 million mark today in domestic box office. Again belying some early tidings of woe, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which we’ll just call Indy 4, is well on its way to being the biggest movie of the year around the world. If it’s not caught by the new Batman film.
** SUNDAY — WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Chicago, off the campaign trail.
John McCain is in Asheville, North Carolina, meeting with evangelists Billy Graham and son Franklin Graham, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. McCain had been criticized for taking 19 of the past 20 weekends off the campaign trail, though he did host potential veeps at his Arizona “cabin.”
** OBAMA AS THE “RADICAL MUSLIM MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.” The Washington Post, with the assistance of Dr. Danielle Allen of the Institute for Advanced Studies, delves into the origin of the endless e-mail attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama as a radical Muslim “Manchurian candidate.” Proving, among other things, that those making the charge have never seen The Manchurian Candidate. It turns out that the far right web site Free Republic is the constant aggregator of these spurious charges. I get into this issue at the end of the column referenced below, “Obama’s California,” which notes that various such rumors, conflated into more complex permutations, emanate from arguably more sophisticated sources in Los Angeles.
** SCHWARZENEGGER ON FIRST POST-RUSSERT ERA MEET THE PRESS. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appears as the first guest on the first full-fledged post-Tim Russert edition of Meet The Press on Sunday. Check your various markets for the time. Schwarzenegger, whose wife, California First Lady Maria Shriver, was one of the late Tim Russert’s best friends, will be new Meet The Press host/former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw’s first guest, is expected to discuss his views on energy policy and climate change, as well as the late longtime host of the show, whose death shocked and saddened so many of us.
** SATURDAY — WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama was in Washington, DC to address the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. Obama, incidentally, will travel in July to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Jordan, Germany, France, and Britain.
John McCain was in Washington, DC to address the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.
** APOLOGIES. To the readers, for the unaccountably small font size now employed on this site. The change was effectuated by the technical manager of NWN, which would be PJ Media. This change was undertaken without the approval of the owner of NWN, who is me. They have been instructed to correct their error, say that the error is being corrected, but the error has not been corrected yet, apparently as it is a weekend. For what it’s worth, I now have eyestrain from reading my own site.
** 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.
** MY LATEST PODCAST. The road ahead. Which actually holds up very well. This is the podcast from last week. The producers of the podcast, PJM, had the requisite equipment misplaced by an airline. Hence the absence of this week’s show.
** 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 closed Friday at a record high of $140.90 per barrel. After it hit another record trading high of $142.99 per barrel. The markets in gold, equities, and the dollar all hit appropriately record and/or bad levels. Energy markets are closed on the weekend.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum.
Read 
| Comments (48) |
Great video!
The idiots who changed your type size should be shot.
PJ Media is wingnuts.
Dump ‘em along with bush/cheney and the rest of the righty wingnuts.
When is the next time a Republican can get elected after Governor Jerry Brown?
I see Obama leads by 7 even in the Republican Rasmussen poll?
This feels like a Reagan-style blowout at the end.
Mr. B…
Worry not about the font size. Sure it will be corrected. Until then, I feel your strain, brother… I feel your strain!
Thanks to McCain and the idiots around him along with the proto-fascists of the California Republican Party, the next time there will be a Republican Governor of California is when my grave stone has turned to dust.
Who are these evil lunatic sources in LA?
BB: ** OBAMA AS THE “RADICAL MUSLIM MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.” The Washington Post, with the assistance of Dr. Danielle Allen of the Institute for Advanced Studies, delves into the origin of the endless e-mail attacks on Democratic presidentail nominee Barack Obama as a radical Muslim “Manchurian candidate.” Proving, among other things, that those making the charge have never seen The Manchurian Candidate. It turns out that the far right right web site Free Republic is the constant aggregator of these spurious charges. I get into this issue at the end of the column referenced below, “Obama’s California,” which notes that various such rumors, conflated into more complex permutations, emanate from arguably more sophisticated sources in Los Angeles.
I have to lean forward to read this, too. I guess ownership doesn’t mean anything to either “wing.”
Is McCain going to keep becoming a Bushie? What kind of dumbass makes that move?
Bill,
Just read your “Obama’s California” piece…good write. This old guy you speak of, Brown, must be a pretty sharp cookie if the young folks are listening to him.
Thanks.
And … perhaps.
Well, if McCain wants to win, he can’t keep moving to the right. Simple as that.
>Len:
I have to lean forward to read this, too. I guess ownership doesn’t mean anything to either “wing.”
Is McCain going to keep becoming a Bushie? What kind of dumbass makes that move?
Jun 28, 2008 – 1:59 pm
I’m not getting into that.
Yet.
>marcus waldron:
Who are these evil lunatic sources in LA?
BB: ** OBAMA AS THE “RADICAL MUSLIM MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.” The Washington Post, with the assistance of Dr. Danielle Allen of the Institute for Advanced Studies, delves into the origin of the endless e-mail attacks on Democratic presidentail nominee Barack Obama as a radical Muslim “Manchurian candidate.” Proving, among other things, that those making the charge have never seen The Manchurian Candidate. It turns out that the far right right web site Free Republic is the constant aggregator of these spurious charges. I get into this issue at the end of the column referenced below, “Obama’s California,” which notes that various such rumors, conflated into more complex permutations, emanate from arguably more sophisticated sources in Los Angeles.
Jun 28, 2008 – 1:49 pm
Perhaps.
>Len:
Thanks to McCain and the idiots around him along with the proto-fascists of the California Republican Party, the next time there will be a Republican Governor of California is when my grave stone has turned to dust.
Jun 28, 2008 – 1:35 pm
Indeed.
>Sacramento Solon:
Mr. B…
Worry not about the font size. Sure it will be corrected. Until then, I feel your strain, brother… I feel your strain!
Jun 28, 2008 – 1:08 pm
It feels something like that. But the deal is not closed.
>Jack Aubrey:
I see Obama leads by 7 even in the Republican Rasmussen poll?
This feels like a Reagan-style blowout at the end.
Jun 28, 2008 – 12:56 pm
2014. If Brown runs.
>Jack Aubrey:
When is the next time a Republican can get elected after Governor Jerry Brown?
Jun 28, 2008 – 12:54 pm
Dump who?
>Ann:
Dump ‘em along with bush/cheney and the rest of the righty wingnuts.
Jun 28, 2008 – 12:35 pm
It’s a bit more on the right than it is supposed to be.
>Capitol Boy:
PJ Media is wingnuts.
Jun 28, 2008 – 12:27 pm
Shot? No.
>Jonas Blane:
Great video!
The idiots who changed your type size should be shot.
Jun 28, 2008 – 12:23 pm
You should put “Obama’s California” on New West Notes, not just the Huffington Post.
It is all about California politics.
I will publish that here. On Tuesday. Which is the date that works best from a programming standpoint, bearing in mind what I have coming.
Bill,
Just read your comment on earlier thread about Webb’s book. The first book of his I read, Born Fighting, captured my interest to the point I started doing some research into something I know little about…my family.
Found out yesterday that my dad’s father was Michigan born in 1871…which leaves open the distinct possibility that my great grandfather was in the Civil War. Still looking at my mother’s side. She was from Alabama so I might just find out that I had kin on both sides of the issue! Amazing stuff.
Like said before, it’s a good read…thanks for bringing it to our attention.
There is no reckoning for … insanity?
Sergei writes…There is no reckoning for … insanity?
—-
Don’t know what to say…guess it just runs in my family!
New video today?
What’s wrong with what’s there?
Not a thing.
Nope.
I think the mood is covered.
>Jonas Blane:
New video today?
Jun 29, 2008 – 8:10 am
Indeed.
>Sacramento Solon:
Sergei writes…There is no reckoning for … insanity?
—-
Don’t know what to say…guess it just runs in my family!
Jun 29, 2008 – 6:45 am
Perhaps.
>sergei:
There is no reckoning for … insanity?
Jun 28, 2008 – 9:42 pm
You’re welcome. I think a lot of folks have ancestors who were on both sides of the Civil War. I certainly do, being as my family emigrated from England to Virginia prior to the American Revolution, then kept moving West.
>Sacramento Solon:
Bill,
Just read your comment on earlier thread about Webb’s book. The first book of his I read, Born Fighting, captured my interest to the point I started doing some research into something I know little about…my family.
Found out yesterday that my dad’s father was Michigan born in 1871…which leaves open the distinct possibility that my great grandfather was in the Civil War. Still looking at my mother’s side. She was from Alabama so I might just find out that I had kin on both sides of the issue! Amazing stuff.
Like said before, it’s a good read…thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Jun 28, 2008 – 7:19 pm
Bill,
How’s this for a combo?
Dad’s side…German Jew/Russian Jew
Mother’s side…Scots-Irish/English
Well. German + Russian + Scots/Irish.
Adds up to … Stubborn.
Thanks for the WaPo article – very interesting with implications beyond Obama.
Looks like this story is developing.
“McCain had been criticized for taking 19 of the past 20 weekends off the campaign trail…”
His he really taking them off, or using 2/7ths of his time trying to keep the Right Wing from splintering apart? For example, “potential VP candidates” are also largely influential Republican leaders.
Maybe McCain’s post-primary Right turns and these weekends indicate that his problem among the Reep Base is MUCH bigger than previously thought.
I think he’s taken a lot of time off.
This sort of thing doesn’t just happen …
>Brasky:
Thanks for the WaPo article – very interesting with implications beyond Obama.
Looks like this story is developing.
Jun 29, 2008 – 11:21 am
The dude is 72, not a young 72.
Brasky:
“McCain had been criticized for taking 19 of the past 20 weekends off the campaign trail…”
His he really taking them off, or using 2/7ths of his time trying to keep the Right Wing from splintering apart? For example, “potential VP candidates” are also largely influential Republican leaders.
Maybe McCain’s post-primary Right turns and these weekends indicate that his problem among the Reep Base is MUCH bigger than previously thought.
Jun 29, 2008 – 11:29 am
“The dude is 72, not a young 72.”
The only thing harder than campaigning for president is BEING president. I don’t think national security is best served by a president that works banker’s hours.
Wesley Clark’s evaluation of John McCain national security credentials is exactly right.
Larry,
Question…have you read the Inspector O novel you mentioned some time ago? If so, how did you like it?
I just watched Indy 2 tonight. I had forgotten how dark it is, and stagnant. The other flicks are constantly progressing forward at a torrential pace, both in plot and geography. Indy 2 gets stuck in a dark hole for too long.
I was going to make a comparison to the McCain campaign, but seeing that he’s taken the weekend off, so shall I.
With Wes Clark off the short leash, I wonder if he ISN’T in contention for the VP spot – I don’t believe Obama is a good candidate for running a Good Cop/Bad Cop presidential ticket.
The first 40 minutes of Indy 2 are pretty darn good. Love the opening sequence in Shanghai. Then it gets stuck in a very dark place.
But certainly not exactly well said …
>larry:
Wesley Clark’s evaluation of John McCain national security credentials is exactly right.
Jun 29, 2008 – 9:20 pm
Great review! My team saw the crotch hammering’ at the UFC expo.
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Krav Maga for the WIN…
[...]No seriously, Krav Maga is the future of hand to hand combat[...]……